Love Story: In The Web of Life by Ken Renshaw (snow like ashes TXT) 📕

to LA. Our agent called and said we both have a gig on amovie in the Colorado Mountains for most of September. How aboutyou?"

"Does that SUV we have been using have to getback to LA?"

Buster replied, "Yes, it is rented from a movieprop house. No hurry in getting it back, it is rented for themonth."

"Tina and I decided we would like to drive backthrough the gold country. Neither of us has ever been there. Maybewe will go through Yosemite. Then, we will stop at CrystalAire fora few days and I'll see whether my sailplane stillworks."

My cell phone rang. It was the court clerksaying the jury was back from lunch and was continuingdeliberation.

"When will they come back with a verdict?" Tinaasked.

Elizabeth volunteered, "It's Friday afternoon.Some of the jurors play on the Rocky Butte Claim Jumpers' softballteam. It has an important league game tomorrow morning. There willbe a verdict today."

Tina and Sofia said they were going to tour thePioneer Museum and then see the sights of town.

Elizabeth, Buster, and I snuck back to thesecret passage to the courthouse. In the conference room, Bustersat in one of the antique captains chairs, rocked back, put in hisear buds, pushed his Stetson down over his face and had a nap.Elizabeth and I read. At four o'clock, the clerk called and saidshe had seen the bailiff come out of the jury room and get some ofthe formal papers that the jury had to fill out. They would have averdict soon.

Inside the courtroom, tension filled the air.All the spectator seats were filled. Reporters had their laptopsopen and were talking to each other.

The Sodastroms joined us in the courtroom andsoon Judge Cartright appeared and banged his gavel. Hush fell overthe court.

The jurors filed in not smiling.

Judge Cartright asked, "Has the jury elected aforeman?"

"Yes, sir," Said juror number five.

"Have you reached a verdict?"

"Yes sir," said the foreman as he handed apiece of paper to the bailiff.

The Judge put on his eyeglasses and read theslip of paper. He paused with a look that could have betrayeddisagreement, and handed the paper back to the bailiff.

"Read the verdict," commanded thejudge.

The foreman paused and glanced at the otherjurors. They all looked timid or almost embarrassed.

"We find in favor of the plaintiff."

Noise filled the courtroom.

Judge Cartright stood and banged his gavel andcalled, "Order! Or, I will clear this court."

We all held our breath.

The jury foreman said in a loud voice, "Weaward the plaintiff twenty–million dollars."

Chaos erupted in the court, Reporters werepushing to leave the courtroom.

Judge Cartright again stood and banged hisgavel and called, "Order! Order!"

As the judged was thanking the jury, I heard agasp and tuned around to see Ed catching Ann.

"I'm OK." she said. "My knees just wentweak."

The gavel banged. "This court isadjourned."

Elizabeth gave me a hug as I stood therestunned, and cried, "We did it boss!"

Ed and Ann's Sodastrom cried as they shook ourhands and said, "Thank you! Thank you!"

Normal color had returned to Ed and Ann's facesfor the first time since I had known them. I tried to say goodbyeto opposing counsel, Dean Buttress, but he was gone.

I motioned to the bailiff to come over. I said,"Will you take the Sodastroms out the back entrance of the countyfacility to avoid the media?"

He agreed.

Ann gave Elizabeth and I a tearful hug. "Thankyou!' she reiterated as Ed led her off following thebailiff.

Elizabeth and I gathered up our briefcases.Buster led the way, nudging reporters out of the way as we left thecourthouse. On the steps, several reporters, and two TV crewspushed microphones in front of us. "Mr. Willard: Carol Tipton fromthe NBC: Congratulations! Do you have any comment on theverdict?"

"I congratulate the jury on reaching a fairverdict. No amount of money will bring Lucy back, end theSodastrom's grief, or restore their health.

"This verdict has created one lasting memorialto Lucy: this verdict will put all California counties and sheriffson notice that it is negligent to ignore any reasonable person whoclaims to have knowledge of where a missing person is, even if theyclaim to have psychic powers."

"Thank you," said Carol.

As we continued down the steps, dodgingreporters and microphones, Elizabeth quipped, "A press conferenceafter a verdict already: this is more like it."

****

Back to the lodge, Sofia, who had poured eachof us glasses of champagne, greeted us at the door. Tina, stilldressed in her red gingham dress, ran over and gave me a big kissand hug. Everyone was jubilant.

After a few congratulatory minutes, Tina and Isat down at the table with Sofia who was still dressed in her lightblue gingham dress. Tina and Sofia were snickering about something,and I sensed it was not about the verdict. I noticed that Tina wasresting her hand on an ice pack.

Sofia laughed and said, "We might have a newclient for you: an assault and battery case."

Tina giggled and said, "It was self defense,perfectly acceptable conduct in the Wild West."

Sofia continued, "After we had seen the sightsof Rocky Butte we decided we couldn't leave Rocky Butte without alittle honky-tonkin, so we stopped by the Claim Jumper to have abeer, cowboy-style. We were sitting alone at a table, minding ourown business, enjoying glasses of Claim Jumper Pale Draft Beer whenTina excused herself to go to the Ladies Room. I heard a littlecommotion and saw a big cowboy sliding down the wall, bent over inpain, holding his bloody nose. I saw Tina disappearing down thehall to the Ladies Room. Some of his buddies took him away. I hearda lot of groaning. In a couple of minutes Tina reappeared from thehall walking demurely, as though nothing had happened. The cowboysgave her a lots of room to pass."

Tina laughed and said, "He groped me. I hit himreflexively. I didn't even know I did it until I saw his nose andfelt my knee in his crotch."

I said, "Sofia, you might have created amonster."

She replied, "You should have seen that roomfull of cowboys. Casting directors can't assemble a group as uglyas that. For an instant, I thought the two of us were going to haveto fight our way out,