The Pride of Howard County
Page 32
Chapter 29
It was nearing the end of August and it hadn’t rained for almost four weeks. The temperatures were topping out in the upper nineties every day. The corn was then only four to five feet tall. John watch the forecast on TV and it didn’t look good. Howard County was in a pattern of hot, dry weather with no rain in sight.
Last years harvest had been a bumper crop and John realized he had just kind of assumed every year would be the same.
Slowly, day by day the corn finally wilted to the point of no return. John walked through the dried up fields and felt an unfamiliar sadness.
John harvested the crop of corn and would use it for silage but there would be no corn and no profit. Other than feed for the remaining livestock it was a bust.
Other than the CRP land set aside there was no income for the year on the farm. John realized why farmers had to diversify to consistently turn a profit. He wondered if it had been a mistake to sell the cattle. He thought of Mr. Smith’s hog operation but quickly dismissed the idea when he remembered the castration episode.
It was a hard lesson for the young farmer. Fortunately there was no mortgage but he still had property taxes to pay. The CRP land just covered the taxes and he essentially broke even. He gained an even greater respect for Gus and a greater understanding of the risk of farming. And he realized once again, Gus was truly a remarkable man.
Moses didn’t care about profits. He chased a chicken and what fun it was. He didn’t actually mean to kill it but somehow, it ended up dead. After he wore the stinking thing around his neck for a few days he decided chasing chickens wasn’t worth it and didn’t mess with the stupid birds anymore. The young dog carried a deep resentment towards chickens and dreamed of a day when he would get even. Resentments and all he was being groomed to be a farm dog.
As John sat in his office when he wasn’t with a client his thoughts wondered. His relationship with Terry had turned a page and the depth of his feelings had morphed into something else.
In the beginning their relationship had felt so right and now it was hard to tell if they were getting along or just going along. They’d fallen into a routine of predictable boredom. They hardly spoke to each other and when they did it was only because it seemed like it was necessary.
The harvest season was in full swing but there was nothing to harvest. John found himself on the internet looking at irrigation systems but found the cost prohibitive. He figured, next year he’d just have to pray a little harder for rain.
Abby was home and the gang was all together. John had made a meatloaf, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans and Abby had made a blueberry cobbler alamode for dessert. After they had cleaned everything up Abby announced she was going to her office to get some work done.
A few moments later John appeared in her door way.
“Ya got a minute?” he asked Abby.
“Yeah sure, come on in.”
John sat in the easy chair by the window. Abby asked, “What’s up?”
John ran his fingers through his hair and looked out the window, then spoke, “I’ve been thinking of taking a little time off and maybe go to New York?”
Abby stared, “What do you mean?”
John looked at her, “Oh not to stay, just for a visit.” Abby looked noticeably relieved, she then said,
“John, is everything all right?”
John half smiling and half not answered, “I don’t know Abby, I don’t know.”
Abby spun her desk chair around, crossed her legs and crossed her arms and without saying anything, waited for more. After an awkward moment John finally said, “It’s just that Terry and I aren’t really getting along.” Then he said, “It’s not that we hate each other or anything like that, it’s just that we hardly talk anymore.”
At that moment, Terry appeared in the doorway; clearly, he’d been listening to their conversation.
They all three froze in a circle, the thoughts raced around but no one spoke. As Terry lowered his head and turned away John and Abby looked at each other and listened to Terry’s foot steps as he walk down the hall, across the kitchen and out the screen door. A heavy hearted Terry sat on the swing in the twilight hour listening to the crickets with Lucky, Muncie and Moses all gathered around.