The Man Who Wanted the Farm
Chapter 11 - The Man Who Wanted the Farm
Harlan Webb met Luke at a diner off Highway 41.
He was not the villain Luke expected.
He was a tired-looking man in his fifties who carried a folder thick with contracts.
“I loaned your mother money,” Webb said. “She claimed you approved it.”
“I didn’t.”
“I know that now.”
Webb slid a document across the table.
The signature was Luke’s name, poorly copied.
“You never met me?” Luke asked.
“No.”
“And you accepted this?”
Webb rubbed his jaw.
“I accepted notarized paperwork.”
Dana, seated beside Luke, looked at the notary stamp.
“Do you know the notary?”
Webb shook his head.
Luke did.
The name belonged to an old friend of Evelyn’s from church.
Claire sat quietly beside him.
Webb continued.
“Your mother came to me this morning. She wanted to sell part of the property to clear the loan before you took legal action.”
Luke stared at the papers.
“Why didn’t you let her?”
“Because the deed isn’t in her name.”
Webb closed the folder.
“I make money buying land. I don’t make money buying lawsuits.”
For the first time in days, Luke almost smiled.
Webb agreed to freeze collection activity while the signatures were investigated.
Outside the diner, Claire looked at Luke.
“Your mom is scared.”
“I know.”
“That doesn’t excuse anything.”
“I know.”
Claire took his hand.
“But scared people do reckless things when they think the truth is about to catch them.”
Luke looked toward the road.
His mother had spent months trying to control every outcome.
May you like
Now control was slipping away.
And Luke was afraid of what she might do next.
