Chapter 10 [Kent Farm—8:30 PM]
Lana parked her blazer beside Clark's truck. She leaned back in her seat. Two tests and a surprise quiz awaited her at school. Fall Promotion Ideas ran through her head. Possibilities awaited at Ralston's that weekend. Maybe Peter might want something on how we use their fruit at the Talon? Mrs. Kent would have a lot to say about the fruit. Hunger growled in her stomach. At least Lex brought dinner over for everyone. She watched Clark get out of his truck. What was going on this afternoon? She grabbed her backpack and locked the door. "Clark, before we go inside, are you okay?"
"Sure, Lana. Lex saved the day earlier. I should've brought turkey by the Talon for the others and you." Clark frowned. Realization slapped his brain hard for that oversight. "Sorry." He bowed his head. "I'm sure Mom's kept it warm."
She shrugged the issue off. "Thanks, Clark. You saw how busy we were. Miri and I barely got everything closed on time. I'm sure Lex has more of this for her. By the way, what happened earlier?" Lana folded her arms across her chest. "You've got that look. What happened?"
"Lex and Mr. Osborn were meeting in the library. These four tough guys in suits showed up. They were like Morgan Edge's men. I masked up and rushed in. I knocked them out. Then I melted their tires to keep them from getting away." He rubbed the back of his neck. "One of them recognized me from last summer…or rather he remembered Kal."
Her eyes went wide. For the previous year, everything had remained quiet. Nobody came to the Kent Farm much less Smallville to raise trouble. Edge's goons languished in jail. Lex had told her that the criminal organization lay in tatters.
Pronouncement seemed to presume too much…
"What did they want, Clark?" She ran through a list of potential goals. Blackmail could take a cut from Lex's corporate holdings. Revenge against the very farm and people on it could be high on any gangster's list. She grimaced. Nightmares still played out across her mind's eye. She bit her lip. "He did? Clark, I thought Morgan Edge was dead. I don't want another scene like the one in the barn." She looked at the house. "Your parents and Mrs. Parker are in there."
"I know." He shook his head. "He knew about the meteor rocks too. We're not safe either. I changed my voice to sound like Kal's. I acted all crazy. Lex saw me too." He paced around on the dirt. "What if he puts that with the Talon?"
THAT IS WHY YOU SHOULD THINK BEFORE YOU ACT, KAL-EL! Jor-El chided.
What should I have done? Let Lex and Mr. Osborn get shot? Clark rolled his eyes. Impatience and Indignation boiled up within him over the paternal spirit's presumption.
MELTING THE CONVEYANCES' TIRES DRAWS TOO MUCH ATTENTION TO US, KAL-EL! THE HUMAN RECOGNIZED YOU IN SPITE OF YOUR DISGUISE! YOU MUST LEARN CAUTION AND DISCRETION, MY SON!
She shrugged. "He has a point, Clark." She raised an eyebrow at him. "You didn't have to let that guy see you. Now that you melted the tire, Lex knows we have heat vision. You have to be more careful!"
"I'm trying! I was trying to keep them there for the Sheriff." Clark ground his teeth.
LANA IS CORRECT. YOU BOTH MUST LEARN CAUTION. JARA-SA AND DUBOIS CAN HELP YOU. SO CAN THE PARKER MORTAL. I WILL LET YOU HAVE YOUR SUSTENANCE, LANA.
"So what do we do about Lex?" Clark wondered.
"If he didn't ask you, I wouldn't bring it up, Clark." She slung her backpack on her shoulder. "Come on. I really need to eat something. Let's not bring it up in front of your parents or Mrs. Parker." She led them into the house. "Hi, Everyone! Sorry. We were really busy!" She took in the canning jars on the counter. "Clark and Lex said you all were busy. That's really great!"
"Martha just let me help. It all came back once I started working with everything," Aunt May took a draught of tea. "I wish Clark had taken you something to eat, Lana. My word! This is too late for anyone to go without eating dinner! You must be starving!" She brought out a covered plate from the refrigerator. "You can warm this up."
"I'm used to it. Thanks though, Mrs. Parker, for the concern. That's really great of you." Lana accepted the plate. She slid it into the microwave. "It'll be ready in a minute. I just hope there'll be something for me to do this weekend. Did you get the tomatoes done?"
"The green tomato pickle's already downstairs. I saved the tomato relish for you. I know how much you like to use your mother's recipe." Martha poured a glass of milk. "We'll have plenty more to do after the trip to Ralston's on Saturday." She set it at Lana's usual place.
"Thanks, Mrs. Kent." Lana brought the plate over to the table. "Everything all right, Mr. Kent? I'll get to the chores after I eat." She sat down. Her mind spun over Homework, Chores and the Talon.
Jonathan took a draught from his mug. "You did plenty this morning out there. Just make sure you do your homework too." He got a nod from Martha. "We don't want you getting sick."
"You mind them, Lana. I'm more than happy to help here," Aunt May shot her a sharp glance. "We're going to have a good time this weekend."
"I finished everything outside, Lana. Don't worry about it," Clark assured her.
"Thanks, Everyone." Lana bit into her meal. Turkey, Stuffing and Potato flavored her mouth. Meal satiated her stomach. She rubbed Clark's arm.
The company was all that she needed at that point….
