2008-8-9 03:52:00
by Ted Dewey
Now it was spring in The Valley of Hope. The contractors that had pulled out because of cold weather had returned. Once again this was a busy place.
Wild flowers were blooming everywhere. Birds in the trees were building their nests; there was the smell of freshness in the air.
The huge library which covered a place about the size of a city block was something to behold. The four foot adobe walls were getting higher every day. More houses were being built and their red tile roofs gleamed in the sunlight.
All winter Henry and his two helpers had kept busy. In the shop were more wind machines ready to be installed as well as more pipes for air storage. In the field the air tractor was plowing the bottomland.
It was eight o'clock on a Sunday morning. Henry was alone in his adobe house. He had just finished breakfast when a knock came at the door. He walked over and swung it open wide. Standing there was Oran Thomas and Rodney Goldsmith.
"Come in," Henry greeted them. "My house is your house."
The two men stepped inside. Henry motioned them to a chair. "Sit down gents. What brings you here so early this fine morning?" The two men pulled a chair up to the table and sat down.
"Just a social visit," said Goldsmith. "You are always so darn busy around the shop that we don't get a chance to talk to you."
"You work too hard," Thomas added. "Why don't you take it easy for awhile?"
Henry shook his head, "Work is the thing that I do best. Besides I don't know of any good fishing holes around here."
"Why don't you take a couple of weeks off?" Rodney gave him a friendly slap on the back. "You deserve it Henry. The chopper will be in again tomorrow. Get on it and go to Prescott. You have lots of friends there. Enjoy yourself for awhile." He reached in his pocket and laid a card on the table. "When you get ready to come back call this number in Phoenix. They will pick you up at the airport."
A big smile spread over the face of Henry Bower. It would sure be good to go home alright; and he did miss his friends -- one in particular -- a cute little bar maid that worked at The Western. He wondered if she was still there.
He got up from his chair, took a few steps, opened the door, cupped his hands around his mouth and yelled, "Look out Whiskey Row! Here I come!"
There was a puzzled look on Rodney's face. He turned to Thomas. "What is he yelling about?"
Thomas laughed. "That is the name of a street in Prescott. Got a lot of whiskey joints on it. Henry is quite sweet on a little chick that works in one of them. I think her name is Julie."
Rodney raised an eyebrow. "Oh yeah? Why don't you bring her back with you? We have quite a few women in here now but one more sure wouldn't hurt, especially if it would make you happy."
Henry could hardly believe his ears. "I thought..." he stammered, "I thought that a guy had to pay a million bucks and be a full-fledged member before he could bring anyone in."
Rodney nodded. "That is quite true. But in your case we have made an exception. For services rendered we have voted you in. I don't know what we would have done without you. Not only have you kept us in electric power but there is the car and the tractor. Yes my friend you deserve it."
Henry looked dazed. "You mean that I get a million dollar membership as sort of a bonus?"
Goldsmith nodded. "Not only will we give you and yours a lifetime membership but there is something else..."
Henrys eyes were misty. What could be caning next?
Rodney continued. "You're familiar with our great new library. We would like to name it after you."
Henry gulped. "That would be great."
"So if everything is okay with you let's shake on it."
The men shook hands. This was one of the few times that Henry felt more emotion than he could handle.
-- End Of Chapter Twenty-One --
Copyright © 2008 by J.J. Dewey, All Rights Reserved