Free Evangelina Green by Susan Firtik Page B

kitchen was
complete. She decided she might as well take advantage of them
being here.
    "I was hoping you could
give me some ideas and drawings for a billboard design, advertising
the Antiques & Flea
Market ." She knew Tashi would jump at the
chance to use her artistic talents.
    "Sure thing! Did you want down-home or more
metro feeling? Who are you going to try marketing to? Upscale or
middle class? I should get my sketch pad and start on this.” She
mumbled as she rushed her way out of the kitchen.
    "Netta, I have a less than glamorous task
for you, if you feel up to it?"
    Netta frowned and put the paper down. "Don’t
you dare baby me! I’m just sick and now I’m getting sick and tired
of being treated like an invalid.”
    "Okay! Fine! I need you to follow me around
and write down all the items and supplies that we’ll need to finish
some of the projects around here. I know…I know..." She held up her
hands to ward off the inevitable objection coming from Netta. "I
said it was less than glamorous. I really need the help, but it'll
be a lot of walking, climbing stairs and possibly some carrying,
and some lightweight things. You up to it??”
    Netta grinned. “Bring it on, sista!"
    An hour later, they were out in the large
garden area.
    Lina was ticking of a list. "A dozen 2 x 4's
and 500 yards of chicken wire. Two dozen t-posts and a box of
baling wire. That’s a good start for the garden. We can get some
chickens later, when we’ve civilized this place a little more or
we’ll lose ‘em before they can start laying those delicious, fresh,
brown eggs!" Lina dusted off her hands on her jeans with a look of
satisfaction. She was rattling off items as fast as Netta could jot
them down. It felt good to get organized. It appeared the
contractor and his subs were making good progress on the kitchen
foundation, framing, and had some wiring completed by the
weekend.
    Since Netta and Tashi had arrived, there had
been no sign of Keaton and he hadn’t called. Lina should be
relieved. She had a lot of work to do. But you could tell she was
not a happy camper without contact from him and that was obvious by
how she drove herself and her sisters to do more and more every
day.
    "I think we need to hit the hardware store
this afternoon. We can get the lumber through the contractor, but
the wire, t-posts etc. we can get in town at the hardware store.
Once we get the fence repaired, we can start tilling the soil,
adding amendments. Oh! Jot that down. We’ll need to get some manure
from Mr. Hawthorne down the road, then we’ll have to plan how many
tomatoes, onions, and potatoes for the sunny side of the garden.
Flowers can be put in between. Hmmm. We can always add marigolds
later for insect control. Did you get all that?”
    Netta was grinning and watching her sister
light up from the inside. Lina was in her element, organizing and
planning, putting things into proper order.
    "Yes ma’am. I got it all. If you want to get
to the hardware store and get back before dark, we’ll need to leave
in about an hour. That enough time for us to get cleaned up? We’re
both muddy from this so-called garden of yours.” Netta huffed as
she sat on a large boulder surrounding the garden.
    Lina noticed the dark circles under Netta’s
big pale gold eyes and felt guilty yet pleased she had lasted as
long as she had. "Let’s get a cold drink, clean up and see how we
feel. We can always go into town tomorrow.”
    Netta had to be tired but didn’t want to be
a burden. However, she looked grateful for the reprieve.
    Cold and lemon flavored, the iced tea hit
the spot. The fact that Tashi was missing when they returned helped
both of them relax a bit more. It wasn’t so much that she was a
tyrant...except she really was, but she tried to micro-manage
everybody and although she did it with a great deal of love and
good intentions, it didn’t always come across that way.
    Netta was in the hammock
and Lina in her favorite glider chair, both sipping