Ch.17, Pt.2: On the home front…
On the home front, things were changing for Katherine as well. She had formally joined the citizens’ group that opposed Rick’s subdivision, as she always thought of it. The group held monthly meetings and when it was her turn to host, Clara was the first to arrive, carrying a basket covered with a tea towel. Noodle danced around her, sniffing eagerly.
“Rhubard muffins,” Clara announced. “I hope you haven’t already got some.”
“You shouldn’t have,” said Katherine, “but I’m glad you did. All I have is donuts. I’ve been too busy to bake.”
“Things going well at Greenvale?”
“Really well, I think. We have good enrolment for all our workshops so far, touch wood. I think Bennett is pleased.”
“I think he’s delighted with you.” Clara patted Katherine’s arm.
More cars started driving up to the house and people drifted into the living room. Extra chairs were fitted into the spaces between furniture. Bennett arrived with the last couple of cars, and took an uncomfortable folding chair. Katherine noticed with interest that Noodle lay down at his feet and remained there throughout the meeting.
Information from the city’s planning department was distributed, and drafts of letters were handed out. They were conducting a letter-writing campaign, objecting to the concept of rural subdivisions and the permanent loss of farmland. As the meeting ended, Bennett helped clear the living room of dishes. Katherine said goodbye to the last people and came into the kitchen to see Bennett with his hands in soapy water. She gasped. “You don’t have to wash the dishes!”
“I wanted to stay behind and talk to you. Might as well be useful while I wait.”
“Is it about Greenvale?” Katherine was alarmed. “Is there a problem with the workshops?”
“Not at all. No. It’s about this fight. I want you to know that we’re going to win.”
“Oh yeah, really?” Katherine picked up a dish towel. “That would be wonderful, but you can’t be sure of that.”
“Do you realize that all we have to do to be a major pain in the developers’ butt is to keep your 10-acre farm going?”
“How so?” Katherine rubbed a plate dry.
Bennett put a couple of mugs upside down in the dish rack. “It would be much easier for them if you would give in and sell out to them. Then they could bulldoze from one line to the other and do just what they want. As long as you keep this a farm, they’ll have to build around you. And before they do that, we can keep them busy with environmental assessments, water-taking regulations, tree-saving plans, fenceline and hedgerow protections. To name a few. We can push for more park land. Wildlife corridors. Even community gardens. Lots we can do. I bet we can stall them for years.”
“So I don’t have to worry about moving yet?”
“Not because of this development. You might have other reasons to move away.” Bennett grinned. “No, you’ve got a number of good years here yet.” He pulled the plug in the sink and the water started to drain away. “How about you show me around a bit of your property?”
“Sure.” Katherine was pleased at his interest.
It was just starting to get dark. Noodle was excited to be out at this time and ran ahead eagerly. They walked toward the stable and leaned on the fence overlooking her first field. The rich brown earth had been ploughed into rows.
“Fairly rocky ground here, is it?” asked Bennett.
“Very. The edges of every field around here are piled high with rocks. The settlers must have had a hell of a time clearing the land.”
“Pretty workable now, though,” observed Bennett. “What’s been planted here?”
“Actually, I don’t know. My neighbour rents the fields. Last year he had wheat and barley. I don’t know whether he’s put the same in this year. Another thing I don’t know is how long he’ll want to rent the land, if he’s sold his farm. And then I don’t know what I’ll do. I certainly can’t farm it.”
Bennett rubbed his chin. “If you can’t get anyone else to rent it, perhaps we could do something with Greenvale. At least keep it in farmland. I don’t think I could pay what your neighbour does, but maybe we could set up a sharing arrangement. A portion of the produce or sales. We can think about that when the time comes.”
“That would be fantastic. My main concern is to keep it in farmland for the tax benefit.”
“Of course.” Bennett leaned down to pat Noodle who had bounded up to them. “This is one fine dog. You know you can bring him to Greenvale when you come. He’ll have a blast with Chess and Bingo.”
“Really? You wouldn’t mind?” Katherine smiled. “It would be so good for him to get out with some other dogs and not be cooped up all day in a house.”
“Absolutely. That’s what a farm’s for. Animals. Let him be free. My dogs will keep him in line.”
“That’s perfect for me.” Katherine was suddenly shy. “Meeting you has turned out to be such a good thing in my life. At just the right time. You’re really making me feel that good things are possible.”
Bennett looked at her and then glanced away. “I could say the same about you.”
“And the next time you come here, you can bring your dogs.”
“Deal,” he said warmly, holding out his hand.
Ch. 17, Pt.3: Katherine grinned and gave his hand a good pump. » »