Free Nubbin but Trouble by Ava Mallory Page A

encouraging bad behavior. All I could do was stand there and listen to her, but I also couldn't help to assess her large features. Her hands were nearly as big as her fathers. Her deep-set brown eyes were plastered behind layer after layer of mascara and the darkest muddy brown eye shadow I'd ever seen someone intentionally put on their face.
     
    I'd finally had enough and had to stop her to get a clear understanding of what it was she thought I did or didn't do. I walked around the wall of angry women and walked to the resident's dining room to sit next to our captive audience members, Sarah and two residents. I nodded a greeting to the residents. They nodded in return.
     
    After I was situated, I yelled, “Will someone explain to me what it is she thinks I did?”
     
    It took a moment for my words to register with Kathy and Nubbin's daughter. They glanced at each other before turning to face me again.
     
    “I'll have you know that my father is a very impressionable man. He hasn't been the same for years and I don't appreciate you showing up out of nowhere and putting all these ideas in his head. Now, look at what he's done. My name wouldn't be Donna Lee Schmeckpepper – Schwartz if I didn't do everything I could to protect my father.”
     
    Schmeckpepper – Schwartz, really? You couldn't drop the Schmeckpepper when you got married? Remembering the horrid stench, I thought , Someone married you?
     
    “Listen Donna,” I started.
     
    “Donna Lee!” Karen screamed.
     
    Of course, forgive me, Walking Book of Knowledge.
     
    “I'm sorry. I mean, Donna Lee, but I really have no idea what you're referring to.” I said.
     
    Donna Lee made a beeline for my table. “And, if you think I'm ever going to honor his will and let you take everything, you're sadly mistaken!”
     
    What?

Chapter Five
                  “He's not here,” Jean, Charlie's secretary, waved me off with her hand and quickly shut the thin screen of plexiglass that separated her and me.
     
    I sniffled, willing my nose to stop running. It was bad enough that it was already red and sensitive to the touch in such a short amount of time; I didn't need to be dripping all over the place. “Do you think that you could get a message to him for me? I'm the one who called yesterday. Charlie and I are old friends. I think he'd like to know that I was here to see him.”
     
    She rolled her brown eyes as she sighed. “He's busy. Like I told you on the phone, there are some serious things happening in the county and the sheriff is very busy these days. I can leave him a note and tell him that you were here, but I can't and won't interrupt him when he's working.”
     
    The long drive had finally begun to catch up with me. I desperately wanted to check into the motel and lie down, but first I needed to talk to Charlie. I needed to know where things stood as far as the search for Nubbin was concerned.
     
    “Would you happen to know where I might be able to find him right now?” I didn't think there was even a slight chance that she'd give me that information, but what other choice did I have? I'd already driven all this way. I had to ask.
     
    Without saying another word, Jean turned her attention to a pile of paperwork sitting in front of her on the desk. I was left with no choice but to turn around and walk out. It seemed that no matter what I did, Western Nebraska had no intention of welcoming me properly. I couldn't win for losing around here. I figured, I'd show them and take matters into my own hands. I didn't need them anyway. If anything, they needed me. Not that I was conceited or anything, but I just thought that I had a tad bit more experience with reading people and understanding their clues than most, excluding perhaps Charlie, but I was even beginning to doubt his capabilities.
     
    As a nurse, it was my job to pay attention to the signs and symptoms. I'd already failed Nubbin once; I didn't intend to ever fail him again. I came