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I push harder. "You want her riding horses here?"

His jaw flexes.

"Running through these barns?"

His jaw clenches.

"Driving you crazy when she's old enough to have an opinion about everything?"

"She'll get that from her mama."

"Absolutely," I agree.

The corner of his mouth twitches.

"Look, if you want to teach her about this place, then stop being too damn proud to save money. I'm in the same business. I know how tight margins are for everyday ranchers. Big corporations are always trying to squeeze you to take over your land. Well, I don't want that to happen, and neither do you. So say great idea, let's do it. Then we can grab a beer and some dinner because I'm starving," I lecture.

His gaze snaps back to me. "You got a lot of nerve, son."

"Yep. Someday you'll learn to love my special trait."

He stares me down.

I refuse to look away.

Then he starts laughing. Real, hard laughter. It's so infectious, I start laughing too.

When he finally stops, he wipes his eyes and sighs. "What's the catch?"

"No catch."

"There's always a catch."

"Not this time."

"How long?"

"As long as you want."

"And if things don't work out between you and my daughter?"

The question lands like a punch.

I straighten. "Lainey and I are working out. But we'll write a nonbreakable contract all in your favor."

His eyes search mine. "You'd still let me buy under your account?"

"It's not my account. It's the ranch's. But yeah."

"Why?"

I glance at Charlie. "Because she's still gonna be my daughter. Which makes you her granddaddy whether Lainey ever wants to look at my face again or not."

His expression relaxes, but he looks out the window again.

I add, "And because nobody should be charging you that damn much for feed."

Dean studies me for a long moment. Then he looks down at Charlie. "Fine."