Free Dinosaur Lake 3: Infestation by Kathryn Meyer Griffith Page B

them.
    “Don’t know. But, where ever it’s going won’t be
good.”
    “Henry calling the army in again?”
    “He’s thinking about it. Him and Justin are out on
the lake right now dinosaur hunting. Seeing what they’re up against, if
anything. I imagine I’ll know more tonight when he gets home.”
    “Hmm. You’ll let me know what’s happening, won’t
you?”
    “Of course. Don’t I always?”
    He was just looking at her in an attentive way, the
hand picking up his coffee cup trembled. He must suspect she had something else
on her mind.
    Well, no time like the present to drop the bomb,
she thought. “Zeke, I do have something else I wanted to talk to you about. You
got some time?”
    “Oh, I always have time for you. What’s bothering
you, Ann?”
    In as calm a voice as she could muster, she spoke
of her desire to sell the newspaper and retire. And her old boss, and previous
owner of the Klamath Falls Journal, surprised her. With a supportive smile when
she was finished, he said, “If that’s what you want. If you’re sure. I say go
for it. Life is too short to not do what you really want to do. Take it from an
old codger who now reflects on his life and wishes–desperately–he would have
taken off more time from work to…live. Enjoy life more. Ha, I waited too long.
Worked too hard. My family suffered and now I’m suffering. I retired too late
and now, look at me, I’m a sick old man no good for nothing. Can’t travel or enjoy
the time I have left because my mind and body’s plumb worn out. No, girlie, you
retire now and do what you want. Have some fun. Spend time with your husband
and kids, that new grandbaby when it arrives, while you can.
    “I’d do anything to time travel twenty years back and
do the same. Work should never be a person’s whole life. Now it’s too late.” He
stared out the window at the sunny day. The squirrel had scampered off.
Probably looking for nuts somewhere. “And after that scare last year with your
cancer, I don’t blame you one iota for wanting to retire. So go for it, I say.”
    “Oh, Zeke, I’m relieved you feel this way. I was
afraid to tell you of my decision about selling the paper. I know it’s been
your baby all these years.”
    “Babies grow up, Ann, and sometimes they’re not
what you were expecting them to become. It’s time. The day of the print papers
are about over. The Internet is making them extinct. Sell while you can; get
what you can. Go off and do what you want to do. Be happy.”
    She gave him a hug. He was so dear to her. If she
retired she’d have more time for him, as well.
    “You know, I might be able to help you sell the old
place,” he declared. “Over the years I had an offer or two for it. The owners
of the other major newspapers in town approached me right before I handed it
over to you. One of them would gladly take it off your hands for a fair price.
I’ll give them a call for you and let you know.”
    “Thank you, Zeke, that would be so good of you.
Sooner the better. Now I’ve decided to retire I can’t wait to start my new
life. I can’t even bear to go into the newspaper today. So I’m not. Suddenly,
none of it seems to matter anymore.”
    Zeke’s glance was intense. “Anything else you want
to tell me?”
    She hesitated and she knew he caught it. “No,” she lied.
    “You sure? I can keep a secret if a secret is what
you want it to be.”
    She shook her head. “Still no. You were right, though,
the cancer scare last year is why I’m reassessing my life. That and all these
new dinosaurs in the park.” She met his gaze. “I’m going to write about them
and sell the stories to any newspaper that wants to run them. Might make some more
money with it. That and whatever I get from the newspaper’s sale, and our
savings, will tide us over until I can collect social security.”
    “Henry know about this idea of yours to retire and
write dinosaur articles?” Zeke smiled at her over his coffee cup.
    “Not