A Hard Man

Within less than an hour Jess and Mr. Harris were in the Recorder of Deeds office recording ownership of the parcel of ground. After they left the courthouse they began the short drive back to Hollister. Mr. Harris looked over at Jess and said, "I feel bad about what your Daddy's done to you son. If he gives you any trouble about this let me know and I'll help you out with it. I won't charge you anything for that either. I can't believe a father would do something like this to his own son."

After they got back to town Jess shook Mr. Harris' hand and got into his truck. He slowly drove out of town and down the old roads toward his new home. He hadn't been to the place in three years and was saddened by what he found. The driveway onto the property was overgrown and so badly blocked he had trouble getting down it. There were some tree limbs fallen in it that he had to remove and a lot of young trees growing up in it also. Jess unhooked his trailer and backed his truck down into the driveway. He used a chain to pull the limbs out of the way three times. He hated driving over the growing saplings but he had no way to cut them other than use a small hatchet he had in his camping supplies. He didn't want to do that because of leaving the sharp stumps that would puncture his tires. He decided it would be potentially less damaging to just drive over the smaller trees.

Jess did use his truck to pull a few of the very largest saplings as he worked his way down to the point they used to camp and picnic on. It was between the lake itself and a small stream that flowed into the lake. The small clearing they used was grown up in weeds and young trees also but Jess finally got a trail into the area and pulled his trailer down to his chosen camping spot. By then it was dusk and he was exhausted. His clothes were muddy and wet from his sweat. He was almost shaking from dehydration, hunger and the heat.

It was almost full dark when Jess finally had his trailer leveled and unhooked from his truck. He quickly stripped and moved to the small stream to take a quick bath and cool off. His supper consisted of two more sandwiches and drinking water from the melted ice in his cooler. After his meal Jess quickly made his bed outside under the trees along the stream where it was cooler. He collapsed onto his sleeping bag and fell into a deep sleep.

The next morning Jess unloaded his truck bed and drove back to his parent's house. He started to go to the door then decided to hell with it and drove straight back to the open shed in which they stored his yard equipment. He loaded the smaller items in the bed of his truck then hooked the small trailer he owned for hauling the ZTR mower to it and started the mower. As he was loading the mower his father came out of the house with his pistol. He fired a shot into the ground and said, "What do you think you're doing boy? Are you going to add theft to your resume now? I'll give you one chance now. You unload all my equipment from that truck and get out of here and I'll forget this because you were once my son. Now get busy."

"This is my equipment and you know it. I'm taking it with me before you sell it or steal it like you did the money Uncle left me."

"That done it boy. Looks like you're going back to jail again. Now you just set down there 'til the law comes."

Jess looked at his father and reached out to begin chaining the larger mower down. He heard another shot and dirt flew up beside his foot. He looked at his father in shock and saw him waggling the pistol ordering him away from the trailer. Angrily Jess moved back and sat on the ground in the shade.

About ten minutes later a sheriff's car pulled into the driveway. Jess felt his stomach lurch when he saw it was Clayton driving the car. Clayton saw Bart standing holding a pistol on Jess and put his hand on his pistol. He said, "Sir put the weapon down."

Bart looked over at the deputy and said, "Not until you restrain this man. I caught him trying to steal my yard equipment. I told him if he unloaded it and left I would forget he was here but he didn't. I need him arrested before I put this weapon down. He's a violent man and I don't trust him at all."

The deputy came closer to Bart and gently took the pistol from his hand. After he had the pistol in his hand he relaxed and looked over at Jess. He turned to Bart and said, "Damn Bart you're holding a pistol on your own son? What's really going on here?"

"I told you. I caught him stealing my yard tools and I want him arrested."

Jess looked over at Clayton and got slowly to his feet. He said, "Clayton this isn't what it looks like. This isn't his equipment. It's mine. I bought it and I can prove it if you let me get some paperwork from my truck."

"OK but don't do anything foolish now Jess or I'll have to take you in." Clayton followed Jess to the cab and watched while he sorted through the papers still in the seat and floor boards. Finally Jess turned from the cab and handed the papers to Clayton. The papers were receipts with serial numbers for the ZTR, push mower, weed eater and chain saw. Also included on the receipts were some other hand tools that Jess had not yet loaded into the truck.

Clayton walked back and checked all the serial numbers against the paperwork he was holding. Finally he stood and turned to Bart. He said, "Mr. Simpson Jess's name is on the invoices when these items were purchased. All the serial numbers match those on the invoices. It looks to me as if these items do belong to Jess sir."

"No sir they do not. Those items were purchased when he was still a minor. He was too young to own property like that so they are rightfully mine no matter what is on those pieces of paper."

"I'm sorry sir but that is incorrect. Now I suggest you just relax and I'll supervise Jess while he finishes gathering his belongings then I'll follow him off your place."

"You'll not! Them's my tools and he'll not take them." Bart turned and stomped back into the house.

About twenty minutes later a car turned into the driveway and the county Sheriff himself got out. He walked up to Clayton and asked, "What's going on here Clayton? I got an emergency call from Mr. Simpson alleging you were derelict in your duty and letting young Jess here take machinery that didn't belong to him."

Clayton glared at a smiling Bart then explained what was going on to the Sheriff. The Sheriff took the paperwork and once again checked serial numbers then he looked at the hand tools that were in the truck. He handed the paperwork to Jess and turned to Bart. He said, "Mr. Simpson my Deputy was absolutely correct in what he was doing. Those items in the truck belong to Jess Simpson and he is legally allowed to take them unless you can prove otherwise."

"No Sir they don't. I done explained to you why they don't and I demand you make him unload them and get off my property."

"Well sir if you come up with proof they do not belong to Jess you can get a court order for him to turn them back over to you. Right now however I am authorizing him to remove them from this property if he so desires."

A spluttering Bart turned and stormed back into the house. The Sheriff looked at Jess and said, "Son I really don't want to see you again. Now I suggest you get into your truck and get out of here before your Daddy tries something else."

The Sheriff turned to Clayton and said, "You follow him and keep your eye on things until he gets away from here."

Clayton followed Jess the nearly seven miles from his parent's home to his little acreage. While Jess was unlocking the lock he put on the gate into the property Clayton got out of the car and walked up to him. He looked down the brush covered lane then turned to Jess and said, "Aint this your Uncle's old place?" After Jess nodded his head yes Clayton continued, "We aren't going to have more trouble with your father over you being here are we?"

Jess stood for a moment and sighed. He looked at Clayton and said, "Yeah when he finds out I'm here and what I've done you might."

"Crap. Why don't you explain that to me now Jess." Jess explained what he had discovered and done that day.

"Shit. Wait here. I need to call in."

Clayton moved to his cruiser and called on the radio. He was back beside Jess soon. He said, "Jess I got the Sheriff before he got back to town. He's coming down to talk to you about this."

When the Sheriff arrived Jess once again told the story of his discovery that day. He delved into his paperwork in the truck once again and showed the Sheriff the copy of the will, the deed and proof of filing.

"Damn. Things just keep getting worse here. OK Jess I can't see where any of this is your fault. You need to keep your head down and stay away from your Dad. You're pretty far out in the sticks here but I'll try to have someone check around here off and on until we see what happens. You didn't say anything to him about this place did you?"

After assuring the Sheriff that as far as he knew his father knew nothing of the Deed being recorded the two lawmen left and Jess drove back to his trailer after first locking his gate.

Over the course of the next week Jess spent the cooler part of the morning and evening clearing his driveway and the area around his trailer. He also took some of his cash and purchased some plastic tarps to make a tent to park his lawn mowers in and to protect his tools. He used saplings and small trees he had cleared to build the frame for his 'plastic garage'. The hottest part of the day he spent looking for work.

After three weeks Jess had his driveway and yard in pretty good shape. He was getting tired of eating cheap food and his bank account was dropping at an alarming rate. He was becoming desperate to find any kind of work. Finally in desperation he began contacting some of his old lawn care customers. Every one of them he contacted had already hired a replacement for him. He left all of them his cell number and asked them to call him or give his number to anyone who might need him to do yard work or odd jobs.

Ten days later Jess got his first phone call. It was an old woman who knew one of his previous customers. Her husband had a heart attack and could no longer do their yard work. She offered him the job on a one time trial. She promised if he did a good job he could care for her yard the remainder of the season. That was Jess's start. He did a good enough job she kept him on. She had a large yard and he charged her $100 to mow and weed eat. Unfortunately for him it was late in the season so he there were not more than three or four mowings left. She did give his name to some of her friends and he picked up some odd jobs along. That provided a small income stream. Jess managed to replace the money he spent before and still have funds to live on.

When he was not working on yards and after the weather turned cooler Jess began cutting firewood for sale in town. He was pleased that he began selling wood almost immediately. He was cutting up dead trees and windfalls so the wood was fairly dry. Jess tried not to cut large trees and limbs that required splitting. All he had to split them was a splitting mall and wedges. That was hard work for little gain. He hoped to purchase a hydraulic wood splitter in the near future. That purchase depended on how much wood he could sell however.

In early December Bart was in the local café when one of the local men slapped him on the back and said, "Well Bart I bet you're happy with that boy of yours now. Looks like he's finally back on the straight and narrow."

"What do you mean George? I haven't seen him since he got out of prison and I don't care to."

"I've been buying firewood from him and so have a lot of other folks around. He gives fair measure and delivers quick. He even stacks it for you and most wood cutters just throw it off the truck and take off."

"I hadn't heard. He say were he's getting the wood?"

"I thought you knew. He said he was getting it off his Uncle's old place down by the lake. I think he said he lived there too."

"Oh. Well thanks. I need to be getting back home now."

Instead of driving home after talking to George Bart drove straight to the lake property. When he got there he stopped at the gate in anger. There was a new lock and chain on the gate. The driveway back to the clearing was clear of brush and well travelled. He could hear a chain saw close by and saw several cords of wood stacked alongside the drive or within sight of the gate.

Bart climbed over the gate and moved through the woods toward the sound of the saw. When he was about thirty feet away from him Jess saw his father. He put the saw down and stood facing his father. Bart began yelling as soon as Jess saw him. He said, "Get your thieving ass off this property right now. I told you to keep off my land and that I never wanted to see you again. Now git afore I call the law."

"No. You git. You know as well as I do this isn't your property."

Bart bent, picked up a club shaped stick and advanced toward Jess. Jess moved back and reached into his pocket for his phone. He dialed a number and talked as he moved through the woods. He headed toward the gate into the property with his father following carrying the stick. For the next several minutes they circled his father's car and traded comments.

After about fifteen minutes a sheriff's car came flying down the road ahead of a trail of dust with its lights flashing. The Deputy quickly got out of the car and stepped between the two men. Before he reached them they were all three enveloped in the swirling dust. He asked what was going on and Bart immediately said, "I came out here to check on my property and found this man trespassing and cutting my wood. I ordered him off and he refused to go. Thank the Lord you showed up to help me get rid of him. I want him arrested for theft of wood and trespassing."

Jess looked at his father in contempt and then turned to the Deputy. He said, "I just want him off my land. This is my land, not his and if anyone is trespassing it is him. The Sheriff knows all about this. If you will call in he can clear it up quickly."

The Deputy looked at the two men and moved back to his cruiser. After a short radio call he returned to the gate and addressed Bart. He said, "Reverend I'm going to have to request you leave immediately. Mr. Simpson is correct. This is his land and he is within his rights to be on it and to cut and sell the wood."

Bart spluttered then yelled, "No Sir. This is not his land. It was his Momma's Brother's land and when he died it was hers because she was his nearest relative so she should inherit. We been paying taxes on it proper like and it's her land."

"No Sir. The Sheriff has seen the will and the deed recorded that shows this land belongs to Jess Simpson. He has asked you to leave sir and I am afraid I will have to do the same."

Bart' face got deep red and he picked up the stick he had been carrying before. He jumped at Jess as he yelled, "You ungrateful whelp. How DARE you steal your Mother's inheritance? I'm going to beat you within an inch of your life then you can transfer this here land to your Mother and get out of here. I can see now we were too easy on you growing up. Spare the rod and spoil the child. I guess you done been spoilt and are working with the devil now for sure."

Jess ducked and the first swing slammed into Bart' car denting the sheet metal. That, of course, made him angrier and he redoubled his attack on Jess. The Deputy quickly moved and subdued Bart. He cuffed him and placed him in the back of his cruiser. He moved back to Jess and asked what he wanted to do.

Jess stood and looked at the bitter old man in the back. He looked at the dent in his parent's car then turned to the Deputy. He said, "Take him in. I'll file charges against him. Could you get his car keys first though and move his car so I can get out of my driveway? If you can't do that can you have it towed at his expense?"

The Deputy smiled and agreed. When he opened the car door Jess could hear his father ranting and raving in the back. The deputy had to force Bart to give up his keys so he could move the car. Jess just stood and watched.

The next morning Jess went into town and visited with Mr. Harris about his father. They discussed the situation and Jess agreed to drop the charges if his father agreed to stay away from his property and his person. They obtained a restraining order from the court as well. Jess did request Mr. Harris not to discuss dropping the charges until after his father was bailed out from the jail. He waited two weeks to see if his father would cause further disturbance before they officially dropped the charges.

By now the family drama was causing quite a stir in the little town. Shortly after the first of the year Jess heard that his father had been asked to leave his church. Of course that meant they could no longer live in the parsonage. When they were asked to move Mr. Simpson packed his family up and left the town, destination unknown. There was already a new Parson and his family living in the parsonage before Jess heard the news.

Jess was not getting rich from his small business selling fire wood but he was paying his living expenses. Jess's expenses were few. He purchased propane for his heat and cooking stove in his small trailer as well as fuel for his truck and saws. He owned a 22 rifle so hunted small game for meat. He also fished even if it was out of season. He purchased most of his food but still managed to save a few dollars every week. Most months he grossed $750 to $1,000. His operating expenses and living expenses usually only left $100-$200 to save but he did save that religiously. He finally saved enough money to purchase a hydraulic wood splitter to make his business easier. He had several tree trunks cut to length waiting on the splitter purchase.

The last week of January Jess got a large order for wood. He sold three cords to the same man for use in his small shop and home. The first two trips into town he noticed a young scruffy looking woman huddled on the sunny side of a building near where he delivered the wood. On his third trip to the same place she diffidently approached him while he was unloading his truck. When Jess looked at her standing beside where he was working she licked her lips. She looked as if she was about to run away. She was so skinny he thought a stiff wind would blow her away.

The woman licked her lips once again and said, "Please Sir. I need work bad. I been watching you haul this wood back here and heard you talking about needing to make six trips to get it all delivered. Do you need help with it? I can't find work anywhere and I need work bad."

Jess looked at her and shook his head. "No, sorry. I only have this little truck and I can only haul about half a cord at a time but it's easy to work with for one person."

The girl looked as if she was about to cry. She ducked her head and said, "OK, sorry," then turned and shuffled off toward town.

On his way back to deliver his next load Jess decided to splurge and treat himself to a cheap meal at McDonalds once again. He could eat two quarter pounders and some fries from the dollar menu for $3.27 after tax. He pulled into the parking lot and drove around behind the building to park on the side opposite the one he had entered. When he passed the enclosed garbage area he saw the young woman holding some wrapped burgers in her hands and trying to evade two boys about her age.

Jess parked his truck and walked back toward the dumpster. As he got closer he heard the boys laughing. He caught sight of the three just in time to see one of the boys strip the wrapped food from her hands. When it landed on the asphalt he quickly stepped on it then pushed her back when she tried to hit him. While the other boy laughed he said, "That food was thrown out 'cause it wasn't any good any more Angel. It set too long and wasn't safe to eat. Instead of hitting people you should thank them for keeping you from eating things that weren't good for you."