When we got to the clearing, the reason why it was a clearing became evident. The two-mile-wide area had mine shafts and deep boreholes going up to a ...ile down into the group. Some went horizontally for miles. I had no way to know if they smelted the metals they wanted in this area, or someone came along later. Whatever the reason, they backfilled the holes and shafts with unwanted ones and slag. At some point, Mother Nature had tried to take the land back over. She got rebuffed so many times. "How would I do that? All I did," he leaned over me, making me lie back down on the frozen concrete, "was haul you back out of the way and shield you." Bullshit!" I could hear people calling my name and sirens approaching as well as the apologetic sobs of Jake."Trish- Tricia- please," he asked, a small, but earnest, plea in his voice."Will you tell me later?" I was not letting this go."Fine," he growled and curled his body protectively around mine. It felt good, he smelled good and I was more. We were up late talking."I knew that Mr. Hardesy wanted Tom to take over the store, but that Tom had resisted and they'd fought. It sounded like things were better between them.I took a deep breath. "It seems like you know everything that goes on in this town, Mr. Hardesy. I heard some things last night that have been bothering me. I was hoping you could clear some of them up." Well, I don't know, John. What I know and what I tell can be entirely different. What exactly do you want to know?". “Well she told me she did which seemed a bit over the top, after all she had never even spoken to me before yesterday.”Julie’s face registered a sudden thought.“Last night every time a girl came on to you, what did you tell them?”“Well only that I’m not a lesbian.” Jenny replied not seeing any connection between the two.“Oh god Jenny, you’re a bright and talented person, but sometimes you can be very dense.” Julie snorted.“Thanks for the compliment, I kind of worked that one out on my own.”.