Welcome Back to Pie Town

by Lynne Hinton

  “Not at all,” George responded. “Not at all.” And as Frank turned to shake his hand, the priest crawled into the backseat, gripping the hand offered to him.

  FORTY-THREE

  Well, look who’s here!” Francine called out as Trina walked in the diner carrying Alexandria on her hip. “You sure are a sight for sore eyes,” she added, reaching over to take the baby from Trina.

  “Hello, Francie,” Trina said, placing Alexandria into the older woman’s arms.

  The little girl laughed as she received a big hug from Francine.

  Trina smiled. “Somebody’s happy to see you,” she commented, noting her daughter’s exuberance at being in the arms of their friend.

  “I’m pretty sure somebody’s happy to see you too,” Francine responded, tilting her head in the direction of the back of the restaurant.

  Trina glanced over to where Francine was motioning and saw Raymond sitting alone, watching. He raised his chin in greeting.

  “Let’s go see what Uncle Fred has cooking in the kitchen,” Francine said to Alexandria as she headed around the counter, leaving Trina alone in the front of the diner with Raymond.

  Trina slowly moved over to his booth.

  “You want something to eat?” he asked.

  She shook her head. “We had a late breakfast,” she acknowledged.

  He nodded. “I’m glad you came,” he said, watching as she slid into the booth opposite him.

  “Glad you asked,” she responded.

  There was an awkward pause.

  “Guess a lot happened while I was away,” Trina said, glancing around the diner. There were no other customers yet, but she knew that would change soon. Lunchtime was fast approaching.

  “Dad’s out of the detention center,” Raymond said. “All the charges were dropped.” He shrugged. “Turns out, there weren’t really any charges against him. The FBI just claimed he was ‘being processed.’ ” Raymond shook his head. “I guess that’s how they do things these days.”

  “Yeah, I guess so,” Trina noted. “How did they finally get him cleared?”

  “One of the agents who was around here looking for me, Agent Cochran, he did it.”

  “With a little help from Roger’s persuasive nature, I imagine.” Trina knew the sheriff was not going to stop until he got Frank out of jail and Raymond out of trouble.

  “Apparently, he made quite an impression on Agent Cochran,” Raymond noted. “Got him to check out his suspicions about a drug operation at Old Horse Springs and kept him from arresting me.”

  “But there was that other agent, Williams. Wasn’t he the one determined to see you locked up?” Trina had met the FBI agents before she left for Texas.

  “Father George and I ran into each other over at Techado. We were at Dad’s trailer and Agent Williams found out, but by the time he got to the trailer looking for me, I was already gone. That’s why Father George got locked up, for covering for me, for not turning me in.”

  “Father George got locked up too?” This was news she hadn’t heard.

  Raymond nodded.

  “Wow, I did miss a lot.” She shook her head. “So where did you go when you left the trailer?”

  “Datil,” he replied. “The Silver Spur, to try and fix things with Gilbert.”

  “And that FBI agent didn’t find you?”

  “It was a while before Williams actually figured out where I was. He was pretty mad, took it out on Father George, I imagine. Anyway, I had time to get things straightened out and Cochran had time to get Dad out of jail.”

  “George was able to stall the agent?” Trina asked. “How did he do that? He’s a terrible liar, you know.”

  “Well, he kept the agent busy for a little while, but it seems there was also an official report filed that wasn’t quite accurate,” Raymond answered.

  Trina waited for the rest of the explanation.

  “Danny called the FBI and said he had seen me and George’s missing vehicle way in another part of the county.”

  “Danny White?” Trina asked.

  “The one and only,” Raymond replied.

  “Danny called in a false report?” Trina was surprised.

  “Well, I don’t think Roger wants to have his deputy accused of that.” Raymond grinned.

  “Wow, well, that’s pretty impressive,” Trina responded. “I guess I had pegged the deputy all wrong. Looks like I need to talk to Christine and tell her what a good guy she’s actually got.”

  “Of course the FBI wasn’t too thrilled about the wild goose chase, and Roger and Danny both got their asses chewed out by Williams. But in the end it was very helpful not to have Williams in Datil or at the detention center throwing his weight around because it gave Agent Cochran and Roger enough time to get everything sorted out.”

  Trina nodded. “Wow, what a story!” She paused to think about everything Raymond was telling her. “But what about the whole drug thing? Were there really drugs in Catron County?”

  “Roger and Cochran were in Datil when I got there. Agent Cochran finally listened to what Roger had thought was happening all along. So the agent went to Albuquerque to check on what had really occurred that morning in Alamo. It turns out the other guy, Agent Williams, had made such a mess of things on the pueblo land, acted on some bogus information and made the bust without having any cause, that he was searching for any way to save his reputation. So when Williams got wind of the Silver Spur robbery, he talked to the bartender and just made the leap that I was the one he was really after.”

  “So it was like Roger thought all along,” Trina commented. “It was just a matter of a federal officer trying to clean up his mess and save face.”

  Raymond nodded.

  “But was there ever any drug trafficking?” Trina asked. “Didn’t Roger think there was something going on down at Old Horse Springs?”

  “According to Danny, not anything that amounts to a real operation. Some guy in prison made the story up just to get his sentence reduced. The suspicious activity that the sheriff called the feds about down at that old ranch was just a couple of guys selling pot. The fellow in prison knew about it and thought he could make it sound bigger than what it was. So he made up a lot of stuff and then gave the agents a wrong address.”

  “And Agent Williams took it from there.” Trina was filling in the blanks.

  “I guess he was hoping this would lock in a promotion for himself,” Raymond suggested.

  Trina had to laugh. “Well, I hope that’s no longer in the works,” she said.

  Raymond shook his head. “Agent Cochran told Roger that his partner has been assigned to White Sands.”

  “White Sands?” Trina repeated. “There’s nothing in White Sands.”

  “I think that’s the point,” Raymond responded with a grin. He slid his hand over the top of his head. “Well, I’m just glad Dad and Father George and Roger are okay.”

  “Yeah, me too,” Trina said, smiling.

  The two stopped talking and glanced around. A couple had just made their way into the diner. Trina didn’t recognize them. She assumed they were tourists traveling through.

  “What about you?” Trina asked when she met Raymond’s eyes again. “You okay?”

  Raymond smiled. “I’m better,” he replied. “All the charges were dropped against me.” He paused. “Turns out, the bartender’s brother had deposited the money in the bank before leaving on his camping trip. He returned to Datil and cleared things up about the same time I got there.”

  “All this trouble and the bartender’s brother had the money the whole time?” Trina asked. “Man, it seems to me like they should arrest him for making a false report.”

  Raymond shrugged. “He thought he was robbed. He was just mad because he thought his money was stolen.”

  “Still, he caused a lot of people a lot of trouble. Didn’t he talk to his brother at all?”

  “Guess there aren’t any phones where he goes camping. And he had left a note, Gilbert just never fou
nd it. He saw the empty cash register and jumped to a conclusion about what had happened.”

  Trina looked at Raymond. “Did he even apologize to you?”

  Raymond shook his head. “Not really,” he said. “But it’s okay. I was a real jerk that night I was in the bar.”

  Trina glanced away. She listened as Bea came out of the kitchen and answered the couple’s question. She smiled as Bea gave them the list of available pies.

  “I’m the one who owes everyone an apology,” Raymond said softly and then turned away. “Especially to you.” He turned back and faced Trina. “I’m so sorry for what happened that night, for the drinking and for causing you to get burned.” He shook his head. “I am really. . . .”

  “It’s okay,” Trina interrupted him. “I know that you’re going through a really difficult time. I know that whatever happened to you over there in Afghanistan is way more than what showed in your X-rays at the hospital.”

  Raymond nodded. “I know that now too. And that’s part of the reason I wanted to see you today.”

  Trina waited.

  “I’m going to Albuquerque this afternoon. Dad’s taking me to the VA Hospital.” He hesitated. “To the psych unit,” he added. “I’m checking myself in as a patient.” He dropped his face. “I know now that I need some help.”

  Trina reached across the table and took his hands.

  “I’m glad for you, Raymond,” she said.

  There was another long pause as they listened to Fred and Bea and Francine playing in the kitchen with Alexandria.

  Raymond smiled and then slowly pulled his hands away from Trina.

  “How was Texas?” he asked.

  Trina sat back in the booth. “Big as always,” she answered, knowing full well what he was asking.

  “You going there to stay?”

  Trina blew out a long breath. “Well, here’s the thing.” She cleared her throat. “Turns out Conroe has his hands pretty full trying to pay child support and share custody of his other two children. He’s not real interested in playing house with a woman and her two-year-old.” She tried to smile, but it was obvious that what had happened in Abilene had been a difficult experience for her.

  “I’m sorry,” Raymond said.

  “I’m sorry too,” Trina responded. “I should have waited and talked to you before I left to go see him. I should have let you know what I was doing.”

  “Well, it’s not like I was around to give you a listening ear,” he noted. “And it’s not like the last time we were together instilled any confidence in me or in our relationship.”

  Trina shook her head. “I doubted you. I doubted us.”

  “I’m pretty sure that’s my fault,” Raymond said.

  “Maybe,” Trina replied. “But I gave up pretty easily, and I was way too quick to think about going back to Conroe.”

  Raymond didn’t respond. He glaced away and then faced Trina. “Look, I asked you to come here today because, besides saying I’m sorry, there’s something I need to say to you.”

  She listened.

  “While I was away I had a lot of time to think. About me, about the accident, the stuff that happened over there, you, us.” He leaned forward. “I want to say that I finally realize and accept that I’m not the man I used to be, the one I think you fell in love with, but while I was up in the hills, away from Pie Town, away from you, someone helped me see that even though I might be different, that doesn’t have to be a bad thing.” He hesitated. “Maybe it’s actually a good thing, because maybe I can be better—you know, be an even better man.”

  Trina smiled and nodded. “Sounds like you spent some time with Father George,” she said.

  He laughed. “Yeah, we had a few hours together. He’s a good guy.”

  “Yeah, he actually is,” she agreed.

  “I want to say to you that I want to be a better man for myself, but I also want to be a better man for you and for Alexandria.” He took in a deep breath. “I love you, Trina, and I want us to be together, the three of us, and I am willing to fight to get better because I want to be with you and with that little girl in there.”

  Trina felt the tears standing in her eyes. “I’d like that too,” she said. “I’d like that very much.”

  “I’ll be gone about a month,” he explained. “I don’t know what will happen.”

  “We never do,” Trina said. “But you know, that’s what makes life so interesting.” She reached out her hands.

  He took them.

  “What you can count on is that Alexandria and I will be here when you get back, and we can try again.”

  Raymond nodded.

  Both of them turned just as Francine was making her way over to their table. “You two look like you could use some pie.” And she placed two small plates in front of them and handed each of them a fork. “It’s a new recipe, and I think you’ll like it. I’m calling it Stay Home Pie.”

  “Yeah?” Trina said, wiping her eyes. She stuck her fork in the slice in front of her. “And what made you call it that?” She took a bite and nodded in approval.

  “Well, I’m glad you asked. You see, I’m hoping it’s so good that our friends will never leave. I’m counting on it being so tasty that you’ll both never head out of Pie Town again. ’Cause even if a relationship hits a bump and a person is thinking about taking the fast train out of here, or motorcycle or fancy truck, well, maybe at least this pie will make that person want to stay home.” Francine winked at Trina. “It’s really just tomato pie,” she whispered.

  The two women watched as Raymond took a bite from his slice and grinned.

  “Well, Ms. Francine, it works for me.” He put down his fork. “I was just telling Trina that I’m going away for a little while, but when I get back, as long as you teach me how to bake this pie, I plan to be staying at home for a very long time.”

  And Francine clapped her hands together and headed back to the kitchen.

  FORTY-FOUR

  Father George had stepped out of the rectory to pick up the morning paper out of Glenwood, which he received once a month. He had been up before dawn and was glad to see that the delivery person had gotten the papers out early. He opened it as he stood on the porch and read the monthly headlines that told the story of false charges made some time ago against a Catron County resident and the reaction of the Federal Bureau of Investigation to the protest rally held at the detention center that was really more like one huge party.

  There was a picture of Oris standing next to a Navajo shaman. The two of them were grinning and eating pie. George laughed.

  “Good story?”

  George glanced down from the porch to see Raymond Twinhorse standing near the steps. He was surprised, since he hadn’t heard or seen a vehicle in the parking lot of the church or anywhere close by, and also because he hadn’t heard that Raymond was home from the hospital.

  “Raymond,” he said. He glanced around. “How did you get here?” he asked.

  The young man smiled. “Walked,” he replied.

  “From Albuquerque?” The priest sounded surprised.

  “From Techado,” he answered and then had to laugh. “I love to walk, but not that far,” he said.

  George nodded, realizing his mistake. “Right,” he said.

  “Just north of Mr. King’s ranch.” Raymond looked behind him. “I got home yesterday, and then I drove out there a couple of hours later and started walking. I couldn’t sleep. I just feel better when I’m outside.”

  George thought about the area where he had searched for Raymond and knew that it was much more than five miles away. He figured the young man had walked at least ten or twelve miles to get to the church. “You want to come in for some breakfast?” he asked. “Coffee?”

  Raymond turned to face the priest. “I wanted to come see you,” he said.

  George sensed that Raymond preferred to stay outside, so he walked down the steps to stand closer to him. He left the paper on the porch railing.

  “I have
n’t had the chance to thank you for what you did,” Raymond said.

  George shook his head. “It was Roger who was smart enough to handle everything so well. He got that agent to check out the story about the drug dealers. He’s the one who got the charges dropped against you and got Frank and me out of jail. He’s the one you need to thank.”

  “I have, and I will keep thanking him. Roger is a good man and an excellent sheriff. And Danny, he kept the FBI from finding me. I can’t forget the deputy.”

  George sat down on the steps while the young man remained standing. He was glad to see Raymond. “I hear you’ve done well these last couple of weeks at the VA. I tried a couple of times to see you, but they told me you couldn’t have visitors.”

  Raymond nodded. “It was pretty intense what they put me through, but I think it helped. And I’m going to stay in a support group, take new meds for depression. I think I’m better.”

  George smiled. He was glad to hear that.

  “I wanted you to know that I had a lot of time to think before I went to the hospital.” He sat down next to the priest. “And then, of course, I had a lot of time to think while I was there,” he added.

  George looked ahead. “Yeah, I had my own time of reflection and contemplation. They don’t call it ‘serving time’ for nothing.” He leaned into Raymond, making a small joke.

  Raymond nodded.

  The two were silent for a while. They were enjoying the rising sun coming over the mountains.

  “I’d like to confess.”

  George was surprised. He had never known Raymond to make a confession. He hesitated. “Oh, okay, let me go get the room ready, and I’ll meet you over there.” He pointed with his chin toward the sanctuary and started to get up.

  Raymond shook his head. “No, I’m fine to do it here,” he replied.

  “But I don’t have my vestments,” George said, “or my prayer book,” he added, thinking he should go inside to get them. He stood up.

  “I don’t need all that,” Raymond noted.

  There was a pause.

  George nodded. “Okay,” he said and sat back down.

  Raymond stayed seated on the steps beside him.