The Farm House
by
Tim A Hicks
Dedicated to:
Mary, Katie, and Anna. Thank you for all your patience.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, either living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2010 by Tim A Hicks. All Rights Reserved
Smashwords Edition
Cover photo courtesy of: Red Pine Mountain... http://redpinemountain.com/
Illustrated by: Katie Hicks
All rights reserved. No part of these pages, either text or image may be used for any purpose other than personal use. Therefore, reproduction, modification, storage in a retrieval system or retransmission, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical or otherwise, for reasons other than personal use, is strictly prohibited without prior written permission.
Smashwords Edition, License Notes
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
The Farm House
Chapter One
“Well, that’s it then,” Bob said as he wearily removed his glasses. “I can’t believe he’s gone. You know, Paul, I feel like it’s my fault that this happened.”
Paul leaned forward and said, “Hey, we’ve been through this a thousand times already. You did everything that you possibly could to get him out of there. It’s not your fault that he was too stubborn to leave.”
“I know, Paul, it’s just that in the back of my mind, I feel that I could have done something more, that’s all.”
Bob eased himself from his highly polished walnut desk and turned to look out the window. His law office was located on the twelfth floor of a twenty-story office tower that overlooked the ocean. It amazed him that he ever got involved with the old man to begin with. It seemed like just a simple thing at first; this guy comes into the office to get his affairs in order, the will is written, witnessed, and the bill is sent: end of story. Yet, there was something about the older gentleman that spoke to Bob. Was it the way he talked, with that unique New England accent, or the fact that there seemed to be some sort of urgency in the way he was going about settling his affairs.
While Bob stared at the sailboats plying around the bay, he remembered that meeting like it was yesterday:
Bob stood up from his desk and said, “Hello Mr. Sanders, please come in and make yourself comfortable.”
“Thank you, and please call me Steve.”
“OK, Steve, what can I do for you today?”
Steve settled in his chair and said, “Well, I need to talk to you about getting a will set-up. I've never done anything like this before, so I'll need you to walk me through the entire process. Also, there's some urgency to this, so if we could conclude this business today, that would be great.”
Bob, leaned slightly forward in his chair and studied the person seated in front of him. Steve was fairly tall at 6 feet 4 inches and seemed to be in pretty good shape. Not much fat on this 60-year old frame; actually, he seemed to be in good health
Bob asked, “You know, I'll be happy to help with this, but is there a specific reason for the urgency?”
Looking somewhat uncomfortable, Steve answered, “Yes, there is, but without going into too much detail, let’s just say that my current housing situation is not the greatest.”
“Alright,” Bob slowly answered, “forgive me for saying so, but if you can afford to come to this firm and you have the resources to make having a will necessary, shouldn’t you be able to simply move away to a safer area?”
Chuckling, Steve replied, “Believe me, I wish it were that simple.”
Leaning back in his chair, Bob asked, “I see here that you live in Vermont, what made you decide to drive all this way to come see me? Not that I'm complaining, mind you, just curious.”
Steve looked over at Bob and said, “Well, to be truthful, I was having dinner with one of my old army buddies and when I mentioned that I was thinking about having a will drawn-up, he recommended you. He said you were very intelligent and trustworthy. So, I decided to come and see if he was right.”
Laughing, Bob replied, “Well, I'll do my best to live up to your lofty expectations. Now then, shall we get started?”
From just that simple exchange, Bob decided that he actually liked this guy. He didn't know of many people that can be in a dangerous situation and actually have the fortitude to make light of it. So, turning back to the work at hand, Bob continued the process of drafting the will. It was during the natural course of the interview, that it soon became apparent that we had a great deal in common and soon became fast friends.
It wasn’t until a few months later that I discovered the truth about the farm that Steve lived on. We were having dinner at the local steakhouse, when I decided to ask Steve about his unique living situation. In between bites of my medium-rare steak, I asked,
“You know, when you first came into my office and told me the reason you wanted to fast- track your will, I was very intrigued as to what your situation was. Now that we know each other better, I was wondering if you wouldn't mind elaborating on your problem?”
Although he had been expecting this question to come up, Steve was still debating as to whether or not to tell Bob about his problem. After all, he could very well write him off as a nutcase.
“You know, Bob, I've been trying to decide if I should tell you what’s going on. I know that we've become good friends and I do trust you a great deal, but I’m not sure if you’re ready to hear the whole story.”
I set my wine glass down and said,” You’re right, Steve, we're friends and because we are friends I want you to now that I'm here to help you; not just legally, but as your friend. I would like to be able to help you, but if you feel uncomfortable telling me, I’ll understand.”
“Thanks, Bob. That means a lot coming from you. I’m just afraid that if I tell you, you’ll think I’m crazy. Give a minute to think about this, would you?”
“Hey, no rush. Take your time.”
I took the opportunity to grab a French fry and another bite of steak. Boy, they really do a great job on these steaks at this restaurant. They're so tender, you really don’t need a knife to cut them, and the French fries are just fantastic. I remembered the first time that Steve and I came to this restaurant and he ordered his steak with fries, instead of a baked potato. I had a great time kidding him about it. Now, as I look over at Steve's plate, there are French fries, instead of his beloved baker.
After a few minutes, Steve had come to a decision to tell me the whole story. So, over the next hour, Steve went step-by-step through the entire situation. I listened with rapt attention and my steak, what was left of it, seemed almost forgotten. As he continued, a thousand questions seemed to flood into my mind and it was all I could do to not interrupt.
When Steve was finally finished, all I could say was, “You’re kidding, right?”
Steve replied, “I wish I was, buddy, but it is just as I have told you and I am at a loss as to what to do next.”
“Well, I can think of one thing…leave!”
Chuckling, Steve just looked at me and said,” it’s just not that easy; I can’t just walk away from this. That farm has been in our family for over 400 years and I can’t just pick-up and leave. Surely you can understand that?”
Reluctantly, I agreed, “Yeah, I can see where you’re coming from, but we’re not talking about having some mouse infestation; what you’re telling me here is just unbelievable. Isn’t there anything that you can do?”
Taking a sip of his wine, Steve just shrugged his shoulders and smiled. “Actually, Bob, I do have an idea, but I’m going to need some help to pull it off. Interested?”
Yeah, that’s when the real adventure began and now it looks like it’s going to start all over again, except this time with someone who knows nothing about what to expect. This time, an innocent will be swept-up in the madness.
While continuing to watch the sailboats drifting along in the bay, Bob said, “Well, what’s done is done and I need to get I touch with his nephew.”
Bob turned around and looked at Paul with a determined look, “and I WILL warn the boy.”
Paul looked shocked, “Whoa, wait a minute there, Bob. Why do you want to do a stupid thing like that? He’s just going to think your nuts. Besides, he’s in college, right? There's no way he'll want to pull-up stakes and live there. What’s he going to want with an old farm, anyway?”
“Look Paul,” Bob insisted, “I don’t care what he thinks of me, but I will not have his welfare on my conscience. Yeah, he'll most likely sell the place and that will be that, but what if he doesn’t? I still have the responsibility to tell him.”
Bob walked over to the bar and poured himself a stiff drink. Well, rank does have its privileges. Swirling the drink around in the glass he turned back and looked Paul in the eyes, “I don’t care what he thinks, all I know is that I want to be able to sleep at night. Let’s go ahead and write the contact letter. The sooner we get this over with, the better.”
Chapter Two
Eric was alone in his uncle’s house. The 11:00 O’ Clock news was on and there was some story about a guy who raised a record-sized pumpkin and was exhibiting it at the fair. When they ran stories like that, you know that it was a slow news day. His uncle's cat Elsa, was doing her usual routine of sitting and staring at him; that cat wasn’t good for much else…what cat is? It was when the news was over that Eric realized what happens next…bedtime. He knew that he would have to go to bed, but the thought frightened him, and he didn’t seem to know why. It could have something to do with the fact that he would have to turn-off all the lights and try to sleep in the dark, empty, and let’s not forget, BIG house. The fact that there were neighbors all around him did nothing to alleviate his anxiety. It was a well-known fact that when the lights went out, the ghosts came to life. Everybody knows that!
“Elsa, will you stop that tearing around like that! You had all day to play, there’s no need to run around the house and…”
He stopped in mid-sentence when he saw what Elsa was doing. That stupid, brain-damaged cat was sitting at the base of the stairs and staring. As he sat there and looked at her, Elsa started growling and hissing into the dark stairwell. The feelings that washed over him were ones of fright and dread. Knowing that the stupid cat had seen or sensed something in the house, he knew that drifting off to sleep would not be an option until he went and checked things out. So, Eric got up out of his chair and did what any normal person would do and opened the front door. He did this not so he could run outside, but to give himself a sense of security. He knew that beyond the front door lay the neighbors and safety. It never occurred to him that the front door was a full 30 feet from the staircase door. However, in this case, it's the feeling that counts.
Eric slowly turned from the front door and started for the rear of the house. “Elsa, what do you think you're doing?”
The sound of his own voice comforted him, although it did nothing to alleviate the tension from Elsa. As Eric neared the staircase, turning on every light within his reach, he saw that Elsa’s fur was standing on end and the growling grew louder. When Eric got to within a few feet of the doorway, Elsa started to back away, spitting at the door. It suddenly grew very cold in the hallway and Eric sensed something else; it was a feeling very hard to describe, but he felt the presence of evil and it seemed to be coming from the stairwell in waves. It took every ounce of strength his body could muster, to go those last few feet.
As he turned to look in the doorway, he comforted himself with his own voice by talking to Elsa, “It's okay Elsa, there’s nothing up there.”
As he looked up the curving stairway, he heard the sound of a creaking floorboard from above him. Elsa, always helpful, took off and headed for the laundry room at the other side of the house. Something was upstairs, when there shouldn't be anything there. The floorboard creaked again. There was definitely something walking around up there. Looking over his shoulder, Eric noticed that the front door was wide open and there was a clear shot to the outside.
Feeling brave, Eric looked back up the stairs and yelled, “Hey, you don’t scare me you stupid ghost!”
All of a sudden, an inhuman howl roared through the house. It didn’t come from just upstairs, but from all around him.
Turning back Eric yelled once more, “Come and get me, you jerk!”
As he turned and started to run for the front door, he heard the unmistakable sound of an immensely heavy footstep at the top of the stairs. Running for the door, Eric noticed that he was not really running at all. It felt as if something was pushing against him and slowing him down. The footsteps behind him grew louder, but now they also came from the direction of the basement. Eric tried to run faster, but it was like running through gelatin. The howls and the footsteps grew nearer from all sides, yet the front door seemed to be just out of reach. The overpowering sense of evil seemed to be suffocating him and making it harder to breathe. The howling grew deafening, the footsteps closer, the fear overpowering. Almost there, the front door is within reach. As Eric reached for the door, something touched his shoulder and as he turned around, he saw a sight that made him…
BZZZZZZZZZZZ, jolting awake to the sound of the alarm clock, Eric reached over and shakily shut it off. He didn’t even consider hitting the snooze alarm, because he knew that there was no way that he would be able to get back to sleep after that dream. He had been having this dream off and on for most of his life, yet he just couldn't understand why he kept dreaming of that house. He'd never even seen that house before and yet, he's having these horrible dreams about it.
Eric slowly sat up in bed and looked around his small dorm room. It was just big enough to turn around in, but it was his home. Once again, he recalled the circumstances that landed him here at the University of Maine. A university that was clear across the country from where he grew up.
When I was in high school, I devoted so much time to my studies, that I neglected to save time for friends and as a result, grew more and more isolated from society. It soon became a routine of going to school, coming home and doing homework, then sleeping and finally, getting up at 3:00AM to deliver newspapers; only to have the cycle repeat itself.
It had become so bad that I even dreaded going out of my room for any reason. After I graduated from high school, I attended a University in town and continued the same old routine. Finally, after I got my degree, I knew that I would have to force myself to get a life and that meant leaving the comfort of this room and routine. With this on my mind, I applied for the University of Maine Graduate program in History and was accepted. No longer, would I be able to hide from people; I would be forced to live and eat with total strangers.
So, my dad and I packed-up the pickup and we drove across the country to Maine. At first it seemed as if the trip would be days of forced conversation, but after the first day, I actually started to enjoy talking to my dad. Towards the end of the journey, I found out things about my dad that I had never known before and for that, I was grateful. Arriving on campus and checking into my room, my dad and I spent the rest of the day just walking around, going to the zoo, and just talking. We had a final dinner together and than the next morning, I stood in the parking lot and watched my dad leave on his journey home. It was then that I discovered that I was truly now alone. It would be up to me to force myself to make friends or otherwise, it would be a long and lonely life.
Walking back to the dorm, I resolved to make myself stay out of my room as much as possible. With this in mind, when I found out that there was an opening on the university grounds crew, I quickly applied for a job and began work. I also forced myself to watch TV, not in the comfort of my tiny room, but out in the main lounge with the rest of the residents. Soon, I began to make friends, not only with the people that lived in my suite, but with others in the dorm. By forcing myself to be more active and by going places with my new friends, I discovered something that had been missing from my life all these years…fun.
Yes, I was actually having fun for the first time in my life and, by the end of that first year, I had made a number of lifelong friends. Now, in my second year I found that I truly enjoyed my life and was happy for the first time in years.
Eric slowly got out of bed and reached over to turn-on the coffee machine. Mornings were bad enough, but mornings without coffee were just unthinkable. With the coffee going, he put on his robe and began his usual morning routine with a walk down to the bathroom and a nice hot shower.
Walking down the narrow hallway to the bathroom, he ran into one of his suite-mates, “Hey, Steve, how’s it going?”
Steve, who stood at a staggering six-feet, five inches staggered over and said, “I’m here, but other than that, I can’t comment at the moment.”
“I know exactly what you mean. There’s coffee in my room if you want some. Just go on in.”
Looking as if there was actually some life left in him, Steve muttered, “Thanks, man.”
Eric lived in a dorm that housed about eighty students and was built in the form of an “H”. If you looked at the “H”, the middle part would be the main lounge on the first floor, a group of rooms, or suites, on the second floor, and a game room, kitchen, and laundry in the basement. The two legs of the “H” contained two groups of seven rooms on each floor, called suites. There would be eight students in each suite (suite-mates), which had a small, common lounge and a bathroom.
Once in the bathroom, Eric walked to the shower, reached in and turned the water on. Once the water was hot enough, he stepped into the shower and, standing under the streaming hot water, he started to go over the strange dream he had just had: Why would he be staying in a strange house in the first place? Would he actually be dumb enough to provoke a ghost, or whatever it was?
However, the main concern facing him was why he was having this dream in the first place. If this was the first time he had it, there would not be a problem and he could just chalk it up to random weirdness, but he has had this dream many times and they always ended in the same way: running away from something. Well, trying to run away from something, that is. It's such a strange sensation when you're in a dream and it feels as if you are running through mush. You run and you run, but you hardly move, while whatever is chasing you gets closer and closer. There must be a reason, but what is it?
Later, after another tough day of working on the grounds crew and then attending night classes, it felt great to be able to get back to the dorm and relax. As Eric walked through the front door Pam, the Resident Advisor on duty, handed him an official-looking letter and said, “This came for you today and it looks like it might be important, so just remember, if you’ve inherited a million bucks, I’m your gal.”
“Thanks, Pammy, I always knew you wanted me for my money,” Eric said, smiling.
Smacking him playfully upside the head, she blew him a kiss and walked back into the office.
Looking at the letter, Eric saw that it came by certified mail and that the return address seemed to be some sort of lawyer’s office. Hey, what if Pam was right and he did inherit a million bucks? Oh well, things like that only happened to other people.
Opening the letter, Eric read through it once and then had to go back and read through it again. The letter stated that he had inherited a 400 year-old farm and some money from an uncle. It then went on to say that he would have to stop by the lawyer’s office in Portland to sign some papers.
Turning towards Pam, he said, “Uh, Pam, is that offer still open?”
Chapter Three
Since the next day was Friday and he did not have any classes, Eric called the lawyer’s office and set-up an appointment for later that afternoon. Luckily, Pam didn't have classes either, so she was able to go with him. They walked to the Student Union Building, grabbed a sack lunch, and then headed for I-95 and the 2 ½ hour drive to Portland.
“Thanks for inviting me along, Eric. I'm so glad to be able to get away from campus for a while. Ever since I became an RA, it seems like I never get a chance to go anywhere anymore.”
Eric glanced over at Pam and said, “Hey, I’m glad you were able to come, too. I know that it’s not going to be the most exciting day we could have, but maybe when we’re done, we could go find something fun to do.”
Adjusting her sunglasses Pam said, “That sounds great and because I have elected to give up my valuable Friday to accompany you on this little adventure, at the very least, I think that I deserve a lobster dinner.”
“I couldn't agree more and that's why I took the liberty of making reservations at the Red lobster.”
Eric had to duck to try and miss Pam’s jab, but the sore arm was well worth the comment.
Adjusting the radio, Pam asked, “You know Eric, I was wondering what you plan to do now that you are soon to be the owner of a farm?”
“You know, I've been thinking about that and I’ll probably end up selling it. Listen, you know that I’m studying to be a history professor and I don’t know the first thing about running a farm. I mean, does it have cows and horses? Are there crops that need tending? I'm a city boy, I have no clue about that kind of stuff.”
Pam studied Eric, “I realize that, Eric, but you really need to keep your options open. Just try and not make any decisions until you actually see the place. You never know what you might find.”
“Yeah, I’ll keep that in mind,” Eric mumbled.
Except for the occasional chitchat, Pam left Eric to his thoughts for the rest of the trip. She knew that this could not be an easy decision for him to make, especially since he hadn’t even seen the place yet.
As for Eric, he was frantically trying to figure out what to do. He's on his way to take ownership of a farm that has been in his family for over four-hundred years. If he decides to sell it, as he is intending, that means that he would be responsible for throwing away a huge chunk of family history. On the other hand, how could he possibly manage to handle a farm and his studies? Here he is, a twenty-three year old guy on the fast-track to a PhD and a promising career as a college professor, who suddenly gets presented with a four- hundred year old farm. On the other, there's a truckload of guilt being laid at his feet if he sells the farm. After all, who wants to known as the killer of the family history? Can't you just smell the guilt?
“Uh Pam, I know you think that I should wait to make a decision, but I really think that I might have to sell it. I mean, there is just no way that I'm going to be able to handle all my school work and a farm. Also, how will I even be able to afford the place? I really don't know what to do, but I’ll keep my options open.”
“Look Eric, I’m not here to tell you how to run your life, I just want you to make an informed decision and in order to do that, you need to have all the facts lined-up in front of you. I know that you'll make the right choice and I'll be there for you.”
Eric glanced over at Pam and said, “Thanks Pam, I appreciate that.” With that decided, they spent the remaining time enjoying the countryside.
Since coming to Maine and breaking out of his shell, Eric had begun to really enjoy taking road trips with his friends. After his first year in Maine, he went home to California for the summer and used that time to earn a little more money that would allow him to purchase a car: a four-door, five-speed, manual-transmission, Honda. Towards the beginning of his second year, he took five days and drove across the country back to Maine. It was, naturally, the first time that he had ever done anything like that by himself and the experience greatly liberated him. The thought of driving across the country, by himself would have frightened him to death a year ago, but now it thrilled him and stirred his long-slumbering sense of adventure.
“You know Pam, I’ve been thinking. Yeah, I know, something I don’t do all that often, but if I decide to hold off on making a decision on selling, how about getting a bunch of us together and spending our Christmas break up there? You know, depending on what happens, of course.”
Pam looked over at Eric and gave him a big thumbs- up for the idea.“Yeah, that would be a great idea! We could bring-up all of our supplies and have an extended party. You know, we could even bring a turkey and cook it for Christmas.”
Suddenly, Eric was getting into this thing, “You know, this is sounding better and better, but Pam, do you even know how to cook a turkey?”
Laughing, Pam replied, “Sure, there’s nothing to it, just pop it in the oven and bake it for four or five hours. What could be easier?”
Eric just laughed, “I believe thatbit’s a little more complicated than that, but don’t worry, I’ve done it before and I can take care of that job. By the way, who do you want to invite to our little party?”
Glancing over at Pam, Eric saw that he had no need to worry on that account, because she was already writing a list of who to invite and what supplies they would need.
As they rolled into Portland, Pam broke-out the map and played navigator as they tried to find the location of the law office.
“Okay, you take a left at the next light and the office should be on the right-hand side.”
Eric merged over to the right lane. “Thanks, I got it.”
Turning the Honda into the parking lot, he started to get a little nervous about what was going to happen. After all, he had never inherited anything before and didn't know what to expect.
The office building was one of the tallest buildings in Portland and seemed very ritzy. There was the usual lobby, but this one seemed to be adorned with plants and chandeliers and it even had an aquarium with exotic fish in it. Actually, it looked more like the lobby for a hotel than an office building. Spying the security desk, Eric walked up and asked for directions to the law office.
“Hi, my name is Eric Peterson and I have an appointment with a Bob Conner, he’s a lawyer here.”
The security guard looked up and said, “Yes, his offices are located on the twelfth floor. Just go to the elevators on your right.”
“Thank you,” Eric replied.
Taking Pam's hand, they walked to the elevator to catch a ride.
While this may have seemed like just another ordinary elevator ride, to Eric, this would be one ride that would change his life forever.
Chapter Four
As they emerged from the elevator, they turned and walked towards the law office. Upon entering the glass doors, they walked over to the receptionist and Eric said, “Hi, my name is Eric Peterson and I have an appointment with Mr. Conner.”
The receptionist looked-up from her computer monitor and smiled. Checking her appointment schedule, she replied, “Yes, I have you listed here, Mr. Peterson for a Two o'clock appointment. Please, why don’t you have a seat over there and I will let Mr. Conner know that you are here.”
“Thank you, miss.”
Pam turned her head slowly and said, “Miss?”
Eric with an embarrassed smile on his face, “Well, I like to be polite, you know.”
Smiling and shaking her head, Pam said, “O-kay, I just don’t imagine you saying ‘miss,’ that’s all.”
Together, they made themselves comfortable on the couch and Eric, not knowing anything else to do, began twiddling his thumbs. Pam reached over, took his hand, and said, “What are you so nervous about? It’s not like you’re in trouble or anything.”
“I know, but I just don’t like lawyers…or doctors...or dentists…”
“Okay Eric, I think I get the point. Listen, just don’t worry about anything, okay?”
The secretary looked over from her desk and said, “Mr. Peterson, you can go in now.”
Eric stood up and said,” Thank you,” and began walking towards the door.
“What? No ‘miss?’ ” the secretary smiled and waved them through.
They walked into the attorney’s office and noticed a man of around 40 years old, trim, and self-assured. He rose and shook Eric's hand saying, “Mr. Peterson, please come in and make yourself comfortable."
Turning to Pam, "And you are…”
“Pam Moore.”
“Welcome Miss Moore, please take a seat. I assume since you are here, you know the reason for this meeting? Let me assure you that I will do my best to make sure everything goes smoothly. Firstly, let’s get the name thing taken care of: please call me Bob. When you call me Mr. Conner, I have a habit of turning around and seeing if you’re talking to my dad.”
“Nice to meet you, Bob. Please, call me Eric and this is Pam.”
“Hello, it’s nice to meet you both. Now that the introductions are out of the way, let’s get down to business, shall we? To begin with, let me offer you my condolences on the loss of your uncle. I was a good friend of your uncle’s over the last few years and I can tell you that he thought a lot about you. He was very proud of what you have accomplished with your life.”
Eric sat up in surprise and was just about to say something when Bob continued saying, “I see you look surprised, no need to be. Even though you hadn’t ever met him, he followed your achievements and, naturally was thinking of you when he made out his will.”
“Now, on to the part that you are most interested in: the terms of the will. I won’t bore you with all the legal jargon, so I’ll just cut to the chase and tell you what your uncle has left you. Eric, you are now the proud owner of a 500-acre farm in Northeast Vermont. Also, your uncle has left you a sum total of twenty million dollars.”
Eric just about hit the floor when he heard the news. “I...I...I”
“Don’t worry, I understand. Would you like something to drink? There’s a refrigerator right over there on your left.”
“Thanks, Bob, I’m just floored and really don’t know what to say.”
Bob continued, “Well, while you get your second wind, let me explain the property tax setup. I have taken a portion of the money your uncle has bequeathed to you, not including the twenty million, and have set up a fund that will generate enough income, provided the principle amount is left intact, to pay the property taxes for the farm. Any leftover interest income will be added back into the principle amount, so this account will be self-sustaining. This amount, unless otherwise instructed by you, will automatically be forwarded to the tax commission each year. In short, you will not have to worry about, pardon the pun, losing the farm. Is this agreeable to you?”
With his head still swimming, Eric answered, “Yes, that’s terrific. But what happens if I decide to sell the farm?”
“Well, that is, of course, your decision to make; however, if you do decide to sell, than that principle amount plus any income generated by it would revert to you. Now, I realize that this is a lot to digest in one seating, so please feel free to take your time with regards to any decision you may make regarding the property. But, please keep in mind that I will be more than happy to assist you with any decision you happen to make.”
“Thank you very much, Bob. I just don’t know what to say; this is all happening so fast. I mean, I realized when I got your letter that I was getting a farm and some money, but now that I’m here and actually hearing about it, well, it’s a lot to take in.”
Chuckling, Bob replied, “I completely understand. Please, take all the time you need and my offer still stands to assist you with regards to the farm. In addition, I would like to take this time to offer you my services with regards to investment advice as well. If you already have someone to assist you in this area, please contact them, but if you don't know of anyone, I would strongly encourage you to find a financial advisor that you can trust.”
“Again, thank you for this. If you don’t mind, I would like to take some time to make a decision with regards to the farm and the money.”
Eric was still in a state of shock about all this and he took Pam’s hand and gave it a squeeze. Pam looked over and smiled at him.
Bob continued, “Now, you may have questions with regards to your access of the money.”
Eric immediately said, “Oh, no, I wasn’t even thinking about that right now.”
Bob smiled and said, “Don’t worry. Remember, I do this all the time. Now, about access: I have taken the liberty of setting up a drawing account from which you can withdraw up twelve thousand dollars a month, without affecting the principle. This account will remain active until the estate is settled, at which time the amount you can withdraw, again without affecting the principle, will be fifty-three thousand each month.”
Eric looked shocked at this news. Why, he wouldn’t even need to work. But, he put that though right out of his mind. Since he turned eleven, he had always had a job and the thought of not working, just seemed to be alien to him. He needed to work in order to maintain his self- worth. To not work, would mean that he would not be contributing anything to society and that thought just did not sit right with him.
Bob sat back in his chair and studied the young man. He seemed to be someone with his head on straight. The question being, would he be able to handle what he needed to tell him? He seems to be handling the fact that a large farm and a truckload of money have just been dumped into his lap, quite well. Yet, how is he going to handle the fact that the house and the farm that the house sits on, is not quite normal?
Bob got up from his desk and said, “I’ll let you two have a few minutes to recover before we start signing any papers.” He then smiled at them and walked into the other room.
Pam was the first to speak, “Eric, are you alright? Do you know what just happened here? You’re rich!”
Smiling Eric said, “Yeah, I know. I’m pretty much gob-smacked right now. Uh, can I get you a drink?”
“No, let me get one for you. After all, you're the one most affected by all this.” Smiling she added, “And besides, I guess you should get used to having people do things for you now.”
Stuttering, Eric couldn’t even respond, but when he saw her smiling, he knew that she was just kidding with him.
After about five minutes, Bob came back into the room with a pile of papers. Dumping them on his desk, he sat down and smiled, “Don’t worry, it’s not as bad as it looks. This should only take an hour or two.”
Shocked, Eric and Pam exchanged glances, but then Bob said, “Kidding, guys. We should be done in about thirty minutes or so.”
Thus began a flurry of reading, explaining, and signing. At the end, Eric slowly waved his hand up and down and said,”I can’t feel my hand anymore, it’s numb.”
Laughing, Bob commented, “Hopefully you’ll get feeling back in your hand in time for the second stack.”
“Please say you’re kidding,” Eric pleaded.
“Of course, we’re done with this part. But there are a few more things that we should discuss before you head back to Orono.”
Pam asked, “What else do we need to do?”
Leaning back and stretching in his chair, Bob said, “There are just a few things that I would like to talk with you about, but first let me get you the keys to your new house.”
Reaching into his desk drawer, he pulled-out a key ring with a number of labeled keys on them. As he handed them to Eric, he said, “These are the keys to your house and the other buildings on the farm. As you see, they are all labeled, so you should have no problems with regards to what key goes where.”
Taking the keys and looking them over, Eric said, “Thank you.”
Taking out a file folder from his middle drawer, Bob continued,
“Here are the directions to your new farm and as soon as Susan makes copies of the paperwork you just signed, I'll send you those as well. I have taken the liberty of keeping the originals in a safe deposit box for you. Also, there is one more item to give you.”
Opening another file folder, he took out a checkbook and handed it to Eric. “Here's the checkbook for the account which holds your money. As you can see, it is a Portland bank and, once the estate clears, you will, of course have the option of moving it wherever you wish.”
Pushing the intercom button, he said, “Susan, can you contact Mr. Cady at the bank and have him activate Mr. Peterson’s account, please?”
“Yes, sir,” replied Susan.
“Now, in a few minutes your account will be activated and you can use it just as you would a regular checking account.”
Eric sat staring at the checkbook in his hands and he just couldn't help but think that he was now a millionaire. The whole thought just blew his mind.
Looking over at Eric, Bob knew exactly what was going through his mind, so he said, “Eric, Pam, I don’t know what your plans are, but I would like it if you would stay overnight. I can have Susan get you accommodations at a hotel, courtesy of the firm of course, and we can have dinner and a nice talk without all this formality. Hopefully, I can answer some of the questions that are currently swimming around in your mind.”
Eric looked up and replied, “Well, yes that would be great, but I don’t want to take up your valuable time.”
“Nonsense, it was my idea and I would like to get to know you two better. After all, I was a good friend of your uncle’s and I would like to help his nephew begin his new life.”
Turning to the intercom he said, “Susan, can you book our usual room at the Regency, please. Our new friends will be staying on an extra day.”
Turning back to Eric and Pam, “Okay, I’ll let Susan give you the directions to your hotel and we can meet in the Armory lounge, say around six.”
Rising to shake their hands he said, “It’s really great to meet you and I hope you enjoy your stay. See you tonight.”
Chapter Five
Looking around the luxurious room, Pam could not believe what had just taken place over the last few hours. Here she was in a hotel suite overlooking Old Port; a suite with a fireplace and a Jacuzzi tub (YES!) and her friend is now a millionaire. Wow, what a difference a few hours can make. Looking over at Eric, he still seemed to be in shell shock, but hopefully, he would recover soon.
“You know, I didn’t expect to be here overnight, I mean, I have nothing to wear for dinner tonight, let alone anything to sleep in.”
“Well Pam, it’s not like we can't afford to buy you something to wear. Of course, you’ll need to pay me back,” he added with a smile.
Just then, there was a knock on the door. Pam went over to answer it and the concierge was there with, believe it or not, a basket full of toiletries and sleep-ware for them both.
As he handed them the items, he said, “This is complements of Mr. Conner. He felt that you might not have been prepared for an overnight stay, so he had me locate some necessary items for you. I hope you enjoy your stay and if there is anything else that I can do to make your stay more enjoyable, please don't hesitate to ask.”
Pam and Eric took the items and said, “Thank you very much.”
Pam closed the door and said, “Well, that solves that problem. Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to spend some quality-time with that Jacuzzi in there.”
Grabbing the robe and a bottle of water, she did just that.
Eric, plopped himself on the sofa and grabbed the remote and turned-on the TV. He didn’t care what was on; it was just the background noise he wanted. While lying on the soft and thinking about all that had transpired during the day, he felt himself fighting a losing battle with sleep...
Standing in the living room of the house, he thought that he heard something coming from the second floor. It wasn’t anything loud, but seemed like a soft creaking sound. Eric turned to his left and slowly made his way to the stairway. As he came closer, the creaking from above seemed to be following his progress. As he stopped near the door leading to the stairs, Eric felt as if a blanket had been draped around him; he felt a heaviness all around him. As he peered around the corner and up the curving staircase, the creaking began again, only this time it got louder. Taking a tentative step unto the first stair, the heaviness increased and he heard a low, menacing growl. Fighting the urge to turn and run and not knowing why he didn’t, Eric did one of the stupidest things he could ever think of doing: he yelled up the stairs,
“Hey, stupid, get your dead butt down here and see what I've got waiting for you!”
Immediately, Eric turned and began to run for the front door. As he ran, an inhuman roar and a loud thumping emanated from the top of the stairs as whatever it was came charging down the stairs. Eric continued to try and make it to the front door, but it was if he was running in slow motion. The screaming was unearthly and terrifying, but Eric dared to look back and saw something that made the scream catch in his throat. Coming down the last of the stairs and rounding the corner into the living room was a…
“Eric, wake up!” Pam stood by him shaking him awake, “You were screaming in your sleep! Are you all right?”
Propping himself up on the couch, Eric replied, “Uh, yeah, I think so. Sorry about that, I just had this really bad dream.”
“I should say so! You scared the crap out of me! Listen, are you going to be okay for dinner?"
"Yeah, I'll be fine. It was just a dream."
Eying him carefully, "Okay, if you're sure. Why don’t you take a shower and let’s get ready for dinner, we have about an hour before we need to be down there.”
“Yes, mom,” Eric replied as he slowly got up from the couch. Pam slugged him in the arm as he passed by.
Standing in the shower with the hot water coursing all around him, Eric tried to remember his dream. It takes place in the same house- that’s obvious, but the strange part is once again trying to figure out why he's having dreams, and such vivid ones at that, about a house he had never been to? Oh, and let's not forget about that stupid cat. I mean, come on, a cat named Elsa? And why on earth would he taunt something that he knew would come after him? I mean, how stupid was that?
There is also one other small item that seemed to weigh on him and that is: why did he have this dream so soon after the other one? Looking back, he remembered that although he would have these dreams from time to time, they have never occurred so close together before. Sometimes it would be months or even years before he would have the dream again. The only reasonable explanation would be to write it off to the stress of just having inherited a new house.
Letting the dream slowly fade from his mind, Eric let the hot water and steam engulf him. He has always loved the feeling of being completely engulfed in the hot water and the relaxation it seems to promote. He has been known in the dorms to stay in there for upwards of a half an hour, just letting the water stream over him. Pam always suggested that if he really enjoys hot showers, that he should just take a bath instead. But, it's his belief that baths are not a “guy thing,” so he always opts for the shower.
After some time, there was a pounding on the door and he heard Pam say, “You know, you’re going to use all the hot water in the hotel if you stay in there and besides, we have dinner in fifteen minutes!”
“Okay, I’ll be out in a minute!”
Shutting-off the water and opening the curtain, Eric is immediately engulfed in a wave of steam and he actually had to feel his way to the bathroom sink. Drying off and dressing quickly, he finally emerges from the bathroom feeling like a new man. The dream forgotten or at least put on the backburner in his mind, and the prospect of a good dinner, had considerably lightened his mood.
“Alright, Pammy, let’s go and eat.”
Giving him her disgusted look, she said, “I see you’re feeling better and I should say that if you call me 'Pammy' one more time, I’ll deck you...millionaire or not!”
Eric, looking not the least bit repentant, “Sorry, I just couldn’t resist. Are you ready to go downstairs now?”
Walking over to the mirror, Pam said, “Sure, just let me run the brush through my hair once more and I’m good to go.”
Upon entering the lounge, they looked around and spotted Bob and another woman sitting at a table. Bob saw them and waved them to come on over. The lounge was crowded this time of night, but they were able to navigate their way through the crowds and to their table.
Bob rose and said, “Nice to see you two again. Let me introduce you to my wife, Mary.”
“It’s very nice to meet you,” Eric said as he shook her hand.
Pam was next in line and shook Mary’s hand saying,“Hi, it’s very nice to meet you.”
As handshakes were exchanged and everyone finally got seated, Bob said, “Thank you for coming here tonight. I know that you expected to be on your way home about now, but I really did want to get to know you both a little better. Also, there are a few things that I wanted to talk to you about and I really didn’t want to do it in the formal office setting. Now, I hope that your accommodations are suitable?”
Looking over at her husband, Mary said, “Bob, will you please stop speaking like a lawyer. You’re not in the office, now.”
Smiling, Bob said, “Sorry, I just get so used to speaking lawyer-ease, that’s its sometimes hard to stop. So, how do you like your room?”
Laughing, Pam said, “It’s just fantastic! I love the view and the fireplace and that Jacuzzi is just fantastic!”
Smiling, Bob replied, “I’m glad you like it. That's the room we usually use for clients visiting from out of town.”
Looking up from the menu, Eric said, “Thank you once again! The room is terrific and I also want to thank you for the gift.”
“Think nothing of it. Now, let’s get down to the business of ordering and then we can find out a little bit about both of you.”
Eric looking over the menu immediately saw what he was going to have, “Oh yes! They have fish and chips: that’s what I’m having. I love ‘em. Ever since I had them as a kid, I order them whenever I can. What about you guys?”
They all ordered their favorite dishes and settled down to the task of getting-acquainted. Once their dinners arrived, Eric bit into his fish, and told them of the vacations he used to take with his family,
“We would take a yearly trip to Portland, Oregon and spend four days traveling around the area. On the first night, we would go to a small diner in Oregon City and have the best fish and chips I had ever tasted. They would serve it in the traditional way, in newspaper, and I would squeeze lemon and sprinkle them with malt vinegar. It could either be that they were that good, or the fact that I was on vacation, I have no idea.”
Taking another bite of his dinner, he continued,
“The next day, we would go to Mount Hood and spend a few hours at Timberline Lodge. Did you know that I actually met and had my picture taken with Lassie? Well, anyway, after that, we would travel what is known as the Mount Hood Loop and look for those roadside stands that sell fruit and fresh pies. My mom would buy a blueberry pie and we would later eat with some ice cream in the motel. Next, we went to Multnomah Falls and climbed to the bridge. The next day we would travel to Mount Rainier and spend the day hiking on the trails.
Guys, those were the best times of my life.”
As Eric silently began to eat again, absorbed in the memories, Bob glanced up from his meal and took a long look at Eric. He seemed like such a down-to-earth guy. Right then and there, he decided that he had to tell him what he’s getting into. But, not until after dinner.
Instead, he asked, “So, I understand that you were born and raised in California, What made you decide to travel all the way across the country to go to school?”
Finishing the last of his fries, Eric responded, “Well, it’s a long story, but to give you the Reader’s Digest version, I took a long, hard look at the way my life was going and I decided that I needed to force myself out of my comfort zone. I decided that the best way to do that was to go across the country. So, I applied to Graduate School here and was accepted.”
Swirling the wine in his glass, Bob said, “Well, I must say that I commend your attitude and yes, your bravery, to do something like that. I know that it's not an easy thing to do: to leave all you know and love and be dropped into an entirely new living situation.”
Raising his glass, Bob proposed a toast, “To Eric, a brave and well-traveled man.”
Eric looked really embarrassed but managed to mutter a, “Thanks guys.”
Setting his glass down Bob asked, “So, what are you studying here in Maine?”
“Well, I’m currently getting my Masters in History and next year I hope to start working on my PhD.”
Mary asked, “Are you going to teach or go into research? You know, work in a museum or archives?”
“I plan to teach,” Eric answered. “I never thought I would say that, but I really do love to teach. I get really nervous just before I start speaking, but once I’m actually teaching, I just get this huge adrenaline rush and, I don’t know, I just love it. I know, it sounds stupid”
“Not at all,” Mary replied, “I know for a fact that Bob here suffers from the same thing. You would think that a lawyer would be immune from something like that, but he says that although it still happens, it's not as bad as when he first started.”
Bob agreed, “You’re right and Eric, keep moving forward with your teaching plans. It does get easier and it's very rare that someone can find something that they actually love to do for a career.”
Bob looked at his watch and said, “You know, it’s starting to get late and there's one other thing that I wanted to talk with you about: It’s about the house and farm you have just inherited. There are some things that I need to tell you about the property and I think that the easiest way would be for all of us to take a drive up there tomorrow and I'll show you around and tell you what you need to know. Would you be able to do that?”
Eric immediately said, “Sure! That would be great!”
Bob clapped his hands together, “Good, I’ll keep the room in your name through Sunday night, so you can come back here on the way back to the University.”
Pam responded, “Thank you, that would be fantastic”
“Great, I’ll meet you two here tomorrow morning at around eight and we can head up to your farm.”
Chapter Six
The next morning, Bob and Mary pulled-up in front of the hotel and Eric and Pam climbed into the car and prepared themselves for the three and a half hour drive. The drive, as usual for a trip through the New England countryside, was breath taking. Especially, now in the fall, the leaves were doing their usual colorful ballet and the once green hills just seemed to dance with an explosion of color. As they continued on their way, they became better acquainted and more comfortable with each other and, what usually happens when people of like minds are together for a prolonged period of time, they became friends. With the passing of each mile, the usual barriers of age and status seemed to erode away and by the time they were within site of the farm, those barriers seemed to no longer exist.
Turning onto the road that leads to the farm, Bob commented, “Now, this is the road that leads to your farm. Up ahead a short distance, you will see a gate. Eric, if you can get your keys out, I’ll let you do the honors.”