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being raised on farms. As for big, open family ranches like ours . . .” Will shook his head.
    â€œYou’re saying we’re dinosaurs.” Beau’s remark wasn’t a question.
    â€œSomething like that,” Will admitted.
    â€œWhat’s that got to do with letting Garn Prescott deliver Bull’s eulogy?” Jasper demanded.
    â€œJust this,” Will said. “We can’t afford to have enemies. Bull and old Ferg may have feuded all their lives, but now that they’re both dead, we have to make peace. We need allies—and it never hurts to have one in Congress, looking out for the interests of ranchers in these parts.”
    Jasper came close to spitting on the floor. “Bull wouldn’t like that. He always said, ‘If you wallow with pigs, you’re bound to get dirty.’ And he had the Prescotts in mind when he said it.”
    Will sighed. As foreman, Jasper was entitled to be here. But the old man wasn’t making this discussion any easier, and given what needed to be said, his mood was bound to get worse.
    â€œLet me paint the big picture,” Will said. “The Prescott ranch has been bailed out by investors. Garn’s the figurehead, but he’s no longer running the operation. That’s why he has time for politics. If we can’t manage to stay afloat, we’ll be fated to go the same way.”
    â€œAre we in trouble?” Sky asked the question.
    â€œNot yet, but we’re cutting it close. If we don’t make changes now, another drought like last summer’s could put us under.” Will leaned back in his chair, studying the man his father had taken in when he was a scruffy, lost teenager. Bringing Sky Fletcher in as part of the ranch family had been one of the best decisions Bull ever made.
    â€œOne idea I have involves you, Sky. Our Rimrock cow ponies have always gotten top prices at auction, as much for your training as for their breeding. I’d like to expand the operation, to shore us up in case we have to sell off our beef early. What would you think about choosing some prime-quality colts to be brought in and broken here?”
    Sky’s expression barely flickered. “We could work it out. But training horses takes time. So does being second foreman. If you want me to focus on the horse side, we’ll need some help.”
    â€œHow about that young cousin of yours? Is he any good?”
    â€œNot as good as I’d hoped. So far he does more complaining than working.”
    â€œIn that case, if we get those extra colts, it might be easier to find a man who can shoulder your other duties.” Will shifted his somber gaze to Jasper, bracing for what needed to be said. “I’m not telling you anything that you don’t already know, Jasper, but there are some days when you’re so crippled up with arthritis that it’s all you can do to climb into the saddle. And those days are happening more frequently.”
    Jasper bristled with pride. “So what are you saying? That it’s time I retired?”
    â€œNot until you can train a new boss to take your place, teach him everything you know about this business and this ranch. You have a wealth of knowledge that we’ll always need to draw on. So don’t have any doubts—you have a home on this ranch for as long as you want it.” Will could see that none of his words were sitting well with the old cowboy. But as much as he hated saying them, this had to be done. “Hell, Jasper, you were more a father to me and Beau than Bull ever was. You put us on our first horses, taught us how to work cattle and rope. And I need you to do the same with Erin. As things stand right now, she’ll be the one to inherit the ranch. She’ll need to know how to run it. No one could do a better job of teaching her that than you.”
    The old cowboy brightened. He had always regarded Erin as a kind of granddaughter. “It’d be