Chapter Fifty-Four Judge's Decision

Attorney Andrew is sitting at the plaintiff’s table waiting for them.  When they enter he rises and offers each of them a handshake.

Tyler tells him about the reporter. 

Smiling Andrew replies “Doesn’t surprise me one bit.  The paper will try to get a story any way they can.  You did the right thing.  Judge Thomas instructed both attorneys not to say anything before we left yesterday.”

As they talk attorney Snyder, Virginia and Matt Peters enter the room.  They take their assigned seats.  The tension in the room can be felt by all parties.

Exactly at two o’clock, the bailiff comes into the room and announces the judge’s entry to the court.  Everyone stands for the protocol.

Seated at the table he uses as his bench, Judge Thomas scans the parties sitting before him.  He coughs before he starts to speak.

“In the civil action of Tyler Martin vs. the Peters family and the Circle J ranch:

Chapter Fifty-Three Day in Court

After breakfast they have a meeting scheduled at the lawyers’ office.  Scott sits through the meeting without feeling any better than when they arrived.  Joan and Tyler believe some of what the lawyers tell them.  Only God knows how this will turn out.

Following their meeting they decide to walk around Salt Lake to ease the tension the three of them feel.  For as much as you believe you are right; you never know what a judge will decide.  After all judges are not God; who will give out everything the way you expect him.  Even God doesn’t do that all the time.

Chapter Fifty-Two March 26th-29th

As he makes his last statement they are standing in front of the mill office.  The office isn’t very large and there are two men working inside making decisions on log cuts and whatever else they need to do.

“Let’s go inside and see what we can find out about the real cost of this project.”

As they enter the room one of the men says, “Can we help you folks?”

“Yes, I have a quote from a store owner, for the plans I intend to show you.  You must have some kind of system to file quotes.  I don’t want you to re-do the work you have already done.  Just want to make sure he’s not ripping me off.”

Smiling the man says, “Well I’ll be damned, we got us a smart one here Todd.  Not many people take the time to come into town and come to the mill to see if they’re getting fleeced.

“Let’s see your drawings there young fellow and see if we can save you some money.”

Jacob looks at Tyler’s drawings and says, “Yeah, I remember doing this quote.  You are over Silver Lake’s way, right.”

“Yes, we are!” speaks Joan.

Jacob immediately backs off a bit having a woman confront him as she just did.  Being a Mormon he is used to woman being more subdued.   

Let me dig into my files and look up what we quoted the guy.

Chapter Fifty-One March 20th

“Boys at the mill are impressed with your drawings.  Said it made their work easier to figure what you will need.

“Here is a list of materials they say you will need, it includes lumber, nails, shingles for the roof, dimensions of standard window enclosures for window openings so you don’t have to cut different sizes, something new they have to put on the roof before you lay the shingles to keep out any rain or snow, equipment for a kitchen: stove and piping, drains, pump, a sink, and materials to build the fireplace for heating and cooking.  Plus the tools you would need for four men.”

Scott and Tyler are looking over the list of materials.  Scott nods to Tyler indicating he is satisfied with the materials list.

“What’s this going to cost, Randy?” 

“They told me $3,300 hundred dollars including lumber to build the barn and oh, yes, I almost forgot the latrines.”

“Can they have it available by mid April?”

“That won’t be a problem so long as you pay them by the end of this month.”

“How much is in this figure for your fee?”

Randy gets a little red faced and says, “Just a little to cover my time to Salt Lake twice and be on your site to make sure it’s all there when it arrives.”

“I have to be in Salt Lake on the 27^th; I’ll stop at the mill and talk this over with them.  If I feel satisfied, I’ll go to the bank and get them their money.  If I think your fee is reasonable I’ll let you handle everything.  If not then you and I need to talk some more.”

Chapter Fifty Word from the Court

Inside the general store Heather hands Scott a letter from the attorney firm Anderson and Anderson.  She says, “Tyler has a letter from the same firm, I wonder why?”

Scott doesn’t reply to Heather and Tyler walks into the door at the same moment.

“Tyler, I have a letter for you from Salt Lake.  Do you want to read it here?”

“No, I’ll take it back to the ranch with me.  Are our supplies ready so we can load and head back?”

“Randy is just finishing up with Scott.  Scott received a letter from the same firm, I thought that very curious.”

“If he wants to tell me about it, he will.”  Nosey sort isn’t she?

Scott looks like he wants to open the letter right now but is hesitant to do so. 

“Scott, why don’t we load up and you can read your letter as we ride back.  I’ll drive the team.”

Clearing his head, “Oh, good idea.” 

Tyler can see that the up coming court case has unnerved Scott to some degree.