#45
"Lainey honey. will you call the men in, Sandy and Clora will you help with the fresh coffee and biscuits, it's time we got down to dealing." Evie cast the die, it was nitty gritty time.
The old table was expanded larger and places set for the guys. The dining room in the old three story house was enormous, built back when families had a dozen children or more. Evie could see the roof was a little iffy and needed repair, and that the old mortar and field rock foundation was crumbly in a few places.
The men tromped in, held up a few minutes while Ev beat the dirt from his clothes and shoes. He smiled broadly and winked at Evie to let her know the fields were a farmer's dream. He had snitched wild blackberries from the hedgerow and set the prized bounty on the table for sharing.
Delicately shuddering at the thought of berries from Ev's used handkerchief, Evie passed on the treat. The children each had a small glass of coffee milk and biscuits and they were busy eating. Cheryl had spoken to each of them explaining how important the grownup's meeting was, and that they could listen but not interrupt. She got a promise that they would be good, but smiled inwardly. It was like telling the wind to stop blowing.
When everyone was settled, Evie opened by asking what Walter had to sell and what was the price.
Walter explained his three hundred acre farm right down to the two abandoned wells and the skunk family living under the corner of the packing shed. He mentioned he was asking five hundred thousand, and when Evie frowned mightily, he backtracked a bit. Walter allowed that had been his original price and since the economy was so bad, he guessed he might have to get a bit more reasonable.
Evie just nodded. The man wasn't trying to high-jack them, he needed paid for his investments.
In turn Ben, Wayne and the rest of the family spoke their thoughts about what they had inspected. The conclusion, it was a good place that would require much renovation.
"We would like to make you an offer," Evie started the negotiations. "But first we need to hear what you expect from us."
MN's Uncle took over at this point. To make identities even more confusing, his name was Mark Walter, so he promptly became MW.
Davis and Borg had been sitting quietly, listening to Evie's performance. Each of them glad they weren't in the old gal's line of fire.
Davie elbowed Borg every time Evie made a good point, chuckling under his breath. Finally, Borg eased his chair far enough away that Davis's elbow couldn't reach him as he was trying to listen to the conversation and keep every thing legal.
MW started outlining the terms and conditions. Evie listened quietly. The terms were reasonable. A quarter of the purchase price down, payments by the month at 6% interest, and the total price of $425,000.00.
The Hanson clan held their breath. They had no idea if Grandma had that much money, and the problem of living expenses, taxes and refurbishment of the fields and houses would take thousands more.
"What about your care?" Evie asked with concern. "You are not capable of fending for yourself. Decent food would go a long way towards improving your health."
"Here's what I'm thinkin," Walter took over his part of the transaction. "You care for me until I die, and I will forgive half of the total cost."
"That's too generous," Evie countered. "We are willing to pay a fair and decent price, but we have some conditions of our own. The first is, we pay today and move in this afternoon."
Borg stirred in his chair, what in the world was Evie trying to do. Davis stiffened in the old oak spindle back he was sitting in and leaned forward.
"The second, we will pay cash and want to pay $375,000. You would be welcome to stay as long as you want, but the whole thing needs to be signed today. Take all the time you want, we shall go outside and walk the fields a bit."
The group walked out the door, leaving the M's and W's with surprised and stunned expressions.
Sitting on the stone fence, the Hanson's talked excitedly. "Can we swing this," was the most repeated question.
"Yes we can," Evie reassured them, as long as the total is under $375." She clammed up as Borg and Davis found their way to the group. Suddenly Evie had that inner voice telling her not to say anything more about the money in front of the two men.
Evie led the conversation, directing what topics would be discussed. It took a while but eventually the kids caught on and Ev gave a glowing description of the crop diversity. It was a good subterfuge that seemed to have Davis convinced, but didn't fool Borg one bit.
It was then that Borg realized that Mark wasn't with the group and he had no idea where his son was.