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to nip at her heart. That's about all I can tell now. Of course, I'll be making a report and all. I'm just trying to get her a little presentable, get her cleaned up some for her kin. She got another slash on her arm. Looks like she may have tried to fight it off some, then looks like that second stab just got in at the right spot. We ain't had nothin like this in a long while."
    The sheriff walks closer to the bed, looks quickly at Lori from head to toe, then ask Doc Grey, "Henry, was she both ered any?"
    "I don't think she's been bothered, Tom. I haven't checked thoroughly yet, bu t her coveralls were bu ttoned up prett y tight, don't look like nobody was yankin on them. Of course, I can let you know for sure. The only thing I noticed, on her right arm, right up from her wrist a bit , looks like some bite marks, looks like she pu t up a pretty good fight." Doc Grey let his words drift off, then went back to getting the blood off Lori.
    Sheriff Tom went out and stood on the porch, but kept his distance for a moment. David had his mother in his arms, both of them sa t trembling. The younger boys still sat beside Jenny, the tears were still falling from all thei r eyes. Sheriff
    B l L L y I 35

    Tom made a grunting sound, cleared his throat, then seemed to twist his thick neck a little and walked over to David and his mother and knelt down, cleared his throat again, and whispered the best he could, "David, I got to know what hap pened here . You think you can tell me?"
    "Nigger did it, Sheriff, nigger did it down at the pond. We were up here. Jenny come runnin across the field, just a screamin." David's words are becoming slurred, but he blurt s out clearly, "My sister's dead, and that nigger goin to pa y for it."
    The sheriff stood, took a little tim e to wipe the sweat from the back of his neck, looked down at Da v id and his mother , and mumbled, "Son, y ou just take care of y our mama now. I promise you, I'll have this nigger fore that sun goes down. "
    Sheriff Tom walks over to Jenny, looks down at her , looks at the other children. The youngest boy looks up with a small smile on his face, but stays quiet. The sheriff reaches down and pats the boy's head, then kneels in front of Jenny's blank stare. Her eyes blink, then she lifts her head and stares o v er Sheriff Tom's shoulder.
    "You're Jenny, arn't ya?" the sheriff ask , sighs, and waits for Jenny to look at him. She doesn't. Sheriff Tom takes a deep breath, then says , "Jenny, I'm goin to tell you som e thing, and I'm goin to want you to listen to Sheriff Tom her e, and then you and me, we're goin to walk over to that barn fence, and just me and you goin to talk for a whil e, nobod y else, just you and me, honey. But first I want you to listen to what I'm goin to tell you: Ain't nobody goin to hurt ya ever again. Sheriff Tom here tellin ya that. Now I want you to tak e your hand and put it in mine, come now, just Jet Sheriff Tom take your hand. That's it, sugar, that's a girl. Come on t o Sh er iff Tom, that's a girl."
    36 I Allwrt French

    Th e sh e riff stands. Jenny has h is hand and slowly begi ns to ri se . When sh e do es, he pulls her clos e to hi m and puts his arm over h e r should e r. She l e ans against him as they wal k towards the barn fence a nd then the bench by the barn door. They s it , but Jenn y still leans against him. He doesn't say anything, just sits and pats her shoulder. Jenny begins to cry again. The sheriff is quiet, just pats her s houlder and ro c k s and sways with her.
    The dogs have quieted, quit their barking and howling , but they whine. The birds soar gracefully over the fields , some landing, picking at things , then just flying away again. Sheriff Tom did not see the birds, the blur of Lori's blood was still in his eyes. He sighs as he keeps patting Jenny's shoulder , then softly ask, "Honey, who put them scratches on y ou r face? Tell Sh e riff Tom who did that to yo u . Was it that ni g ger that hurt Lori ? "
    Jenny shakes her