The man was terrified of being pulled out of his cell and into the private office for a one-on-one talk with the Sheriff.
“You used to race motocross bikes, right?”
“Yes, sir,” the man replied.
“What else do you know about them? Can you work on them, I mean?”
“Yes, sir. I used to build them from the ground up in my garage. I know everything there is to know about motorcycles!”
The councilman was interested to know where this was going, but he was afraid to ask.
“If you had the materials, could you build a motorized wheelchair?” the Sheriff asked. “It’s not exactly a motorcycle, I know, but the principle is similar.”
“Yes, sir,” he replied without hesitation. “I worked for a company in college where I did that very thing. The business was called Freedom Chair, up in Pueblo, and we built chairs for disabled hunters and fishermen so they could get outdoors and not worry about getting stuck. We even built one for the Governor of Texas. He was in a regular chair for a while, and he loved the outdoors. The company exploded after the news channels featured the new chair when he went dove hunting with his friends.”
“That’s interesting. I will need to keep that in mind,” replied the Sheriff.
Sheriff Johnson’s girlfriend first mentioned the idea of the chair to him last night. “You would literally be giving him the gift of freedom,” she said. “He will have no other choice but to always be on your side when you get rid of the Judge,” she had added coldly.
“You had better stick close to me,” he told her, with a wink. “You know too much now to be on my bad side.”
Most women would have and should have been concerned with this statement. She, however, was not most women, and she was slowly working her way into major decisions affecting her hometown.
* * * *
Sheriff Johnson found Jason in the mayor’s office, reviewing handwritten plans by an old-school town architect for the proposed greenhouses.
“Good morning, Sheriff,” he said, standing and offering a handshake.
“Good morning to you, and I’m sorry about what happened to James. It happened before we could get a shot off. “
“I know,” replied Jason. “I should have done more to help, but it all happened so fast.”
“He’s alive and will recover, according to the doctors, but he won’t be walking anytime soon…or possibly ever,” said the Sheriff.
“Yes, I heard that as well. I’m going to build him a wheelchair ramp at the house in the next week or so, and I heard you got him a temporary chair for now. I know he’s grateful for all you have done in the past couple of days.”
The Sheriff smiled, feeling confident about gaining the unwavering support of both James and Jason in the coming days and weeks.
“I have an idea,” he said, “and hear me out on this. Picture this, Jason,” he said excitedly. “A new wheelchair, but not just any one. I’m talking about a bonafide off-road, kickass wheelchair like they used to build for hunters before the power went out. Paid for 100% by the town of Weston and assembled by an expert in the field.”
He took a step back, waiting for the amazed look he knew would be on Jason’s face.
“Uh, sir…” Jason stammered, feeling flushed and uneasy. “I uh…I mean, we um…it’s just that Judge Lowry already...”
“Already what?” asked the Sheriff.
“He already agreed to pay for the exact chair you are describing just this morning. I think they already started on it.”
“Are you kidding me?” the Sheriff snapped. “What I mean is…I didn’t know that.”
The Sheriff held his composure long enough to get his thoughts and his next words in order.
“Is that so?” he asked, and continued. “Who’s building it, and where are they getting the materials?”
“I already paid the old electrical guy, who works with the restaurant freezers, like six silver dollars, and we met at the hardware store downtown to see about building one. You know, the one on Third Street?”
“Of course. The owner and I go way back,” he replied, gritting his teeth.
“Then the Judge just showed up and said he was paying for everything. Well, except for the money I already spent, I guess.”
The Sheriff paused, collecting his thoughts. “Let’s just keep this between us for now. You know how these stories can spread quickly, and we want James to be surprised, either way. How fast did you say that chair would go?”
“I didn’t, sir, but it will do about 6 miles per hour on account of the off-road tires.”
“Tell me about the rest of it, at least what you know,” the Sheriff insisted sternly.
Jason revealed everything he knew, growing nervous that he was in the middle of something beyond his control.
Sheriff Johnson headed downtown to visit his old friend from the store, and Jason headed to the hospital to seek the advice of James.
* * * *
Jason met a more alert James, who was alone since Janice had stepped out to check on Lauren and the girls.
“How’s the office?” asked James. He seemed in a good mood, considering the circumstances.
“Good, I guess. I was going over the plans the architect woman made for the greenhouses, and they look spot-on.”
“Great to hear. Now tell me why you look like you’re going to throw up again,” James said in a lower voice.
“I’m sorry, James. I just wanted to do something special to help you get your life back when you get out of here, and I think I’m caught in the middle of something really big.”
He proceeded to tell James everything.
James smiled, saying, “You didn’t have to do all that for me, but
