David got the information on the farmer and would talk to Mel about it later.
Mark was back up and talking, just like nothing ever happened.
“It’s breakfast time,” said Calleigh. “Would you mind coming back a little later, sir?”
David looked at Mark, who nodded that all was okay.
* * * *
“Breakfast is on me,” said Jason, taking David to the Weston Grill and Tavern.
They waited inside, as Jason wanted to avoid Cam, the electrical man who failed to deliver on James’ chair. He told David the story while they waited inside at the front counter until their breakfast was delivered.
“Let’s eat outside,” said David abruptly, grabbing his plate and heading straight for the oldest man he could see.
“They call you Cam, right?” he asked, sitting down, with a reluctant Jason still inside.
“Maybe. Who’s asking?”
“I’m a friend of Jason’s; you know, the guy who paid you to complete a motorized chair for the Mayor of this town. But you haven’t done that, have you?”
“No pay, no play!” said Cam defiantly.
“Oh, but you have been paid, and more than once. You don’t care either way if the project is completed, do you?”
“Nope, you got me there. Don’t make a rat’s ass to me what happens now.”
“I can understand your point. That steak you’re eating there with your eggs, you know where that’s from? James VanFleet,” he added before Cam could guess. “Jason credits James with saving his life; and now, as of yesterday, Jason saved my life, and my son’s as well. That chair you don’t care much about is from Jason to James.”
“Mayor’s already got one,” said Cam, seeming bored with the conversation.
“Not from Jason, he doesn’t. I hear you’re the electric man who keeps this restaurant’s generators running in exchange for a meal every day.”
“Maybe,” replied a disinterested Cam.
“I have a lot of experience in this area, just like you,” David continued. “I’ll do it for free as a personal friend of the man who is not only Mayor of your town but also supplied the beef to keep this, the only restaurant in town, running. Plus, I’ll bet you go into the kitchen a couple of times a week and bang a hammer on something, so everyone thinks you’re working. I’m guessing you only occasionally have to do any real work on the generators, and here you are, eating steak. How about you show me around, and I’ll take over this afternoon?”
“Now, wait just a minute! I was just a sittin’ here minding my own business, and now I’ve got all this you’re bringing me. What do you want?” asked Cam, suddenly realizing he could lose his cushy job.
“I want you to give Jason the chair you promised him. Don’t tell me the Judge shorted the deal or anything else; I’ve heard it already. They have both paid you fairly for something you didn’t deliver. Here are four silvers, more than enough to get it done. I’ll be in town for two or three days, so what’s it going to be?”
“All right, okay. I’ll start on it this afternoon.”
“Now is good,” said David. “I’ll tag along, so give me the grand tour…
“Let’s go, Jason. Cam’s going to finish the chair and has two days to do it.”
The tour revealed a half-completed motorized wheelchair, with the rest of the parts strewn about the floor.
“It looks like you have everything you need to get this done,” said David. “How about you put in a couple of full days of work and finish it?” he added as he and Jason headed out.
* * * *
They returned to Second Chances Ranch early in the afternoon, following a quick second check on a comfortable Mark.
“I’ll admit it,” said David. “I might have a change of heart about being inside the town limits.”
“Really?” asked James. “How so?”
“Well, doctors and nurses are giving top-notch care to my only son. The restaurant food was crazy good, and I’m concerned about being isolated as a small group in the mountains with surrounding cities on all sides. We could use a good dog like Chance up on the property,” he added, petting him on the head.
“He’s got a sister almost as big. May still be available; I don’t know. What do you think Tina and your mother will think about all this?” asked James.
“My mom is old school; she’s lived up there for many years. Tina’s from the city and misses it, I know. Maybe this thing you’re talking about could give us some of both.”
“And Mark?” asked James.
“He’s been here a day and is already lovestruck. It is going to be hard to keep him away from town now.”
“Can you blame him?” asked Jason.
“No. No, I can’t. I just remembered all of the bad things happening with the Sheriff and that Judge you were telling me about, James.”
“The Judge is gone now, and I’m second in line to run the town,” said James. Sheriff Johnson has a particular way of doing things, I know, but we understand each other. Jason and I have been one step ahead of both the Sheriff and Judge Lowry the whole time…
“Have you seen our still? We have an incredible 360-degree view of the property up on the roof. Let’s take a look at both.”
“Sure. I just need to get hold of Mel on the radio. Dr. Walters knows a farmer with three running trucks for sale. He doesn’t want me running Mark up and down the mountain on the four-wheelers. Here’s the info on him,” said David, handing James a piece of paper Dr. Walters had written on. You ever heard of him?”
“Makes sense,” said James, looking at the paper. “I know him; he’s one of my longtime customers. Let’s take a ride over there together. What’s he want for each of them?”
“Doc didn’t know. Just said they were likely expensive.”
“I’ll bet,” replied James. “Supply and demand with everything nowadays.”
A quick call with Mel got David excited, hearing Mel was interested in two of the vehicles—with a package deal, of course.
James and Jason
