The two boys jostled off over toward the line to the bouncy inflatable Haunted Gold Mine. The metal walls of the old titty bar echoed with kids’ voices and laughter, jumping and playing, the tinkling of that player piano in the old-time saloon where they served up Coca-Colas and Icees. Stagg’s face went soft, grinning big at the whole scene, thinking that maybe his heart really had changed after being put away. This sure was something special for the entire community.

“Well,” Lovemaiden said, still holding his hat in his hand and looking around at the kiddos leaping from attraction to attraction, bounding up the stairs to the crow’s nest where Fannie Hathcock used to keep her office and was now filled with video games and pinball machines. “I thought I might try my hand over at the shooting gallery.”

“That one’s special,” Stagg said. “Used to be up at Libertyland in Memphis before it all got torn down. Bought it from a black fella who’d kept it safe in storage over up in Frayser.”

Lovemaiden nodded, placed his smallish cowboy hat back on his huge head, and moved toward the entrance.

“One thing before you get down to that Ole West fun,” Stagg said, touching Lovemaiden’s shoulder. “I got a fella that I sure would love you to meet.”

“Yes, sir,” Lovemaiden said. “Who’s that?”

“Someone who’s gonna turn our counties into a better, stronger, God-fearing world.”

*   *   *

Lillie Virgil drove over to Hot Springs that afternoon to visit with Ladarius McCade, who was still being held there for stealing that brand-new Kia Sorento out at Lake Hamilton. The old couple that owned the car hadn’t had it two weeks and wanted Ladarius prosecuted to every inch of the law. Weeks later, and out of the hospital, he was being held at the Garland County Juvenile Detention Center. It wasn’t the Peabody Hotel, but it wasn’t exactly Parchman Farm, either. The guards found Lillie a nice big concrete table by the basketball courts to meet with Ladarius.

He was still on crutches as they brought him through the gated fence. He hobbled along fast, his right leg bandaged and braced, and he had to sit crossways because his knee wouldn’t bend.

“Congratulations,” Lillie said. “You don’t look like I expected.”

“And how’s that?” Ladarius said, smiling. The blond cut out of his hair, shaved down tighter on the top.

“I expected you to look like shit warmed over,” Lillie said. “But you appear to be half decent, kid. A little fucked up, kind of crippled, but you may just make it.”