October 7, 2023 – 4:05 PM
The warehouse forklift rumbled to a stop beside Adam's truck.
The operator lowered the first pallet with practiced precision.
Tom pointed toward the stack.
"Food-grade barrels first."
Adam nodded.
"Those go against the cab."
Lin grabbed the pallet jack handle.
"Which side?"
Adam looked surprised.
"You've used one before?"
She shrugged.
"Construction sites."
He smiled.
"Right."
"Construction sites."
The pallet rolled smoothly toward the truck.
Together they guided the heavy barrels into place.
Adam climbed into the truck bed while Lin steadied the pallet below.
He crouched to tighten the first ratchet strap.
His movements were efficient.
No wasted motion.
Definitely someone who spent his life loading equipment.
Lin handed him another strap.
"Catch."
He caught it one-handed without looking.
"Thanks."
Tom watched from the loading dock.
Then quietly leaned toward Helen.
"See?"
Helen looked amused.
"See what?"
"Those two work together like they've done it before."
Helen smiled.
"Or maybe they're both competent adults."
Tom scratched his beard.
"...That's much less entertaining."
Ten minutes later...
Only one pallet remained.
The largest one.
Stacked shoulder-high with heavy shelving units.
Adam looked at the label.
Then sighed.
"I forgot how much these weigh."
Lin walked over.
"Need help?"
"If you don't mind."
They lifted one box together.
It was awkward rather than impossibly heavy.
As they carried it toward the truck, Adam glanced sideways.
"So..."
"...can I ask you something?"
Lin nodded.
"Sure."
"Everyone says you're building a glamping resort."
"I am."
"But..."
He adjusted his grip.
"...I've also heard you've installed more fencing than most cattle ranches."
Lin smiled.
"Coyotes."
"Solar array bigger than the school."
"Electricity is expensive."
"Water tanks."
"Guests shower."
Adam nodded slowly.
Every answer was reasonable.
Just like his own had been.
He smiled.
"Fair enough."
Lin looked at him.
"My turn?"
He chuckled.
"Go ahead."
"Most farmers don't buy six months' worth of freeze-dried food."
Adam answered without missing a beat.
"Sales discount."
Lin laughed.
"Good answer."
"Learned from the best."
They slid the shelving into place.
Neither said another word for several seconds.
Finally...
Adam climbed down from the truck.
"Truth is..."
He dusted off his hands.
"...my dad always taught me one thing."
"'Hope for the best.'"
He tightened another strap.
"'Prepare for the worst.'"
Lin nodded slowly.
"Smart man."
"He was."
Tom wandered over carrying two bottles of water.
He handed one to each of them.
"Break time."
Adam twisted off the cap.
"Thanks."
Tom leaned against the truck.
"You know..."
He looked toward Adam.
"Folks around here still don't know much about you."
Adam smiled.
"Not much to tell."
Tom snorted.
"You bought four hundred acres without blinking."
"Paid cash."
"Rebuilt half the farmhouse yourself."
"Now you're filling barns with enough supplies to survive a Canadian winter."
He looked at Lin.
"Starting to notice a pattern around here."
Lin raised an eyebrow.
"Prepared people?"
Tom pointed at her.
"Exactly."
Then at Adam.
"Prepared people."
He scratched his beard thoughtfully.
"Either you two are the smartest people in Maple Creek..."
He paused dramatically.
"...or I'm going to read about you both in the newspaper someday."
Adam laughed.
"Hopefully the first one."
Tom grinned.
"That's what I'm betting on."
The last pallet finally disappeared into the truck.
Adam tightened the final ratchet strap before stepping back.
Everything sat perfectly secure.
He let out a satisfied breath.
"That's the last of it."
Lin wiped her hands on her jeans.
"Looks like enough supplies to keep you busy until spring."
Adam looked at the loaded truck.
Then smiled.
"Honestly?"
"Probably until next spring."
Tom barked out another laugh.
"You're both impossible."
Adam reached into the truck and pulled out a business card.
It was simple.
Walker Family Farms
His name.
Cell number.
Nothing fancy.
He handed it to Lin.
"If you ever need hay..."
He shrugged.
"...or someone with a tractor."
Lin accepted the card.
She reached into her wallet and handed him one of hers.
Maple Creek Glamping & Farm Retreat
Her cell number.
Business email.
Adam looked it over.
"Looks official."
Lin smiled.
"I'm trying to convince people I know what I'm doing."
He slipped the card into his wallet.
"Working so far."
A horn sounded from across the parking lot.
Helen leaned out the truck window.
"Lin!"
"Time to head home!"
Lin looked back.
"Coming!"
She turned toward Adam.
"Good luck unloading all this."
He glanced at the mountain of supplies behind him.
Then laughed.
"I'm going to regret buying all of it around barrel number thirty."
"Probably."
"See you around?"
Lin nodded.
"I'm sure this town will make that happen."
Adam smiled.
"It usually does."
She climbed into Helen's truck.
As they pulled onto Main Street, Helen looked sideways at her daughter.
A small smile tugged at the corner of her mouth.
"He's nice."
Lin stared straight ahead.
She already knew where this was going.
"Mom..."
Helen kept smiling.
"I'm just making an observation."
Lin didn't even look at her.
"Still a hard no."
Helen laughed all the way out of town.