Riley looked uncomfortable. "Mr. Devlin, I won't be less than honest with you. You could buy the whole darned mine twice over for that much money."
"I don't want the whole mine. I merely want the leverage to deal with Burke. Part ownership will give me that."
"You don't even want controlling interest?" h
e asked in disbelief.
"No, I don't want that, either. I have too many investments to oversee as it is. I don't need another head-ache."
"Still . . . fifty thousand is a powerful lot of money. I don't know if I could stomach being that beholden to you."
Devlin flashed his most charming smile, determined to overcome any objections, even though he liked Sommers better for not jumping at such a lucrative deal. Integrity wasn't an abundant commodity these days, and it was refreshing every time he found it.
"Mr. Sommers, I already give to my favorite charities, and you aren't one of them. This is purely a business deal. And I don't do business halfway. If I become involved in your mining operation, I want it run correctly. With the right backing, I believe you can turn a good profit with the Wildstar. You can pay me twenty-five percent of net earnings after the first year, which will give me an adequate return on my investment."
Riley was still looking unhappy. "Those are mighty generous terms, Mr. Devlin. I just wish I understood why you're willing to offer them."
What could he say? Please, let me make amends for taking your daughter's virginity? Maybe that will help assuage my guilt?
At least it would keep Jess from having to scrub floors for the rest of her life. And it would provide for her if there should happen to be a child.
In any case, although Jessica was his main consideration, she wasn't the sole reason he was proposing to throw away good money on a possibly worthless mine, and pressing it on a man who was too proud to take anything he didn't earn by his own hard sweat. Given the choice between an honest underdog and a shady capitalist, he would back the underdog any day of the year.
T don't like letting men like Burke win," Devlin replied instead. "He's already gone about two steps too far, and he won't go a third if I can help it."
Sommers wasn't buying it. "This never has been your fight. You'd do better to just walk away."
"Mr. Sommers, when people try to kill me, I get a bit upset. When I'm forced to go back on my word, I like it even less. I promised you I'd protect your daughter, and she nearly died. I'm not about to walk away now. I'm surprised you would consider it, either. I didn't think you were the kind of man to accept defeat."
"I told you, it's Jess I'm worried about."
"So am I. But I'll handle Burke and his hired guns, this time for good."
"You mind telling me how you plan to do that?"
"By making it in his best interest to leave the Wildstar alone." And he would fight this war on his own terms, using all the weapons at his disposal, not just the pitiful resources Riley Sommers possessed. "If it would make you more comfortable, we'll draw up a contract specifying that you can buy back my quarter interest a year from now for the same price, plus ten percent. Once the Wildstar has begun showing a profit, you shouldn't have any trouble with that financing."
Watching Devlin closely, Riley rubbed his whiskered jaw. "You look like an honest man."
"Thank you," he said with a wry twist of his lips.
"No offense meant. I just need to be sure I'm doing the right thing. It's my daughter's future, maybe her life we're talking about."
Devlin waited.
"You wouldn't maybe be doing this for Jess, would you?"
It was as close to asking for a declaration of intentions as a father could get without coming out and demanding one.
"That has something to do with it," Devlin said carefully. "I admire your daughter, Mr. Sommers. She has more determination than any woman I've ever known— and more courage as well—but sometimes hardheadedness isn't enough. She needs my help, whether she realizes it or not. And so do you. Selling me an interest in the Wildstar happens to be the easiest way to achieve our mutual goals. Either way, I'm involved for good. Burke has dynamited his last competitor."
"I guess I'd be a fool to turn down your offer then," Riley said finally.
Devlin flashed his slow smile. "You don't look like a fool."
"Well, then, maybe we should shake on it." Riley reached out his hand—gingerly, because of his wound— and Devlin took it.
"Think you could call me Garrett, partner?"