"I'm not selling to Greg Snider," he corrected her sharply.
"I'm selling to Rick. Those Tanners have been good neigh-
bors the last couple of years. First, the dad began helping me
out. Then Bill, Rick's brother, stepped in. After he moved
away, Rick started helping me Out. Our farms adjoin and
young Rick understands and respects the land just like I do.
I know he'll keep this farm running in tip-top shape, and
that's real important to me."
Maggie was speechless. Did he actually believe that Rick
planned to continue farming this land? "Uh, is the sale of
your property final yet?" she asked weakly.
"We signed papers last week."
"Is Rick's dad involved in the sale too?"
"Not directly. You see, he's in a nursing home now. He's
quite a bit younger than me, but he's got that Alzheimer '5
sickness where you can't remember anything-poor old
feller went walking out in the snow last winter without a
single stitch of clothing on, nearly froze himself to death."
"I see. And Rick told you that he plans to continue
farm ing-uh, indefinitely?"
Mr. Westerly nodded. "That's right. You see, Rick's like
me in that regard. Can't stand to be away from the dirt for
more than a day or so."
"It's strange," she began cautiously, unsure of how to
best proceed. "I'd heard that Greg Snider was involved in
this transaction too."
Mr. Westerly slapped his knee and laughed. "I don't
know where you got that notion. Looks to me like Greg
Snider's got enough problems on his hands with his own
family's farm. The Snider place is just south of me, but
they've let it go to wrack and ruin. Hank Snider's got
arthritis real bad, and the youngest son, Billy, was working
the farm for a while, but then he just up and left. From what
I hear, Greg doesn't lift a finger to help out. Now there's a
farm that needs to be sold-and soon. I'm just glad Rick is
taking my farm over while it's still in good shape. Nothing
worse than seeing what you spent your whole life working
on going to pot."
24Melody Carlson
"And where will you live, now that the farm is sold?"
"Right here, of course. From the start Rick said there'd
be no need for me to move out of my house. I'll just continue
on as always, puttering around, helping Rick out when I can.
It's no secret that I'm getting on in years. I don't expect to be
around too much longer. 'Course you never know...
Maggie swallowed hard as she imagined huge caterpillar
tractors tearing up his beautiful farmland to prepare for
cheesy condos and golf courses. But certainly Greg and Rick
didn't plan to do all this with poor Mr. Westerly sitting in his
little house looking on! She continued to ask more questions.
Dates and facts. And she discreetly managed to find out what