Chapter 11 #2
By noon, the Calloway steers were all sold. Caleb handled the transaction with their regular buyer, a cattleman from Billings with an honest reputation and deep pockets. Luke shook hands afterward and tried to think of anything he could do that would keep him away from the tents.
His stomach grumbled, the growl ugly enough to force him toward the promise of food. He didn’t have to go to Claire’s tent. Sure, she had the best option with Granny Mama’s famous pulled pork sandwiches, but he could live with a burger from the Reeves tent.
He didn’t want a burger.
Claire looked up at his approach. Her expression shifted so fast he barely registered the surprise before it went neutral. She held his gaze for a breath.
Jen rushed over with Marcus on her hip, interrupting Luke mid-step.
He pulled his hat brim down and moved away. A day without food might do him some good.
Voices near the cattle pens snagged his attention and raised a buried sense of concern. A low, measured tone cut in on the younger, desperate voice.
Luke swung that way without giving himself time to remember he didn’t interfere with other people’s business.
Brody Kessler stood across from Gary Dennett, a buyer from the eastern part of the county with a reputation for identifying green sellers and adjusting offers to his benefit. He had money and patience and no obligation to use either fairly.
“These are decent animals.” Dennett’s thumb hooked in his belt loop.
“But they’re not the quality I’d normally take at your asking price.
Market’s soft today. Tell you what, I’ll take all twelve, but you gotta meet my price.
” Gary gave a number so far below fair market it shocked Luke into a lurching stop.
Brody kept his composure, but his hands curled against the fence rail. “I need at least twice that.”
Dennett’s face tightened, the expression turning just cold enough to churn Luke’s stomach. Was that what people saw when they looked at him?
“These aren’t 4C Ranch animals, boy. I’m offering a fair price for first-generation stock from a small operation.” So cold. So smug.
Luke’s jaw worked. He pressed a hand against his breastbone and breathed through the truth. He’d been just like Dennett.
Brody didn’t have the leverage or the experience to push back.
Two months ago, he would have walked past without a word. Not his problem. Not his obligation. Not his jurisdiction. He looked across the arena and met Claire’s eyes.
She stood at the edge of the hospitality tent, arms crossed, and head tilted with her eyes narrowed. Her chin lifted when their eyes met. The steadiness in her posture, the utter belief that she would not stand aside and let this kind of thing happen, pushed him forward.
“Gary.” He stepped up beside Brody and leaned his side against the rail, dropping his arm over the top and patting one of the steers on the head.
All he had to do was take his time and not let Gary push either of them around.
He had no agenda and all the time in the world. “How’s your herd looking this spring?”
Dennett turned. His expression recalibrated at the sight of Luke. “Well now, Calloway, I’m doing just fine. Having a little chat with this young man about his stock.”
“Good animals.” Luke studied the steers with deliberate attention. “Kessler runs the old Garrett property. That land’s got good grass and clean water. I’ve seen it.” He glanced at Brody. “These are the first yearlings off your new breeding stock?”
“Yes sir.” Brody’s slumped posture straightened by degrees. He might not understand what was happening, but he knew something changed with Luke’s appearance.
Boy did it feel good to put that look of hope in someone’s eyes.
“Thought so.” He swung his attention to the steers. “You can see the bloodline improvement in the bone structure. Another generation and these’ll be commanding premium prices.” He addressed Dennett without changing his conversational tone. “What are you looking at?”
Gary gave a slightly higher number than he’d last mentioned to Brody.
Luke clicked his tongue and scratched another steer in the center of its forehead. “These animals are worth way more than that, and you know it.” He tilted his head toward Brody. “What’s your bottom?”
Brody anchored his boots and rolled his shoulders back, giving the actual fair market value with a nod and a smile. “I know what they’re worth.”
Dennett’s gaze moved between them. He understood what was happening and he didn’t care for it one bit.
Negotiating against a green seller was one thing. Having Luke Calloway standing at the fence renegotiating against him was a different conversation.
“Look, if you don’t want to do this here, you can wait till they cross the auction block.
But I guarantee you won’t make as good a deal up there.
Plus, there’s the time and trouble of having to buy them one by one.
” Luke gripped the rail and pushed away.
“You know what, I might even jump in and bid myself. I have a new contact that would love to back me.”
Brody looked at Luke with a quick check. Luke held his position against the rail.
Dennett let out a low curse. “You got me against the fence on this one, Calloway.”
Yeah, but it sure beats watching a fellow rancher walk away defeated.
“What do you think, Brody?” He motioned between the two men.
“Deal.” Brody put his hand out.
Dennett shook it, his head wagging side to side the whole time. He’d been beaten fair and square, too worried about Luke getting the deal to push.
After Dennett left, Brody stood quiet for a moment, both hands back on the fence. The steers wandered around in their pen, unconcerned with human commerce.