James picked a spot near a large pine tree that was one of his favorite places on the property.
They had the hole dug deep and laid his body next to the grave.
“Jason, listen to me. We have to unwrap this plastic before we put him to rest.”
“Can’t we just put him in like he is?” asked Jason.
“No. We need to check him first. He may have something on him, like a ring or necklace, that Billy could keep. We won’t get another chance at this, so if you help me unroll him, I’ll check for any keepsakes for this little boy.”
Jason was reluctant, not wanting to see the man’s face.
Once the grizzly task was complete, James felt good about his decision, coming up with a few things for the boy.
Laying the man to rest in the hole, they covered him with dirt to the top. James made a cross, tying two sticks together, but vowing to make the headstone over the next few weeks, as he had promised his wife.
The men entered the house to find the girls playing with Billy and sharing their toys.
James made a mental note to find out if the boy’s house was close enough to stop by and get some of his clothes and toys.
Jason sat on the living room couch, watching the kids play but not getting too close, continuing for a couple of hours until it was time for chores.
James and Janice headed outside, with Billy not wanting to leave Janice’s side.
“It’s okay, sweetheart,” she said. “We will be just a little while and then come right back.”
The girls coaxed him back into the house, with the promise of lemonade and cookies.
Jason sat on the couch with Lauren, talking softly. “James wants me to be able to look the boy in the eyes by tomorrow morning. I’m just not sure if I can.”
“By ‘the boy,’ you mean Billy?” Lauren asked.
“Yes, of course, Lauren. Who else would I be referring to?” he snapped.
“No, Jason. You don’t get to do that.”
“Do what?” he asked.
“This right here,” Lauren continued. “I’m sorry you had no choice but to end a man’s life. But it’s done, and now that boy you are referring to has a name, and it’s Billy. Let me hear you say it!”
“I just don’t know if I…”
“Let me hear you say it,” she repeated, louder than she should have.
The girls looked over and asked, “Mommy, are you all right?”
“Yes, I’m fine. I’m sorry I raised my voice.”
“Billy,” whispered Jason. “His name is Billy, and he’s just a sweet young boy of five years old that is now a part of this house and our families.”
“Say it again,” insisted Lauren, “all of it one more time.”
Jason did as she asked and felt a little better.
Lauren went to the kitchen and whispered something to Billy, pointing back towards the couch.
Billy slowly walked towards a nervous Jason, stopping just in front of him.
“Excuse me, mister, but do you think you could please help me pour some lemonade?”
Jason paused, frozen, looking him straight in the eyes, and saw exactly what James had said. Just a sweet five-year-old boy, asking for a glass of lemonade.
“Mister, are you okay?”
“Yes. Yes, Billy,” he replied, fighting back tears for the first time since the lights went out.
“In fact, I’m better than okay,” he replied with a grin, lifting the boy and carrying him into the kitchen.
“You can call me Uncle Jason, if you want,” he told him, winking at a shocked Lauren.
Setting Billy on the kitchen counter, he poured a glass for everyone.
Finishing his lemonade, he went out to see if he could help speed up the evening chores.
“Well, that was quick!” said James, looking at a smiling Jason.
“Yes, it was, thanks to Lauren, who nearly had to kick my ass,” he replied. “But we’re solid, Billy and me. He’s going to call me Uncle Jason. I think he will fit in just perfect around here.”
“Well, that’s great to hear,” replied Janice. “We’re going to keep the burial short,” she added, with James saying a few words, and Billy if he wants to.
Janice headed back to the house, switching out with Jason.
“I see you got some lemonade, Billy,” Janice noted.
“Yes, ma’am. Uncle Jason helped me get it. I like him. He’s nice.”
“Well, that’s great to hear,” Janice replied.
“What should I call you and Mr. James?” he asked.
It took everything in her not to blurt out “Mommy and Daddy.”
“We’ll think about that,” she replied, lifting him and carrying him out to swing with her on the front porch.
“Your daddy, Billy, was a good man, and he loved you very much. He’s in heaven now, but you can still talk to him.”
“I know. Mr. James is going to teach me to pray, so I can talk to him whenever I want.”
“That’s nice, Billy. We are going to have a little ceremony tonight, with just us here,” Janice said, waving her arm around the property, “so that we can say good-bye to him.”
“Okay, but please don’t leave me alone, because I don’t like to be scared.”
“Don’t you worry about that, little guy,” she replied, squeezing him tight and kissing him on the forehead.
She was reminded of an old Rolling Stones song with the lyrics “Wild horses couldn’t drag me away. Wild, wild horses couldn’t drag me away.”
Lord, you sure do work in mysterious ways, she thought.
After chores, they all made the short walk to the gravesite, with Chance slowly tagging along.
“I chose this spot,” said James to Billy, “because it’s my favorite spot on this whole ranch. Now your daddy can be here always.”
James said a few words about daddies and families and asked Billy if he wanted to say anything.
Billy had tears welling up in his eyes but kept his composure, opting to say some words another time.
James knelt next to Billy and opened a white handkerchief, with several items in it.
Billy smiled, picking up the wristwatch that was stuck on 9:03 a.m. Mountain Time.
There was a two-dollar bill and a Susan B. Anthony silver dollar, along with a chain with the dog tag reading:
Jacobs, Bill R.
3765389632
A Pos
No Preference
(ID number, blood type, and religion).
The last item was a custom pocketknife with the initials BRJ carved into the deer-antler handle. James kept this to himself, vowing to give it to him on his 10th birthday.
They walked home just as it was getting dusk.
The men were both exhausted and opted for an early bedtime. Janice and Lauren stayed up a little later, each with a glass of wine, and ironing two suits now. The girls and their new cousin were all fast asleep on the couch, with Chance lying at Billy’s feet.
* * * * * * *
Chapter Twenty ~ Weston, Colorado
Jason and James were up early, loading the truck well before dawn.
The beef was keeping nicely, and James was proud he could deliver a full day sooner than agreed. He was sure the restaurant owner could appreciate the bonus organs.
Heading to town, again opting to change clothes at the Sheriff’s, they drove by the town clock that read 5:22 a.m.
.
“Well,” said James, “I didn’t want to get here quite this early, but at least we won’t be late. Let’s try to get the beef dropped off first, if they are open.”
Pulling in front of the restaurant at 5:30 a.m., they were surprised to see nearly ten people on the front patio, eating breakfast already.
“I guess they’re open,” said Jason. “How about some breakfast? This time, James, it’s on me!” he added, holding up a silver coin, just one of many he was able to exchange with Janice yesterday for the gold coin.
“That sounds good to me, budd
y,” replied James. “It’s going to be one hell of a day, either way, so we might as well have a good breakfast.”
As expected, the restaurant owner was more than satisfied with the early delivery and bonus items.
Handing James a one-ounce gold coin for the final payment, he helped them unload the coolers into their refrigerators and freezers, all hooked up to a hodgepodge of generators.
“That looks complicated,” Jason said, pointing to the generators.
“It is, and I only know one guy who can make it work,” he said, pointing to an old man sitting on the patio, playing chess with a friend.
“We have a deal, he and I, that he keeps my freezers working and I give him free coffee and breakfast. So far, we are both happy.”
The owner proudly took down the sign asking to buy half a cow.
“Can I call on you down the road if I can’t find anyone selling?” he asked James.
“Sure. I can’t promise anything in advance, but I will always consider a request,” James replied.
Shaking hands, the owner disappeared into the kitchen.
Jason handed James a breakfast menu from a rack on the wall. Several items from the still-original menu were crossed off, including anything made from pork.
“I guess they are finally out of pork,” observed James.
“I was kind of hoping for some bacon,” added Jason, “but I can settle for pancakes and still be okay.”
* * * *
They pulled into the Sheriff’s office around 6:45 a.m. and found it unlocked.
“Let’s get changed, boys, and get to work,” said the Judge, sitting in his usual spot. “I apologize for that unpleasantness at the trade days.”
“You mean the small bomb?” asked Jason.
“Yes, that’s what I said,” replied the Judge in a serious tone.
“Well, it didn’t affect our trading any,” interjected James.
“I heard you’re giving some beef away to our out-of-town voters?” asked the Judge.
“Yes, sir,” replied James. “It was Sheriff Johnson’s idea, and it seems to have gone over well.”
“I would tend to agree, as I heard about it from more than one trader that day,” replied the Judge.
“Howdy, boys,” said the Sheriff, coming up from the back of the jail. “I’m about ready to get out there and campaign. I just had to fatten up the cows,” he added, carrying three empty plates.
“Speaking of cows, did you get the meat we promised the townsfolks?”
“Yes, sir, we did,” replied James.
“I thought about it,” the Sheriff continued, “and since all the preorder folks should be here for the election tomorrow, we should give it to them right then. Cast a vote, get some beef!”
“That sounds catchy,” remarked the Judge.
“We can do that,” replied James, now wondering how late he would be up tonight packing individual containers of beef.
“We’ll work hard all day and tomorrow, through the election, but we’ll be taking off on Wednesday and Friday,” announced James, wanting to set some ground rules. “Starting next week, we will be in town on Mondays, Wednesdays, and of course Saturdays.”
“Let’s get started,” said the Judge, not exactly agreeing to the new schedule.
The four men started in the old downtown, walking both sides of the street and talking with everyone they met.
Most everyone knew Judge Lowry and Sheriff Johnson, with a few questioning the whereabouts of Mr. Grimes.
“It’s too bad he hasn’t been around,” said one of the older men in a small group playing shuffleboard right on the street. “He’s a good man,” he continued. “And if he were here you might have a run for your money, Sheriff,” he added, with most others in the group nodding their heads in agreement.
James could tell Sheriff Johnson was not happy hearing this, as he turned red and pretended to get a call on his radio, walking away and down the street.
“This here is James VanFleet and Jason Davis,” the Judge told the small crowd, seemingly unfazed by the previous comment. “They are running for Mayor and Deputy Mayor,” he continued.
“Howdy, James,” said more than a few of the men.
“How’s the ranch? Is it still up and running?” asked one man.
James realized that many of the old-timers here were his customers over the years, although some hadn’t ordered in a while.
“Yes, sir,” replied James. “Everything is running smoothly, as always.” The Judge had a slight smile, enjoying the banter.
“Gentlemen, let me be clear,” announced the Judge. “We hope you will come out to vote tomorrow and a vote for Sheriff Johnson is also a vote for James VanFleet.
“Well, that was fun,” said the Judge, as they caught up with the Sheriff.
“It seems that James is quite popular with the old crowd,” he continued, speaking to both the Sheriff and Jason.
Sheriff Johnson pulled the Judge aside, still worked up from the exchange. “I want to kill Grimes,” he spat, “right there in his cell.”
“There will be none of that,” the Judge replied. “Just stick to the plan, and I’ll let you hang him in front of the whole town soon enough. Now we still have an election to win.”
Walking by the Tavern, the window read “Elect James VanFleet for Mayor.”
Just underneath read “Re-elect Sheriff Johnson” in smaller letters.
They walked past, with James pretending not to notice.
James was able to get Janice on the walkie-talkie and informed her it would be a late night for him and Jason, now having to divide 80 pounds of meat in the morning.
“Sorry about that, honey,” she responded. “We’ll have dinner waiting at least.”
Having spoken to nearly everyone in town, the four men met at the Judge’s office. It was clear that Judge Lowry was already well on his way to a good hangover in the morning.
“Let’s have a drink, boys,” he said, slurring his words. Pouring four glasses of James’ best, he toasted: “To the future of our town. May God have mercy on those who oppose us.”
* * * *
Heading home at dusk, Jason and James discussed the day.
“What do you think about the Sheriff?” asked Jason. “I mean, he looked pretty pissed off today.”
“Well,” replied James, “he will do anything to win the election, but deep down he would like to win it fair and square. Everyone wants to be liked.
“He knows he can’t lose, with Mr. Grimes having left town in the minds of the people, and it’s not too difficult for the two most powerful men in town to rig a vote count. But even with all that, he still wants to be picked.
“Judge Lowry doesn’t care how it’s done, as you heard him talking about a vote for him is a vote for us also.”
* * * *
Pulling through the front gate, it was past dark. Only the lanterns inside the house indicated there was someone home.
Opening the front door, Jason smelled beef stroganoff, one of his very favorite meals.
The girls, and even Billy, helped serve them the meal, paired with fresh sautéed green beans from the garden and a glass of Johnny Walker Tennessee Whisky.
“James, if you could make more of this, we’d be in business,” said Jason.
“I’ll have to look into it,” James replied, wondering if it could be done now.
“We have a surprise for you boys,” said Lauren. “Close your eyes,” she continued, as Janice opened two large coolers filled with meat, individually packed.
“Eighty pounds of beef, boys, ready for tomorrow!” she boasted. “Thanks to the girls and Billy, we got it done.”
James, feeling exhausted from the day, was thrilled with the news.
“Thank you all so much,” James said. “It means everything to us after this long day, and another to follow.”
“I held the bags open!” chimed in Billy, with a big smile.
“That’s good, son,” replied James, casually, gettin
g an odd look from both Lauren and Janice.
“I mean, that’s a great job, Billy! Thank you for helping today.”
“You boys get some rest after dinner. Leave us those suits, and they’ll be ready for tomorrow,” said Janice. “After the election,” she added, “I won’t be pressing another suit, so let the Judge and Sheriff know you’ll be wearing jeans from now on.”
Next World Series (Vol. 2): Families First [The Road] Page 20