Diamond farm(Darrell Case) Oliver examined the rust covered jalopy. What had he been thinking or not thinking? It would take months to even get the old gal to run, let alone look original. Rust covered the fenders, the hood, the doors. The car had set in the back of his uncle Lee’s barn for 30 years. Lee had piled hay around the car until it was nearly invisible.

Oliver remembered as a kid he asked his uncle about the old car. His uncle said to him that Sunday afternoon. “That car is a treasure. I’m gonna leave it to you in my will.”So he always considered it his car. Summer or winter, he played cops and robbers in it or around it. Last week his uncle died. This afternoon they had the funeral.
Now the farm belonged to him. Or at least what remained of it. The farm, as it rested now, was just 32 acres surrounding the house and barn. He hooked up the tractor and pulled the rust bucket out into the late afternoon sun. Opening all four doors, he blew it out. Hay dirt and little critters went flying. He rounded the car. A 1949 Studebaker. “Must have been a good year.” Oliver looked at it with a critical eye. “Why did you hang onto it all these years?” He murmured. The tires had rotted, and the engine had frozen. The inside one big rat’s nest. What did his uncle see in the car? Why did he hang on to it? He returned to the house for a coke. His throat seemed awful dry. He came out to find a man standing in front of the car.

He stuck out his hand as Oliver came up to him. “Bill Myer.” He shook hands. “She would be beautiful if someone restored her.”

“Take a lot of work.” Oliver said, his eyes on the old car.

“I’ll go a hundred. Might even go one fifty.” Myer smiled he pointed a finger at Oliver. “Don’t pass it up. Take that much to fix the porch.”
“Don’t know what I’m going to do with it. Let me think about it for a while,” Oliver said, feeling uncomfortable.

"I’ll give you until tomorrow about this time. Shame to let it go to waste,” Bill said.

 “Like I said, I’ll think about it.” Oliver said.

“You do that.” Bill shook his head. Getting in his car, he drove away. Oliver watched him go. There was something there he couldn’t quite put his finger on.

Oliver looked at the old car. He remembered a conversation he had with his uncle just before he died. “Oliver, you ever read the story ‘Acres of Diamonds?”

“Sure, this farmer sells his land and travels all over the world searching for diamonds. The guy he sells the farm to discovers a large diamond mine on the land he purchased from the farmer.”

“That’s right. You’ll find your treasure right under your feet and it’s been there since you was a kid playing in the barn.”

In the diminishing light, Oliver searched the barn from loft to stalls. In exasperation, he took the only seat available to him. He set in the car, leaning back against the lumpy seat. “I don’t see how anyone could drive this car a mile, it’s so……” Hopping out, he tore the hole in the driver’s seat larger. Three mice jumped out and a leather pouch fell on the seat. With trembling fingers, Oliver picked up the pouch and opened it. The leather bag was full of diamonds. He dumped them out on the seat of the car. They shined in the dying light of the sun. He tore the seat apart. He found four more pouches and a note. Tears dimming his eyes, he read.

 “Oliver

 For many years, I have taken the profits from the farm and turned them into diamonds. Then when I sold the land, I did the same. What you’re looking at is the accumulation of my years of saving. Jewelers tell me their value is a little over a million. Use it wisely.”

Your uncle Lee

 “Well, I see you found this car’s true worth. “The voice startled Oliver. He whirled around. Bill Myer stood 10 feet away with a small pistol in his hand.

Oliver cleared his throat. “What…what do you want? Oliver said, sweat breaking out on his forehead.

“What do you think I want?” I want the diamonds you found in your uncle’s car. ”

“What diamonds?” Oliver said, raising his hands.

“Don’t play coy with me. You found them. I’ve been looking for those for months.” Myer said, edging closer to the car. Oliver moved around until he was in position. “One million dollars in diamonds.
Wow.”Keeping his pistol on Oliver, Myer stuck his head in the car. He turned his head toward Oliver, smiling.

“Once I get rid of you, I’ll…” Myer said, his eyes on the five pouches laying on the seat of the car. Oliver had failed karate, but he remembered the kick. He used it now. Jumping, he kicked the car door as hard as he could. Distracted, Myers stumbled as the edge of the car door hit his head. As Myer fell, Oliver hit the door again. Bill Myer waved his free arm around, pulling the trigger on his pistol. His shots going wild. As Myer fell Oliver kicked the car again, knocking the would be robber out.

Something was very wrong. Bill couldn’t move his hands. His arms were stuck behind his back. He opened his blurry eyes. Red and blue lights were everywhere.
“I think he’s waking up.” A man in a brown uniform leaned down in his face. Despair filled Bill’s heart. Caught.

“How do you feel?” The deputy said, smiling.

“He hit me for no reason.” Bill said groggily. Maybe, just maybe, this officer would let him go.

“Good try.” The deputy held up an iPhone. On it Bill watched himself hold a gun on Oliver and the issuing fight. The officer helped the would-be robber into the back of his SUV.

“Your very fortunate. I believe he intended to kill you.” The deputy said to Oliver. We’re going to arrest him tonight, and he’ll be brought to court tomorrow. And if I were you, I’d find a safe place for those diamonds.”

“Yes, sir, I sure will. Oliver said, smiling. “Thank you.”

Oliver slept with the diamonds that night. The next day, he visited the local jewelers. The man remembered him from high school. After examining the diamonds, he carefully lay them on the counter. He smiled at the young man before him.

“Your uncle was a very prudent man. I sold him these diamonds one at a time over the years. Oliver, what you have before you is a fortune worth about a million and a half. If you want, I’ll try to sell them for you.”

Oliver sold the diamonds for a little less than two million. With some of the money, he purchased a large headstone for his uncle. Improved the house and barn and had the Studebaker restored. He had a nice sign installed by the mailbox. He renamed the farm Acres of Diamonds.

---