With the success of the band’s album, Henry had been able to
purchase an old bus to transport the band’s equipment and convinced
Buddy to drive it. The Scuffling Scrappers tour was a major success
for the band, but for Buddy, it had been those phone calls from the
road that kept him going. Buddy and Annette had developed quite a
long distance relationship, and he couldn’t wait to return back
home to see her.
The Scrappers had just one more night on the road before they would
triumphantly return to their hometown. The show in Reno, Nevada,
would likely draw a few of their friends who would not mind the
drive across the Sierras. Annette thought it would a big surprise
to Buddy if she were to see the final show, and made plans to go.
She took a morning shift at the Stomping Grounds, and headed out of
town at 4:00 P.M.
Buddy was driving the bus coming in from Pocatello, Idaho, where
they had played the previous evening. The Pocatello show was an
overwhelming success, and with the long drive the day before up
from Salt Lake City, and the late night, Buddy had not been able to
call Annette. Buddy knew there would be little time once they
arrived in Reno, so he told the band they were taking an early
dinner break in Winnemucca, Nevada.
Buddy pulled into the parking lot at the Heaven’s Haven Diner about
4:15 P.M. and looked for the nearest phone booth. He checked his
pocket and found that he had just enough change to talk for about
10 minutes. Not enough time for him, but it would have to do. Buddy
called the Stomping Grounds number, since he knew Annette would be
at work at this time, but Len told Buddy that Annette was off
today.
Len knew that Annette was going to surprise Buddy on Reno, but
didn’t let on as Buddy asked where she was. Len suggested she might
be at home, but since Annette didn’t have a phone at home, he
couldn’t call her there.
Buddy left the phone booth, sorry that he couldn’t make the
connection and wandered towards the diner to meet up with the rest
of the band. As he crossed the parking lot, he didn’t see the car
that rushed in off the highway and when he finally looked up to see
the screeching car, it was too late, and he was thrown by the
impact nearly 10 yards.
It all happened so quickly, and was witnessed by the remaining band
members in the diner. They rushed out as one to come to Buddy’s aid
while their waitress called the hospital for an ambulance.
When the ambulance arrived, they splinted Buddy’s leg and took him
in. While he was pretty scraped up, the broken leg was his only
injury, but he would have to spend some time recovering before he
could get home.
Annette arrived in Reno at 7:00 PM and headed to the Spangle, where
tonight’s Scrappers show was to take place. When she heard the show
had been canceled, she started to worry. Where was Buddy? She asked
about and finally got the news of the accident, and that Buddy was
at Humboldt General. She once again set out and pulled into town at
10:00 PM.
Though it was well past visiting hours, she was able to convince
the night watchman to let her in. She rushed up to the third floor,
where Buddy was and burst into his room. Buddy woke up as she
entered, and with the light from the hallway behind here, he
thought she was an angel.
She leaned over and grabbed him about the neck, and finally
exclaimed, “I got here as soon as I could! I’ve been so
worried.”
Buddy was shocked to see Annette, but it raised his spirits
considerably. “I’ve missed you,” he confessed. “I’m so glad you’re
here.”
Buddy spent the next few days in the hospital, and when he was
released, Annette agreed to drive him back home. The band had taken
the bus back home, so Buddy was happy for the offer.
Annette had spent hours at the hospital each day, and Buddy and she
learned a lot about each other. Annette had grown up in Fresno, and
left there after high school to try to pursue a career in modeling.
Though she had the looks, she couldn’t make the right connections,
and did not achieve her dream. She moved from town to town, taking
waitressing jobs, until she ended up at the Stomping Grounds.
Buddy told her of how he dreamed to be a musician ever since he
first heard Gene Autry on the radio as a young boy. He decided on
the steel guitar because he loved the sound, the sweet slides and
how much it added to the overall feel of the music.
The hours flew by as they exchanged their lives’ stories, and when
released, they were in love.
As they passed through Reno after Buddy’s release, Buddy’s
playfully suggested, “Let’s get married in Reno!”
Annette fell silent for a few moments, and Buddy apologized, “I’m
sorry, I was just joking. Didn’t mean to shock you.”
“No, no, no,” she replied, “I was just trying to figure out if that
was a real proposal or not.”
“It could be, if you want it,” Buddy responded.
Annette pulled the car over and kissed Buddy, “But we have no
ring,” she complained, only partially in jest.
Buddy opened the door, grabbed his crutches and got out of the car.
He hobbled over and told Annette, ”Open the trunk.”
He pawed through his suitcase until found an old guitar string and
started wrapping it up into a tight circle around his pinky. He
found a pair of pliers in the toolbox in the trunk and snipped off
the excess wire.
Annette watched Buddy amusingly, as he returned to the car and
tried to kneel. His leg cast did not allow the flexibility he
needed to make the move, so Annette reached up from the driver’s
seat and took his hand.
Buddy asked, “Annette Samson, will you marry me?”
“Yes, Buddy Jones, I will,” she replied. They kissed passionately
and saw that a wedding chapel was only a couple of blocks away.
Within an hour, on May 15, they became Mr. and Mrs. Arlen
Jones.