Page 100 of Love in Riverbend
Ricky brings his chair forward, the front legs slamming against the porch floor. He lowers his voice. “Fuck, I thought this would be what I’d do forever.”
There is something in his tone. “And what the fuck are you planning to do?”
“Dad is talking about selling the farm.”
“No,” I say resolutely. “To who?”
“That developer, you know the new subdivision south of town?”
My skin tightens as I stand to my feet. My mud-caked boots leave a trail on the porch floor. “No,” I repeat. “Fuck no. Five hundred acres of your land border ours. I’m not having stupid McMansions next to my fields. Those whiners say they want country living until they’re stuck behind a tractor doing twenty in a fifty-five. Or during harvesting, when dust flies through their open windows.” I have an idea. “Sell it to me.”
“You don’t have that kind of capital.”
“I’m a thirty-two-year-old who lives with his parents.” I gesture toward the driveway. “I’ve been driving the same truck for over seven years.” Hell yeah. It’s a damn good truck. I shrug. “Tell Jack to talk to me. I’ll even bring Dax in on it if I have to.”
Ricky shakes his head. “I don’t want him to sell to anyone, but I get it.”
“Have you told him?”
“Oh, we’ve had a few good discussions about it.”
“Your mom?” I ask, wondering what my mom would say if Dad ever thought about selling our land.
“She thinks Devan will stay gone after college.”
“Yeah,” I answer, “but she’s what, a sophomore?”
Ricky chuckles. “She’s a senior, asshole.”
“Oh, forgive me for not keeping up-to-date on your little sister.”
“I know that Kandace and Dax are expecting.”
Kandace is my sister. Of course, he knows. She’s here.
“They live in Riverbend. Hell, the news got out right after he knocked her up again. Devan left and I still imagine her with pigtails, freckles, and the annoying need to be wherever we were.”
That makes Ricky laugh. “Well, if Devan stays in Muncie or moves to Indy, Mom is talking about going somewhere warm. She says she’s sick of Indiana winters.”
Turning I look my friend up and down. “What about you? This is what you do.”
“Maybe I should consider doing something else. Look at Mick, Cory, and Dax. They have real jobs and get to play farmer on weekends. It might be nice not to look at a field soaked in spring rain and calculate the loss of wheat.”
I suck in a breath. I know exactly what he’s talking about. We were both doing it today. That’s why both of our pairs of boots are caked in mud. The wheat should be ready to harvest in a few weeks. The rain over the last few days is messing with the fields. Shit, there are now lakes where there used to be crop. If the fields don’t dry up soon, we won’t be running tractors out there. “Talk to Jack. I’m serious. Give me a chance to buy. Dad and I can probably do it, but if we bring Kandace and Dax in on it, it’s a sure thing.”
“You don’t know what that developer is offering.”
“I don’t care,” I say with determination. “We’re neighbors. And I hate to play the card, but you’re my best friend.”
“Only because everyone else is married and too busy for you.”
Laughing, I shake my head. “There might be something to that.”
Inhaling, Ricky stands. “The Gordons are having their annual hog roast Friday night. Are you going?”
“Kandace said she and Dax are going to be there. I’m not sure I’m up for a town gathering to hear about more kids on the way.”
“Then go for the great food and you know, there’s always a few kegs.”
