Changeling Dream by Harper Dani

Author:Harper, Dani [Harper, Dani]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2011-05-29T22:00:00+00:00

Connor didn’t see his older brother for days. The work around the farm was done as if by ghosts. The animals were fed and cared for, the tool shed tidied up, bales stacked and grain moved. Connor caught a rare glimpse of James as he was walking the far fields at sunup, kneeling now and again to run his hands through the soil. Maybe I pushed him too hard about taking on the farm. Maybe it’s too much too soon and he needs more time.

Then one night he came home to a very different farm than he had left that morning. There were construction crews on the roofs of the buildings. Flatbed trucks of materials filled the lane. Heavy equipment vied for position in the corrals and smoke rose from burning piles of discarded fencing. The peace and quiet of the country had been replaced with a cacophony of power tools. He found a place to park his truck and walked into the heart of the chaos until he found James giving detailed instructions to a crew of electricians. Connor was intrigued. He waited until his brother finished, then tapped him on the shoulder. “Who are you and what have you done with my farm?”

“I’m your partner, and this farm needs to be brought back from the dead.”

“Can’t argue with that. It’s needed serious work for a long time. How the hell did you find so much help? Looks like somebody kicked over an anthill.”

“I discovered one thing that hasn’t changed in thirty years—money still talks. I figured there’s no point dragging all these projects out, so I offered hefty incentives to finish by the end of the month. Just in time, too. There isn’t a roof that doesn’t leak, and two of the equipment sheds are on the verge of collapse. There’s no watering system for the stock, and the fuse box in the stable catches fire when you turn on a light.”

Connor put his hands up as if surrendering. “I admit it, it was grim. I thought this place had a lot of potential, but if it was left in my hands, it would just revert back to the forest, like those ancient ruins you see in South America.”

“You didn’t do so bad. You got a contractor to come in and renovate the house at least. I hate to think what kind of shape it was in.”

“Well, it had an air-conditioned roof that matched the barn, for one thing. Once we got that fixed, the contractor pointed out other things that should be done too. Remove the weasel family from the kitchen, the bee colony from the attic, and so forth. One thing led to another. I figure it’s pretty much a new house now, but I like it. I imagine I’ll like what you’re doing when it’s done too.”

“I hope so. Look, if you and Zoey want anything done a certain way—”

Connor shook his head. “Nope. You go right ahead and do it, do anything, any way you see fit.

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