Chapter 5
Lucas and Jimmy rode with the girls into town to look at dresses two days later. After dropping them off at the dressmakers, Jimmy and Luke stopped at the general store for some supplies. Jimmy spoke with the owner and was waiting on their order to be filled. Lucas was flipping through a new catalogue when he looked out the window. He dropped the catalogue and rushed out the door. Jimmy heard and saw him break into a run. He looked in the direction that he was going.
"Shit."
Lou, Lori, Annie, and Penny sat quietly while laughing as the old dress maker showed them a few wedding dresses. They laughed at some of the pictures in the dress book. Lori was rolling her eyes. Penny stood up and moved over to look at a dress in the window.
"You are not what he wants, and you know it. Plain little thing aren't you."
Penny closed her eyes recognizing the voice instantly.
"Never nothing to say. It's because you know it's true." Lillian smirked.
"Why can't you leave me alone? I have enough to deal with and I don't need your crap."
"You must mean that baby. Oh yeah honey, I have heard. Another reason you might as well just give it up. Look at you. So proper that you aren't going to raise his child. His bastard child. I would you know. Another reason that I am better for him than you." Lillian said leaning in closer.
"Oh no." Annie said finally seeing Lillian over by Penny.
"The fuck she doing?" Lori asked standing.
"Lorilei, your mouth. You have been around Tate way too much. Get a handle on it." Lou exclaimed.
"Oh, don't you worry, I'm going to handle this bitch right now, Mom."
"No, you ain't. You know why. I'll go break it up."
About that time, Louise heard a scream. Annie had Lillian by the hair dragging her outside. Lou closed her eyes and sighed. She rushed to the door.
"Let me go! You trash!" Yelled Lillian.
"You mess with Penny, and you mess with all of us!"
"Ow!" Screamed Lillian.
Annie snatched her hair again making her fall to her knees on the boardwalk. She then sat across her back and yanked her hair harshly again.
"Apologize!"
"I did nothing wrong!"
Annie jerked her hair again causing Lillian to scream.
"You heard what I said!" Annie screamed.
Lou grabbed Annie by the arm just as Lucas came rushing up. He grabbed Annie around the waist and pulled her away. Lillian slowly pushed herself up off the boards, holding her head. Jimmy got between the girls.
"I can't take ya'll anywhere!" He yelled as the sheriff came up.
"What is going on here?" Larry asked.
"She attacked me. That one right there!" Lillian screeched.
"Damn right I did!" Annie yelled back. "And I ain't done yet!"
"I want her in jail!"
"Now Lillian, let's work this out or I lock both of ya up." Said Larry.
"I did not do anything!"
"Lillian."
"Well, I said some things. No harm in that."
"She attacked Penny there with her words. It is not right!" Yelled Annie.
"Penny?" Jimmy asked.
"She said I was no good and, and things that I can't say."
"Lillian, you need to stop. I love Penny. Not you." Luke said getting in the mix.
"How can you say that?! She will never raise that baby of yours but, but I will. I will do anything for you." Lillian said reaching for Luke's arm.
He shook his head and stepped away. Penny walked closer to Lillian.
"I love Lucas and if that baby is his, then it is mine. Don't touch my man."
Jimmy closed his eyes as Penny punched Lillian in the nose. Lori cheered while the others were in shock. Lillian fell back holding her bloody nose.
"See! I want her arrested!" Lillian screamed while crying.
"Miss Penny, why did you have to do that?" Larry said looking down.
"High time I stood up for myself." Penny answered.
"Jimmy…" Larry started.
"Lock em up. Both of them." Jimmy said trying not to smile.
Larry gathered Annie and Penny to walk them back to his office. Jimmy and Luke watched as Lillian's mother glared as she helped her daughter walk away. Lou stood next to Lori, who was beaming. Jimmy turned to look back at the remaining women.
"Why me?"
"What?" Lou asked crossing her arms.
"Nothing. You get them in the morning. I'm going home now…to hide and never come back." Jimmy said turning to leave.
Lou and Lori started laughing. Jimmy stopped and looked back at his wife, smiling.
