Tammy and Ringo by N.C. Reed Read Free Book Online

“Too late to do me any good, though.”
    “Hiram, who is it?” An older woman joined him at the door.
    “Two kids, looking for a place to stay,” Hiram replied.
    “Let them in,” the woman said, eyeing the two.
    “Helen, we agreed. . . .”
    “They need help,” Helen shook her head. “Look at her,” she whispered, too soft for the ‘kids’ to hear. Hiram looked back and realized for the first time that the girl was shaking like a leaf.
    “Come in,” he said, opening the door wider.
     
    “Thank you,” Tammy almost sobbed but caught herself.
    “I’ll get your bag,” Ringo offered. Tammy nodded and allowed the older woman to guide her inside.
    “She’s had a. . .it’s been a hard day for her,” Ringo told Hiram. “Thanks.”
    “Looks like you ain’t had it so well yourself,” the man replied. His right hand deposited a Colt .45 into his rear waist band. “You need a hand?”
    “No, but. . .I do have something to tell you,” Ringo hesitated. Would Hiram turn them in? He didn’t know. “If you can listen while I get our things, it would keep her from having to hear it. Again.”
    “All right,” Hiram surprised him. “Sorry I was a little short, by the way,” he continued as the two stepped down to the car. “Been a rash of trouble around here today. Several people killed, robbed, things like that. Can’t be too careful.” Ringo stopped short.
    “You know who did it?” he asked.
    “Just two, maybe three men, in a big truck,” Hiram replied.
    “Hiram, you can probably forget about that,” Ringo said softly. “Three men in a truck like that tried to attack us a little while ago, not far from here.”
    “Tried?” Hiram’s eyebrow rose a bit.
     
    “Yes, sir,” Ringo said respectfully. “They were after Tammy.”
    “Lot of past tense in your sentences, son,” Hiram said gently.
    “I. . .took care of it,” Ringo told him evenly. “I have something that. . .well, they had these,” he admitted, reaching into his pockets and removing the jewelry, handing it over. “Two had blood on them. Well, other than their own,” he added. Hiram took the rings and other jewelry from the teenager.
    “Son, I don’t mean to be suspicious, but. . .how did you manage to take on all three of them and win?”
    “They underestimated me,” Ringo shrugged. “And I’m a little tougher than I look,” he admitted.
    “I’d say that’s a given,” Hiram snorted. “I’ll have to call the sheriff,” he warned.
    “I understand,” Ringo replied, taking Tammy’s duffle and his own backpack from the car. “Do what you have to. I did what I did to protect her. If there’s consequences, I’ll accept them. But only after she’s safe,” he added.
    “Sheriff Ball might not agree to that,” Hiram warned again.
    “It would be in his best interest,” Ringo shrugged. “I intend to see that girl home, or as close as I can get her. And I’ll walk through or over anyone or anything I have to in order to make that happen.”
     
    Hiram looked at the boy in front of him, reappraising his early assessment.
    “You two together?” he asked.
    “Just met today,” Ringo shook his head.
    “She must have made a good first impression.”
    “Saved my life,” Ringo agreed.
    “Well, I reckon there’s no need to call until. . .tomorrow, anyway,” Hiram grinned slightly.             
    “Thank you, sir,” Ringo nodded.
    “No, thank you, son,” Hiram sighed. “Might sleep better tonight, now.”
    “I wouldn’t,” Ringo shrugged. “World’s gone crazy.”
    “Ain’t it though,” Hiram agreed. “C’mon, let’s get you two some hot food and maybe a bath. You might need a new shirt, too,” he nodded. Ringo noticed for the first time he had blood on him.
    “I’ve got a spare,” he nodded.
    *****
    “You poor dear,” Helen consoled Tammy, who had just told essentially the same story to her hostess. “I’m glad your young man is so capable. Good men are hard to find these