The Changes We Make

Chapter Two

I felt gut punched. I know my voice sounded better than I felt inside, "Ok..."

She gave me a look, "Don't cry!"

I didn't realize it, but the tears were flowing. I wiped and she said, "That's why you're getting everything. I've had time to realize no one else would've shed a tear but you. No one else gives so much as a damn about me. YOU do, so you're getting everything."

She put her hands in her lap, "Besides this house, I've got a place in Branson and then, there's the farm. The farm is rented and brings in a good income, but you've got to go out there once a month just to make sure he knows you'll be there."

"Ok. I don't even know who has that now."

"Bill's son is who's farming it."

Bill was the man who'd farmed it most of my life. I knew he'd passed away, so I knew it had to be someone else.

"How does that work?"

"Here's how it works. He's got his own farm and then, he rents our ground. It used to be that we paid for the seed and Bill got 50%, but I figured I could buy machinery and farm it a helluva lot cheaper than having him screw us out of half. Needless to say, we renegotiated and we provide the land and he provides the seed and equipment. Those checks are made out to both he and I, so I know he's not getting more than me."

"What about the buildings and everything?"

"It's on me to maintain those. It's not much because we built them right when my first husband was alive."

"What's Bill's son like?"

"Single... Why, are you interested?"

"I have no clue what the man is like, how old he is, or anything! I'm just interested because if he's an asshole, I'll have to deal accordingly!"

She smiled, "Ok, I thought maybe you were interested!"

I laughed, "No, it's never been a thought of mine to be a farmer...or have one!"

She laughed, "You might talk with him. I know he complained about the tax service doing his books and charging a percentage."

I squinted, "Charged a percentage!!!"

She nodded, "They do the books for 4% of the income. I pay 2% and he pays 2%."

"That's robbery!"

She giggled, "Hon, I let the man make that decision. He's paying through the nose so I've got confidence in him not screwing me over, so I'll lose 2% to keep him happy."

"That's bullshit!"

She laughed, "As I said, you might offer your services. I know it's around $30,000 a year just for my part."

I closed my eyes, "How many people are they doing that to???"

"Several farmers."

"Jesus!"

"Hon, that's what I'm saying. If you'd look into it, it'll probably be enough that you'd have a good living off it."

"I'll speak with him. Lord knows a fool and their money are soon parted!"

"How much were you thinking?"

"I was thinking it'd be in the neighborhood of a few thousand each quarter, not that much!"

"We'll run out there tomorrow afternoon."

"Ok, but I'm not going there to shop for no man!"

"But if you got one, that'd be good, wouldn't it?"