Lucy sat at her desk the next morning while a game show played on the waiting room television. She was just starting to read the paper when Zeke emerged with his notepad and car keys.
“I think I found something last night that will clear this up. Well, part of it, anyway,” he said. “I need to get it from my house.”
“I’m going with you.” Lucy grabbed her purse, not waiting for permission from Angus, who was on the phone. She and Zeke ducked out before he even noticed. It was hard to miss the disturbance outside, however.
SAVE LISA, the protest sign read. Little Anne Womack had traded the playground for the picket line.
"Trees are people, too! Trees are people, too!" she chanted along with the rest of the small crowd gathered on the sidewalk in front of the agency.
"Corporate is going to love this," Lucy said, grabbing the door handle of Zeke's car. She waved to one of her neighbors on the picket line, who waved back.
“What was this place like before?” Zeke asked.
“Quite boring.” Lucy put on her seatbelt. “I bet you thought you were coming to a nice quiet little town where you could settle down.”
“Something like that.” Zeke navigated past the band of friendly protestors.
Lucy could tell Edenbury was growing on him.
“Ready to talk yet?” she asked.
“It’s been two days,” replied Zeke.
—
Sheriff Stephanie sat on the porch swing beside one of Edenbury’s oldest residents.
“Grandpa, I need to ask you something,” she said.
The view was beautiful from the porch. Stephanie spent a lot of time there over the years but wondered how long they had left with her grandfather. She came to him often for wisdom and advice, probably more than her father, who she thought was too close to the job as Sheriff.
“What is it, sweetie? What’s on your mind?” Grandpa Wilkes asked.
“It’s about the Warren farm. I know you worked there for a time.” Stephanie didn’t quite know how to ask what she wanted to ask.
“Many years. Why do you ask about the Warren place?” He gazed off the porch into the distance as if he were looking back in time.
Stephanie tried to get to the point. “I wonder if you could tell me about something that might have happened there.”
“Lots of things happened there, dear.” He paused and looked at her. “Is this about the tree?”
Stephanie could see he was now back in the present. “Yes. Is there anything you can tell me about it?”
“Well, I was wondering when someone would be coming. It was just a matter of time.” He turned to meet her widening eyes. “I’m glad it was you.”
“What is it, Grandpa?” She stopped the swing to focus on whatever he had to say next.
His hazel eyes were warm and kind. The wrinkles around them were soft and gentle, despite his years of hard work. She had the feeling he was about to say something she should never forget.
“Every generation or so gets an invitation. We had ours, and it didn’t go so well. I prayed I’d be around long enough to see this.” He took her hand and continued. “You may want to keep this to yourself for now. Your boyfriend, the priest, you should tell him, though. He’ll understand.”
“How did you know that?” Stephanie moved to the edge of the swing.
Grandpa Wilkes grinned. “Everybody knows how you feel about him, dear.”
“He’s not my boyfriend. I meant he’s the one that thought something might have happened there around fifty years ago,” Stephanie explained.
“That’s about right, although it seems like just yesterday. But, I’ll tell you what. Bring Father Vance back here, and we’ll talk. I’ll only be able to tell you what happened up until the time we declined the invitation. After that, I’m afraid you’re on your own.” Grandpa Wilkes reached over and grabbed his cane.
“Invitation, what invitation?” Stephanie was bewildered. She had never heard her grandfather talk like this.
“You’d better run along. More things will be happening. You know where to find me tomorrow. I’ll have some things to show you, too.” He rose and slowly made his way to the steps to see her off.
Stephanie knew from experience that was all that she would get for now. As frustrated and confused as she was, she settled for a kiss on the cheek and wondered if Father Vance was still at the parish office.
“Okay, Grandpa, I love you. See you tomorrow.” She waved as she got in her squad car and left.
—
The books were still laid out on the desk from his reading the previous night. It was unlike Zeke to leave them out, but Lucy wouldn’t know the difference. She was too distracted anyway, looking at the many volumes of otherwise neatly organized books on the shelves.
“This is why I bought the house.” Zeke moved around to the small desk in the center of the room.
“The previous owner was the town librarian,” Lucy said. "Mr. Lawrence."
“Yes. It’s perfect for my collection.” Zeke looked up long enough to admire the room.
“I didn’t know this many books on insurance even existed.” Lucy ran her hand along the smooth grain of the aged oak shelves that extended floor to ceiling.
Zeke leaned over the desk. “Every state has its own volumes of legal and case law. I still have more to collect. I have a problem. I know.”
Lucy looked at him with a confirming nod.
“Here. The specific rules related to farm properties are clarified here.” His bookmark was still where he had left it when he discovered the critical detail.
“Why couldn’t you just bring some of this into the office?” Lucy asked.
He answered her question with a blank stare.
Lucy found the french doors that led to a small balcony off the library and walked out.
"Be careful. That balcony needs some work," Zeke yelled.
As Lucy stepped out into the fresh air, she couldn't help but wonder if Zeke’s concern was just the insurance guy talking or something more. It was a beautiful day, and she was glad to be out of the stuffy office. Angus rarely let her wander far from the agency, and she was like a bird set free from a cage. She had escaped and was enjoying her freedom. With her arms stretched out on the railing, her long hair came off her shoulders as the wind blew in her face. She heard Zeke mumbling something in the library but wanted to linger. Work could wait.
When Zeke received no response, he looked up just in time to see the railing buckle. It collapsed with a great crash and sent Lucy tumbling into the air. Her dress was caught in the breeze, and she floated out of sight.
“Oh God, I killed her!” Zeke panicked and ran out the door to the balcony. As fast as he dared, he moved to the ledge and looked over, fully expecting to see her lying on the ground with a broken neck.
"Sorry, what did you want to show me?" Lucy looked up at Zeke, standing safely in a flowerbed of fresh mulch. “You were right about the balcony. Be careful. I’m coming back up.”
—
Next door, Alice Tremain ran to the phone. Through the window, she had seen everything that had transpired since the time Zeke and Lucy pulled into the driveway. This was gold. Alice had witnessed the most exciting thing to happen on this block in years.
“Miriam! You are not going to believe this,” she shouted into the phone. “I cannot believe this!”
“Oh, do tell!” Although Miriam Ketchum had heard Alice speak these words before, her tone was different this time.
“Lucy Greyson just fell off the roof at the Lawrence house, and I saw her float to the ground like an angel,” Alice said.
“I’m coming right over.” Miriam hung up.
—
Zeke ran out of the library to meet Lucy. He stopped abruptly to watch her ascend the massive staircase, and a profound sense of wonder overcame him.
"Sorry, I think I got some dirt in your foyer," Lucy said, seemingly unfazed by the incident.
Her glowing smile went well with the flowing dress Zeke had seen tumble over his railing, a vision now stuck in his head. "You're okay?” he asked. “Do we need to have you checked out?"
"Not for that," she joked.
“Let’s stay inside. Okay?” Zeke was trying hard to hide his relief.
They returned to the library and gathered around the book stand on the desk.
"We have the precedent right here. The Supreme Court of Kansas ruled that existing structures are covered when compromised by the intrusion of a protected species." Zeke ran his fingers along the text as he read. "Just as I thought. It doesn't matter how quickly the tree grew or how old it is."
"Angus needs to see this."
“These will help as well.” Zeke showed Lucy two leaves he had taken from the Warren farm. “This one is from Lisa. This one is from an existing tree of the same size.”
Lucy held them up. “They’re not the same.”
“Right. It’s a different variety. Lisa is a protected species, protected by both federal and Kansas law.” Zeke took the leaves from her. “It can’t be cut down.”
“Well, I guess they’re going to end up with a treehouse,” Lucy replied.
"Can you turn on that copier?" He pointed to a small machine in the corner and turned off the desk lamp. He packed his bag with the book from Henry’s store.
—
Back in the car, Lucy studied the paper and Henry’s book on her lap.
"It's almost like the tree knew about this," she said.
"Well then, Lisa is one smart tree," Zeke said as he drove through town. "The Warrens will get a new porch, Angus will likely live to see another day as office manager, and Edenbury will be at peace once again.”
They turned the corner to see the protesters playing a game of jump rope. Zeke and Lucy looked at each other and laughed.
Word had already got back to Angus before Zeke and Lucy could return to the office. Zeke had hoped this would not be the case, but he underestimated the efficiency of the rumor mill in little Edenbury. Angus met them at the door.
“Are you kidding me?! You drag Lucy out of the office to help you and then try to kill her with your house?” Angus yelled. “What kind of insurance agent are you? Everyone is talking about your reckless adventure in that old, dilapidated house of yours. What if she had gotten injured or worse?”
“I’m fine, Angus. Not a scratch,” Lucy said. “It’s not his fault. I wanted to go.”
Zeke walked straight up to Angus and handed him the photocopy of page 247 of Insurance Case Law for the State of Kansas, Volume 3. Then he walked off.
Angus was caught off guard. “What’s this?”
Lucy folded her arms and stood next to Angus. “It’s the loophole you needed. Zeke found it, and you’re off the hook. And so is the Warren family. Corporate has to pay the claim, and they’ll be off your back. Until next time.”
Read Chapter 6 - Closer to the Dirt
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