Looking For You All My Life Part 11

"I'm not selling to Greg Snider," he corrected her sharply.

"I'm selling to Rick. Those Tanners have been good neigh-

bors the last couple of years. First, the dad began helping me

out. Then Bill, Rick's brother, stepped in. After he moved

away, Rick started helping me Out. Our farms adjoin and

young Rick understands and respects the land just like I do.

I know he'll keep this farm running in tip-top shape, and

that's real important to me."

Maggie was speechless. Did he actually believe that Rick

planned to continue farming this land? "Uh, is the sale of

your property final yet?" she asked weakly.

"We signed papers last week."

"Is Rick's dad involved in the sale too?"

"Not directly. You see, he's in a nursing home now. He's

quite a bit younger than me, but he's got that Alzheimer '5

sickness where you can't remember anything-poor old

feller went walking out in the snow last winter without a

single st.i.tch of clothing on, nearly froze himself to death."

"I see. And Rick told you that he plans to continue

farm ing-uh, indefinitely?"

Mr. Westerly nodded. "That's right. You see, Rick's like

me in that regard. Can't stand to be away from the dirt for

more than a day or so."

"It's strange," she began cautiously, unsure of how to

best proceed. "I'd heard that Greg Snider was involved in

this transaction too."

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