he said that his horses had broken their gates and were wandering in the field in the middle of the night. He was buying a bunch of things to reinforce parts of his barn.”
“Sounds to me like something was spooking them. So much so that they felt the need to break free of what was supposed to be protecting them,” she said.
That made Will think. A potential predator that was stirred up by the fireball from the night before could explain what was happening. But he needed more evidence to be sure. In the meantime, he needed to heal the rift that was growing wider and deeper between them. Without her, he felt empty and purposeless in life. He had to try and make her feel better while he figured out what was going on around the farm.
“I’ve got an idea,” he said suddenly, turning off the TV. “I’ll go to Cray’s tomorrow and get some stuff and fix up the goat pen. I’ll turn that thing into a regular Fort Knox so nothing can get in there. That way you’ll feel better knowing that they are safe and secure.”
Ruby smiled at his thoughtfulness. “Do we really have the money for that, though? I’m already concerned about being able to sell the corn this year and the budget’s already been stretched thin. Between that and the roof leaking really bad, I’m afraid that we’re going to run out of money.”
He watched her frown and it made his heart ache. “I won’t let that happen. Even if I have to go back into the city and get a factory job again to supplement the income, I won’t let that happen. It’ll be okay. I know how important those goats are to you. I won’t let anything happen to them either.” He leaned down and kissed her softly on the forehead. “Tomorrow I’ll get the stuff, and we’ll fix it up real nice. I’m sorry it’s been a tough year.”
“Feels like it’s been a tough decade,” she said looking up at him.
“I know, I’m sorry. It’s my responsibility so it’s my fault. I’m going to make things right. I just want to see you smile again.”
That made her smile.
Day Three
6
Cray’s Hardware was the sort of place that opened earlier than the rest. Sam spent his life in the store, and so he was there from sunrise to sunset. It was the way that the rest of the farmers worked and lived out in the countryside, and since his business primarily catered to them, he followed the same schedule.
Will had a hard time sleeping that night. The plethora of problems that seemed to be bombarding his world like a meteor shower burst a hole through his normally quiet and calm mind. Thoughts raced and stirred, and he started to develop his own anxieties about what was going on. But he was someone who wasn’t used to living with those types of fears, so he down-played them severely.
Ruby hadn’t slept any better. Her constant tossing and turning was a factor in Will’s lack of sleep, and they were both awake before the alarm even went off. The sun hadn’t even had a chance to creep up into the windows before Ruby was in the bathroom brushing her teeth. The routine had once again been interrupted. While Will was used to being up around sunrise, and he never ventured out before handling chores around the house and the farm. Store trips were always an afternoon thing. That day was different. As soon as he was awake enough to be able to tie his boots he grabbed his keys to get going.
“Where are you going?” Ruby asked.
“Up to Cray’s. I’m going to get an early start on reinforcing the goat pen. Do you want to come?”
She didn’t even hesitate. “No, I’m going to just have some breakfast and watch the news. I’ll save you some on the stove for when you get back.”
He frowned. “Okay, thanks.”
“Will,” she called to him as he turned to walk out the door. “Would you please check on the goats and feed them before you go?”
Normally, Ruby would always be the one to tend to the goats in the morning. They were her goats after all, but Will understood. Her anxiety was at an all-time high, and the possibility of a predator wandering around outside the house scared her too much to even go out and check on her beloved kids.
“Sure.”
The morning air was cold and the windshield of Will’s pickup truck was completely obscured by moisture. Sitting inside, he turned on the heat and the windshield wipers, and then waited. It was the coldest morning they had had yet, and it was the first time in a long time that he had to use the heat in the truck. He shivered, considering going back inside to get a coat, but that required getting back out, and the truck was already starting to warm up. Without another thought, he threw the truck into reverse and headed down the road to Cray’s.
It wasn’t until he could see the small speck that was Cray’s Hardware in the distance that he realized he had forgotten to check on the goats before he left.
Oh well, he thought, they’ll be okay. I’ll just feed them when I get back and start working on the pen.
As he pulled up to Cray’s, he noticed he wasn’t the only one getting an early start. The shiny new pickup truck belonging to Dell was sitting in front of the door, it’s nose to the road, and Dell was already inside. Will pulled up next to him, then watched as Dell and Sam’s grandson Charlie carried out handfuls of lumber and chicken wire.
Yeah, that’s what I need, chicken wire.
Will nodded at Dell and Charlie as he walked in but neither of them noticed. He couldn’t help but feel embarrassed.
The small bell on the door rang as he pushed the door open.
“Ah, Mr. McAllister!” Sam said crawling out from behind the register.
“Good morning, Sam. Listen, you can call me Will.”
Sam smiled and then stuck his hand out for his traditional handshake. “Alright, I will.”
Will smiled politely, but didn’t catch on to Sam’s joke.
“So, what can I do you for today? Still don’t have that goat feed, I’m sorry to say.”
“No, no. I’m looking to get some chicken wire. You’ve surely got that, right?”
Sam pursed his lips and then looked out the window toward Dell. “Actually, Dell just cleaned me out.”
Will’s face began to blush. It seemed like he just couldn’t get a break. First someone had bought all the goat feed, and then Dell had taken all the chicken wire just when he needed it.
“Is there anything else I can help you find though? I’ve got loads of other stuff.”
Will’s mind was buzzing too erratically to think straight. His face began to feel hot as he tended to his misplaced anger toward Dell.
“No, that’s okay Sam. Maybe another time.”
Will hadn’t planned exactly what he was going to do to the goat pen. The entire thing had been an on-the-fly decision. He tried to think about it the night before in bed, but his mind just couldn’t stay focused. All he could think about was the fireball. Watching it come down replayed in his mind behind his closed eyes over and over, and Ruby’s haunting revelation kept him from thinking about anything else. Dell might not have seen it, but he was experiencing the possible side effects of it. He marched over to him just as Charlie loaded the last bundle of boards into the back of his truck.
“Good morning,” Will said rather rudely. The tone was forced yet unintentional.
Dell turned, removing his hat and wiping his forehead. “Oh, hi. Funny seeing you here, Will.”
Will eyed the rolls of chicken wire in the bed of his truck and considered asking to buy some from him. But Dell was staring at him, the aged creases from a lifetime of farming crowded around gray eyes, and it made Will uncomfortable.
“So, you haven’t heard anything else about that fireball yet, have you?” he asked.
Dell looked at him, his eyebrow raised, then chuckled lightly. “Well, no. I just saw you yesterday, and I’ve been busy with a lot of other things. Haven’t even had time to watch the news.”
“Oh,” Will said embarrassed. Dell saw him look at the chicken wire again.
“As you can see, I’ve got quite a lot of work ahead of me,” Dell said patting the side of the truck. “The hor
ses breaking out was just the beginning. It’s been an absolute nightmare on my farm. Five of my chickens are missing, and the animals have been hollering and screaming all night.”
“Oh,” Will said, noting the similarities to his own problems, “did you figure out what was going on?”
Dell shook his head. “It’s the craziest thing. I’ve put a lot of time and effort into giving the chickens a really nice coup. We’re talking top-of-the-line. I’ve got over twenty chickens in there and there’s no way that anything is getting in or out of it. At first I thought that maybe something was coming around and scaring the animals, but now I’m not so sure.”
“Why?”
“Well, the chicken coup has a double door entrance to it. It’s a beautiful thing. It’s so none of them try to run out while I’m coming in or out. They stay in when I want them in, and they come out when I want them to. But the thing is, both doors were closed, just not latched. It was almost as if a person had come and gone through there.”
Dell could see Will’s expression change with what he had heard. But he misunderstood it.
“I’m very careful,” Dell said, “I never ever forget to close the doors on any of my pens. I’ve got way too much money and time invested in these animals to be so foolish.”
“You know, it’s funny you say that,” Will said, “because I’m having a similar problem.”
Dell looked at him curiously.
“I got back home last night and noticed something strange, too. I’ve got five goats set up in a latched pen in my barn,