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Eighteen
Archer
I pulled into the parking lot and parked in front of my door. I’d grown fond of this room. The little table shoved between the bed and the window was nothing like my office in Dallas.
I worked in one of the high-rises downtown. Had a corner office. Wilson had the corner across from me. My office was done in clean lines, a perfect blend of metal and wood with grains that added a hint of ruggedness. The space reflected me. Slap a suit on me, and all of a sudden, I wasn’t some hick kid who hadn’t showered in days.
My phone rang, and I picked it up off the seat, hoping to see my wife’s face on the screen.
Wilson’s name was listed instead. Damn, I hated looking at my phone and wanting it to be her, only to be disappointed.
I hit the answer button and let the sound drift through the car, as if holding the phone to my ear was too laborious. The talk with Delaney had left me wiped.
“Archer, how’s it going, man? Landed yourself a nice milkmaid or something?”
“What? No.”
“I’m kidding, I’m kidding. You’re like a cow guy and there’re cows there— Never mind. Anyway, great news.”
“I could use some of that.”
If he sensed any turmoil in my voice—like my fucking life was going to be upended and never be the same if Delaney and I divorced—he ignored it. “Listen, you know how the Sheridan Nine is up for sale?”
“I know it.” Every land broker in Texas and the surrounding states knew the Sheridan Nine was up for sale. Selling at five hundred million, the commission alone would be well into the eight figures. Talk about a payday. Someone could retire off what they would make from that deal.
“I’ve heard some Hollywood big shot has been sniffing around, but get this—one of my buddies just called. He’s made it big in tech, likebig, and he’s like you—grew up doing that shit, cows and horses and stuff. He wants it.”
“He wants it?” I hated to be dubious. Just because the guy had been raised like I had been didn’t mean he knew what came with a sale like the Sheridan Nine. “He realizes he’s buying the horse- and bull-breeding operations, along with the regular cow-slash-calf side of the ranch?”
Not only were those three separate businesses, but the Sheridan Nine was big business. These were not simple family-run ventures. The Sheridan Nine had several levels of ranch managers and hundreds of people on staff, and it spread out over three counties. I didn’t mention the wildlife and regulated hunting programs the Sheridan Nine managed.
“He gets it. His wife is, like, some rodeo queen.”
“There’s rodeo queen, and there’s Sheridan Nine.” I’d be surprised if the wife had competed on a horse that cost as much as what one of theirs went for at auction. Last year, a twelve-year-old gelding sold for almost a hundred thousand dollars, and he was going to be nothing but a leisure riding horse.
“Are you trying to ruin this deal before it’s even started?”
“No.” I pinched the bridge of my nose. “No. For five hundred million, I want them to know what they’re getting into.”
“I said you’re the guy. Malik can’t wait to talk with you. Thing is, we need to move on this fast.”
Dread pooled in my gut. “How fast?”
“How soon can you get back?”
“Wilson—”
“Do you realize how big a payday this would be?” Excitement tinged Wilson’s voice. “This would make you partner. Father wouldn’t be able to ignore that kind of payday. Father’s got that trip to Bali next month, and I don’t know shit about cows. You’re the guy, Archer. You’ll like Malik. This’ll be fan-fucking-tastic.”
I leaned my head back and closed my eyes. How the hell did I get out of this?
I couldn’t. This was my job. If I turned it down, Mr. Truitt would never forgive me. He might be so upset he’d fire me. Then what? Everything I’d worked for was done? I turned my back on my family and damaged my marriage and had nothing to show for it?
Did I risk it?
Three weeks ago, this kind of news would’ve been, as Wilson said, fan-fucking-tastic. I would’ve shed the tie, Wilson would’ve called Briony, and we would’ve hit the town—in a dignified and professional way, but absolutely we would’ve celebrated.
The argument with Delaney earlier crowded out all enthusiasm. I’d have to leave early. But after our talk in the pickup, I had driven to the motel wondering if there was any reason to stay.
