Sunshine Valley

Deputy Bradley

  Rebecca and Simon had made themselves comfortable on the porch finishing their morning coffee. That look on the sweet old man’s face was seared into her brain. What could he be doing over there in the tall grass? She wondered.

    The hot Kentucky sun was lapping at the tops of the trees like the ocean teasing the beach. It was going to be another gorgeous day.

    They noticed a patrol car cruisin’ down the road and into their driveway. Deputy Bradley reminded Rebecca of Barney Fife. He was a skinny man that a good strong wind would blow away. He clamored out of the car as he put on his cowboy hat. A cowboy riding an iron horse. She couldn’t stop herself from smiling as he tugged at his pants and squared his shoulders, before swaggering, yes swaggering toward them. Barney Fife indeed. Bradley thought he was ten feet tall and bullet proof. Every time there was trouble in town he would say, “now I’m the law round here, let’s go or git.” Which seemed to be his favorite word. “Git.” And he always said it with a growl.  

    Rebecca had almost worked herself into a laugh before he reached the porch.

    “Mornin’ folks.”

    “Deputy,” Simon grinned, “coffee?” He raised his cup to Bradley.

    “Na,” he rested one foot on the bottom step. “I just wanted to see if you two were home.”

    “Yelp. We found everything in its place.” Rebecca smiled. “Thanks for keepin’ an eye on the place for us.”

    “Good, good.” He paused clearing his throat, “my pleasure. Are you still havin’ Bible study at the end of the month?”

   “Sure are,” Simon boomed. “Make sure to tell everyone so they’ll come.”

   “Sure will,” he smiled before turning to leave. The Rice house caught his attention. That blessed old man. Bradley took off his hat before turning back around. “Mr. Rice has asked some of us if we’d help him fix his house.”

    “Yeah, he’s been here this mornin’.” Rebecca smiled.

    Bradley turned his hat in his hands. Rebecca thought that at any moment he was gonna start crying. There was more going on here than met the eye and he knew at least part of the story.

    “Some of us thought we’d make a weekend out of it. Well from the looks of things, it might take us a week. Our wives said they’d do the inside while we work on the outside. Della said she’d supply the food.”

    “Oh, just like an old timey barn raisin’ party.” Rebecca wiggled excitedly in her seat.

    “Sure,” Bradley smiled. “As far as we know all the inside needs is painted and the like.”

    “What fun?” Rebecca continued to wiggle.

    It made Bradley kinda sick. She was happy and excited about this. Before he flew off the handle, which he was prone to do, he had to remind himself that only a few people in town knew the truth. And if he spilled the beans, not only would he loose his job but he ran the risk of loosing his best friend. So he finally choked, “good, good.” He returned his hat to his head. “See y’all Saturday with the chickens.”

    “Bye.” They said in unison.

Sunshine Valley