Some things bug some people. Other things are just accepted by people.
Then sometimes you show them something like:
And they become all gushy and tell one about how they’ve seen the place and where it is and all. But, no. No. I don’t really know who owns the place, but they’ve certainly spruced it up haven’t they. No, don’t have a clue.
Well, I at least have a name to start with, don’t I.
It is highly recommended I contact the local Insurance Lady – Helen. Hell, she knows everyone inside three counties. Try her.
“Oh,” says she. “I know the place you’re talking about. The one with the Cowboys.”
Well, yes. Yes, it is.
“Oh! Lets look at the farm book.”
So, we do. And it gives us names we’ve seen before.
Not discovering more, I decide that it’s a trip to the Courthouse for me and some research if I really wish to solve the enigma.
But first, I thought, why not stop at the Hardware store in the town down there and ask. All that piping and wire and the new building had to have come from somewhere.
The owner of the Hardware store was busy as all get out. Shipping guns. I helped him wrap a couple and in doing so asked how the gun business has developed. He said great, he shipped more than three hundred a month. I mentioned he might consider getting rid of the hardware side.
He had, he said, thought about it. Quite a bit.
“But, yes,” he indicated, “The Matt and Allen place belongs to two folks. One lives just East of town by the cement place, and the other is from Oklahoma. XX is the nephew of YY and is the money man from down there. YY takes care of the place.”
And the third name from the farm book?
“That’s the wife of XX, I guess. I don’t really know.”
Well. Some mystery solved by the small town residents. Some mystery remains.
Then, do I really need to know if that third name IS the wife of XX?
_____
From the reaches,
Ten Mile
