Chapter 84

I was at the office early, going over all my papers on the McKerkey investments, and counting out the money for each one, when Bailey came by on her way to school.

“You be careful driving over there and back. If your friends get to come home with you, y’all can change clothes in the back room. I’ll see you as soon as I get back from Stewart.”

“Thank you, Josey. You’ve made me so happy. I’ll be back here before 1:00, and Sheila has shown me how to use the radio, and take notes on all the phone calls.”

“I’m proud of you, Baby. I love you.”

“I love you too Josey – Bye.”

... I was sitting on the front porch with Mr. Leroy Lunsford. I had not planned to be here this early, but now that I’m here, I’m glad we have this chance to talk.

“Josey, since we made our deal yesterday, I’ve thought a lot about Bilroy and me selling this place. Neither Bilroy or I, will live to spend this much money. Besides that, our nephew is a stockbroker in Memphis. He and his wife have made a fortune in investments, and they have even invested in our names as well. What I have decided is, I’m not going to accept your offer of five hundred per acre!

“I’m going to sell you this section of cotton ground for one hundred dollars per acre, and throw in that section of ridge land for nothing.”

“Mr. Leroy! I’ve already counted out your money for the deposit. Are you sure about this?”

“Josey, Bilroy and I already have over a half a million in the bank, and the only reason I’m going to ask a hundred per acre, is to show on the Bill of Sale, that you actually bought this land. You really made an impression on me yesterday, and I called my nephew last night to talk to him about you. Seems he and his wife have both seen you in the news, and he agreed - that I should give you a break, and help you become a part of the next generation of successful young cotton farmers in the Mississippi Delta.

“I see Hank and his boys coming up the road now. Let’s go inside and get Bilroy out of bed, so we can head over to Stewart. I feel so much better, now that we’ve had this talk, and I get to help such a fine young farmer and businessman as you.”

I helped Mr. Leroy get his brother out of bed and into his wheelchair. When Buddy and Joe came in, they picked the wheelchair up and carried him out to the car. Joe picked him up out of the wheelchair like he was a baby, and leaned over to set him in the back seat.

“Hank, they’ll have the new tractors, planters and middle-busters delivered this week. I’m sure y’all are like me, ready to get started on another crop.”

“Josey, we’re itching to put those new tractors to work. I drove past your place over there where Rondo and Chuck were working, and I can tell, those new tractors can really cover some ground in a day’s time.”

“They sure can, and I’ll have Rondo and Chuck come over with me when they’re delivered, to help y’all set the plows on the middle-busters.”

I left them gathering up the Beagles, and followed Mr. Leroy as he drove to the bank in Stewart. He parked his car in the shade and rolled the windows down, so he could leave his brother in the car.

We were earlier than his appointment time, but in a matter of minutes, we had the deal done and I turned to shake hands with Mr. Leroy.

“Be careful driving up to Memphis, and if you ever get a chance, write me a letter and let me know how y’all are doing.”

“I’ll be sure and do that, Josey. You just keep going the way you’re going, and we’ll read about you in the papers again. Good Luck to you. You make me so proud, Josey. It would be easy for me to think of you as my only Son – The son I never had.”

“Thank you, Sir. I’ll try my best to farm your land just like you and your family have for the past hundred years.”

Since I had a few minutes to spare, I walked across to the Courthouse with my satchel, so I could file the papers on all the farmland I’ve bought here in Stewart County lately.

I was in and out of the County Clerk’s office in a matter of minutes, and when I stepped out, I saw the sign - Sheriff’s Office - down the hallway.

I looked up at the clock on the wall as I opened the door.

As soon as I saw her, I knew this was Elizabeth - Sheriff Brent Jones’ niece. He told me she’s a winner and now that I’ve seen her, I’ll tell anyone - there wasn’t even a contest, the day she was declared the winner.

I was almost to her desk when she looked up to see me. I saw her name on the desk plaque, just as she stood so fast, she knocked her chair over backwards.

She actually ran around her desk toward me, her high heels clicking as she held out her arms. I just knew she was going to hug me and I was prepared to lay a good one on her. Then she stopped and reached out to take both my hands.

“JOSEY RUIZ! You finally came to see me.”

“I sure did, and as soon as I saw you, I knew you had to be the beautiful young woman with the sweet voice I heard on the telephone that day.”

“If there weren’t so many people looking at us right this minute, I would hug you and kiss your cheek for saying that. You are even more handsome - and wow, you’re so much taller than I imagined. Tell me - what can we do for you today?”

“I’ve been over at the bank, closing the deal on a farm I bought. Then I brought those papers, and the papers on two more farms over here to have them filed. There was no way I was going to leave this Courthouse, without meeting you.

“I hope I don’t offend you, Elizabeth - but are you married?”

“No I’m not, and I’m not offended by you asking. May I ask why you wanted to know?”

“If you’re not committed to anyone, I’d love to call the next time I’m coming over, and ask you to go have lunch with me.”

“I’m not committed. I was dating a boy in high school, but we broke after we graduated. I won’t go into detail at this time, but he got really ugly with me when I told him I was taking this job and not going to college with him.”

“Well, I’m glad you’re not committed, and I really would like to meet you for lunch one day.”

“You have just made all the other girls, and half the married women working here, very jealous of me. I would love to have lunch with you. Please give me a call, so I’ll know you’re coming. I want to let everyone know ahead of time, that I’m having lunch with Josey Ruiz. When you do, please come in here just like this and give me a hug, right in front of everyone.”

“I have an appointment at Farm Bureau in just a few minutes, or I’d ask you out today. I’m glad we got to meet, and just so you’ll know, you have just made my day.”

“Bye, Josey, and thanks for stopping by. I’ve been wanting to meet you since that day you called. I’d hug your neck now, but I’d be embarrassed, since we just met.”

“Save that hug for me, Elizabeth. Don’t you dare let anyone else have my hug. I’ll come get you one day soon, and I want my hug in front of all your friends.”

She walked me to the door, and I almost hugged her anyway. I took her hand and held it. “You’re just as beautiful as your voice.”

“You’re just as big and bold as your pictures - and your reputation. I’m looking forward to seeing you again. I really would like to get to know you better, if you’ll let me.”

“I’m the one who swallowed the lump in my throat, and came in here to meet you. You may not like me once you know me better.”

“I like you too much already, for me to confess. Come see me soon, Josey.”

“I will, and save any hugs you may have, for me. I’ll collect all of them, the next time I see you.”

“I’ll have plenty saved up for you, now that we’ve met and have plans to see each other again.”

“Bye, Elizabeth Evans.”

“Bye, Josey Ruiz.”

My dash clock showed 10:45 when I stopped. With the engine still rumbling, I set the parking brake behind the Farm Bureau office. Just as I reached up to knock, the door opened and there stood my two insurance agents. Each of them were dressed in a white, long-tail man’s shirt, and barefoot. Their long, straight blonde hair was down past their butts and they were smiling at me like this was going to be just as much fun as we had talked about.

“Ladies, if you’re still willing, come ride out to the country with me. I just bought another farm and I need all the insurance you can provide.”

My driver’s side door was still open, and both of them stepped up into the seat, then stepped across to the other side.

They were holding onto the windshield as they smiled down at me.

“You may need to sit in the seat, until we get outside the city limits at least.”

Before they sat, both of them unbuttoned their shirts all the way. I was sitting with my foot on the clutch, my hand on the gearshift with it in 1^st gear as I looked at them.

“Show me! Damn y’all are so tall and sexy. I can’t believe I’m this lucky.”

Tammy was sitting next to the passenger door, and she turned in the seat to face me, as Sandra sat with her feet under her. Her knees were apart, one on either side of the gearshift. Both of them pulled their shirts open all the way. From their flawless, smooth faces, to their pert, proud titties, their flat bellies, to their neatly groomed pussies, both women are tanned and physically fit.

“Josey?” Sandra spoke as I looked at them.

“Absolutely beautiful! Just like I imagined you’d both be. Flip your long hair back over the seat, we’re going for a ride in the country and we’re going to have fun, unless you tell me you’ve decided otherwise.”

“Can we really stand up naked?”

“You can, but we can’t drive fast, or you could be hit by a bee, a wasp, or even a grasshopper.”

“Then we’ll wait until we have passed the Co-op before we stand up naked,” Sandra told me.

Tammy asked, “Will you take your clothes off when we get to the farm? We want to see you naked.”

“If I take my clothes off, both of you will get fucked, standing right here in my car.”

“HELL YEAH! Then we want you to fuck both of us bent over the rear deck.”

“Who have you been talking to?”

“We called your Granny yesterday about letting us insure all your farms together. Tammy told her we were going to the Lunsford Farm with you, and she told us about all the different ways you love to fuck a woman in your convertible.”

“My Granny has always made up stories like that about me.”

When I stopped in the driveway in front of the old, two-story, white, Southern Mansion, both of them stood in the seat naked, looking it over.

Tammy said, “I would love to live in an old Southern Mansion like this. You are so lucky to get your hands on this place, Josey.”

“Sandra, what do you think about it? Would you like to live out here in the country in an old mansion like this?”

“Josey, you’re teasing us now, and that’s not fair. We could never afford a place like this, even it you were to sell it.”

“What if I make you a deal, and let you live here for free?”

“ARE YOU SERIOUS? What kind of deal? We’re already planning to fuck you anytime you can make it over to Stewart for a night.”

“Well, the outside walls and window casings needs the paint scraped off and primed, then a couple of coats of white enamel, painted over it. There are some things inside that need to be repaired and maybe even replaced, but all in all, not a really big renovation job. If two very energetic sisters wanted to live here in this country mansion, with these huge oak trees around - and either pay to have the place fixed up, or do it yourselves - you can live here as long as you like - for free.”

Sandra turned and fell across me as she wrapped her arms around my neck.

I pushed her back and she was smiling. “If you’re serious, we’ll take you up on your offer. Just think, we’ll have a place we can sit outdoors naked and fuck our landlord anytime he happens by.”