“Well, looks like that’s all about to change,” she told her. The silence stretched, before Jennifer said, “I had a daughter.”
“Had?” Andrea asked her.
“I lost her some time back. She fell, bad.”
Andrea almost started crying for the woman immediately, then saw her face was set, her jaw clenched.
“I’m so sorry Hun,” Andrea told her.
“It’s ok, just hits me funny sometimes.” They arrived at a large gate, which split the fence separating the two farms.
“Want me to drive you the rest of the way?” Andrea said.
“No thanks,” she told her, “I haven’t thought of little Mia in a while, and I want to walk. Her grave is on the other side of the hill with the rest of the family. I think I’m going to go see her on my way back to the big house.”
“If… If you want or need company sometime. Let me know,” Andrea said softly.
“Thank you for the ride Doctor Mallory, and please let fur face know I’ll try not to get lost again. I’m going to be sore!”
Andrea laughed at that, and gave her a small, one-handed wave before turning the side by side around and driving back towards the house.
Jennifer watched the side by side driving out of sight. Doctor Mallory was nothing like she had expected. She had even offered to drive her home or go with her to Mia’s grave. All of that surprised Jennifer, who had been confused about a lot of things lately, especially the secrets that the caves on the Langtry’s farm held.
Thirty
Curt had been more than a little nervous to leave the farm and had started paying Gary an extra percentage point in commission as well as a weekly stipend to run errands for him. He had also gotten a hold of Lucian to do a limited power of attorney for himself to represent them legally. The house in West Memphis was going up for sale, following Leah and Dante Weaver’s example. With the chaos going on in the aftermath of the rioters attacking the farm, he did not want to get stuck and bogged down.
Steven, in the end, decided to keep his house that he and Anna had built together, but they had not been living there much. After a phone call to Luis, a select few from the crew did a clean out of any personal items and loaded it into the bigger construction trailer. Luis himself was to be driving it out with the Garcia brothers. They all knew it could be dangerous, but without Steven available to run the business full time, things were slipping, and the crew was starting to look elsewhere.
“Don’t forget the reading of the will is today,” Anna called to Leah.
“I won’t,” Leah said, rubbing her stomach.
It had not even been a few days since she had tested positive, and now she kept obsessively trying to see if she could feel the baby growing inside of her. Nothing could make her happier.
“Yeah, we’re all leaving in twenty,” Dante called. “Do we want to dress as townies, or we want our heavy loadout like we’re cosplaying Fallout 4?”
“I’m always down for the cosplay,” Curt said.
“That’s not the cosplay you love,” Andrea said, smacking him with her cast.
“Oooof,” he said. “I’m taking my vest and AR, but I’ll probably just wear a pistol and knife unless we see a ton of people.
“That’s what we were thinking as well,” Anna said. “Unless we all have vests we can wear under regular clothes…”
“Which we don’t,” Dante finished.
“See, now he’s doing it,” Andrea told Curt.
“It’s contagious,” Curt said. “What about you?”
“What about me?” Andrea asked, “I still have a right arm and hand that’s perfectly fine. I’ll have my new Baby Desert Eagle on me. Maybe a knife. I just don’t want to load myself down too much, these damn casts are a pain in my ass.”
“Mine too, they chafe something bad,” Curt snapped back.
“Little ears!” Angelica protested loudly, walking into the dining area of the main house.
She was complaining because having the group tease each other about sex had always embarrassed Angelica, despite being one of the most foul-mouthed individuals in the group.
“Yeah, don’t make her have Grandma Goldie get the spoon out,” Dante said with a snicker.
They loaded up in several vehicles. The Littles stayed behind at the farm, knowing the reading of Dewey’s will would be of zero interest or impact to their life. The drive into ‘town’ was almost a good half an hour, on the same potholed dirt roads that Curt had been followed down. They were super vigilant, but the interest in them had momentarily died down as two police officers in Atlanta had been attacked. The police had caught up with the attacker a day later, and the suspect had died in a shootout with police. More protests. More riots. More arson.
“It’s been a little more than three months, hasn’t it?” Andrea asked Curt suddenly.
“It’s roughly there,” he said. “I think it’s probably a week or two late for the reading.”
“He basically said he sold us everything he had,” Anna said, the third member of the group in their vehicle.
“It makes me curious why there’s this big mystery over the will, and why Lyle knew about it,” Curt told them.
“I mean, he wanted the land, right?” Anna asked.
“That’s what he said,” Andrea said, “but who knows what motivates people anymore. I used to think I understood, but 2020 has been a year that has just blown away every norm and expectation I’ve ever had - and not in a good way.”
“True that,” Anna agreed. “I’m ready for this damned year to be over.”
“I’m ready for this damned virus to be over,” Curt said. “Everybody got your masks?”
They all answered yes, although Anna had planned on wearing a neck gaiter instead of the traditional surgical mask everybody was mandated to wear. They stopped in front of LeBaron’s office, with Anna being Andrea’s extra set of eyes while she carefully got out of the SUV. With half her side casted, she was slower moving than any of the others, with obvious weaknesses.
The street was mostly empty. There were two cars parked across the street at the general store, and some Harleys parked in front of the clubhouse type building to the left of that. The Post Office was on the other side of that, with their lot empty. This side of the street, LeBaron’s building had a newer Ford parked in front, with the old lawyer’s Jaguar parked down in front of some of the empty storefronts.
“Everything good?” Leah called when they had all unassed from their ride.
“All good in the ‘hood,” Andrea said, moving under her own power.
“We’re very, very far from the hood, Doctor Mallory,” LeBaron said, having opened the door to his office.
“Just an expression,” Curt told him. “We’re meeting in your office?”
“Alas, a public venue wasn’t available to rent and even then, no money was provided to rent it. So today, I open my office to any and all who want to listen to the reading of the will. The notice went out in the newspapers a week ago, and I can see the overwhelming response,” he said, looking at the Blue Ford, then back at the six of them. “Please, come in, we’re about to start.”
“We?” Anna asked, giving him a smirk.
“Well, me,” he said with a drawl. “Dewayne wanted this done a certain way and, in his youth, I was told he had a touch of panache.”
“Damn, he’s getting all fancy worded on us and such,” Dante said, sounding as hokey as he could. “What happened to make him so theatrical?”
“I don’t think he gets to do this much, he probably practiced his lines,” Leah said, loud enough for everyone to hear, just as Dante had.
“You’re both right,” LeBaron said. “It’s funny to me, giving closure to an old friend after his passing… I think Dewey would have liked that.”
“He would,” Andrea agreed. “Let’s go.”
They walked into the old storefront which had been converted into an office. Most of the space in the middle had been cleared so seats and benche
s could be sat out in front of LeBaron’s desk. He stepped behind it like it was a lectern and he was a professor about to speak to a crowd of first year college students.
“If we could all take a seat?” he asked.
The group saw three people on the other side of the small office turn and glance their way. Lyle, Steff, and Jennifer. The husbands had stayed back at the ranch apparently, but Lyle had his blood family there.
“Hi,” Anna said to Lyle, then turned to Steff and Jennifer, giving a nod to each.
“How are you doing, little miss?” Lyle asked.
“Just fine and dandy. You ready?”
Steven was pulling on her elbow gently, but she waited for their response before sitting down.
“As ready as one can be, I guess,” Lyle muttered, then took off his wide brimmed hat and took a seat.
“I’m sure you folks all know me,” LeBaron began. “I’ve been Dewayne Langtry’s friend and lawyer for almost forty years. I was chosen by Dewey to read his last will and testament, and if needed, be executor. Since his sister and cousin, his last two relatives, went missing decades ago, the job now falls to me.
“Now before I go on, I want to mention that, over the years, Dewayne has had his will done up a few times. Once after his sister’s disappearance, then again after his little cousin’s, ten years later. Since then he’s updated it one other time, right after he sold his farm.”
Lyle made a noncommittal sound, but in the quiet of the office it might as well have been a gunshot. Everyone was looking at each other. The group had not expected to be involved with anything. As some of the last people connected to Dewey, they were simply there to make sure the old guy got closure. Lyle had mentioned at the bar forever ago that he had been expecting something in the will. Was LeBaron’s just letting Lyle know gently before the reading that that was not happening?
“This is a note in his own words, which he wanted me to read, and I have all the legal documentation to go along with it.
“To whom it may concern:
Life has been a hell of a ride. I never thought I’d get this far, live this long. Outliving all your known relatives has not been one of my life’s goals, yet here I am. If Baron is reading this out loud, I’ve finally gone to my heavenly maker, or old scratch; take your pick. With that I want to make clear what I want done with the real property and goods I have left, as well as pass some heartfelt wishes along. I hope those of you hearing this take it to heart.
To Curt and Andrea Mallory, Dante and Leah Weaver and Steven and Anna Castiglione, I leave the remainder of my cash and worldly goods. Ask Baron exact amounts, I cannot remember right now.
To my old friend Lyle. You and I fell out a long time ago, and I never forgave you when maybe I should have. I have personal effects, photographs, and other things in the safe deposit box in Fort Smith. I want you to have it all and do with it what you want. She was my wife, but she was also your sister. In the end, she did not like the two of us fighting, and I think it broke her heart. If you are hearing this, I want you to know I wish we could have sat down over a pitcher and hashed out our differences. I still hate you, you sorry sumbitch, but I still love you like a brother too.
Lyle, to your daughters Steff and Jennifer, I wish they both would quit causing fights and strife. They are going to end up old and alone like me if they do not stop it.
Finally, to my friend who goes by Baron, I give to you my old pickup truck. I know you coveted that thing forever, and that was the one thing from the sale of the farm that I kept as mine, to drive until the day I died.
If there is anybody else listening to you reading this, they can remember I was one of the meanest sumbitches alive, but I loved you all dearly. Every single one of you nose picking, butt munching, window lickers. You were my friends at the market, you came out to visit me at the farm on occasion, and when I was able to, you came to visit us for the corn maze leading up to Halloween.
My final wish before I end this, is to ask the new owners of the farm to reincarnate the corn maze. It is a request, not a mandate; and if I died before they had a chance to learn from me, I know it might take a few years. That farm brought a lot of joy to families in the surrounding counties, even if it left me with nothing but hard work, sorrow, and a broken heart.
Signed,
Dewayne Langtry
Everyone sat in shocked silence for a moment until LeBaron cleared his throat. Anna was the first to look over at Lyle’s side and was shocked to see tears coming down the rancher’s face. He was crying without moving, sobbing, or making any sound.
“I didn’t know,” Anna said softly.
“Your friend Angel had it mostly right that one time. Dewey did hate my guts for a while. With reflection, I sort of understand why, and even where it came from. Come on girls,” Lyle said, standing quickly.
“Here is a copy of the death certificate, a copy of the will, which the bank may ask for, and here’s the keys to the safe deposit box.” Baron was quick and efficient in handling Lyle.
The daughters were both misty eyed as well, but the group waited until the Owen’s Ranch crew had left the lawyer’s office before speaking.
“What do you mean he left us the rest of his money?” Curt asked.
“He was specific,” LeBaron said. “He didn’t want the government to have it and would rather give it away.”
“Why not give it to you, or Lyle?” Anna asked, “You guys are friends. Family, even.”
“I could have retired years ago,” LeBaron said with a sigh. “I’ll never hurt for money personally, and I told Dewey not to give it to me. Lyle? I think Dewey was worried that the added money would only go to Lyle’s head, and he would not take his words to heart. They really used to be best friends, almost brothers even. When his wife died, Lyle’s sister, Lyle got mean. Giving you the money was his way of perhaps saving the brother he never truly had.”
The group was silent for a moment. “What happened to Dewey’s wife?” Dante finally asked.
“She hit a cement bridge support going about eighty miles an hour. Died on impact.”
“An accident? What a shame,” Leah said.
“Nobody was ever really sure it was an accident; she never sped and was one of the best drivers I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet. Evelyn was a real joy.”
“If it wasn’t an accident?” Steven asked.
“Suicide?” Anna asked.
“Many suspected it,” LeBaron said. “Now, before we wrap things up here, I have forms for you to sign and I need bank routing information on where to send the deposit. Of course, at the end of year, I can also help you with the mountain of tax paperwork that comes from something like this, if you don’t have that arranged already.”
“Thank you,” Curt said.
“We appreciate all the help,” Leah told him.
Thirty-One
The Langtry Farm was operating at normal, which meant somebody was always reinforcing fencing, gates, installing cameras, or getting the medical center prepped. Rob was feeling torn between security and farming, but he had been hired to farm. Anna was scheduled to fly out for a photo shoot in a week’s time, as long as the company provided the extra security as requested. The company did not blink. They were banking on her controversy to get more eyeballs on their advertising, hence they were willing to pay her more and provide more protection.
Curt, feeling sort of useless, and not feeling it was safe to go to any of his offices, wandered the property. He found and marked the cave entrance that Harry and Angelica had discovered that led to the house’s basement. He had considered widening the entrance so the guys could get in and out easier, so he headed to the workshop, followed by Roscoe, to look for tools.
“What are you doing?” Andrea asked, sitting on the side by side.
“I don’t know. I was thinking about that cave entrance that goes to the basement of the house. I’m sorta glad the cops never really went far in there.”
“They would have had to climb uphill
, and they didn’t figure anybody else could. It probably never occurred to them that somebody could come from the top down,” Andrea told him.
Curt shivered, goosebumps covering his exposed skin.
“What was that?” she asked.
“Just creeped out for a second. This whole time I’d been assuming the body had fallen in from the cave opening.”
“Yeah, and?” Andrea asked.
“What if it came from our basement, instead of what everyone else was thinking?”
“Oh shit,” Andrea said softly.
“Oh shit, hence the goosebumps. You know, if they do find something from the cold case files, we’ll probably have to give the cops full access.”
“We might, but it’d be the right thing to do,” Andrea told him. “Give somebody some closure.”
Curt put an arm around her, hugging her tight.
“What else is wrong with you?” Andrea asked him.
Curt walked around to the passenger side and sat next to her.
“I just feel disconnected. Businesses are shutting down all over the place. The real estate market has dried up. Nobody wants to buy or sell a house right now with the stock market going through a slow crash. I mean, I have enough money to keep both offices afloat and they’re still paying for themselves, but I’m stuck here.”
“At least you’re stuck with me,” Andrea said, not wanting to beat her husband up for the last comment, but not wanting him to entirely get away with it either.
“That’s what makes it more than a little tolerable. I love how much time we are spending together. At some point though, you’re either going to have to go back to the hospital or quit like the others did.”
“You know what’s keeping me up at night?” Andrea asked him.
“What?”
“The states, and now the federal government, are mandating all available first responders return to work. Sure, a lot of hospitals shuttered nonessential areas to focus on the virus, but now everybody, even the plastic surgeons, are supposed to get back to work. The government is trying to kickstart the economy by forcing people to work, not realizing a lot of people lost what little they had just surviving the lockdowns.”
Behind The Curve-The Farm | Book 1 | The Farm Page 21