TO FIND PEACE 7

cleve was parked in the DEA parking lot. he had a smile a mile wide. he didnt know if it was katey, the deal or just the great cloudless sky. the sun was shining through his wind sheld and warming him up. a week ago he was continplateing ending his life, today he cant wait for tomorrow. katey rolled her car into the parking slot next to his. when she got out she had a manila folder bulging side by side they headed into the DEA offices. on the way in he told her," this part is yours. your the realestate agent. ill back you all i can make that place sound worse than it is if possible. " katey looked up at him " you sure?" cleve nodded. in watsons office he was bubbling over.he said" so your intrested in out kj property? we are ready to cut a deal the goverment doesnt like holding seized property for very long." katey spread the photos out on watsons desk" i cant sell this , look at it!: watson deflated quick." i had no idea. what do you suggest?" katey tirned to cleve." this man has a proposition its the best i could find." watson turned his gaze to cleve. " what value do you place on the property?" cleve asked. " we thought with the deeded and the cattle permit it would be worth two hundred thousand."watson whimpered. " no way, the ranch is grubbed out, it will take years for it to come back. the buildings and improvements are on the verge of collapse. .i have a agreement to take over the cattle. but they are in such bad condition i cant move them without killing a high percentage. i have a ranch just up the road from the k j. it would be good for me to hold it. ill pay eighty thousand for the place. ill open escrow today with twenty thousand i want a 120 day closeing. i may close sooner than that but i want to have that much time available." cleve put it on the table. katey looked at cleve with disbelief , then back at watson who was studying the photo graphs. " you will put up twenty thousand today" certified funds?"watson sounded hopeful. " ill be back with in the hour. you get the papers drawen up while ime gone." cleve sat there with a confident air about him. watson stared out the window then looked at katey" how much will it take to clean up and make the headquarters presentable?" " at least fifty thousand or more." katey answered matter of factly. turning to cleve watson said" go get the check ill have the paper work done but only 90 days escrow. i cant do more." cleve stood up and stuck his hand out" done!" later that afternoon cleve and katey were sitting in the la cabanna bar. " where did you come up with twenty thousand that quick?" katey asked between sips of beer. cleve had a tall glass of whiskey before him." last years calf crop procedes after i paid the ranch off. i had it and a little more rat holed at the bank. we got just about enough left to put those cows on the mend. then we can start putting the ranch in shape. are you in on the deal or you just want your commission?" " what you mean in on the deal?" katey was shocked. " partners, you brought the deal your intitled to to it. i got one ranch to tend to. . turn your apartment in town back and move to the ranch. " cleve looked to his drink. " i dont sleep around, not even for a ranch!" katey declared. " look girley, thats not what i had in mind. not now not ever. ime old enough to be your daddy. and thats what ime thinking on." cleve looked katey in the eye. "ime sorry, i went to far with that i guess. it will take me a few days to get things together. lets give it a try." katey ducked her head. " good, i got three loads of hay comming to feed those cows. in the mean time ill go see browning and tie up those loose ends. we got to get those cows on the mend. ill see ya at the ranch in a day or so." cleve held his glass up to katey in a salute. she bunped her beer against it" partners!" was all she said.