I hadn’t been necessarily close to Agatha, but her death was still enough to bring me to tears. There had been a phase where I dipped into the fantasy book pool and Agatha entered my life then, feeding me stories of a place where vampires, witches, werewolves and all other supernatural creatures lived.
However, once I got into high school, I stopped visiting her for stories and delved back into my studies. Now they were gone, taken with her last breath and the beat of her heart.
I eventually got a hold on my emotions enough to turn the key in the ignition and began driving home. Burrow Hills had very little paved roads and the ones it did have were mostly located in town. All the residential neighborhoods were either dirt or gravel mostly due to how spread apart the houses were.
The drive home helped steady me as my beat-up truck rattled over the countless holes in the dirt road leading home. Much like everything else in Burrow Hills, it was something you eventually got used to. New people rarely came through—most didn’t even know we existed—so the only ones who ever complained about the roads or living conditions were the ones stuck in this forgotten town.
It took nearly half an hour to make it home, but when I finally pulled into the driveway, the sight of an unfamiliar car parked out front greeted me. And with it, a fresh wave of unease coursing through me.
I climbed out of the truck and hurried up the porch to see who it belonged to. There I found a man in a navy blue suit stepping from the house wearing a victorious smile that made my blood run cold. When he caught my eyes I let that chill in my blood gather in my stormy gray irises that were fixed on him. My enjoyment from the flinch he gave from such a glare was short lived. It unfortunately didn’t deter his cockiness.
“The land will be turned over to us by your father,” he said, all confidence. “You can glare at me all day, sweetheart. Glares won’t change the inevitable.” I stepped closer and jabbed a finger into his chest. These men sent here from the bank had taught me new ways I reacted to threats and I wondered how many ways they were willing to learn before someone took them seriously.
"It is our land, and it will always be our land." I dramatically raked my eyes over him, causing him to retract uncomfortably. “I don't see any bags being packed or demolition commencing.” I gestured broadly to the two cars behind me. He remained silent a beat longer than necessary, as if his stoic silence meant something. I knew he had no real power until my father broke, and the Hardgraves didn’t break under pressure. We hardened.
“We will get his signature. It’s only a matter of time.”
“You will not get my father's signature on any of your documents. Even on his deathbed, he will refuse, as he has continued to do to your little group for the past ten years. I shall inherit this land after he passes and then I will personally deal with you," I shot back at him, driving my finger into his chestwith every sentence. "And this farmland could use some good fertilizer."
"I don't see how fertilizer is relevant to the situation."
"You know what makes for good fertilizer? Dead people," I grinned threateningly. His eyes widened and he took a retreating step. "Plus, I seriously doubt that your bosses will notice if even one of you is absent. There have been somanyof you here that I doubt one scummy salesman won’t be missed.”
"You p-people from small t-towns are absolutely in-insane," he stuttered. "And the n-next guy won't b-be as easy t-t-to dismiss." He was so terrified that he made a half run back to his elegant sedan, which would undoubtedly be damaged on the way back to whatever big shot metropolis he had come from. There was a reason everyone in this town drove lifted vehicles and he would learn the hard way.
Once the gravel flew behind him, I went inside. Dad was standing in the living room, and on the coffee table across from him was the contract that had not yet been signed. These businessmen had been making attempts to purchase the land that belonged to my father for the past ten years, but they’ve never provided a justification for their actions.
My dad constantly turned down their offers, even when they raised the buying price to six figures. No matter what they offered, this land would stay in our family.
“Dad–.” That was all I was able to say before he snatched every page of the contract and threw it into the fireplace with an irritated shout. I sighed. "Well, that's one way to go about it."
“Sorry, Mel. That man was tougher than the others. Pompous ass,” he snarled at the end. “Two million, but we would have to vacate the town completely and forever. What kind of offer is that? I grew up here.Yougrew up here too.”
Now they were trying to drive us out of town on top of stealing our land? What was so special about our land? The onlything I could think of was the fruitful crops we had, but that was from generations of treating the land well. I doubt there weren’t other places that existed that couldn’t satisfy their boss.
I wouldn’t deny that a part of me was disappointed that my father wouldn’t take that deal. Nothing was holding me to this town other than him. If we got that money, we could start a new life. Unfortunately, he was set in his loyalty to this land and refused to sell. And unfortunately I was unable to deliver the news that I hated this town and the escape I had planned.
Even as that escape was on his way here.
I crossed the distance to wrap my dad in a hug, hoping the comfort of the embrace would calm him. “I know. It’s our town and our home. But, he looked like he had won in some way when I saw him leave. What was that about?”
Dad froze. A pause that made my mouth go dry from the anxiety it gave. He stepped away from the hug to glance at the burning contract.
“He told me I had three months to give an answer or the next person would not be as nice as him.”
“What are they going to do? It’s not like they’re loan sharks after a debt.”
“They’re sending out someone that will take their offer to the mayor and then we will no longer have a say. That greedy bastard would agree if he gets a cut.”
The anger that grew within me made me forget all about Agatha and pooled in my stomach in an inferno that could’ve burned the town down. Whoever that person would be, they would have to go through me and I was much scarier than my father. Amidst my internalized wrath, I placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.
He had started taking on the discussions with them after I had lost my cool during one and dumped hot coffee onto the lap of the man. I hadn’t seen that one since, eithermourning his burned manhood or too scared to return. Their mysterious organization sent out a different person each time they inevitably pissed us off. My dad had taken over to avoid a lawsuit or worse, but even his intervention wouldn’t stop me from reacting.
I’m sure they thought it would wear us down to continue pushing our buttons, but Hardgraves don’t back down from any fight or challenge that came our way. My father aside, the Hardgraves dealt with violence first, forgiveness second.
“Don’t worry, Dad. They won’t take our home from us,” I assured with an unwavering tone. “I’ll make sure whoever comes next will be running away with their tail between their legs and my work boot up their ass.”
“Language, young lady.” I glanced up at him, but saw the familiar goofy grin on his face. He patted the hand on his shoulder with a release of breath. During his pause, I sank into a chair. He sat across from me, continuing the conversation. “That sounds nice, but I’ll make preparations just in case your work boots and scary glare don’t do the trick. I didn’t want to involve a lawyer due to costs, but we might have to. Maybe I should’ve put you through law school.”
