The drive to Wimberley was slow and pleasurable. John drove, since he had made an effort and gotten his driver’s license before starting the tour.
He drove slowly through San Marcos and went west on Ranch Road 12.
At the Wimberley turn off he made the right and as if following in his father’s tracks he rounded the curve that had claimed his life some twenty years earlier.
“Awesome!” Billy gasped, staring out the window and down into the valley below. “Looks like twin volcanoes down there!”
John didn’t mention that this was the curve where his father had lost his life; he didn’t want to take away from Billy’s pleasure by tainting it with his pain and misery. Instead he drove on through Wimberley and out to his house. He made the left off the highway and rolled slowly down the driveway to the forlorn house where he had lived his entire life up until a year ago. He parked in front and turned the engine off, then opened the door and got out. He stood looking around letting memories wash over him as they would.
“It’s beautiful out here,” Judy said, looking around.
“Home at last!” Misty whispered softly to herself, then smiled and took a deep breath.
“Not much for a horse to eat,” Billy stated as if his dream had just been denied.
“They eat grain and hay,” John said, restoring the possibility of the dream coming true. “We’ll have to remodel a little, if we decide to move out here.”
“You might as well hire a remodeling company, Mister Travis,” Judy said seriously. “This is home and I plan on moving in as soon as possible!”
“On a grand scale looks like to me,” Misty commented watching Billy disappear around the side of the house. “Billy, watch for snakes!” she yelled.
John and Judy walked toward the front porch, then went up the steps. John pushed the door open and led the way inside.
“It wasn’t even locked!” Judy gasped in disbelief.
“Locks only keep honest people out,” John said with a smile. “I’d just as soon not have to replace the door facing. Besides, there isn’t much worth stealing here.”
“There are a lot of valuable antiques in here,” Misty said, overhearing what John said. “They’d be worth a fortune to someone.”
“Some loony, maybe,” John said with a laugh.
“Plenty of them around,” Judy said.
“Come see the shrine Momma built for Daddy,” John invited, leading the way down the hall to his mother’s room.
Misty and Judy stood in awe at the resemblance between father and son. “It’s like looking in a mirror,” Judy said.
“You sure that’s not you, John?” Misty teased.
“Naw, that’s my daddy,” John assured her, taking her seriously.
Misty glanced at Judy and smiled. Judy smiled back knowing that Misty was still tickled at John’s propensity for taking everything literally when it was meant as a joke, or a jibe.