Free Sweet Olive (9780310330554) by Zondervan Publishing House Page A

was worth,” Ginny said. “And much of that was done by people on the phone in the Samford office. They didn’t even bother to come out here.”
    “I wasn’t—”
    “Camille, you’ve got a job to do,” Lawrence interrupted. “But J&S doesn’t care about us, our land, our water, or our traditions. They’ve let it be known that they only care about drilling.”
    Camille couldn’t deny his words held truth.
    Ginny sat up straighter. “It actually turned out to be a blessing—the way your company treated people.”
    “That’s one I haven’t heard before,” Camille said.
    “We realized we didn’t want certain things to change. We don’t want to be at the mercy of a big company.”
    Camille cleared her throat. “J&S takes a risk too. It costs a lot to get to the gas—and there’s no guarantee what we’ll find.” Conversations like this were easier in a sterile conference room.
    Lawrence looked as her intently. “You don’t seem like the kind of person to do us wrong, but we aren’t interested. Marsh can probably explain it better.”
    “He has a lot to gain from this too. He’s an attorney, for heaven’s sake.”
    “He’s doing this job pro bono,” Lawrence said.
    Camille fingered the chain on the swing to hide her surprise. “No one does something for free.”
    “Sure they do,” Lawrence said. “Neighbors help each other out. Marsh is a good friend, laid-back most of the time but wound tight when it counts.”
    The landowners’ emotions were hard enough to deal with. Add a lawyer with a personal interest and … “I must have caught him on one of the wound-tight days.” Camille brushed away the memory of him working in his yard.
    “He looks out for the people he cares for,” Lawrence said.
    “Do you have children?” Ginny asked abruptly.
    Camille shook her head.
    “Our dream is that Sweet Olive children will want to come home to raise their families, that they’ll become artists the way their parents and grandparents were.”
    “That they can put down roots here,” Lawrence said, “make a life the way my father did for us.”
    The comment stung. “These leases can help pay for those dreams.” Camille nodded to where Kylie and Randy played. “Don’t you want security for them?”
    Ginny’s look was sober, eyes unblinking behind her glasses. “I want only good things for them. But I want them to trust God to provide, not obsess about money in the bank.”
    “Have you thought that maybe God provided this opportunity?” Camille couldn’t hold back her agitation, and her voice got a little louder.
    “We’ve talked about that a lot.” Lawrence nodded. “We’ve sought God’s guidance every step of the way. That’s why we convinced Marsh to become involved.”
    “I pray about that each day.” Ginny clasped her hands together as she looked at Kylie and Randy.
    “The money’s tempting. We’d be lying if we said otherwise.” Lawrence gave a snort of laughter. “Art sure doesn’t pay the bills.”
    Ginny’s look grew more solemn. “How’s Evelyn?”
    “A rock,” he said, before looking at Camille. “My mother was diagnosed with cancer three weeks ago. We’re in the tests and decision phase.”
    “I’m sorry.” Camille touched his hand.
    “Circumstances like Evelyn’s make our decisions harder,” Ginny said. “Everyone could use the money.” She took off her glasses and worked on a smudge with the sleeve of her T-shirt.“That’s why it’s imperative that you get to know us—and we get to know you.”
    They sat for a moment, only the sound of the children breaking the silence.
    Camille stroked the smooth wood of the swing’s arm. “I’ll make this work,” she said, speaking as much to herself as to them.

Chapter 9
    D innertime was approaching by the time they left Lawrence’s house, Camille clutching a blown-glass amber vase shot with strands of deep blue.
    She tried to pay for it, but Lawrence insisted it was her welcome gift. “I look forward