Chapter 14: How It Became ‘The Flats’ (Before it was actually Paradise)

Once Charlie thought Sylvia was comfortable enough to discuss the prospect of the future, he invited her out to the construction project to see the mess being made in the mud and ice and snow and whatever else was there depending on the weather.

“Charlie, I can get a few days off, since I have some comp time coming and it won’t affect my leave balance. Let me talk to Colonel Jackson. I’ll let you know tonight. Do we need to make reservations?”

“No, hon, I’ll call the motel I’ve been staying at. It’s not much, but it’s close.”

“I’m sure it’ll be fine. What about flight reservations?”

“I’ll take care of those, honey. I’ve got it. Just bring some warm clothes. It’s getting chilly out there.”

She was surprised a bit when they woke up, got ready, went to the civil side of the Sumter Municipal Airport, then checked in with the airfield manager. They got the keys to the plane, boarded, and left the beautiful state of South Carolina behind them. Maybe she was more than a bit surprised. She hardly spoke for an hour.

They flew into the Jicarilla Apache Nation airfield, by invitation, and met up with Willie Longbow there. Charlie had spoken to him before and he offered to have them fly into his airfield, catch a ride into town for lunch, then Willie would drop them off at the rental agency for a car. They’d be staying at the Vista Inn in Willow Creek, then going into the valley the next day. After that, another night at the Vista, then the trip home. Willie asked if he could meet them out there at the homesite, since he had a couple of people he wanted the new neighbors to the north to meet. It was very easy to say, ‘Yes’.

The next morning was sunny and warm enough go without a coat. Charlie and Sylvia traveled the short distance to the valley and were able to witness the construction in progress. A one-and-a-half-mile long strip of dirt lay in the middle, with little dots along the edges, connected by lines, and concrete starting to fill it in on one end. They could see the progress inching toward the middle. The dots were landing strip lights, and the lines were conduit to house the wiring running between the lights.