Biggie and the Devil Diet - By Nancy Bell Page 0,58

the night in that damp cave, but somehow we managed to get her on top of my horse. I rode home behind Misty with my arms around her waist.

21

When we got back to the house, we found the others sitting around the big dining room table eating. Grace, who had just returned home from the hospital, was giving a report on Laura's condition. Her face looked splotchy, like she had been crying, but now she spoke in a strong voice.

"The doctor says the next few hours will tell the tale," she said. "If she wakes up, it's possible there won't be any brain damage. If she remains in a coma— well, nobody knows."

"Why'd you come home anyway?" Abner barked. "Somebody ought to be there with her."

Grace gave him a dirty look. "Don't you think I wanted to stay, you old fool? They sent me home. Said I could only come back after I'd had something to eat and a little rest. Speaking of which…"She pushed her chair back from the table. It was then that she noticed us standing at the door, Stacie looking a lot like a cow that had been stuck in the mud.

Biggie reached us first. She put her hand on Stacie's shoulder and looked into her eyes. "She seems to be in shock," she said. "Rosebud, get her on the sofa. Somebody bring blankets. Quick!"

"Should we call the doctor?" Grace asked, her voice trembling.

"No!" Stacie said.

"Let's wait and see," Biggie said. "She may just need rest and food. Are you hungry, honey?"

When Stacie nodded vigorously, Josefina headed for the kitchen and came back carrying a mug of soup. She sat down beside Stacie and began spooning it into her. Stacie made little grunting sounds as she slurped down the soup. She rolled her eyes at Grace.

"It's okay," Grace said. "All diets are suspended for now."

"Now," Biggie said, standing up and facing Grace. "You go get some rest. Later, after this young lady has had time to recover, she has some explaining to do." She looked down at Stacie, who nodded as if she knew exactly what Biggie was talking about.

"Fine." Biggie walked over to a table against the wall and picked up her big black purse. "Come, Rosebud and J.R. We'll just go home for now." She turned to face Abner. "We'll be back at seven with Ranger Upchurch. I expect we're on the verge of having this whole matter cleared up."

* * *

Later, at home, I asked Biggie what she meant by that, but she wouldn't tell me a thing, just said I'd find out soon enough.

Biggie decided to have Rosebud drive her out to the hospital to see how Laura was doing. After they left, I went into the kitchen to find Willie Mae and tell her all about me and Misty finding Stacie. She was rolling out a piecrust on the table, but she kept saying "Uh-huh," while I talked, so I was sure she was listening. Finally, she said, "That all?"

"I guess. Biggie knows more than she's telling. I can tell. Willie Mae, she makes me so mad when she does that. What would it hurt for her to tell me what she's thinking?"

"Reckon I knows who done it, too." She rolled the dough around her rolling pin and laid it over the pie pan.

"How? Willie Mae, how could you know? Oh… I forgot…." What I forgot was that Willie Mae is a voodoo lady. She knows most everything. "Who?"

"You be finding out soon enough." She trimmed the extra dough from around the pie and started pricking it with a fork.

"Willie Mae, say you know, too. But how could you? You don't even know those people."

"Maybe I do, and maybe I don't."

I got up and left the room. I know when I'm licked. I went into the den and picked up the phone to call Monica, figuring she'd be interested in the latest developments.

"So that's it," I said, after I'd told her everything. "Me and Misty found that old gal and brought her home."

"Hey, that Misty, she's something, isn't she?" Monica said. "I could be friends with her."

"Yeah."

"I've got an idea, J.R. Why don't you find her a date for the dance? We could go on a double date!"

"Umm…"I thought fast. "I don't know… I'll have to think…."

"Okay, you think about it. Guess what! My mom's gone and bought me a new dress. I will have to wear a dress, won't I?" I have never in my life seen Monica wearing a