He watched the activity.
Then smiled.
"Marlene."
She turned.
"Grant."
He stepped out wearing expensive boots and a clean white shirt.
"Looks like business is booming."
Marlene glanced toward the workers.
"Business is busy."
Grant laughed.
"Same difference."
She shook her head.
"Not always."
He looked toward the green hills.
For a moment, even he seemed impressed.
Then he said, "I have another offer."
Marlene sighed.
"Of course you do."
Grant smiled.
"This one is substantially better."
He removed a folder from the truck.
Inside was a proposed agreement giving his company extensive control over the ranch's commercial production and emergency forage distribution. The numbers were large enough to make Marlene stop and read carefully.
Then she reached the restrictions.
The agreement would limit her ability to sell directly to certain buyers and allow the distributor to determine how much emergency material could be released through its network.
Marlene looked up.
"You want control of the reserve."
Grant smiled.
"I want to maximize its value."
She stared.
He continued.
"People are desperate. There's enormous demand, and you've got the only substantial local supply."
Marlene looked toward the trailers.
Then toward the three neighboring ranches.
She imagined what would happen if a company obtained exclusive control and raised prices beyond what the struggling producers could afford.
She thought of Wade's cattle.
Roy's family.
Travis's remaining herd.
Then she closed the folder.
"No."
Grant's smile disappeared.
"Marlene, you're turning down a tremendous opportunity."
She nodded.
"I know what you're offering."
He stepped closer.
"Then think carefully."
She looked directly at him.
"I have."
For several seconds, he stared.
Then he laughed angrily.
"You're going to spend your whole life leaving money on the table."
Marlene smiled faintly.
"Maybe."
She handed him the folder.
"But I'm going to keep deciding who gets to sit at that table."
Grant shook his head.
He looked toward the workers.
Then toward the fields.
For a moment, he seemed ready to argue again.
Instead, he climbed into his truck.
As he drove away, Wade Haskins approached from the loading area.
He had heard enough of the conversation to understand what was happening.
He looked toward Marlene.
"That fellow offering you a fortune?"
She nodded.
"Something like that."
Wade stared toward the road.
Then looked back at her.
"You said no?"
"Yes."
He was quiet.
For several seconds, he seemed to be thinking about the woman he'd laughed at six years earlier.
Then he removed his hat.
"Well."
Marlene raised an eyebrow.
Wade continued.