Eddie Floyd

SAMPLE

CHAPTER

WWWW hat is that, Hunter?”

“It’s a monument, Honey. An

elderly group built it here as a tribute to my

Papa and Grandma Shari.” As he answered,

a faint smile came across his face. He

recalled many fond memories of Papa’s

personalized hello to him. Papa would repeat

…“Buddy, Buddy!” Grandma Shari

constantly warned … “Hunter, get off that

horse! Stop chasing those goats!”, and “Put

“

Final Breath

2

SAMPLE

CHAPTER

that chicken down right now!” There were

so many recollections, and his smile grew.

“What does the monument say?”

questioned Holly.

“Basically, Honey, it tells about the

name of the flowers you are beginning to see.

Papa named them,” Hunter answered.

“They are beautiful, Hunter! And that

little valley is filled with them!”

“Yes, but they say it all started right

up here with the very first one Papa ever

found.” Hunter continued as Holly made her

way to a small concrete bench placed near

the monument, where the first of the flowers

is said to have been discovered.

Eddie Floyd

3

SAMPLE

CHAPTER

She began to read. “Final Breath?”

Why did Papa name the flowers that?” Holly

continued to question.

As Hunter and Holly walked up the

hill on the Wynema Ranch, a tear was

visible in Hunter’s eyes. They had been

married almost a year and loved taking

walks together as the sun began to set.

“This sunset is perfect. So, if you’ll

bear with my emotions, I’ll tell you the whole

story.” Hunter kissed Holly on the cheek as

he sat next to her. He picked up her hand

and held it ever so slightly to the side of his

face. “This is what Papa told me, as he sat

next to Grandma”, said Hunter holding her

hand to the tears now flooding his face.

Final Breath

4

SAMPLE

CHAPTER

Hunter leaned in for another kiss and began

the story.

Eddie Floyd

SAMPLE

CHAPTER

IIII t was the last day of March and the

cabin was quiet with the exception of

the occasional sound of roosters welcoming

the day at the Wynema Ranch. Papa slowly

made his way from the kitchen to the

bedroom holding his morning cup of coffee.

Last night, Papa told Grandma Shari

to sleep in because he wanted her rested for

a full day of celebration. You see, like Papa,

Grandma was now 100 years old.

Final Breath

6

SAMPLE

CHAPTER

Unlike most of the world away from

their cabin, things had been kept pretty

simple for them. Papa had retired from

radio and public speaking and spent the last

few years simply doing anything and

everything Grandma demanded. She was

never really a demanding person, but, boy,

did Papa love to play the martyr to the

whole family and anyone else who would

listen.

He set his coffee on the nightstand

and held her hand to his face as he leaned

and kissed Grandma while she slept. He

admired her hand, and the tears flowed

freely from his eyes. They were tears of love

and respect. As he pondered her hand, he

Eddie Floyd

7

SAMPLE

CHAPTER

thought just how many things in 100 years

Grandma had held in these hands to make

those she loved happy; from cooking utensils

to medical supplies used to patch up both

man or animal, typical of life at their ranch.

Those hands had even held dolls and BB

guns as she played with the grandchildren

every time they asked! And like all children

and grandchildren, hers and Papa’s

commanded their attention!

“Keep sleeping my love. I’m headed

out to get you your birthday surprise,” Papa

whispered.

Near Hallelujah Junction, California.

Final Breath

SAMPLE

CHAPTER

PPPP apa dressed in his usual flannel

shirt, jeans, well-worn cowboy boots

and made his way out the front door to the

old barn-wood covered porch. He turned and

latched the front door shut from the outside.

This would let Grandma know, should she

wake up and want to go outside, that Papa

was telling her to please stay inside until he

got back. In that way, she would know he

would be back and not to worry. She could

Eddie Floyd

9

SAMPLE

CHAPTER

easily push the latch open, but Papa wanted

her to stay inside.

In the past couple of years Papa liked

to tell everyone she had become

“directionally challenged”, a phrase he came

up with to describe the way she would

sometimes go out to see some of the animals

and lose her way back to the cabin. She

would not wander far, and Papa could

always locate her in a short period of time.

Papa even thought she did it on purpose …

just to give him more exercise, check out his

sense of direction or even to test his undying

love and concern for her. The good news is

that Grandma would know why the front

door was locked and just go about her

Final Breath

10

SAMPLE

CHAPTER

business cleaning or rearranging the cabin.

Papa used to laugh to everyone about her

moving things around, telling everyone it

was like coming home to a new house

everyday.

He stepped off the porch and said to

“Mister”, their red-bone coonhound, “Let’s

go, Mister! Let’s go find Grandma her

birthday flower.” And off they both went,

bumping into each other as they headed in

t h e d i r e c t i o n o f t h e s p r i n g .

This is the end of the sample chapters. You

may preorder this hardcover edition by

contacting custserv@leruepress.com.

Preorder price is $14.95 www.lrpnv.com