Collapse by Angela D. Shelton

Author:Angela D. Shelton
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
ISBN: 9781957649085
Publisher: Two Oaks Publishing, LLC
Published: 2022-10-14T23:00:00+00:00

12

Chapter Twelve

As Jan disentangled herself from the blanket, Jacob’s eyes grew wide. He scrambled to his feet and took off running, leaving the blanket behind. She froze, but recovered and charged off in pursuit. At least that was her goal, but her feet tangled in the blanket still surrounding them and tripped her again. She stumbled and dropped to a knee.

“Shoot. Jacob, come back here!” Grabbing for the blanket, she freed her feet, took his covering with her despite the stench, and sprinted after him. “Jacob. Stop!”

He was smart. Instead of heading toward the woods, he dove into the crowd. Under tables, around obstacles, and through tiny passages only a smaller child could navigate, he led her on a chase. She could hear him cough. Was he sick?

She stopped and threw the blanket to the ground. Who knew what germs it might contain? Perhaps even the variant. Ahead, he crawled under the cattle trailer blocking their pathway. He scuttled to the other side so quickly that, by the time she reached the trailer and stooped to peer under it, he’d vanished. Shoot. Lost him again.

What should she do? She could go around the trailer and try to find him or return to their table to relieve Caleb as planned. And what was that smell? She lifted her hands to her nose and sniffed. Ugh. Whatever had been on the blanket was now on her.

Let him run. They had the truck back, anyway. Catching him wouldn’t change anything for them. It would just keep him from stealing from anyone else. Of course, most people were smarter than she had been. She was smarter now too. Good riddance.

<<>>

The successful auction day not only had the steers sell at a good price but also allowed Dad to buy a magnificent bull with a solid pedigree. His calves, small at birth, had rapid growth. They brought back few of their canned goods, but a generous portion of wheat flour and golden honey. Mom had negotiated for some sorghum plants she’d been eyeing. With those, they could grow their own sweeteners. A successful day, indeed.

Strangely though, while she and Caleb were packing things up for the trip home, Dad had been whispering with Mom behind the truck. Curiosity ate at Jan. With Dad’s face solemn and Mom’s eyes tearful, it must be serious.

“Everything okay?” Jan asked as they settled into the truck.

“Yes, good day,” Dad said.

Mom faced her window and said nothing.

“That bull will get the second herd off to a good start.” Dad drummed his hands on the steering wheel, a pep to his voice. “Now we can keep our heifers and move them between the two herds. It’ll be a snap to expand onto the Boswell farm now.”

That grabbed her attention. “The Boswell property?”

“Yes, Mr. Boswell and I agreed I’d lease his south fields once we had enough for the second herd.” He smiled at her through the rearview mirror.

Her heart lurched, and she couldn’t help scooting forward, straining against her seat belt.

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