A New Beginning

The tables were set up. The food was lined up. The cooks were ready when the first guests started showing up. I was amazed at the number of people from here abouts. Over 50 families representing an average of over 8,000 acres.

At first, I tried the individual approach. But there was just no way I could cover that many negotiations in that fashion. So, I waited until everybody was fed and ready to focus on business. Then I climbed up on the bed of my truck and called a meeting to order.

"I'm so glad y'all came today. In these uncertain times we sometimes forget what's important. I invited everybody, as you know, to discuss two options."

"First, you all know me. I grew up around here working with, or for, many of you. You also know I'm a man of my word. I'm not here to just put money in my pocket, but in y'alls, too."

"So my first proposal is I want to buy your place. The land specifically. I'm willing to cut out a five acre or whatever chunk out what has the house on it if need be. I'm offering forty an acre if you sign it over to me now, unencumbered. With a contract to pay it off over a period of time. This is my promise to you. Land prices, as you know are at 30 an acre, and in decline. I hear in many places already they have dropped to below ten. My contract will stipulate that forty regardless of market prices in the future. If I die, or whatever, before it's paid off, your deed will be signed back over to you minus any money I've paid, at face value, meaning you'll owe no interest on it."

"Option number two. You lease me your land at a dollar an acre per year on the whole acreage, or a five percent share in the net revenue generated annually paid every quarter."

"Or, neither one and no hard feelings."

"Any questions?"

"Yeah, I have one. What if we die. Do you still pay for it?"

"Certainly. On the contract will be a line to designate a beneficiary to receive payment under the same terms. Or, if you have nobody, you can instruct to either negate the debt, or instruct some other party unrelated to you to receive payment."

"I have a question! I don't mean no insult or disrespect by this."

I nodded.

"Why can't you just borrow the money and pay us up front? I mean, we all know you'd rather die than break your word, but you know what I'm saying."

"Yes sir, I do. The banks are loaning at fifteen an acre right now. Y'all know me. I'm as broke as you are."

That earned a grim chuckle that passed through the crowd.

"I could try that. But, i've never borrowed a penny from the bank. I don't trust them. They loan on the cheap. That's what I could pay you. But tomorrow that fifteen may drop to ten, or five. If even one payment is missed or late, they take it. You got your nickle on the dollar. But that's it. You take my deal, I'm promising forty. That's ten over market as of yesterday. Probably more today. Twenty five an acre over the fifteen the banks offering right now. You just have to give me what time I need to get you paid without threat of deadlines."

"Hell, I could be paying you forty in a couple of years for land I could buy for a dollar an acre. But that's my look out. You get paid what I promise."

"Ok, but what's to stop us from leasing to a big outfit and they pay us up front?"

"You can do that. But remember what they were offering. A dollar an acre for actual land used and two percent per year of net profit. Plus you are required to maintain the access right of way roads to the well sites. So, you can have 1,000 acres but they only use five. You'll find that the lease payment won't even cover the expenses of maintaining their road. I'm offering three percent more on net revenue, and we'll maintain our access roads at our expense."

"Question."

"Yes?"

"What about if we want to sell under those terms, but still want to live there without splitting off the homeplace?"

"I've figured that in, as well. You'll see in the contract that there's a clause that you and your spouse can live there for the remainder of your lives, free of charge. If you want to farm it, I've allowed for a fifty fifty split on crops and seventy thirty on stock, your favor. You farm at your expense and my cut comes out of net."

"So, if you need to think about it, that's fine. Those of you who know what you want to do, then we've set up a table yonder where you can sign your agreement."

There was fifty men lined up to sign contracts after my speech. I couldn't quite wrap my head around it. But, I guess in the end, they all knew and felt that if they tried to hold on, they'd wind up losing most of it anyway. At least this approach left me holding up the responsibility. They'd still have a place to live free of charge. Still have land to farm. A way to eat if nothing else.

After we concluded our business, everybody shook hands around and went home.

I went and found JT and Joe.

JT stared at me a long moment. Then spoke,

"I've said it all along. You beat anything I ever saw. How much land did you buy?"

"I'm guessing roughly 8,000, Plus the 5,280 from earlier"

Although, I was wrong in that figure. After we all met at the court house and signed the deeds over to me and filed the contracts, the net acreage came to 10,890 acres total. Add the 4,480, 640, and 160, and I now own 16,170 ares.

"So, we can start drilling on it?"

"Yep. So, I kept my word and did my job. We need rigs. All we can get."

"I should say so. Boy, I never in my wildest dreams would have thought this possible. To top it off, you never even thought to try to fuck a one of them out of a dime. Why, those big outfits are gonna be fit to be tied when word gets around!"

"Well, y'all, I'm going to the house. I've had enough for today."

I went on up and drew up some water to heat. Then pumped the tub up out of the cistern pump. Then back and sat down, waiting on the water to heat. I'm having a hot bath tonight.

Elsie and mama came downstairs after tucking the kids in bed. They pulled me away from the table, sat me back down, then each sat on a knee, leaning over and snuggling me. After a few minutes, they sat down across from me.

Mama spoke up first, "Well, Mr Flannery, how do you feel?"

"I'm not sure. I don't like being in debt. Beyond that, I feel we have a promising future ahead. I've been thinking, though, about that cooperative I was talking about. I figure it'll be good for everybody concerned. We'll have the strength of numbers to combine our corn and peas. I was thinking of a big cane press and boiler to make syrup from everybodies cane and barrel it for wholesale. Build a few silos for grain and pea storage. Mayhap even a fair sized cannery for produce everybody grows. I don't see why we couldn't even bring in domestic hogs. Raise them on a commercial scale. Fatten them out on our own corn. Set up up an operation and cure bacon and hams. I'm even thinking of canned meat. We might be in a depression, but folks still gotta eat. We can buy trucks and distribute our products around. Up to Dallas, down to Houston, over into Louisiana. New orleans, Shreveport, and the like, at first."

"My, but you have been doing some thinking." Elsie said. "That sounds like quite the operation."

I nodded. My water was boiling. I got up and went to pour it in the tub. I stripped down and stepped in. Elsie came in and took off her clothes and eased into the hot water with me. Sliding her butt between my legs, leaning back into me, pulling my arms around her pert breasts.

We sat there in the tub, the steam rising around us. Her soft breasts rising and falling gently under the weight of my arms. Her red hair like a summer sunset, spilling down my chest. Her skin the color of new ivory. Pale, but with a depth and substance. Her eyes bright emerald green, with a light residing just behind them, seeming to harbor a mystery you couldn't quite define.

I saw our baby kick and roll in her belly. I slid my hands up to rest over it. Hers coming up to cover mine. I looked at the stark contrast. Her hands small and smooth. Her fingers long. Her nails painted red. My hands are calloused, big, oversized.

I nuzzled her hair, letting my lips slide ever so gently across her skin. She gasped and tensed up. Unsure what I had done, I tried it again. Sort of natural like. I wasn't aware it was a sensual thing. I done it because her warm skin felt good to my lips.

I started wondering what else she could feel. I figured the best place for that was in our bed. So, I took her there.

After I laid her out, I crawled in next to her. Kissing her lips. Ever do gently at first. Just the lightest of caresses. Letting my tongue slip just past my lips. Her hot breath flowing over my face. Her hands pulled my lips to hers. Her tongue seeking mine. Her breath was sweet. Like sweet lemonade on a hot summer day. Her very fragrance like the smell when you walk through a field of wild flowers in the cool of a spring morning. Her touch almost electrifying, sending the waves of pleasure through your body as her fingers slid across your skin. The pervading scent of her arousal flowing to my nostrils. Awakening in me that primal desire to mate with her. The victorious feeling swelling up deep inside my body with the knowledge that of all the men this magnificent woman, this most precious of all the Creators gifts, could have chosen, she chose me to share her body with. To share her womb with. Her mind. Her practical nature.

I kissed down her neck, savoring and exploring every inch of her beautiful body. All I could think about was her pleasure. I kissed, licked and nibbled all over her. When I would feel her react, I would explore that area closely. Using different ways to stimulate it before moving on. After a little bit, her whole body was shaking. She was moaning as orgasm after orgasm coursed through her loins. Finally, she could take no more. Her body was jerking in uncontrollable contractions as her orgasmic well ran dry.

I crawled up next to her, wrapping her up in my arms and holding her close, kissing her sweaty cheek.

"I love you Elsie. More than anything else in this world."

I felt her sigh. Then respond weakly,

"Jacob, I love you, too."

She pulled my hand down to her swollen belly and held it there. I could feel our baby kick and move beneath my hand.

The sun rose that day with me still in bed. It was the first time I'd ever slept in.

I got up and dressed. Headed down stairs, then paused.

I wonder how mama would respond to what I'd done to Elsie.

Only one way to find out, I reckon. I headed back to mama's room. I opened the door. She was laying there peacefully. I eased over to her. She was still asleep, so I eased back out. Later then.

I went to the other place to check on progress. I was amazed at the transformation. The house had been divided up into separate bedrooms. The barn gutted. A long bar had been built. A wooden plank dance floor. A stage for live bands.

They had been working on duplex type housing for the women and employees. Nothing fancy. Just simple frame structures with board and batten siding. In each was a bed and shelves. The kitchen in the main house would serve as a common kitchen. They had built a bathhouse, as well. It would be ready for business within the next week.

I went back to the bar and looked around. Still plenty of room. I walked outside and stepped off an addition. I called Mathew over.

"Can you add on a room out here?" I indicated the size of it.

"Sure can. I'll go get the lumber tomorrow. What you planning, if I can ask?"

"Gambling room."

He nodded his big head. Smiling.

"Now, that is some idea! Pa done said you had a head for business."

I shook his hand and left. Back to camp. Arriving, I found JT engaged with a fancy dressed man in the mess tent. I went and sat down.

JT introduced me.

"Jake, this is Herbert Simmons. He represents the refineries down in Baytown. They want to buy our oil. Herbert, this is Jacob Flannery, my partner."

We shook hands.

I asked "How much oil you want?"

"Hell, son, all you can pump out of the ground. We got plenty of trucks waiting to haul it."

"It's going for about a buck nineteen a barrel. How much does it cost to truck it?"

"Well, gasoline is twenty cents. We refine it, so we get it cheaper. Truck costs, shit like that."

"What about a pipeline down there?"

"You don't have electricity here yet."

"So, gasoline powered pumps every so often along it won't work? Hire a man to maintain them at each station."

"Well, we hadn't really thought about that. But, yeah, I believe that would work.. I like that idea. Let me take it to the bosses."

"Ok. JT, I need a word when you can."

He nodded, then finished his business and came over.

"What's on your mind, son?"

"I need some younger women, and some gambling men willing to work for the house. I don't know much about gambling beyond the occasional poker and bourré game the men play around here. I've heard about blackjack, dice, things like that."

"Jake, I know just the men you need. Let's drive up to Dallas in the morning. We'll get you squared away. I need to look at some rigs for sale up there anyway."

"Ok, see you in the morning."

It was getting on into the evening and I realized I hadn't eaten all day. I went to the house to see what was cooking for supper. The kids were out in the yard playing. The dogs saw me and the gyp came running up to me. She was starting to put on weight. Looking good. I squatted down and rubber her long silky ears, then off to the house.

The women were cooking beans, taters, and cornbread, and it smelled like heaven in that kitchen. JT had brought up a box of ice packed in sawdust and some tea. The women had boiled it like he said. Elsie had made a big pitcher of it and sweetened it with sugar.

When I sat down, she sat a quart Mason jar of it poured over ice down in front of me. She wiped her forehead with her forearm, kissed me, and went to stir the taters and put chopped onion in them.

I picked up the jar and studied it. Sniffed it over. Then sipped it. I was hooked right then and there. that stuff was some kinda good. I drained the jar and went back for more.

After supper, I went out to the porch to watch the sunset, listening to the cicadas buzzing their contentment with the world. The crickets chirping. The kids running and playing. Laughing as the puppies nipped at their heels. The soft sounds of music and singing coming from the camp. Men singing and talking about life.

I considered my own place in it all. I was in debt and that scared me. I have a huge responsibility to the families that entrusted me with their land. They watched me as I made my deals with the devil. I had always held off on anything I was unsure of. So, when I jumped into this, they knew I had thought it through.

Of course, they could have made their own deals, but that prospect was a scary one when you had no experience in such matters. What they did know was, the markets were failing. Yet, somehow, what I was doing here made sense to them on some level. That's the thing about uncertain times, when your life is constantly on the verge of being flipped upside down. That sort of thing can bring the best out in some folks, the worst out in others.

Take the Hudson's for instance. Garrett and Molly. I never did recall anything ever going right for Garrett. He moved here and bought a piece of land and tried to make a go of it. But, he just never was cut out for farming. There was just too much he didn't know. Like the way he plowed his rows. Up and down the grade. It made for easier plowing, but allowed the water to to just run off. Carrying seed and good top soil with it. Then leaving that old dead pine that lightning struck and burned his cured hay up.

I was about 12 or 13 at the time. I had heard about him losing his hay. I had a bunch left over from the year before, so I put on the side rails and forked it up on the wagon, then drove it over. His wife, Molly, was a damned good looking woman. I figured she was about 35 now. About five and a half feet tall. Tipped the scales around a hundred and thirty pounds. A lot of that in tits. She wore loose fitting dresses that hid her figure. Long dark hair. Blue eyes.

I remember that one evening I had hauled a load of hay over and had just finished forking it off. It was hot that July day. I had went to go to the pump to draw up water. When I rounded the corner, she was standing at the pump naked as the day she was born. She had a washcloth and was dipping it in a bucket of that cool well water and wiping herself down with it.

I just stood there staring at her. She bent over and dipped that rag back in the water and turned toward me. I eased back out of sight but where I could still see her. Pulling my hard pecker out, I went to work on it. She bent over, causing her tits to sway. I could see the dark triangle of hair covering her pussy. My pecker gave a sudden jerk and started dumping sperm out on the ground.

She straightened back up, drying herself with a towel and slipped her dress back on.

She took a step towards the kitchen door, then paused. She turned her head and looked right at me and smiled a little. I jerked my head back around the corner and ran back to the wagon. I was terrified. What if she told on me? Shit. I guess I done did it now.

But, she never said anything about it. Not that I know of, least ways.

I felt my pecker start to sliding around in my britches, remembering her naked body.

I wonder...?

Anyway, I had business to tend to. But, I'll tell you, if given the chance, I'd fill her baby oven up with baby batter without giving it a second thought.

Elsie came out with the kids and sat with me. The pups ran out in the yard with the kids, and the gyp came and curled up next to my chair.

"What you thinking about?" She asked, reaching over and nudging me with her foot.

"I'm headed up to Dallas in the morning with JT."

"What for?

"Women and dealers."

"Is that why you have a hard on? Over them women?"

I looked down and my crotch was bulging.

I shook my head. "No, I was thinking about Molly Hudson."

"That woman who came over with her husband the other night?"

I nodded. "Yep."

"Well, she is a pretty woman. So, you want to fuck her?"

I shrugged, "I don't know, i guess I wouldn't turn it down."

"I saw the way she was looking at you. If ever a woman was in heat, I'd say she is for certain."

She thought a moment.

"Do they have any kids?"

"Not that I know of."

"Well, maybe she or him can't have them."

I thought about that a spell. Anyway, I had business tomorrow, so I drew up a cold bath, bathed and shaved, then stretched out on the bed.

I was thinking of Molly Hudson standing there naked by that pump, except this time her belly was swollen with my child inside her.

I woke up early. Leaned over and kissed Elsie. Dressed. Then walked down to the camp. I stepped into the mess tent. The cook nodded at me, then fixed me a big plate of scrambled eggs, sausage, grits, bicuits and gravy. A cup of coffee. He brought them out, set it down in front of me, and I dug in. That ol' boy could cook, I'll tell ya what.

I finished eating and carried my dishes over to the wash sink. Dipped them in the soapy water and crubbed them clean then laid them on the rack. I went over to the cook.

"You got any of that sweet iced tea back there?"

"Sure do. I always keep a pitcher cold for JT. He swears by it. You want some?"

"Sure, if it's not too much trouble."

"Not at all."

He got out a wide mouth quart Mason jar. Took an ice pick and chipped off chunks of ice from the block in the cooler. Dumped them in the jar and poured it full of sweet tea.

I took it from him, nodding my thanks, then went and sat back down.

It was just growing light through the trees when the men started showing up for breakfast. JT was last through the door. He saw me and waved me over. I picked up my tea and met him.