Page 3 of Logan

“Don’t let him get to you, Dixie.”

“I probably won’t even see him.”

“I hope you don’t run into him, unless it’s with your car,” Teri muttered.

Dixie couldn’t help but laugh, but she hoped she didn’t see him either. God help her if she saw him because she’d let him know what she thought of him. He had no clue how much he had hurt her. He had lied to her during their relationship, and she would never forgive him for it.

Her heart ached though knowing why he was back. His father, Clint, had pancreatic cancer and wasn’t doing well, and if Logan washome, it was because Clint had taken a turn for the worse. She had found out right after Logan left town two years ago, that Clint had stage two pancreatic cancer, so she was sure he was getting weaker by the day.

“I’ll talk to you later,” she said and hung up the phone.

Placing her hands over her face, she cried. Logan loved his father so much. They’d always been close, and she knew it would devastate him when Clint died.

She’d never forget the first time she met Clint Townson. He seemed larger than life. A big bear of a man who spoke softly but wielded a strong fist. He was tough but fair and there wasn’t a person in Clifton, Hartland, or Spring City who didn’t respect him. He was honest with anyone he came across and the towns would mourn when he passed.

A week later, she heard Logan had been hired as a deputy for the Clifton County Sheriff’s department, which meant he was staying in Clifton.Of course he was.

“Damn you, Logan Townson.”

****

Logan entered the house, taking a moment to hang up his hat before heading toward the living room. The familiar scent of his childhood home surrounded him, evoking memories of family dinners and lazy Sundays spent in front of the television.

“Dad?” he called out, his voice echoing down the hallway.

“In here, son,” came the reply from his father’s bedroom.

Logan walked along the hallway, the hardwood floor creaking beneath his boots, and entered his father’s room to see him buttoning a shirt. His dad stood tall and proud, despite the illness that had taken hold of him.

“What are you doing?” Logan asked, curious about his father’s sudden change in routine.

“I thought we’d go to lunch at the diner,” his dad replied with a smile.

“Seriously?” Logan couldn’t hide his surprise.

“I’m not dead yet, Logan. I can still enjoy a good hamburger,” his dad said playfully.

“You’re not supposed to have red meat or foods high in fat,” Logan reminded him, concern creeping into his voice.

His dad let out a heavy sigh as he sat on the edge of the bed and looked at Logan with tired eyes.

“Logan, I’m dying. I know it and you know it. Let me enjoy some things before I go.”

Logan quickly blinked back tears. He didn’t want to lose his father.

“I don’t want you to get sick,” Logan whispered.

“Hell, son, Iamsick. One hamburger isn’t going to hurt. I’m not going to sit in this house and wait to die,” his dad replied firmly.

“I know, Dad. Alright. We’ll head for the diner, but don’t go overboard,” Logan conceded, knowing how stubborn his father could be.

“On one of Connie’s burgers? Why would youeven think that?” His father grinned mischievously.

Logan couldn’t help but grin back and shake his head. He knew it would do no good to argue with Clinton Townson. A more hardheaded man he’d never met, unless it was himself.

As they drove to town, Logan glanced at his father to see a smile on his face as he looked out the window at the scenery whizzing by. For a brief moment, everything felt normal again.

After pulling into the parking lot of the small diner, Logan and his father entered, causing a hush to fall over the patrons. One by one, they rose from their tables and greeted the duo with handshakes and kind words. Logan was aware of his father’s popularity in the towns of Clifton, Spring City, and Hartland, and knew he would be deeply missed once he passed.

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