Home to Walnut Ridge

by Diane Moody

  Buddy ran his hand through his hair. “I’m afraid so. It’s their monthly meeting, which means it’s open to the public. I figure it’s the only way I can get a fair hearing by the entire council without Deacon blocking me. I’m sure he’ll put up a fight, but he doesn’t have a leg to stand on. There’s no reason for him to block these permits, which means it’s sheer vindication on his part.”

  “So what happens if he has convinced everyone else on the council to block the permits?”

  “That, my dear, is when I cling to those verses we just talked about and put my trust in God. I have to trust He’ll be able to do what I can’t.”

  Tracey stood up and stretched. “Guess I need to do the same where Noah is concerned.”

  She leaned over and kissed her father on the top of his head.

  “God will never let you down. That much I know for sure. G’night, sweetheart.”

  “Good night, Daddy.”

  Alex stepped back to admire Tracey’s work. Her latest project, two matching bedside tables, boasted three pastel shades highlighting the wainscoted detail on the front of each table.

  “I cannot believe what a natural you are at this. Had I known, we should have done this years ago. Think how much fun we’ve missed!”

  Tracey stood up, twisting to stretch her aching back muscles. “I doubt I’d be able to stand up straight now if we’d been doing this for years. I can’t wait to be up at the shop where we’ll have a worktable and stools. Much more of this and we’ll both be in traction, Sis.”

  The loud rumble of a Harley drew closer to the barn. Tracey stopped to listen, then sighed when she recognized the familiar sound of her father’s bike.

  “Trace, I’m sorry,” Alex said, rubbing her sister’s shoulder. “One of these days it’ll be Noah’s you hear.”

  “But not today.” Tracey set aside one of the tall narrow tables and wiped her hands on her apron.

  Buddy stepped into the barn. “Ah, my two favorite girls. How’s it going?”

  “You look nice, Daddy. What’s the‍—‍”

  Alex jumped. “Oh my goodness‌—‌what time is it?!”

  Buddy checked his watch. “It’s a little after six. I thought you two were planning to come to the meeting tonight.”

  Tracey yanked at the strings on her apron. “We completely lost track of time! When does it start?”

  “City Council meets at 6:30 sharp. Think you can make it?”

  Alex threw off her apron, then stopped herself to pick it up and hang it where it belonged. “Daddy, just go. We’ll be there!”

  Twenty-two minutes later, Tracey and Alex dashed down the hill toward the town’s small City Hall. Even before they got there, they could see a line of people waiting to get in. When they reached the end of the line, Alex tried to catch her breath. “What’s going on? Why are you all out here?”

  Tina Redmon’s face lit up. “Are you kidding? The showdown between your dad and Deacon Stone! Everybody’s talking about it. We’ll be lucky if we can squeeze in the back of the room.”

  Alex grabbed Tracey’s arm and pulled her along. “Make way, make way! Family coming through. C’mon, people, let us through.” Slowly but surely, the sisters pushed through those in line and the crowd standing in the outer hall of the small building.

  Suddenly, Stump appeared before them. “Miss Alex, Miss Tracey, Buddy said for me to bring you girls in. He saved you seats on the front row with him.”

  Alex stood on her tiptoes and pecked the big guy on his cheek. Thankfully, he had leaned down so she could place her lips on the small patch of his face that wasn’t bearded. “Thanks, Stump! You’re our hero.”

  He smiled as he showed them the way. Just as they took their seats, Deacon started pounding his gavel. Their father gave them each a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, take your seats and come to order.” Deacon continued pounding the gavel, his face pinched in a scowl.

  “Looks like Ginny Stone’s been feeding her husband persimmons again,” Alex whispered.

  Tracey smiled but was much too nervous to laugh. She spotted her father’s knee bouncing at a rapid rate, so quickly stilled it with her hand. “Dad. It’s gonna be okay.”

  “Oh. Sorry, sweetheart.” He put his hand over hers. “I’m good. Really. Just ready to get this over with.”

  “Ladies and gentlemen, that will be enough!” Deacon pounded the gavel three more times and held it up as he waited for the audience to give him their full attention. When the murmurs died down, he placed the gavel back in its holder. “That’s better. This City Council meeting has now come to order. My colleagues and I wish to remind you that we will maintain complete decorum during this meeting. If, for any reason, we find the actions of this gathering to be of a disruptive manner, we will clear the room. I trust all of you will comply.”

  Tracey studied the six other council members, three on each side of Deacon, who, of course, was council chairman. They were all people she’d known her whole life. Good, decent people with one exception‌—‌they all kowtowed to Deacon Stone. Which, of course, is how they got themselves elected to this council year after year. How does he do it? Are the elections rigged? Surely after all these years, someone would have blown the whistle if that were the case. The real question is why. Why would anyone be so driven to rule a tiny community like Jacobs Mill? Big fish, little pond? Really? Are you that starved for power, Deacon Stone?

  “At the top of our agenda this evening is the matter of the residential property owned by Buddy Collins. Mr. Collins, on behalf of his daughters, has requested a proprietary change of zoning for a shack on his property‍—‍”

  “Oh brother,” Alex groaned.

  “—which he prefers to now be zoned for retail business. The council has denied Mr. Collins’ request on numerous occasions for the simple reason that we have rules against such things. These rules are in place to prevent folks from turning their homes into businesses and thereby detracting from their neighbors’ property values.”

  Tracey listened, marveling at the tone in Deacon’s voice. Just a good old boy looking out for everyone’s best interest. Like Andy Griffith explaining to Aunt Bee why she can’t sell her prized pickled beets from her kitchen. No wonder so many fall for Deacon’s bull. Who doesn’t love Andy Griffith?

  “Who among us would want Lennie Flickerman to move his auto mechanic shop right next door to their home? Who among us would want Avery Cramer to open his fish bait shop right beside our front porch? Or who among us would want Birdy Simpson to move her beauty shop into the house next door? Of course, none of us would. That’s because we respect one another’s property and have each other’s best interest at heart.

  “It’s really a very simple case of protecting our fair city against those who would ruin it. First, a store selling beat-up, secondhand furniture‍—‍”

  Tracey noticed her sister’s fingers clenching and unclenching. On the other side, she saw both her father’s knees bouncing in rhythm now. She closed her eyes and uttered a prayer for both of them.

  “‍—‍and what’s next? A thrift store? A Wal-Mart? A Jiffy Lube? Why, Jacobs Mill would be nothing but another tacky stop on the interstate! And I know not a one of you here want that to happen.”

  To his far right, council member Flossy McMills leaned over to her microphone. “Deacon, I think we should‍—‍”

  “Now, Flossy, remember our protocol. We do not interrupt one another.”

  “Yes, but‍—‍”

  “You can have your say when I’m finished.”

  Flossy blinked and busied herself with a paper clip.

  “The point is, ladies and gentlemen, we all know what’s going on here. Our town has quite a history of having to deal with this family and their ilk. Why, who hasn’t heard Buddy and his hooligans roaring through town on those enormous motorcycles? Which, by the way, are in direct violation of the noise ordinance.”

  “Is he talking about us?”

&n
bsp; They all turned when Hank Biddle spoke aloud to Stump.

  “I believe he is,” Stump answered, glaring across the room at Deacon.

  “We gonna let him talk about us like that?” Hank continued.

  Buddy stood up and turned to face his Elders, all standing across the back of the room. “Guys? Let’s keep this civil, okay?”

  The Elders looked back and forth at each other, then finally shook their heads in agreement. “If you say so, Buddy.”

  “Thank you.” Buddy turned back to face Deacon. “Look, I can’t sit here and let you turn this into another personal vendetta for whatever it is you hold against me and my family.”

  Deacon slammed the gavel down. “You’ll have your turn to speak, Buddy. Now take your seat.”

  “Let him speak!” someone yelled from the outer hallway.

  Deacon slammed the gavel again until the room grew quiet. “I think we can all see what we’re dealing with here. And as chairman of this council, I for one will not sit idly by while ANYONE tries to degrade our little town by refusing to obey the rules and laws that were set in place for the good of all.”

  “Is he gonna shut up and let the rest of us have a chance to speak?” Alex whispered in her father’s ear, loud enough for those around her to snicker.

  Deacon slammed his gavel down, his face reddening. “Miss Collins, did I not make myself clear that we would not abide disruption of any sort in our proceedings this evening?”

  “Sure you did, Deacon,” Alex shot back. “I was just wondering how long you’re gonna listen to yourself bloviate before letting some of the rest of us have our say. Isn’t that why we’re here?”

  A ripple of restrained laughter rolled across the room. Deacon adjusted his glasses and turned his direction to Buddy. “I see your daughter Alex is as caustic as ever. I suppose that’s no great surprise. Apparently, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”

  Buddy turned toward his daughter. “Actually, she just took the words right out of my mouth. Thanks, honey.”

  “No problem, Dad.”

  The polite chuckles sent another wave through the room.

  Deacon straightened the pile of papers in front of him. “Well, I see no need to take any more time. As anyone can see, this is an open-and-shut case. The Collins wish to change zoning. The Council stands on the laws on our books which prohibit such a change. There’s really no use in‍—‍”

  “Let them have their say!” Sadie Woolsey warbled in a shout from the other side of the room. “Deacon, you know perfectly well it’s in the bylaws that folks can speak their mind before a final vote is taken. I’d be more than happy to read the pertinent bylaws if you’ve forgotten them.”

  “Now, Miss Sadie, there’s no need to‍—‍”

  She raised a booklet in the air. “I have the bylaws right here.”

  “I’m sure you do, but we’re all adults here. I believe we can‍—‍”

  “I’m glad you see it that way,” she said. “Now who’ll speak first?” She turned to look around, her back to the chairman whose face crimsoned even more.

  “Miss Sadie, please take a seat before‍—‍”

  “I’ll speak first,” Alex said, already making her way to the microphone at the front of the short aisle. She tapped the mike. “Is this thing on?”

  Deacon let out a loud sigh as he groaned, “Yes, Miss Collins, I’m afraid it is.”

  “Good. I’ll make this short and sweet.”

  Tracey watched her sister with fascination. Alex wasn’t the least bit flustered, looking each council member in the eye as she spoke.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, we all know what this is about. As most of you know, the ‘shack’ Deacon is referring to is, in fact, the old smokehouse that has been on our property since the mid-1800s. As many of you know, my great-great grandfather later opened that smokehouse to the public during the depression to give the folks of Jacobs Mill food when they had none. Fortunately, there were no ‘laws on the books’ prohibiting his benevolence.

  “Several weeks ago when we started renovating that property to turn it into a storefront, Dad complied with all the paperwork and petitioned for the zone change.”

  “Yes, well, Miss Collins,” Deacon said, stifling a fake yawn. “You have as yet to tell us anything we don’t already know.”

  Alex smiled sweetly. “I’m getting there. But please, go ahead and take a nap if you’re bored. We’ll wake you when we’re done.”

  Laughter erupted then quickly abated with the glare on the chairman’s face. “Miss Collins, I will not warn you‍—‍”

  “Yeah, yeah, I heard you the first time. Now. Where was I?” Alex snapped her fingers. “Ah, I remember. As I said, Daddy petitioned for a zone change. Deacon sat on it. Even refused to discuss it with his fellow council members here. We’re about to open for business, and yet our esteemed, self-appointed town dictator‍—‍”

  “That’s enough!” Deacon shouted, pounding the gavel over and over.

  “‍—‍has handled this simple request‍—‍”

  “I said that’s ENOUGH!”

  “‍—‍the same way he handles everything in Jacobs Mill. By bullying everyone on this council the same way he’s bullied me and my father and everyone else in‍—‍”

  “MISS COLLINS! I SAID SIT DOWN!”

  Everyone froze. The gravel fell to the floor as Deacon clutched at his chest. His purpled face quickly drained of all color. “I said . . .” His eyes rolled back in his head just before he fell backwards, hitting his head against the credenza behind him then slumping to the ground.

  For a split second, no one moved.

  “SOMEBODY GET THE PARAMEDICS NEXT DOOR!”

  Suddenly, the room exploded into action as people rushed toward the front to help the fallen chairman. Others backed away in shock. Buddy, Tracey, and Alex joined the other council members who knelt beside Deacon. Seeing the blood pooling beneath his head, Buddy yanked out his bandana and placed it gently beneath Deacon’s head.

  “Where’s Ginny? Is she here?” Alex called back to the crowd, looking for Deacon’s wife.

  “No. She’s in Texas with the grandkids!” Flossy cried, standing beside her chair at the table. “Should I call her?”

  Just then paramedics from the Fire Station rushed into the room. “Clear out, folks! Give us room!”

  Tracey backed away from the knot of council members circling Deacon. As she looked up, she saw Stump calmly urging everyone to leave the room.

  “That’s it, nice and quiet like,” he said. A few of the townsfolk looked at him with suspicious eyes, but followed his instructions.

  “Do as he says,” Mrs. Peterson instructed, appearing beside her big friend. “Let’s gather ourselves outside.”

  With the paramedics checking Deacon’s vitals, Tracey and her sister stepped back to give them room.

  “Can you believe this?” Tracey whispered.

  When her sister didn’t respond, she turned to find out why. Alex’s eyes were glued to the back of the room.

  “No, I can’t believe this,” she whispered. “And neither will you when you turn around.”

  Alarmed by the look on her sister’s face, Tracey turned around. There, standing amidst the outgoing flow of the crowd, stood Noah.

  Chapter 20

  Moments before, Noah had arrived at City Hall just in time to witness Deacon’s outburst and fall. He’d rolled back in town a few minutes earlier, stopping by Walnut Ridge in hopes of seeing Tracey. But the house was empty, as were the shop and barn. Not until he drove down Main Street had he seen the crowd and stopped to ask what was happening. Someone he didn’t know had told him the Collins were having a showdown with Deacon and the City Council.

  He’d parked his bike and elbowed his way through the crowded outer room. Squeezing into the council room, he’d spotted Alex at the microphone, though her back was turned. He searched for Tracey, finding her up on the front row with Buddy. Then, before he’d even caught his breath, Dea
con collapsed.

  As the room cleared out, he pushed his way through the last of the townsfolks as he made his way toward Tracey and Alex. This wasn’t at all how he’d planned to face Tracey after his absence. As she turned to face him, he swallowed hard. Closing the space between them, he then stopped.

  “Hello, Tracey.”

  “Noah, when . . . where did you . . .” Her expression seemed to crumble, a mix of emotions rushing through her eyes. He held out his arms, not knowing what to say, wishing her into his embrace. As a tear slipped down her cheek, she stepped closer‍—‍close enough that he could wrap his arms around her.

  He buried his face in her hair. “Tracey, I’m so sorry.”

  He felt a hand cover his and looked up to see Alex, her eyes pooled with tears as she simply nodded then passed by them. Buddy followed, giving him a hearty pat on his back along with a knowing wink before he joined Alex.

  Tracey looked up at him. “I wasn’t sure I’d ever see you again,” she said, her voice rasped with emotion.

  He pushed a strand of hair from her eyes and wiped her tears away with his thumb. “I wasn’t sure you’d ever want to see me ever again.”

  A nervous chuckle escaped as a smile tugged at her lips. “Noah, I want you to know‍—‍”

  He put his forefinger against her lips. “Shh, not here. Not now. Can we go somewhere and talk?”

  A paramedic interrupted them, guiding a gurney down the aisle. “Might be best for you folks to join the others outside.”

  “Sure thing,” Noah said, reaching for Tracey’s hand.

  She didn’t move, her gaze turned to those assisting Deacon. “Noah, do you remember that day we left on the ride when I said I wished Deacon would just drop dead?”

  Noah put his arm over her shoulder and steered her away. “You didn’t mean it.”

  “I know, but it’s like I willed it to happen or something. I feel awful.”

  He looked down at her as they made their way toward the door. “Don’t. You had nothing to do with what just happened, okay?”