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“That’s what I thought” He nodded in amusement

“I don’t understand,” Tara murmured in irritation, an intensity and determination to her expre

ssion as she mentally searched for an explanation “It was a sweet deal Why didn’t they accept it?”

“Just out of curiosity, ma’am, exactly what did you offer ’em?”

She shot him an annoyed look in the mirror then relented “A year’s lease to the property for ten dollars, excluding the fifty-acre building site, of course It was all very straightforward, completely in their favor”

“Except for one thing, I’uessin’”

“What?” Her gaze sharpened on him

“I’ll bet there was a clause in there soht?”

“Naturally I expected it to be an issue, but they didn’t raise any objection to it It was almost as if they had decided to turn down any offer I made before they even saw it,” Tarain her mind “And you think access alone killed the idea?”

“Deader than roadkill,” Buck confir as you have title to the Wolf Meadow range, the Calders won’t give you access to diddly-squat”

“But why? What can they possibly gain fro I should think they would have already realized that I have been flying men and equipment in for a week now If necessary, I can continue to do it until the lodge is finished It will likely double the construction costs, but I can easily afford it”

“While you’re at it, youyourself a flock of those whirlybirds Because you can bet those Calders plan on ’ to or from that property as inconvenient as hell”

“I can deal with it,” she stated firmly

“Sure you can” Buck nodded in agree the corners of his hty old after a while It wouldn’t surpriseon that”

Clearly irritated by his obvious insight into the Calders, Tara challenged, “Do you have any suggestions, Mr Haskell?”