Penned In. Lynn Cahoon
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building was posted on their left. A small placard described Harry’s crimes, as well as his more redeeming characteristics.
“Over here we have one of Butch Cassidy’s boys. Henry ‘Bob’ Meeks wasn’t a long term resident but he tried to make his stay even shorter by escaping. He was shot in the leg, then doctors had to amputate the wounded limb. Later, he tried another method of escape and jumped off the top of a cell house. Finally, he was sent to the asylum.” Bridget told the next story.
The tour went on like that with each guard giving the story of a different famous resident. Bridget presented the final story. “There were about 250 women incarcerated here over the years. Lyda Southard was convicted of killing her fourth husband with arsenic. Investigators pulled together evidence to support the premise that the other three husbands, a brother in law, and a son were all killed by the same method.”
“She sounds like a peach of a girl,” Tad called out. “Just don’t eat her apple pie, it’s killer.”
There were a few laughs but more groans to Tad’s joke. He glanced around at the group and muttered, “Tough crowd.”
“I think it’s sad when women feel they have no other way out besides murder.” Hope said.
“Honey, she killed at least five people, including her own child. I think she needed better coping mechanisms,” Nancy said.
Hope nodded, then glanced at the photo again. “You’re probably right, but it’s still sad.”
They made their way to the gun collection where the guys were huddled over the display talking. Hope, Angie, Felicia and Nancy grabbed a table in the corner to sit. “I never got the fascination with guns,” Nancy admitted. “My ex-husband was a hunter and he had all kinds of weapons. Most that weren’t good for hunting at all.”
“Well, if the zombie apocalypse happens while we’re here, we’ll be safe.” Hope touched the stone walls. “Can you believe the prisoners built this building? Now they just make license plates.”
“I think that’s not quite true. I do some prison mission work, and a lot of the woman who are incarcerated are working on their degrees, so they have job skills when they get out. They need something to count on besides the family or man who led them down the wrong path.” Nancy fixed her pony tail.
“When do you have time to volunteer?” Angie studied her chef. “Last I heard, you were raising kids and working two jobs.”
“I only do it one Sunday a month after church. It helps me remember how lucky I am to have what I have. Even if it is crazy at times.” Nancy grinned. “I’m sure the rest of you volunteer too.”
Hope nodded. “I’m on the college sorority that works with the homeless in town. Of course, I’m going to have to quit when fall semester starts since I’m not a student anymore. Maybe I should check out your program?”
“Of course, but maybe you could find something where there’s more young people involved.” Nancy glanced over at the men talking about the gun collection. “We’re a bunch of women who aren’t trying to build our lives. You need to be around people your age. You already hang with us in the kitchen way too much.”
“I like you guys.” Hope countered. “Besides, I do a lot of things with friends my age. I’m just going to miss the structure of college. I got my schedule at the beginning of the semester. I took the classes and as long as I passed, I moved on. Now, no one is telling me what I need to do. Not even my folks. Although my little sister made it clear it’s time for me to leave home so she can have my room.”
Angie laughed. “Out of the mouths of babes. Do you make enough to pay for an apartment? Rents are pretty high right now.”
“I have a friend I can move in with. She’s been bugging me about sharing an apartment for years. She’s a checker over at Winco in Meridian.” Hope pointed to the guards who were standing in the corner talking. “Does it look like they’re fighting about something? Do you think something went wrong with the tour?”
Angie glance over to the doorway where two of the men were definitely in a heated argument. She couldn’t tell what they were saying, but the tone of the voices told her neither party was happy. She glanced at Felicia. “Do you think something’s wrong?”
Felicia glanced around the room, then leaned into the table to get everyone’s attention. “It’s Halloween season. They probably hate staying late just so more people come during the week. Or maybe it’s part of the show?”
“If that’s true, they’re really good actors.” Angie heard the low growl come from Dom. He felt the tension in the air just as much as she did. Or he sensed her unease. Either way, it was time to break up the conversation and continue with the tour. “Maybe if we stand up it will look like we’re ready to leave the area.”
“And maybe pigs will fly. Men only do what they want, when they want.” Hope said, then she slapped her hand over her mouth. “I shouldn’t have said that.”
“That’s fine. We all can say what we don’t mean at times.” Felicia met Angie’s gaze.
Angie thought she could read her friend’s thoughts. Hope never said anything mean or sarcastic. Maybe this prison visit hadn’t been the best idea for a team building event. She stood and Dom moved toward her. “Let’s see if we can get this tour going. Maybe if the guards are busy, they’ll stop sniping at each other.”
“One can only hope,” Nancy called out to the men. “Come on, we’re heading out.”
Matt ran back to Angie like a little puppy. “You can’t believe the displays they have. They must have every gun ever made and several that they used right here when the prison was open.”
“That’s awesome.” She watched as Matt ran to Felicia to report the same information. At least someone was having fun. By the time she got there, the men had moved away from each other and she ran into Officer Bridget. “Is everything okay?”
She sighed, running a hand over her hair. “I take it everyone heard the fight.”
“Not much, but yeah, we knew they weren’t happy. Is there a problem?” Angie took in the woman’s pale face. She looked stressed.
“They’ve been at each other all summer. I guess Marty is dating Pat’s ex-wife. I don’t know what the problem is; he divorced her to go chasing younger women. Now he’s all up in Marty’s face like they’re still married. Marty’s a nice guy. Rachel could do much worse.”
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