Kate

by Dwight W. Hunter

Chapter17 - Progress on all Fronts

  Almost three weeks passed since Gus and Buck became involved in the U.S. Resorts deal. A flurry of faxes passing back and forth between Junction Reality and the principals, U.S. Resorts and Land Investment Ltd.... convinced Gus and Buck the hotel people were beginning to get serious about building a motel in Cactus Junction and Land Investments was equally interested in liquating their Cactus Junction properties. The primary stumbling block for Buck was the eighty-acre rock pile northwest of town. Early on Gus hired a helicopter to fly him over the parcel as a last ditch effort to justify any worth he may have missed from viewing the land at ground level. The flight confirmed Gus' earlier opinion of the land being totally worthless. Giving voice to his thoughts Gus pontificated out loud.

  "Surely Land Investment is aware the rocky land doesn't amount to diddly squat, then why wouldn't they budge on the price? Maybe Buck was onto something when he mentioned someone must have put a decimal point in the wrong place. Even at a hundred dollars an acre the pile of rocks, including resident horny toads was over priced. I guess there's nothing to loose by asking." As he pulled out his computer keyboard and began typing out a new offer to Land Investment. While Gus was composing a new fax message, a small voice came alive in the back of his mind.

  "Why was this woman, Rita Blaine, inquiring about property in the general location and why did the copter pilot go out of his way to call about taking a couple of women out to look at the property? This Blaine woman gave all the appearances of being a savvy businesswoman not likely to go off half-cocked based on a rumor or being stirred up by emotions."

  Gus was not a man to believe in random coincidences causing him get a notion strings were being pulled by some unseen person or persons for reasons other than making Buck and him rich. These little squirts of uneasiness were commencing to bother him. His unease led him to send Land Investment a fax for clarification about the property.

  Gus' fax stated,

  After having flown over the eighty-acre parcel northwest of Cactus Junction and given it a VERY close inspection, I'm led to believe this property's value has been altered by a misplaced decimal point. As a matter of fact, comparables in the same location are selling for anything between fifty and two hundred dollars per acre, depending mostly on the distance from an improved road and utilities.

  As an aid to facilitate this potential sale, I invite a representative of Land Investment Ltd. to inspect said parcel at my expense and at which time I can acquaint your representative with comparable land sale prices in the general location.

  Best regards,

  Leaning back in his chair Gus reread the fax to make sure it contained everything he deemed necessary.

  "That's about as polite a way as I can think of to tell them they're all screwed up." He thought, while keying in computer instructions for sending the fax.

  The next day Rita and Nellie were ensconced in their unofficial office at the bowling alley coffee shop, bringing each other up to date on their latest activities and information collection. Drawing papers from her leather binder, Nellie began talking.

  "Gus from Junction Reality sent a fax to Land Investment asking them if they hadn't got the decimal mixed up in their price of the eighty acres, while further requesting them to send a representative down here to inspect the property and review comparables. Pretty astute thinking on his part, don't you think?"

  "Pretty good for an ex-cowboy, I'd say. What's the actual selling price for that rock pile anyway? It can't possibly be worth the eighty grand quoted to Junction Realty. That's totally ridiculous unless there's an undiscovered mother lode of gold lying under all those rocks and cacti, which I sincerely doubt."

  Giving Rita an amused smile, Nellie replied.

  "Would you believe seventy bucks per acre for that reptile farm and that's over priced. Gus was getting pretty close when he suggested the decimal point was in the wrong place."

  "At the rate this charade is going, helicopter rent will amount to more than the ground is worth." Rita nodded. "I'm glad to learn there's a more reasonable price. It's going to make it easier for our project to succeed by not having to pay out so much for land.

  Next item of business is setting a date for when the rock pile estate will be free so we can initiate our development, which at this time hinges on whether Sam is willing to become involved. I would like to have a firm go-ahead date set before I break the news to him.

  I don't know for sure just how strong this lock is between him and Julie; hopefully they already have or soon will reach a point where they're willing to surface for air. At which time he'll be able to think more clearly about designing houses."

  Nodding her head in approval, Nellie replied. "I think it's a good idea to have Sam take a look at the site and see how he feels about it before we make any firm commitment at the actual price. We still have to tweak Buck a little more."

  "O.K, it'll work either way. I'll go ahead and get a reading on whether Sam wants to participate. New subject, I need to ask you something in a personal vein, about me, not you. The results of your answer may have some impact on our project."

  "Fire way," brightened Nellie. "I'm always eager to dig into personals.

  Rita held Nellie in an eye lock for a full five count.

  "I guess you know this is not easy for me and I'm somewhat at a loss with where I should begin, so don't laugh at me in case I at first don't make much sense.

  "I promise," Nellie assured Rita, holding back a smile

  "What is you opinion of Ted, the helicopter pilot?"

  Nellie's jaw dropped along with a deadpan look passing over her face which slowly morphed into a smile radiating a state of excited happiness.

  "Whoa, what, do I think of Ted? I thought he was pretty generous not to throw us to the coyotes after the trick I pulled on him. He looks like a pretty nice sort of a man, more of a boy, actually, not wanting to grow up and lose his toys. It's pretty plain to see he must have got to you. Oh! That's right; you sat next to him while we were flying around. He must have been doing more than pilot his high priced eggbeater to tickle your fancy or maybe he tickled something else to turn you on. Whatever he did I approve and hope he keeps up the good work. It's nice to see you've thawed out enough to get the hots for someone able to take care of you."

  "Thanks," mumbled Rita. "I can't rightly describe how I feel about him, other than as you said, 'I seem to have got the hots for him'. I think he has the potential to be a man I can have fun with and not get all emotionally strung out about. Maybe we can have some sex, laugh and act like a teenager; by the way, being a teenager is something I missed the first time around. I think you're right about him not wanting to grow up. Perhaps wanting to remain a kid is the thing about him that's attracting me. I'm probably older than he, but I hear younger men are the 'in thing' these days. I'm going to check him out, if he isn't already entangled and of the mind to have a go, I'll soon find out what he has to offer.

  "Well, I'll be double damned," Nellie breathed out. "I'm coming to the point of thinking there's hope for you after all, old girl. All I can say is, if you decide to take a bead on him he'll need to turn awful quick else you'll bag him for sure."

  "All right, just to clear up some final business," Rita said in a more business like tone of voice. "I'm gong to sound out Sam and if he's agreeable, I'll show him the land and if it suits him he'll probably need maps, photo, etc. to start work on dividing the land into lots, laying out roads and the like. If you agree with the steps I mentioned and if Sam is still interested, I'll get the potential light of my life, Ted, to give Sam an aerial view of the land and it will also give an excuse to evaluate Ted's level of interest in yours truly."

  "Gawd Rita! When you get turned on you don't believe in wasting time. Go ahead with the preliminary stuff. I'll get Land Investments to take another turn on Gus and Buck's tails just to make the little dears fret a bit more before we let them off the hook.


  A half hour before noon Rita dialed the number of Cactus Copter Service. After several rings she was about ready to hang up when rewarded with a familiar voice.

  "Good morning. This is Cactus Copter. Ted speaking

  "I'm calling so see if you have any books lying around needing to be dropped?" Rita asked.

  "Not at this time," Ted answered. "The library is pretty well in order, but if you're considering lunch, that's in a different department requiring my undivided attention."

  "Since you mentioned it," Rita giggled. "I'm in the mood for lifting a dining fork instead of heavy books anyway. Would about forty-five minutes be stretching your endurance envelope?"

  "Reckon I could always switch over to emergency if need be," came chuckles from the other end.

  "Take a firm grip and don't let anything slip until I get there," chided Rita before setting down the telephone headset.

  "Now what do you suppose that's all about? Ted wondered aloud. "It'll be interesting to find out where this'll lead. This Rita woman may have some loose shingles on the roof, but I bet she can still get a fire going in the rec. room. It'll be interesting to check out her temperature."

  Rita was mindful in selecting the clothes she was going to wear. She chose a suntan tailored slacks, a light green short sleeve shirt, bone colored medium-heeled string sandals, with sandalwood shade hose. She highlighted her outfit with solitaire diamond earrings, a plain gold neck-chain, ending with a small un-tooled leather purse to match the color of her shoes. After applying a muted red lipstick, she checked herself in a full-length mirror and was satisfied with her reflection. The tailored clothes she wore outlined an above average figure and her appearance gave off an aura of class and refined sexuality.

  "I have a feeling Ted is the kind of man who has an appreciation for quality and has the patience to savor the goods without getting overanxious and grabby," Rita thought in route to her car.

  Drawing along side the hanger office, Rita noted the main doors were drawn closed and Ted was standing in the office doorway waiting. Glancing at the car's digital clock it read twelve thirteen. "Not bad, Rita thought, he can't complain about my kind of punctuality."

  Pushing the passenger door window down-button she called out as it opened.

  "I'm glad to see you didn't crash and burn."

  Pulling the office door shut Ted crossed the short distance to her car and got in. Rita noticed he was wearing clean, semi-pressed khaki pants and shirt, and unscuffed brown shoes. Most important of all, she was pleased to see he didn't have a beer gut. "He's not bad at all, in fact he's a better package than I expected," she thought.

  "Where to?" Rita asked, facing Ted.

  "Depends if you want food or ambience?" Ted replied with a question. "The only place I patronize serves good food at a reasonable price without much in the way of amenities; anything else is up to you."

  "Tell me where to turn and when to stop." Rita answered, putting the car in motion.

  Within a few minutes Rita and Ted were seated in a back corner booth at the Burger and Grits Caf? where they were immediately approached by a more than ample middle-aged waitress of mixed ethnicity.

  "Howdy, Ted. I'm glad to see you're introducing a new pilgrim to our house of fine food and soothing drinks, remarked the waitress, handing them menus. "You'll need menus today and if the lady is smart she won't be taking you seriously about suggesting food or anything else for that matter."

  "Atta way to go Cuddles. You hold me in complete rapture, snared and held by your usual golden effervescing words." Ted replied, through pursed lips.

  "You never fail to impress me, Teddy. Doesn't he spout the nicest educated words you ever heard? If only my LeRoy could speak with such graceful culture," rattled the waitress fluttering her eyes at a crack on the upper back wall

  Rita, meet Gladys aka Cuddles, Cuddles, meet Rita."

  "It's my pleasure to meet a lady with the fortitude to chose the presence of our distinguished Sir Teddy, of Cactus Flats," complimented Gladys taking Rita's hand along with a small dip, imitating a curtsy.

  "It's always a pleasure to meet an admirer of Sir Teddy's," Rita replied.

  Returning to her waitress banter Gladys remarked. "With the social essential out of the way we can get on with the business at hand. Would you like a margarita or something less lethal before ordering solid nourishment?"

  "A margarita for me, please," Rita ordered and lifted a questioning eyebrow at Ted.

  "Better make mine a Shirley Temple look alike. Hopefully a paying customer may drift in this afternoon demanding my extensive copter flying abilities."

  "You appear to hold a position of distinction in these parts," Rita commented. "Or at least with Gladys aka Cuddles. I gather you must eat here quite regularly."

  "Yes, quite. As our Limey cousins would say. Whenever I'm flush and can afford to eat out or I'm able to con someone into buying."

  A less ample and younger waitress, wearing barely enough clothes to cover the essential parts of her eye-catching figure delivered their drinks and took their food order.

  "I suspect you learned to fly helicopters while in the army?" Rita asked. "I'm retired Air Force civil service supply so I acquired a limited experience with various types of aircraft and the logistics to keep them doing whatever it is they do, that is when the birds were not setting in a hangar taking up pace because some simple headed broad in supply couldn't get the right parts."

  "I don't have to reach very far back in time to recall hearing such a litany played a time or three. Ya, I was Army. I put thirty years in, in one form or another. I began in armor flying Piper Cubs before switching to copters. I like flying because I could escape to places where no one could find me.

  I may as well throw in the rest of my biography while I'm at it. I've been married a couple of times by the chaplain and few that weren't sanctioned. I like women and respect them, unfortunately I have failed miserably at being able to communicate to wives the fact I can't be retrained to fit whatever their concept of a husband may be nor to become a house broken male as they feel I ought to be. I've tried a few times, but never could make a passing grade."

  Their lunches arrived and served. Rita had a seafood salad and Ted waded into a burrito with all the trimmings. After each had sampled and approved of their respective dishes, Rita returned to their interrupted biography sharing.

  "I never married for a different set of reasons. Most of the men I was exposed to were such assholes it dulled my incentive. Plus I was propositioned at every opportunity, mostly by married men who couldn't get it though their heads by me being single I automatically had hot pants and was free game. To put it simply and bluntly, I pretty well marked men off my list. Like you, I valued my freedom and never cared about being trained in the combination roles of mistress, house servant, replenisher of the race, beer waitress and in particular, being the major wage earner. If I find someone who wants to enjoy the benefits of a non-controlling monogamous relationship where each person is left with a freedom of choice, then I may be interested in investigating the fun possibilities."

  "That lays it out about as plain as it can get," Ted remarked, between bites before asking, "Would it be safe to assume you're making an inquiry?"

  "If you wish to makes such an assumption, feel free to do so." Rita confirmed, looking Ted squarely in the eyes. "If you decide to take the plunge, I suggest you heed this warning. I saw a bumper sticker recently which put my position in perspective very accurately and succinctly. "I'm fifty-one percent bitch and forty-nine percent sweetheart', so proceed at you own risk.