Page 4 of Final Ride

An hour later, still with time on his hands, Bobby cleaned up and drove down the mountain to Shadow Valley. The pool hall on the main street of the little town was a good place to hang out and he liked the girl who ran it.

Beautiful girl with pink hair, a perfect body and a strong West Virginia accent, she’d given him a couple of free lessons. Great little pool player and from their last conversation, he gathered she was thinking of moving back to West Virginia permanently with her two kids.

“Maybe I should get to know her a lot better. She seems like someone who could cure my boredom.”

Coyote Creek Inn. Montana.

Travis arranged a big birthday dinner for the boys. The Inn was already up for sale, and this might be the last time they could hold a birthday dinner there, so Travis thought he’d make it a big one.

He invited Molly and Ted from the station to join him, the birthday boys and Billy for the celebration, and when they were all together and had drinks in their hands, Travis made his official announcement.

“Tomorrow I’ll be talking to the county office about my retirement and Billy will officially take over as sheriff of Harrison County on the first of August.”

Molly wiped a tear from her eye. “I knew this was coming, Travis, but I’m still not ready to accept it.”

“We’ll miss you, boss,” said Ted. “What are y’all gonna do in Texas?”

Travis shrugged. “I’m buying another ranch so our lifestyle will be similar to what it is now. Not much of a change. As far as work goes, I’m not sure. We’ll see what turns up, but I have a few options I can pursue if I need to.”

“Want to share your ideas for the future?” asked Molly. “I’d love to hear your plans.”

“I’m not sure I’m ready to do that yet, because I have to run it by the boys and get them on board before I do anything else.”

Virgil’s eyes widened. “Get us on board with what, Dad?”

Travis laughed. “Let’s order and have some fun. I’m not ready to talk about any of that stuff yet. I need more time to get a few things solidified.”

The food was fantastic like it always was at the Coyote Creek Inn. For dessert, Susan, the manager, brought out a huge chocolate cake with both boys’ names written on the thick icing.

Happy Birthday, Harlan and Virgil. Best boys ever.

Travis thought he felt a tear creeping up on him when the boys blew out their candles.

“You blew out some of mine,” said Virge.

“Did not,” said Harlan.

“Did so. I was counting.”

Everybody laughed at Virgil.

Dry Run Roadhouse.

After the fantastic birthday dinner, Molly went home, and Ted followed them to the roadhouse. They picked a booth where they wouldn’t be disturbing other customers and Travis bought pitcher after pitcher of Miller to celebrate the birthdays of his boys.

Savanna joined them a little later and so did Jack Johnson, the owner of the place. He brought over a couple of complimentary pitchers to keep the party going.

Because it was a special occasion, Travis let the boys drink a little more beer than he usually did when they were out in public. The boys were underage drinkers, but they were also the law in Harrison County. That’s the way things worked.

Travis held his glass up for a toast. “Here’s to the future. Me and my boys and all the other boys we’re gonna put on the right path.”

“What’s that mean, Dad?” asked Virgil.

“I’ll tell y’all my plan when I’m sober.”

“I’ll drink to that,” said Virge, and clinked his glass against mine.

Best birthday ever.

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