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“No. It can’t. Do you have any ideas about who would have done that today?”
“Anyone on the list I gave your boss.” JD shrugged out of his jacket.
“That list isn’t panning out.”
JD snapped, whirling around. “Then find out who the hell it is!”
Grady straightened.
JD rubbed his forehead. “I’m sorry. It’s been a long day. Come into my office.”
Grady followed him in, and JD moved behind his desk. He pulled out a bottle of top-shelf bourbon and filled two rocks glasses with an inch of amber liquor, shoving one across the desk toward Grady.
“Have a drink with me.” He took a sip. “You know, I started out on a rig just like that one back in the day. Good ole Kelly rig with a spinning chain. Some of the best years of my life were spent on a rig just like that one.”
“I didn’t know that, sir.” Grady studied the man.
JD nodded. “My first week on a rig floor I was hit in the face by the motorman's thumb. Can you believe that?”
“After what I witnessed today, I know it’s a dangerous job. That’s for sure.”
“He was spinning chain. He didn't even know it was missing off his hand. My own hands were so numb from the cold, I guess I could understand it. It was eleven below zero that day. A record low for that part of Texas, and don’t get me started on the wind chill factor.
“Anyway, I picked up the piece of green glove it was in and looked over at the driller and said I had to talk to him in the doghouse. He shut it down and went in after me. I showed him what was in the glove. He looked out the window at the guy still wrestling with his tongs and said, call him in. Poor bugger came in, the driller told him to sit down, and asked to see his hands. Then the guy went right into shock and fainted! He had to be airlifted to a hospital, and they stitched it back on.”
“That’s quite a story. You ever get hurt?”
“Sure. I remember getting hit by the spinning chain when the tail broke off. That hurt like a motherfucker.” He held up a hand. “But I still have all ten fingers!”
“Beat the odds, sounds like.”
“I didn’t stay a roughneck. I had brains, and I wasn’t going to spend my life making someone else rich. So, I went out on my own. Wildcatting, that’s what they call it. I didn’t have two nickels to rub together when I met Loretta. Barely scraping by, pouring every dollar I made into the business. She went against her father and took a chance on me. Even talked him into staking my next well. I hit it big with that one. Made a fortune for both of us. After that, he gave me his blessing to marry his daughter.” JD smiled. “She would have married me without it, but it was nice to have.”
“That’s a nice story. I’m happy it turned out for you.” Grady cleared his throat. “And now the tables are turned, and you’re the father looking out for a daughter of your own.”
“That’s right.”
“I’m sure you want her happiness, just like your father-in-law wanted for Ms. Loretta.”
JD nodded, avoided his eyes, and drained his glass. Then he stood—a sure signal their talk was over. “I’m sorry I can’t give you any names or leads. I wish to God I knew who this was. The fact is, I burned a lot of bridges, stepped on a lot of people on my way up. The list of people with a grudge against me is long. I’m sorry I can’t be more help in narrowing it down.”
Grady stood. “We’ve got a couple of leads we’re following up on. Hopefully, we’ll be able to narrow it down soon. I, uh, asked Tinsley to take a ride out to my place tomorrow. I hope you don’t mind. It’s my mother’s birthday. I moved her out here from Alabama a few months ago. She doesn’t know a lot of people, so I’d like to go by and bring her a cake and flowers or something. If that’s okay with you.”
“Of course. It’ll be good for Tinsley to get away. Spending the day at your place will probably be the safest for her. Take as much time as you need.”
“Thank you, sir.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
“What are you doing?” Tinsley asked Grady as he pulled into the grocery store parking lot.
“It’s my mother’s birthday. I’m picking her up a cake and some flowers.”
“You can’t be serious. Supermarket flowers? I know a place. Turn left at that light.”
He exhaled, but spun the wheel around, making a u-turn in the parking lot and heading back out on the road. “That place had everything all in one spot. The cake, card, and flowers.”
“Stop grumbling and drive.”
