But that little girl's face. "Is the bad man going to take our house?" Was he the bad man? "Seven days," Bo heard himself say, and he wasn't sure who was more surprised, him or Kelly.
"You have until August 27th at sundown to bring me $400 cash. If you can do that, I'll extend the loan for the remaining $400, payable by next August at standard interest rates." Kelly's hand flew to her mouth, her eyes going wide. "You mean it? You're really—" "But," Bo interrupted, his voice harsh.
"If you miss that deadline by even one hour, the full amount comes due immediately and the land reverts to me. No extensions, no excuses. Is that clear?" "Clear," Kelly breathed. "Crystal clear."
"And you'll sign a new contract drawn up properly, with witness signatures and filed with the county clerk. I won't be having any disputes about terms later on." "I'll sign whatever you need. Thank you, Mr. Callahan. Thank you." Kelly's voice broke on the words, and now those tears did fall, tracking clean lines through the dust on her cheeks.
"You won't regret this. I promise you." "Don't promise me anything," Bo said roughly, jamming his hat back on his head. "Just get that wheat harvested. You'll need help."
"I can manage." "No, you can't. Not alone. The wheat's too thick, and you've got no hands to hire." Bo ran calculations in his head, old rancher instincts taking over.
"You'll need at least three strong backs to bring it in before the weather turns, and you'll need equipment you don't have." Kelly's face fell. "I can't afford to hire help, Mr. Callahan. Every penny I have is going into that wheat harvest. I'll manage somehow."
"I didn't say hire," Bo interrupted. "I'm staying." Both Kelly and Jack, who'd been listening from horseback, stared at him in shock. "Boss?" Jack ventured carefully. "What exactly are you saying?"
Bo wasn't entirely sure himself. The words had come out of his mouth before his brain could properly vet them. But now that they were spoken, a strange kind of stubborn pride made him commit to them. "I'm saying I'm going to camp here for the next seven days."
"Make sure the work gets done properly. Make sure my investment is protected." He couldn't quite bring himself to call it charity. "I'll help with the harvest. That way I can be certain there are no excuses about not making the deadline."
"You're going to help me harvest wheat?" Kelly's voice was incredulous. "You, Bo Callahan, are going to do farm work?" "I've done plenty of farm work in my day," Bo said defensively. "Grew up on a farm in Missouri before I came west."
"That was 20 years ago, but some things you don't forget." Bo turned to Jack. "You and the boys head back to the ranch. Tell Cookie I'll be out here for the week. Send back supplies."
"Bedroll, food, and have him pack the good scythe from the tool shed, the one with the ash handle." Jack's weathered face split in a grin. "Boss, this is the damnedest thing I've ever seen you do. And I was there when you rode that bronc on a $50 bet and broke three ribs." "Just do it, Jack."