She didn't conclude that a disaster was inevitable.
Weather was never that simple.
But she began thinking about what would happen if the following winter brought little rain and the next summer arrived without enough moisture to restore the pastures.
The Caldwell ranch was better prepared than it had been in 2003.
The cactus was mature across much of the established acreage.
The business had several customers.
And the debt, while not completely eliminated, had become manageable under the revised financial plan.
But a severe drought could still cause damage.
Young plants might fail.
Harvest volume could decline.
Transport costs could rise.
And even mature cactus wouldn't remain productive indefinitely if the weather became extreme.
Marlene called a meeting with Daniel and the small crew.
They sat around the kitchen table with maps, maintenance records, and the latest planting reports.
Marlene pointed toward the southern fields.
"I want to reduce unnecessary harvest pressure on these sections."
Daniel frowned.
"Even with the contracts?"
She nodded.
"We can meet our commitments from other areas if we plan carefully."
He studied the map.
"What's the goal?"
Marlene looked toward the window.
"Maintain a reserve."
Daniel nodded slowly.
"For next year?"
"For whenever we need it."
They discussed the expense.
Holding back harvestable material meant delaying income.
Keeping additional planting areas healthy required maintenance.
And preparing emergency access routes and storage would cost money.
But Marlene had learned not to treat every green pad as something that needed to be sold immediately.
A crop could have value by remaining alive.
Especially when the next rainfall was uncertain.
Grant Holloway returned in October.
He drove through the gate in a newer truck than the one he'd used three years earlier, wearing the same polished boots and confident smile. This time, he didn't talk only about restaurants. He spoke about growing interest in drought-tolerant agricultural products and the possibility of securing large volumes before prices rose.
Marlene listened on the porch.
Then asked for the proposed contract.
Grant handed it over.
She read carefully.
The terms were slightly better than the previous offer.
But the company still wanted extensive purchasing rights over future harvests, including material Marlene intended to retain for her own operations and emergency reserve.
She looked up.
"No."
Grant seemed stunned.
"You haven't even negotiated."
Marlene held up the contract.
"I'm willing to discuss reasonable volumes. I'm not agreeing to give you control over everything I grow."
He leaned forward.
"Miss Caldwell, the market is changing."
She nodded.
"I know."
He pointed toward the fields.
"You could make more money in two years than your father made in twenty."