Mr. Baxter, or Randy, was well known in the small northern California town of Paradise Hills for growing the best damned weed around.
The thing, though, was that it wasn't for sale. Yet. He just loved smoking it and sharing it only with close friends.
After eight years, his crop had become so large, it was getting harder and harder to harvest and supervise. Truly a 24/7 job.
As harvest time grew near, the reeking flowers prompted him to pack his trusty, unloaded double barreled shotgun. Though it had never been fired, it was more than menacing enough scare away any potential poachers.
A tall, strapping and young, blue-eyed brunette was caught one night stuffing a small bag with his not yet mature crop. It was early September.
Intrigued with such astute pickiness, she was the perfect picture of gleeful bliss.
"Hey there missie, this here shotgun is loaded. I should shoot you. Or, just call your parents. What's in that bag you're carrying?"
"It's not that much and it smells like some primo stuff. Please, you can't call my parents. I don't have any."
"Sorry. It's not cured yet anyway. Way too green. A real drag
to smoke. Go ahead and start marching towards the light of my house. I'll follow you."
It was a long, sweaty trek back to Mr. Baxter's empty house. Once settled inside, Randy poured her a tall glass of chunky ice water and a highball glass of hundred proof peppermint schnapps. His favorite.
"How old are you?"
"I'll be twenty-one next week."
"Good. The last thing I need is a drunk teenager gettin' me busted for serving booze to a minor. Gotta' name?"
"Wendy...Trent."
"Go ahead."
Wendy grinned, taking a bold swig of the hundred proof schnapps. Her eyes widened as she fanned her mouth. "Wow. That"s she ome heavy duty shit. I see why you drink it. Thanks. That glass of ice water really hit the spot."
"No shit. Now reach in that drawer behind you, grab a fat one and fire it up. Let's get us some Nervana."
Thrilled, Wendy snatched a Zippo lighter out of her tight, faded Wrangler's coin pocket, then lit the big doobie, taking a deep toke. "Fucking awesome."
"Love it. Wow. Say Gotta' proposition for you."
"What's that?" As she held her breath, getting the maximum effect. She was a prolific smoker.
"I kind of like you Wendy. You seem like a smart gal and I'm betting you know plants. I need someone like yourself around here to help out. You know, harvesting, planting and of course, to be my eyes for me when I'm not here. You're more than welcome to smoke all the weed you want. What do you say? My spare bedroom is yours. And you'll be paid. Not much, at least not at first. I intend to start selling my product later this fall."
"Oh boy, I think I need another drink of that schnapps. Are you kidding me? Sounds awesome. When do I start?"
"Right now. First thing, I need some help mending fences. Are you up to that?"
"Hell yeah. Let's do this."
------2)
Wendy was a diligent worker, busting her ass dirty from sun up 'til the job was done. But when the sun went down, things were a lot more relaxed. It was late October. The harvest was over and the crop was cured and the money started coming in. There was plenty of schnapps and kick-ass, prime Indica weed for everyone.
"You're kinda' handsome Randy. For an old guy."
"Old? How old do you think I am Wendy?"
"I don't know. You act like you're at least fifty."
"Close, but you're off. I'm forty-eight. Young if you ask me. You're not so bad looking yourself. For being such a hard worker, you deserve a bonus of two hundred dollars. And I'd like to take you ou
t to eat. Any place you want. You name it."
Her lilting, baby-blue eyes twinkled.