Chapter 5: Chapter 5: The Deal

Two days pass. No word from Cash McCallister. On Friday morning, Hadley calls. "Mercer's increasing the bid to two-point-five million if we agree by today. Uncle Beau's pressuring the fence-sitters. It's eight to five now, Sutton. If two more people flip, it's over." I grab my phone and dial Cash. He answers on the second ring. "I was going to call you," he says. "Were you." "I was. I looked at your numbers. They're tight, but they work." My heart is hammering. "I'll give you a trial run," he says. "One month. We run a joint operation—my land, your cattle, shared resources. If it works, I'll consider a formal partnership." "Deal." "I want sixty percent." "You just said fifty-fifty—" "I said I'd consider a partnership. My land's bigger, my water's better, and I delivered a calf in front of you, which I think earns me negotiating leverage." "Sixty-forty. Final offer." "Done." "One more thing," I say. "My family's voting tonight. I need something in writing. An agreement I can show them." "I'll have it to you by noon." He does. The agreement is fair—clear terms, reasonable conditions, the kind of document that says I'm serious about this. Now I just have to survive the vote. The family room is packed. Uncle Beau is holding court near the fireplace, all smiles and confidence. Aunt Linda sits beside him, already counting money. Granddaddy calls the meeting to order. "Before we vote, I want to give Sutton a chance to present." Every head turns. Seventeen pairs of eyes. Seventeen opinions. I stand up. My hands are shaking, so I shove them in my pockets. "I've got a plan," I say. "Heritage beef. Grass-fed, direct-to-consumer. Agritourism. State grants. A real, viable alternative to selling our land for a quarter of what it's worth." I…