In hindsight, I should've asked Cater many more questions about this two-week vacation.
"Are you saying you'll hang me out to dry?" I asked and mounted the horse.
"I'm saying, there's a give and take to the world, ma'am. If you need my help again, it won't be free."
"Then I'll make sure not to need your help again." A little tired and rattled from the night, I was anxious to put as much distance as possible between me and the cave with the crazy man. "Have a good day, Sheriff."
His arms were crossed. Unruffled, he was nonetheless unhappy. I didn't want anything to do with him, but I was also relieved that his quiet strength stood between the madman below and me.
I wheeled the horse and bolted back the way I came from, determined to make it home before Nell awoke and had a meltdown. The night didn't seem so scary in the full light of morning, though I wasn't able to purge the shadowy images I had seen in Fighting Badger's mind.
I had never met someone like him, and it disturbed me on too many levels for me to define. Pity, fear, shock … I intended to keep my promise to return and visit him, because a small part of me wanted to think there was some good in every person I met, including Fighting Badger.
Even Philip, the cousin who was headed to my house to visit today. I didn't know who was worse: a man with the mind of a ten-year-old who killed people so he had friends or a rapist aware of what he did.
At least I have Nell and John. They were good people, through and through.