Reese v. Utter

*378OPINION

The Grass Valley Ranch, owned in corporate form by Molly Knudtsen, adjoins the Callahan Ranch. At the time of the occurrence of the events which culminated in this appeal, the Callahan Ranch was owned by Oscar Reese, appellant. In 1967 or 1968, Reese casually expressed to Knudtsen his desire to sell the ranch; Knudtsen expressed no corresponding desire to purchase at that time. In 1969, however, circumstances changed and Knudtsen developed a keen interest in acquiring Reese’s property. For the purpose of negotiating a purchase of the ranch, she contacted Chester C. Utter, a family…