*****
John was working in the field on Tuesday when a plan came together in Marcy’s head. He would pay, and pay big-time. She would need a little help and their farmhand, Sid, was loyal like a puppy to her. She knew Sid was strongly attracted to her and it was time to use that to her advantage.
Wednesday morning, John was back out in the field while Sid was in the barn tending to the animals. Marcy went out to find her potential accomplice.
“Hey, Sid. How ya doin’?”
“Hello, Mrs. Murray. I’m great but you’re looking fabulous as usual.”
“Sid, you’re so sweet. Listen, can I ask a favor?”
“Anything, mam.”
“Do we still have some of that old dynamite that John used to blow up those big rocks in the East field?”
“Yeah. He keeps it in the little shed in the meadow.”
“Okay, good. I need you to do some things for me without John knowing.”
Marcy gave him instructions on the things she needed him to do and asked him not to question her as to why. Like a puppy dog, he just panted and agreed to do whatever she asked. After she filled him in on her plans enough so he’d understand, they searched the barn for items they needed and hid them for the big event the following day.
“Thank you, Sid. And remember, not a word to John.”
She hugged him to seal his devotion and went back to the house to start lunch preparations. About an hour later, John and Sid came through the door.
“Hey, Honey. Is lunch ready?”
“Coming right up, dear. Hi, Sid. I hope you boys are hungry. I made a big Shepherd’s Pie.”
Marcy watched as the two men wolfed down the meal and talked about the work they had to do that afternoon. She couldn’t help feeling her nerves starting to cause her to question her plans. What she had in mind could have drastic consequences and she started to wonder if she could go through with it.
The men went back to work and Marcy paced, thought, worried, paced, and thought some more. After more than two hours of agonizing and second-guessing, she set her heart on going through with her plan. She had one more night to hide her suspicions from John, and deal with the guilt she already felt for what she planned to put him through.
*****
Thursday morning started out like every workday. Marcy made breakfast for the two men before they headed off to do their chores. It seemed funny how John’s eggs had so much eggshell in them, and his biscuits were burnt. Marcy chuckled to herself as her man obviously noticed, but made no complaint.
Like every Thursday, John grabbed a quick sandwich for lunch and prepared to head into town. Marcy stopped him before he left.
“Honey, I have a small list of things I need from the grocery store. Can you pick these up before you come home?”
“Sure, dear. Love you.”
“Love you, too. Be good, ya hear?”
Marcy sat at the kitchen table for what seemed like days even though it was only half an hour. She knew his stop at the feed store would take less than an hour, so it would only be a little longer before Lucy called if John was misbehaving.
Sid came into the kitchen to get some iced tea. “Mrs. Murray, when do I need to get ready?”