Eddie Floyd
WSAMPLE “
hat is that, Hunter?”
“It’s a monument, Honey. An elderly group built it here as a tribute to my Papa and Grandma Shari.” As he answered, a faint smile came across his face. He recalled many fond memories of Papa’s personalized hello to him. Papa would repeat …“Buddy, Buddy!” Grandma Shari constantly warned … “Hunter, get off that horse! Stop chasing those goats!”, and “Put
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Final Breath
that chicken down right now!” There were so many recollections, and his smile grew. “What does questioned Holly.
the
monument
say?”
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“Basically, Honey, it tells about the name of the flowers you are beginning to see. Papa named them,” Hunter answered.
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“They are beautiful, Hunter! And that little valley is filled with them!” “Yes, but they say it all started right up here with the very first one Papa ever found.” Hunter continued as Holly made her way to a small concrete bench placed near the monument, where the first of the flowers is said to have been discovered. 2
Eddie Floyd
She began to read. “Final Breath?” Why did Papa name the flowers that?” Holly continued to question. As Hunter and Holly walked up the hill on the Wynema Ranch, a tear was visible in Hunter’s eyes. They had been married almost a year and loved taking walks together as the sun began to set.
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“This sunset is perfect. So, if you’ll bear with my emotions, I’ll tell you the whole story.” Hunter kissed Holly on the cheek as he sat next to her. He picked up her hand and held it ever so slightly to the side of his face. “This is what Papa told me, as he sat next to Grandma”, said Hunter holding her hand to the tears now flooding his face.
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Final Breath
Hunter leaned in for another kiss and began the story.
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Eddie Floyd
ISAMPLE
t was the last day of March and the cabin was quiet with the exception of the occasional sound of roosters welcoming the day at the Wynema Ranch. Papa slowly made his way from the kitchen to the bedroom holding his morning cup of coffee.
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Last night, Papa told Grandma Shari to sleep in because he wanted her rested for a full day of celebration. You see, like Papa, Grandma was now 100 years old.
Final Breath
Unlike most of the world away from their cabin, things had been kept pretty simple for them. Papa had retired from radio and public speaking and spent the last few years simply doing anything and everything Grandma demanded. She was never really a demanding person, but, boy, did Papa love to play the martyr to the whole family and anyone else who would listen.
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He set his coffee on the nightstand and held her hand to his face as he leaned and kissed Grandma while she slept. He admired her hand, and the tears flowed freely from his eyes. They were tears of love and respect. As he pondered her hand, he 6
Eddie Floyd
thought just how many things in 100 years Grandma had held in these hands to make those she loved happy; from cooking utensils to medical supplies used to patch up both man or animal, typical of life at their ranch. Those hands had even held dolls and BB guns as she played with the grandchildren every time they asked! And like all children and grandchildren, hers and Papa’s commanded their attention!
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“Keep sleeping my love. I’m headed out to get you your birthday surprise,” Papa whispered.
Near Hallelujah Junction, California. 7
Final Breath
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apa dressed in his usual flannel shirt, jeans, well-worn cowboy boots and made his way out the front door to the old barn-wood covered porch. He turned and latched the front door shut from the outside. This would let Grandma know, should she wake up and want to go outside, that Papa was telling her to please stay inside until he got back. In that way, she would know he would be back and not to worry. She could
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Eddie Floyd
easily push the latch open, but Papa wanted her to stay inside. In the past couple of years Papa liked to tell everyone she had become “directionally challenged”, a phrase he came up with to describe the way she would sometimes go out to see some of the animals and lose her way back to the cabin. She would not wander far, and Papa could always locate her in a short period of time. Papa even thought she did it on purpose … just to give him more exercise, check out his sense of direction or even to test his undying love and concern for her. The good news is that Grandma would know why the front door was locked and just go about her
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Final Breath
business cleaning or rearranging the cabin. Papa used to laugh to everyone about her moving things around, telling everyone it was like coming home to a new house everyday.
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He stepped off the porch and said to “Mister”, their red-bone coonhound, “Let’s go, Mister! Let’s go find Grandma her birthday flower.” And off they both went, bumping into each other as they headed in the direction of the spring.
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This is the end of the sample chapters. You may preorder this hardcover edition by contacting custserv@leruepress.com. Preorder price is $14.95 www.lrpnv.com 10