Chapter 10: Madison's Meteor, Part 10

"So, regardless of who your father is, you're just a small-time bully trying to throw your daddy's weight around. Do you really think I haven't seen plenty of your kind before?" He reached over and picked up a cup of coffee and put it in the boy's hand. "Here's your coffee, now run to daddy, and tell him that Frank Madison is not selling his land. Not to him, not to anyone associated with him."

The boy tossed the coffee on the floor and stormed out of the shop. One of his friends shrugged apologetically before he followed. Jim stepped around the counter and came back out with the mop and cleaned up the mess. Before he finished someone stepped up to the counter to order.

Frank left the shop with his gut churning from his anger. There were some things about the new Madison that he didn't like. The DeLorne men was a fair number of them. By the time he reached the library he had managed to get himself back to an equilibrium.

Jennita had a half dozen people waiting to talk to her. Sergio was helping a couple of kids with the computer. Frank contented himself with a wave as he went to the reading area and picked out a book.

The book finished the work of calming him. Frank didn't remember much of what he read, but he wasn't worried about that today. He didn't think the answers he was looking for were going to be found in print.

He sighed and put it down. Jennita's line was still long, but different people, so he waved again and went out onto the street.

DeLorne met him.

"What do you mean you aren't selling?" he said. "We had an agreement."

"No," Frank said, "we didn't. You never asked if I was selling, You decided you were buying."

"You had it re-zoned."

"I had my reasons."

"What is it? Do you want more money?" DeLorne's face was getting red.

"Don't want any amount of your money."

"Nobody messes with me!" He pushed Frank with his finger. "You are nothing. Nothing!"

"Pardon me, Mr. Madison," the Sheriff interrupted DeLorne. "Is this gentleman bothering you?"

"He's just leaving, Sheriff."

"This isn't over, Madison." DeLorne gave him a parting glare and left.

"He's been buying land all over the district," the Sheriff said. "There are some folks who are desperate enough to sell at any price. I don't think he's made anyone but himself rich yet."

Frank nodded. He went to his truck and drove out to the farm. Even on the back roads, the traffic was heavier. At his farm, he checked on the livestock. Caring for the animals gave him a calm that even reading couldn't.

The town had dealt with people like DeLorne before. His grandfather had been like that. Frank's father had no interest in anything but farming and his father had never forgiven him for it. By the time Frank had been old enough to remember, his grandfather was dead. Only his father's bitter stories and an over-sized headstone remained of the old man's ambitions.

When the chores were done, he went out the shed and uncovered the meteor.

"I should have known that there would be the bad with the good," Frank said. "That's the way of it, isn't it?" He sat on the stone and patted it. "I suppose I'll muddle by like I usually do. Life will go on." He left the meteor uncovered and went to cook his supper.

After supper Frank poked through some of the boxes of stuff that his parents had left in the attic rooms. It took him a while to find the property deeds he was looking for, but he didn't mind. It had been a long time since he had looked at the pictures that were all he had left of his parents.

The sound of breaking glass brought him downstairs. He saw a strange car in the drive and heard more destruction from the shed. Frank called the Sheriff's office. The girl told him to stay in the house, but that was Franks livelihood in the shed, and he didn't want to think about what would happen if the invaders got into the barn.

They didn't hear him come through the door. Frank wasn't surprised to see the young DeLorne and his two hangers on. They had smashed all the windows in the shed and were trying to break the tractor windshield.

"The Sheriff's coming." Frank said. "I'd appreciate you leaving now." He used the same voice he used when an animal was upset and dangerous.

The young man who had shrugged in the coffee shop pulled on the DeLorne kid's arm.

"Come on, Greg," he said. "We need to get out of here."

Greg pushed him away.

"I'm not afraid of some punk sheriff." He pulled a pistol out of his pocket and shot a hole in the tractor's windshield. "I'm not afraid of anyone." He pointed the gun at his friend.

"Easy," Frank said, still speaking like they were spooked animals.

The gun swung around until it was pointed at him.

"Why do you have a big fricking rock in here?"

"It's a meteorite," Frank said. "I haven't decided what to do with it yet."

Greg laughed and waves of alcohol hit Frank's face.

"You mean like in those dumb movies? Does it give you super powers?" He pulled the trigger and a burning pain ran through Frank's shoulder.

"I guess not." He swaggered over to Frank who leaned against the tractor with his hand on his shoulder.

"Let me tell you a secret." He waved the gun in Frank's face and breathed more alcohol at him. "Pay attention old man!" He grabbed Frank and pushed him over onto the meteorite.

"Nobody messes with the DeLorne's"

Siren announced the Sheriff's approach. The other two young men were frantic, but neither one wanted to face the gun. Finally, they ran out the door.