Page 69 of Cowboy's Last Stand
“Anna went to visit and help out.She’s over the moon.”
“I’m sure,” Jason said.Unlike him, Anna’s daughter was doing something productive.She was literally producing offspring, creating life.She was making grandchildren.It was the ultimate in wish fulfillment for parents of adult children.
“What are you up to?”
Jason cleared his throat.Any of his accomplishments would pale in comparison to Leigh’s.His dad considered through-hiking a waste of time.When Jason had mentioned the Continental Divide Trail, his dad had snorted in derision.“I made it to Texas.”
“Did you?”
“Yeah.”
“Have you talked to her yet?”
Jason had told his father what he’d intended to do here.“Yes.”
“How did it go?”
“OK,” he hedged.
“Well, good,” Jeff said in a blustery voice.“Now you can move on.”
“I’m doing some work for her.”
“What kind of work?”
Jason mentioned the alternator belt and the remodel project.This was more comfortable territory for both of them, so he started to warm to the topic.Then he dropped the piece de resistance: “She’s got a ’55 Ford F-Series in her garage.”
His father let out a low whistle, echoing Jason’s reaction exactly.
Jason walked toward the garage so he could look under the hood while they talked.He should at least try to get the truck running before he left.His father was a restoration expert and a skilled mechanic in his own right.They discussed various parts and options for the next ten minutes.By the end of the conversation, Jason had a plan of attack for the repairs.He thanked his father for the advice.
“I heard from your CO,” Jeff said.“Bradley.”
“Oh?”
“He wants you to train EOD techs in San Diego.”
“Right.”
“It’s a good offer, Jason.”
“I know.”
“But you haven’t accepted yet.”
Jason couldn’t imagine training soldiers to dismantle explosives, with his track record.He’d literally blown himself up.
“You should consider it,” Jeff said.“He holds you in high regard.”
“I’ll call him.”
His father fell silent for a moment.“You can always come home.”
Jason raked a hand through his hair.“I was just there, Dad.I was there for over a year.”
“You were at the rehab clinic in Missoula for most of it.”
“I spent a month at the ranch.”
