The Land Deal
I do not own these characters; I just like to spend time with them. No other profit to be had.
Also like to give thanks to my friend Dene for the idea of this story.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Kitty sat in her buggy on a ridge overlooking a vast section of vacant land. The parcel of 640 acres was close to Dodge and within easy access to the main road leading into town. But with that much land, the nearness of town and road wouldn't be too much of a problem.
"As you can see, Miss Russell," Mr. Bodkin said as he sat in the buggy beside her. "This parcel is a pretty piece. In addition to the house and barn, it has a large pond on one side and a pretty good size creek on the other that supplies not only this place but several small farms below it. The land is fit for farming or ranching, either one."
"Uh huh," Kitty nodded. "It is a good piece of land, alright." She slid her eyes over to him and gave him a frank look. "But you're having trouble selling because of Kerns aren't ya?"
Bodkin nodded reluctantly. "Yes, Ma'am, I am."
Though well situated and appointed and offering everything one could want in a piece of land, it had still been hard to get a buyer interested simply because of who the neighbor was. Joseph Kerns owned the adjoining 500 acres just to the west and had made it clear he wanted that land and all that it offered to add to his estate.
If it wasn't for the fact that the previous owner, Wheeler Shipp, had refused to sell to him and that after Wheeler's death, his widow did the same; Kerns would've already had the prize he wanted so much. But now, Vera Shipp had died and it had fallen to Mr. Bodkin to dispose of the property as he saw fit and send the money to their niece in St. Louis.
The only request made of Bodkin by the widow Shipp was that he wouldn't sell to Kerns unless there was no other choice. Looking over at the saloon owner next to him, he realized that if she said no, there would be no other choice.
"You have any idea what he plans on doing with this property if he gets it?" Kitty asked him.
"Well," he hedged. "I'm not certain of all of it but I know he plans on damming that creek. I have a suspicion that he might also want to clear out that section of woods just north of town. He hasn't confirmed that though."
Kitty gave him a look of disgusted shock. "Does he know what that would do? That creek not only keeps this place going but it supplies several smaller places, as well. And those woods are vital to this area."
Bodkin nodded and dropped his head, clearly as uncomfortable as she was with the plans Joseph Kerns had.
Kitty took another look around at the place, pursing her lips in thought. "Well," she finally sighed. "I guess we'd better go on back to town now, Mr. Bodkin, and sign some papers. I assume my credit is good enough for a loan on this place until I can sell some stock and pay it off."
Bodkin's head came up and a grin formed on his face. "You're going to buy it?" He was almost afraid to breathe for fear she'd change her mind.
"I am." Kitty declared. "I have no idea what I'll do with it just yet. But I'll figure that out later. Right now the important thing is keeping it out of Kerns hands."
The widening grin suddenly disappeared from Bodkin's face though as a thought came to him. "You know, Miss Kitty, Mr. Kerns is going to be awfully upset when he finds out he can't have this place. He is not a man that is used to being told no."
Kitty nodded with a satisfied smile. "I know, Mr. Bodkin. But I'm not worried about how upset Mr. Kerns might get. My only concern right now is getting back to Dodge and getting this matter settled quickly. So, what do you say? Shall we return to town and sign some papers?"
Bodkin nodded with a smile, his respect for Kitty Russell firmly showing in his face. He had no doubt that the pugnacious man known as Joseph Kerns would be angry at this transaction, but he also had no doubt that Kitty Russell was more than capable of dealing with whatever was thrown at her as a result of this transaction.
And if she wasn't, he was certain, the Dodge City Marshal would be.
TBC
