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“Good luck to you,” I say, stepping out from the interior so I can move to the driver’s side.
“Thanks.”
* * *
While on my way back to the campsite, I spot a roadside vegetable stand and decide to get some since the time of year is perfect for the ones I love to eat. Pulling over, I ensure Sassy is safe and secure before getting out and locking up my RV. When I see the older man sitting there, whittling on some wood, I immediately think of Grampy and have to push my tears back.
Memories assault me of being a little girl, by his side at the farmer’s market, while he worked a piece of wood as we waited for customers to make their selection. Finally in front of the old man, I smile, even though I know it’s a bit shaky, and ask, “By any chance do you have some farm fresh eggs?”
His answering grin lets me know he does as he leans over and pulls out several cartons then sets them on the table in front of him. “Sure do, little missy. How many you looking to buy?”
“I usually scramble up three every morning for me and my cat,” I admit. “If you have them, I’ll take three dozen. They’ve not been refrigerated yet, have they?” I question. Grampy added a shelf in the RV that will hold cartons of eggs, which will work perfectly as long as he hasn’t refrigerated them. My refrigerator is a smaller full sized one, but by the time I prep my meals and cut up the watermelons, it’s going to be full to the brim.
“Nope. You must be familiar with them,” he replies.
“Yes, sir. My grampy raised them and we’d take the extras, along with vegetables from the garden, down to our farmer’s market every weekend,” I say. “I know I have to wash them before I use them, but right now, I don’t have a lot of room in my fridge, so was hoping you had left them out. Does that make sense?”
“It does. They haven’t been in the fridge so you should be good. You able to store them okay in that there thing?” he questions.
I grin while nodding. “Yes, my grampy put in a storage shelf that will hold cartons perfectly without worrying that they’ll break.”
“Good, good. What else for you?” he asks.
I peruse the fruit and vegetables, finally settling on some vine-ripened tomatoes, several cucumbers, one each of a yellow squash and green zucchini, and five plums. Once he rings me up, I’m shocked at my total, which is under twenty dollars.
“Are you sure that’s enough?” I question, handing him a twenty-dollar bill.
“Not looking to make a mint off of folks who want fresh, homegrown stuff,” he advises, handing me my change. “Our garden produces more than enough to take care of me and my family, so what I bring out here to sell is the overage. We don’t want it going to waste.”
“Well, I definitely appreciate it, especially after all the years of eating what me and my grandmother grew in her garden,” I reply, taking the sack he put everything into. “You have a good day, sir, and thanks again.”
“You do the same, little missy, you do the same,” he says, waving before turning his head and spitting out a wad of chewing tobacco.
Grinning, I head back to my vehicle and quickly get everything stored away before I head back to the campground. It’s time to put this day to bed as far as I’m concerned. Even though it’s still daylight, I was up early getting work done, then all the shopping. Since it’s still a challenge doing things one-handed, I just want to fix a light dinner then read.
Banshee
Despite my exhaustion,it takes me some time before I finally fall into a fitful sleep. Maybe it’s because we’ve been riding so hard the past two days, or perhaps, I’m worried that my reactions to the incessant dream will alert others in the clubhouse of my issue, but it takes far longer than normal.
As the dream starts to unfold once again, I realize that Wrecker is standing beside me. “What are you doing here?” I question.
“Just watch, Brother. Watch through your adult eyes, not the eyes of a child,” he advises.
Nodding, I turn back to what’s playing out in front of me to hear my father speaking. Heartache washes through me hearing his voice; it wasn’t too many years after Ryleigh was taken and presumed dead that he and my mom were killed.
“Ban, the old ladies are in the kitchen, Brick will be here shortly to give you a hand, but I need you to keep an eye on the other kids while we have church,” Dad says. “The prospects will be out there too, but your job is to protect your sister. You understand?”
“Yes, sir,” I reply. “I’ll protect her with my life, Dad.”
I watch him laugh while he squeezes my shoulder before he says,“Don’t think it’s that dire, Ban. Just, keep an eye on that little sprite. Ever since she started walking, she’s been fearless.”
Wrecker, still beside me which I cannot wrap my head around right now, states, “He had no idea of what was to come, Banshee, but I can almost guarantee with everything in me, that he never blamed you for what happened.”
“I don’t know about that, Wrecker. He and my mom were crushed, and I heard him yelling a lot.”
“Was your name ever mentioned, though?” he persists.
I stop and think before slowly shaking my head. “No, he was pissed, because for some reason, both of the prospects abandoned their post.”
