The Ties That Bind
Chapter 4
Surprised, Jade watched the color drain out of the face of her fellow captive. She noticed his sense of recognition of the man who opened the door. She then turned her attention to the man in the doorway. Her stomach turned as soon as she saw him. She could feel the tears welling up in her eyes again. Her heart rate and breathing increased. A shiver of fear ran down her spine. As strong as she was able to be with the others, she knew she wouldn't be able to hold back long with him. He was the man they all referred to as Sheriff because he was the one that laid down the law…. his own law. He could strike fear in people just by looking at them.
"Well, Well, Well…. What do we have here? Well I'll be damned if this ain't a pleasant surprise!" Sheriff uttered.
He turned his attention to Jade and squatted down beside her. Although he smiled at her, he had an evil smile. Jade's eyes were locked on him as he reached up and brushed the hair out of her face.
"Now there…..isn't that better darlin'?" Sheriff stated. If Jade didn't know better he would've almost seemed gentle. Sheriff reached around the back of her head and ran his fingers through her hair. He slowly gathered a handful and then pulled with full force causing Jade's head to jerk back. She involuntarily let out a cry. Sheriff leaned in inches to her face and stated "Are you going to tell me what I want to know today?" He then raised his voice spitting while he yelled "MY PATIENCE IS WEARING THIN GIRL…. I'M GETTING TIRED OF THESE GAMES!" Jade closed her eyes tightly and held back the tears but could feel her chin quiver.
"No! No! NO!" Sheriff's voice raised in a crescendo. "You open your eyes, when I'm talking to you, no hiding, you open your eyes and open them now or I will cut your eyelids off and you'll never be able to close them again. Are we understood?"
Jade opened her eyes and tears just poured out of them. She wheezed when she tried to take in a deep breath. The harder she fought from crying the more uncontrollable it became.
"ARE WE UNDERSTOOD? YOU ANSWER ME WHEN I'M TALKING TO YOU….ARE WE UNDERSTOOD" Sheriff shouted still inches from her face.
Jade shook her head and finally mustered out a cracked yes from her mouth and her eyes were fixed hard on Sheriff.
"Good, now that's better" Sheriff let go of her hair and gently wiped the tears from her face. "Now that's no way to look during a celebration. We're going to have a little party here." Jade furrowed her brow in confusion.
"Don't you realize what we have here little girl? This here is a family reunion!" Sheriff stood up and turned around walking over to the man tied to the chair. He placed his hand on the man's shoulder "Isn't that right little brother?"
The man in the chair utter one word...Merle.