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“Go. I’ll call the helipad and make the arrangements. You can phone Rafe on your way and let him know what’s going on.”
“Okay. But while I’m gone, I need you to finalize an agreement with him. He’s going to raise cattle for us as a partnership instead of us just leasing the land. And this way we aren’t further extending our hands….”
“And it spreads our risk while giving Rafe an ownership stake. Good idea. I’ll work out the details with him and then get with the foreman so we are sure we have the stock to place with him.” Dad almost gave him the bum’s rush. “Get going. You can work on the way, but the weather is going to turn against you.”
Russell returned to his truck and took off, wishing he had been able to stay, but his father was right. He needed to get out and put this deal to bed. Once it was done, he’d be able to hunker down at the ranch for the rest of the winter. But Russell’s anxiety built as he drove away and he realized just how much he hated that he was going to disappoint Rafe… and how much he was going to miss him while he was gone.
“NO, THAT’Snot part of the deal,” Russell said for the fourth time in the same meeting. “We already have a framework for price and delivery for the software. I was crystal clear that the software contract and the beef delivery contract were separate and that they were not contingent on each other.” He kept his rising frustration out of his voice.
“I don’t see it that way,” the thirtysomething wannabe in a suit said, as though anybody gave a damn what he thought. Russell had gone head-to-head with this guy for two days and gotten nowhere, except to the point where he was beginning to wonder if this guy actually wanted either deal.
Russell shrugged and pulled out a blank sheet of paper, then wrote down the original terms. “This is all you’re going to get on both fronts. Take it or leave it.” He passed the sheet over, and the dark-haired wannabe pushed it aside.
“You’ll need to do better than that.” He sat back and threaded his fingers together.
“Actually, I don’t, and I won’t.” He picked up his phone, sent a message, and received an almost immediate response. He smiled and turned his phone around, then slid it over so the wannabe could see it. “I just went over your head. It seems your boss, the person I originally negotiated with, wants this deal done and sent you to work out the final details.” He glared at the wannabe. “You tried to be a hero and failed, big-time.”
He shook his head as an assistant entered the room. The wannabe paled and left. When he returned five minutes later, he acted much more reasonable. “Now let’s talk delivery schedules,” Russell said without gloating, even though he really wanted to.
The rest of the meeting went well. Russell confirmed with his father and the foreman once he was back in his hotel that the schedule would work, especially if they could add Rafe’s potential production to the deal.
“I also have a line on some additional land to the west. I’d heard that one of the ranchers who’s been leasing their land to Mendeltom isn’t happy with the way Mendeltom’s been treating it. So I talked to him and found him more than eager to do business with us. That would add another thousand acres or so that will be available in the spring. Mendeltom has already been given notice to vacate by Christmas.”
“He’s going to be steamed as hell—you know that.” Still, Russell couldn’t feel sorry for him.
“Yeah, but the lease is up and it isn’t going to be renewed. I already have a letter of intent signed and ready to go.” Dad was definitely pleased.
“Good. But you know that’s going to have Duane and Grant putting more pressure on Rafe. They’re going to get desperate, and God knows what Duane might do. Grant may bluster, but I’m more afraid of Duane’s rashness. You know he’ll go after Rafe.”
“As soon as we hang up, I’ll call him and invite him to dinner. We can let him know what’s coming his way then,” his dad said. “I hadn’t thought of that angle. Poor Rafe. It seems that every bit of trouble in this valley intersects at Mack’s place.
“It sure seems that way,” Russell said, thinking of Rafe and how he’d felt that early morning, pressed against him, warm and hard, heat radiating from him. Russell inhaled and swore he could still smell him in the air. It was just his imagination, but damn, it was a powerful memory.
“I’m going to get both deals signed in the next few days, and then we can start getting our projects put together.”
“Then what’s the problem?” his dad asked.
“Nothing really. They’re trying to stall a little in order to try to put me off my game and make a deal that’s more to their advantage. But they aren’t getting anywhere and they need this deal. I have my company attorneys on standby, and they’re prepared to review the final documents right away so we can get this done as soon as possible. Then I’ll head home.”
“Good. Let me know.”
“I will.” Russell hung up and called Rafe. “Hey,” he said with a sigh. “I’m sorry about the other day.”
“I understand,” Rafe said. “We got another dump of snow, but it’s sunny right now and a lot of it is melting.” Russell loved how Rafe’s voice wrapped around him and eased some of his tension.
“That’s really good. I should be home in a few days.” He stifled a yawn and closed his eyes for a few seconds.
“You sound really tired,” Rafe said. “Are you sleeping okay?”
“Not really.” He tried not to yawn again and failed. “Dad is going to call you about the deal we talked about, and I’m afraid that Grant is going to be furious as hell because one of his leases isn’t being renewed and we’re optioning the land. So be careful and watch out for him—and Duane.” He hated that Rafe was in the line of fire. “There isn’t much he can do legally, but I suspect that won’t stop him.”
“I’m okay, and I have the dogs. My parents have filed with the probate court regarding the will. Luther says they have two weeks to submit their arguments. Apparently this type of thing isn’t handled with a trial unless there’s a reason for it. Luther says he’s going to file a number of motions that they’ll have to respond to, including one for outright dismissal.”
“Good. Make them pay. There’s no basis for contesting the will anyway… other than pure greed.”
“Luther will let me know when a hearing is scheduled.” He chuckled slightly. “The cattle are doing well, and I took the horses out for exercise today. Other than that, I’m just trying to get whatever repairs and chores done that I can.”
“I see.”
