"I hope I'm not intruding."

 It wasn't the first time May said this, and she seemed to be repeating it more and more the closer to home they got until finally they were pushing through the front door. 

May's hands were juggling her suitcase and purse while Jessica balanced a few bags of groceries in one arm and one in the other as she fumbled with her keys.

"Yes," Jessica rolled her eyes, "yes, you're twisting my arm," she waited for May to shuffle in before toeing the door closed, "in fact you are so skilled at forcing me to help you that I had to drive over, pack half of your stuff, and refuse to leave until you came!" Exasperated, and more than a bit overheated in the midsummer Oklahoma heat, Jessica found she was at her wits end, "honestly May, it's fine!" she tossed down the groceries when she made it to the kitchen and gave a huff before turning to her friend who was smiling over at her.

With a frown she crossed her arms, "don't give me that look now."

"You're the same as always," May looked out the window pushing some of her honey blond hair behind her ear, blue eyes distant "always looking out for me."

She shifted uncomfortably at the sudden sentimental moment, though May did delve into her feelings more frequently than Jessica did, so it didn't come as a surprise to the brunet when the bubbly girl made the statement, she crossed her arms. She took a moment to appreciate May's unconventional beauty that seemed to attract the worst of men; long blond hair that fell just past her shoulders, large hips and a slightly rounder face that held the largest smiles and large sparkling blue eyes with skin that never tanned. She wasn't obese, Jessica wouldn't even really call her fat, but she was on the larger side which at times lead to heartbreak with lovers who would want her to lose weight. Jessica often would step in those times to defend her friend.

"It's what I am here for. You're like my little sister!"

The other giggled and wrinkled her nose, "little city girl sister you mean?"

"Yes," Jessica laughed lightly and turned to begin putting away some of the groceries; cleaners, some cereal, and a new pair of oven mitts, and said off handed glancing back to the other as the blond girl dug in her purse pulling out her phone, "you could always help out if you feel so guilty. You know, shovel the stalls, and maybe feed the chickens." A grin stretched her face painfully as she watched the horrified look settle upon her best friends face, knowing the girl hated manual labor especially any that could deal with fecal matter of any kind,

"or you could just do the favor of gracing me with your amazing cookin' skills."

Mays face lit up at the idea and she quickly nodded her head, "hun- I'll make you a hardy dinner to fill you up tonight!"

Jessica froze midway to grabbing a glass before continuing what she was doing, hoping the other hadn't taken notice while pushing back her long brown hair that she had down for once, "actually I have some business related stuff to do tonight. I won't be home until late, so don't worry. I'll probably grab something at the diner."

Pulling her eyes away from her cell May frowned cocking her head to the side, "business stuff? So late?" suddenly her eyes took on a mischievous glint and her smirk matched. "This 'business' wouldn't be a man now would it?"

A small twinge went off in Jessica's chest, though she tried to ignore it, puffing out her cheeks she rolled her eyes, "oh please May! You know I have no love interests right now! I have made that quite clear."

"It's been over a year since Jason, and you guys hadn't even been together that long!" exclaimed the taller of the two making her way over to the other woman," all you ever do is work work work! I have never even seen you take a break. I thought you wanted kids-I'll let you in on a secret it ain't happening' this way."

It was true and Jessica knew it. 

Jason had been a short-lived relationship, his wish of her uprooting with him to move across country not agreeing with her. They had ended it, agreeing their differences were too great-though Jessica didn't pretend it hadn't hurt her. It had been nice having some company, to be held in a protective embrace and waking up at another's gaze. And it wasn't as if kids hadn't passed her thoughts more than once, though of course it never got anywhere close to that.

She knew that there was no luck in her romantic relationships, the few she had, and bitterly knew the reason why. It had been her first real crush, in high school, who had up and left right before her junior year. It seemed the blond-haired girl staring at her thought the same as May frowned and folded her arms over her pink blouse.

"Listen Hun, Bret is a thing of the past. I know you said you would wait for him, and you did hun. You waited-what- four years before trying' to move on? And the few times he 'did' come back for you it was just to ask for help before he got bored before running off again. I'm sorry but you just got to move on girl," May looked to Jessica as the brunet tried to seem uninterested.

"I know, "she groaned," and I know we've talked about this a billion times. I'm over him, really, I am. I just haven't found the one yet."

Jessica frowned, thinking at how many people her age she knew who already had kids and a husband. Shaking her head, she thought of the meeting she had to attend that night and she reaffirmed with herself that she had no time to be thinking about old flames. Even if that old flame was her first love and the man she had been together the longest with.

But just as she would point out to May her need to find a healthier relationship, she herself had come to realize Bret was bad news and a taker. He had nothing to give her but grief and heart ache.

"I don't have time to go out trying to find a competent man," at Mays look she rolled her eyes, "but there 'is' a lot going on right now. I really don't have time to be running around doing much at all. If Mr.Right would just come and show himself I wouldn't mind so much."

"So, what is this business stuff you have going on tonight?" May pulled up a chair as Jessica hoisted herself up on her countertop sipping at some water and throwing her head back in an attempt to cool off, running her fingers through her long brunet hair. Despite her jean shorts and white baggy t-shirt with blue sleeveless top under it, she was still too hot.

"It's a meeting between some of the local farms," Jessica felt the twist in her stomach as the worry that she had been able to keep at bay while busying herself with May and her problems resurfaced, "There is a company trying to buy up a lot of the farm land around here. They're probably just trying to give another offer."

"Then why attend! I know you; you love this farm! You worked tooth and nail back in school to save up for this land! You work tooth and nail to this day to keep this place running!"

Jessica knew what May said was true, and she frowned. This was the first meeting she was going to, and she knew why. Though worrying May with the fact she had been frightened by strange men coming to her door and personally giving her an invitation wouldn't do.

"I am obligated to go to some of these meetings," she shrugged and looked out the window avoiding Mays piercing gaze, "you know I have made the farm a part of the community by selling at farmers market."

May didn't look convinced and seemed as if she was going to prod at her a bit more before pausing and seeming to decide otherwise, "Oh ok, well as long as nothing is wrong." She gave Jessica a piercing gaze, imploring her to let her know what was wrong. But as always Jessica kept her problems to herself and said nothing.

"Well," she said standing, "I might as well go and get some things done before getting ready to go. The meeting is at 6," she glanced at her watch seeing it was just past 3, "I hope you'll be fine." She looked to May who nodded.

"You know me, I can be comfortable anywhere," she flashed a pearly white grin then she was pulling her suitcase down the hall to the guest bedroom that she frequently stayed at. Especially after her splitting up with her most recent boyfriend, Jessica thought with a scowl. 

Instead she hollered down the hall playfully," Anywhere so long there is running water, a bed, and electricity right?"

"Of course, basic life necessities," was shouted unseen from the room and she grinned, remembering the one and only camping trip they had done as preteens together. From then on, May had insisted on 'glamping' if they where "ever again needing the love of nature so close". 

Back in the entry way she slid onto the personalized bench that was near the door. It had deer, birds, and marshes carved into it. She had done the wood carving herself, but the decorative iron back had been a gift from her friends Jarrod and Lizzy for Christmas. It was the one thing she had to remember them by after they recently sold their horse ranch and moved state. This bench was the most personalized thing in her two-bedroom farmhouse with its secondhand furniture, oak floors, and bare walls.

Under this bench were several pairs of shoes and work boots for her and the farm help she hired. She grabbed a pair of brown boots with dried mud that cracked off as she wiggled into them, then kicking the sandals she had been wearing further under the bench she made her way out the door.

The front of her house was about as basic as the interior though the paint was something she had picked in mind of her tastes, olive green with dark brown trim. There was a line of apple trees in the front that had just begun to bear fruit that yielded a sweeter apple than the bitter greens that made up many in her small orchard and a simple chain-link fence that surrounded half of what was supposed to make up her front yard. She had never finished putting up the other half.

Rounding off around the side to the back she patted one of her Dobermans as they intersected paths, he accepted the scratch behind his pointed ear before continuing his perimeter check. She had gotten the dogs a couple years ago when loosing almost all her chickens to wild dogs. The dogs had more than protected the chickens, they kept the whole farm safe. It was an extra bit of comfort for her since she lived alone.

Arriving in her back yard she went to the far left where her chickens could be heard, walking past her goats who cried for her attention, and grabbed a small bucket filled with kitchen scraps.

Upon arriving at the coop, most of her girls were already out, and at the site of her began their excited coos, she reached for their treat bowl and overturned the bucket after tossing out the scrap of apple they had missed, and allowed them to see the worms that were quickly delving to the bottom of the soil. The hens wasted no time in pecking at them and fighting over the juicy treats, which amused her greatly.

"Oh hey, was wondering when you were going to be paying your babies a visit," she turned around and smiled at her farmhand, a young man of 23. 

George was tall, a bit gangly with large hands and feet, but was also well toned with dark hair, brown eyes, and a slight crook in his nose due to a break as a child. He had helped her on the farm for four summers now and was planning on starting his own someday. He reminded Jessica of herself when she was younger in that respect, he was full of passion and yearning, always trying and proved to be a diligent worker.

He grinned and held his hands behind his head, he was wearing light blue torn jeans and brown boots, his shirt was around his head under his cowboy hat. He obviously was trying to tan his torso to the extent his hands and arms were so that the rippling muscle would match the rest of the sun kissed body.

"I had to run and grab May," she turned back to the chickens, "I hope not too much fell behind while I was gone." She knew her farmhands were good hard workers, and she had warned them ahead of time of her day off trusting them completely to assist her.

"Don't worry," he gave a chuckle. 

Two of the hens were at opposite ends of a worm pulling desperately almost running into Jessica.

"Goats have been milked, crops watered, and the horse stalls were all cleaned and everyone has been fed. We didn't get to brushing the horses though, or the sheep. Anthony and Margret are thinning carrots and Alex, last I heard, was catching Lucy again."

Jessica groaned. Lucy, her half ass, had a habit for jumping the fence. The neighbors warned that they may put a bullet hole through her if she didn't quit coming over and eating their grass.

"Great," she sighed and paused, "well thank you for doing so much overtime. Are you going home now?"

He nodded," yeah promised mom I would help with dinner. My sister is coming for a visit so she's fussing over everything."

Another toothy grin from him and Jessica felt her own lips turn up in amusement. She remembered last year his mother had called him, bellowing at the other end of his cell, that his sister was coming for a visit and he had better come home smelling like a gentleman. Farming was not something his family saw as a career path, and apparently didn't support him as much as his college succeeding sister.

"Well go on then," she laughed, "I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Bright and early," he confirmed winking as he began to jog to the house where he would change his boots and hang up his hat.

Jessica sighed after he left her line of sight and scratched the back of her neck, heading to the horses. 

During the summer and fall she normally taught horse riding lessons with some of the locals, though this year had been a bit slow. She owned seven horses and of them all Shadow, a black rocky mountain horse with silver hair, was her favorite. He was a gentle soul, and was a excellent show horse, having won several years in the state fair at first place. She had been lucky enough to buy him off his owners four years ago when they had deemed him an unhealthy runt. Back then he had been dirty and neglected the weaker of two twins. Now today he was majestic and strong.

Coming up to the pasture that they were fenced in, she saw Shadow trotting with Laddie, a gelding pony she had bought through a friend. He was light brown, a stark contrast when trotting alongside Shadow, and was short and strong, and a bit pushier at the feeding bowl than his dark friend.

She paused on her way to the fence when seeing, in the distance, Alex on top of another one of her horses, a painted brown and white girl. She was glad to spy Lucy following lazily alongside him.

Walking over to the gate she lifted the door up and pulled it open for him when they reached it and allowed him to trot through while she grabbed Lucy, she glared up at the stubborn half ass.

"She didn't make it past the property line this time," Alex said hopping of his horse and looked down to Jessica, "But Mr. Smith was watching with his shotgun in hand this time. He didn't look too happy that I got to her first."

Sighing Jessica shook her head, "I wouldn't doubt it. Thank you so much Alex you are a life saver."

The blonde man smiled and gave her a wink. He had been her newest hire on and had proven to be a hard worker if not a bit forward at times. He wasn't bad to look at, she mentally noted, with his blonde hair and blue eyes and perfectly straight white teeth, but his playboy attitude had deterred her from the start.

"I wouldn't be surprised," he continued, surprisingly not making any more moves at her, "if he was the one that has been breakin' into your place at night."

Jessica frowned. Twice now her property had been trespassed, resulting in someone destroying most of her corn field the first time the season before, and just a few days prior someone opening up the barn and letting the cows out.

It would have been a pleasant enough conversation despite the dark topic-had it not been for the obvious glance he made at her backside. It wasn't often she wore shorts, and she made a mental note not to again. He was safe enough, she knew, but he had tried several times to flirt with her. She wouldn't give him an opening tonight to do so again.

"Well if he is," she said heading to the barn having ignored the small pass, "there isn't much we can do. Thank you again for all the help Alex. I really appreciate it." perhaps slightly cold and clipped, but she didn't want him thinking she was the least bit attracted to him.

Despite his playboy attitude Alex was a life saver, Jessica reminded herself. He worked for little pay, with the agreement he was allowed some of the produce from the farm. He was an open book, with few ties to the community having moved from the northeast wishing for warmer weather and the chance to learn how to farm. He had nothing, and so he had been desperate when she had found him, toting a sign in a parking lot saying "will work for food".

"Anything for such a pretty lady." he winked again opening his arms for a hug and she rolled her eyes.

Shaking her head she ducked under his arm his flirting almost just a joking necessity of their currently developing friendship, "I'm gonna milk the girls and call it a night. My friend is at the house already, I forgot to tell her about you, so don't scare her off."

Pausing she turned around "and behave!"

He put his hands up in defense, grinning with his straight pearly whites," Oh I will be a perfect gentleman. But I can't say anything about her wanting me."

Jessica shook her head as he jogged a bit too happily to the house. He had been living in the shed she had out back, but most of the time he hung out in the house.

"Well this is probably the worst decision I have made in a while," she grumbled grabbing a large stainless-steel bucket from one of the clean white cupboards and went to go milk the first cow.

She lost track of time, thinking and worrying about her little farm that she had worked so hard for. She may be 28, but at the moment she felt 17 again, living in a shitty apartment working two jobs and feeling out out of control. It was not the way she liked to live, out of control. It was why she did so well playing boss to her few farm hands and all the CSA volunteers.

"Five years," She grumbled patting the brown cow as she munched on hay and brought the last full bucket to the milk holding area, slipping on a tight cover over the top and putting it in a large fridge so she could work with it after the next morning's milking, "I finally have the house built. The CSA is going well, and it's finally brining in money. Five years of hard work and they want to take it all away."

She sniffed and balled her fists, unwilling to cry, but the frustration and exhaustion were working well on her nerves. Closing the door to the fridge she glanced out the window at the darkening sky and gasped looking to her watch.

"Shit," she cursed, it was 5:15, "I should have finished 20 minutes ago!"

She made a mad dash toward the house and threw open the door, cutting off the laughter from the kitchen. She ignored her grumbling stomach at the aroma of home-made food.

Alex and May came around the corner looking confused as Jessica threw off her boots, popped on some sandals, and grabbed her keys, "Late. Gotta go, bye!" and she was running out the door, leaving them without a second glance.

Jumping in her beat up white pickup complete with rust spots, she turned the engine over giving a sigh of relief as it sprung to life on the first try, sputtering in protest as she turned it around and flew down the driveway.

After a few minutes she had made it off her road and the back road that lead to most of the local farms and onto the highway heading to town. Glancing at her watch again, she saw it was 5:23 and she pushed the gas down a bit more hoping there were no cops out.

A few minutes of cruising on the highway, all of the traffic was on the opposite end as everyone was returning home from work and there were few people heading into town at this time, this gave her enough time to calm herself and realize that Alex indeed had hung out with May.

"Not surprising," she grumbled, worrying slightly that her friend may fall for the fair-haired man's charm as he was defiantly her type, "This is why men treat her like crap." Though she didn't ever see Alex mistreating any woman. Despite his playful nature, and her only knowing him for such a short while, he had proven himself hard working and trustworthy with an open book nature.

After a few more minutes of speeding down the highway she spied the lights of the town coming into view. Breathing a sigh of relief, she stopped gripping the steering wheel so tight and looked down to her watch seeing that it was 15 till. She was still about five minutes away, so she felt as if her fast pace had saved her from missing the meeting.

Though her relief was short lived, for right as she begun to lay off the gas, red and blue flashed in her mirror. 

Groaning she pulled to the side of the road hearing the telltale sirens and frowning knowing the budget was growing tight with all these surprise bills, she didn't need a ticket on top.

She popped open the glove box, thankful she had just renewed the tags, and grabbed the registration and her insurance. He had just knocked on her window when she had finished pulling out her license and she took a minute to roll it down.

Startling a little, Jessica didn't want to think of herself as easily taken with someone; but looking up she saw probably the most handsome blond cop with deep brown eyes she had ever seen and distantly wondered if she was being pranked with a stripper. His hair was perfectly blond and cropped short, his skin held a tan and his build was impressive. Though what truly held her breath were the depth of his dark chocolate colored eyes, which flickered for a moment, she was sure, with recognition.

She allowed herself only a moment to become lost in that gaze. Those eyes had a familiar approachable look to them, as if she had lost herself in them once before. As a matter of fact, she was fairly certain she had done just that in the past, but refused to dwell on it.

"Ma'am?"

"Uh!" she jolted realizing the cop, with his unsettling familiar air, had been talking to her and now had a look of worry and he frowned.

"Are you alright?" he asked shining his flashlight at her.

Nodding, a blush staining her cheeks she handed him her information, "Sorry I am just a little tired."

It wasn't a lie; she had slept little and had worked more than ever since the tensions of being bought out by a large company and loosing farm hands had peaked. And the cops familiar gaze in that handsome face had her heart pounding a thousand beats per minute. Perhaps it was May moving in with her today and her recent love troubles, or perhaps it was her lingering thoughts on her own love life, but she had inadvertently had felt a pull towards the officer far too fast and far too easily.

He looked at her closely for a moment, long and hard with a calculating gaze, while taking her papers before looking down to her ID and back at her before continuing," I had asked you if you knew why I pulled you over ma'am"

Inwardly she scoffed, knowing that he 'knew' why she pulled her over but played along anyway responding sweetly," Yes. I'm sorry I had just saw I was speeding, I have been driving for about half an hour, and my foot got heavy on the gas. I had just started letting up right when you saw me."

She kicked herself knowing how much of a lame excuse that sounded like, but she was currently out of any better ideas.

Nodding he looked back to her papers," let me go check these. I'll be right back."

He looked at her again, as if double checking something. Maybe to see if he, too, recognized her? Jessica had been sure she recognized him, and it was driving her mad. Briefly she considered her old tutor, friend and secret flame from high school, but quickly pushed that thought away. Not only had high school been so long ago, this tall muscular man resembled nothing of the quite not quite chunky Brad aside from being blond with brown eyes.

She shifted watching him in her mirrors as he went back in his car to look up her information. He was big, perhaps a little 6'0" and muscular but not grossly so. He had light blond short hair and deep brown eyes, a strong jaw and strait nose on a cleanly shaven face. She tried to take the features and place them, as for he did look painfully familiar, but it was as if every moment she was sure it was the older boy that would sometimes tutor her with her math work, she would shake her head in disbelief.

She shook her head looking to her hands on her lap as she cursed.

It was the stress, lack of sleep, or May's recent breakup, but something was making her become starry eyed over the cop and making her think she knew him. Glancing in her mirror as discreetly as possible she fixed her long hair from a messy bun into a quick braid and frowned down to her untidy cloths and the fact she must smell like a barn.

"What am I doing?" She blushed frowning, "Like he is going to ask me out on a date or something. Stupid girl."

"Ma'am" she jumped as the light was back on her and he handed her papers back," I see you have a pretty clean record. I suggest not driving to town when you're so tired. It is dangerous not only for you but other drivers."

She nodded holding her breath realizing he wasn't holding a ticket or a pen to write one," Yes I will be sure to officer." 

Was that glance he just gave flirtatious? No. No perfect professionalism was behind the kind smile.

But the way his eyes lit up was as if he knew her. Was there the possibility of further bantering? Though she was in no position to start it, so flustered she was over the blond.

"Ma'am, "he caught her attention and her heart jumped into her throat as her eyes turned to his face, a gentle smile on his far too kissable lips," are you in a rush for anything?"

God, she mentally chided herself, I have been single far too long. 'Kissable lips?' am I so desperate? 

Jessica mentally blamed Mays earlier conversation of her relationship status to blame for her current predicament. 

She nibbled her lip, considering lying to those unwavering chocolate eyes in hopes that he would ask her out to dinner. 

But the memory of the men who had knocked non-too kindly at her door about a week before came, and her head took control as her heart slowed remembering her farm was at stake, "Not so much. I do have a meeting to be to," she glanced at her watch seeing it was 5 till.

The man nodded, his smile leaving, and she distantly wondered if he had been thinking the same as her. His last glace at her face, and a very obvious pause to her bare ring finger on the steering wheel told quite the tale.

The lights from his cruiser reflected off his nametag and she caught the name Harrison. She assumed that was his last name. It did not ring a bell, though she knew his face. Realizing that he probably was not the boy she thought he had been, her heart sunk just a little.

 Brad was not this man, no matter how much she hoped. It had been even longer that Brad had left her life than his brother Bret, and there had been even less threading their lives together. So what reason had she to suddenly see him in this officer, much less feel an old familiar flame at the mere memory suddenly rekindled into a physical current reality?

 Jessica was silently thankful she hadn't asked, and saved herself an embarrassing moment.

"Well keep it at a reasonable pace for me please," he nodded his head, suddenly a considerably more professional voice taking over what before had been a comfortable speech," and have a nice night. If you get too tired be sure to pull over and sleep or stay at a motel before returning home tonight. Be safe."

She nodded, putting her things back in place and put the car in drive, flicking on her turn signal and making sure to go the speed limit. Though she watched him in the mirror as he made his way back to his cruiser, heart hammering.

"Do I know you? Have I seen you before?" those eyes flashed in her mind once again, and she knew she had seen that gaze previously. She was sure he had also recognized her to some extent as well.

Frowning she slowed down in the heart of town and suddenly her rational thoughts caught up with her. He was not flirting with her he had been doing his job. Though he had been kind enough to leave her without a ticket.

"That is only because you have a clean driving record Jessica," she scolded out loud, "He was just goin' easy on you." 

And that was it, she reasoned, convincing herself it had been just her and she was being silly.

 "He even had your ID. If he didn't call you out from knowing you in high school you're probably mistaking him. "

She made it to the school where the meeting was being held and ran through the doors, seeing it was just a minute past, almost bumping into a guy. 

She ran along shouting an apology over her shoulder before turning down a hallway with a sign saying 'Farmers meeting'. Following the signs down the hall and to the auditorium she slipped through the doors as quietly as possible, though her entrance was obvious as for there were only 14 other farmers whose land was in jeopardy, many already having been bought out in favor of a large paycheck.

"Ah Mrs. Anderson, so glad to see you made it," the people making up the presentation were led by Douglas Skinner, a thin pale man in a business suit with a receding red hairline and well groomed mustache and beard. 

He had been the one to start harassing her, though he hadn't been the one to convince her of attending the meeting, he had left that to three large men with shades and black business suites that reminded her of FBI agents, or perhaps gang members. 

She had agreed to come, fearing for her well-being and her farm if she didn't. Of course, she had filed a report with the police, but the chief would have nothing of it. It being his last few days of work she figured the lazy old man didn't care any longer.

Two other men stood silent in the background. 

Another business looking man, with no memorable looks about him with a groomed beard to match his groomed brunet hair, and light brown eyes, and a large man in a black suit with dark skin and black eyes looking more like a body guard than a business man.

"Wouldn't miss it for the world," she said in an overly sugary voice, pulling out all the honey from her old Texas life she could," I just couldn't miss ya'll before ya'll left town now could I? You have a word or two to say, and I may as well hear it from you, even if I'm not gonna give you an inch of land."

There were a few other farmers present that were smirking, Mrs. Eckart and Manny were two she saw at the market all the time and they knew quite well how much she disdained going to the meeting. 

They, too, had been persuaded to attend and had complained a week before to the police chief having come up with the same attitude. It was a wonder the crime rate wasn't higher in the city, Jessica wondered inwardly, seeing as how this 'company' had been allowed to harass so many farmer for the past year.

"Yes, well do come sit down. We have quite a lot to go over."

She slid in next to Manny smiling at him and crossed her arms in defiance as she made herself as comfortable as possible in the plastic chair. He blew her a kiss before turning a fierce gaze to those present.

"They just are talking' about how our land isn't being used to its full potential, and they could buy up our land for enough to buy better farm land elsewhere. A bunch of hog wash if you ask me," he brushed some dusty brown hair from his eyes and put his tan hands behind his head.

 Manny mostly farmed corn and peppers like his father had done in Mexico long before he had been born, and frequently would come over with spicy chili, or traditionally made tamales. She never complained, he was an amazing cook.

A half an hour later she was grumbling and attempting to stay awake by shifting every so often and cursing at Manny as he poked her. They had gone over zoning laws, and cash offers, with vague information what they truly planned for the land once they had bought it.

"You ain't even telling us what you want to do with our land," Jackie stood gesturing wildly. 

She lived a few miles away from Jessica and they got along well enough. Jackie had taught Jessica quite a bit, having been born and raised on the farm she ran and knew how to run a large farm without a second thought. Jessica had rented out a room and had worked her butt off when she had first purchased her underdeveloped vacant land, which ironically had been a hand full of acres Mr. Smith had been selling to help with his bills.

"The individual in which we represent has not disclosed this information to us as for he did not find it necessary," Skinner wiped some sweat from his brow as he powered down the projector, and Jessica was pleased to see he seemed strained from the obvious lack of enthusiasm the farmers were giving off.

"We provide food for our community," Manny said shaking his head, and Jessica knew he was probably thinking of his donations to meals on wheels and other parts of the community that supported both low income and elderly, "how are we expected to sell if we don't even know what is going to be done with our land? Where will my customers buy their peppers if not from my stand?" it was what he was best known for.

"Why, a supermarket or store of course, unless you wish to buy land close to here that-"

"There 'is' no good land to farm on close to here. Least not large enough plots for an operation like mine," Piped Jessica and she stood. 

The other farmers began following suit. Even Mr. Skinner seemed done. He didn't argue, Jessica had the fourth largest farm operation out of the group, and she held at least 20 constant CSA's. To be able to do that, she would have to drive almost to the next county and buy several plots to make up for it. Then the drive would not make it worth the effort.

It seemed the meeting was done, and everyone was filing out, some staying behind to grumble to each-other. 

Jessica was sad to see the brunet haired girl, she forgot her name, approaching Mr. Skinner. She had purchased land for a farm a few years prior and was having trouble getting foot at the local market due to most customers wishing to stay with the farms they already knew. A fire had mysteriously burned down most of her crops a month ago, and Jessica was sure that she was done. Farm work wasn't for everyone; it was hard with long grueling hours and sometimes with much loss.

Jessica waved as Manny headed out the door and sighed before rubbing her shoulders.

"Mrs. Anderson," She turned to see the well-groomed businessman approach her. She had forgotten about him during the meeting, he had been pretty much silent and easily missed sitting in the background with the strange bodyguard like man, "Adam Westfall. I am with Mr. Skinner on the team trying to purchase your land."

"Obviously," she stated too tired to even give the most basic courtesy.

His smile became tight and he nodded, "then let's not beat around the bush. You are proving to be quite an obstacle, having been very vocal with your distrust in our boss, and unwillingness to negotiate a price."

"I don't see why I need to negotiate," she snapped cutting him off, "When I have spent years getting this farm up and running"

He was silent, his harmless disposition seeming to slowly melt away to something much more sinister. Distantly Jessica realized no one was left but her and the other two businessmen, and she wondered if it were possible, they would hurt her.

Stubbornly she straightened herself to her full height, which was almost as tall as Mr. Westfall.

"Okay. You need to realize something," his voice was low now, and he was leaning into her face so close she could smell cigarettes on his breath, "I just wanted to inform you. It is dangerous being a lonely woman in this world. I am merely worried for your well-being. Would hate to see you or your farm come to any -harm."

"Are you threatening me?" She hissed, heart racing.

He smirked leaning back, "I would never think of it. I am simply worried for you.

Now please head on out to your truck, you look exhausted. Go home and rest."

She watched him walk off and shivered, a sudden chill running down her spine. His eyes had been cold and empty as if there was no light in them, and he made her uncomfortable.

Rubbing her arm, she scurried out to the parking lot, the dimly lit school halls were spooky when alone. Sliding in her truck and locking the door after she got in, she let out the breath she hadn't realized she had been holding.

Putting the keys in she turned the ignition only to hear the engine groan in protest. 

Her heart jumped at the thought of being stranded, especially so close to the man that had made her feel so uncomfortable, and she sat up straighter turning the key again getting another pathetic warble from under the hood. She cursed herself for having been so hard on the old truck. She had bought it used years before buying the farm, and had been keeping it alive since, though only barely.

Sighing she reached into her pocket for her phone and flipped it open.

"Of course it isn't charged," She groaned, "that would be just my luck."

Throwing it on the passenger's seat she gripped the wheel with one hand and the keys with the other begging silently before giving a turn. The engine groaned and leapt to life sputtering angrily.

Giving off a little whoop she baked out of the dark parking lot trying to ignore the growing concern of the company that seem to hold far too much power, and wanted control of the land the farmers owned legally.

But for what reason?