Sunshine Valley

Instead of answering the daily prompt with personal stuff; I’m gonna work the prompt into my story. Hope you enjoy.

Thinking about retiring continued 

     As Simon went through the folder, Evie glanced at Dillon, he looked tired. 

     “I’ll get right on this.” Simon’s voice brought them both around. 

     “We’ll leave you to it.” Dillon answered, holding out his hand for Evie. He stopped short, “what would you uninvent?”

     Simon looked surprised. That conversation was so 15 minutes ago. “Jealousy, God made each of us uniquely different. We all have different talents, different strengths. If we could just see that and work with what God gave us to better humanity. Hot dang what a world.”

Dillon and Evie walked back toward the house together. 

     “I need 15 more minutes with Teka and put the tools up.”

     “I’ll join you and we can talk.”

     “Of course.” 

     He sat on a bale of hay, “I realize with the next election cycle, I could get voted out. Knowing that,” he took a deep breath. “I think it’s time to really start looking at retiring.” He looked down at his feet. “This mornin’ and a few other little things,” he stopped. ‘Was he going to finish?’ She thought. He cleared his throat, “I’m tired Evelyn.” He so rarely called her Evelyn. “I just want to,” he paused taking a deep breath. “I want to work the farm and be with you.” He made eye contact with her. “Is that selfish of me?”

     She smiled gently leaning on Teka, “then that makes me selfish.” 

     “I can’t think right now. At some point I want us to get serious about our future.”

     “I’d like that.” She smiled. 

     “What are you lookin’ to accomplish with Hillbilly Yoga?”

     The question caught her off guard. “Well, in the moment, it’s the excitement of something new. Do you think I shouldn’t have pursued it?” She felt a little wounded. 

     “No. I guess I’m just thinking out loud and what our end objective is?”

     “For The Peel’s, they want to expand their business. They don’t have access to a farm.”

     “For us?” Dillon held up his hand. “I know I told you to ‘do what excites you’. And, I’m standing behind that. I guess it’s the realization that this is happening. This is my sanctuary. I’m not sure how I feel about people trumpin’ all over the place.”

     “I hear what you’re saying. If I may add something to think about. If you do want to retire from law enforcement someday; in order to keep a workin’ farm, we are gonna have to hire people.” 

    Dillon smiled at that, “we?” He grinned. 

     “We. Remember, we are in this together.”

 

     He rubbed his hands together. Was he really gettin’ ready to ask this? “I’ve,” he paused, took a deep breath, “are you a millionaire?” There it was. 

     She smiled a great big smile. Oh the places she could go with this. But she loved Dillon and there was no need to make him feel like shit. “No, but at the same time, I’m not hurtin’.” As she hung up her last tool, “most of mine is on paper anyway. My little business is a time filler. I get bored easily. Care for Teka,” Teka snorted as Evie rubbed her neck. “Then what? Fix breakfast. Then what? Cook dinner. Then what?”

     Dillon shuffled his feet, “u gonna get bored with me?”

     She held out her hands for him. He took them, guiding her to his lap. “I think sir, you are gonna keep me on my toes. From what I’ve seen of you, you’re a great leader. The deputies respect you. The community reacts positively to your presence. Why wouldn’t you get reelected?”

     “All it takes is one rumor. Pissing off the right person at the wrong time. One misstep.”

     “Sheriff is a very powerful position.” She rubbed her finger through his hair. “From what I’ve seen, you haven’t let that power go to your head.” 

     “I’m just a man, doing a job.”

Sunshine Valley