"I don't like initials on a woman. What's your first name?" Ray asked.
"Cassie."
It was obvious her name meant nothing to Ray, but his son's eyebrows shot up.
"All right, Cassie," the older man said. "What's this deal that's so important Robbie told me to drop everything to get myself out here for?"
"At least it got ya out here," Robbie inserted.
Ray's scowl darkened. "Don't start that with me, Robbie."
"All I'm sayin' is—"
Sylvia edged closer to Will, who, at her urging, intervened.
"Why don't you let Cassie do the talkin', Granddad?" he suggested.
Cassie continued before Robbie could do more damage. "My employer is making an offer on the strip of land you and your brother own between the highway and the railroad track. I have a contract for—"
Robbie interrupted. "She wants to give us a bunch of money for it, Ray. I'm willin', and I told her you would be, too. Bein' how much you like money and all."
Cassie's instinct was to shut her eyes and groan, but instead she resumed, "I have a contract for your consideration, Mr. Taylor. You can take it with you, if you like. Or I can return with you to your home to answer any questions you might have."
"A bunch 'a money, Ray," Robbie said.
Sylvia quickly supplied Ray with the contract Cassie had given them earlier.
Ray glanced at it, read the amended amount on offer, and handed it back. Then, simply and unequivocally, he said, "No."
Cassie had never been in a situation described in some books as being so quiet a pin could be heard to drop, but this was one. Ray Taylor's refusal had sucked away everyone's breath, including her own.
Robbie stared at his brother. "I don't think I heard ya right, Ray," he said. "Say it again."
"I said…no."
Robbie sputtered, Sylvia grasped Will's sleeve, and Will's lips tightened into a flat line.
"Now, if that's all there is to this," Ray said, obviously pleased with himself, "Junior and I will go back to our account books." He motioned for his son to precede him to the front door.
"But…you can't!" Robbie protested as his brother stepped into the hall.
Ray turned back and squinted at him. "Watch me," he said. Yet before starting off again, he paused to offer a previously forgotten courtesy to the women. "Nice to meet you, Miss Edwards, and Sylvia, always nice to see you." He nodded to his great-nephew. "Will."
At the same time as the car's engine sprang to life, Robbie groped for his chair and fell into it.
"Well," Will said grimly, "I guess that takes care of that."
Cassie couldn't believe everything had gone so wrong so fast. If she didn't know for a fact that the ranch Taylors needed the money, she'd almost believe Robbie had sabotaged the deal on purpose. He couldn't have been more provocative.
"How could you do that, Dad?" Sylvia whispered, dabbing openly at her eyes. "How could you?"
Robbie seemed stunned. "Ray's never turned down money in his life," he said. Then anger took over. "He's never cared about this ranch, not any part of it! He'd rather be a city man than get his hands dirty! Never wanted anythin' but to be a big wig in town. Throwin' his weight around. Lordin' it over folks."
Cassie gathered her thoughts. As much to reassure herself as to reassure them, she said, "I'll talk with him tomorrow. Possibly I can persuade him to change his mind."
"He's doin' it to spite me!" Robbie swore.
Will rubbed the back of his neck. "Granddad, I think we've all had enough for this evenin'. I know I have. Listen to what Cassie says. She's the one who knows what she's doin'."
For a brief moment Will's blue eyes met Cassie's before switching back to his grandfather. Cassie wasn't sure what surprised her most—the apology she'd read in his gaze, or the compliment he'd just paid her.
Will continued, "I've got to see to some things outside, but Mom probably just wants to call it a night. You should, too, Granddad."
"I'm doin' the dishes," Sylvia declared, a waver in her voice.
"I'll be glad to help," Cassie heard herself offer. It was hard to remain aloof from the family's distress.
Sylvia smiled sadly and shook her head, but before she could say anything, Will cut in. "No! I'll take care of that when I come in later."
"I'm doin' 'em, Will," Sylvia insisted.
Will slipped an arm around his mother's shoulders. "We'll be fine," he said firmly, before he gave her a bracing hug.
While the other Taylors busied themselves with their separate chores, Robbie sat with his white head lowered, his gaze fixed on his loosely clasped hands.
He'd been so sure about his brother, Cassie thought. Sure enough to bait him. He hadn't wanted to sell the land in the first place, but after he'd agreed, he hadn't expected this. He looked crushed.
Feeling the need to offer some hope, Cassie pledged quietly, "I will go into town tomorrow and talk to your brother."
"I'd sure appreciate that," Robbie said, his voice a husky whisper, his eyes never lifting.
Once in the privacy of her room, Cassie fell back across the bed and allowed herself the privilege of moaning out loud.
She wouldn't be going back to Houston tonight. Or possibly tomorrow, either. This deal wasn't going to close early…if it closed at all!
Her mind wandered. What Will had said about her to his grandfather…did he mean it?
She sat up sharply, angry with herself. No! Now, of all times, she had to stay focused. She had to come up with a way to persuade Ray Taylor to change his mind. She had to think, to plan.
Go get 'em, girl, Jimmy would say.
And she would.
CHAPTER FOUR
CASSIE AWOKE THE next morning filled with confidence that she could save this sale. Repairing the damage that had been done the evening before wouldn't be easy, but a direct appeal to Ray Taylor's business sense could likely produce the desired result.
She called his home first thing and, after a brief conversation with his wife, discovered that he'd already left for Handy's, and he planned to be there all morning. Cassie showered and dressed and made her way downstairs.
The house was quiet. It was already past nine o'clock, long after the ranch Taylors had started their day. Even the kitchen, which seemed to serve as the family's nerve center, was empty. Cassie jotted a note and was looking for a good place to leave it, when Sylvia Taylor came in from outdoors.
"Good mornin'," the older woman greeted her. "My, don't you look nice. That bright red color certainly suits you."
"Thank you," Cassie murmured, glancing down at the businesslike yet still feminine suit she'd purchased for the trip. Maybe, psychologically, she'd felt she might need the boost the color would give her, or maybe she'd just liked the way the jacket fitted. Either way, it was the battle armament she'd chosen for the day.
"Would you like some eggs for breakfast?" Sylvia asked, and tipped the ceramic bowl she was carrying for Cassie to see. "They're fresh. I just gathered them."
"I rarely eat breakfast," Cassie said.
"How about coffee, then? Or tea. We have all different kinds. Even some of that herbal stuff some folks prefer."
Cassie shook her head. "No. Actually, I'm on my way out."
Sylvia's expression sobered, revealing the worry lines she'd been camouflaging with her smile. "You're goin' into town to talk to Ray." A statement, not a question.
"Yes."
Sylvia set the bowl on the counter. "Think it'll do any good?"
"I hope so. I'll certainly do my best."
"I'll keep my fingers crossed for you." Sylvia lifted her right hand to show Cassie her crossed fingers.
Cassie crossed hers as well and walked outside to her car.
~~~~
WILL COULD HAVE avoided meeting her. He saw her car coming down the drive in plenty of time for him to just keep going down the road, as if he had business elsewhere. But he didn't. Instead, he turned the pickup into the drive at the same instant as she
rolled to a stop on the other side of the gate...blocking each other's path.
He hopped out of the truck. "Mornin'," he called as he unhooked the catch and swung open the gate. Then he strolled over to her car.
He wasn't sure what he was doing or why he was doing it. Or even what he'd say next. Last night he'd been so tired he could have slept standing up against the wall, but his last waking thought had been of her. Instinct took over as he tipped his hat back and squinted down at her.
"You off somewhere?" he asked.
She was all dressed up again in clothes that could have come out of a magazine. Only this time instead of being conservative black, her suit was scarlet red. And instead of the crisp blouse he couldn't remember the color of, her blouse today was soft and white, with a fine gold chain around her neck. Not a hair was out of place; her makeup was skillfully applied. She smelled nice, too. Like some kind of exotic flower. Though not overwhelming, the scent was potent enough to come upon a man unawares and dance around his senses, making him want to go to places and do things he hadn't planned.
She answered his question. "I'm driving into Love to see your uncle."
He couldn't take his eyes off her. There was something about the way she— Something that made him—
He stepped back, forcibly breaking the spell. He had to leave this alone. He didn't have time in his life right now for a dalliance. And that was assuming she'd be interested. Which she wasn't. Not from the cool way she reacted each time she saw him.
"Well, don't let me keep you, then," he said gruffly and, climbing back into his truck, reversed onto the side of the road, watching as she turned and accelerated past him. She did wave thanks, though. Which was something.
On his way up the drive he wondered if she'd have any luck getting Uncle Ray to change his mind. The twin brothers had been at odds from the first moment they'd left the womb. One was a born rancher; the other was a born businessman. Will had spent many an hour during his growing years listening to his grandfather's tales about the pair as youngsters. How Ray had done everything he could to avoid his chores around the ranch. How he'd hated riding horses and working cattle. How even something as basic as looking after the tack had totally appalled him. In his turn, Robbie had hated school and "book learnin'," and had looked upon being cooped up all those hours as punishment. Ray, of course, had loved every minute.
Will, himself, was a blend of both men. He loved the ranch and everything that went with it, but he also enjoyed the "book learnin'" part. Which had given his grandfather more than a few nervous moments over the years.
Will grinned as he drove the truck around back to the feed barn, hopped out, let down the tailgate, and shouldered inside the first of several sacks he'd picked up in Love that morning.
His grandfather hadn't had anything to fear along those lines, though. Because, in the end, his good grades in school had earned him a scholarship to A&M to learn as much as he could about the business of ranching—something his grandfather had approved of, as had his dad. Now he wouldn't trade his life on the ranch for any other, even with all the problems thrown in.
~~~~
CASSIE PARKED AMONG the small group of cars already taking up slots in Handy's parking lot. It wasn't so much the volume of people who shopped at the grocery store at any one time as it was the constancy of the in-and-out traffic. From the time the store opened in the morning, till the time the store locked up at night, customers were passing through its doors. And it had been that way since Cassie was a little girl. Everyone in town and the surrounding rural community shopped at Handy's.
Cassie drew a breath, smoothed her hair, adjusted the collar of her blouse, and stepped out. She doubted if anyone inside the store would recognize her. But if, by chance, someone did, or if one of the Taylors had mentioned her return to someone, who'd mentioned it to someone else, who'd…she was prepared. Her head high, she stepped into the familiar store.
Just as little on the outside had changed, little on the inside had changed either. There were newer registers at the four checkout stands, and newer-styled carts to push around, but she had a feeling that if she wanted a certain type of cereal, or bread, or milk, it would be in exactly the same spot as it had been ten years ago.
Two checkers were on duty, both ringing up customers. Cassie recognized the women as long-term employees, but neither noticed her as she crossed the open area behind them to reach the narrow set of stairs leading to Ray Taylor's office. In the past, Cassie had often seen the man standing at the wide windows, hands clasped behind his back, viewing the goings-on in the aisles and at the checkouts like some kind of potentate surveying his domain from on high.
Cassie had purposely not requested an appointment this morning because she was certain he would refuse. It would be much more difficult to reject her in person, though. Not without having heard at least some of what she had to say.
She stopped at the top landing and rapped smartly on the door.
"Yes?" Ray Taylor said, bidding her to enter.
He frowned as she stepped into the room. "You again," he said, the flatness of his tone rescinding any mistaken welcome.
"Yes, Mr. Taylor. If you have a few minutes, I'd like to talk with you. Last night—"
"I said all I needed to," he broke in impatiently.
"Please, Mr. Taylor. I won't take much of your time."
"I'm a very busy man, Cassie."
He said her name as if he knew her, which meant Ray, Jr. had wasted no time in filling him in on who she was.
Cassie met his gaze, held it...refusing to back down.
The strained silence drew out until finally he agreed, "All right, five minutes. But that's it."
He pulled one of several nondescript chairs away from the wall and stationed it in front of his desk. He motioned her into it as he took his own place.
Just as he had last night, Ray Taylor wore a business suit and tie, looking every inch the busy executive. Even if, technically, a few years earlier he'd gone through the motions of handing over the day-to-day operation of his empire to his son, reality showed that Ray, Jr. was not the man in charge. His far smaller desk was still relegated to the corner of the office and had far fewer business-related materials cluttering its surface than did his father's. The real power continued to rest in the older man's hands.
"You drive a hard bargain, Mr. Taylor," Cassie said as she reached into her briefcase and withdrew a copy of the contract. "Possibly this will be of more interest to you." She flipped to the right page, marked through the dollar amount, increasing it to Jimmy's second agreed-upon level, then passed it over to him.
He glanced at the new number and without blinking an eye, passed the contract back. "No," he said.
Cassie leaned forward. "I'm sure you appreciate that my employer considers this a fair price for the property."
"I do. I'm just not accepting it," Ray Taylor said.
"You're a very astute businessman, Mr. Taylor. Surely you can see the potential a sale of this kind can bring. Such an infusion of money is a shot in the arm to any enterprise. You hold half interest in a piece of property that's not working for you. If you sell it to us, you could—"
He stood. "Your five minutes are up." He didn't say it unkindly, just firmly.
The elapsed time had been three minutes at most, but Cassie was in no position to protest as she scrambled for an argument that might sway him. "I can increase the amount," she said, although she didn't think additional money was the answer.
"I'm not interested."
"There has to be a way we can come to an agreement. Questions I haven't answered. If I could just have a little more—"
He came around the desk, gathered her arm, pulled her gently to her feet, and accompanied her to the door. "I know all I need to know," he said as he delivered her to the landing. "Now, if I can't help you with anything else…you have a nice day, Cassie." And with a gentlemanly smile that was decisively dismissive, he closed the door.
Cassie was still
blinking as she stood clutching her briefcase and the contract when Ray, Jr. came upstairs.
"Oh…hello," she said, stuffing the contract back into the case as she tried to regain her aplomb.
He didn't seem surprised to see her there or to find her in her flustered state. "He means what he says, you know," he said quietly.
"But why? Why won't he even consider, when—" She broke off. Was it any use to ask Ray, Jr.? He was his father's puppet. He wouldn't tell her anything.
"He just won't," Ray, Jr. said. His eyes narrowed. "You know, I almost didn't recognize you last night. You look so different. Does your momma know you're in town?"
Cassie dove for cover by checking her watch. "I—I have to go," she said. "It's past time that I—" She stopped herself from making excuses, straightened her shoulders, and reminded herself, yet again, that she wasn't the vulnerable young girl she used to be. The girl whose first instinct was to run and hide. "Thank your father again for me," she said calmly. "Tell him I appreciate his courtesy." Then she walked down the narrow set of stairs, out past the checkers and baggers and customers who, thankfully, continued to look at her as if she were a stranger.
~~~~
CASSIE SAT IN her car, the key in the ignition unturned. Was there something else she could have done? Some other tactic she could have used? An entire mountain of ill feeling certainly seemed to exist between the two brothers. Would asking the ranch Taylors about the cause be of any help? Ray Taylor was intractable. Determined not to budge. Was there anything left for her to say or do that would sway him?
She shut her eyes and dropped her head onto the steering wheel. Was this going to be the first time she would fail Jimmy? She'd had difficult moments in negotiations before, but never anything like this.
She sat back, dug out her cell phone, and placed the call to Houston.
Diane, who'd taken over her old job as Jimmy's executive assistant, quickly connected her with their employer.
Love Me Some Cowboy Page 73
