Rupert’s car sitting by the Sack and Save gas pumps and walked toward it. At that same moment, a Vicksburg police car drove up with sirens blaring. Rachel and Willow ran outside and screamed to Connor.
Hearing the screams, Connor turned around and headed toward them. With a look of amazement, Connor asked, “What in the world is going on?”
Willow Pointed toward the cashier’s cage. “That old pervert needs to be locked up.”
“Who are you talking about?”
“That jackass in the cage over there.”
“You mean Rudy?”
“I guess. I don’t know his name.”
“Well, you should. He worked for us for many years until your daddy fired him.”
“What?”
“Yeah. He was a deck hand that couldn’t keep his mouth shut. One day he mouthed off to your daddy and Rupert told him if he didn’t shut up, he was going to become turtle bait. He didn’t last long after that.”
“Daddy should have deep-sixed him. He is a first class jerk.”
“What did he do to you?”
“Connor, I filled up with gas, and then realized my purse was left in your truck. I didn’t have any money to pay him and he’s got my keys. Oh, well, just go pay him and let’s get out of here.”
The Vicksburg policeman was talking to Rudy as Connor walked up.
Connor asked, “Rudy, what’s the problem?”
“That McKenzie woman was trying to steal gas,” Rudy said, bristling. “She ran over to the Credit Union and that’s when I called the police. I didn’t know what else to do.”
Laughing and looking at the policeman, Connor said, “Officer, I’ll take care of this. I don’t think any laws were broken.”
“Mr. Peppler, I agree.”
The officer got back into his patrol car and left, shaking his head.
Connor turned to Rudy asking, “How much does she owe you?”
“That’s thirty-seven fifty.”
“Here’s forty. Keep the change, but give me her car keys. Rudy, if you ever act like this again toward Ms. McKenzie, I’m going to cram one of those gas nozzles in a spot where the sun never shines. Do you understand?”
“Yes Sir, Mr. Peppler. I will never speak to Ms. McKenzie again.”
Connor opened the door to the white Ford LTD. “Good. Now that’s the right attitude. Just remember you’ll have me to deal with if you screw up. You’re living on borrowed time anyway and damn lucky Rupert or I didn’t throw you in the river years ago.”
By now, several of the Credit Union employees had gathered outside with Willow and Rachel. When Connor pulled into the parking lot and stepped out, they applauded.
"What’s that all about?”
Rachel said, “Old Rudy has been harassing women for some time now. Maybe you have put the fear into him.”
“If he has acted like a jerk, why in heavens name did you go over there?”
“That’s the cheapest gas in town. I was never really scared, you know, I’m tough, as long as he stayed in his cage. But, he was always looking us up and down, like trying to undress us with his eyes. He is so repulsive.”
“I hope he has learned a valuable lesson and doesn’t cause any more problems.”
“Thank you, Connor, and it is very nice to see you and Willow again.”
“Thank you, Rachel, and it is very good to see you, too,” Willow said. “Maybe soon, we can get together and relive some of our high school days.”
“That would be great. Maybe we should have a mini class reunion.”
“Yes, that would be fun. I’m moving back to Vicksburg and want to rekindle some of my old friendships.”
“Super. I look forward to seeing you around town.”
“Thanks again,” Willow said, stepping into the car. “You’ve been a life saver. I know I shouldn’t have been so hysterical, but that old pervert really caught me off guard and scared the daylights out of me.”
“I’ve had all of the excitement I can stand and I’m going back to the office.”
“Not so fast. I’m coming along, too.”
* * *
Entering the McKenzie Towing office, Willow said, “You haven’t
Hearing the screams, Connor turned around and headed toward them. With a look of amazement, Connor asked, “What in the world is going on?”
Willow Pointed toward the cashier’s cage. “That old pervert needs to be locked up.”
“Who are you talking about?”
“That jackass in the cage over there.”
“You mean Rudy?”
“I guess. I don’t know his name.”
“Well, you should. He worked for us for many years until your daddy fired him.”
“What?”
“Yeah. He was a deck hand that couldn’t keep his mouth shut. One day he mouthed off to your daddy and Rupert told him if he didn’t shut up, he was going to become turtle bait. He didn’t last long after that.”
“Daddy should have deep-sixed him. He is a first class jerk.”
“What did he do to you?”
“Connor, I filled up with gas, and then realized my purse was left in your truck. I didn’t have any money to pay him and he’s got my keys. Oh, well, just go pay him and let’s get out of here.”
The Vicksburg policeman was talking to Rudy as Connor walked up.
Connor asked, “Rudy, what’s the problem?”
“That McKenzie woman was trying to steal gas,” Rudy said, bristling. “She ran over to the Credit Union and that’s when I called the police. I didn’t know what else to do.”
Laughing and looking at the policeman, Connor said, “Officer, I’ll take care of this. I don’t think any laws were broken.”
“Mr. Peppler, I agree.”
The officer got back into his patrol car and left, shaking his head.
Connor turned to Rudy asking, “How much does she owe you?”
“That’s thirty-seven fifty.”
“Here’s forty. Keep the change, but give me her car keys. Rudy, if you ever act like this again toward Ms. McKenzie, I’m going to cram one of those gas nozzles in a spot where the sun never shines. Do you understand?”
“Yes Sir, Mr. Peppler. I will never speak to Ms. McKenzie again.”
Connor opened the door to the white Ford LTD. “Good. Now that’s the right attitude. Just remember you’ll have me to deal with if you screw up. You’re living on borrowed time anyway and damn lucky Rupert or I didn’t throw you in the river years ago.”
By now, several of the Credit Union employees had gathered outside with Willow and Rachel. When Connor pulled into the parking lot and stepped out, they applauded.
"What’s that all about?”
Rachel said, “Old Rudy has been harassing women for some time now. Maybe you have put the fear into him.”
“If he has acted like a jerk, why in heavens name did you go over there?”
“That’s the cheapest gas in town. I was never really scared, you know, I’m tough, as long as he stayed in his cage. But, he was always looking us up and down, like trying to undress us with his eyes. He is so repulsive.”
“I hope he has learned a valuable lesson and doesn’t cause any more problems.”
“Thank you, Connor, and it is very nice to see you and Willow again.”
“Thank you, Rachel, and it is very good to see you, too,” Willow said. “Maybe soon, we can get together and relive some of our high school days.”
“That would be great. Maybe we should have a mini class reunion.”
“Yes, that would be fun. I’m moving back to Vicksburg and want to rekindle some of my old friendships.”
“Super. I look forward to seeing you around town.”
“Thanks again,” Willow said, stepping into the car. “You’ve been a life saver. I know I shouldn’t have been so hysterical, but that old pervert really caught me off guard and scared the daylights out of me.”
“I’ve had all of the excitement I can stand and I’m going back to the office.”
“Not so fast. I’m coming along, too.”
* * *
Entering the McKenzie Towing office, Willow said, “You haven’t
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