“My sister was the registered adult bidder.”
“I know. The paperwork is clear.”
The father hesitated.
“Does the estate want the tractor back?”
The executor was silent for a moment.
Then she answered firmly.
“No. I want the sale handled honestly.”
The father exhaled.
She continued.
“I trusted that man to represent the estate's interests. If he knew this tractor was unusual and hid that information, I need to understand why.”
The father nodded.
“I agree.”
She promised to contact her attorney.
Then she asked him to preserve the original receipt and all correspondence.
The family agreed.
May stood beside her father as he ended the call.
“Did she say we can keep it?”
He smiled faintly.
“She says she doesn't want it taken away.”
May exhaled.
But the threat had frightened her.
She had spent almost every dollar she owned.
She had followed the rules.
Her aunt had registered properly.
And now an angry auctioneer was trying to erase the sale because the tractor turned out to be more interesting than he had advertised.
She looked toward the workshop.
Then she asked, “Dad, what if he comes here?”
Her father placed a hand on her shoulder.
“He doesn't get to take equipment from our property just because he sends a letter.”
She nodded.
He continued.
“If there's a genuine dispute, adults and lawyers will handle it. You don't need to fight him.”
May looked disappointed.
“But he lied.”
Her father considered her.
“Then we document the lie.”
She looked up.
“Like Grandpa?”
He smiled.
“Exactly like Grandpa.”
The next morning, a flatbed tow truck turned onto the Cutler driveway.
May was feeding the chickens when she heard the engine.
She looked toward the gate.
The auctioneer stepped out of a white pickup behind the flatbed.
He was accompanied by a driver carrying a clipboard.
May froze.
Her father emerged from the workshop.
“What are you doing here?”
The auctioneer smiled tightly.
“Collecting property sold under an invalid transaction.”
May's father folded his arms.
“You have a court order?”
The auctioneer's expression changed.
“I don't need one. It's an auction-company matter.”
The father shook his head.
“The estate executor says the sale stands.”