Chapter 3

Hauling out the topographic map and sending Connie to fetch a ruler I discovered that one inch=2000feet. The ruler said the map said it was an inch and a quarter from the 90 degree turn at Consuelo’s trailer to the next fence east. 2500 feet.

From the map it was between 4 and 3/4 inches to 5 inches to Keystone road. One inch equals 2000 feet. Five inches therefore equals 10 thousand feet.

2,500 x 10,000 equals 25,000,000 square feet... 25 million square feet. Figuring that nothing was square ... Wolf Creek Road wanders and I already owned part of that ... no ... wait ... from the back of the trailer to the next east fence ... one and a quarter inches. 2500 linear feet. My land had nothing in the equation.

25 million square feet equals 573.92102847 acres ... say 574 acres. A mile square is 640 acres.

I had calls to make.

“RK Lodges. Katie Kop speaking.”

“Karen Post here.”

“Where have you been?”

“At a rendezvous in Norris, Montana. I had a little accident.”

“Dick and I were wondering if you were that Karen Post.”

“Wondering?”

“John Baird wrote an article about your little accident.”

“In the Buckskin Report?”

“Girl ... your picture is on the cover.”

“ULP”

“You haven’t read it?”

“I don’t have a subscription.”

Connie jumped up and started going through a basket of mail. It was one of those tubs the Post Office used for excessive mail to one recipient. She was tossing letters everywhere.

“Ah ... here it is. The Buckskin Report. That IS you on the cover. You look like an indian.”

Wow ... I did.

“Mrs. Kop...”

“Katie, please.”

“Katie, I need to beg a little time. My ankle is killing me.”

“We can ship them?”

“I need the time away ... and I want some balsam fir poles.”

“Need the time away?”

“Finding out who I am.”

“That I can understand.”

“I’ll be out as soon as I can walk. But I need to make other calls.”

“They’ll be ready when you are.”

“That’s three Cheyenne eighteens. Right?”

“Cheyenne? You didn’t specify Cheyenne.”

“Sorry about that.”

“Let me look.”

She was off the line for about two minutes. While I waited, I asked Connie about the price Mr. K was asking.

“It sounded steep to me. But what do I know,” She said, “Seven hundred fifty thousand.”

“1300 bucks an acre. You’re right. I’d pay 750 an acre and that would be high. As soon as I get off the phone I’ll call.”

“I’m back ... your name is on three boxes. We’ll hold them at the quoted price for a year.”

“You don’t need to hold them that long. I expect to be back in Wyoming by October.”

“Ok. By the way ... there’s a guy here in Hector who sells peeled balsam fir poles at seven bucks each.”

“You have my card number?”

“Yes.”

“May I impose?”

“You want me to call him?”

“Please?”

“Hold on.” She hollered, “Zak!”

A very faint, What?

“Come here.”

“How many?”

“Fifty four ... sixty would be better. Yeah ... make it 60.”

A male voice spoke to Katie, “Yes?”

“60 poles for a 22.”

“I have that many dry.”

“I’ll pay it when she picks them up... 420 bucks.”

“Karen?”

“Yes?”

“Done.”

“When you said you’d call ... I was expecting...”

“Zak works for us.”

“I heard.” I said, “Katie? Why a 22?”

“Long poles look so good.”

“You got that right. I’ll get there soon.”

“Don’t cripple yourself getting here.”

“Bye.”

I hung up and immediately dialed CircleK.

“Sorry to call so late... 750 bucks an acre.”

“Of course it’s Karen ... you trying to sell it to just anyone?”

“Call me tomorrow.”

I hung up.

I jumped up out of my chair.

SNAP

Ooh ... Jumping up was a bad choice. My ankle folded under me and I fell.

“Good God, Karen. Don’t look.”

“You’re telling me.” I asked, “Can you drive my car?”

“Let me call first.”

She dialed.

“Emergency please. Hello. I’m bringing in a patient with a broken ankle.”

“How do I know? There’s a bone sticking out of her skin.”

“Yes, she’s bleeding.”

“I know a tourniquet.”

“On our way.”

“No Karen ... don’t look.”

She wrapped one of Hairy’s ties around my thigh and stuck an arrow shaft in it. She got it tight. The blood flow turned into a drip.

For a little girl she’s strong. She carried me out to the Jeep and away we went.