Chapter 9 #3
Floy finally smiled. “Because we live in the middle of nowhere, and except for a couple of other mechanics, no one else in town ever took up the other professions. Think of how long it took you to get here, and then how long someone here would have to wait to get help if I didn’t know how to do what I do?
How’s that old saying go . . . It’s all about location, location, location? ”
“I see what you mean. Ingenious business plan,” Walt said.
Floy shook his head. “No, sir. It was never a plan. It’s just what I know how to do. The house we’re sitting in now is the one my father built. I was born in this house. I grew up in this town with these people. I’m not going anywhere.”
“I’m curious as to how you were able to drive on that ice? I saw the video. How were you walking when other people couldn’t even get up?”
“I had chains on my tires, and I had roofing spikes on my boots. They’re like sandals with metal spikes we wear over our shoes to keep from sliding off steep roofs.
After all that, I can also attest to the fact that they’re also good for walking on ice.
The scary part for me was daring to pick up those children without knowing what injuries they had incurred when they fell and not knowing if it would harm more than help.
But because of what was happening, I didn’t really have a choice, and neither did they.
They were already in early stages of hypothermia.
I knew that if I couldn’t get them to shelter soon, it was obvious that they weren’t going to survive. ”
“One other important question. Why were you driving with your head out of the window when you left town?”
“Because I couldn’t see through the windshield anymore. It was a solid sheet of white, cloudy ice.”
Walt shook his head. “And yet you made it home.”
“By the grace of God and being too stubborn to quit.”
At that point, instead of wrapping up the interview, Walt hesitated, then did what many journalists do and asked the questions that had nothing to do with the story and crossed a line.
“We did some research on you before we came. You’ve had a few rough months prior to this. Would you care to talk about that?”
Floy’s eyes flashed, and the cold smile that crossed his face made Walt regret he’d ever opened his mouth.
“Nope,” Floy said, then glanced at his watch. “And you just used up my spare time. Drive safely going home. Mountain roads don’t take prisoners.”
The moment the camera turned off, Floy stood. “Out,” he said, pointing toward the door.
Walt Devoe was sputtering. “I’m sorry. I just thought you might—”
Floy strode into the living room, yanked the door open, and held it.
“Now!”
They bolted.
Floy followed them out, still talking. “Liars and assholes are a dime a dozen. I know who fed you that story. He’s the asshole, and libel is illegal. Leave my personal life alone, or I’ll find a way to dump another liar into a fire of their own making.”
“I’m sorry,” Walt kept saying. “Nothing, absolutely nothing of that will be mentioned. You have my—”
Floy went back into the house, slamming the door on the last of Devoe’s promise.
He didn’t watch the clip when it aired, but he showed up at Edison’s Eats on Sunday as promised and walked into a roar of cheers and applause. Once the program began, grateful parents took turns standing up to laud his actions and updated everyone on their children’s healing and welfare.
The café served fried chicken with sides, buffet style. He ate with them, heard apologies, witnessed tears, and wished he was already home.
Dub and Tex entered the banquet hall to present him with a key to the city. The mayor decreed that from this day forward, every November 4th would be Floy Beaudine Day.
And then they motioned for him to step to the mic.
“Thank you for the honor,” Floy said. “Thank you for the key to the city. Just let me know what door it opens.” A ripple of laughter moved through the room as he continued.
“But I thank you more for the apology. We all make mistakes. But it takes a real man— or woman—to say, ‘I was wrong.’ To say, ‘I’m sorry I hurt you.’ To say, ‘Please forgive me.’ So, this is me, saying you’re forgiven. ”
He walked out with the key to the city, a day named in his honor, a belly full of fried chicken, and drove home. He put the key to the city on a bookshelf in the living room and called it done.
Lowell Arnold submitted his official resignation the week before Thanksgiving, effective December 31st. And after an emergency board meeting of the town’s officials, they released the information that an official swearing-in of the new chief would be made on New Year’s Day.
The announcement was after the fact, because locals already knew who it would be. Nothing stayed secret in Blackjack.
Officer Deward Duffy, aka Dub, who’d been a member of the police force in Blackjack for the last eighteen years and counting, would step into those shoes.
Floy received that information the same way he received everything these days—calmly and without judgment until the situation demanded it.
Mayrene was released from jail before Christmas, and Quilla was in her car outside county lockup, waiting.
A sleek, flashy Lincoln rolled up into the same area and parked with the car still running. The windows were too dark for Quilla to see who was driving it, but her imagination went straight to some rich drug dealer.
A few minutes later, she saw Mayrene exiting the building, wearing the same clothes she’d been wearing when they took her to jail.
Quilla started to get out, to let Mayrene know where she was parked, when the driver in the Lincoln emerged, and Quilla watched her daughter running into his arms, witnessed a very passionate kiss, and then watched them get into the car and drive away.
Quilla’s heart was pounding. Her eyes blurred with unshed tears. She didn’t know that man and didn’t know how Mayrene did. She didn’t know where they were going, and at that moment, had a feeling she never would. She started the car and headed home, because there was nowhere else to go.
The drive felt endless. She missed a turn and had to backtrack, then had to stop for gas. Night came early in the mountains, and it was dark when she pulled up to her house and went inside.