American Oligarch: Book Eight in The Mad Mick Series by Franklin Horton

Author:Franklin Horton [Horton, Franklin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-09-04T16:00:00+00:00

29

Johnny Jacks’ Farm

The Dismal River Valley

After burying Johnny Jacks and saying a few words over his grave, the group walked back to the house and lingered on the porch. Conor brought up the real reason behind his visit, letting Sam and Jason know he’d be working out of the area for a while. He went on to explain that Wayne and Barb would be remaining behind and that he’d be sending a helicopter to pick up one of the shipping containers he’d stored by their barn.

“I’ll still come help you on the farm a couple of days a week,” Wayne assured Jason. “I intend to finish all the jobs I started around this place, and I’m always available if you need any help. I respected your father too much to run off and leave you shorthanded, so don’t hesitate to ask if you need anything.”

“Same here,” Barb said. “I’m going to be visiting some friends in Russell County for a while, but I’ll check back in with you guys when I’m in the neighborhood.”

Sam flashed a pained smile. “We appreciate that. Johnny thought of you two like family. You’ll always have a plate at our table.”

Jason met Conor’s eye. “I don’t know if you got this or not, but you brought a lot of joy to my dad, Conor. He was too much of a gentleman to ever ask you directly, but he used to get the biggest kick out of trying to figure out what you really did for a living. He’d throw out these crazy ideas and try to explain how he came up with them. I’m glad you became friends.”

“Your dad was a sharp man,” said Conor. “I dropped enough hints that I’m sure he put all the pieces together.”

Jason laughed. “I don’t know if you get all the answers in heaven or not, but if you do, he’s probably slapping his knee right now and yelling, ‘I knew it!’”

That provoked a laugh and smiles. Hugs were exchanged, then Conor’s group mounted up for the ride home. As they were riding to the gate, Johnny’s dog followed along behind them. Usually, he ran in circles around them, rolling in the grass and barking playfully. This time the dog was as somber as the rest of them.

When they headed up the road, it sat at the closed gate and peered at them through the bars. Everyone in Conor’s party understood what it was trying to say. Things would be different for everyone on that farm now, and it wasn’t just the humans who were affected. The dog had lost someone too and it had no words for its grief.

“That breaks my heart,” Valeria said. “Somehow that’s the saddest thing I’ve seen all day.”

Although no one responded, they all understood.

“You know, I like Sam and Jason,” Wayne said a little later, “but they’ll never be Johnny. The world is a smaller place without that man’s presence in it.”

“It’s easy to forget there are good people out there,” said Conor. “Especially when there are so many assholes.

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