Sterling could feel all eyes upon him—his ranch hands’ as well as Claude’s men’s. Even Violet and Hyacinth and Beckett were watching him. They were waiting for him to come up with a solution.
Dad would likely remind Sterling that if he’d gone to school and bettered himself, he would have had more skills and a greater ability to handle problems and issues that arose.
Sterling’s muscles tightened. It was too late to compare himself to his brothers. And he didn’t have time at the moment to worry about his dad getting angry. No, he had to act quickly if he wanted to save Mr. Berkley.
“Release Mr. Berkley to me,” Sterling said as his mind continued to scramble to formulate a plan.
Behind him, Violet grew motionless.
The fellow holding Violet’s dad released a scoff. “And why would I do that?”
“He’ll work off his debt to me for the next five years as a ranch hand.”
“Claude won’t wait five years for Marvin to pay off his debt in slow increments.”
“He won’t need to wait five years.”
The henchman shook his head. “Claude won’t wait even a year. He knows fellows like this head right back to the gambling table the minute they get a penny.”
“He won’t get a penny.” Sterling spoke firmly. “All he’ll get is room and board. His earnings will go right to me.”
Claude’s man finally raised his brow.
“To pay me back.”
Violet gasped and started to struggle against his hold. “No, Sterling.”
“Yes.” He strained to keep her behind him. “I’ll give Claude the two thousand dollars, and then Mr. Berkley will work for me until he clears his debt.”
Violet’s father raised his head and peered at Sterling through his bruised and swollen eyes.
“Will you agree to the plan, Mr. Berkley?” Sterling guessed the middle-aged man probably didn’t know the first thing about being a ranch hand and would need a lot of training before he was proficient enough to earn his keep. But there were plenty of easy but mundane chores around the ranch that he could do while he learned.
“I’ll do anything.” Mr. Berkley spoke in a wobbly voice, that of a broken man who knew he’d come close to dying and was getting a second chance.
“You’ll sign an agreement that says you’ll work for me for five years.”
“Yes. No question about it.”
“Good. Then we have a deal.” Sterling didn’t know all the lawyer language, but he’d watched his father work and talk long enough to know a little bit. He could write up a simple contract and make sure it was legal and bound Mr. Berkley to Noble Ranch until the debt was repaid.
Claude’s henchman didn’t immediately respond.
Sterling’s gut churned. He might be ruining himself with such a bargain. It was possible his dad would never deed him the ranch now. Instead, he’d be angry and call Sterling a fool.
Maybe he was a fool. But he’d rather save Violet’s father for her sake than have the best, biggest, and most profitable ranch in Colorado. She was more important to him than success. She was more important to him than anything. And this was his start in showing her that.
“I’ll ride to the bank this morning,” Sterling continued, “and bring Claude all but three hundred of the money.” Sterling had some hidden in a safe in the house, and the rest was locked away at the bank.
The henchman loosened his hold on Mr. Berkley. “Claude won’t accept anything less than two thousand.”
“It’ll take me a few more days to get the last of the three hundred. But you can tell Claude I’m good for it.”
He could feel Violet beginning to tremble behind him. What did she think of his plan? She hadn’t protested yet. Probably because she knew, like he did, that it was the only option.
Claude’s man began to drag Mr. Berkley back to his horse.
“Leave him here.” Sterling waved his gun. He hadn’t holstered it yet and wouldn’t until the men were gone.
