Highway robbery.I pulled the money from my pocket, and he handed me the phone. Not knowing how these things worked, I stared at the device in my hand and raised my eyebrows. With a chuckle, the guy asked for it back and I gave him the number. He dialed and put the phone back in my hand.
A deep voice answered on the third ring. “Moore Industries, Pete speaking.”
“Wow, you sound so damn professional.”
Silence.
“Oh, sorry. Dude, it’s Jake. Moose from McLaughlin.”
“Jake! Oh my God. You’re out—so cool.” Rustling papers filled the background noise. “Let me give you my address. How soon can you get here?”
“Uh, I don’t have a ride. I just got out on Friday.”
I practically witnessed the smoke rising from his ears, even though he had been over a hundred miles away.
“Okay. Let me think. How can I get in touch with you?”
“I borrowed a phone. I’m staying at a motel in Anchorage. I don’t have the number to either.”
“Well, then. If you can hang tight until the weekend, I’ll come get you Saturday. Where are you staying?”
AS PROMISED, Pete pulled into the motel parking lot on Saturday and honked his horn. I tossed my duffle in the back of his truck, and we headed north. Mountains in the distance grew larger as we got closer to Talkeetna.
Awkward silence filled the cab of the truck.Should I be asking about his life even if it doesn’t make a difference to me? I guess I should get to know him if I’m going to live on his property.
“So. Pete. How’ve you been?”
One simple question led to an hour of mundane chatter. My old friend rambled on about how happy I’d be in his hometown. “Even though the Iditarod doesn’t come directly through Talkeetna, the entire town still has a huge party the entire time the dogs are running. Will you be here in March?” At least the tension subsided.
“I’m not sure, man. I hope so.” Since he promised me a job at his brothers company, I thought it was odd for him to ask how long I would be around.
“Oliver just filled an opening for a floorhand, but I’m sure we’ll be able to find an open position for you.” As we got closer to the city, Pete pulled off the road to an overlook. “You ever seen Denali?” Assuming my answer would be “no,” he parked. “Check this out.”
Being trapped for years surrounded by a dull gray, the captivating blues and greens took my breath away. Snow covered the peak and I thought of home. I missed home. I missed my mom. I almost cried. “Amazing.”
“Feels good to be out, huh?”
I chuckled. “You would know.”
He grasped my shoulder. “Damn good to see you, bro. Let’s get you back to normal life.”
Off the beaten path, situated within a forest of tall trees, the Moore property stretched for hundreds of acres. Pete dropped me at one of the cabins and said he’d be back later to take me into town for supplies.
Enclosed within the small four walls were a bed, couch, wood stove, a small TV, and a smaller kitchen. No bathroom.Shit. I chuckled.Literally.
It didn’t take me long to unpack, I didn’t own much these days.It will be so good to make something of myself, to prove I’m a decent human being despite my past. If not to anyone else, to myself. To Mom.
“Next page, Mom.” I stepped outside and found a chair on the back side of the building. A small firepit offered a place to burn a natural fire. Mountains filled the distance beyond the lake. Any anxiety about my future disappeared as I took in the sounds of nature. Songs of various birds, a growl, and a grunt came from the forest.
Hesitant to close my eyes, afraid I had been in some weirdly wonderful dream and would wake up back in McLaughlin, I took extended blinks. “I have a good feeling about this place. Mom. Pete tells me that jobs in the oil field are hard work, but they pay really well. I’m excited to be able to work off some of my energy.”
A whisper tickled my ear, and I turned, expecting to find Pete playing tricks. Tears stung my eyes, and I knew. “Mom. I’m so sorry I couldn’t save you. I know I’ve said it a million times, but I mean it more every day. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me.”
As hard as I tried, I couldn’t keep my eyes open. I didn’t want to miss the view, but exhaustion took over.
I was startled awake when Pete closed his truck door. “Let’s go get you some things.”
FLAMES LICKEDthe sky from within their contained area. As much as I would love for them to roam free, the rest of the mountainside would not be happy. EspeciallyPete and Oliver.
