Tamarack River Ghost: A Novel

46. A New Beginning

268 A New Beginning 46 The following morning, after Natalie had driven off to work, Josh returned to his apartment. He felt better than he had for days, but he still worried about finding a job. He was well aware of the limited demand for agricultural reporters. One of his other worries had been ill-founded—Natalie didn’t care that he had lost his job; in fact, she was pleased that he no longer worked for what she called “that scumbag phony newspaper.” They also had a long discussion about why she had kept secret that she was really M.D., the person submitting anti–factory farm material to his newspaper. She had tried to explain that she thought it best not to tell anyone that she was M.D. If someone found out that the conservation warden had picked sides against large-scale agriculture, she’d have lots of difficulty doing her job. She thought, once they had gotten better acquainted, that she’d tell Josh—but she hadn’t, fearing that as a good writer he’d see her attempts as amateurish. “Amateurish they are not,” said Josh. “Good poetry? That, I don’t know. But what you wrote surely had an edge to it, and it came from the heart. That’s what good writing is all about, no matter what label you put on it.” Josh had just gotten out of the shower when the phone rang. “This is Billy Baxter, over at the Argus.” “How you doing, Billy?” “I’m fine. I was wondering if you’d have time to join me for a cup of coffee at the Lone Pine this morning, say around ten?” 269 A New Beginning “Sure, meet you there,” said Josh. He wondered what Billy wanted—he was quite sure that few people knew that he had lost his job at Farm Country News. When he arrived at the Lone Pine, Billy was already there, sitting in a booth off to the side, away from the old timers clustered together for their morning coffee discussions. He already had a cup of coffee in front of him. “Slide in, Josh,” Billy said as he waved at Mazy to bring over another cup. “That was some fire over at the river—put the kibosh on that big hog outfit, at least for a while. Heard that your game warden friend got hurt. How’s she doing?” “Oh, she’s doing fine. Got a little too much smoke.” “Glad to hear that she’s okay. So how are you and Farm Country News getting along these days?” “Not too good. Lexington fired me.” “Really. Well, I’m not surprised. I could see it coming. You didn’t fit with what that Lexington guy is trying to do. I saw that right from the beginning. I’ve been reading your work for years—good stuff. It’s not like what Farm Country is publishing these days.” “You’re right, Billy. Lexington has no idea what good journalism is; his ideas are all green—and I’m talking about money.” Billy laughed. “It’s a bit ironic that I’m talking to you this morning.” “How’s that?” “I’ve wanted to lure you away from Farm Country News ever since Lawrence Lexington took over—see if I could convince you to join our staff—for probably less money than you’ve been earning,” Billy said, smiling. “Well, as of yesterday, my income is zero. So I’m all ears.” “Remember a while back, when I mentioned I wanted to improve our paper’s website?” “I do remember you mentioning it.” “Well, I’m ready to move ahead, and I’d like you to take charge of doing it. In fact, I’d like you to be our new online editor.” 270 A New Beginning “Really?” A smile spread across Josh’s face. “Not only that, I’d like you to develop an online agricultural section that we’ll market throughout the Midwest. Something like what the old Farm Country News was doing with its print edition.” Josh couldn’t believe what he was hearing—to be employed again and doing something he believed in! “When do I start?” Josh asked, smiling broadly. “Right now, if you want. I’ll find a desk for you at the Argus office, and you’ll be good to go. Stop by after lunch—give me...