When he stepped through the front door of the township hall, Will was delighted to see his neighbors intermingling. The discussions parroted those of past meetings, but until Earl Roberts protested, they were without the temper. Still, when men repeatedly turned to him with questions, Will felt that he’d earned their trust. Then Earl suddenly turned on him. “I’ve liked you, Will, but I won’t subject my livelihood to the folly of an outsider. We got by before you came, and we’ll get by after you go. I don’t know why the rest of you would listen to this false prophet in our midst.”
Will had thought that Earl was a friend. Although they’d disagreed about the co-op all along, Earl had never attacked him so directly before. But Will knew a person could change when his income was threatened.
Roberts grabbed his hat and raced from the room.
Will was a bit shaken, but he felt pleased as he rode home. It seemed he’d earned their trust after all. They selected a group to explore incorporation, and they elected him temporary chairman. He wasn’t sure about that. It wouldn’t help pull Roberts back into the fold. Will wanted it unanimous, to have all his neighbors benefit from their united action. He did seem to be ahead of the others in his thinking about cooperatives, so he supposed he should take the lead.
Will was surprised to see all the rooms lit so late in the evening. He hadn’t finished unhitching Fanny Too when Ruby rushed into the barn, her face stained with tears. “Daddy, something awful’s happened. Mom got a phone call from Ashley Springs. Our house burned down tonight. Mr. Swartz and Margie died in the fire.”
Will ran to Mary while Ruby cared for Fanny Too. “Mary, what happened?”
Mary took his hand. “They said she died in the fire. That lovely young girl died because of her drunken father.”
“God be with them.”
“Gertrude heard that a cigarette might have started it. That drunk probably smoked in bed.”
“You don’t know that.” Will knew that his compassionate Mary was less tolerant when alcohol was a problem. Will thought about the smoke he saw float through the hallway door. But it wasn’t unusual for people to smoke in their homes, and few burned down. “The poor girl,” Will said.
“It’s a blessing she received the Holy Spirit. Now she’s with our Lord.”
Why do the young have to go? Will thought about his son, Michael. So young, so vibrant, so innocent? “It’s hard to understand God’s purpose.”
“We must accept His will,” Mary said. “Thank heavens you had the foresight to buy insurance when everyone thought it a waste of money. We’ll rebuild.”
Will turned pale and sat down. “We dropped the insurance on the house, don’t you remember? We couldn’t afford both the house and the business.”
“Didn’t you reinstate after you sold the business?”
“No, Mary. I needed the money. We got by so long, I thought a little longer wouldn’t matter.”
“What will we ever do?” Mary said.
Will knew he’d made a terrible mistake, and now he’d run out of options. He couldn’t afford a bull, and without the rent money, he’d have to sell his heifers. His future didn’t look bright. Grandpa had been right all along. Damn him.