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“There isn’ttomethods

“You know”—Max clasped his hands together in a thoughtful pose, his elbows resting on the arood many years since a Calder set foot on the Cee Bar It’s alotten stepchild”

Quint was forced to agree with that assessment “I suspect it has”

“It’s never been a secret that I would like to make the Cee Bar a part of the Slash R,” Max declared, his hands separating to grip the ends of the ar on his throne “I offered to buy it frorandfather, but he wasn’t inclined to sell Businesswise iton to it The Cee Bar’s too small to show much of a profit, especially when you have to pay someone to run it”

Quint was sloith his answer “I have a feeling that he bought the Cee Bar for the same reason thatto do with its viability as a working ranch”

“Whatever his reason, let hie his mind”

“I’ll tell him”

“Good And I hope we have you as a neighbor for a while” Another possibility seeh to find a replacement for Evans?”

“It’s hard to say how long I’ll be here,” Quint ads”

“If you’re still here when the holidays roll around, I hope you’ll join us for Christo to say that she was planning to cohter of a late business partner of mine, Hamilton Davis”

“I’ll keep the invitation in mind,” Quint promised and took a small sip of his drink

“I hope you do,” Max said “In the ive us a call We’ll be happy to help if we can”

“I’ “There is so I need”

“I hope it isn’t a hired man,” Max cautioned “We’re too shorthanded to spare any of ours”

“My biggest need right now is hay I have a load co in next week, but I could use soht Ime some”