Candles

Stories light candles in the mind. A writer heads from central Massachusetts, with wife, to seek out the farm where an uncle’s family welcomed nephews of separated parents. Not abandoned, as thought, the property is offered for sale. His brother, a drifter since high school, shows up after a long absence and together the boys buy in before the younger marries.
Both wives are farmers. Once does organic eggs; one starts a dairy herd. Years later the first is turning a profit, the second about to. Cows are expensive collectibles. Their husbands? The elder writes nonstop for an annual 10K. His sibling, a poet marque’, gave up writing and now sells cars, on salary, beside serving as mayor of their nearby country town, unpaid.
Then times get hard. The mayor locks horns with the local doctor. A town meeting is called to lay down the law. Having survived, just, mayor and brother combine savings, pledge future royalties and mortgage their farm to bankroll a Ford dealership. Meanwhile the economy tanks.
Picture well watered rolling hills and light mixed forest. Add the double family of third generation Québecquois struggling to renew roots. A big order not quite out of reach.