Then he said.
"Your grandfather loved that machine."
The boy swallowed.
"I know."
The farmer looked toward him.
"He also loved you more."
The boy lowered his eyes.
Then whispered.
"I don't want it because it's worth money."
The older man nodded.
"I figured."
The boy continued.
"When I sit in the barn, I can still hear him talking about it."
His voice trembled.
"Sometimes I think if I get the tractor back, maybe the barn won't feel so empty."
The old farmer stared toward the horizon.
For a moment, his eyes grew wet.
Then he took a slow breath.
"That makes sense."
The boy looked surprised.
The farmer smiled faintly.
"Grief makes you hold on to strange things."
He looked toward the old machine shed.
"I kept your grandfather's broken tape measure after he gave it to me."
The child frowned.
"Why?"
The farmer laughed softly.
"Because he used it to build my first cattle gate."
He looked toward the boy.
"Still doesn't measure worth a darn."
The boy smiled.
The older man continued.
"But sometimes I open that toolbox and there it is."
He paused.
"Makes me remember him."
They sat quietly.
Then the farmer asked.
"You know what kind of trouble that John Deere might have?"
The boy nodded.
"Dealer says the engine's destroyed."
The old man grunted.
"That dealer says a lot of things."
The boy looked up.
"Do you believe him?"
The farmer considered.
"I believe machines can fail."
He paused.
"But I'd want to see the evidence before calling an engine destroyed."
The boy nodded eagerly.
"That's what Grandpa said!"
The old man smiled.
"Sounds like him."
Then his expression grew thoughtful.
"Did your grandfather tell you what happened before the tractor went to the dealer?"
The boy nodded.
"He thought it had an electrical problem."
The farmer studied him.
"What kind?"
The boy opened the black notebook.
Turned several pages.
Then showed him a hand-drawn wiring diagram.
The older man's expression changed.
He examined the notes.
Then nodded slowly.
"Interesting."
The boy leaned closer.
"What?"
The farmer looked toward him.
"Your grandfather wasn't guessing."
He pointed toward the diagram.
"He had been narrowing things down."
The boy smiled.
"Can you help me look at it?"
The farmer nodded.
"Of course."
Then he added firmly.