The Secret Diaries of Katherine Barlow
Chapter Two
Author: C.L. Curtis
Disclaimer: Last time I checked, I was still definitely not Louis Sachar. However, I did put a good bit of effort into this, so reviews are appreciated.
May 23, 1890
My hands are shaking as I write. The past two days have been a nightmare, if they really happened, which I am still refusing to believe. I fear to look in the mirror again, because the person staring back at me is a stranger.
Yesterday, I sat inside the schoolhouse in a complete and utter daze. It had been hours since Sam had kissed me, and yet it still felt as though I were floating. But, even though I couldn't yet form complete coherent thoughts, I realized that the schoolhouse was empty. At first, I thought that perhaps I had mistaken the day. Considering that my thoughts were otherwise occupied, it could very well have been Saturday for all I knew. Of course, that was not the case.
I heard shouting outside, my only warning before a mob of men and women rushed in to the school house. They were led by none other than Trout Walker.
Within an instant, they began to pile books in the center of the room, still shouting as if they had lost their minds. Someone set fire to the outside wall.
"There she is!" Trout exclaimed over the pandemonium, pointing in my direction. "The Devil Woman!"
I couldn't bare to see the school house, where I had so many memories and which Sam had taken such care to rebuild, destroyed.
"Please," I pleaded helplessly, trying desperately to catch someone's—anyone's-- eye. "Think about what you are doing!"
Someone tried to grab my dress, and I cried out in terror. Realizing that there was nothing I could say or do to stop them, I managed to escape the riot. I ran to the only place that I thought I could find sanctuary.
I reached the sheriff's office, heart beating frantically in my chest, tears pouring down my face. The sheriff himself was seated behind his desk, feet propped up on top. He raised his eyebrows as I entered, as though he had been expecting me.
"Help me!" I cried out, ignoring his nonchalant demeanor. "They're going to burn down the schoolhouse!"
"Calm yourself down a second, Miss Katherine," he slurred, crossing his arms over his chest. "And tell me what's troubling you."
"Trout Walker has-"
"Now, don't you go saying anything bad about the Walkers," he interrupted.
"Please," I begged. "There isn't much time!"
"Kiss me," he responded, rising to his feet and taking a single, unsteady step toward me. In complete and utter horror, I stared at him for a long moment. Then, I slapped him across the face. Much to my dismay, he burst out laughing.
"You kissed the onion picker," he answered, a look of total malice in his eye. He stumbled over, closing the distance between us. "Why won't you kiss me?"
I could only stare at him again, blinking as my mind began to piece together what was happening. "You're drunk!" I cried in disbelief, shakily stepping back away from him.
"I have good reason," he sneered. His expression remained unchanged, the crazed look still intact in his eye. "I always get drunk before a hanging."
I backed toward the door, my heart in my throat as his words hit me like a ton of bricks. It was all too clear what he meant. "We are all equal in the eyes of God."
"Then kiss me," he sputtered angrily. "Just one kiss, and I won't have your boyfriend killed." He grinned maniacally. "I'll just run him out of town."
Not knowing what else to do, I turned and ran from the building. I hadn't gone very far when I encountered Sam, leading Mary Lou and the onion cart.
"We have to get out of here," I told him urgently. "Someone saw us kissing yesterday."
Fighting back the new rise of tears that threatened to escape, I continued. "Sam, the sheriff says he is going to hang you!"
He looked as though he was in shock, regarding me with wide eyes. "Come on, Mary Lou," he said at last, turning slowly to lead the donkey towards the lake.
Biting my lip, I grabbed Sam's arm. "We have to leave Mary Lou behind, Sam."
I cannot express how my heart broke for him. If you could only have seen the way he regarded me with tears in his big brown eyes. "Okay," he agreed finally.
Within a few moments we were rowing across the lake on Sam's boat. I actually fooled myself into believing that we might make it across. Then, a look of terror captured Sam's face. I turned around slowly, cautiously, unsure I wanted to see what was behind us. The sight of the Walker's new boat greeted me. Horrible black smoke rose up from it, blinding me as they drove closer. I heard the sickening crack of a gunshot and could barely see Sam fall into the water beside me.
I dove for him, yelling his name, and the sudden movement caused the boat to overturn. I searched for him frantically; the weight of my dress pulling me under more than once before someone grabbed me from behind. Still, I fought, screaming his name even as they dragged me onto the motorboat.
"Your boyfriend is dead," one of the men spat at me, and I only sobbed harder in reply.
"You're lying!" I accused, unable to accept what I knew was true. Unable to comprehend what exactly that meant, my tears froze on my face, and my hysteria was replaced with a strange, unfamiliar numbness that contained my whole body. The men simply ignored me, pretended that I didn't exist, and soon the boat was pulling up to the dock. I gave in, too tired to fight anymore, and allowed myself to be led onto land.
The sights that greeted me were unbearable. The remains of the schoolhouse smoldered in the distance, and Mary Lou lie unmoving on the ground. Someone had shot Sam's adored donkey in the head.
I must stop writing now, as the events of just two days ago are playing again in my head in such vivid recall that I cannot bear it any longer. I wish so much to return to the way it was before Sam kissed me, even if it would mean to never be a part of his life.