Ernie stood, pulling on his ball cap as others did the same.
“I have something big, beautiful and magnificent. Something you can’t possibly understand or comprehend. Stay off my land or I will shoot you and your men next time. It’s my right. There’s no trespassing. Right, Sheriff?”
“You got that right,” the man grinned.
Ernie walked out with half the room following him. Outside they huddled together beneath the founders statue in front of the small city hall.
“What do we do Ernie?” asked Pat. “This is the fifth meeting in as many weeks and no one seems to be listening to us. We’re all seeing those men around our properties and some of us have been vandalized or things are stolen from the property. What do we do?”
“I don’t know. I just don’t know.”
CHAPTER TWO
“Good morning,” smiled Sadie kissing her husband on the cheek.
“Hi, babe. You got the desk today?” he asked.
“Yep, me and Margo. Your first appointment is here. They’re interesting,” she said.
“How so?” asked Patrick.
“They came all the way from Newport, Nebraska. It’s a tiny little town with nothing but farms, some livestock, salt of the earth people.”
“Okay. Good wholesome people. What do they want?” asked Gator.
“I think you need to speak to them,” she said smiling as she turned to get them from the waiting room. She turned back, biting her lip.
“Now you’re shy?” grinned Ham.
“Not shy, honey. Hopeful that you’ll help these people. They need you. They need us.” Sadie left and walked back down the hallway toward the front of the building. Their two guests had been picked up in New Orleans and brought to their offices, just like all the others.
“Hiro? Who brought this case in?” asked Gator.
“Marcel and Dan. They said they were sitting in the bed of an old run-down pick-up truck, dirty and tired. Super polite, great handshake, and both said they didn’t believe either man had ever told a lie in their life. They said they just had a gut feeling that they were truthful, good men.”
The men stared at one another wondering what this was all about just as Sadie entered with two large, sturdy men. They both wore blue jeans, plaid shirts that had seen better days but were tucked in, secured with belts. Their boots were scuffed and covered in something they couldn’t name.
“Good morning,” said Ham and the others standing. “Welcome to Legacy.”
“Morning,” said Ernie. “My name is Ernie Paulsen. This is my neighbor and friend, Pat Stotz.”
“Nice to meet you both. Take a seat. We’ve got hot coffee and some breakfast for you,” said Gator.
“Much obliged,” said Ernie. “We drove all night to get here and need to get back soon.”
“Drove all night? You drove here from Nebraska?” asked Patrick.
“Yes, sir. Didn’t have much choice. Flights are expensive and not in our budgets. In fact, before we get too far into this, you need to know that you’re not in our budget either. We’re hoping we can make a deal.”
“A deal?” asked Gator.
“Yes, sir. We’ll provide crops, meat, whatever we can to you and your families for a designated period of time.” Gator stared at the man, then at the others in the room.
“Ernie, can I call you Ernie?” the other man nodded. “Ernie, what is it that you need help with?”
“Well, sir, Pat and I went to high school together and joined the Army right after school. Mostly it was to experience a little of the outside world and get agricultural degrees. We weren’t anything special. Not like y’all.”
“And how do you know we were special?” asked Ham.
