“Shadow came to me with a new business plan,” Lucifer says as my brother opens the folder. “Considering the new development with your sister staying on as part owner, we think it will be a good fit. Enclosed, you will find the terms on which we’re willing to agree to.”
I stretch and take some of the documents from Maddox to read over while he looks over the business plan.
“Sixty-forty, with the option to allow the club to build houses on the ranch?” I’m not sure if my brother will agree to the club building on the ranch.
Maddox snatches the top paper from me, and I move on to read the rest while he takes it all in.
My attention went straight from being nervous Nelly to being all business, reading over the terms of agreement. The club would put in the capital needed to help the ranch. They’d provide a butcher so that would no longer need to be outsourced. We could sell the meat ourselves. I scan further down and find a mention of a restaurant. Interesting. The last thing in the deal is the dude ranch.
“You would be putting up a lot of capital,” Maddox says.
My mind is whirling, going over the numbers in my head as I pay attention to the conversation around me.
“Yes, we would,” Lucifer agrees, watching me even closer with those assessing eyes of his. I don’t know him, but I’m of the mind he can see through anyone’s barriers straight to the person they are.
“That’s a big risk. It’s going to take forever to pay you back.”
“Not if the dude ranch and restaurant are successful,” Lucifer counters.
Lucifer’s not wrong. If the dude ranch and restaurant prove a success, we’d be able to not just pull the ranch out of debt but sky rocket our profits.
I twist and look to Maddox. “What do you think?”
“These numbers, are they correct?” he asks, waving the folder.
“I wrote that up years ago, Maddox, but they were back then. By now, they’re probably even higher with the popularity of cowboy life growing. There are so many ways we can market a dude ranch. Add a restaurant to the mix, and I imagine it will be even more profitable. With everything on site, people will extend their stays. I know it could work,” I tell him.
I really should have shown it to him first.
“You should’ve brought it to my attention first. I’m your fucking brother. What happened to us being in this together?” Maddox growls.
“You’re right,” I whisper. “I’m sorry, but you gotta believe me when I say I was going to talk to you about it.”
“What do you think, Della? Is this something you can work with?” Lucifer asks.
“I have faith this will revive the ranch, so yes. I will agree to the terms . . .” I pause and look to my brother once again. “On one condition.”
“Don’t think I can take any more surprises, Della.” Maddox grunts, close to losing his temper. “What’s your condition?”
“We keep it sixty-forty with the club,” I start, watching him closely. “But our portion, we split it forty-twenty. You run the ranch. You handle all that happens there. I don’t want to take that away from you. All I ask is for a small part.”
“That’s not fair to you, and it isn’t what Granddaddy would’ve wanted.” Maddox shakes his head, and I know he’s about to say no, but he doesn’t, and surprises me with what he says next. “You shouldn’t get the short end of the stick, Della.”
“Twenty percent is still a good amount. I would only be handling the admin stuff.”
“And the dude ranch,” Shadow grunts.
“I don’t need money. I just want to be home where I should have always been,” I tell the room without looking at anyone.
“Fine,” Maddox agrees, surprising me as he turns his attention back to Lucifer. “We’ll agree to the terms, but Della gets to choose where she wants to build a house first. And that’s it. Just houses. Your club business cannot cross the gates of the ranch.”
“Fair enough,” Lucifer says, nodding.
“One more thing,” I add. “The house can’t be built on any land that is occupied by the cattle or bison. No animals are going to be disturbed by the build.”
“Agreed,” Lucifer leans forward, hand out toward my brother. “The club will respect the ranch and keep it protected, no matter how that may be.”
Maddox takes his hand in a firm shake. “Then let’s get this done. I’ve got shit to do.” He lets go of Lucifer’s hand and takes Shadow’s. “Don’t think you and I don’t need to have words.”
