Tuesday, May 22, 2018

Clouding: Day 8

Word Count: 48,002

Summary of Events:
Asher packed up Ashley and set off in the direction he recalled the tracks having gone, although even if he wasn't following them he had full intentions of getting away from Tucson. The pastor came by to discuss the argument Theresa's mother and his wife had gotten into, but gave no indication of what he was going to do about it. Asher encountered some Apaches and appealed to them for help with his arm, which was getting really sore. The deputy came by to give Theresa's mother an update that Theresa felt deliberately put Asher in a negative light; her mother refused to believe what the deputy told her . . .

Excerpt of the Day:
Mr. Peck shook his head. "I have given you the truth, and it is a truth you are going to have to accept no matter how much it does not reconcile with what you wish to be true."
Mama looked at Mr. Peck with a measure of defiance. "I do not believe Jeremy would be pleased with this."
"He would be pleased," Mr. Peck said. "For it is the truth."
"You, who have known Jeremy only for some eight years think you can tell me what would please a man to whom I was wed for three decades?" Mama asked.
"Mrs. Rose, you are being delusional," Mr. Peck replied. "The sudden and tragic loss of your husband has taken its toll on you, and it has prompted you to lose control of your senses. I will not trouble you with any further developments on the investigation until I believe your mind has regained soundness enough to understand the truth."
"Good," Mama said. "I should not like to see you in my home again Bartholomew. I am sure you are well able to show yourself out."
"My condolences Mrs. Rose," Mr. Peck said.
Mama nodded and Theresa watched silently as Mr. Peck got to his feet and left the house rather briskly.
"What if he did it?" Theresa asked.
"Whatever do you mean Theresa?" Mama asked.
"What if everyone was fine when he went out there to check on things and he shot them all to make it look like Bullseye had done it, and he did it like that because he'd seen evidence of the Hunter passing nearby, and planned to pin it all on the Hunter because he doesn't like the Hunter and doesn't like how Papa was willing to give the Hunter the benefit of the doubt?" Theresa asked.
Mama silently turned her gaze toward the door Mr. Peck had just departed through. She remained silently gazing toward the door for a long time before turning and looking at Theresa.
"I don't know that I can reconcile that either," she finally replied. "Jeremy would assuredly have been able to tell if Bartholomew were capable of murder."
"Papa wasn't perfect Mama," Theresa said.
"He'd never misjudged anyone," Mama replied. "He could tell who might actually go so far as to murder, and who might just be jealous. He never said he was suspicious that Bartholomew would actually commit murder. I am convinced the killer is Bullseye."
"Isn't it a believable theory though Mama?" Theresa asked.
"I cannot lie, it is a believable theory," Mama replied. "And in all truth, any of the present theories could be proven by further investigation. Each have their merit, but I pray God shows us through diligent search which one is, indeed, the true set of circumstances."

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