She had expected the reaction.
But hearing them laugh still hurt.
Wade continued.
"Your daddy spent his whole life trying to raise cattle on this place, and now you're turning it into a cactus patch?"
Marlene looked up.
"Dad was studying cactus before he died."
Roy shook his head.
"Your father knew cattle."
"He also knew the land wasn't producing enough grass."
Wade laughed again.
"Then he should've sold it."
Marlene felt her face warm.
She stood carefully.
"I'm not asking you to plant anything."
Wade smiled.
"Thank God for that."
He stepped toward the crate nearest the fence.
Inside were several healthy cactus cuttings Marlene had prepared for the next row.
Wade nudged the box with his boot.
"How much did you waste on these?"
Marlene's jaw tightened.
"Leave them alone."
He looked at her.
Then laughed.
"Relax. They're weeds."
He kicked the crate.
It overturned.
Several pads scattered across the dry soil.
Marlene froze.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Roy laughed awkwardly.
Travis looked toward the fallen cuttings.
His expression changed.
"Wade, come on."
The older rancher shrugged.
"What? She can plant them again."
Marlene stared at the scattered pads.
She had spent the morning preparing them carefully.
Some were damaged.
Others could be recovered.
But it wasn't the value of the cuttings that hurt most.
It was the casual certainty that her work deserved no respect.
She crouched and began picking them up.
Wade watched her.
"You're going to spend the next six years working yourself into the ground, girl."
Marlene didn't answer.
He continued.
"Then the bank's going to take this place anyway."
She placed another cactus pad in the crate.
Roy nodded toward the hills.
"Should've sold while someone still wanted it."
Marlene looked up.
For a moment, she wanted to shout.
To tell them about her father's notebook.
The rainfall figures.
The soil observations.
The careful plan hidden beneath the old survey map.
But then she remembered Curtis's handwriting.
Start small. Prove the plant survives here.
She stood.
Wiped her gloves against her jeans.
Then looked directly at Wade.
"If you're finished, I've got work to do."
He stared.
For several seconds, he seemed almost offended that she hadn't argued.
Then he laughed again.
"Suit yourself."
He turned toward the truck.
Roy followed.
Travis remained beside the fence.
He looked toward the scattered cactus.
Then toward Marlene.
For a moment, he seemed ready to say something.
Instead, he lowered his eyes.
"Good luck."
Marlene nodded.
"Thanks."
He walked away.
The trucks started.
Dust rose along the road.
And Marlene was alone again.
She knelt beside the overturned crate.