Page 61 of Mother Clucker

“So you wanna head right over to the barns and see what I’ve been up to?” he asked.

I nodded. “Can’t wait to see.”

This place looked worlds different than when I’d first seen it at the end of last year.

I noticed even more changes as we walked toward the set of new steel buildings he’d added since I’d visited last not even three months ago.

“You’ve done more since I was here.

“Yup,” he said as we walked. “And that’s just what you can see. I’ve been going to a lot of seminars. The college puts them on for free. Learning all sorts of things about air quality and lighting. Environmental control. All stuff that’s supposed to make for happier chickens but more importantly, they’re supposed to be healthier and damned if I haven’t noticed they’re growing faster.”

“Really? That’s interesting.”

“Mmm, hmm.” He nodded. “There was one last week about alternate feed sources. The scientists are experimenting with insect protein for animal feed and get this, for human food too.”

I let out a laugh. “Not sure the human race is quite ready for that.”

“Oh, hell no. The rest of the world will be eating mealworms and we here in Texas will still be smoking brisket.”

“Amen.” I laughed. But it was an interesting concept.

I knew one person who would be over the moon about the idea. I’d have to share it with Heather. I’m sure she’d be thrilled to know that there were alternatives in my business that didn’t involve me being a chicken murderer.

The rest of the tour of the farm was just as interesting. John was a great guy, and a reliable and apparently innovative farmer. I enjoyed a couple of hours in his company, and not in the driver’s seat, but then I had to get back on the road, for the last leg of my trip—home to El Paso.

I knew my parents and sister were expecting me. And I couldn’t call them since my cell was still dead.

John had laughed and said no, he didn’t have a pansy ass cell phone like mine when I’d asked if he had a charger I could plug into for a bit.

I could have bought a cheap one at a truck stop but home loomed too close. I was ready to get there. I had a spare at the house, so I forged ahead.

That there were no lights on in the house when I arrived after dark was odd. Even stranger was that I didn’t find my mother or my father inside.

A quick look in the garage told me their car was still parked there.

What the fuck?

I spotted a charger on the kitchen counter and plugged my cell in rather than drive to my own house on the other side of the property.

I stood impatiently as the icon appeared in the middle of the formerly dead screen. Then the screen finally lit. As I reached for the phone, the messages started to load. Texts. Voicemails. Enough to have the cell dancing around on the counter as it vibrated with alerts.

Fuck.

I grabbed it and leaned my forearms on the counter to keep it plugged in and charging as I read.

MOM: At the hospital. Don’t want to worry you but Dad had another stroke.

AMY: Dad is bad. I’m at the hospital with Mom.

AMY: Where are you? Call me!

AMY: Get here as soon as you can. Not sure he’ll make the night.

AMY: He stabilized but I have to get home. The sitter can’t stay overnight. Don’t want Mom alone. Where are you!?

I tugged the charger out of the wall and bundled it and the cell in my fist as I ran for the door.

If my recent experience with hospitals had taught me anything, it was that it was going to be a long night and I’d have plenty of time to charge my damn phone in the waiting room.

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