“Those might be valuable for establishing provenance.”
The auctioneer interrupted.
“Those records belong to the estate.”
The executor turned toward him.
“Yes. And I represent the estate.”
A few farmers laughed quietly.
For the first time, the laughter was directed at the auctioneer.
He looked furious.
Then Earl stepped toward May.
“Tell you what, kid.”
She looked up.
“I'll give you five hundred dollars for that tractor right now.”
The crowd became silent.
May stared at him.
Five hundred dollars was more money than she had ever personally possessed.
Earl continued.
“Cash. You can take it home today.”
Her aunt frowned.
“Let her think.”
May looked toward the tractor.
Then toward the elderly collector.
“Is that a fair price?”
The collector smiled faintly.
“We don't know its value yet.”
Earl laughed.
“Five hundred dollars for a machine that doesn't run is more than fair.”
May shook her head.
“No, thank you.”
The farmer stared.
“You serious?”
“Yes.”
“That's almost ten times what you paid!”
May looked down at her notebook.
“Grandpa said not to sell something before you understand what it is.”
The collector smiled.
Earl's expression changed.
For a moment, he seemed annoyed.
Then he laughed.
“Smart kid.”
The auctioneer, however, looked increasingly desperate.
He approached Earl and whispered something.
Earl frowned.
Then he turned toward him.
“You want me to offer more?”
The auctioneer went still.
Several nearby farmers heard the question.
The estate executor looked sharply toward both men.
“Why would Vernon want you to offer more?”
Earl realized he had said too much.
He looked uncomfortable.
The auctioneer immediately spoke.
“I'm trying to help everyone reach a fair arrangement.”
The executor's eyes narrowed.
“Were you planning to purchase this tractor yourself?”
“No.”
“Through another buyer?”
The auctioneer looked toward Earl.
Earl stared at the ground.
The executor folded her arms.
“I think we need to talk after this sale.”
The auctioneer gave a strained smile.
“Of course.”
But he knew the situation was becoming dangerous.
His professional reputation depended on people believing he acted fairly for the sellers who hired him.
A private arrangement to acquire valuable estate property cheaply could damage that reputation far more than losing one tractor.