Ellis said nothing.
The other bidder grinned.
Shook his head.
“Kid wants it worse.”
The auctioneer looked around.
“Forty once.”
Calvin laughed.
“Forty dollars for a chicken feeder.”
“Forty twice.”
Eli stared at the safe.
“Sold.”
The hammer came down.
For several seconds, Eli felt sick.
Then excited.
Then sick again.
Ellis walked beside him.
“Well.”
Eli looked up.
“Well what?”
“You own it.”
“I know.”
“How are you planning to move it?”
Eli had not considered that.
Ellis smiled.
“First lesson was forty dollars.”
“What was the lesson?”
“Never buy eight hundred pounds of anything before figuring out how to get it home.”
Fortunately, the auction yard had a chain hoist mounted to a loading frame.
Getting the safe into the Mercer truck required four men, heavy chain, blocking, and nearly twenty minutes.
Calvin watched from a distance.
When the safe finally settled into the truck bed, the rear suspension sank several inches.
“You sure that Ford'll make it home?” Calvin asked.
Ellis tightened a chain.
“If it doesn't, we'll sell Eli.”