Beyond The Fog
© 2017 - William C. Highsmith

The lazy days of summer have passed. Along with the cooler temperatures comes the time when many of the deciduous trees begin to shed their leaves to rest until springtime. The Meteorologist would explain how the temperature changes combine with other factors to produce fog. To Cleve, it was simply there, and it obscured a problem.

Cleveland Ambrosia Mitchell was born on this land some forty-three years ago into a poor but proud family. The Mitchells have lived on these sixty acres since the awful times of the Civil War thanks to a man called James Arnold. Mr. Arnold was a plantation owner in the era of the war that divided Americans against each other. When the conflict ended, he gave land to several families, including the sixty acres to Cleve's ancestors, as a reward for their loyalty. Over the many years, there had been attempts to take the land away from the family. It hadn't happened; and, Cleve was determined it would never happen.

Cleve looked down the road and mused that the fog seemed to hover over the border of his land. Beyond the haze lay the multiplied thousands of acres owned by a timber company that wanted to expand their holdings to include the Mitchell property.

Cleve looked at his watch. He must head to the office. There was much work to be done.

As he walked through the doors, he noted his staff already in place at the law firm called Mitchell, Mitchell, and Steward, P.A.

By William C. Highsmith - January 26, 2017