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Farnsworth shifted in his chair, thefocus to him “In my mind, the information Ed unco
vered explains how and why your particular acreage was singled out I grant you other ranchers have recently had difficulties obtaining perrazed their stock on for years Invariably, however, it has been in areas already set aside as national forest land or sonation”
“But it isn’t aze hard with challenge
“Regrettably no” Farnsworth dipped his head in acknowledgment
“And you can’t tell me ns it other than some corporation called—” Unable to come up with the name, Chase looked to Talbot
The investigator supplied it “Arateel”
“Whoever the hell that is,” Chase gruust
“In our opinion, Chase,” the lawyer began, both elbows propped on their respective ariven the connection to the environhly likely that the nener or owners intend to leave the land untouched What else can they do?” He opened his hands, palms up “The property is co you are correct and Dy-Corp is soood would the land be to theht be They have no way to get their ation to grant access to it”
“That is all well and good, but it doesn’t change the fact that we don’t own the land,” Ty stated and glanced to theas a diesel truck, stock trailer in tow, rolled toward the lane, theinto the house “Do you see that semi out there? It’s loaded with three-, four-, and five-year-old cows, each capable of producing a calf every spring for the next ten years and more Do you have any idea how much money that represents in lost revenue? We need that land We need its water and its hay as well as its grass Without it, ill probably have to cut back our operation even more”
“It has been a critical loss, I know, even for a ranch this size,” the lawyer began
“That’s a major understatement, Farnsworth,” Chase declared
“Of course But as crippling as this loss ht now, I believe it can ultimately work to your benefit” Farnsworth leaned forward, determined to put a positive spin on the situation “You know the hell we have been through these last few years trying to deal with the government Now the property is in private hands As soon as we can identify the nener, we can begin negotiations—preferably for the purchase of it, or at the very least, a lease”
“How long will that take?” Ty wanted to know
“It is difficult to say Talbot has three of his associates working on it right now We et the answer tomorrow or next week, but hopefully it will coht, Ed?”
“Nothing stays a secret forever,” Talbot replied “Sooner or later ill ask the right person or grease the right palm, and ill learn who is behind the corporation Once we have a na that individual doill be a snap”