Two Sides of the Same Coin by Jake Mactire

just wanted to tell you be careful about living in the city. It’s like a cage there. You can cage a wolf, but it eventually dies from missing the wilderness. You belong here, son; people looked up to your dad, and they’ll look up to you too.”
    “Even given who, what I am?”
    “I can’t pretend to understand it, but both your dad and Sandy gave me enough reading material on it that I know it’s the way you are, not a choice. And hell, son, it don’t matter to me. You’ve always been like a brother to Sandy. You know, Jeff, you got a lot of friends around here.”
    “Thank you, sir.”
    “Don’t mention it. I appreciate your coming in to town to tell me about Mike. Son, this is your home. You’ll miss it if you leave again.”
    “I’m here for good, sir. I missed it already when I was gone. I guess I had to come back, though, to realize how much.”
    “I’ll tell you what, why don’t you come over next Sunday for dinner. Sally makes a great roast, and we’d all love to see you and catch up.”
    “Sure thing, Sheriff, sounds great!”
    “Why don’t you bring your friend Mike too? Sandy says he’s a good guy and gets left behind when the guys go into Wenatchee for weekends.”
    “I’ll ask him, sir.”
    “Great! We’ll see you about noon then. Now get over to the saloon before the girls think I jailed you.”
    “Thanks, sir, I really appreciate you listening and talking to me.”
    “Anytime, son, anytime.”
    I walked down the street to One Eyed Jack’s, and a group of five tourists walked by. The two women and two of the men with them were couples. They were older, obviously retired. The other guy was a bit younger, say maybe ten years. The two women and the single guy all checked me out. I tipped my hat as I passed and said, “Afternoon folks.” I got a chorus of “good afternoons” in return. As I was about to turn into the saloon, the single guy in the group looked back; I couldn’t help myself, I winked at him. He was so surprised, he stumbled over one of the boards in the wooden sidewalk.
    I stepped into the bar. It was dark inside, and the wood stove was going in the corner; I could smell beer, grease, and wood smoke. I saw Sandy and Maria in a booth on the restaurant side of the room toward the back. I walked over and sat next to Sandy.
    “So you talked to the sheriff, Jeff?” Maria asked.
    “Yep, so I reckon Mike’s off the hook.”
    “Great! Like I said, your burger and beer are on me. I don’t think the menu’s changed since we were in high school. What’ll you have?”
    “You said you weren’t workin’, Sandy.”
    “I’m not, but I don’t mind puttin’ in your orders and getting you two something to drink.”
    “Ladies first,” I said and smiled at Maria.
    “I’ll have the chicken strips and fries and a Diet Coke.”
    “How about a bacon cheeseburger for me, extra mayo, and fries, and a Mac & Jacks to drink.”
    “You got it,” she said and headed to the kitchen.
    “So what are you gonna do now, Maria?”
    “I got the rest of the week off, and I’m staying with Sandy and her family. They said I could stay as long as I want. I’ll head back to Wenatchee and work Sunday night. I hope you don’t mind my coming out to the ranch. I can see why Pedro loved it, and it makes me happy to know he was happy there.”
    “You’re welcome anytime. I got plenty of room, so if you, or you and Sandy, want to stay that’s fine.”
    “Thanks, Jeff, I just might take you up on that.”
    “Please do, anytime.” She smiled at me, and then Sandy arrived with my beer, one for her, and a Coke for Maria.
    “Cheers!” I held out my mug. We clinked glasses.
    As I took a sip of beer, Sandy asked, “So you stickin’ around, Jeff?”
    “Yep, this is my home. If I can make a go of it after the incident last week, I sure will.”
    “Don’t worry, Jeff. Dad will catch the murdering bastard.”
    “I reckon that there has to be more than one murdering bastard.”
    “Why’s