Chapter 9

The next afternoon as Disnmore came home, his daughter was waiting for him. "Damn you, daddy! All the Spiritist kids have been withdrawn from school. They're bringing in some teachers and are starting their own school, using some buildings on the resort's property. He can't associate with me any more! His parents won't let their children associate with the children of thieves!"
Dinsmore was enraged! He didn't like his daughter seeing the Spiritist children, but to have them forbid the relationship enraged him!
He called the resort and got ahold of the senior Hatfield. They argued for several minutes then Victor hung up. "Such damned obstinate people!" he growled. "He won't budge. Sorry pumpkin!"
His daughter huffed and walked off. A couple of weeks went by and his wife came home angry. "What's the matter?" he asked.
"We just got our notice! The motel's closing. Everybody's canceled their reservations. There won't be enough business this winter to stay open. The big convention's going to Maryland this year. They're hoping they'll be able to open in the summer. That this nonsense will be passed. And on top of THAT the clinic called me at work. They're CLOSING! The doctor will only be caring for the people at the resort."
Victor shook his head. "We're trying to get a federal injunction," he explained, "against the boycott. We don't think they can keep it up for long."
"HELL they can't!" his wife snapped back. "They send their damned grocery orders by computer. They're loaded in a store across the border, driven up here, and delivered house to house. Some of our dearest friends have joined them, people I went to SCHOOL with. This thing is getting out of control. I almost hope the judge GIVES them their land back!"
The phone rang and Victor picked it up. "Dinsmore residence!" he announced.
"Victor!" came his boss' voice, "I'm sorry to tell you this, we've got to close! Our orders have been canceled. We're overstocked. It may be two or three months before inventory goes down, and we can go back to work. You can pick up your layoff slip Monday. I'm really sorry."
"Not your fault!" Victor answered, "I've got a full six months' unemployment, but it's going to be rough. Allison's being laid off too. Be in Monday morning." He hung up and stared at his wife. "I just can't believe this is HAPPENING!" There was a rap on the door and he hollered "Come in!"
Wesley James, one of the club members entered. "Victor!" he cried, "Paul, John and Henry have been arrested! They were up on the mountain, decided to leave the trail and go swimming in Little Pond. The resort's security people grabbed them, charged them with trespassing! And the damned sheriff's deputies BACKED them! This is the third time this week! My wife and I and three other couples were driven off the meadows when we stopped to picnic. Henry Jones and his boy were charged when they left the trail for a few minutes and went up the old logging road. They've got at least two-hundred security people on the mountain. They've got four camps they're operating out of. It's like a military operation! This isn't right, it just isn't right!"
"Let's get down to the sheriff's office!" Dinsmore snapped. When they got there nothing went their way. They argued and argued with the sheriff but he would not budge!
"Listen," he explained, "the resort's people have signs posted on all the trail entrances clearly stating that riders may use the trails but may NOT leave them. Any that do will be considered trespassers and charged. That's their right! People pay to use their facilities. That's how they make their living. Using them without consent is a criminal act! Stay off their property! There's nothing I can do. If you violate the rules I'll have to charge you. That's it, no if, ands, or buts!"
There was a sudden commotion and three deputies came in, dragging three struggling young men. One of them was Donald West. The officer dragging him had a bloody lip. "What's this?" the sheriff asked.
"Criminal assault," the deputy answered, "and assault on a deputy. These three left the trail at the resort, rode through the picnic grounds, terrorizing some children, then went to get food at the snack bar. The attendant refused to serve them. They proceeded to beat him, then tore the snack bar up. The resort's security people managed to subdue them, but not before one of them got cracked in the head with something. He's in the hospital getting stitches. When we went to pick them up this one didn't want to come in, said he didn't do anything wrong. The bastards would not serve him and they got what they deserved. He gave me this when I tried to cuff him. Took three of us to finish the job, and get him in the car!"
The sheriff slapped his side. "Book them!" he finally barked, "Lock them up! No release to their parents, no bail. I want that hot head out of circulation for a while." He turned, looked at Dinsmore and snapped "GO!" Dinsmore left. "Damn!" he said "The day's just started!"
The dispatcher came in. "Sheriff, the resort just called. Their security people over on the north ridge found a whole crop of marijuana while they were searching for unauthorized visitors. There's three big patches on their property, and they can see two more on the adjoining property nearby. They'd like us to send up a deputy to supervise disposal. They said they could probably get a federal agent up in a day or so but it's supposed to rain the next few days. Today would be the best burning day."

Page 17

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