Triker Christmas Two

By Narlen & Eveline Evans

In Triker Christmas, one man’s death brings together a group of strangers. In Triker Christmas 2 the story of this group of people continues as life in Almeada goes on. A family of illegal immigrants become the focus of the group as the parents are arrested and their two sons go into foster care.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Narlen & Eveline Evans
• Release date: Sep 14, 2012
• ISBN: 9781301543991

Narlen & Eveline Evans

Narlen and Eveline Evans have been happily married for many years. They live in the Central Texas area. Narlen is retired and now spends all his time on trike building, woodcarving, and volksmarching. We worked on the stories together. The ideas are mostly his and she took them and typed them up. Eveline is also retired now and enjoys photography, volksmarching (AVA.org) and typing up the stories he tells.

Book preview

Chapter 1.Weather

It isn’t often that weather in Almeada got top billing on the news, but the temperatures had been below zero for ten days and the river was frozen solid. Jane Kirkpatrick, LCNN TV reporter and her cameraman, Jake Moore, went out to look at the frozen river from Riverview Park. They arrived at noon and decided a good place to set up for the shoot was near the boat ramp. If the editor liked it the report it would be played on the evening news.

Jane was dressed in a new parka with fur around the hood that framed her heart shaped face. Her normally rosy complexion was overly rosy due to the extremely cold weather. She applied a light coating of green correcting cream before getting out of the van and looked more normal as she went to stand in front of the boat ramp for the live report about the frozen river.

Jake tugged the brown toboggan on this head a little lower to cover his ears better. He fumbled with the camera tripod. Disgusted he drew off his gloves and tossed them on the ground. He finally managed to set up his camera and he cupped his hands and blew on his fingers before putting his glove back on. Just as he signaled Jane to start her prepared report a teenager droving up in a 4x4 Jeep. The engine sound was picked up by Jane’s microphone so Jake signaled for him to cut his engine. The boy smirked at him then shifted the Jeep into 4-wheel drive and headed down the icy boat ramp out onto the frozen river.

Jane and Jake turned to watch in amazement as the boy spun doughnuts out on the ice. As they continued to watch he drove the Jeep across the river and up the steep rocky riverbank on the other side where there was no boat ramp. Turning around, he headed back across the river toward the boat ramp. He didn’t make it. As he neared the ramp, the ice broke with a sound like a rifle shot. The ice split under the Jeep and it went down. Luckily for the driver it was near the ramp and only sank half way.

Jake’s camera had been on record the whole time so he had a nice film clip of the incident. Jane quickly got out her cell phone and dialed 911. The boy calmly rolled down the Jeep’s window and scooted out onto the roof where he stayed awaiting a rescue.

Jane and Jake went ahead and filmed the planned report, then stayed to film the rescue of the boy and the recovery of the Jeep. Jane even got an interview with the Chief of Police in which he warned people to stay off the ice.

Their report on the bitterly cold weather that led to a frozen river and a sunken Jeep turned out to be a hit. The TV Station owner called them into his office and gave them high praise for their interesting story. He congratulated them on having a story picked up by the AP wire and being televised on national TV.

Chapter 2.Gene

Gene’s short stint in jail turned out to be the best thing that happened to him since he came home from the Navy. Because of it he’d made friends with the rookie cop, Abram, and his two cellmates Larry and Evan. He’d met a girl that he was interested in, Evan’s daughter Christine, and he’d talked her into helping him rescue a stray dog.

He was no longer drifting aimlessly. He had a reason to get up in the mornings. Drinking beer and shooting pool were no longer his only interest.

He’d moved out of his parent’s home and into Abram’s spare bedroom on Dec 27th. On January 3 he went with Christine to the animal shelter and picked up his dog Hunter. They took the dog to Christine’s house and Gene stayed several hours to play with him and make sure he settled in.

His first retirement check finally came in the mail on January 15th. That first check included several months’ worth of back pay. He had already decided that the first thing he would do when he got the money was buy a used pickup. It was too miserably cold to ride a motorcycle and he needed to be able to take his new dog, Hunter, with him. He’d spent a couple of weeks shopping around and already knew which one he wanted.

Driving his newly acquired pickup, he headed over to the hardware store and purchased chain link fencing for Abrams back yard. In spite of the cold weather he finished installing the fence the afternoon of the second day. He inspected his new fence with pride, now he would go visit Christine and pick up Hunter.

He knocked on Christine’s door and smiled when she opened the door with Hunter right behind her. His heart did a flip flop when she smiled back at him and invited him in.

He quickly closed the door behind him to keep out the cold and dropped to one knee in front of his dog to greet him with ear scratches. Hunter tried to lick his face, but he dodged the wet tongue.

Come on in, Christine said indicating the living room. She preceded him in and sat down on the couch. Hunter tried to jump up next to her, but she told him firmly, Go lay down.

Rejected by Christine, Hunter padded over to the chair where Gene was sitting and placed his chin on Gene’s knee. He looked up soulfully at his master and he was rewarded with gentle strokes and soft words.

I finally got my retirement check. I bought chain link and fenced Abram’s back yard, Gene told Christine. He laid an envelope on her coffee table.

That’s the money I owe you for animal shelter fees. I’m here to take this guy off your hands. I want you to know I really appreciate your taking care of him for me.

I was afraid that you were here to get him, Christine admitted. I’m going to miss his company.

You can come over and visit anytime, Gene invited.

Yes, we will definitely have to get together. Christine agreed. You can bring him here too. She excused herself and went into her bedroom to get Hunter’s chew toy. She handed the toy to Gene and continued into the kitchen to put Hunter’s food and bowls in a bag for Gene to take home.

I’m afraid I’ve spoiled him, she told Gene. I’ve been letting him sleep on the foot of my bed at night.

Gene smiled as she handed him the bags. No problem, I don’t mind him sleeping on the bed. he said as he snapped a leash on Hunters collar and headed for the door.

Thanks again, he said, wishing he could kiss her. You come see us, okay?

He drove Hunter back to the apartment and turned him loose in the back yard. Hunter eagerly ran around exploring the area, but soon he came back to the door. It was too cold to stay outside.

Gene called the dog into the kitchen and set up his water and food dishes next to the refrigerator. He called Hunter into his bedroom and played with him a few minutes. He gave the dog his chew toy and left closing the door tightly behind him. He hoped Hunter would be good and not chew on anything other than the rawhide toy. He made a mental note to get him some more chew toys.

Gene’s next stop was his parent’s house. He need to pay his Mom back all the money she’d given him over the months he’d stayed with them. He also wanted to pay them something for rent. His mom invited him to stay for a tasty chicken dinner with all the trimmings. He should have known he was being set up. After dinner his dad went into the study to work on the computer. Gene stayed in the kitchen and talked to his mom while she cleaned up.

Your father’s formed a partnership with two other men, she told him. Neither of them knows a hill of beans about construction.

One man provided the land on the hill above the river. The other one provided the financing.

Gene nodded his understanding and his mother continued.

Your dad is doing the construction and they are going to split the profits three ways. Only it doesn’t look like there will be any profit. The project is going south because of waste.

His mother wiped her wet hands on a dish towel and came to stand in front of him. She took his hand as if she was afraid he was going to run away.

Your dad needs workers who know what they are doing. Please help him out. she begged. You know he has too much pride to ask you to work for him again since you turned him down before.

I know you are planning to go to college in the fall, but can’t you work for him until then?

After eating his mother’s wonderful dinner Gene was in a mellow mood.

He drew his mother close and kissed her cheek. Tell you what I’ll do. I’ll drive by the apartment project tomorrow and take a look at what is going on. If I think my help is needed, I’ll volunteer. Okay?

The next day he did as he’d promised and stopped by the Mesquite Ridge Apartment project. There were ten units under various stages of construction.

Gene watched the men working and could not spot a foreman co-coordinating their work. He peeked into the dumpster at the site and saw it was full of usable lumber and plywood.

He opened the door to the construction trailer and saw his dad on the phone dealing with some purchase orders. His dad glanced up and motioned for him to come in and make himself at home until he got off the phone.

Gene poured himself a cup of old coffee and sat down to wait. He thought about how well he’d been able to work with Evan and Larry on the recent concrete work he’d been forced to do by the Police Chief.

Larry, he recalled, had worked as a construction foreman for years and had only retired because he got laid off and was unable to find a new job. He decided he’d bring him to work on this project if he decided to work for his Dad.

Finally his father hung up the phone. He rose from his desk and stretched. Grabbing his coffee mug he walked over to refill it. Gene watched his dad and took a good look at him. Funny, he’d never noticed his dad’s hair was grey before now.

Well, what do you think of the apartments? his Dad asked.

I didn’t see a foreman. Don’t you have a foreman in charge? Gene inquired.

Nope. I’m handling that myself.

Then do you have an office assistant to do the phone work?

Does it look like I have an assistant? his Dad replied testily.

Look Dad, I didn’t come here to pick a fight. Mom told me you needed help, and looking around I have to agree.

I don’t need your charity! his Dad burst out defensively.

Okay, look. I need something to keep me busy until I start college in the fall. I won’t work for you permanently, and I don’t want to inherit this business. But Mom wants me to help you with this project. I’ll do it if you will let me hire a foreman. I know a man who could do the job and that will free you up to handle the paperwork.

His Dad raised his eyebrows and considered his offer for several minutes. Finally he agreed.

Oh Dad, I’m going to take some of the scraps out of the dumpster and build Hunter a doghouse, Gene said and headed out to collect what he needed.

Chapter 3.Hiring workers

Gene left the construction