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Thinking about Donny, he did have a moment to wonder what else the kid had told the police. They’d been in here just after he was brought back here after his son was murdered—there was no way that he was going to think of it as anything but that. But they told him that he was remanded over to a higher court and that he would be facing bigger charges when he left. He was also informed that he was going to be transported to a more secure facility as the townspeople were out for blood. They were being told the man told him of all the misdeeds that he’d done with his son.
“Like I care. That’s another thing that I hate. People in general but ones that think they have any more knowledge than I do about shit.” When he realized that he was talking to himself, he looked around. He’d been told no less than a dozen times that there were recording devices all over the place and that they were voice-recording him as well.
He didn’t think that was right, but no one, of course, would listen to him. Levi decided that he was going to have to figure out some way to get out of there so that he could do what his son had thought of. Getting Colby knocked up, and she’d have to marry him. He wasn’t entirely sure that he had the stuff to do that anymore. Sex had become less and less appealing over the years, and the thought of having sex with Cheesehead made his skin crawl. But he’d do what he had to do in the name of money.
“You do know that it isn’t necessary for a woman to marry anyone if they’re impregnated by them. That was something that was mandatory when you were just a child.” He looked around for the voice and could find nothing. “My name is Roman. I’ve been given the great pleasure of watching over you while you’re in here. It’s going to be fun talking to you all the time. Mostly I think it’s to correct you when you’re wrong. Which—”
“Where are you?” The little man flew—yes, by god, flew within inches of his face before he backed away and settled on the bars of his cell. “What the hell are you?”
“A brownie. I’m a watcher too. Also, I’m to report anything you say to Lord Hadley so that he can keep an eye on you. He’s very concerned that you’re going to get yourself into a stupid situation that will get you killed. Not that it matters to him, I don’t think, but he’s a good man, and you’re not.” He asked him how he knew that. “I’ve been watching you for a few days now. Mostly to keep an eye on you while here, but now that I have an assignment, I’m thrilled to be able to allow you to see me.”
Levi didn’t care for that. Someone to watch over him all the time? He thought of all the shit he could no longer do now that there was a watcher around him all the time. Instead of talking to the little creature or even to himself, he decided that he was going to just keep his trap shut.
“They’re coming.” He started to ask the thing, what he’d decided that he was going to call him from now on, what he was talking about. “You’re headed to the next phase of your life, Mr. Mitchel. And you’ll be thrilled to know that I’m going with you. We’ll have such fun, you and I.”
The guards told him to back up against the wall, and he did it immediately. When he pointed out that there was a tiny man with him, they told him that it was too late for an insanity plea. Whatever.
He just wanted out of here, and if this is how it got done, then he was all right with that too. However, he wasn’t so sure that he was going to like this place that they were taking him any more than he did the one that he had been in.
Once he was on the bus that hadfederal prisonwritten on the side, he realized that he wasn’t going to be getting out anytime too soon. He was informed that he was going to a larger prison and that he’d be in a holding cell until his trial. Things weren’t going his way, and he wasn’t sure what he was going to be able to do about it now. As he was taken to the prison, one that he’d not heard of before, Levi thought of his lot in life. Christ, oh mighty, he was not going to like where they were taking him.
Once he was given the things that would be his once he was in a cell, shirt and pants, sheets and a pillow, as well as toiletries and shoes, Levi wasn’t allowed to speak to anyone. Every time he opened his mouth, he was told to shut up. No, he thought to himself, he wasn’t going to like this one bit.
Chapter 6
Hadley read over the paperwork that had been given to him about the land that he was going to be overseeing. There wasn’t too much to the contract. It was very straightforward and right to the point. There were a couple of loopholes in it, mostly ones that would benefit the farm owners rather than the Manning Foundation, but that was all right too. After making sure that it was in order, he set it aside and looked over the plot maps that he’d been given this morning.
“I’ve been looking over those too. I have a copy of them.” He smiled at Colby and then kissed her when she came to sit next to him at the desk. “We need more room, I think. How about I go to the kitchen and have them make us a couple of sandwiches, and we spread out around the dining room table.” He thought that was an excellent idea and agreed to meet her there.
The maps had been cut from the original map of the land that the family owned. Once it had been divided up, it was then enlarged so that it could be used to plan where the different aspects of gardening were going to be. The one plot of land that he was working on was going to be raised gardens.
“How many beds are you thinking about putting in? Dover suggested that we put in at least one bed for each of the kinds of food groups that would be able to sustain a family during the winter months.” He asked Colby what sort of groups. “I asked him that too. He said tomatoes, green beans and corn. Then we could put in potatoes as well as greens. I had no idea that some of the things that we get wild around here would be considered things that one would grow in a garden. Grannie has been pulling dandelion greens forever. Not only does she make a nice tea from it, but it has healing properties in it that help too.”
They talked about the bigger gardens that they were putting in. It would be primarily corn to feed the pigs. There would also be fields of alfalfa that would be there for the cows and other animals that would need to be fed in the winter too. Most of the items that they were going to be selling in the big barn that was currently being built were things like honey from the bees on the farm as well as anything else they could dry, dehydrate or even persevere in a smokehouse.
“Grannie got a call from a couple of the homesteads around the area to help out with fall killing. They were just making sure that we’re going to be still doing it this winter.” Hadley asked her if they normally brought in extra help. “Yes, but that’s not what they were looking into. They bring their hogs over when we’re ready to slaughter them, and we divide up the work. Also, sausage making as well as running the smokehouse. It really helps a lot of families out when we work together. You’d be surprised at how many people depend on this farm having all the things that are needed to smoke and cure meat.”
Hadley had a lot to learn about working on a working farm. Like most people, he simply picked up what he needed from the grocery store. However, here, they not only made their own cheese and grew their own vegetables, but they also made sure that there was plenty enough to go around for everyone there as well.
Working most of the afternoon into the evening, they were only about halfway through their plans. His brothers joined them throughout the afternoon, giving advice or asking questions. His dad, who was having the best time with all this going on, showed up with books and planners that he’d created as to when the best time to plant certain seeds would be.
“I’ve made a chart with peas growing cycle. I had no idea that they could be grown so early in the season.” Dad was almost giddy with his newfound information. “To think that my most favorite veggie is something that can be grown right here for me to go out and pick right off the vine.”
When his mom showed up with food, they took a break, leaving all the material they’d collected on the table. Dad was telling Mom about peas and all that he’d been able to find out about them, and Mom told them all about the wives’ tales that she’d run across while searching for tidbits to tell people when they came to the farm.
“Like planting potatoes on Good Friday. It’s a myth. Also, I find this one funny, sweetening the soil with sugar or baking soda. It doesn’t work.” They laughed at all the things that Mom had been able to find and able to debunk. “I’m going to make a list of them and see who can figure out which ones are true or not. I think it might be fun.”
After his parents left, he and Colby sat in the living room. They didn’t have a television, and he wasn’t sure they’d get one. However, he did want to be able to watch some football games with his brothers, so he thought about that too. He asked her if she minded if they got one.
“No. I think it would be great to have your brothers and their families over for games. I love football too.” She then asked him about food for them all. “I mean, I’ve seen them eat, so I’m thinking that it would be cheaper and easier to have it catered when they all show up.”
They talked about their day and what they’d been able to figure out about the farm. He suggested they find a name for the farm other than just calling itfarm. It was nearly midnight when they headed up to bed. Just as he was closing his eyes, Imp spoke to him through their link.
“I need to talk to you first thing in the morning.”He said that he could meet her now.“Not yet. I have things to work out first, and I’ll need that time to do it. I’ve been reading some ofthe books I found in the library at the house. Did you know that…never mind. I need to think things through. I’m sorry to have brought this up right now before you’re going to sleep, but I didn’t want to miss you in the morning in the event you had other plans.”
“I don’t have anything planned other than to get the maps worked out. We’ve been working on them for most of the day today.”She said that his dad had told her that.“You’re worrying me, Imp. Is this something that I need to be worried about?”
“No. Well, I don’t think so.”He told her that wasn’t very helpful.“I know. I’m sorry. But it’s something that I need to work out before I speak to you. Just trust me. I’ll have more answers and even more questions in the morning.”
