The Right Side of Wrong Read Online Free PDF Page A

the ears to tell me my manners. Now first off, my name ain’t Buddy , and if you call me that again, I’ll slap you so hard you’ll see stars.”
    When the deputy’s face hardened, Ned pointed a finger right between his eyes. “Now, about my hat, young’un. I been in and out of this courtroom since your daddy was draggin’ at the tit, and I knew what to do way back before then.”
    â€œYou still have to remove your hat to enter the judge’s courtroom, old timer. You ought to know something like that,” Boone continued, as if he hadn’t heard Ned’s response.
    This time Ned’s eyes flashed, and from across the courtroom O.C. watched as something bad was about to happen to his new bailiff. Instead of intervening, O.C. expected the young man to learn a lesson about people.
    Ned reached for the leather sap in his back pocket, but realized what he was doing. The stress and worry over Cody and his brutal attack weighed on him more than he realized, and he didn’t need to be whacking on a discourteous deputy with the leather-covered chunk of lead. Taking a deep, calming breath, he moved closer to the deputy and opened his canvas barn coat to reveal the tiny constable’s badge pinned on his shirt, right beside the wrinkled gallus of his overalls.
    â€œNow you listen real good, son. My name is Ned Parker, not old timer, nor Buddy, nor Mr. Sonofabitch! I’ve been constable of Precinct Three since nineteen and thirty, which means I was raised by folks who taught me manners, something I can tell you don’t have.”
    With mounting fury, he stabbed a stiff finger in the bailiff’s chest and pushed close enough that he stepped back. Ned’s presence suddenly filled the deputy’s view as if a mad brahma bull had just charged into the courthouse.
    â€œI had already intended to take my hat off, when I go through there and not one second sooner, because my manners tell me a man can wear a hat indoors in the hallway of a public building, if he wants to. Now, you got exactly one second to get out of my way or I’ll walk right over your prissy little ass.”
    The bailiff squinted at the badge and he found himself afraid to meet Ned’s flashing eyes. He flushed and stepped to the side. Ned brushed past, nearly knocking the bailiff off balance with his shoulder, and removed his hat as he entered the courtroom.
    O.C. held out a hand to stop Ned from sitting in the galley, and addressed the prisoner standing below. “All right, Carl, you get your wish. Trial is set thirty days from today at nine in the morning, so you get to tell your side of the story. Until then, you can post bail or sit in jail. That’s up to you.”
    â€œWhat’s my bail?”
    â€œOne thousand dollars. Now, we’ll take a twenty-minute recess.”
    â€œDamn, O.C., that’s too much!”
    â€œWatch your language. Now it’s two thousand.”
    â€œOscar! We’re kinfolk!”
    â€œYou pronounce that name one more time and I’ll make it three thousand!” O.C. rapped his gavel, threw it down with a clatter, and stood to leave the courtroom.
    â€œAll rise!” Boone called from over Ned’s shoulder.
    O.C. pointed at Ned. “My office.” He disappeared through the back door into the hallway.
    Ned passed the bench, glared at Carl for fighting with his little wife, and tailed O.C. into the hallway. The judge was already standing in front of the courthouse’s only elevator when Ned joined him.
    â€œI thought you were fixin’ to shoot Boone.” O.C. pushed the button and the bell dinged almost immediately.
    â€œWho?”
    â€œThat new deputy out there.”
    â€œSo that’s his name. Yeah, I thought about caving in his damn fool head, Oscar .”
    Before O.C. had time to scold Ned for using his Christian name, the elevator creaked to a stop and Jules the elevator man opened the doors. Old Jules, as