Perched on the Highest Hill

1. Billy Arnold wanted to see whatever marauders, land grabbers, and horse thieves came to his neighborhood before they arrived, so he perched on top of the highest hill he could find, building his soddy right at its peak.
2. He could see ten miles in any direction from his hill, including his three brothers’ and his dad’s homes.
3. He felt safe.
4. Day by day, wind ripped at his clothes, filled his eyes with dust, and dried out his crops, but still he prospered.
5. His wife couldn’t wait for a real, frame house and Billy wanted corrals and barns and granaries—so he borrowed money.
6. Instead of land grabbers, he lost his place to bankers, BUT he homesteaded a new place in Oklahoma and struck oil.

faithanncolburn@gmail.com February 19, 2019 12 Comments

Categories: Fiction

Tags: fiction flash fiction homesteading prairie

12 Replies to “Perched on the Highest Hill”

1. Very sad but very true I’m sure.

   1. This was my family’s home place, but we were down the line from Billy Arnold who homesteaded. I met his grandson and got the rest of the story from him. I couldn’t have made it up.

2. Trying to grow a business too fast, even a farm business, using leverage often has this result. Well told.

3. The road to success and happiness has many ups and downs. Thankfully, your story ends in success!

4. Engaging Six. The capriciousness of life is surely the leading cause of heads to be banged against walls, no?

   1. Absolutely Clark.

5. Dang bankers. He was lucky to have re-perched prosperously.

   1. He was lucky. I used to have the abstract to that property. Turns out the bank president took over ownership of the property.

6. What an awesome 6! I could put myself in his shoes by the way you peresented.

   1. thanks Lisa. I’ve always taken wicked joy in the story, since the guy came out great in the end and since the local banker wouldn’t speak to me after we had to declare bankruptcy.

7. So did the banker build a mansion on top of the hill?

8. Nope. He just resold it when he could make a nice profit. Probably build his mansion in town.

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