Home for the Harvest by Jerry Cole

Author:Jerry Cole [Cole, Jerry]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-04-27T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

The postman, who usually delivered the mail to the mailbox by the road, drove up to the winery. Jordon and Foster had gone to pick up Darrell at the airport, and Sam was in town.

Helen came out of the house.

“Hello,” she called out.

“Oh, hello, ma’am. I’ve got a registered letter for Sam Dexter.”

“He’s not here. I’m his daughter. I can sign for it.”

“Here ya go.” The postman handed Helen the letter for her to sign the attached receipt. She did. He tore off the stub and gave her back the letter along with the rest of the day’s mail.

Helen examined the envelope. It was from a bank she’d never heard of, so she took the letter inside and put it on the kitchen table for when Sam returned. She had a ‘welcome home, Darrell’ dinner to prepare.

Helen was rubbing salt and pepper on the pork roast prior to baking when Sam came back from his errands.

“It’s toasty out there. I know I don’t usually have one this early, but you got a beer in that fridge?”

“Help yourself,” Helen answered.

Sam went to the refrigerator.

“You got a registered letter. It’s on the table.”

Sam opened the beer and plopped down at the table and picked up the letter. “Damn, what’s this?” He opened the letter and read it. “I don’t understand.”

“What?”

“Take a look at this. What do ya make of it?”

Helen wiped her hands on her apron and took the letter. After studying it she said, “It says this bank has bought up all of your debt and is demanding immediate payment within ninety days or foreclosure proceedings will be initiated.”

“That can’t be,” Sam said. “I have three loans and they’re with three different lenders. Why would another bank buy three different loans and then demand payment? Doesn’t make any sense. No, it can’t be.”

He reached out for the letter. “Let me see that again.”

Helen handed it back to him, and he reread it. He finished and shook his head.

Helen went to the sink, washed her hands, came to the table, and sat down with Sam.

“We need to show this to Jordon,” Sam said. “Is he on his computer?”

“No, he and Foster went to pick up Darrell.”

“Oh, yeah.” Sam studied the letter again. “The only possible explanation would have to be something to do with Billings. They’re the only party who would benefit from us being foreclosed on. They could buy the property for pennies on the dollar in a foreclosure sale.”

“Oh, Pa…” Helen put her hand on Sam’s arm. “What are we going to do?”

“Damned if I know.”

“Maybe Jordon could pay it off with the investment,” Helen suggested. “What’s the payoff amount?”

“A lot more than the investment. And we need that for our development projects. The payoff is more than five hundred thousand. And don’t forget we have to maintain our running expenses. We have a substantial payroll coming up with the harvest.” Sam rubbed his face. “Oh, Helen, honey…”

~ ~ ~

Darrell was pumped up and chipper after his flight.

“Daddy, Mommy

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