The following October arrived with warm days and cool evenings. The corn stood straight across the ridge fields, and the forecast showed a reasonable harvest window. Hollis had arranged backup capacity months earlier. The combines had been inspected, service terms documented, and grain receiving plans confirmed. The emergency contact list hung beside the office telephone. The year had not been free of problems. A hailstorm damaged an early field, a supplier delivered a wrong component, and the bank requested additional documentation before renewing one operating line. But none of those problems had forced her to choose between panic and surrender.
On the first morning of harvest, she climbed into the S780 cab before dawn. The displays came alive, reporting normal status. She checked the functions, the weather, the grain routes, and the field map. Then she looked toward the barn, where the old 1978 tractor stood beneath a light. It was ready if needed, though the plan did not depend on it. She smiled at the quiet assurance of knowing the difference.
Wes's voice came over the radio. "Morning, Hollis. You ready?"
"Ready."
"You got somebody making coffee?"
"Already made. And Ruth said she'd fine you if you complain about it being weak."
Ruth's voice crackled through the channel. "I heard that."
Hollis laughed. She started the harvesting system, waited for the indicators to settle, and eased the combine toward the first row. The header took the stalks smoothly. Golden kernels began filling the grain tank. She glanced at the yield display, then back to the field, allowing herself the pleasure of a job beginning as planned.
Halfway down the pass, the radio crackled again. It was the young employee working with the ground crew. She had noticed a loose fitting on a parked wagon and wanted permission to have it inspected before loading. Hollis told her to keep it out of service until the appropriate person checked it. No question was too small when a full wagon might weigh many tons. The young woman thanked her and signed off. Hollis smiled. A year earlier, Garnet had pressed a button because he felt he could not question an instruction. Now another young worker was being encouraged to question equipment before it failed.