“Haylee-Girl, if yor momma wants me to take her for a ride in mah new truck, she’s gonna git one,” he said firmly.
“Ex-cuuussse me, Mr. Willobee,” Haylee replied.
“That’s better, that’s what I like ta hear,” Trent laughed.
“It’s ’bout time for the showdown on the Strip,” Kit said nervously.
As soon as the debate began, Kit liked that Trump just called her Hillary, instead of Madam Secretary or Mrs. Clinton, because of the way she arrogantly and disdainfully referred to Mr. Trump during the first debate by only his first name—Donald. They ate pizza and drank beer throughout the evening, while listening intently to what was being said by the two candidates. When Trump turned to Clinton at one point and said, “If I win, I’ll appoint a special prosecutor to look into your situation,” he was referring to her 33,000 emails which had been deleted and subjected to BleachBit to make them virtually impossible to recover forensically. With frequency, Trump called her a liar. To Kit, this was all delightful. When the debate ended, they all seemed to have a favorite moment.
“Hay, you didn’t seem to have much to say in the debate. Whadaya think?” Kit asked.
“Momma, you know I’m not much for politics. I know what ya want me to say, and I will—Mr. Trump was the clear winner.”
“That ain’t fair. I won’t ya to tell me what ya really think,” Kit said.
“Ma, that really is what I think.”
“How ’bout you, Trent? Course with all the pizza you was eatin’ and beer you was drinkin’, I’m not sure how much of the debate you noticed,” she commented, turning to him with a smile.
“Don’t sell me short, Kit, ’cause I agree with ya. Mr. Trump had a stronger hand. That moderator Wallace is really somethin’. He looks and sounds like a Chihuahua. Where do they git these people from?”
“Momma, I must admit, Mr. Trump’s beginnin’ to grow on me, but he has really made an awful lot of promises…building a wall, repealin’ and replacin’ ObamaCare, fixin’ that NAFTA trade agreement, buildin’ up the military, and a whole bunch of other stuff. You said it yourself, he’s not young and I can’t imagine how he’s gonna do all that.”
“He’s got plenty a help. Why do ya think he picked Governor Pence to be his runnin’ mate? Just look at all them endorsements and smart people around ’em. He didn’t build a big company without help. He knows what he’s doin’,” Kit replied.
“Ya gotta point there, it takes teamwork ta git a lot done. If I never learned anything, I did learn that in the military,” Trent said, looking down at his pocket watch.
“I know, ya need to get back to the house, but before ya go, you alright with what we planned for the wedding?” Haylee asked Trent.
“Yep, it all sounds good ta me,” he said with a big smile.
“I’ll walk ya out to Rocket One,” Haylee said.
“Kit, I’ll see ya tomorra. Hope ya have a good night,” Trent said as he stood to leave.
Haylee and Trent went out together to his bike. They wanted a little time to themselves and discuss many exciting things in their future such as the wedding and the purchase of the Sante Fe ranch. After a long embrace, Trent scooted off toward home.
Two Weeks Later
Though still early, Trent clicked the TV on to watch a little news. The host presented a short rundown of the status of the presidential race. He talked about the FBI Director’s decision to reopen the Clinton email case and the effect that decision was having on the political race. Then he brought on a panel of bloviators to offer their perspectives. From what he and they said, things were not looking good for the Clinton campaign, because of what had just been learned, from an unrelated case, that another 650,000 emails had been discovered which could implicate Hillary Clinton to an even greater degree in criminal activity. The talking heads who speculated about the race really didn’t really have anything of significance to say. They were more or less just taking up airtime. Some posited that the polls indicated the race was close, others thought it was incredible that Clinton was not in jail, instead of being able to run for the presidency. One panel member discussed the frenetic and unrelenting campaigning of the 70-year-old Donald Trump around the country. That panel member expressed his astonishment at the energy level of Trump and the ebullience of every crowd he addressed. Trent was surprised that Doug Shoen, pollster and Clinton operative, actually announced that he could no longer support Hillary Clinton. Shoen explained that, if she were elected, she would not be able to govern, because of all the legal issues which would ensue. Trent smiled to himself, because he was relatively sure that Kit was watching this show as well. He clicked off the TV, checked the calendar, and noted that it was two weeks to the day before the wedding. Then he decided to visit Kit. He went outside to get Rocket one, as he did, he stopped and admired his new semi. He loved the flames on the cab.
On the way to see Kit, he stopped by the restaurant to speak briefly with Haylee. She came over to take his order for breakfast.
“The usual?” She asked.
“Not today, I had a cup a coffee and a banana at the house.”
“Anything wrong?” She asked disquietedly.
“Oh, no, I gotta go over and talk to ya momma ’bout her comin’ with us to Santa Fe. She ain’t been too keen on that from the start, but if she don’t go, then I’m not gonna close the deal for the ranch. I done made up mah mind,” Trent said.
“Hold on just a minute, I gotta customer at the register,” Haylee said.
While she was taking care of the customer, Trent glanced out the window and noticed a dark-skinned man staring at his bike as Haylee returned.
“This is very serious, Trent. Ya know momma’s a very stubborn woman. I don’t wanna be responsible for ruining your dream,” Haylee said.
“Before I forgit, did ya see that dark-skinned fella anymore?”
“Ya mean the one who asked ’bout ya a while back?”
“Yeah, him. I think I might a seen ’em mahself a minute ago,” he said, looking out the window again, but no one was there.
“I haven’t seen him since that day,” she replied.
“Sweetheart, I gotta idea. I’ll be back ’round lunchtime and let ya know how it went,” Trent said, heading out the door.
Trent zipped back to his place, parked Rocket One, climbed into the cab of his truck, and crept down the hill. He arrived at his future mother-in-law’s house in minutes, knocked on the door, and Kit answered, leaning unsteadily on her cane.
“Kit, git yor travelin’ clothes on, ’cause we gonna take a ride,” he said.
“What’re ya talkin’ ’bout?” She asked, making her way to her walker.
“Member a while ago, I told ya, I’s gonna take ya for a ride in my new truck. Now’s a good time. So, Kit, git dressed.”
“Well, I was watching the news, ya really wanna do that?” Kit asked.
“Not only do I wanna do it, I’m gonna do it,” he said with a big smile.
“You sure are a stuborn cuss. Okay, if you insist, give me a few minutes, and I’ll be ready to go.”
While she was changing clothes, Trent walked around the living room looking at family pictures. He took special notice of a photo of Haylee as a little girl sitting on her daddy’s shoulders. Another one which caught his attention was a picture of Kit and her husband dancing. It looked as though they were really cutting the rug. They were a very handsome couple. He was lost in thought when he heard Kit.
“I’m ready, I know ya got room in that thing for my walker,” she said.
“Ya ain’t gonna need no walker today. I’m gonna do the walkin’ for both of us,” he said, sweeping her up into his arms like a plume.
“For goodness sake, Trent, help me lock the door,” she said, handing him her keys.
“Here ya go, just put that there seatbelt on,” he said, sliding her into the
passenger’s side.
“Where we goin’,” Kit asked, after Trent climbed up behind the steering wheel.
“How ’bout Kingman?”
“It’s okay with me, if ya wanna go that far,” she said, giving him a puzzled look.
As he crept out of Oatman toward Kingman on Route 66, he tried to engage Kit in conversation. She was practically overwhelmed at sitting so high in a moving vehicle on such a winding and narrow road. Trent kept the speed down because he didn’t want her to be afraid. He thought she should enjoy the ride. After he got to Kingman, which took about an hour, he pulled into a truck stop.
“Kit, would ya like a cup of coffee?” He asked.
“Yeah, I would,” she replied.
“How ya like it?”
“Just a little cream.”
“Tell ya what, why don’t we sit at one of them tables over there?” He said, pointing to an outside sitting area.
“I’ll git ya comfortable, and I’ll go git us a cup.”
Minutes later he returned to the table with two coffees. He wanted to give her a ride in his new truck, and this was the perfect opportunity to hear her plans for the future.
“Well, Kit, whadaya think of mah new buggy?” He asked.
“I never rode in your other truck, but this is a really nice one. I had no idea they have so many fancy gadgets on ’em,” she replied.
“These semis have to be a home away from home for us truckers. They’ve changed a lot just since I started drivin’ ’bout ten years ago now.”
“Trent, do ya really like drivin’?”
“It ain’t bad, I shor’ve done worse.”
“That’s not what I asked?” She said, making eye contact.
“It’s a means to a end.”
“What’s the end?” She asked, sipping her coffee.
“I’ve talked ’bout that before…a wife, kids, and this crazy idea ’bout a small spread ’round Sante Fe,” he said with a smile.
“It looks to me like with Hay you can have the wife and kids, but I don’t know much ’bout the ranch thing. I thought she said you been negotiatin’ with some guy in Santa Fe.”
“That’s true, but we ain’t shook hands or signed no papers,” He said.
“Why not, the price right?” She asked.
“It’s a little more’n I wanted ta pay, but I can swing it, if I drive ’nother year or two.”
“So, what’s holdin’ ya back, son?” She asked earnestly.
“I already told Haylee, I’m not shor I can do it no more.”
“Ya just said ya could swing it, so why not?” Kit asked.
“Things’ve changed. I can’t go without you being a part of the family,” he said, looking at her.
“What I hear ya sayin’ is that if I don’t go with you and Hay, you ain’t gonna buy that place in Santa Fe?” She asked.
“I don’t have ta have no ranch, I got Haylee-Girl,” he said proudly.
“But, Hay told me that the ranch is part of your dream, and nobody should ever give up their dreams,” she said, “I haven’t ’cause I still wanna have some grandkids, and see my little girl as a wife and mother,” Kit responded.
“I don’t see it as givin’ up anything. If it’s not ta be, it’s not ta be,” he said, taking a big swallow of coffee, “way I look at it is I can always find a nice-nuff and big-nuff house right ’round here. I ain’t gotta go no where’s else.”
“Can ya tell me a little ’bout the ranch?” Kit asked.
“Shor, I been lookin’ at it online, and course I been talkin’ to the owner a bit. It’s ’bout a hundred-twenty-five acre piece a land with a three bedroom, two bath house. It’s got a big front and back porch and good-size barn. He’s even got some livestock that goes with the place. Most of them ranches ’round it are real big and cost millions. It’s only ’bout ten miles outside Sante Fe, and for ’nother thing I like ’bout it, the owner says I could add on to it. That’s real important,” he said with smiling eyes.
Kit leaned back and looked at Trent, “Where do men like you come from?”
“Macon, Georgia!” He chuckled.
“Ya know that’s not what I meant.”
“Yeah…all I can say is… I’m just me,” he said, looking at her with a smile.
“What if I told ya, I’d go with you two? Would that make ya happy?” She asked.
“If you mean it, it’d be one of the best things I ever heard.”
“I’m not given to sayin’ things I don’t mean, ’cause words once spoken can never be recalled.”
“I take it that you will go with us?” Trent asked pointedly.
“Yes, but I don’t know what I can do on a ranch.”
“Kit, ya done made me the happiest man in Arizona!”
“Guess that means I done somethin’ good today. Now, don’t ya think we should be headin’ back?” She asked.
On the winding return, Trent could barely hold back his enthusiasm and excitement about the future, so as a treat for Kit he brought up the presidential campaign.
“Kit, what’re Mister Trump’s chances?”
“He’s gonna win! He’s one tough S-O-B! He kinda reminds me of you, but I think you’re tough in a different way. From what I’m findin’ out, it appears that people get hurt when they mess with ya,” she said with a grin.
“I’m kinda surprised I remind ya of ’em.” He shor has worked hard in his campaign and spent a lot of his own money. That’s really puttin’ yor money where yor mouth is. He’s a tough hombre for sure. He just went ta three different places in Florida, and them crowds are big and wild ’bout ’em,” Trent said.
“I told ya before, I just love that man. We all owe him a debt a gratitude. I can’t imagine that Clinton woman ever takin’ over the Oval Office! She’s a criminal! That’d be the end of America.”
“Let’s hope and pray the good Lord ain’t forgot us, ’cause I tend ta agree with ya. We need a good man, in this case, who can git the job done,” Trent said.
“Trent, I really appreciate ya takin’ me for a ride in your new truck. Most people don’t really seem to care ’bout us old folks, especially somebody like me who’s sorta broken down,” she said, staring through the windshield.
“Now, Kit, I wish you’d stop sayin’ that ’bout yorself. Ya ain’t broke down. Ya got some physical problems that ya used to not have. Ya gotta good mind, heart, and one helluva youngin’ in Haylee-Girl!”
“Any second thoughts? Ya only got two weeks left before ya become my son-in-law. Ya know, I guess I don’t really like that term…son-in-law… I never had no son, but if I had, I’d a wanted one like you,” Kit said.
“I reckon that’s ’bout the finest thing anybody ever said ta me,” he said, making a tight turn on the winding road.
“Well, it’s true. You gonna tell Hay ’bout my decision?” Kit asked.
“No, think that’s somethin’ ya need ta tell ’er yorself, a mother-daughter thing.”
“Sounds fine, I’ll let ’er know this evenin’ when she gets home, and soon’s we get back, I got two more speeches to watch online of Mr. Trump’s. With the election ’round the corner, that man’s workin’ himself to death! He’s back up in New Hampshire, Ohio, just all over the place. He’s gonna be in Reno soon, but that’s still too far away for me. Last night he was in Hershey, Pennsylvania, and that place was packed! He brought a mother and father up on stage to honor their son Reilly who got killed in a motorcycle accident not long ago. Their boy was a big fan of Mister Trump’s. I think that really touched ’em, ’cause the mother said that Mister Trump told ’er he’d give up everything he owned, if their son could be brought back. He dedicated that rally to Reilly. Trent, that man’s got heart.”
“Kit, ya ain’t gonna git no argument from me ’bout that. I’m gonna vote for ’em in early votin’ later today, an
d I believe Donald Trump’s the real deal, but don’t ya be surprised if them Democrats and that nasty woman steals the election from ’em,” he said, pulling up in front of her house.
“Goodness, how could ya say that, Trent?” She asked as he lifted her out of the truck.
“Kit, we gotta lotta bad people in the world, and most of ’em hate Trump. Ya know that. See, this whole thing’s ’bout good against evil, and for the last eight years, evil’s been winning nearly every battle,” he said as he carried her in.
“Ya gotta point, but it’s time that good gets a win!” She said as he situated her in the wheelchair.
“I’m hopin’ this is one of them times, but like I said, there shor is a bunch of Trump haters out there. Just count ’em; ya got the media, GOP RINO’s, Democrats, them Wall-Street-Wonders, world bigshots, illegals, leaders from other countries, and a awful lot of braindead voters, not ta even mention all that votin’ fraud.”
“That sounds depressin’.” Kit said.
“Didn’t mean ta make ya feel bad.”
“Aw…ya didn’t do that…that was a big treat, ridin’ in that big ole thing,” Kit replied with a smile, “Mr. Trump’s gonna cheer me right up when I hear him talk in a few minutes. Ya are gonna come over tonight for the election coverage?” she asked in an almost pleading tone.
“Course I am, that’s the spirit, but I gotta git goin’, I’ll see ya after while.”
Trent drove back to his place, parked, then walked down the hill to have lunch and see Haylee at the restaurant.
“Thought you’d be in sooner, it’s after one,” she said glancing at the clock.
“I would’ve, but I took yor momma for a little truck ride,” he said with a big smile.
“You didn’t, did ya?”
“Yep, shor did, and she liked it.”
“Well…what did she say ’bout going with us?” Haylee asked.
“You gonna have ta take that up with yor momma tonight,” Trent replied.
“I thought you were gonna get an answer.”
“But, y’all will have ta discuss it between ya,” Trent said.
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