Fields of Iris

Sweet and Capable Iris

Chase

I stayed up all night thinking of a way to make sure the investment with Mayor Whitmore would go through. When my investment firm was looking to expand to new locations and bring commercial enterprises to small towns, I thought it would be an easy task. I knew Mayor Whitmore wanted to spend his old money to make the town more than just the hillbilly backwoods. In my opinion Brooksedge was a lost cause, but Whitmore is ambitious, and my Boss insisted on the potential on BrookeCity's hidden neighbor town.

This was all going smoothly until I found out that if we invested in building in Brooksedge, it would start on my parents' land. They would have to move in order for one of the many contracts in place to go through and the moment Mayor Whitmore told me that, this deal began to fall apart. My father was the most stubborn man I knew and would keep the farm on his deathbed as long as there was someone to rake the fields. After dinner with my parent's last night though, I realized one thing that was keeping this farm from falling apart.

Sweet and capable Iris.

I leaned against my parents' back door looking out at the field to see Iris running around the chicken coup, collecting eggs. She was always a dutiful little worker. Considering she was always running around the farm covered in mud and was two years younger than me, I never paid much attention to her. I also didn't drag her into the inner circle of drama and troublemakers, considering she already had the horrible Hayward twins to deal with. I also knew she needed the money.

She was a great listener when we were stuck cleaning the barn and she's probably the reason I actually got to leave this place to begin with. She worked every day, and I knew that if she wasn't working on the farm anymore, my parents wouldn't have a choice but to give it up. I just needed to figure out how to make that happen.

I watched as she stumbled around talking to the chickens, or maybe it was herself. Either way, I always found it quirky about her. The girl was truly a mystery. My dad always said she was an old soul, while my mother called her a blessing. Truly, she was just the girl who worked on our farm. Considering how we met, I knew it was a good thing for her, but it seems that attachment needed to come to an end.

"I hope you are looking out at the farm to help rake the fields," I heard my dad say as he came from around the house.

"I thought you were supposed to be resting. The doctor said no heavy lifting for another week," I said as he scoffed, looking at me confused. "Just cause I'm not here, doesn't mean I don't call," I remarked. I tried to manage calling mom at least once a week, even if it was less than a five-minute conversation.

"Yeah well, I'm just trying to help Iris. She's heading out early tonight, but she won't leave until the jobs are done," he said, making his way to the door.

"Don't worry, pops. I'll help out," I spoke, earning another questionable look. I was definitely working on an angle, but I wasn't going to let him know that.

"Are you sure you haven't forgotten where the tools shed is?" He harped as I rolled my eyes, moving out of his way.

"Of course not. I just think you need to take it easy for mom's sake. I'm in town for a few weeks for business and I might as well do what I can," I said, giving my best smile. I knew my dad saw right through it, shaking his head.

"I'm not selling the farm, Chase," he said, turning from me and walking in the house. That's why I'd have to take the choice out of his hands. I turned towards the back yard and walked down to the shed. I entered, rolling up my sleeves and looking at the many tools that I used to remember needing every day when I was a teen. I hadn't lifted a farm stool since leaving for college. I should have worn something other than a button up, but business with Mayor Whitmore this morning meant I had to look business ready.