One Lane Bridge: A Novel by Don Reid Read Free Book Online

was scared and just had to come home. Yesterday she even wanted to quit school for good.”
    “Well, that’s old news. There’s a party and she’s a-stayin’.” J. D. shrugged.
    “Are you all right with that?” Karlie asked.
    “You know, I am all right with it. I think she’s dealt with it and she feels good about it all. She feels safe. And to be honest, honey, I don’t need anything else to worry about right now.”
    “Well, let me give you one more thing or one less thing. Depends on how you look at it. I called Bobby Caywood, and he’s coming down tonight to mark the bills, and then he’ll be here in the morning with the three search warrants—and maybe by tomorrow at this time at least one of our problems will be over.”
    J. D. stopped eating and looked at his wife, torn between relief and anger. Relieved that she had finally seen it his way and angry because the last thing he told her this afternoon when she got out of the car was to do it her way.
    “Honey, that’s not what …”
    “I know. That’s not what you said to do earlier today, but I’ve been thinking, and I think you’re right. This is how we should handle it. So there, I gave in to you on that one. Now will you give in to me on the next one?”
    “Not if the next one is going to the doctor. You’ll have to call in your debt on something else.”
    They ate in silence. A couple customers walked over to say hi, and one of the waitresses came by to ask a question, but there were no words spoken between them until they finished eating and J. D. broke the awkward silence.
    “I rode around for an hour just before I came over here, and I’ve come up with an idea, something I have to try. But you have to listen to me and let me finish. I want you to let Bobby Caywood in tonight and mark the bills. I may or may not be here.”
    “Where are you going?”
    “I said, let me finish. I’m going back out to the one lane bridge. I know you’re thinking there is no one lane bridge. But I’ve got to be sure of something. Don’t ask me to say too much because the more I say, the crazier I’m going to sound. Just trust me and let me have this freedom, and I’ll tell you what I find when I get back tonight.”
    “J. D., if the house wasn’t there this morning, why do you think it will be there tonight? Do you realize how insane this sounds?”
    “No one realizes it more than me. But, Karlie, I think something tripped. I don’t know what. But something tripped, and I think if I go out there at the very same time as I did last night and everything is the same, then maybe whatever tripped will trip again. I know that probably doesn’t make sense. It barely makes sense to me. Just trust me when I tell you I’m all right, and I’ll come home tonight and tell you everything I know.”
    Karlie Wickman sat for a long time, minutes maybe, and looked at her husband with what he recognized as love in her eyes. He sensed she wanted to give him words of encouragement and support, but none came. There was nothing she could say that would make a difference right now. So she nodded, smiled, got up, and cleared away the dishes.

    J. D. watched the odometer and the digital clock in the dashboard as he rounded the curves on the country road. One read seventeen miles; the other read 7:17 p.m. He couldn’t be sure, but he strongly felt that the time of day had something to do with the mysterious appearance of the one lane bridge. It was twenty minutes after seven when he first came upon the bridge. The sun was in the exact same place, and now there was only one more mile to go until the road curved to the left. Around that bend he would come upon either a wide, two lane crossing with low concrete sides or a large, old-fashioned steel-trestle one lane bridge. He was prepared to be shocked either way.
    And he was.
    The one lane bridge towered before him as he stopped in the middle of the road. He was almost afraid to cross it. He was fearful it might not