Chapter 1 #2
Starla introduced me to her friends, women who lived on the property, which meant they were ex-cons like me–the very purpose of this program. When I asked if she lived nearby, she said she lived in town, so I assumed she volunteered.
She dashed that hope when she and the other women started cracking jokes about how ex-cons always seemed to gravitate toward a property an ex-cop ran.
“You were in prison?” I asked quietly as Starla and I walked a few steps behind her friends.
“I was. Twice, actually.”
“That’s what you meant when you said you got lost.”
“Yes. I tried to reach your mom so many times, but without her real name, I never found an address. I wrote to my old caseworker, but she refused to give me any information because it was confidential. I took that as a sign I wasn’t supposed to push it, so I stopped trying.”
“You shouldn’t have, although since you only knew her as Ma, I’m not sure how you would have ever found her unless you drove up to Kansas and found the farm.”
“I considered that, but decided it felt a little stalkerish. And until a little over a month ago, I couldn’t even leave town without written permission.”
“I remember what that was like. Thank God I’m past it. Talk about a pain in the ass, although I’ve never been one who likes to follow the rules. That’s why I didn’t stay in the Army as long as I planned.”
“I’m so glad you made it out safely. Too many don’t, and even when they do, it’s easy to get pulled right back into the life that sent them to prison. I’m living proof of how fast those bad decisions stack up.”
“How long have you been out? Have you settled down? Do you have a family I can meet so I can brag to Ma that I saw you first and even got to . . .” I let my voice trail off when I saw pain flash across her face. “I’m sorry. That was insensitive.”
“No, it’s a valid question. I don’t have children, and I’ve been single for a while. At first, I stayed single because I needed to get my footing and figure out what I wanted my new normal to look like. After that, I kept running into one missed opportunity after another. What about you?”
“Well, obviously my boys are grown now.” I laughed for a second, then said, “If Ma had her way, they’d already be settling down and giving her great-grandchildren, but they keep resisting her matchmaking efforts.”
“I’m not sure how. I know she can be pretty persuasive.”
“You remember that, huh?”
“How could I forget? Somehow she measured her steel will in equal parts with her sweetness.”
“Just so you know, she still has plenty of both. With that being said, you’ll understand why I have to do this,” I said as I pulled out my phone and dialed Ma’s number.
Ma answered on the second ring, and when her face came into view, she was frowning. “Son, what have I told you about calling me on this thing? One of these days, you’ll call at the wrong time and see something you might never forget.”
“Or you could ignore the call instead of scarring your favorite son for life,” I teased.
“When you figure out which of my children is my favorite, make sure to let me know, but until then . . .”
“Ma,” I said, cutting her off. “I ran into an old kitchen companion of yours.”
“In Texas? Doubtful.” I handed Starla the phone and heard Ma gasp. She recognized her immediately and sounded happier than I’d heard her in ages. Her voice thickened with tears as she said, “Starla? As I live and breathe, it’s my little Starla.”
Tears filled Starla’s eyes as she whispered, “Hi, Ma.”
◆◆◆
“They should give birth in February, so the kids will be weaned by April or early May,” my friend Ripley said as he rested his arms on the top rail of the fence beside me. As we looked out over the enclosure housing the bred goats, he asked, “When will the ones you want to trade be ready?”
“Right around the same time.”
“I’ll have the three you want to breed ready then too. It’s going to make me crazy keeping both bucks for that long, but they’ll enjoy their work until you bring their replacements.”
“The ones I’ve got will do the same until I hand them over.”
Ripley pushed away from the fence and offered his hand. “It’s a deal.”
Ripley had traveled to the farm several times to exchange bucks and nanny goats while we worked to hone the genetics of our stock. With his help, my sister-in-law had introduced larger animals, smaller animals, and new color patterns her herd had never had before.
Originally, the goats on our farm cleared land, which is how Ripley’s business utilized them.
However, when my nephew was born with an allergy to cow’s milk, my sister-in-law started harvesting milk from two of the goats on the property.
That small necessity gradually developed into a profitable business model for her and the family farm.
Over the last few years, natural skincare had exploded in popularity, and Hannah’s business boomed. With the goat herd and hives we kept for honey, she created several lines of skincare products. She offered everything from milk-and-honey soaps and shampoos to lip balm and candles.
Most people never considered what it took to maintain a healthy herd, which created healthy ingredients for Hannah’s products.
But Hannah was an eager, quick learner. She had a system to track the breeding and genetics of each animal, along with their nutritional needs, medical interventions, and other costs.
What started as a way to give her children something nutritious to drink had turned into a successful business the entire family was proud of. With help from herders like Ripley, Hannah rotated her stock to keep bloodlines healthy and prevent inbreeding.
“As always, it’s a pleasure doing business with you, Sarge.”
“We feel the same way about working with you. Now I can ride back with good news for my sister and Ma.”
“What do you have for Ma?” Ripley asked.
He’d met Ma several times over the years, and they’d built a friendship full of sarcasm, grumpiness, and respect. Ma adored Ripley’s wife and children and kept in touch with them better than Hannah or I did.
I told him how I’d run into Starla at the flower farm and explained her life with Ma and the rest of the family when she lived in Kansas. Ripley looked almost as shocked as I’d been. “What are the odds you’d run into someone you knew all those years ago here?”
“I wouldn’t even try to guess, but that’s how it happened.
Since I wasn’t living on the farm, I didn’t spend much time around Starla when she was younger, so I don’t think I would have recognized her.
Hell, it took me a minute even after she told me who she was.
I’m glad we reconnected because Ma has always wondered what happened to her after the state moved her to a different foster family. ”
“Starla has become good friends with my sister, so I’ve spent a lot of time around her.”
“Poor guy. You’re like Ma. Anything that involves mingling with other people is almost painful.”
“That it is, but I’m getting better.”
“Only because Tori and Scoot have forced you to.”
“That’s the truth,” Rip grumbled. “It doesn’t help that I bought a house in a neighborhood where half the people are either related or best friends. Tori’s best friend lives just a few doors down. I can’t figure out why, since she’s always at our damn house anyway.”
I knew Rip well enough to understand that he was just grouchy by nature, not because he disliked the woman in question. He proved me right when he added, “You know, she’s single and clearly doesn’t mind a man who has a record like mine or yours.”
“Don’t get out your bow and arrow just yet, Cupid. I’m going home tomorrow, and I won’t be back for a few months. That could put a crimp in a budding relationship.”
“But it wouldn’t completely deter one either. And, as an added bonus, when you sweep her off her feet and carry her home to Kansas, that's one less person I have to deal with walking into my house without knocking.”
“Obviously, the little things in life are what make you happy–if a man as grumpy as you can actually get that way.”
“The simple things in life are the most important. That’s why I’m such good friends with you, since I can honestly say I’ve never met anyone quite as simple as you.”
“You know, most people would take that as a compliment, thinking it meant they were honest and forthright or some shit.”
“But you understand I’m calling you stupid. That’s why we get along.”