The Claw

Chapter 8. The LK Wayne Story

Culp stepped out of his car. He was west of town about three miles. The Wayne farm was quiet and siren. He was searching for certain information on a rumor he had heard. LK Wayne was a great story teller. If nothing else today would be fun for the yarn he might hear. Who knows maybe they even have pictures, he thought.

Some called him Lloyd, others Lyle, but most knew him as LK. The truth was no one really knew his first name. He preferred LK. He was about six inches shorter than Karl Greene but more compact.

Karl had played sports in school but not LK. No one could talk him into organized sports though on the playground he could out do everyone. Karl was no match for LK in any way. LK and Karl were friends from early elementary throughout school. After school however, they went in different ways. Karl married Kerry and they continued to attend church. LK on the other hand started a produce route through the community and liked to attend the taverns. Wayne had another like. Fighting! He would go to bars just to mix it up. With a few under his belt he was impossible to beat. He would take on all comers and fight until the sheriff and his deputies would get there. Culp and company would try to stop him but no one could. He was arrested on several occasions. A couple of times they would drink with him until he was too drunk to resist. It was the only way to get him behind bars.

One time they told him that Mable Platt, one of the bar maids needed a refrigerator in her apartment upstairs. LK put that thing on his back and walked up two long flights of steps. After he set it down in her kitchen she hugged him and gave him a kiss.

He never fought in her bar again. Richard Hobbs, the actual owner of the place was the happy one. He never had to replace furniture after that.

LK now had to go to other bars to fight. He liked the private bikers bars best. There were more people to fight and they hated it when he came in. Before long no one would fight with him and the fun ended.

There were very few deputies in those days and the department often needed help with bar room fights. They never could get some of the larger fights under control. LK became their secret weapon. He had been out of the fighting circuit for a few years and many people had now forgotten who he was. Now he could go into a bar with a deputy badge and do all the fighting he wanted.

The rule as a deputy was to warn first and fight later. He hated this rule and only adhered to it if other deputies went with him. When he was alone the police would be called. Unfortunately, the police were already there.

His violent nature was something that alcohol helped to stoke. When LK Wayne quit drinking the community was in shock. No one could believe that a brawler and drinker could be cured. When the drinking ended so did all those years of fighting.

LK Wayne had given his heart to the Lord. He was now saved and serving Jesus the Christ, Son of The Living God. Karl Greene was the first to welcome him back to the little country church. They began where they had left off, as friends once again. The Sheriff department had lost a valuable help in stopping bar room fights but they didn't mind. He was now behaving himself. "Wow!" Culp thought. "LK Wayne is an upstanding citizen. We no longer have to be worried about controlling him. A Higher Power is doing that these days."

Culp knocked on the door. LK Wayne greeted him. Culp was welcomed and set with the family for hours. They discussed everything from hunting to fishing, and even some wood cutting. Fighting never came up.

Wayne spoke about some of the stories that happened when he was younger. His fruit route had been a success for years and people would wait for him, because he would put a few extra on top of the bushels. They would get good conversation and a few extra pieces of fruit on top.

When the large orchards opened their doors for business the fruit route sellers became a thing of the past. Wayne left his route and began working at a milk producer plant. Many people in the community remembered him as the brawler and never realized what a great man he could be. His attitude was completely changed. Even the children would gather around him. At time, he looked like he was leading a flock. Young kids would especially gather around him.

When he entered his forties things again, began to change. He became ill. At 41 he suffered his first stroke. A few years later he had his first debilitating stroke. But even strokes couldn't keep him down. He quickly regained the use of his arm and hand.

Then the big one hit. He lost the use of his left arm and leg. It was at this time that the doctor told him that he would never walk or use his left arm again. He was sent to Saint Mary's Rehabilitation center to work on regaining whatever he could. Within days he was walking and using his arm. By the end of the month, exactly 33 days he was home and walking by himself. He went a mile his first day back. He remained healthy until one day his foot turned black. Suddenly, the ends of his toes began to disappear.

Once again he was in the hospital. They were going to remove his leg. LK said simply, "no!"

They agreed to try an artery bypass but with his sclerosis they figured non would be found. His son, KW had a friend by the name of Mike Bennett. Mike went to an apostolic church. They anointed a cloth and gave it to KW to pin on LK's clothing. The doctors allowed the cloth to stay on his pajamas.

During surgery they found enough artery to try a bypass. It worked and in a few hours his leg and foot were pink again. LK's foot was saved. Within days the toes grew back. It had been a miracle. LK Wayne would come home and walk again.

Culp had known this man through many hard times. He had fought with him on many occasions and had admittedly lost, even with his fellow deputies at his aid. He was now rejoicing with this family over the miracles that had happened in his life. What a change he had witnessed. The last couple of hours had flown by. Culp said his good byes and left the Wayne home. He felt like a changed man for being in that home with that family. The Spirit of God was thick in that home. You could feel God's presence and sence his great power.

The people that believe themselves to be strong enough to bring this country down should step in that home for five seconds. They would run for their lives. Culp had to smile. America may not be done yet.

There were many families in this county that were like the Wayne's. These people had a fire within that was second to none. They knew Jesus the Christ, the Son of The Living God. Jesus had claimed America for his own and the people liked it that way.

Satan and his minnions had declared America a target for death. They would not stop until the nation lay in ruin. Satan had outside forces from Europe on his side. But most of all he had most of the nations government sown up with mister dollar. They were suckers for a few million and would sell out their people.

Little did they know he had plans for even them. Nasty plans and in their wealthy comfort they would experience something sinister. Would they still serve him when things became tough? Would they hold out for more wealth? "Yes," Satan shouted with glee. "They are damnable fools. They are mine and their souls are mine!" Satan smiled. Culp and the others would feel his rath soon.