“You’re right on time,” smiled Sniff.
“The paperwork has been filed with the city, county, and state government. We have invested in the success of these farms. We will protect them, help them when weather or other things hinder them, and if or when they should decide to sell, we will help them to find the right buyers or we will buy the land and disperse it to their neighbors.”
“Who are you?” growled Morgan. Trevon stood, Chief, East, Major and Sebastian beside him. All over six-foot-two. All over two-hundred pounds.
“None of you damn business,” said Trevon. “But we will protect these people and if I see you and your asphalt paver near any of these farms, I will blow it to pieces. That’s a promise.” He stared directly at the sheriff who smirked at him, nodding.
“You’ve made a terrible mistake. A terrible, terrible mistake,” said June. “You’re going to lose money.”
“They’re not going to lose anything. You are,” said Rachel. “Tell me, what came back about the land? Minerals? Gas? Oil? Perhaps major hotel chains, casinos, or shopping centers that wanted this particular path? You know what? Never mind. I don’t need to know because we’re doing our own research and whatever we find, you can bet we’ll be bringing back to everyone in this room to prove what you’re doing.”
“You have no idea who you’re dealing with,” said Theo.
“Oh, we do,” laughed Chief. “You’re Heartland Development, which we’re pretty sure is a front for something far more sinister than that innocent name implies. And when we find out what it is, you’ll be very sad that you thought to come into this community.”
Sniff whispered something to Chief who grinned. When the doors behind them opened, six men stormed in looking haggard and worn. They traipsed to the front of the room, whispering to Theo.
“Problem, Mr. Grant?” smirked Chief. “Let me guess. From the looks of your fellas there, they tried to get onto the farms while we were all here. Terrible decision. Terrible. Those electrical currents are set to hurt a man. I’m betting it singed the hair on their balls.”
The entire room erupted in laughter, some applauding as the six men stood staring at Chief.
“That’s illegal! Arrest them!” he yelled.
“Calm yourself,” said the sheriff. “I told you before. A man has the right to protect his land. Electric fences, even shotguns are included in that. You fellas need to understand these aren’t just dumb farmers. They know what they’re doing and they’re willing to risk it all to protect their land.”
“This isn’t over,” said June standing to leave. “We’ll fight you about this.”
“Fight?” said Georgie. “Oh, please. Please fight us. We have an entire legal team ready to take you to court. In fact, I have paperwork already drawn up to file with the courts tomorrow. Whatever your game is, it’s not going to work here.”
“And here’s the really good news,” chuckled Major. “If you think you’re going anywhere else to do the same thing, you won’t. We will follow you. We will stop you. And we will be ensuring everyone knows your game.”
As Theo and June left, their six men following them, the entire town stood and applauded the team. Ernie and Pat just grinned.
“We won,” said Ernie.
“Not yet,” said Chief. “They’re not going to give up just yet. But they’re going to throw everything they can at you. We’re not going anywhere until we figure out what their game is.
“Those two in there, and I’m going to include the mayor, have something more planned and we’re not going to leave until we know this is done and you’re all safe.” Pat nodded.
“You know what, I can’t think of anything better than having you all around a few more days, or hell, even weeks. This is the most fun I’ve had since my wedding night.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
The prepping of the fields to replant was something no one was prepared for, except Rachel and Trevon. It was brutal, hard work and they understood why Ernie and Pat and the others were so invested in their land. If they worked that hard for something, they wouldn’t give it up either.
Seated at long picnic tables, food spread out freshly picked and cooked from the very fields they’d been working on, the men ate with such voracity the women were laughing at them.
“Hard work shouldn’t be new to you,” smiled Ernie.
“This is a different kind of hard work,” said Sebastian. “I don’t know how y’all do it. I hurt everywhere and I feel as though I haven’t eaten in a month of Sundays.”
“We do this work the same way y’all do what you do,” he smiled. “You love it. You can’t fathom doing anything different. I’ve never wanted anything more than having my own land. Feeling the dirt between my fingers every morning.
“In the winter, when everything is gone, seeing a field covered in snow, hibernating, waiting for me to make it come alive again in the spring.
“When it rains here, it rains like Noah himself is coming to get us. Then just as suddenly, it lifts and the skies are clear, rainbows everywhere. It’s as if God knows exactly what our land needs and he provides for it.”
“So, you’re doing God’s work,” smiled Trevon.
