Kevin looked at Melisha and asked, "Why exactly do they want to sell off all their livestock?"
Melisha sighed. "They need money for an operation. The owner of the farm, Mossy Bill, has a serious heart condition, it's called 'Toon Heart Strain,' something that happens to older toons when they push their bodies too hard for too many years. The doctors said he needs an expensive procedure soon or his condition will get worse."
She paused, then added, "The one handling the sale is his son, Pecos Bill, he's also the city's sheriff."
"Alright then," Kevin nodded. "Set up a time to meet them. I can't go tomorrow, but any day after that works for me."
His own farm was still mostly empty; he had good facilities, barns, and pastures ready to use, but so far only the Martian cows and Abyssal Chickens occupied them. Adding more livestock would fill those spaces and make the whole operation more efficient.
Melisha checked her phone. "How about today? Pecos said we can call him anytime and visit the farm. They need the money urgently."
Kevin rubbed the back of his neck. He hadn't even fully rested since returning from the journey, but the drive to build and expand was so ingrained in him that he barely felt the fatigue anymore. Seeing an opportunity was enough to wake him up.
"Sounds like they really need it. Let's go now."
He and Melisha got into his car. She pointed the way, and it turned out to be very close, just the neighboring property. When they arrived, Kevin saw the farm was big but clearly neglected. Animal waste was scattered everywhere, tall grasses grew wild, and the water troughs looked unclean. Yet there were many animals visible, sheep, cows, pigs, chickens, and horses roaming the fields.
At the gate, they saw the farm's logo and sign: "Barnyard" with a painting of a beautiful woman wearing a cowboy hat, with flowing red hair and a fair face.
"Is this the owner's wife or something?" Kevin asked.
Melisha studied it for a moment, then recognition dawned on her face. "That's Slue-Foot Sue or at least, she was supposed to be the bride."
"Supposed to be?"
"According to the old story Mossy tells, she and Pecos were set to be married," Melisha explained, a faint smile playing on her lips "Old Mossy said that when she married Pecos, she insisted on riding his jealous, untamable horse, Widowmaker, while wearing a giant steel-spring wedding bustle. Widowmaker bucked her off, and because of the bouncing bustle, Sue ricocheted higher and higher until she was stranded on the moon. The wedding was called off after that."
She shook her head. "It sounds absurd, and no one really believes it. Everyone says the ceremony was held somewhere far out of town, so no locals ever saw the bride or the wedding itself."
Kevin smirk, amused by the story.
Suddenly the gate of the farm opened, and a man stepped out. He was a slender sheriff with fair skin, blond hair, thick black eyebrows, and blue eyes. He wore a black cowboy hat, a sheriff uniform, and carried a pair of brown pistol holsters.
"Ah, Melisha, you're here," the man said. He then looked at Kevin and extended his hand. "You must be Mr. Harlan. I'm Pecos Bill. It's nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too," Kevin replied, shaking his hand firmly.
"Please, come in," Pecos said, leading them inside.
Pecos led them through the grounds. It took nearly three minutes just to walk from the gate to the main house, the scale of the farm becoming even clearer as they went. Once inside, Pecos gestured toward the seating area.
"Make yourselves comfortable," he said, sitting down across from them at the wooden table.
Pecos got straight to business. "I'll be honest with you. We need to sell most of our animals quickly. We have around 85 sheep, 45 cows, 30 pigs, 120 chickens, and 18 horses. The sheep, pigs and cows are in decent shape, the chickens are productive layers, and the horses are strong workers, though some need a bit of care after the neglect. I'm asking $185,000 for the whole lot, that's a good discount because of the urgency."
Kevin listened carefully, his expression calm and unreadable. He looked from the numbers to Pecos, then around the room as if already thinking it through.
He then leaned forward. "It's a fair starting point, but let's be honest here. I've seen the condition of the grounds outside. The pens are dirty, the water isn't fresh, and there's waste everywhere. Animals kept in those conditions are more likely to carry parasites, have weaker immune systems, or develop health issues down the line. Some might not even be at their full weight or strength."
He paused, letting the point sink in. "If I take them, I'll have to spend extra money and time treating them, cleaning them up, and making sure they're healthy enough to bring into my own farm. I can't risk them bringing sickness to the animals I already have. Plus, moving all of them safely, setting up new housing, and feeding them while they adjust, that adds up too."
Pecos's jaw tightened slightly, but he didn't argue... he knew Kevin was right. "What would you say is a fair price, then?"
"How about $135,000? I can pay quickly and take them off your hands immediately." Kevi said without hesitation.
Pecos frowned but nodded slowly. "$160,000 is the lowest I can go. We really need the money for my father's operation."
As they talk, outside the house hidden just beyond the windowsill, two pairs of curious eyes peered through the glass, unnoticed by the people seated inside.
One was a large, sturdy cow with a thoughtful expression, and beside him stood a clever-looking sheep, his wool thick and white.
The cow, Otis tilted his head, watching the conversation unfold between Kevin and Pecos. He turned to his companion and murmured in a low voice, "What do you reckon they're talking about, Shaun?"
Shaun the sheep lifted both front hooves in a classic shrug, then shook his head from side to side, a clear sign that he had no idea what was being said.
Before Otis could reply, a small brown chicken hopped lightly up onto his broad shoulder, balancing herself with quick little flaps of his wings. "Maybe they're here to fix this place up!" he chirped brightly. "Give us more food, fresh water, and a farm that's actually clean for once. Let's be honest, it's been a right mess around here lately."
Otis sighed, his gaze returning to the humans inside. "I don't know," he said slowly. "It feels… different. Not just the cleaning kind of different. Like… big changes are coming. The kind that shake things up."
No sooner had the words left his mouth than Melisha turned her head, her gaze drifting toward the window as if she had sensed something out of place.
"Duck!" Otis yelped.
The chicken immediately craned his neck, looking left and right in confusion. "Where? I don't see any duck-"
Before he could say another word, Otis clamped his mouth gently but firmly around the back of his neck and pulled him down hard against his shoulder. At the same time, he dropped his massive body into a crouch, nearly flattening himself against the ground. Shaun scrambled backward and tumbled straight into the tall grass beside the window, all three vanishing from view just as Melisha's eyes swept over the glass. Seeing nothing but the empty yard and the soft afternoon light, she turned back to the conversation, listening closely once more to what Kevin and Pecos were saying.
Kevin thought for a moment, then extended his hand. "$140,000, and I'll throw in free meals for your family at the Krusty Krab for the next six months. Deal?"
Pecos considered it, then shook Kevin's hand. "Deal. Thank you."
Kevin smiled. "Great. My lawyer will handle all the paperwork and transfer. We can finalize everything tomorrow if that works for you."
Pecos looked relieved. "That would be perfect."