Part 11 (2/2)

Mr. Westerly slapped his knee and laughed. ”I don't

know where you got that notion. Looks to me like Greg

Snider's got enough problems on his hands with his own

family's farm. The Snider place is just south of me, but

they've let it go to wrack and ruin. Hank Snider's got

arthritis real bad, and the youngest son, Billy, was working

the farm for a while, but then he just up and left. From what

I hear, Greg doesn't lift a finger to help out. Now there's a

farm that needs to be sold-and soon. I'm just glad Rick is

taking my farm over while it's still in good shape. Nothing

worse than seeing what you spent your whole life working

on going to pot.”

24Melody Carlson

”And where will you live, now that the farm is sold?”

”Right here, of course. From the start Rick said there'd

be no need for me to move out of my house. I'll just continue

on as always, puttering around, helping Rick out when I can.

It's no secret that I'm getting on in years. I don't expect to be

around too much longer. 'Course you never know...

Maggie swallowed hard as she imagined huge caterpillar

tractors tearing up his beautiful farmland to prepare for

cheesy condos and golf courses. But certainly Greg and Rick

didn't plan to do all this with poor Mr. Westerly sitting in his

little house looking on! She continued to ask more questions.

Dates and facts. And she discreetly managed to find out what

<script>