The Lake

By Shane Bowen

A developer named Truque descends on the small town of Shafter with huge plans. He has to break the rules to make his project happen. Sometimes breaking the rules can have serious consequences.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Oct 30, 2016
• ISBN: 9781365498107

Book preview

The Lake

1

Hey, Bill, said a tired looking old man in the first booth at the Millview Restaurant.

Oh, hello, Frank, Bill said, shaking the rain from his umbrella and putting his hat on top of the coatrack. What’s the news?

Nothing good, that’s for certain. John was in here a little bit ago and said he heard that the Patillo’s are moving.

Well, I guess we knew it was coming, Bill replied, sliding into the faded orange booth across from Frank. Still, that’s going to really hurt us. What are they doing with the grocery store?

Sounds like they have been trying to sell it for a while but no new money is coming into Shafter these days. Not for a lot of days, really, Frank said before taking a long drink from his coffee.

Morning, Frank, said a man with salt and pepper hair and a close-trimmed beard wearing a bleached, white apron. The man looked like he had not slept in a month. Coffee?

Morning, Jack, Frank said. Where’s Tammy?

I had to let her go. Business is not good, so I’m trying to do everything on my own now. I held out as long as I could, but it just wasn’t happening.

We know you are doing your best, Jack, Frank answered. I’ll take that coffee, black, and the number three.

Scrambled with crispy bacon?

Sounds great, thanks.

Jack was back in a few moments with a pot of coffee, which he left on the table, and then disappeared into the kitchen to cook Frank’s breakfast.

No grocery store is going to make it hard for people to stay here. Limited money and a thirty-minute drive to Covington for food is going to make it harder to stay, Frank said.

Larry Golden told me that he’s had six people in this week putting their houses up for sale. No one expects the properties to sell, but they want it to look like they tried before the bank forecloses, Bill said.

It’s a shame, really. Back when we were kids, Shafter was thriving. Two hardware stores, two grocery stores, five churches, and the mill was as busy as any in the area, Frank said, looking out the window at the valley below. Still an amazing view.

Yeah, Bill said, looking out the window at the silent old mill at the bottom of the ridge that Shafter sat on. The rain was pouring down, but the gigantic old building stood out amongst the green woods on the other side of the river. I bet in a year or two, Shafter will be an abandoned ruin.

You never know, Frank replied, as Jack put his breakfast of eggs, bacon, and toast on the table in front of him. Thanks, Jack.

Sure thing, Jack said, sliding in next to Bill. "I doubt anyone else will be