Author's Note: I think there's going to be one more chapter after this one. I'm working on it all ready, so it should hopefully be online by this time next week.
In the Shadow of my Father
It was a few days later that Doc managed to get my car fixed. He suggested taking it for a test run, just to check that it was working properly. I had taken the road to the west, following the winding asphalt. It wasn't long until I hit the base of a hill. The road was now lined with trees. It struck me a little odd in the middle of desert. I hadn't come across any roads like this back in the city. I slowed down as I passed by a small lake, speeding up again once it was behind me. A few birds called to each other in the trees as I drove by at a steady space. It wasn't much longer before I left most of the trees behind, emerging onto the side of the cliff. The road ran through a few short tunnels as it wove along the side of the hill. I slowed to almost a stop when I came around a corner and found a large waterfall. The bridge that ran passed was a little wet from spray, so I kept to my slow speed as I crossed, picking up speed again when the road was fully dry. The road wove around the side of the hill some more before I came upon a small plateau. Here there was a building set into the cliff. The old, faded sign read 'Wheel Well Motel'. My father had been full of old Route 66 tales from his younger days. He had told me a few names of popular motels; this had been one of them, though it was hard to believe in its current run-down state. I turned my back on it and drove to the edge of the cliff. A few logs stopped me getting too close to the edge. The town was at one end of a long valley. The road wove around cliff faces that jutted into the valley and over the smaller hills. Off to one side was the Interstate, probably the one that I had arrived on. It wasn't that far off, but there were few exits onto this road. I wondered how many of the cars knew about the town so close to where they were driving. I sighed happily. This wasn't something I had seen in the city, something I was unlikely to ever see again if I went back. I left my car parked at the edge of the cliff and walked around the plateau. The road dipped away into another valley just beyond the motel.
It was some hours later when I returned to the town. I pulled into the small parking lot outside the surgery and walked the short distance to the café. I felt so much more relaxed now, more relaxed than I had done for many months. I knew I had made my mind up on the way back to the town. This was where I wanted to be, not in the city. It had barely been a week since Sheriff had found me. The first few days had been tough; I'd not wanted to be around the others in the town. Now I felt the complete opposite.
The door to the café was open when I approached. Doc and Sheriff were at the table nearest the door. I caught a bit of their conversation as I got closer.
"Do you think we'll ever see her again, Doc?"
"I have no idea. It depends a lot on where she took the test drive and how far she went."
Neither one was looking in my direction as I entered. I walked over to them quietly. Flo spotted me and smiled as I went to the spare chair at their table.
"Afternoon." I said as I sat down.
Doc looked a little stunned for a moment. Sheriff and I both laughed at the expression.
"Hi, still here."
"I can see that." Doc replied. "How did the car go?"
"Really well. Thanks, Doc."
"Don't mention it. Any idea on when you might be going?"
I looked around the café before I replied. I'd not had much interaction with the others, but after the drive this morning I knew I wanted to stay here. It felt so much more like home than the city ever had. My gaze fell upon the army Sergeant and the hippy. They seemed to be arguing about something again.
"What's the problem, gents?" I walked over to where they sat.
"He doesn't like my grass, man."
It took me a moment to work out that the hippy meant his lawn, not some drugs that he had somehow acquired. I had seen the hippy's lawn. Personally I had no problem with it. If that was how he wanted it, then that was how he could have it in my opinion. The Sergeant clearly didn't agree.
"You call that grass? It's a jungle!"
"Come on, man, leave the grass alone."
I had also seen the Sergeant's lawn. I could see just from the front yard that he was a stickler for neatness. I supposed it had come from living in cramped conditions in the war.
"You could at least cut it."
"No way, man. Grass has feelings too, you know."
I bit my lip in a desperate attempt to keep a straight face. Were they always like this?
"Now then, this is his lawn. Should it really be that much of a bother to you, sir?" I address the Sergeant.
He looked at me, speechless. I kept my face neutral.
"Freedom, man." The hippy piped up.
The Sergeant glared at him.
"It is his property. He's free to do with it what he wants." I said. "Just as you are free do what you want with your property."
I left them to think over my words and went back to Sheriff and Doc. Sheriff looked very impressed.
"You handled that well, miss."
"It was part of my job in the city." I replied.
"What was your job?" Doc sounded curious.
"I was an attorney. I worked with my father."
"Don't you mean you work with your father?" Sheriff frowned.
I shook my head. "Excuse me, I need to make a phone call."
There was a phone in a corner of the café, but I didn't use that one. Instead I returned to the surgery where it was quiet. I dialled my father's direct number to get straight to his office. It rang on for a few minutes before I gave up. He clearly wasn't in the office today. I went straight for his mobile number. This time he answered.
"Hi, Daddy."
"Sally! How are you?"
"I'm good thanks. I said I'd phone you again."
"Any particular reason for this pleasant call?"
"Um…well…I'm not coming back."
Author's Note: Well, Sally has to somehow end up staying in RS doesn't she? Hope you like it. Next chapter should be online soon. I got the idea for the bit with Sarge and Fillmore a couple of days ago. Having Sally step in was part of it, plus it leads into the next chapter.