First Hand Knowledge by Amy Cissell

Author:Amy Cissell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Amy Cissell

nine

Joseph was trying to take a night off from worrying about his farm. He’d had additional lights and cameras installed, paying for them with the hope he’d make enough through the winter to pay off the financing. In addition, he’d hired a couple locals to do security checks on the barns and outbuildings. Even so, it was hard to relax enough to enjoy himself, but he was going to do his best.

He looked around The Roadhouse and grinned. He didn’t care what anyone said—this was a great bar. Well, it had great karaoke, he corrected himself. Bill showed up and plonked two Rainiers on the table. “Ready to croon?” Bill asked, grinning.

“I do not croon,” Joseph said, feigning indignation. “I rock. I am a god. A karaoke god.”

Bill laughed. “Whatever gets you through the days.”

They wrote down their songs and handed them in, along with a couple bucks for the KJ, and waited for their turn. It was loud enough during the karaoke that they couldn’t speak, so instead, they sang along when they knew the words and otherwise sat in companionable silence.

Bill had just been called up to sing “My Way,” to the heckling accusation of “Crooner!” by Joseph when the building began to shake. Joseph helped herd everyone outside and away from the questionable structural integrity of The Columbia Bar Roadhouse. The lights flickered a few times, blinked off, and then a moment later blinked back on.

The silence that had lain over the crowd like a heavy blanket in the wake of the noises that accompanied the earthquake was broken by a sudden cacophony of conversation. People had their phones out to check for news and tsunami warnings, and Joseph looked at Bill. “Let’s go. We need to get back to the farm.”

Bill didn’t argue, just walked back inside to trade his debit card for a couple twenties, then met Joseph at his truck, ready to head out.

“It was just an earthquake,” Bill said.

“They’re not common, and the goats will be freaked out,” Joseph replied.

Bill didn’t say anything else, and thirty-five minutes later they were parked in front of the main barn.

“Check Vincent and the wethers,” Joseph replied. “I’ll get the does and kids.” Bill saluted and took off towards the second barn.

The door to the main barn was slightly ajar, and Joseph tried to convince himself the earthquake had shaken things loose. He slid it the rest of the way open and walked in to the sound of panting and soft bleating. “Shh, shh, girls. It’s okay.” He flipped on the overhead lights and did a quick headcount.

He checked their feed and water, then gave them each an extra pat and head scratch before walking out of the barn and straight into Misty.

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