to call Judge Hopgood's office. When he called and asked to speak to the judge, the secretary said he couldn't come to the phone, but the judge wanted Randy to come to his office as soon as possible. It was urgent, and an appointment wasn't necessary.
Near the entrance to the judge's office, Randy spotted Ben Atwood leaning against the building and smoking a cigarette. He had to fight his instinct to stop and wipe the smirk off the bully’s face. If Atwood was still there when he came out, he might not be able to restrain himself.
The receptionist led Randy to a waiting chair in the judge's office and said his honor would be with him shortly. The judge's workplace appeared to be set up to intimidate anyone who dared enter, and Randy wondered if being brought in like this was a routine procedure to weaken folks a little psychologically. On the back wall behind the judge's high-back leather chair were diplomas, awards, certificates, and photos of Hopgood with too many politicians to count and at least two United States presidents. On the wall to his left was the mounted head of the biggest bull moose he had ever seen, and to his right, a Delta Junction buffalo of equal stature.
Hopgood entered abruptly, as if in a hurry, and greeted Randy with a handshake. “Morning, young man. I'm guessing you know why I asked you to come see me."
"Yes, sir, I think I can guess."
"Well, then, you know that the young lady I saw you with at the steakhouse, pretty though she certainly is, is an illegal immigrant. In my book, that makes her a fugitive from justice."
"Her name is Nadia Ivanov, Judge, and she is the girl I am going to marry."
Hopgood studied Randy for a moment and began to frown. He put his hand to his chin and said, "Is that so?"
"Yes, sir."
"You know, son, this case is open and shut. There is nothing gray about this situation."
"Sir, I'm not as old or as experienced as you are, but if I have learned anything in my few short years, it is that nothing is black and white. It's gray all the way down, Judge."
"You know who you’re talking to, son?"
"Yes, sir. Can I show you something?"
Judgment
It was late September. The moving van was nearly loaded and ready to go. The plans were made. Ed and Mandy would drive the Alaska Highway south to Idaho. Mandy would help Ed set up a new household, and then in January, he would take her to Colorado to begin her long period of study to become a veterinarian. In some ways, her father now seemed like a different person. After Pansy killed the bear to save her and Nadia, Ed was easier to talk to and less apt to get angry when she disagreed with him. He was so much more thoughtful now, she regretted having kept him at such a distance for so long.
Mandy was deliriously happy for Randy and Nadia, but she was perplexed by their plans. She, Ed, and a few close friends had attended their wedding at Randy's ranch house the week before, but she didn't understand why Randy had said it was the first of two weddings and that it might be a long time before they could come for a visit in Idaho.
Later that evening, when Ed and Mandy were sitting at the table making a list of things to do and not forget, Randy knocked at the door. Letting himself in, he said, "Good. Both of you are here." He took off his cap and cleared his throat. "I need to just say this right out. Nadia is in Alaska illegally."
Exchanging concerned looks with Mandy, Ed said, "But you were just married."
"Yes, that is part of the plan."
"Plan, what plan?” Mandy asked.
"The one our attorney is working on," Randy said.
Ed sat forward. "Who is your attorney?"
"Emmitt Hopgood."
"You mean the judge's son?" Ed smiled as he spoke.
"That's the one. Let me start from the beginning. I always knew there was something Nadia wasn't telling me. At first, I thought she was just embarrassed about her living conditions. She’s had a hard life. Her father, before he passed away, gave his brother all of the money he had saved and
Near the entrance to the judge's office, Randy spotted Ben Atwood leaning against the building and smoking a cigarette. He had to fight his instinct to stop and wipe the smirk off the bully’s face. If Atwood was still there when he came out, he might not be able to restrain himself.
The receptionist led Randy to a waiting chair in the judge's office and said his honor would be with him shortly. The judge's workplace appeared to be set up to intimidate anyone who dared enter, and Randy wondered if being brought in like this was a routine procedure to weaken folks a little psychologically. On the back wall behind the judge's high-back leather chair were diplomas, awards, certificates, and photos of Hopgood with too many politicians to count and at least two United States presidents. On the wall to his left was the mounted head of the biggest bull moose he had ever seen, and to his right, a Delta Junction buffalo of equal stature.
Hopgood entered abruptly, as if in a hurry, and greeted Randy with a handshake. “Morning, young man. I'm guessing you know why I asked you to come see me."
"Yes, sir, I think I can guess."
"Well, then, you know that the young lady I saw you with at the steakhouse, pretty though she certainly is, is an illegal immigrant. In my book, that makes her a fugitive from justice."
"Her name is Nadia Ivanov, Judge, and she is the girl I am going to marry."
Hopgood studied Randy for a moment and began to frown. He put his hand to his chin and said, "Is that so?"
"Yes, sir."
"You know, son, this case is open and shut. There is nothing gray about this situation."
"Sir, I'm not as old or as experienced as you are, but if I have learned anything in my few short years, it is that nothing is black and white. It's gray all the way down, Judge."
"You know who you’re talking to, son?"
"Yes, sir. Can I show you something?"
Judgment
It was late September. The moving van was nearly loaded and ready to go. The plans were made. Ed and Mandy would drive the Alaska Highway south to Idaho. Mandy would help Ed set up a new household, and then in January, he would take her to Colorado to begin her long period of study to become a veterinarian. In some ways, her father now seemed like a different person. After Pansy killed the bear to save her and Nadia, Ed was easier to talk to and less apt to get angry when she disagreed with him. He was so much more thoughtful now, she regretted having kept him at such a distance for so long.
Mandy was deliriously happy for Randy and Nadia, but she was perplexed by their plans. She, Ed, and a few close friends had attended their wedding at Randy's ranch house the week before, but she didn't understand why Randy had said it was the first of two weddings and that it might be a long time before they could come for a visit in Idaho.
Later that evening, when Ed and Mandy were sitting at the table making a list of things to do and not forget, Randy knocked at the door. Letting himself in, he said, "Good. Both of you are here." He took off his cap and cleared his throat. "I need to just say this right out. Nadia is in Alaska illegally."
Exchanging concerned looks with Mandy, Ed said, "But you were just married."
"Yes, that is part of the plan."
"Plan, what plan?” Mandy asked.
"The one our attorney is working on," Randy said.
Ed sat forward. "Who is your attorney?"
"Emmitt Hopgood."
"You mean the judge's son?" Ed smiled as he spoke.
"That's the one. Let me start from the beginning. I always knew there was something Nadia wasn't telling me. At first, I thought she was just embarrassed about her living conditions. She’s had a hard life. Her father, before he passed away, gave his brother all of the money he had saved and
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