Chapter 16

Carl – The Between

Carl volunteered for short-term manager during the transition. A few of the stores opened for business. The second and third floors prepped for new occupants.

Carl's internal computer processor anticipated the slightest problems. He had a fix before it happened. The new company saved three hundred thousand dollars because of Carl.

Federated wanted to hire him to remain as their manager. He politely refrained saying, "I have local commitments keeping me from accepting the offer."

The president of Federated said, "If you change your mind call me."

"Thank you, Sir."

Carl's Transition

Carl's employment transferred to Davis Implement Company. He became second vice president with twenty-five percent ownership. All the delivery vehicles were busy except for the truck called Goliath. Only Paul, Bobby, Carl and Steve were licensed to drive Goliath.

Bobby and Carl were transporting a medium size Ford tractor, an eight-row-tiller and a machine to grind or pulverize rocks. The equipment was slated to be delivered to R. Garland three miles north of East Bernstadt off County Road 490.

Carl spotted the mailbox with Garland printed on it. He turned Goliath onto the farm road leading to two barns and a large white house with a bright red roof. Five beautiful women encircled the truck. Each one could be a model for a glamor magazine providing they did not speak.

Ruth Garland and her four daughters squeaked a form of lower mountain dialect that Bobby had difficulty translating. Carl spoke it with a similar shrill as the women expressed the local language. It leaned more on Scottish than English. The "R" was elongated, and the tongue vibrated. The women wore white transparent sundresses. They failed to wear any garments under the clothes.

Bobby and Carl attempted to look away from the women. The guys voices had a pitch higher than normal with a tremble as they spoke. The females sported a thin tight smile.

The women fixed their focus on Carl as he carried the machine weighing a thousand pounds which pulverized and ground rocks down to an eighth of an inch or less. Then he rolled the tiller followed by the tractor down the ramp with no effort. The ladies bragged on Carl's strength and his handsome features.

Carl and Bobby demonstrated how to operate the equipment safely. All five were comfortable utilizing their new purchases. Each of the younger four pressed their bodies and hands against Carl and Bobby. Both glowed crimson with every touch and attempted to avoid any erotic conversation.

Bobby noticed a dozen cars drive to the second barn. One of the girls would disappear into the barn and return in a few minutes with a brown paper sack or box which she presented to the driver. In return the girl would receive what Bobby assumed was payment for the contents in the container.

When several Dodge 3500 trucks arrived, all four of the young ladies excused themselves to load small to large boxes onto the vehicles. Bobby and Carl helped load the boxes. They heard the rattle of jars or bottles in the boxes. One of the girls said they were dispatching corn mash to local distributors.

Bobby told Carl, "Corn mash was another means to express moonshine or illegal whiskey. From what I have seen they received five to ten thousand dollars today. Other people would distribute it in their territory."

Bobby assumed these five women grew, harvested corn, and produced the finished product. They sold the bulk to a middle man. He distributed the bottles to several illegal retailers.

"How do you know this much about the illicit enterprise?

My daddy, grand-daddy and great grand-daddy made a fortune growing corn for homemade liquor. Ruth Garland said, "Who be 'you'ins 'gre gran da-da'?"

"Jeremiah Boyd, a Presbyterian preacher from Scotland."

"Well be, slap me in da face an' stomp me on da toe, me 'gre gran da-da' be Jeremyah Boyd. (Spelled differently by intention. ) He be 'marrian' many gals along da Ohi' an' Kentuc' reevas. Yoo be me kin."

A Legend of Jeremiah Boyd

Carl interpreted and Bobby plugged the holes. Bobby's great granddaddy ran a supply barge up and down the Ohio, and Kentucky rivers and their tributaries powered by gasoline engines and aided by ropes pulled by men and mules. Trucks and wagons were luxuries encountering problems navigating the muddy dirt roads of Kentucky.

Jeremiah's version of Scotch Whisky was his main item for sale. His wealth multiplied and he added fifteen barges to his arsenal. He would purchase items including cattle, goats and sheep to add to his inventory. He kept a team of men and mules every thirty miles that would assist the barges along the river to the next community.

What use to be trading posts turned into general stores. Jeremiah started a church in each little community. He invested in the general stores and taverns. He supplied goods even when the proprietors could not pay. His homemade scotch whiskey made him rich.

Jeremiah's investments in the small towns added to his wealth. His sermons were furious and fiery. Women were enchanted with him. He married a young woman in twenty-two different communities along his route. Rumors estimated there were additional wives. Until his death none were aware of the other.

Each wife was awarded a small fortune - land to plant corn, a still to make liquor and a barn to store the product. Before he died his twenty-two wives and thirty-six children inherited additional land, property and money in the town in which they lived.

Jeremiah Boyd was a benefactor and a man of integrity to some, and to others he was a rogue.

Bobby thanked Ruth for the history of their great grandfather. He never told it to Momma or any family member.

Bobby sampled the product before he and Carl left. It had a greater kick but tasted comparable to his Dad's recipe. He bought a small box to take home.