How does Karla punish Dale Strickland for his harassment in the novel, Valentine?

When one night, Dale Strickland comes into the bar and begins taunting and harassing Karla, she loses her temper. Later, she secretly hits Strickland with her car twice, and drives off. Though he does not die, and the women in town know Karla was behind the incident, they do not turn her over to the police. Her act appears as a collective statement on behalf of her sex.