- Tom spends his evenings that winter studying from the book and practicing.
- By the time winter ends, Tom has replenished some of his savings, but he is still relieved when Billy-Bob tells him that the Breen property wouldn't go up for sale that year. That way he has more time to save.
- Tom goes up to the property to measure the barn foundation.
- An angry man comes out of the Breen house and asks what Tom is doing. Tom explains that he is just measuring the barn because he wants to put one up on his place.
- The man says he doesn't like people snooping around the property, even though he doesn't own it.
- He says that when he's done, Tom can have the barn, but that he doesn't want to see Tom until he's done.
- Not the nicest guy. Guess it's time to leave.
- On the way home, Tom realizes the man must have been Yantis Flancher, the ringleader of the three Flancher brothers. Birdy told Tom about how these guys take whatever they want from others. Tom figures the Flanchers are looking for the Breens' hidden money.