Free Catching Moondrops by Jennifer Erin Valent

it all made my nerves so raw I could barely stand still. Malachi was right in the thick of things, his cockeyed, arrogant grin the perfect fuel for the fire, and poor Noah stood at the bottom of the steps wringing his hands and calling for Malachi to let it all alone.
    But Malachi and I had one thing in common—stubbornness—and he wasn’t about to even think of backing down. I was sure of it.
    Bobby Ray let out a shout that got everyone’s attention on him and then pushed his way front and center. Luke had wedged in between Bobby Ray and Malachi, but being a good head shorter than Luke, Bobby Ray slipped under his arm like a weasel and stood so close to Malachi, I was surprised he didn’t fog up his face. “Boy, you best go on back where you came from before you ain’t got legs to carry you there, you hear? You’re messin’ with the wrong men now.”
    â€œMen,” I muttered. “Can’t believe that boy has the audacity to call himself a man.”
    Malachi didn’t respond to Bobby Ray at first, only grinned that grin that I was sure would be pasted on his face the day he died at a white man’s hand, and Bobby Ray gave him a good poke in the chest. “You hear me, boy?”
    He’d have to be deaf not to, and Malachi only stood taller on his toes and pumped a fist against his chest like an ape. “You want to see what a real man can do? You just come on and find out.”
    Luke grabbed a handful of Bobby Ray’s shirt and threw him to the side, then stepped up close to Malachi. “I’m tellin’ you now, get back in the truck,” he said through clenched teeth. “You’re startin’ a fight we can’t finish.”
    The cocky smile slipped from Malachi’s face for the first time. “Who’s we ? I didn’t say you had to be involved in this. This ain’t your fight.”
    â€œDon’t be stupid. I ain’t likely to stand by and watch you get the stuffin’ beat out of you, now am I?” He nodded toward the street. “You go on and take your brother home. It ain’t right for him to be watchin’ this.”
    Malachi took a look behind him at Noah, giving Bobby Ray the perfect opportunity to lay a punch square in his middle. The blow took the air out of Malachi and bent him at the waist, but it took him only a few seconds to recover enough to come up and land his fist under Bobby Ray’s chin.
    Dolly screamed in my ear and ran for the telephone. “I’m callin’ the sheriff.”
    â€œYeah, I’m sure he’ll be a big help savin’ a colored man.”
    â€œColored man or not, the sheriff’s bound by duty to protect this post office, so he’ll do it or I’ll let my daddy know, and my daddy’s good friends with the mayor.”
    The way I figured it, Malachi Jarvis had walked himself into the licking he was getting on purpose, and Bobby Ray Custis didn’t have enough brains in his head for anyone to notice if he got them beaten out of him. But the second I saw someone’s fist take a shot at Luke’s jaw, I was fit for battle. Without even waiting to see Luke’s reaction, I settled my finger on the trigger of his pistol and threw the front door open. I sounded one shot into the air and then leveled the gun in the direction of Bobby Ray’s head.
    He flinched, either at the sight of the gun or at the pain in his jaw—I wasn’t sure which—and put a hand out as if to steady me. “Now, Jessie, there ain’t no need for guns. We’re just having a fair fight here.”
    â€œI was in school with you, Bobby Ray, so I know for a fact you at least know how to count to ten. The way I see it, it’s six against two, and in my book that ain’t no fair fight.” I cocked my head to the side. “Now y’all get on.”
    Bobby Ray reached up to rub his jaw and smiled. Blood ran down from his mouth