River Rocks: A West Virginia Adventure Novel
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Mayor Billingsworth would visit Collins often in the hospital feeling very remorseful for what he had to do to his longtime friend and co-worker. Billingsworth had done all he could that dark, foggy night to not make his shots fatal but to only disarm Collins.
Just a year later, Mayor Billingsworth was offered the running-mate position of Lieutenant Governor in the general election alongside John MacMurray on the Independent ticket. MacMurray knew Billingsworths’ popularity would propel him to the win and he was right. They won in a landslide victory over the incumbent Governor and the town of Red Creek celebrated big! The team began their journey to do great things for the State of West Virginia in a non political, bi-partisan manner and demonstrated a new way to lead a democratic society. Washington would take notice of it too.
Billingsworth returned to his home on the river often and would visit with the boys and stroll around the neighborhoods of his town to shake hands and spend time with the people that helped him get his start in politics. He was truly appreciative.
The remains of Arthur B. Otis were reinterred at the old Otis cemetery back in the hills of the Tater Holler Homestead and a small private service was held. His grave can be seen alongside all the previous Otis family deceased…if you can find it.
The Bakers’ old V-bottom boat was recovered and towed back upstream to the Baker boat dock. It had drifted downstream as far as the shoals and gotten hung up on the rocks. Josh was glad to have it back and so was his dad. Emily Baker was glad to have a beautiful rhododendron adorning her garden area in her front yard.
The four kids’ lives were changed forever that summer. What was nearly a horrific ending to an adventure of a lifetime had ended up as a silver platter to an exciting future for them. The world was now at their fingertips and they would never forget one minute of the past two weeks for as long as they lived. The best thing for them is that all of this had been accomplished by doing what they love and following their heart every day of their young lives. Their passion, as kids, was simply to fish the cool shady banks of the Elk River and to hike and camp the beautiful hills that were just outside their doors, and for that, they were rewarded and happy right there at home in Wild Wonderful West Virginia!
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