Excerpt of Included!

JOHN HART“That’s about what I figured. He says we’re okay, but he’s tight-lipped abouthis money. It has to be hurting, though.”“And this is all riding on Jamie?”“That’s right.”“Damn,” I said. The risks were enormous.“It’s make-or-break, I guess.”I studied the older man. The farm was his life. “You okay with that?”“I turn sixty-three next month.” He looked at me sideways and nodded. “Butyour dad’s never let me down before, and I don’t think he’s planning to now.”“And Jamie?” I asked. “Has he ever let you down?”“It is what it is, Adam. Guess we’ll see.”We were silent for a moment.“Is my father going to sell to the power company, Dolf?”There was a hard edge in his voice when he answered. “You worried aboutmissing out on the windfall?”“That’s not fair.”“You’re right, Adam. It’s not. But I’ve seen what this money has done tofolks around here.” He stared through the glass, his eyes distant. “Temptation,”he said. “It’s making people crazy.”“So, do you think he’ll do it?”Something shifted behind the old man’s gaze, and he looked away fromme, down to the long rows of promising vine. “Did your father ever explain toyou why this place is called Red Water Farm?”“I always assumed it was because of the clay in the river.”“Thought not.” Dolf started the truck and turned around.“Where are we going?”“The knob.”“Why?”“You’ll see.”The knob was the highest point on the farm, a massive upheaval of granitethat could pass for a small mountain. Most of it was wooded slope, but the peakwas barren, the soil too thin for much to grow. It commanded a view of theriver’s northern approach, and was the most inaccessible part of the property.102