Don't Make Me Choose Between You and My Shoes by Dixie Cash Page B

called Buddyand asked him to fax the draft of their speech to her. Thank God he was an early riser, and thank God again, he was on vacation this week. She couldn’t help but laugh. The speech Buddy had sent was longer than what she and Edwina had thrown together in the wee hours. But, in truth, she thought the second speech was better.
    Now she pondered just how many great speeches or literary works throughout time had been authored in the midst of turmoil and haste. She had discovered something profound. “Wow,” she muttered.
    She pulled her cell phone from her pocket and pressed the single button that connected her to Buddy.
    â€œDid you get them?” he asked without a hello. “Did they all come across okay?”
    Debbie Sue cradled the phone against her cheek. “I can’t thank you enough for getting up and doing this. Was Billy Don at the office yet?”
    Billy Don Roberts was the sitting sheriff of Salt Lick. A few years back, when Buddy was sheriff, Billy Don had been his deputy. When Buddy chose not to run for reelection so he could dedicate his time and energy to becoming a Texas state trooper, Billy Don got the sheriff’s job sort of by default. He ran with no opposition. Up until then his only ambition had been to perfect his calf roping skills by practicing on the fire hydrant in front of the sheriff’s office.
    Debbie Sue heard Buddy’s soft chuckle and wished she were home. “No. I called him and he said he’d meet me, but he locked himself out of the county unit. I had to go by his house for the keys. Luckily, the office keys weren’t on that ring.”
    â€œNothing ever changes with Billy Don,” Debbie Sue said.
    â€œYep, he’s still Billy Don.”
    After a few more minutes of small talk, she said a reluctant good-bye and gathered up the pages he had faxed to her. There was no point in telling him she and Edwina probably wouldn’t use them after all. She wasn’t about to let him think he wasn’t her knight in shining armor coming to her rescue.
    Exiting the elevator Debbie Sue checked her watch. Just two hours before the NAPI-sponsored welcoming breakfast for the conference speakers and special guests. Edwina required a minimum of two hours to get gussied up. Debbie Sue hated to do it, but she had to wake her.
    To her relief, when she swiped the key card and opened the door, she could hear Edwina talking and laughing.
    â€œNo, no. That’s all right, you didn’t call too early…. Yes, you’re right. It is an hour later here. It’s time I got up…. Yes, ma’am, it’s pretty exciting for us, too. Okay, you take care, now, and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
    Debbie Sue sat on the edge of the bed. “Who was that?”
    â€œMaudeen. She wants us to bring them a memento of our trip.”
    Maudeen Wiley, a resident of the Peaceful Oasis home for senior citizens, was Debbie Sue’s favorite octogenarian customer at the Styling Station. “Well, how nice of her to call.”
    â€œShe and her roommate have been sitting by the phone for an hour, waiting to call us. They’re so excited they can’t think straight.”
    â€œA memento, huh? I don’t know anyone but Maudeen Wiley who would use that word. What kind of memento do they want?”
    â€œThey want some pictures of John Wayne’s hand and boot imprints from Grauman’s Chinese Theatre,” Edwina said, stretching and scratching her head.
    â€œBut isn’t that in California?”
    â€œYeah, Hollywood. But I didn’t tell her any different. If I’ve learned anything from working in beauty shops all these years, it’s to not argue with old women. Just agree and go along.”
    â€œBut how will we explain coming home without the pictures?”
    â€œJust take her some little something from one of these souvenir shops and it’ll tickle her to death. She won’t even