Chapter Fifteen

"What do you mean, I can't bail him out? I've got the money right here to do it," Martha Harper baulked as she glared at the sheriff.

"You heard me. The judge said no bail this time. He's had enough! As the charges include attempted murder, he's keeping your boy, so he can't intimidate the witnesses like last time," Leo Tanner replied.

"He has no right..."

"Mrs. Harper, the judge is the one who does have the right. The law gives him that right. Now I think you need to just git on home. And go straight home. I don't want to be putting more of your family behind bars for violating any restraining orders. That means no going to Calloway's store, Miss Mason's place or any of the other half dozen places that don't want you there!"

"I'll go where ever I damn well please and no judge can tell me otherwise!" Martha yelled at the man.

"Then when people call me to tell me that you are violating those orders I'll put you in a cell right next to your boys! Do you understand me Mrs. Harper?"

Mrs. Harper glared at the man before her, then turned on her heels and left, followed by the rest of her family that had come in with her.

Leo counted to ten after the Harpers were gone then let out a big sigh.

"She ain't gonna just sit back and let you put her boys away again, boss," said one of the two deputies.

"I think she's gonna be a big problem. When she gets a burr under her butt there just ain't no stoppin' her sometimes," continued the other deputy.

"I know. With two of her boys in here, she's not going to sit back and let the others handle things like in the past," replied Leo.

"You know, boss, you should call that there Mason lady. Give her some warning," stated the first deputy.

"Might be a good idea at that," Leo agreed.

"You might just want to take a drive up that way. It's a nice looking area after all," added the second deputy. He had a silly smile on his face.

"That's true, that's true. And it has been a bit since I did a thorough checking of the area. I've heard tell there's been some heavy poaching in that area ... yes, I'll just take a trip up to that area and check that out," Leo said with and equally silly smile.

That was too much for all of them and they cracked up laughing. When it was over Leo slapped his men on the back and walked out of the office.

Linda had just returned to the house after another circle around the clearing. She was even thinking about calling the lawyer to find out if they had hired people that liked to trap as there were so many snares around.

That was when she saw Trap's ears twitch then she heard the calls of other wolves. The first was far off put then another howl was closer.