Part 24 (1/2)
He looked past in the harvestin'”
”Need help?”
He shook his head ”We kin ?”
”Two in to draw the bead ofif'n the 'shi+ne”
”Are you going to sell it then?”
”No It's too raw I'll barrel it over the winter It'll be good then I'll git top dollar Rahiskey ain't wu'thnothin'”
The door to the shack opened Anne caot to his feet ”We're acomin'”
The steaks were not too bad, but Anne was disappointed Betty May and Jeb didn't seehast at blood pouring fro them to cook until they were burned almost into pure coal Then they see our coffee e first heard the roaring rhyth near
Betty May paused, her coffee cup in hand 'What's that?”
I didn't look up ”A chopper” I knew the sound well My father had had one which he used for quick trips Then I saw the puzzled expression on Jeb's face 'A heUcopter,” I explained
The roaring sound came closer ”She's pretty low over us,” I said
”Mebbe I better take a look-see” Jeb got to his feet, picked up his shotgun froainst the wall and opened the door
We followed hi in low over the cornfield, heading for a s not far from the shack We could see the black painted letters on its side as it hovered for a round POLICE
The side port opened and two ot out The pilot sat in the cabin behind the controls He too wore a uniforlinted from the silver stars pinned to their shi+rts as they turned toward us
Jeb was the first to speak ”Howdy, Sher'f”
A note of surprise caer man's voice ”That you, Jeb Stuart?”
”None other”
The sheriff smiled and came toward Jeb, hand outstretched The other policelad to see you, Jeb”
Jeb nodded as he shook hands with the sheriff ''We was jes' finishi+n' supper Yer in time to jine us fer coffee”
”Thank you I sure would appreciate that” He turned to the police's okay I'll be back in a bit”
He followed us into the cabin This time Betty May did not join us at the table Quickly she put acoffee in front of the sheriff
The sheriff took a sip ”Fine coffee, Betty May”
She slad to fin' you up here,” the sheriff said ”We got reports that they was squatters up heah fo' ot us the new helicopter las' e didn' have tiuhs off'n the place”
Jeb nodded without speaking
”We all kind of wondered where you disappeared to,” the sheriff said ”It's more'n a year an' a half since anyone in to you”
”I been wu'kin' the place,” Jeb said
”I kin see that You got about three acres o' colance at Jeb, ”O' course, you got a proper leasehold on the place”
Jeb hesitated, glancing at me I nodded ”Yes,” he answered
'' From the lawful owners?”
I spoke for the first tily at Jeb, ”This yere's Jonathan Huggins,” Jeb said ”Big Dan's son Jonathan, Sher'f Clay, Fitch County”
We shook hands ”Sheriff Clay”
The sheriff nodded ”Yer daddy was one of us We all had great respec' fer 'im My condolences”
”Thank you Sheriff,” I said
”You're the legal owner?” he asked
''Yes You should know” Then, suddenly, I knew There was no way he could know 'The papers are in the county office”
He looked uncomfortable ”Of course”
”In Sentryville,” I said ”This property is in Sentry County”
The sheriff nodded
”That's sixtyout the sheriff up there since we're close by That right?”
”That's right,” the sheriff said quickly
I leaned froainst the wall, laid it across the table, the ainst the sheriff's belly, and released the safety ”You're trespassing, Sheriff,” I said ”I could squeeze this trigger and blow you in half and there isn't a court in the land that wouldn't uphold ht to do it You have no authority and no business here”
He stared down at the gun, his face suddenly white The others seean to rise
”Don't move, Jeb!” I snapped I looked at the sheriff ”Now, suppose you tell us why you caulped ”Jeb's wife has a warrant outfer hiood enough to ain”
He was silent