Arthur sat back down. “Are you a man of God, Elroy?”
“Oh yes, church every Sunday, just like my mama taught me.” He lifted his head in pride.
“What is that you have in mind?”
Elroy nodded approvingly. “I knew when I saw you that you were an honest man of God, Arthur. I must admit to being thoroughly impressed with your honesty. We will get along just fine. Please go ahead and tell me about all your debts and we can lay out a plan between the two of us.”
“I would have to consult my son before making any final decisions. He helps me run the ranch, and I can't make any solid business decisions without him. The ranch is his inheritance after I pass.”
“Of course, of course,” Elroy agreed. “We can discuss the broader spectrum of things between us and include him all our decisions before we dot all the I's and cross all the T's, so to speak.”
“So this will be a written contract?”
“I always think it's best to have security in these matters, for both parties,” he said reassuringly.
***
Arthur smiled to himself as he pulled the buckboard into the yard and dismounted with an extra spring in his step. His conversation with Elroy Higgs in the bar had ended with them agreeing upon a plan to bring Thomas into the loop and hopefully, if everything went well, sign a contract.
Elroy had listened intently to everything Arthur had said about all the debts Thomas had accumulated. He had made notes in a small pocketbook throughout their conversation.
Arthur liked a main who paid meticulous attention to detail. He smiled to himself as he walked to the back door. He could hear happy voices flowing from the kitchen. Rosaline had made a real impact on their family, he thought, as he entered the kitchen.
Thomas was sitting beside Rosaline on the floor, his shoulder touching hers as they played with Robbie.
“Look, it's Grandpa!” Rosaline said happily as she turned Robbie around in her lap.
Robbie gurgled happily as Arthur came over and pinched his cheek.
“Did you get everything you needed in town?” Thomas asked cheerfully.
It warmed Arthur's heart to see his son smiling again. “I didn't actually get into the store.”
Thomas frowned. “Did something happen?”
“Oh no, nothing bad,” Arthur said reassuringly. “There's something I'd like to talk to you about,” he pulled out a chair and sat at the kitchen table.
“I'll just take Robbie to the nursery,” Rosaline said as she began to stand.
“No please stay, lass. You are part of this family now. There isn't anything you can't hear about.”
Rosaline looked up at Thomas as he pushed himself up off the ground.
He nodded reassuringly and held out his hand to help her up.
She blushed slightly as she took his hand and allowed herself to be pulled up with Robbie on her hip.
Arthur's heart grew with pride as he watched his son interact with his new daughter-in-law. The two clearly had feelings for one another, everyone could see it. The only two people who still needed to see it were Thomas and Rosaline themselves, but that was a matter for another day. There were bigger issues at the moment.
“I think we may have found a way out of our financial difficulties,” Arthur began as the two took their seats across from him. “I met a man in town who is looking to expand his profitable horse breeding business.”
Thomas bit his lower lip and frowned as his father continued.
“We would still run the ranch as we do now, with the addition of having prized stallions and mares for breeding in some of our pens. We would then raise the foals and get a cut of the profit when they are ready to be sold.”
Thomas shook his head. “We can't afford to feed and raise more livestock. Even if it will be profitable in the long run, we can't kick it off.”
“That's the thing,” Arthur added excitedly. “I spoke to Mr. Higgs extensively about our difficulties, and he's willing to pay off all of our debts, provided we sign a contract that we will be getting a smaller percentage of the profits at the start until the debt has been worked off. He's willing to front the necessary running costs.”
