Page 51 of Final Ride

“Where the hell is that girl, Virgil?”

“Wish I knew—mostly for Dad’s peace of mind. He’s responsible for all the shit she’s done and he’s feeling it.”

“Think we’ll ever see her again?” I asked Virge as he locked up the barn.

“She can’t come back here ever again, Harlan. She’ll go straight to fuckin’ jail.”

“Yeah, there’s that.”

Billy cooked breakfast for Dad’s last day of work.

“You don’t need to do that, Billy. I can make breakfast for y’all same way I always do.”

“I’m doing it today, Travis. You just sit there and drink your coffee.”

Travis laughed. “Okay. Last day of work ain’t a big thing to celebrate. Ain’t like my wake or nothing.”

“Big enough,” said Virge. “We’re gonna party all day and deep into the night. Me and Harlan are done working too, and we’ll be doing some moon-howling tonight.”

Travis laughed.

“We’re hanging up our utility belts and our badges, Billy,” said Virge. “Harrison County will go to hell in a handbasket, but we’ll be kicking up dust in Texas and we won’t know a thing about it.”

Virge made me chuckle.

“You guys like working as deputies,” said Billy. “I don’t know too many guys your ages who work as hard as the two of you.”

“Thanks, Billy.”

“I agree,” said Travis. “You boys are fuckin’ great deputies. Best in Montana.”

“Thanks, Dad.” I gave Travis a fist bump and he reached across the table and gave Virge one too.

Sheriff’s Office. Coyote Creek.

Molly was ready for Dad’s last day when we got to the station. She had a big cake on the gallery part of her desk up above where she worked. Paper plates, napkins and forks there too.

The words written on the chocolate icing said—We’ll miss you Travis, Harlan, Virgil, Max and Sarge—and there were pictures on the cake that looked just like our dogs.

Almost brough a tear to my eye.

“I ain’t eating a piece with a dog on it,” said Virge.

“Wow, that’s some cake, Molly,” said Travis. “Thanks for being so thoughtful, and for all you’ve done for me since the day I got here as a rookie.”

Molly smiled. “You’ve never been a rookie, Travis. Marines are not rookies.”

Travis laughed. “Guess that might be true.”

“We’ll cut the cake at morning break,” said Molly. “We have arraignments this morning.”

“Me and Virge will get the prisoners ready to go, Dad. You have a coffee and stare at your cake.”

“Thanks, Harlan.” Travis laughed and went to get himself a coffee.

I could already tell Dad’s last day of work was going to be one we’d remember.

Harrison County Courthouse. Coyote Creek.

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