constantly turned down investors. No amount of money would be enough to sell a part of his family’s history and legacy. Jed felt the same way. His granddad had worked hard, keeping the farm running and providing a stable family life for Jed.
Back in the eighties, oil and gas were discovered in the northwest corner and as a result Jed was set for life. He didn’t have to worry about money. His job as a police officer was out of a sense of wanting to do something to make a difference. The farm ran itself. The small herd of horses his granddad and Jed had kept were for breeding and selling. A live-in stable hand and a long time housekeeper kept the farm running and watched after Jed. Betty had been his grandfather’s housekeeper ever since Jed was a boy. She has practically raised him. He was glad that she was still there to come home to. It would be a very lonely life, if not for her and her husband Skip, who ran the stables.
Not many people in the area knew about the grandeur of the Greyson Farm and the grandson who had inherited it. Hosea Greyson had kept to himself, preferring horses to people. He has also lived frugally, a life habit Jed had picked up. In truth, he could buy and sell half the county if he wanted. He had no intention of ever doing so.
Pulling the bike to a stop, he set the kickstand with his steel-toed boot and swung his leg over the bike.
“I thought I’d find you here,” he said.
Walking down the porch steps toward Jed, his youngest cousin on his mother’s side said. “I wasn’t sure if you recognized me. It’s been a couple years.”
“Almost eight years to be exact,” Jed said, taking off his leather gloves.
“You already graduated from high school, so what are you doing there? I heard you went to the police academy.”
“Yep, I’ve been a deputy for almost a year now. You’re too young for high school so what are you doing there.”
Oliver Hendricks shrugged, “I’m fifteen, even if I didn’t skip ahead in school, I would still be in high school. You just didn’t know I went to Pine Hill did you?”
“I didn’t know that your mom and dad moved up here,” Jed acknowledged. “If I did, my partner would have gone in, instead of me.”
“So you’re like what… undercover?”
At Jed’s nod, Ollie exclaimed, “I figured it must be something like that. That’s so cool man.”
“Yeah, tell that to the parents of those three missing kids. I was sent in to investigate their disappearances.”
“Hey, I heard that Mark Mason was missing. He’s in our science club.”
“You know him?” Jed asked surprised.
“Kind of,” Ollie replied, “He was a loner that never hung out much. Very smart and wanted everyone to know it.”
“Do you remember if he mentioned anything the day before he disappeared?”
“No, why?”
“He was the kid we saw getting beat up in room 35.”
Ollie nodded, “I didn’t get a good look at his face, but I thought he looked familiar. I was too busy watching the two other men.”
“Did you recognize anyone else?”
“No, not really. They seemed familiar, but I couldn’t place where I have seen them before. I need to get back, Mom will be looking for me,” Ollie said standing his bike up.
“Your rode your bike here?”
“I’m not old enough for my license remember,” Ollie said with a grin.
“Come on, I’ll get the truck and you can throw your bike in the back.”
“Thanks, man.”
So far so good, dinner was going quite smoothly. I haven’t noticed the Gordon’s yet, so maybe we can finish up and sneak out before they get here.
As I finished my fresh Caesar salad and chicken tortilla soup, I set the dishes aside and sat back to wait for our main course. Feeling a nudge on my knee, I looked over at Kent, who was gesturing over to the door with his head. Following his subtle nodding, I looked over and saw the Mayor talking quietly to Judge Freeman. When the Mayor shook the Judge’s hand and left the room, I
Back in the eighties, oil and gas were discovered in the northwest corner and as a result Jed was set for life. He didn’t have to worry about money. His job as a police officer was out of a sense of wanting to do something to make a difference. The farm ran itself. The small herd of horses his granddad and Jed had kept were for breeding and selling. A live-in stable hand and a long time housekeeper kept the farm running and watched after Jed. Betty had been his grandfather’s housekeeper ever since Jed was a boy. She has practically raised him. He was glad that she was still there to come home to. It would be a very lonely life, if not for her and her husband Skip, who ran the stables.
Not many people in the area knew about the grandeur of the Greyson Farm and the grandson who had inherited it. Hosea Greyson had kept to himself, preferring horses to people. He has also lived frugally, a life habit Jed had picked up. In truth, he could buy and sell half the county if he wanted. He had no intention of ever doing so.
Pulling the bike to a stop, he set the kickstand with his steel-toed boot and swung his leg over the bike.
“I thought I’d find you here,” he said.
Walking down the porch steps toward Jed, his youngest cousin on his mother’s side said. “I wasn’t sure if you recognized me. It’s been a couple years.”
“Almost eight years to be exact,” Jed said, taking off his leather gloves.
“You already graduated from high school, so what are you doing there? I heard you went to the police academy.”
“Yep, I’ve been a deputy for almost a year now. You’re too young for high school so what are you doing there.”
Oliver Hendricks shrugged, “I’m fifteen, even if I didn’t skip ahead in school, I would still be in high school. You just didn’t know I went to Pine Hill did you?”
“I didn’t know that your mom and dad moved up here,” Jed acknowledged. “If I did, my partner would have gone in, instead of me.”
“So you’re like what… undercover?”
At Jed’s nod, Ollie exclaimed, “I figured it must be something like that. That’s so cool man.”
“Yeah, tell that to the parents of those three missing kids. I was sent in to investigate their disappearances.”
“Hey, I heard that Mark Mason was missing. He’s in our science club.”
“You know him?” Jed asked surprised.
“Kind of,” Ollie replied, “He was a loner that never hung out much. Very smart and wanted everyone to know it.”
“Do you remember if he mentioned anything the day before he disappeared?”
“No, why?”
“He was the kid we saw getting beat up in room 35.”
Ollie nodded, “I didn’t get a good look at his face, but I thought he looked familiar. I was too busy watching the two other men.”
“Did you recognize anyone else?”
“No, not really. They seemed familiar, but I couldn’t place where I have seen them before. I need to get back, Mom will be looking for me,” Ollie said standing his bike up.
“Your rode your bike here?”
“I’m not old enough for my license remember,” Ollie said with a grin.
“Come on, I’ll get the truck and you can throw your bike in the back.”
“Thanks, man.”
So far so good, dinner was going quite smoothly. I haven’t noticed the Gordon’s yet, so maybe we can finish up and sneak out before they get here.
As I finished my fresh Caesar salad and chicken tortilla soup, I set the dishes aside and sat back to wait for our main course. Feeling a nudge on my knee, I looked over at Kent, who was gesturing over to the door with his head. Following his subtle nodding, I looked over and saw the Mayor talking quietly to Judge Freeman. When the Mayor shook the Judge’s hand and left the room, I
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