The Coy Circle

By Lisa Eggleston

For the Coy brothersTrav, Rex, and Billygrowing up in the early sixties in a small Utah town grants them an idyllic, innocent childhood. But that innocence fades as the boys transition to manhood through discovery of hard work, responsibilities, and girls.

Celeste Pace must find forgiveness for the accidental loss of her mother and must learn to live with a drunken father. Can a girl from a broken home be the right fit for Trav, a boy set to go on a mission? Katie Allred must learn to follow her heart as she falls in love with Rex, who has grown into an unruly farm boy. Will Bishop Allred forgive his daughter, or will he ultimately be the one who needs to be forgiven? Lori Black must learn to forgive others for causing the near loss of her own mother, and yet she needs forgiveness when she falls into a situation with responsibilities beyond her years. Can Billy be the support that she needs?

In this novel, set in Utah in the 1960s, a group of teenagers in a small town experience love and grief as the loss of innocence changes each of their lives forever.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Jul 21, 2016
• ISBN: 9781491794418

Lisa Eggleston

Lisa Eggleston grew up in Utah and holds an associate’s degree from Dixie State College with an emphasis in English. She is a licensed general contractor in California, Nevada, and Utah. She resides with her husband, Todd, and their five children in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Four years later.

"P lease?"

No.

Pleeease?

No!

Why not?

Because I said, ‘No!’

What’s the matter?

Trav, you know it’s not a good idea.

When will it be a good idea?

Most likely not tonight.

Are you turning me down? I can’t believe with all the women out there who want to have a good idea with me, and you’re turning me down?

Sorry Einstein, maybe sometime in the future we’ll have a brainstorm together, but not tonight.

Then let’s go skinny dipping in the lake.

Celeste was flattered by Trav’s interest in her as well as with his persistence. She laughed to herself and shook her head No.

Fish Lake’s too cold to swim in the middle of the night. You might freeze off one of your good ideas.

Okay, Celeste, I’ve heard enough of your jokes. You want to laugh? I’ll make you laugh! yelled Trav reaching his arm over her, pinning both her arms over her head with one hand and tickling her with the other.

Trav was hooting and hollering trying to make Celeste laugh even harder, but for her to laugh harder would not have been possible. She was already laughing so hard she had tears streaming down her face. I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe! she whelped.

Trav stopped tickling Celeste to let her catch her breath. They lay in the bed of his dad’s ‘51 Chevy pick-up parked on an old dirt road in Fish Lake National Forest. Celeste’s tears glistened in the moonlight as they streamed down her face. She was so happy. I love to see you this way, Trav said softly.

Celeste caught the way Trav was studying her which made her a little nervous. Trav kissed her some more. When the kissing stopped, Celeste whispered, I love you.

Those were the words Trav had been waiting to hear. I love you, too. You’re the first girl I have said those words to.

What about your mother?

She doesn’t count, he said kissing her again.

How long have we been laying here? Celeste asked.

Trav looked at his watch. Oh my gosh! I’ve got to get you home!

What time is it?

4:00 a.m.!

My dad’s going to kill me!

Hopefully he’ll be passed out.

Trav quickly opened the door on the driver’s side of the truck. Celeste climbed in and scooted over. Trav climbed in, sped the truck around, spitting dirt up into the air. This was one time Celeste actually hoped her father would be passed out.

As they pulled up the drive to Celeste’s house, she told Trav to stop. If he hears the truck he might wake up. I can sneak in through a back window.

Are you going to be all right? Trav asked concerned.

I’ll be okay Celeste nodded.

Trav climbed out of the truck allowing Celeste to get out. I’ll see you later then?

Of course, Celeste answered.

Trav leaned down and gave her a kiss good night then he climbed back into the truck. He backed out of the drive in neutral, then drove the truck away as quietly as possible.

As Celeste walked up the drive she noticed her father’s truck was gone. What if he is out looking for her she wondered as she began to cry?

CHAPTER 2

"N inety-seven…

"Ninety-eight…

"Ninety-nine…

One hundred, Billy counted.

Billy, your eggs are getting cold! Reba warned.

Be there in a minute, Mom! Billy answered.

Billy was in the middle of his morning routine. Each morning before washing up for breakfast he did one hundred push-ups and two hundred sit-ups. He slept in an extra half hour this morning since it was his first day of summer break—now he was running late. He began his sit-ups anyway.

Generally, each morning Billy and his brothers awoke at 5:00 a.m. in order to walk up to the higher pasture, gather his father’s ten Jersey Cows and heard them back to the lower farm. One old cow that his father raised since Billy could remember was Jesse Bell. Jesse Bell was larger than the other Jersey Cows but was just as gentle. Billy mounted her back, and she followed behind the other cows as they tracked down Lyman Lane back toward the lower farm.

Once back to the lower farm, Billy and his older brothers would milk the cows, as well as do other chores, before going to school. Each morning, after the boys came in from doing the chores, Reba would have a hearty breakfast waiting for them—usually consisting of ham or bacon, eggs, oatmeal and homemade bread, toasted. Before washing up for breakfast, Billy squeezed in his morning routine. Billy was shorter at the age of 15 than his two older brothers had been, standing at only 5’10. Billy’s older brothers hovered over him at a stout 6’2 and 6’3. However, Billy prided himself on being, as he liked to describe himself, buff."

"One hundred ninety-nine…

Two hundred, Billy grunted as he jumped to his feet.

Flexing and posing, Billy admired his bare chest in the mirror. Billy, your father’s going to have to start his cattle drive without you if you don’t get moving, Reba said interrupting Billy’s thoughts of the girls at school—namely Lori Black—admiring his defined stomach and arm muscles.

Billy shared a room in the basement with his older brothers. He noticed Travis’ pillow lay in the middle of the bed where it had been lying last. However, Billy’s curiosity was diverted by his work boots which he could not find. He gave up the search. He scrambled for the new flour sack t-shirt his mother had sewn for him, put on his straw cowboy hat and headed upstairs to the kitchen. His mouth watered at the smell of the cured ham his mother was frying. Where’s Dad?

He’s out loading the horses into the truck.

What about Trav and Rex?

Travis is out irrigating, Rex is helping Dad.

Travis was eighteen and had just graduated with the class of 1961. Yesterday was the last day of the school year and Billy wondered if Trav had stayed out late last night celebrating. Billy was surprised to have seen Trav up and irrigating already that morning. Billy wasn’t sure Trav had even come home at all last night.

Have you seen my boots?

Your boots are in the utility room where you left them after doing chores last night. My land, Billy, if you ever took your shoes off in the same place twice, even I wouldn’t know where to find them! Reba half scorned.

How are you and Oakley going to get by for the summer without Dad and I around? You know we wouldn’t come down off Fish Lake all summer long if we didn’t think we had to check on the two of you, Billy joked his mother.

What do you mean to check on us? Us girls can take care of ourselves. Besides, we have Trav and Rex to take care of things around here. The only reason you want to come home on the weekends is to get a decent meal. I have you and your father all figured out, Reba joked.

Suddenly the kitchen door flew open and the screen door slammed shut. It was Rex. What in the hell are you doing in here? Have you been trying to make yourself all pretty for the cattle drive?

Rex, watch your language! Reba warned.

I’m coming! Fortunately for me my beauty comes naturally. If my face were as ugly as yours, I’d shave my dog’s butt and teach him to walk backwards.

Whatever handsome. Dad’s ready to go.

Billy stood up and gave his mother a kiss on the cheek. He ran to the utility room where he grabbed his boots and headed out the door, hopping and wobbling along as he tried to walk and put his boots on at the same time. Once outside, Billy saw Trav coming in from the pasture. Billy noticed Trav had on the same clothes he had worn yesterday. Now Billy knew Trav had not come home at all last night. Billy wondered if Trav had been out with his friends or if he had spent the night with Celeste?

CHAPTER 3

A s Billy approached the white two ton Chevy stock truck he could see Oakley hanging onto the bars on the side as she poked carrots through to the horses. Rex had helped their father, Clint, load two horses onto the truck. Be sure you give Waldo an extra carrot—you know he deserves the best, Billy said to his sister.

Waldo was Billy’s horse. He was a black Quarter Horse with a white star on his forehead. Billy and his father had raised Waldo since he was a colt and had broken him in to be an exceptional cattle horse. Clint Coy was known as the best herdsman in all of Wayne County. Clint had handled the local cattle drive alone each summer for more than twenty years. He had a natural knack at recognizing which cows belonged to each of their owners. Often, even the cattle’s owners could not recognize which cows were theirs. Clint had no problem cutting out the cattle, and the new calves, at the end of the summer.

Ever since Billy was old enough to walk he had wanted to ride a horse. Clint was amused by his son’s desire to rope and ride and immediately began to teach Billy how to use a lariat. Billy’s first cattle drive had been at the age of five; he went along that summer mostly as companionship to Clint. However, in the summers to follow, Clint found Billy to be more of a necessity, especially since the herd numbers had now reached 1,200 head.

Good morning, Sunshine, Clint said to his youngest son sarcastically.

Sorry Dad, I guess the rooster didn’t crow loud enough this morning, Billy answered.

Well, round up your dog and let’s hit the road.

Clint reached up, pulled his daughter down from the truck and gave her a kiss on the cheek. You be a good girl for your mom while I’m gone.

I will. I’ll make sure Trav and Rex behave, too, Oakley responded in a tone much older than her age.

Everyone chuckled at Oakley. She had an innocent way of acting much older than ten. She spent a lot of time with her mother running errands around the county and often times mimicked the voices and phrases of other women in town. Spike, come on now. You know it’s time to go, she yelled about the yard trying to find Billy’s dog.

Just then Spike crawled under the bottom fence post on his way back from the pasture. He had probably been out hunting woodchucks. Billy opened the truck door. Spike leaped up onto the seat, put his paws on the dashboard and looked around, acting as if he had been waiting to go all day. Billy climbed in after him. All right boys, we’ll see you next weekend. Be sure you irrigate the south end of the pasture real good, it’s sure looking dry, Clint said to his two oldest sons before he climbed into the driver’s side of the Chevy pick-up.

Trav and Rex stayed home during the summer months to irrigate the pastures on 1000 acres of land. They also had to cut and bail alpha-alpha on 600 of those acres. Clint raised more than enough alpha-alpha in the summer to feed his horses, cows and pigs all winter long. He sold what hay he had left over to some of the locals.

Clint headed to the outskirts of Loa to the Horseshoe Dugway. This is where the Seven Mile Association members had relocated their cattle. The Seven Mile Association consisted of 25 Wayne County locals with permits to run a certain number of cattle in Fish Lake National Forrest for the summer. This association in turn hired Clint to herd their cows from June 10 to September 10. Clint was responsible for earmarking any new calves born on the drive as well as making sure each associate member only ran the number of cows in the forest as they had permits for.

After passing the Mauna Loa Market and Chappell Cheese Co., Clint reached the Horseshoe Dugway turn off. However, rather than turning, he slowly pulled his truck off to the side of the road and asked, What’s going on down there? pointing down the hill between the fork in the road.

Someone in an old 1948 two ton GMC tank truck had somehow rolled their truck down off into the gutter between the forks in the road. Clint and Billy quickly jumped out of the truck, leaving their doors wide open and ran down to the wreck. Several other men were already at the scene. Clint!

It was Bishop Allred. What happened? Clint asked bewildered.

It’s Carl Pace. He’s looking for his daughter. She didn’t come home last night. No one seems to know her whereabouts? Do you? Bishop Allred asked cocking his head as if to pry a little.

No, we haven’t seen her, Clint said firmly.

No one’s seemed to seen her. And naturally Carl’s had too much to drink. He’s in no condition to even be driving.

Is he hurt?

No. He’s a little shook up from the wreck and mad as the dickens at his daughter, that’s all. But can you blame him?

Clint knew, as well as the rest of the county, how strict Carl Pace was with his daughter. He was too strict in Clint’s opinion. Clint didn’t really care for Carl’s harshness or his drinking problem for that matter. Nonetheless, he felt like he should help with Carl’s truck anyway. Come on Billy, let’s see if we can help them get that truck tipped back up on its wheels.

Carl’s truck lay on its side. The back of the truck consisted of a bed 18 feet long and 8 feet wide with a huge water tank welded to it. Carl filled the tank with water and drove around to different farms filling troths that did not have easy access to water. This was more or less a way for Carl to earn his beer money. He used to be a sober, hardworking man—he was an independent truck driver. He owned his own rig and was on the road most of the time. He blamed himself for not being home enough as the reason his wife was killed in a farming accident four years ago, though most folks in the county thought he blamed his daughter. Since that time he vowed that he would never drive his rig again. Unfortunately for his daughter, he had turned into, a bad alcoholic with a bad temper.

How much water’s in the tank? Clint asked the men who were standing around.

It’s about half full. When he went around the corner the water swayed to one side and knocked him plumb over, one of the men explained.

If we can wedge a rock under the cab it would give us enough of a tilt to drain the remainder of the water. That will make this tank a lot lighter, Clint suggested.

All the men gathered to one side of the truck and tried to push the truck up on its wheels. One, two, three…, they counted out loud together. Clint saw an opportunity to levy a big rock under the cab door.

Billy cupped his hands to boost a man up to reach the spout and turn the water out.

Is that Billy Coy? Carl asked viciously. And your dad, he’s here to, isn’t he?

Yes, I’m here, Clint said.

Well, looks to me like you’re the one who caused this whole mess, Carl groaned to Clint.

How do you mean?

Well, more than likely your son, what’s his name….Travis, that’s it. I bet that Travis boy of yours is the one that kept my Celeste out all night, isn’t he?

I don’t know what you’re talking about. My boy was home last night. He was up at 4:30 this morning doing his chores. Now don’t get me wrong, Celeste is a bright young girl, and I doubt she was out getting into trouble. But I can assure you if she was out all night, it was with someone other than Travis.

Are you calling my daughter a tramp?

No, I would never imply such a thing. I know Celeste and she’s a fine girl. I simply said she was not out all night with my son.

Your son’s been hanging on my daughter like a leech. I’ll get to the bottom of this, and if I ever catch your son—any one of them—around Celeste, I’ll have his hide. You understand?

Come on Billy, let’s go, Clint said reaching into his pockets for his keys. They were not there.

Clint looked around. His keys had fallen out of his pocket when he had reached down to wedge the rock under the cab. Clint walked over to the cab and bent down to pick up his keys just as the truck shifted weight. The rock spun out from under the cab and the truck came crashing down, knocking Clint onto his stomach, pinning him to the ground. Uhhh… he moaned as his face turned red, flushed with pain.

Quick! Everybody lift the truck on the count of three. One, two, three!

As the men lifted the truck, Billy grabbed Clint by the armpits and dragged him out from under the truck. Ohhhh, it’s my hips! Help! It’s crushed my hips, Clint cried.

The men gathered around and carefully lifted Clint up and turned him over onto his back. Bishop Allred offered to rush Clint to the Salina Hospital which was a good forty miles away. Billy, go home and get Rex. You’re going to have to be in charge of the drive, but you’ll need his help. We need the money to make it through the winter. Tell your mother what’s happened and have her meet me in Salina.

Billy felt sick inside. He wasn’t sure he could leave today not knowing just how seriously his father had been injured. Yet, Billy knew each day of the drive meant money to his parents; they did in fact need the money. How would Trav manage bailing hay all summer alone? Trav would need another set of hands in order to do his job as well. But Billy knew there were 25 clients depending on his father to drive their cattle up to Fish Lake and this job came first.

CHAPTER 4

Chapt4Shasta.jpg

REDUCED SPEED AHEAD

L ori eased off the gas as she approached Salina. She was nervous driving with both her mother and father in the car. She had turned fifteen and a half only a week ago, which was the allowable age for driving in Utah. She still felt inexperienced behind the wheel.

Salina was a good forty mile drive from Wayne County. Lori had been a little tense the whole way, but now that she had slowed down to 25 m.p.h. she relaxed a little and eased back in her seat which enabled her to see out the rear view mirror. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a turquoise and white Bel Aire sped past. Startled, Lori swerved the car.

Don’t hug this side of the road! Harris Black reminded his daughter.

Sorry, but that car surprised me!

That looked like Bishop Allred, didn’t it, honey? questioned Harris.

Yes, his wife, Sarah, answered from the back seat. I wonder where that man would be headed in such an awful hurry?

Maybe he’s getting’ out of town where it’s safe—now that Lori’s got her license, Harris joked.

"Where do you think I learned how to drive? Huh, Dad?"

From watching your mother I’d reckon.

That’s only because your father hasn’t learned to drive yet, Sarah said defending herself and her daughter.

The family laughed together as Lori pulled off Main Street and parked the car in front of the Salina Courthouse. Across the street they could see Bishop Allred’s car parked in the emergency stall at the hospital. The Blacks stared as they watched four medical attendants lifting a man out of the car onto a stretcher. That looks like Clint Coy. Doesn’t he have a boy about your age? Sarah asked.

Yes, he’s on the wrestling team at school.

I wonder what happened? ‘Course being that’s Bishop Allred, I’m sure the story will be all over Wayne County, even before church tomorrow, Harris said facetiously.

The Blacks climbed out of the car when they could see no more excitement coming from across the street. Lori was curious as to what happened to Clint Coy. However, she preoccupied herself with the business which they had traveled to Salina to handle.

Once inside the courthouse, the Blacks proceeded straight through a set of double doors and into the courtroom. The room was empty. They approached the stand, walked on past and stopped outside a door that read, Judge Elyas Freed’s Chambers. Lori knocked.

The door’s open, a familiar voice chimed from behind the door.

Harris held the door open as he waited for his wife and daughter to enter the room. There’s my girl—the reckless driver. You’ve had your license only a week and yet the news has spread up here. People are saying to stay off the sidewalk if you don’t want to get hit, Judge Freed joked.

Judge Freed’s wife was a close friend of Lori’s mother. They had gone to school together while growing up. Unfortunately the Freeds were unable to have children. Lori never really knew why but felt it wasn’t a question she should ask. She just felt fortunate that the Freeds cared about her like they would have their own daughter. That was the reason the Freeds had asked Lori to come to Salina today.

Well, are you ready to take upon yourself a new kind of responsibility today? Judge Freed asked Lori.

Sure, Lori said confidently.

Well, I want you to be sure you understand the kind of care this new responsibility is going to require. You see, she-has-ta have gas….and she-has-ta have oil….and she-has-ta have a lot of tender loving care, Judge Freed said, smirking, And, to remind you of what she-has-ta have, I took it upon myself to get you these…

Judge Freed pulled out a thin, rectangular package from behind his desk. The package was wrapped in brightly colored paper and had a real rose tied to it with ribbon. Lori softly smiled as she took the package from the judge. Carefully she untied the bow. Lori’s mother offered to hold the rose, then broke off the stem and stuck the rose in Lori’s hair.

Lori grinned as she realized what the gift was. It was a set of license plates that read:

SHASTA

She held up the plates for her parents to read. Harris and Sarah smiled as they watched their daughter run around the desk to give Judge Freed a hug. Oh Judge, thank you so much.

The pleasure’s all mine. I wouldn’t want to give SHASTA to just anybody. I know you’ll take good care of her, and he reached into his desk drawer and pulled out a set of keys. Can you drive three-on-the-tree?

You bet I can, Lori nodded.

After visiting with Judge Freed for a while, everyone went outside to inspect Lori’s gift. It was a black, 1941 Chevy Coupe. Though the car was twenty years old it was in mint condition. The judge had taken excellent care of this car and had promised it to Lori since she was a little girl. You know when you were only three years old you use to love to climb into this car and pretend to be driving. I guess this car was made for you, said the judge.

For a time, the Blacks enjoyed reminiscing with the judge. They took turns sharing exaggerated stories as Harris screwed the new license plates onto the car. Harris finally concluded the stories, I hate to rush off so soon, but I think we better get Lori back to our home town so she can show off.

I guess so, said Judge Freed, Now you be careful driving—and don’t go too fast. You don’t need to impress anybody.

Oh, Judge, you worry too much. I’m very responsible for my age. People are always mistaking me for being much older than I actually am.

Well don’t let the boys think that, he commented.

"Here we go again with the boys issue. I think all you parents think the same," she retorted and climbed into Shasta.

Harris and Sarah climbed into their car and motioned for Lori to follow. They all waved good-bye and yelled out the window as they drove away, Thank you!

Once Lori got the feel of her new car on the open road she realized how much power Shasta really had. She couldn’t wait to race some of the boys at school because showing off to them is exactly what she intended to do.

CHAPTER 5

A s the Blacks approached the Horseshoe Dugway, they were forced to stop for crossing cattle. Lori tried to make out who the boys on the horses were and nearly tail-ended her father’s car. The wheels squealed as she came to a screeching halt.

The screech was loud enough to get the boys’ attention, even over the loud mooing of the cows. Hey Billy, take a look at that, Rex quipped nodding his head at the road.

Billy looked down at the road. He could see a little blonde-haired girl sitting behind the wheel of a big coupe. He leaned forward and squinted hoping that what he saw was true. Is that Lori Black? he yelled back to Rex.

Sure is, Rex said with an obnoxious grin, Go ahead—make a move, Handsome.

All right, maybe I will, Billy said accepting Rex’s dare.

Slowly the herd crossed the highway and Billy’s heart pounded louder and louder inside his chest as he approached Lori’s car. Lori saw him approaching and rolled down her window.

Shasta? Billy asked, What’s that supposed to mean?

This is my new car, and she-has-ta have lots of tender loving care.

Billy smirked, "Well, I don’t know if I could do much good for the car, but if you’re looking for some TLC, I’m your man."

Billy Coy! Lori said pretending to be disgusted. I can’t believe you’d say such a thing. Just who do you think you are anyway?

You love it when I joke around with you and you know it.

You sure are full of yourself, aren’t you?

I’m just full of 185 pounds of shear muscle. Want to feel this steel? Billy asked rolling up his T-shirt, flexing his arms in different poses.

Just stop with the flexing. I think we’ve seen enough.

Who’s ‘we’?

Me…and my parents who are staring at us from that car ahead of me.

Billy felt the blood rush from his heart to the top of his head as his face blushed. He had not realized her parents were watching. He tried to change the subject to hide his embarrassment, as he rolled down his shirt sleeves. So, when’d you get the new car?

Today, she answered. Judge Freed from Salina gave it to me. Oh, yeah! We saw your dad and Bishop Allred at the hospital today. Is your dad okay?

I don’t know. I wish I did. I’m going to try to get home by Thursday to check on him. I really wish I didn’t have to start this drive today, but Dad’s locked in on a contract.

"Well, I hope everything will be okay. I’d call you this weekend to see how he’s doing but my mom’s very strict about me not calling boys."

And how does she feel about boys calling you?

I don’t know. Boys don’t call me.

Come on. You’re telling me that with being in Pep Club and with all the jocks you cheer for that none of them call you?

You happen to be one of the so called ‘Jocks’ I cheered for last year and you never call me.

Well, there’s a first time for everything. Will you be home Saturday night?

Maybe.

I’ll call you then. I’ll let you know how my Dad’s doing

I really do hope he’s all right.

Well, I better go. I’m holding up traffic.

Bye, Billy.

Sfit, heeyaaah, Billy yelled as he cracked his whip in the air. He directed Waldo toward Rex heading at a gallop.

So, what happened? Rex inquired.

I’m going to call her Saturday night.

Are you going to go on a date?

And what…have you chauffeur us around? You know I don’t have a license yet.

Never stopped me. I think that’s just an excuse because you’re too chicken to ask her out.

Well, we’ll see. You go on now and hang to the right. Keep those calves over there from wandering off.

Though Rex was nearly a year and a half older than Billy, he did as directed. In the past, Rex had stayed home during the summer to help with the haying and was not as familiar with this task as was his younger brother. The boys began their trek up to the south end of Fish Lake National Forest. Neither brother realized how much they would look back and miss the time they would spend together on the hot, dusty summer days that followed.

CHAPTER 6

C eleste jumped when she heard the squeaky door on her father’s water truck slam shut. Her heart pounded as if it would explode; she knew she was in trouble. It was after 9:00 a.m. and her father was sure to have been out looking