town every month or so, and heâs been very good about fix-up, patch-up. But I greatly appreciate the offer. Now, I assume, given your place way up the Florida Road, that you wouldnât take too kindly to an emergency plumbing crisis in the middle of the night.
This made Sheridan laugh. Well, now, thatâs a horse of a different color. Itâs not the middle of the night that would bother me so much, itâs that I donât know the first thing about plumbing. When it clogs up at my place, Iâm on the phone to Slocombâs right away. But anything else your son canât take care of, donât hesitate to call.
They reached the dusty red pickup and Sheridan unloaded the lariat rope and tools into the back. He waved to the lady and said, A good day to you, Mrs. Farnsworth.
She hesitated, then on a sudden whim said, Mr. Sheridan, if I were to invite you to dinner some evening, what would you say?
Sheridan looked surprised. Well, I donât know. I guess Iâll have to wait until that situation arises. But as a general principle, I make it a practice to respond politely to dinner invitations. There just havenât been that many occasions that have arisen, come to think of it.
Then, Iâm inviting you, Mrs. Farnsworth said. Let me look at my calendar and give you a call. You do answer your telephone, donât you?
Sheridan laughed. I do. But it doesnât ring any more often than dinner invitations arise. Surely, just give me a call. My numberâs not in the book, but I seem to recall that you might have it from times gone by. He suddenly remembered that she had tried to reach him during his troubled times.
I do have it, she said. But if I canât find it, I know who to ask. She started away, then turned back. By the way, you wouldnât mind if I invited someone elseâsay, Caroline Chandlerâto join us.
Sheridan pulled the straw Stetson just slightly lower above his eyebrows and looked at her steadily. Of course, I wouldnât mind, he said. It would be a pleasure to see you both.
Then they parted.
20.
Professor Duane Smithson had given much thought to his former student Patrick Carrollâs idea of approaching Daniel Sheridan with the notion of intervening with the Southern Utes to resolve the AnimasâLa Plata water project and eventually heal the deep divisions in Durango. He cared passionately about the place. He knew its history from the beginning as part of his professional status as the preeminent historian of southwestern Colorado and one of the most highly recognized historians in the state. His books on Colorado history filled more than one library shelf and were notable for the life and energy their author imbued them with.
He himself was not the man, the professor had concluded. He had known Sheridan so long and had been so close to him over the years that he simply could not bring himself to pressure his friend to return to a more or less public role in a highly visible and contentious controversy that was only growing in bitterness and that had so much Sheridan history wrapped up in it. For Sheridan to insert himself into the AnimasâLa Plata dispute, even at the urging of well-meaning, community-concerned people, would be the equivalent of sending a badly wounded veteran back into the conflict where he had received his wounds.
Yet, Smithson thought, who else? When you looked at all the players, positions had been taken and sides had hardened. There was virtually no one left who both understood the conflict and possessed the wisdom to intervene. Beyond wisdom, Smithson said to himself, Sheridan has a kind of moral authority on his side. Smithson could not help but smile at the idea. After fifteen years, was he the only one in this whole corner of the state who thought Daniel Sheridan had moral authority? Better not use that phrase with anyone else he talked to. Most of them would think he was crazy.
No, he had no illusions. If Dan
This made Sheridan laugh. Well, now, thatâs a horse of a different color. Itâs not the middle of the night that would bother me so much, itâs that I donât know the first thing about plumbing. When it clogs up at my place, Iâm on the phone to Slocombâs right away. But anything else your son canât take care of, donât hesitate to call.
They reached the dusty red pickup and Sheridan unloaded the lariat rope and tools into the back. He waved to the lady and said, A good day to you, Mrs. Farnsworth.
She hesitated, then on a sudden whim said, Mr. Sheridan, if I were to invite you to dinner some evening, what would you say?
Sheridan looked surprised. Well, I donât know. I guess Iâll have to wait until that situation arises. But as a general principle, I make it a practice to respond politely to dinner invitations. There just havenât been that many occasions that have arisen, come to think of it.
Then, Iâm inviting you, Mrs. Farnsworth said. Let me look at my calendar and give you a call. You do answer your telephone, donât you?
Sheridan laughed. I do. But it doesnât ring any more often than dinner invitations arise. Surely, just give me a call. My numberâs not in the book, but I seem to recall that you might have it from times gone by. He suddenly remembered that she had tried to reach him during his troubled times.
I do have it, she said. But if I canât find it, I know who to ask. She started away, then turned back. By the way, you wouldnât mind if I invited someone elseâsay, Caroline Chandlerâto join us.
Sheridan pulled the straw Stetson just slightly lower above his eyebrows and looked at her steadily. Of course, I wouldnât mind, he said. It would be a pleasure to see you both.
Then they parted.
20.
Professor Duane Smithson had given much thought to his former student Patrick Carrollâs idea of approaching Daniel Sheridan with the notion of intervening with the Southern Utes to resolve the AnimasâLa Plata water project and eventually heal the deep divisions in Durango. He cared passionately about the place. He knew its history from the beginning as part of his professional status as the preeminent historian of southwestern Colorado and one of the most highly recognized historians in the state. His books on Colorado history filled more than one library shelf and were notable for the life and energy their author imbued them with.
He himself was not the man, the professor had concluded. He had known Sheridan so long and had been so close to him over the years that he simply could not bring himself to pressure his friend to return to a more or less public role in a highly visible and contentious controversy that was only growing in bitterness and that had so much Sheridan history wrapped up in it. For Sheridan to insert himself into the AnimasâLa Plata dispute, even at the urging of well-meaning, community-concerned people, would be the equivalent of sending a badly wounded veteran back into the conflict where he had received his wounds.
Yet, Smithson thought, who else? When you looked at all the players, positions had been taken and sides had hardened. There was virtually no one left who both understood the conflict and possessed the wisdom to intervene. Beyond wisdom, Smithson said to himself, Sheridan has a kind of moral authority on his side. Smithson could not help but smile at the idea. After fifteen years, was he the only one in this whole corner of the state who thought Daniel Sheridan had moral authority? Better not use that phrase with anyone else he talked to. Most of them would think he was crazy.
No, he had no illusions. If Dan
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