Fields of Iris

Home Away From Home

As I walked into the Dodson farm, I was hoping Chase would be roaming around so I could ask him myself about his business at the Docks. Everyone in town knew that the Mayor was trying to make the town more like the city but never had the money. It seems like whatever business Chase was in, was giving him that money to do what he needed.

"Mary? Rust?" I hollered, heading towards the kitchen. I walked to the window and looked out to see Rusty out in the field with LucyLoo. I could tell by the way he brushed her mane slowly and focused, that something was on his mind.

"He's been out there all day," Mary suddenly said, walking into the kitchen.

"Is everything okay?" I asked, knitting my eyebrows looking towards her.

"Well, he just has a lot on his mind with the supply run coming up. He's hoping we can sell everything," she said her voice sounded a bit doubtful.

"We will! I'll be there harping at Patsy to not be cheap on the carrots. She's always tryna make a deal and Rusty gots a soft spot," I said, hoping to bring her at ease a bit. She rubbed her head, sitting down at the table with her coffee cup in hand.

"Either way, it's been hard. Jerry left the eggs out last night and they spoiled. We gotta try and make them with extra hay, but it's gonna cost us," she said as I suddenly turned to her, realizing that it was my fault.

"I'm so sorry, Mary. I asked for some help and he must have been overwhelmed. I'm sorry, I'll make sure to finish my own jobs b..."

"It's not your fault, Darling. You keep up enough work around here as it is. You practically keep up everything. No one here faults you for wanting a break every now and then," she said as I sighed opening my mouth to tell her why I really left.  I wanted to tell her about it and brag about my opportunity to show off my paintings in the city tonight, but instead I felt guilt. I felt bad that they were stressing so much about their life that I didn't want them to think they would lose my help along the way. Mary then stood up and walked over to the drawer pulling something out and placing it on the table.

"What's that?" I asked, as I looked over to see exactly what she put down. It only took a second before I registered the same blue folder that Gally had burned only hours before.

"Chase gave this to us a few days ago. It's from his investors. He says they are gonna offer us a great deal, and I think maybe it's time to start discussing it," she said, as I stood up, snatching the folder, reading the Large Buyer's Contract on the front. I knew this was from the Mayor's office. Whatever Chase was doing up there was connected to Gally's dock and his parent's farm. I wasn't sure about all of the fancy business, but I knew Chase was trying to buy out the family farm for more than their comfort. It was for Mayor Whitmore and whatever he had planned to build.

"We ain't gettin rid of this farm, Mary. I swear on all I hold near and dear that these animals won't need to ever find new homes and the markets are never gonna have to ask where your batch of fresh strawberries are when the season is here. You got the best in town and it's gonna stay that way," I said to her, taking the contract and throwing it in the trash, looking to see Mary giving me a small smile.

"That's what I like to hear," I heard as we both whipped around to see Rusty at the back door. He walked towards me and to my surprise he bent down and grabbed the contract from the trash. "But I think we should save this until after the run," he said with a sigh, making my heart ache seeing him place it in the draw.

My mind was swirling with thoughts. One thing that stood at the forefront was that I had been 'played'. How silly was I to think that after all these years, Chase's new found interest in me was anything more than a plot to pull me away from the farm. Well, I'll be damned if he messes with me anymore. The boy that I once was madly in love with, now boiled my blood and it made my heart ache in embarrassment and anger at how he made me feel. The Chase that I knew left this farm when he was eighteen and I didn't know the man who came back. But it sure wasn't the person I had fallen for.