Chapter Six

Ransom enjoyed the next few minutes. There was a certain tranquility to the town of Bethlehem that he found refreshing when contrasted to the busy streets of New York. There was hardly a soul on the roads, but the ones he passed each waved and smiled. Small Town America. Maybe it wouldn’t be quite as bad as he imagined.

Mayor Barton pulled into the driveway of his home and Ransom followed suit, uncertain exactly as to where he should park. It was a comfortable one level home, probably one of the better houses in town, although certainly not postcard material.

Mayor Barton seemed duly proud to have a guest. He ushered Ransom quickly inside. The front door was decorated with fresh flowers and a welcome sign and looked like it was copied right out of Southern Living magazine. The aroma of the flowers was sweet and particularly refreshing in the December air.

The smell was quickly dwarfed by the aroma of meatloaf that overpowered his senses when he stepped inside the Mayor’s home. Ransom absorbed the feel of the home with its down home country accents. He believed that the Barton family had made their home look very nice using obviously inexpensive and common decor.

Paul’s wife Darlene and daughter Kathy were busy preparing a meal in the kitchen. They responded eagerly to the mayor’s announcement that he and Ransom had arrived.
Darlene emerged from the kitchen for a moment to make nice with their new guest. Ransom couldn't help but notice how attractive she was for a middle-aged woman at leastfifteen years his senior.

In the background of a small, cozy living room The Andy Griffith Show played on 19" television. It was slightly audible during the introductions,and Ransom pondered the irony.

“This is J.C. Ransom. He’s a New York City reporter.”

Darlene fidgeted a moment and moved straight past the pleasantries to drag her daughter out from behind the kitchen counter and into the conversation.

“Hello and welcome! I’m Darlene and this is our daughter Kathy.”

As she tugged Paul’s daughter into full view, Ransom worked hard not to show any form of emotion. Kathy was beautiful, in the Southern sense… faded tight jeans, big hair, buxom breasts.

“Hey.” Kathy’s voice was majestically Southern and added to Ransom’s rising attraction.

“Hello.”

Ransom watched Kathy’s gaze become mildly seductive. He noticed that she followed Ransom with her eyes as he and Mayor Barton took their seats in the living room. Ransom nervously eyed the girl’s father to ensure that he hadn’t noticed.

“Dinner will be ready shortly.” Darlene must have noticed the look because Ransom barely heard her whisper the words, “Don’t stare at him,” and he definitely saw the elbowDarlene gave her daughter.

After an awkward silence in the living room,Mayor Bartonmade an attempt at a conversation. “Now that’s a damn good show, Ransom. I wish our sheriff was half the man of Andy.”

“What, is he more like Barney?”

“Good ole Barn! Ha! Yeah, he just might be. Except meaner. You know we’re a town smack full of Gomer’s and Goober’s. We even let Matty be deputy. He can barely tie his own shoes. A charity case you know.”

Ransom pondered the admission. “That's kind of you,” he said.

“Some say the education problems of this town are a reflection of my leadership — you know, my political enemies.” The mayor shifted in his seat as he spoke.

“Great men always have enemies.” Ransom decided he’d lay it on thick in hopes of establishing good graces, but the mayor shot a dead pan glance over to Ransom thatsent a chill up his spine.

“All men have enemies, Ransom.”