A reminder that volunteering for tuckerization only means a character in the story shares the participant’s name. Other than that, no other similar characteristics are implied.
Sarah Wilson’s Farm
by Alan Loewen
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Sarah let her dog out for his daily early evening run of the backyard of her farm. Dusk had settled over the fields and woods, and actual nighttime was just minutes away. In the light of a fading day and a waxing moon, Sarah saw in the distance six deer running along the hedgerow that bordered the lower field.
That is if deer could run on their hind legs.
Fortunately, Cicero was too old and blind to see them. He went about his business as Sarah impatiently tapped her foot. When the old dog finally decided to return to the house and the warmth of his bed, Sarah shut the door behind him and locked the two deadbolts.
With a stifled yawn, Sarah made her way to the kitchen for her evening tea when through the window, a light in the field below caught her attention. She studied it for a moment and then gritted her teeth realizing it was a trespasser with a flashlight.
Fortunately, trespassers were rare, but with the advent of the Internet, rumors about the uniqueness of Sarah Wilson’s farm had created some unpleasant encounters. In the last year, several unwanted explorers of a more metaphysical bent ignored the numerous No Trespassing signs surrounding Sarah’s 300-acre property, all to their detriment.
Fortunately, this time, there was only one flashlight. When there were three or more, Sarah’s job as caretaker always became a tad more complicated.
Putting on her coat, Sarah unbolted the back door and walked out to the shed where she kept her ATV. It had been difficult finding one that was electric. Still, she needed something silent that would allow her to not only approach trespassers before they ran but would also allow her to travel unheard around her property without causing the other beings on her farm to notice her. Her truce with them was generational, but one did not tempt fate.
And some of the farm’s regular inhabitants could be quite unpleasant. Especially at night.
Sarah started the ATV and steered it in a wide circle to attempt to come behind the intruder. As she swung the ATV about, Sarah could see the silhouette of a person picking their way across the field via the use of their flashlight.
However, as she approached, the trespasser heard the hum of the electric motor and turned, hitting Sarah in the eyes with the bright illumination of the flashlight.
“Shine that flashlight on the ground,” Sarah yelled. In response, Sarah turned on the headlights of her ATV, illuminating her unwanted invader. Sarah sighed. “You again?”
Sarah got off her ATV, leaving the headlights on and the electric motor running. Ignoring the trespasser’s look of disapproval, Sarah stood with her fists at her hips. “What did I tell you last time?” Sarah asked.
Her intruder remained silent.
“You are clearly trespassing, and you are going to turn around this very minute and leave,” Sarah said. “I told you last time, Ms. Pitzer, you are not welcome here.”
The woman sneered. “Why don’t you call the police then? They’d be interested in your little farm here and what you have hidden on it.” She held up a cell phone. “I’ve already taken enough pictures to let the world know what you’re hiding here. I’ve got pictures of odd tracks, strange lights, and a shadowy figure that clearly isn’t human.”
Sarah shook her head. “The Internet is filled with dubious photos. Yours will be laughed at as well.”
“But,” the woman said, “I think I could get enough interest going to make your farm an interesting destination for adventure seekers. Now, I don’t think you want that to happen, so why don’t you let me in on your little secret here? Just between us girls?”
Sarah crossed her arms. “Really? You truly want to know?”
The woman smiled. “Sure.”
“Okay,” Sarah said while giving a shrug. “Why not? Okay, here’s the story in a nutshell.
“My family has been tasked to guard this property for the last five generations when our first ancestor journeyed to the new world from the Black Forest in Germany. Since the Holy Roman Empire, my descendants received the responsibility to guard and conceal certain forces of nature from those who would use them for their own purposes.
“These forces are meant to be hidden because they are inherently deadly. You with me so far?”
Pitzer licked her lips and nodded, her eyes bright with fascination.
“So I have all sorts of … I guess you could call them guests, all former residents of the Black Forest, safe and secured here on my acreage. If I were to rattle off all the different beings here, the list would make you dizzy.”
The intruder smiled. “And what gives you the right to keep them to yourself?” she asked.
Sarah looked nervously about. “Look, you might have just enough time to leave. Maybe. The sun has set, and the moon is waxing. The hounds will be upon us soon. I need to go lock myself in my house.”
Sarah jumped on her ATV. “I think,” Sarah said, “you misunderstand my responsibility here.” She swung the ATV around. “I am not here to protect these creatures from you. Until Kingdom Come, I’m here to protect people like you from what is kept here.”
Sarah made it to her house, jumped off the ATV, and almost tripping over Cicero, she bolted the door behind her. Moments later, Sarah heard screams coming from down the field, screams that faded into the forest. She hoped that the Black Dogs had found the trespasser for there were other creatures far worse. Sarah hoped her intruder would not learn that there were states of being infinitely worse than death.
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