like a roast.”
Tiny took the coolers to the back room. In a few minutes, he came back with the coolers filled with meat. He helped Mike carry them out to his truck. Mike went back inside and paid the bill.
“Thanks, Tiny. I’ll see ya later.”
“Thank you, hope that works out for ya.”
“I’m sure it will.”
*****
Widow Johnson and her kids were in the grocery store to pick up a few things.
The oldest boy asked his mother, “Is Cat ever gonna bring us anymore deer meat? I’m getting tired of cheap hotdogs.”
“I don’t know. She’s been pretty busy.”
The next aisle over, Officer Shot was listening. I knew it. I’ll get her before I leave town. He left the store and staked out Widow Johnson’s house.
*****
Cat was sitting on Mike’s porch with her backpack when Mike pulled up. He got out of his truck and carried the coolers into the house.
Cat followed him in. “What are we going to do?”
“The way I see it, Shot wants to throw you in jail. I say let him.”
“Say what?”
“Don’t worry. He will have to let you out.”
“I don’t know if I like this plan.”
“It’ll be great. Now cut up this meat and put it in your backpack like you do the venison.”
Cat was starting to get the idea. She cut it into pieces that would fit into the bags she brought then put in her backpack. “Now what?”
“Take it over to Widow Johnson’s, and see if Shot takes the bait.”
“This is a lot earlier than I usually go.”
“Don’t matter, I’d bet my last bullet he’s already watching the widow’s place.”
Cat hiked over to Widow Johnson’s place. Sure enough, Officer Shot was parked off the road behind a couple of trees. She walked along the side of the house to the back door, resisting the urge to sneak over and let the air out of his tires. She looked back. Shot was reading a book. I don’t think Hot Shot saw me. I had better walk around the house to make sure.
Officer Shot looked up from his book just in time to see Cat walk down the side of the house. I gotcha now, girly.
Cat knocked on the back door. Widow Johnson came to the door. “Cat! My land girl, what’a doing?”
“I brought you some meat.”
“You shouldn’t have. You’re gonna get yourself in trouble.”
“I’ll be all right.”
Cat set the backpack down and started putting the meat on the table. Widow Johnson got a knife and freezer bags. “The boys are sure gonna be happy, but you’re taking a big chance coming this early, especially with that game warden after you the way he is.”
“Ah, don’t worry, hard to outsmart me.”
The back door opened. Officer Shot came busting into the kitchen. “Hold it right there! I finally caught you, girly!”
“Oh yeah, where’s your search warrant?”
“Don’t need one, probable cause.”
“For what?”
“Illegal deer meat, I knew you were no good.”
“I didn’t do anything illegal.”
“Yeah, right, get your hands behind your back.” Shot put handcuffs on Cat.
Widow Johnson walked toward Cat. “Why you picking on this girl?”
“Shut up and get back, or I will charge you too.”
Cat looked at Widow Johnson. “Don’t worry, I’ll be all right.”
“Shut up, girly.”
As Shot walked Cat out of the house, she turned to Widow Johnson and winked. Widow Johnson smiled to herself, wondering what Cat was up to. Shot put Cat in his truck, fastened her seat belt, and drove off.
*****
Judge Bean sat down to eat a steak and fried potatoes. “Finally, I get to relax and eat a decent home-cooked meal.” After taking his first bite, he said, “Not bad if I say so myself.”
The phone rang.
“Now what?” He answered the phone, “Hello.”
“You let that girl go!” summoned the voice on the other end.
“What are you talking about?”
“Cat! That hotshot arrested Cat. Now you let her go!” continued the voice.
“I don’t know what you are talking about. I just got home…trying to eat my supper.”
“You get to town and release her.”
“Calm down. I’m on my way.”
Judge Bean put his supper in the oven. “Never fails.” As he was getting his boots on, the phone rang again. “Hello.”
“What you mean arresting Cat?” bellowed the caller.
“I didn’t arrest her. I’m heading to town now.”
Judge Bean hung up the phone, and it immediately started ringing again. “I’ll let voice mail get it.” He grabbed his coat and picked up his cell phone. It already had five text messages and six missed calls.
“Oh, this is going to be a long night!”
*****
A small crowd was forming around the jail when Shot and Cat showed up. He took her inside and locked her in the cell. The crowd booed Shot as he retrieved the backpack from his truck.
The crowd had grown by the time Judge Bean got to town. As he got out of his car, he heard, “Let Cat go.”
He walked into the office. Officer Shot was sitting at Judge Bean’s desk with the backpack.
“First thing, get out of my chair.”
Officer Shot got up. “I told you that girl was no good.”
“Okay, tell me what happened.”
“I was at the store when I heard one of the widow’s boys ask when Cat was going to bring them some more deer meat, so I staked
