Chapter 215

Papa drove the old Bronco into town, explaining to Creighton the ritual that took the farmers away from home on a daily basis. They pulled into a parking stall at the small restaurant where Creighton had taken Sandra every morning since arriving in Kansas. The parking lot was full of trucks and SUVs. Not like it usually was during the breakfast hours.

“Gathering for coffee is a tradition,” Papa began as he shut off the engine. “We meet every morning, mid-morning and mid-afternoon to talk about the weather, crops, politics and just small-town gossip.”

“Sounds interesting,” Creighton smiled as he closed the car door and walked into the restaurant. “Farmers typically meet at a local pub back home for the same reason.”

He was surprised by the number of people who greeted him by name, as he took a seat with Papa at the same table where he had shared breakfast with his wife earlier that morning. He recognized several of them from the picnic the night before, and shared polite conversations