Nate Bjorn

Chapter 2

Nate stepped into Ralph's Coffee House at 9:55. He removed his hat and ran a hand through his shoulder length hair. A cursory look of the small coffee shop showed him a sea of familiar faces. Nate nodded to several old timers who were sitting at a table just inside the door on the left.

"Hey there Nate. What can I do for you?"

Nate walked up to the counter in the back right corner of the shop and shook hands with Ralph. "I'm here for an interview with a Ms. Dana Rae. Has she stopped by yet?"

Ralph scratched at his grey beard and shook his head. "No woman by that name has stopped in yet."

Nate nodded. "I'd like a cup of black coffee if you've got any."

Ralph spit into his spit cup and poured Nate a stout cup of coffee. Nate dropped a ten on the counter. Ralph scooped it up and pocketed it. Nate walked over and stood against the wall with one boot resting on the iron bar that ran around the perimeter of the room. He sipped his coffee as he waited for Ms. Dana Rae to show up.

Ten minutes went by before a petite blonde bombshell walked in the door followed by a lanky young man carrying a camera. Nate grimaced as Gloria all of a sudden brushed up against him.

"How about we meet up later tonight?" Gloria purred as she made sure to position herself to where Nate could look down her low cut shirt.

Nate set her firmly away from him. "I've told you before that I'm not interested in you Gloria."

A soft southern accent interrupted whatever Gloria was about to say. "Excuse me. Are you Nate Bjorn?"

Nate looked down at the petite southern belle and nodded his head in agreement. "I am and you must be Ms. Dana Rae."

Dana Rae shook his hand and motioned delicately to the young man beside her. "This is my cousin Bobby Junior."

Nate shook Bobby Junior's hand. "Welcome to Kenneth."

Dana Rae smiled. Can we go for a stroll while we talk?"

Nate motioned to the door with his free hand. "After you."

"Thank you," Dana Rae said as she led the way outside humming."

Nate threw his coffee cup away and put his cowboy hat back on as he stepped outside. Nate watched a semi drive down Main Street as he waited for the questions to start. Even after all the years he'd been living in Kenneth, he still couldn't get used to the smell of cow manure.

"Are you ready?"

Nate turned his attention back to Dana Rae. She was holding a tape recorder and had an expectant look on her face.

"I'm as ready as I'll ever be."

A smile caused Dana Rae's eyes to crinkle. "You don't like giving interviews do you?"

Nate shrugged. "Interviewers ask very private information and I'm a very private man."

"I promise not to pry too much."

The sound of a shutter clicking sound made Nate frown at Bobby Junior. Bobby Junior looked up from his camera and shrugged apologetically.

"Don't mind him. He's doing this as a favor to me."

Nate looked back at Dana Rae. Her brown eyes sparkled with intelligence. "What's your first question?"

Dana Rae looked down a piece of blue paper she was holding and then back up at Nate. "What caused your interest in farming?"

Nate shrugged as he waited for a loud semi to pass. "My family has always farmed. I grew up on a farm and decided that I wanted to carry on the family tradition."

"Is that why you do organic farming?"

Nate stepped aside as an elderly couple came out of Johnson's Apothecary. He held the door open as the old man worked on getting his walked out of the door. Nate answered Dana Rae's question as they began walking south along the boardwalk. "I had an uncle who got wick with colon cancer. He survived, but it was a grueling recovery. After he got sick, I began doing research on the chemicals that farmers currently use on their crops. Studies have shown that they cause adverse affects. I velieve that the chemicals we spray on our crops caused my uncle's cancer. That's why I use organic sprays, pesticides, and herbicides as much as I can."

"Was it hard going organic?"

"Yes and no. Making the decision to switch was easy. The hard part was trying to decide what I could and couldn't use."

"What aid did you get from the government and how did you go about getting that aid?"

Nate went into a very lengthy discussion of what aid he got and all of the hoops you have to jump through to get that aid. Dana Rae would interrupt him from time to time to clarify something he said or to ask a question. Bobby Junior took pictures as they walked and talked.

They crossed Main Street once they reached Robert's Appliances. They wind was starting to blow stiffly as they headed back up towards Ralph's Coffee House. Nate had to hold onto his hat to keep it from blowing away.

Dana Rae faced him as they reached Ralph's Coffee Shop. "Thank you for meeting with us today."

Nate shook the hand she held out. "No problem lass."

A giggle escaped Dana Rae at being called that. "Is there any way that we can get a peek of your farm?"

Nate scratched his head. "I'm free tomorrow if you want to stop by." Nate turned and pointed south down Main Street. "You're gonna head south for 3 miles. Turn right at the 3rd dirt road you pass just before you reach the second bridge. Follow the dirt road for another 2 miles over two cattle cards and a creek. After you pass the 2nd cattle guard you'll come upon a yellow house on the right side of the road. That's where I live."

Dana Rae nodded. "If I get lost will you come and find me?"

Nate smiled down at her. "You won't get lost."