Authors: Annie Jones
“
What?
”
Red
’
s round face scrunched up into more lines and furrows than a fancy wrinkled pup.
“
Something go haywire?
”
Riley shook his head in disbelief.
“
I don
’
t know whether to cuss or cry
”
“
It
’
d have to be something pretty awful to make
you
do either one. So I take it this is something big.
”
Riley managed a dispirited smile at that.
“
If you count having most of what you
’
ve based your future on suddenly all take a nosedive as big, then yes, it
’
s something big.
”
“
The old man check out of the deal?
”
“
The old man checked out of everything, my friend.
”
Riley exhaled in a hard, quick huff but that didn
’
t relieve the heaviness sitting high in his chest.
“
He died, the day after I last spoke to him.
”
“
Sorry to hear it.
”
Red removed his hard hat and held it to his chest, bowing his head. Riley noted the gesture with a shake of his head. Of all the traditions and rituals prominent among long-time Southerners, a respect for those who
’
d passed on, even strangers, remained unflinching. When the other man lifted his head and replaced the hat over his blazing red hair, he shrugged.
“
So it sort of threw a monkey wrench into your business deal, huh?
”
“
Yeah.
”
Riley nodded.
“
I
’
m heartsick about that, too. I won
’
t deny it. But I also feel bad about the man himself. I
liked
that guy, Red. I honestly looked forward to being in business with
him, not just with his company but with him.
”
Red didn
’
t seem to know what to do with his hands.
Riley understood his uneasiness. Good-ol
’
-boy heart-to- heart talks seldom occurred in these parts without the aid of at least one six-pack, or a hunting trip, or a really good story about your favorite hound dog. But Riley had just had his whole world turned wrong-side-up and he felt like talking, so he pressed on.
“
You know, I saw a little bit of myself in John Frederick, in the way he wanted to make sure the company he owned stood for something more than the bottom line. The way he didn
’
t tolerate a bunch of pretense or any insincerity.
”
Riley gave a little laugh.
“
Did I tell you about how right after I met with John Frederick I came across this woman who—
”
“
You told me. You told everyone, boss. Twice.
”
Riley nodded, smiling still at the memory of his last sight of her.
“
I guess I feel bad that I misjudged her like that, probably in part because I was all worked up about the things Fulton-Leigh had just told me. You know, how he
’
d gone on about how much he loved his daughter and how he had to do what was best for her future by bringing fresh blood into the organization. It got to me because that
’
s just how I feel about my Wendy.
”
He paused a moment to allow the tightness the comparison caused in his throat to pass.
“
I was thinking all about how I was going to move to Fulton
’
s Dominion and how much better a place it would be to raise my girl than a mill town. Then that woman sort of upset my little apple cart and I wasn
’
t very nice to her.
”
“
Yeah, you told me.
Twice
.
”
Red held up three fingers.
“
What does that all matter now anyway?
”
Riley rubbed one hand back over his hair.
“
The deal isn
’
t going through. None of those things I
’
d hoped and planned for are going to happen now at all.
”
Red
’
s hand dropped to the dash.
“
What are you saying, boss?
”
“
The deal. It
’
s as dead as the man who offered it to me.
”
The minute Riley heard the hardness of his own words, he hastened to add,
“
God rest his soul.
”
Red mumbled a sympathetic agreement then scratched at the back of his thick neck.
“
But you
’
d reached some kind of agreement with Fulton-Leigh. Ain
’
t his family obliged to honor that?
”
“
Nothing was signed.
”
Riley pulled the truck door shut with enough force to communicate his animosity over the whole mess to anyone within hearing distance.
“
The man shook your hand on it.
”
Red frowned.
“
He gave you his word. Don
’
t that count for nothing?
”
“
According to this attorney, it doesn
’
t. Seems this fellow pretty much has taken control of the whole works for now. He told me he has power of attorney for the older pair of Fulton- Leigh
’
s survivors, so even if the family wanted to honor any deal the old man had cooking, this lawyer could veto it without breaking a sweat.
”
“
Veto it, change it, or push it through against the family
’
s wishes, it sounds like. Lawyers!
”
Red set his jaw and squinted out the windshield like a man spoiling for a fight.
“
They go and ruin everything.
”
“
Not all of
‘
em, Red. Not all of
‘
em.
”
“
Oh, sorry, forgot that you
’
re dating one, boss.
”
Red ducked his head.
Am not
, he wanted to say, but everyone in town thought different and the lady lawyer in his life had done nothing to set the record straight.
We
’
re good friends
, he wanted to tell Red,
that
’
s all.
Companions for dinner on Friday nights, someone to sit by in church...that was it. There was no future there. That
’
s what he wanted to tell Red, but he didn
’
t. He
’
d never let Carol believe that he would ever return her feelings. Still, as a gentleman (and he was one despite what certain princess-types with their Bubba- mobile cracks might think) he wouldn
’
t humiliate Carol.
“
This lawyer, Greenhow, let me know right off that the deal had not been finalized and therefore was not valid.
”
Riley hooked his thumb in the steering wheel.
“
Called himself the
‘
go-to guy
’
on all that family
’
s business from now on out. Said there would be no need to bring in another partner as long as he maintained control. Said it kind of snotty, too. Like he didn
’
t think my money was good enough for them now that he was in charge of everything.
”
“
Your money has always been good enough for me, boss. I
’
ve been mighty proud to work for you and your father before he passed on all these years.
”
“
You sound like you
’
re making a farewell speech, Red, ol
’
buddy.
”
Riley chuckled.
“
Well, ain
’
t I?
”
Red took his hat off again, this time turning it so as to give the impression he
’
d become absorbed in adjusting the band inside as he spoke from the heart.
“
You sold the mill already, boss. That deal is signed, all legal-like. Done and done. The new company has moved me up to take things over and come Monday we
’
ll have a new logo and letterhead on all our transactions. I don
’
t think there
’
s a thing you can do about that, can you?
”
“
I still have an obligation to Wendy. I said I
’
d cut back my hours and move her to a better home and I will. I
’
ve just got to find another investment that
’
s as good as the one I just lost.
”
“
I wish you all the best, boss.
”
Red
’
s handshake spoke so eloquently of gratitude and respect that it humbled Riley a little
to be on the receiving end of it.
“
Thanks.
”
Riley released Red
’
s hand and started up the truck.
“
We
’
d better head back. Wendy
’
s got some kind of ballet recital practice tonight, and I said I
’
d pick her up at 8:30 because my mother hates to drive after dark. If I
’
m late, Momma
’
s bound to volunteer me to work at the real recital, so I can
’
t make the same mistake on the big night.
”
“
Maybe you ought to call her now to let her know you
’
re on your way then. I know I always get extra points for doing that kind of thing around my place.
”
“
Good thinking, Red.
”
Riley began punching in the number, more to show his confidence in the new mill manager
’
s advice than because he felt the need to check in at home.
Momma had everything under control. She always did. That was one thing Riley never had to worry about. He pressed the call button then lowered the mouthpiece to talk to Red.
“
One thing I
’
ll miss at whatever new venture I take, having you around to help keep me in line.
”
“
Don
’
t care about keeping you in line as much as I want to keep you out of one of them frilly tutu thingies,
”
Red grumbled.
“
Huh?
”
The phone began to ring on the other end.
“
You said if she got mad your Momma was going to make you be in the show...
”
Red let his voice trail off. He looked so tickled with himself that you
’
d have thought he swallowed a feather.
Riley rolled his eyes. The phone kept ringing.
“
She
’
d volunteer me to work the concession stand or take tickets or something, not dance around in a tutu.
”
“
Bet they
’
d make more money having you prance around on stage than having you dish up cheese nachos and pour warm, flat beer.
”
“
Red, it
’
s a little girls
’
dance recital, they don
’
t serve—
”
Riley stopped mid-sentence to click off the power on the phone. He didn
’
t understand why he hadn
’
t gotten an answer, and suddenly that took precedence over this silly conversation. He stared out at the darkness and the desolate road ahead.
“
That
’
s weird. Momma didn
’
t pick up the phone. That
’
s not like her at all,
she just can
’
t stand to let a phone ring.
”