Nate didn’t answer.

He turned his face toward the street as an old green pickup pulled up to the curb, but nobody got out.

Auctioneer Dobbs came out through the tall double doors carrying a battery-powered bullhorn and a wooden gavel.

He clicked the bullhorn on, and a loud electronic whine echoed across the stone steps.

“County tax sale for parcel forty-two, subdivision three,” Dobbs announced through the bullhorn.

“The old Miller place, two point three acres, sold as-is with a clear deed to the highest bidder.”