Sunshine Valley

The alternative

     After Margaret got what she wanted to eat, Dillon packed up the leftovers to take to Pastor Sam. He would make sure it went to where the greatest need was. Most likely Coal Town. 

     As he worked, he thought about what he had just said to his officers, ‘think about the alternative’. There was a time in his life when Dillon would have welcomed ‘the alternative’. How many times had he pulled a car over and prayed today would be the day? How many times had he been directly in the line of fire, hoping for that one not so random event? It seemed hypocritical of him to want his deputies to be safe when.. His thoughts trailed to Evie. 

     Bradley cut through his silence by shutting the door as he walked back into the meeting room. “Sheriff, we all know Jack. It wouldn’t surprise me one bit for Jack to blow his head off. That’s his girl. His only baby. With Lily being gone, he has nothing to loose.”

     Dillon sat in one of the chairs, “I know. When Jack first approached me about Evie,” he cleared his throat; “Evelyn coming home, he said as much.”

     “What did he say?” Bradley sat down as well. 

     “That he was an old man. He had lived a good life. Knew God and was ready to die.”

     “Why have you been packin’ this around by yourself?” Dillon just stared at Bradley, not knowing what to say. “I know you are my boss. But outside of this place, you are my best friend. What would I be if it hadn’t been for you?” Dillon stared at the floor. “There isn’t an employee here that wouldn’t jump through hell fire if you were in danger. And you are in danger.”

     “We all are. Just by the fact that she lives here, we all are.”

     “May I speak plainly?”

     Dillon smiled, “if you don’t I’ll lock you up.”

     “You are in love. So much so, you bought a smart phone.” Bradley laughed. “And there’s nothing wrong with that. I’m beyond thrilled that you are. This fact puts you closer to the situation than the rest of us. 

     They sat in silence as Dillon thought about what Bradley just said. ‘Was he’? He said it out loud as an after thought, “am I?”

     Bradley blushed, “you are. The two of you were thick as thieves growing up. I may have been behind you in school, but everyone just knew the 2 of you would get married. I (for one) was shocked when she left.” He paused, waiting to see if Dillon would speak. When he didn’t, “I was secretly praying she would stay when she came back for your dad’s funeral. But she’s back. She’s here now.”

     “What’s the talk around the water cooler?”

     “You know they’re not gonna talk to me.” Bradley smiled and puffed out his chest, “I’m the sheriff’s little bitch.”

     They both laughed, “well then, get to work bitch.”

Sunshine Valley