Wish You Well(95)

Goode chuckled. "With all due respect, I doubt that."

Fred the bailiff appeared and said his official words, and they all rose, and the Court of

the Honorable Henry J. Atkins was now in session.

"Send in the jury," the judge said to Fred.

The jury filed in. Cotton looked at them one by one, and almost fell to the floor when he

saw George Davis as one of men chosen.

He thundered, "Judge, George Davis wasn't one of me jurors we voir dired. He has a

vested interest in me outcome of tins case."

Atkins leaned forward. "Now, Cotton, you know we have a hard enough time getting

jurors to serve. I had to (drop Leroy Jenkins because he got kicked by his mule. Now, I

know he's not the most popular person around, but George Davis has as much right to

serve as any other man. Look here, George, can you keep a fair and open mind about this

case?"

Davis had his churchgoing clothes on and looked quietly respectable. "Yes, sir," he said

politely and looked around. "Why, y'all knowed Louisa's place right next to mine. Get

along good." He smiled a black-toothed smile, which he seemed to have difficulty with,

as though it were something he'd never before attempted.

"I'm sure Mr. Davis will make a fine juror, Your Honor," said Goode. "No objection

here."

Cotton looked at Atkins, and the curious expression on the judge's face made Cotton

think twice about what was really going on here.

Lou sat in her seat, silently fuming at this. It was wrong. And she wanted to stand up and

say it was, yet for once in her life she was too intimidated. This was a court of law, after

all.

"He's lying!" The voice thundered, and every head in the place turned to its source.

Lou looked next to her to find Oz standing on his seat, taller now than all in the

courtroom. His eyes were on fire, his finger pointed straight at George Davis. "He's

lying," Oz roared again in a voice so deep Lou did not even recognize it as her brother's.

"He hates Louisa. It's wrong for him to be here."

Cotton had been struck dumb like all the others. He glanced around the room. Judge

Atkins stared at the little boy, none too pleased. Goode was about ready to spring to his

feet. And Davis's look was so fierce that Cotton was very grateful that no gun was handy

for the man. Cotton raced to Oz and swooped up the boy.

"Apparently, the propensity for public outbursts runs in the Cardinal family," Atkins

boomed. "Now, we can't have that, Cotton."

"I know, Judge. I know."

"It's wrong. That man is a liar!" yelled Oz.

Lou was scared. She said, "Oz, please, it's okay."

"No, it's not, Lou," said Oz. "That man is hateful. He starves his family. He's wicked!"

"Cotton, take that child out," roared the judge. "Right now."

Cotton carried out Oz, with Lou trailing in their wake.

They sat on the cold courthouse steps. Oz wasn't crying. He just sat there and smacked

his small fists against his slender thighs. Lou felt tears trickle down her cheeks as she

watched him. Cotton put an arm around Oz's shoulders.

"It's not right, Cotton," said Oz. "It's just not right." The boy kept punching his legs.

"I know, son. I know. But it'll be okay. Why, having George Davis on that jury might be

a good thing for us."

Oz stopped hitting himself. "How can that be?"

"Well, it's one of the mysteries of the law, Oz, but you'll just have to trust me on it. Now I

suspect y'all still want to watch the trial." They both said that they would very dearly

want to do that.

Cotton glanced around and saw Deputy Howard Walker standing by the door. "Howard,

it's a little cold for these children to be waiting out here. If I guarantee no more outbursts,

can you find a way to get them back in, 'cause I got to get going. You understand."

Walker smiled and gripped his gunbelt. "Y'all come on with me, children. Let Cotton go

work his magic."

Cotton said, "Thank you, Howard, but helping us might cost you some popularity in this

town."

"My daddy and brother died in those mines. Southern Valley can go to hell. Now, you get

on in there and show them what a fine lawyer you are."

After Cotton went back in, Walker took Lou and Oz in through a rear entrance and got

them settled at a spot in the balcony reserved for special visitors, after receiving a solemn

promise from Oz that he would not be heard from again.

Lou looked at her brother and whispered. "Oz, you were really brave to do that. I was

afraid to." He smiled at her. Then she realized what was missing. "Where's the bear I

bought you?"

"Shoot, Lou, I'm too old for bears and thumb sucking.