"We would work through those decisions together."
"Would I be able to refuse overcrowding?"
He blinked.
"Excuse me?"
"If somebody decides more animals should be placed in a smaller area to improve short-term returns, can I refuse?"
"We follow professional standards."
"That isn't what I asked."
The man shifted in his chair.
"Operational decisions would ultimately be subject to the company's management structure."
She nodded.
There it was.
The young woman had spent a year proving that cattle weren't just numbers on a ledger.
Now somebody wanted to give her a large amount of money in exchange for the authority to turn them back into numbers.
The businessman slid a document toward her.
"Before you decide, I think you should look at the offer."
She read the figure.
Her breath caught.
It was more money than the family farm had earned in many decades combined.
Enough to pay every debt.
Enough to replace every worn-out piece of equipment.
Enough to guarantee her great-aunt financial comfort for the rest of her life.
For several seconds, she couldn't speak.
The businessman smiled.
"It's a life-changing opportunity."
She looked at the number again.
Then she placed the document on the table.
"I need time."
"Naturally."
He stood.
"But I should mention that our investment committee has other properties under consideration. We can't keep the offer open indefinitely."
She nodded.
"I understand."
After he left, the young woman remained at the kitchen table.
The old woman watched her from across the room.
"How much?"
The girl told her.
The old woman almost dropped her coffee cup.
"Good heavens."
"I know."
"That's enough to buy this farm three times over."
"I know."
The old woman sat down.
"What are you thinking?"
The girl looked toward the cattle.
"I'm thinking that six months ago, I didn't know whether we could afford to replace a broken water trough."
"And now?"
"Now somebody wants to pay a fortune for the right to tell me how to run the farm."
The old woman considered that.
"Money is a useful tool."
"I know."
"But it's a terrible master."
The girl lowered her eyes.
"What would you do?"
The old woman shook her head.
"This one has to be your decision."
That night, the young woman walked the pastures alone.
Number fourteen approached the fence and pushed his broad nose toward her jacket.
She scratched his forehead.
"Everybody thinks they know what we're worth now," she whispered.
The calf snorted.
She laughed softly.