Two Sides of the Same Coin by Jake Mactire Page B

enough tourists through here.”
    “Yeah, Pedro said you had real talent. I think so, too, after seeing the bull rider sculpture you gave your dad.”
    Just then Sandy returned with the beer.
    “Hey, Sandy, Maria, you know if Wayne has a girl in Wenatchee?”
    “We figured he must, given he disappears on his days off.” Sandy looked at me then glanced at Maria.
    “Pedro and I both thought so too. Why do you ask, Jeff?”
    “I just figure Wayne deserves a little happiness. I can’t imagine anyone not bein’ real happy for him, so why the secrecy?”
    “And they say we women are complicated right, Maria?”
    “It’s cover, Sandy, just cover.”
    “Anyway, it ain’t none of my business what Wayne does on his time off. Hey, Sandy, I’d mentioned to Maria that you two are welcome up at the ranch anytime. Maybe we can all get together for another dinner or something. Having the posole in the bunkhouse last night was fun.”
    “You got it, Jeff.”
    “Great!” I smiled at them. “You know ladies; it sure is nice to be back here with friends. I didn’t realize just how much I missed this place until now.”
    “Well, Jeff, we’re just glad you came back and are planning on staying.” Maria smiled at me and Sandy.
    “Cheers to that!” And with that from Sandy, we lifted our glasses. I was done with my burger and fries. I asked what they thought of my plan for seeing if the artists’ cooperative in town would exhibit some of my castings.
    “I think that’s a great idea, Jeff! With all the tourists visitin’ and newbies buyin’ land here, I bet you’d have good sales.” Sandy was always enthusiastic about new ideas.
    We spent the next hour or so reliving high school, talking about the changes in Winslett, and just enjoying each other’s company. I finally had to excuse myself to head on down to the artists’ co-op. Winslett is an interesting town. It had been a mining and ranching center until the mines gave out in the 1920s. The town started losing population and was down to about ten families or so when they got the thought to develop it for tourism. A town several hours drive away had successfully remodeled itself on a little German town. Our area was a bit more desert like, so someone had the idea of an old West town. With state funds, they built board sidewalks, and false fronts to the buildings. The fact that the river runs right by town and is great for rafting, kayaking, and fishing, helped. So does the fact we are located smack in the middle of a national forest and are only a half hour’s drive from the North Cascades National Park. We have extensive cross country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter. We became a year round destination. Following the boom of the ‘90s, a large number of well to do folk from Seattle bought vacation homes around town and throughout the valley. With the influx of new people, came a good number of artists. Old West type paintings, Native American type art, and stuff made with local materials were big sellers. My bronze castings would fit right in.
    I walked out of One Eyed Jack’s into the bright sunshine of the street. It was cool enough I was glad I had my jean jacket on, but the bright sun was very welcome. I could smell the dust from the street and wood smoke from the back of the hot dog grill down the street. I walked into the artists’ co-op and saw Mary Grace behind the counter. Mary Grace was a local institution. She was probably the first artist to come here to the upper valley. She’s gotta be in her mid to late fifties and was a real earth mother type. Her hair fell loose around her shoulders; it was a natural salt and pepper gray. She wore a denim shirt over an artists’ co-op T-shirt and an almost floor length denim skirt. Wool socks and Birkenstocks completed her earth mother look.
    “Jeff! You’re back!” She squealed when she saw me and jumped up to give me a hug.
    “Yep, Mary Grace, I had to come by here and say hello to my favorite hippie