Chapter 11

Jack was awakened by some knocks on the front door. Hero awoke and started barking.

*Who could it be at this hour?*

Jack opened the door and saw someone he hadn't met.

"Hello there! Won is my name, selling is my game. I just got into this town today. I heard about this nice little town from an innkeeper over in Forget-Me-Not-Valley."

Jack rubbed at his eyes, "Sorry, but I don't want to buy anything."

"Not to worry about that, from the look of things, you must need your money to get your farm back into shape since winter has now departed."

"Actually, I inherited this farm, and I just got into town two days ago. So I really don't have that much money."

"Of course, sir. But you might want to buy stuff from me sooner or later. I might have things that the shop here doesn't have."

"I'll keep that in mind, now if you don't mind, I'd like to have my breakfast in peace."

With that comment Jack shut the door.

Shaking his head, Jack said, "Even out here, there are annoying door to door salesmen."

While eating breakfast, Jack looked over the bags of seeds.

*Hmm, each bag has 9 seeds. The grass seeds can be planted in spring, summer, and fall. So I'll guess I'll hold off planting those. I'll plant the turnip seeds today, as well as water them.*

Collecting the tools he needed, Jack headed outside. Before going into the field, he stopped and filled the watering can at the small pond near the house. After and hour, Jack had the seeds planted and watered, as well as a little more of the field cleared. He felt tiered.

*I guess I haven't gotten used hard work yet.*

Looking down at Hero, Jack said, "Now, Hero, let's go see how Zephyr is doing."

Looking in on the young horse, he saw that Zephyr was still unhappy.

"Hey, Zephyr, why are you still down?"

Patting the horse, Jack wondered how he could make his new charge happy.

"If it is because you are new here, well I'm also new. I think that Hero is also new here."

Zephyr gave a snort as if to say, "Yeah, right."

Looking at his watch, Jack saw that it was 8AM.

*I hope it isn't too early to say hello to Basil, Anna, and Mary.*

Taking his time, Jack arrived 30 minutes later, and knocked on the door.

A raven haired girl with glasses opened the door.

"Yes, can I help you?"

"Hello, my name is Jack. I was willed the farm that Joe Bauer owned, I came by yesterday to introduce myself, but there was no one home."

"Hello, I'm Mary. My father took my mother and me up to Mother's Hill. We go up there every Monday. Please come in, I know that my father will want to meet you."

Mary stepped aside to let Jack in.

Jack smiled, "Thank you."

Another voice spoke up, "Mary, who is this?"

"This is Jack, mama. He is the one that Joe left his farm to."

The older woman frowned, "I know that Joe never had any kids, so he would not leave his farm to someone who is old enough to be his grandson."

Jack smiled, "Ma'am, ten years ago my parents and I came to visit this town. We befriended him. He asked if we could write to each other, and he and I had been doing that up until his death."

The older woman crossed her arms, "So what took you so long to get here? Joe passed away in to fall."

"I was on a Grand Jury during the later part of fall. The service didn't end until the later part of winter."

"I see. So, why are you here in my house?"

"I wanted to meet everyone in town, so I could get to know everyone who lives here. I heard that your husband is a botanist."

"Yes, he is."

Mary spoke up, "I think papa has written a few books on crops."

Jack smiled, "I would like to see them, if I may."

"I'll be opening the library in an hour and a half."

"Then while I wait, could I speak to your father?"

"Yes, I'll go upstairs and get him."

After Mary left, Anna said, "You must be from the city."

"Yes ma'am, I hope that isn't a problem."

"From what I know, you city boys think you can flirt with country girls. Then after breaking their hearts, you just go back to the city. So let me tell you, that if you break my daughter's heart, I will see to it that you are run out of this town and that farm will be torched to the ground."

"Ma'am, I would not intentionally break your daughter's heart."

"You..."

Just then footsteps were heard.

A gentleman came into the room, "Hello there, my darling daughter tell me that you are the new owner of Joe's farm."

Mary blushed slightly from her father's comment about her.

Jack smiled, "Yes, sir."

Basil laughed, "Please, call me Basil. So have you read my book about farm crops?"

"Not yet. I got into town two days ago. I was check the farm out, then went to the festival at Rose Plaza. Then yesterday, I did some work to clear the field. After a few hours of work, I decided to take a break and introduce myself to the town to the people that I didn't meet at the festival."

Basil nodded, "You must have come by yesterday when we were out."

"Yes, so that's why I'm here today. I will take a look at your book. I would like to take some notes on the spring crops, if it is alright."

Basil smiled, "I see no trouble with that. I'm sure that Mary can help supply some paper and a pencil."

Mary nodded, "Yes, I'll go over right now and get thing set up. I do need to get the place dusted." Mary then headed out.

Basil then said, "So what do you think about this town? How did you meet Joe?"

"This is a nice town. I met Joe ten years ago, when my parent and I came here to see it. They wanted me to see the countryside. I wandered away from them and got lost and ended up at Joe's farm. He was kind enough to reunite me with my parents. My parents and I befriended him. Then when we were leaving, he asked if he could write to each other. My parents felt that it would be a nice thing to do. So Joe and I had been doing that up until his death. I was on a Grand Jury, and didn't know about Joe's death. If I had gotten word about his death, and been related to him, I know that I could have been released from the service."

Basil nodded, "Yes, that is true. Well, I wish you luck. If you like the book I wrote on farm crops, I'll see if a copy can be sent here and let you have it."

"That's nice of you. Thank you."

"You're welcome, Jack. We'll I need to get back to work on the research I was doing." Basil then left the room.

Anna spoke up, "I'll be keeping an eye on you. I think that you are trouble."

"I hope that there is some way that I can prove to you that I'm not trouble. As long as it doesn't mean my having to leave."

"Just remember, if you hurt my daughter, I will hurt you."

Jack calmly smiled, "I will not hurt Mary. So if it is alright, I will leave now. Good day, ma'am"

Jack then left feeling the hateful glare from Anna.