Sounded right.
Within minutes they were entering a huge concrete building. The air-conditioning felt good after the outside heat. The foursome wound their way along back corridors until they stood where the barrel racers would enter.
Looking across the arena and up at the stands, the coliseum seemed sizeable. Ben pointed out where the pens would go and explained the need to haul in dirt. “It will be much easier if we get our own venue on these grounds. We need to have good attendance this season to prove it’s worth the investment. That’s why, more than ever, we need a top-notch rodeo supplier this year.”
“You have five thousand seats to fill, and we’re here to fill them,” Mandy said and launched into her plans for the upcoming rodeo with unbridled enthusiasm, as if Abilene was the only rodeo that mattered. Ben and Lyle gave Mandy their full attention, and Ty knew the worst was over when the talk turned to how to make Abilene’s rodeo a good one rather than whether Prescott would be running it again.
Her red lips moved with excitement, snagging his attention, as did the shiny mane of hair she flipped more than once. He’d like to kiss those lips again, run his fingers through all that hair. He’d like to feel her explode as he made love to her.
Holding her last night had been hell. Tonight, alone in the hotel room, he planned to hold her with a specific endpoint in mind.
He was not a patient man, and he’d no intention of allowing Mandy to drag out the inevitable. She may think she had the upper hand, but it had been ten years since he’d had an opportunity to play his hand. He wasn’t one to miss an opportunity.
He shifted his thoughts to the two men, whose narrowed-eyed focus was on Mandy. She’d done a good job reconnecting with the two wranglers. She was definitely a people person with a knack for putting them at ease. Ty usually took a different tack in his business, making people uncomfortable. It worked in contentious land negotiations, but he sensed it wouldn’t work here, where trust and familiarity were necessary ingredients.
Mandy had also impressed him, and by the interest the two rodeo men where showing, impressed Lyle and Ben as well, with her knowledge, not only of Prescott but of the Abilene rodeo venue and what would be needed to put on a successful rodeo.
He had to admit that her brand of sales was working. She seemed a natural. Like this was her calling. And he might have to pull it away from her. Seeing her in action, being with her, the responsibility sat heavier now than just a few days ago.
Ty waited until Mandy finished discussing the number of broncs and bulls needed, the number of steers required, the announcer and bullfighters to be used, and the parade details before he brought up next year’s rodeo.
“We’re here to assure you of our commitment to the Abilene rodeo in case you had any doubts, given the circumstances. What we’d like to know is, if we meet your expectations this year, can we count on doing Abilene next year as well?”
Lyle eyed Ben, leading Ty to believe they’d talked about next year already. Mandy looked at Ty with surprise. Hadn’t she ever heard of a presumptive sale’s close?
Ben’s gaze swung between Mandy and Ty. “I won’t lie. There’s been others here already, sensing an opportunity.”
“Can I ask what you told them?”
“Told them we’d think about it. You keeping the rates per animal the same?”
Ty did a quick mental calculation. If others were looking to take business, would they have offered less or equal, given the fact they thought Prescott was vulnerable? Especially if that someone was Stan Lassiter.
“Yes,” Mandy answered before Ty could open his mouth.
Ben still didn’t look convinced enough to give the affirmative answer Ty was looking for. They needed something more.
“We’ll keep the same rate—and let you name a bull and bronc you’d especially want in the mix.” He hadn’t discussed this “sweetener” with Mandy because it had just come to him, but it was a winning idea.
Ben stared at him from under the brim of his hat. “Even if it had gone to the NRF?”
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Mandy cross her arms, and the frown she wore didn’t look all that agreeable.
“Yes,” he said. It wouldn’t cost Prescott any more, but from his meeting with Guy in Colorado, he’d learned it meant a lot to a rodeo.
Generally, a stock company could charge more for NRF-caliber horses and bulls than other equally good stock because of the fame of the animal. Not every rodeo could afford the headliners, but that didn’t mean they didn’t get good stock for their dollars. However, a legendary horse or bull would pull the top cowboys to compete, and that, in turn, would draw more people to the event.
“You’ve got yourself a deal.” Ben offered his hand. Ty shook it. So did Mandy.
In Texas, Ty knew a man’s word was as good as a contract. They’d saved Abilene.
*