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“A contract hom?”

“I can’t tell you that—not yet,” she chided hiet such valuable infore to persuade you to become my partner in the venture If I told you ht try to cut me out of the deal”

“My own mother?” he taunted

“Yes You could regard it as a way of getting revenge,” Elaine reasoned “It would never have worked between myself and your father And he would have killed ht pause before she added, “I believe you wanted an explanation”

“And you have absolutely no regrets,” Benteen challenged

“Regrets? No” She shook her head “The regret would have been iven you or your father for keeping me there when I could have beco her little finger “I am ambitious—just like you are, Benteen”

“How many cattle will I need for this beef contract you claiinal topic

“More than you own,” Elaine replied “That’s where I can help again by financing the purchase of additional cattle”

“And?”

“And we’ll split the profits on the contract fifty-fifty”

“It sounds fair” He leaned against the sofa back and studied her with half-lidded eyes “But how do I know that at the end of the deal you won’t take all the money and run away?”

“Because I have learned over the years that you can cheat on your husband, you can cheat on your lover, and you can cheat on the household account—but you never, never cheat on a business deal” Behind her facetious tone, she was quietly serious

“What’s to stopall the money?” There was a slant of mockery to his hard mouth

“That absurd code you ive your word on so, you won’t back out,” she stated confidently “But you really have nothing to lose I have to produce the contract and the money to buy the additional cattle I’ll make you rich, Benteen Is it a deal?” She held out her hand

There was a long ree out to enfold her hand in the largeness of his He continued to hold it, studying her