have to hear him to know his thoughts. He wanted her cooperation. Her back starched. Well. That wasn’t an option. Nevertheless, her heart softened at his determined expression. He wanted the best for her, even if he was misguided. She blew him a small kiss before turning and striding after the group.
Time to shut Tanner down.
* * *
SUN SPILLED THROUGH the open windows, lighting the cavernous space housing their sire population. Stalls, sixty Tanner had counted, stretched from one, double-sized door to the other, and the sweet aroma of fresh hay mingled with the pungent dung and pelt smell of large animals. Charlie O’Dell, a hired hand headed to veterinary school in the fall, gave a short wave before he continued preparing the show cattle’s feed mix. Overhead, embedded circular fans whirred near the high ceiling.
Several gray Brahmans raised their heads as Tanner ushered in the Carne reps. Others continued feeding or drinking from the troughs in front of their stalls as they waited their turn to rotate into pasture, their drooping ears and large eyes giving them a docile appearance that matched their obedient nature. A good selling point for the seed stock.
“Denton Creek is a CSS Certified facility.” Tanner gestured to a framed document on a far wall above a hand-built desk holding an old-school rotary phone and a yellowed records book. He strolled down the walkway between the stalls, taking his time, giving these all-important buyers a good look at what he assessed to be prime studs. Revelation wasn’t the only bull he wanted Carne to purchase.
His head shot around when the barn door opened and Claire appeared, her face as stiff as cardboard. He waited for her to join them before resuming his talk.
“Denton Creek’s purebred Brahman herd consists of two hundred breeding-age females and sixty bulls with a large emphasis on embryo transfer. It’s primarily a closed herd, with focus on linebreeding exceptional cow families since 1944.”
“1944?” Rick stopped to examine Lucky Luke, one of their top sires, according to records. The majestic bull raised its head and stared them down, pendulous throatlatch and dewlap swinging. Rick ran his hand along the animal’s large hump, over the top of its shoulder and neck.
“We’re one of the oldest continually operating Brahman herds in existence in the United States,” Claire inserted. At her proud tone, longing seized Tanner. Here was the fierce woman he’d once loved... Fearless. Strong-willed. Undaunted. Infuriatingly resistant when it came to him...
He gave himself a tiny shake. He’d come to help Martin, not make amends with Claire, no matter how much she felt like an electric presence beside him, her arm brushing his. If anything, she’d grown more cautious than when they’d parted. Not exactly relationship material for a professional bull rider.
Your career can’t last forever.
The doctor’s warning returned to him, but Tanner shoved it aside. He’d figure out next steps, like the rodeo school, later. For now, he had to clinch his first deal for Martin. Prove to his old mentor he’d been right to entrust this job to Tanner.
“Lots of muscular tissue covering the processes,” murmured Rick before he backed away from the side-stepping bull.
Tanner nodded. “Denton Creek cattle are known for their conformation, muscle, fertility, breed character, carcass traits, efficiency and that signature eye-appealing style.”
They continued down the causeway, Rick and Tanner in front, and Bill and Claire following. “We only sell to southern and southwestern states,” she put in. “An international partnership would be out of our experience.”
Tanner turned to stare at her and her gaze turned flinty. Why was she so bent on crushing this opportunity? Martin would be miserable rotting in some old folks home and happier fighting to save his business. Claire might want to seal herself off from the world, but she shouldn’t force that fate on her father...the way she’d tried to nail Tanner down once.
“Due to the owner’s health issues, Denton Creek’s cattle haven’t been present at trade shows in recent years, but we plan to attend the State Championships in three weeks.”
“What?” Claire gasped behind him.
Tanner stopped. Turned. “Emailed our registration last night.”
Denton Creek had potential for lucrative sales once he brought operations up to date. Once it’d been a national-champion-producing bull ranch and he’d help restore its reputation. Martin might not have the vigor to go to trade shows and auctions the way he used to, but for the next month, at least, Tanner would do his best to attend them and help other buyers rediscover Denton bulls. After that, hopefully Claire would step up and get the ranch back on track instead of trying to get rid of it.
“We’ll be there,” Bill said, rubbing his hands together, his gaze locking on a massive bull penned alone at the end of the barn. “Sure would like to get a deal done before then, though.”
“Happy to consider your offer, Bill.” Tanner nodded toward the lone bull. “That’s Revelation if you two would like a closer look.”
Claire rounded on him as the murmuring reps moved ahead.
“We don’t have money for competitions. Are you trying to make us go under sooner?”
He studied her. “Hardly. We’re looking for new buyers and we can’t get their attention without trade show presence and wins.”
When she stepped close he found it impossible to break eye contact. “Why are you making commitments? We both know you’re going back to rodeo.”
“I’m here to help your father,” he said quietly, voice pitched so the murmuring reps over at Revelation’s pen wouldn’t hear. This close he could trace the curve of her cheek. He stuffed his hands in his pockets when the right one rose, seemingly of its own volition.
“Look. I get it. My dad was good to you. But you owe me, too. And I. Don’t. Want. This.” She punctuated each of her last words with a finger jab to his chest.
Unable to resist, he caught her raised hand in his. The feel of her soft skin made his pulse speed. He resisted the urge to press his lips against her palm, to see if she still tasted as sweet as he remembered. “Claire, I’m speaking for your father. Doing what he wants.”
Her eyes glistened and something softened inside him. “You made him believe in something that won’t come true. He’s desperate.”
“He loves you.” He cupped her cheek and for a heart-stopping moment she didn’t move away. “And he doesn’t need the stress of seeing us argue.”
Her eyebrows lowered and she considered him for a long moment. At last her rigid shoulders relaxed. “No. No, he doesn’t.”
“So—truce?”
“In front of him? I suppose.” She shooed away a fly buzzing round her face and turned back to the approaching business reps.
He didn’t bother holding back the grin that surged out of him. One small step toward civility with Claire.
He’d take it.
Though any more steps might bring them too close. Better keep his guard up around this spirited woman. Her fighting nature sparked his need to dominate. Made him want
