Chapter 182 – Deal or No Deal (long)
Once the horses were accepting of Jack and Doug, they each took a lead rope and clipped them to the halters. They lead the horses over to the round pen where they could look them over better. Jack started by running his hands over the horse, checking muscle tone as well as looking for any potential problems. Once he was satisfied, he got the horse moving in a circle around him so he could see the gait. After a couple laps, Jack looked over to Frank and Nathan who had been standing at the rail. Nathan gave Jack an almost unperceivable nod. Frank gave him a discreet thumbs up.
"Doug." Jack called. "Switch."
Doug brought Squeak over and took Bubbles from Jack. Once again Jack went through the routine of going over the horse and then lunging him. When he looked over at Frank and Nathan they once again gave him a positive response.
"Looks good." Jack said. "Let's get them back in the pasture and look at the other one."
After they had turned Bubbles and Squeak back to grazing, they stood at the rail and watched the black Irish Sport buck and chase the other two.
"So what is his name?" Nathan asked.
"Sir Wexford Doyle," Carl said. "I call him Wex most of the time."
"Jack said he was halter and saddle broke." Frank said. "Was there something that you had thought to train him for?"
"I was hoping that he would be a nice all around horse for my grandson." Carl said. "He hadn't decided if he leaned more toward jumping like his sisters or more rodeo that is popular in these parts. I was hoping to train him as both a jumper and a roper. He is generally a calm horse. But he seems to know that he has an audience and is playing it up for you today. He is a bit of a show off. He likes attention and knows when someone is watching him."
"Can I see if I can approach him?" Jack asked.
"Sure." Carl said. "He is used to being handled."
Carl handed Jack a lead rope and opened the gate. Jack slowly walked toward the horse. Wex noticed Jack and was watching him. The horse wasn't upset, but he also wasn't completely calm. Jack called to the horse and held a mint out in his hand. It took a few moments, but the horse got curious, especially after Jack crinkled the wrapper a few times. Slowly the horse came over and took the mint. Jack quickly snapped the lead rope on the halter. Wex only pulled once and then calmed down as Jack cooed to him. Slowly, Jack let the horse get more comfortable with him so he could check him out.
After about five minutes of petting and cooing the horse dropped its head and let Jack lead it closer to the gate. The group watching was mostly amazed at Jack. Doug and Nathan had seen some of it before, but this was really the first that Frank had seen Jack work a horse.
"Amazing." Carl said. "It took me a week before I could get that close to him."
"Jack has been handling thoroughbreds since he was a small child." Doug said. "They seem to love him. I suppose it helps that he keeps those mints in his pocket."
When Jack got to the gate, Carl opened it and Jack let Wex out.
"Nathan." Jack said. "Check him over. I will hold him. I don't think he will stand just yet if I let go."
"Got it." Nathan said.
Nathan came over and offered his hand to Wex. After a moment Wex blew on Nathan's hand. Nathan started by running his hand up Wex's muzzle and then over his head and down his neck. Once Nathan was done, came back and stood by Jack.
"He is nice." Nathan said. "Could use a little more muscle, but nothing a high protein diet wouldn't solve."
"So you like him?" Jack asked.
"Yes." Nathan said. "He is a little small for me, otherwise I would make an offer on him myself. I think no matter what you do with him, it will be good."
"Thank you." Jack said.
Jack turned Wex back out with the other two horses. He then turned back to Carl.
"Got a place where we can sit and talk about some business?" Jack asked. "Just you and I."
"Let's go sit on the porch." Carl said. "Your friends can look around."
The group walked back toward the house. Jack and Carl went and sat on the porch. The rest headed over to see where Elizabeth was, assuming she had fallen in love with the mini cows. Doug grabbed Nathan.
"What?" Nathan asked.
"Let's keep an eye on Jack from a distance." Doug said. "Watching him in business mode is fascinating."
"Okay." Nathan said.
They took up a spot near the railing that overlooked the farm, but they could see the porch. Frank came and stood by them. Elizabeth was still engrossed with the mini cows and they were loving the attention that she was giving them. She had realized that they had more then just the mini highland cows. There were several others, she wasn't sure of the breed, but was going to look into them. So she had snapped several pictures.
"What are you looking at?" Frank asked.
"Jack." Nathan said.
"Just watch." Doug said.
Jack and Carl sat in the wicker chairs on the porch. Jack took a deep breath and slowly let it out. Those that didn't know him, wouldn't have noticed the change in him. He went from an excited young man to a serious businessman. Carl looked him up and down and was sure that he could bully the young man in front of him. He didn't appear to be all that experienced in business and he didn't even ask any questions about the horses that one would typically ask when looking to buy a horse. He didn't even ask to ride the horses or see them go over a jump. He figured that this kid didn't know enough to know when he was getting played.
"You are awfully young to not only be running a company, but to be engaged." Carl said. "You haven't even done any living. How do you know what you are doing? Maybe I should call your father or grandfather and talk to them. I don't want you coming back and saying that I didn't give you a fair deal."
Jack's first response was to get angry, but instead, he flexed his hand at his side and looked at the man before him. If that was the game that he wanted to play, then he was going to lose and Jack was in the mood to teach him a lesson. Jack rolled his neck stalling for a moment and noticed that Frank, Nathan and Doug were watching, but not watching.
"Then I will leave." Jack said. "But if that happens, good luck selling those horses. First of all, my father doesn't deal in horses. My grandfather won't deal with you. He has too many other things to do. These are not race horses, so he will always defer to me. I run the show jumping side of the horse business. And I have for years. My grandfather trusts me that I know what I am doing and I know what I am looking for in a horse. So if you don't want to deal with me then that is your loss. I can easily put it out there that you didn't want to deal with me because of my age. I can guarantee no reputable buyer will come near you."
"How can you say that?" Carl countered. "You are wet behind the ears and as far as I could tell, Jack Thornton is not that well known. I mean you think that you can ride the good name of your grandfather, then think again. This is Canada, he doesn't have the power here that you think he has in New York."
"Fine, have it your way." Jack said.
"I knew that you were too young to handle things." Carl said. "Have your grandfather call me and we can work out a deal, man to man."
Jack let out a breath and then decided to push back.
"You are speaking to John P Thornton, II." Jack said. "Owner of Coal Creek and part owner of Thornton Thoroughbreds. I have worked with horse brokers all over the world. Not only as a competitive jumper and course designer, but also as the sole owner of several race horses.
Now, I am sorry about what happened to your family, but I mean it when I say if you don't want to deal with me, then good luck selling those horses for your inflated price."
Jack stood up and took a step toward the stairs. He knew that he had rattled the man, but Jack wasn't going to back down. He had other means to get what he wanted.
Doug just shook his head. He wasn't sure what the man had said to Jack, but he could see that Jack was ready to walk. The horses may have the best horses that they had found for his sisters, but he wasn't going to let anyone question his ability.
"Will he really walk away from amazing horses over pride?" Nathan asked.
"It isn't pride." Doug said. "It is complete knowledge that the guy will not get anywhere near his asking price if Jack walks on those horses. Because if Jack walks, we won't even be back to the jet and the entire world will know that the horse may be great animals, but the owner isn't worth your time so don't bother."
"He wouldn't." Frank said.
"Frank." Doug said, putting his arm across Frank's shoulder. "I am only going to say this once, so listen. Never challenge Jack when it comes to business, especially ones that he has been running for years. Jack had been making day to day operational decisions about his horses since he was fourteen years old. I have seen him turn down a very lucrative offer on a horse to prove a point. He then turned around, out bid the guy on the next four yearlings that he was trying to buy, just to prove a point. Not only did Jack put the man in his place, and despite what some might say as him overspending on a horse, but he made his money back three times over.
When it comes to business, you can suggest things and you can ask to talk about things, but don't ever and I mean ever tell Jack that he can't do or have something just because of his age. That will be a sure fire way for him to shut you down and destroy you in the process of proving that he is right and he knows what he is talking about."
"Wow." Frank said.
"We may have been raised around horses." Doug said. "We may have competed on horses for years, but when it comes to the business side of horses, I have never seen anyone more determined than Jack Thornton. The only person that I have seen that knows horses better than Jack was his cousin Laura. They both have this innate ability understand horses."
"I haven't seen much of him in business mode." Nathan said. "But I can tell you that his depth of knowledge is incredible and this is coming from someone that has an IQ over one hundred and eighty. I don't tell you that to brag. I am telling you that Jack can run metal circles around most everyone, especially when it comes to horses. I never knew his cousin, but if she was better then him, I can only imagine. No wonder they wanted to take over the farm. They could have done great things together. And yet, I am sure that Jack will still do great things."
"Do you know that he memorized every inch of those horses as he was checking them?" Doug said. "When he was watching their gate, I saw him close his eyes. I am sure that he was playing different courses in his head. He won't admit it, but I honestly believe that he can create an accurate three dimensional representation of any course he has ever seen and place any horse that he is looking at in any of them. I say that, just by the comments that he has made over the years at shows when we were watching different people. It is amazing the way Jack's mind works. I have seen little glimpses of it, but he never really talks about it, so I am just going with what I have put together over the years."
"I wouldn't doubt it." Nathan said. "Especially after what I saw him do at the show this past weekend."
"Incredible." Frank said. "I look forward to working with him in the future. Too bad they can't teach what he has the natural ability to do."
"Ain't that the truth." Nathan said.
"Hundred thousand for the two jumpers." Carl said. "An additional twenty-five for Wex and I get co-ownership of his first colt."
Jack turned and looked at Carl. He didn't sit down, but reached into his messenger bag and pulled out a folder.
"One hundred thousand for all three." Jack said. "And you relinquish any claims to future offspring. Final offer or I walk."
Jack then pulled out his phone, hit a button and waited a moment.
"We are almost done." Jack said. "Fuel and ready the jet. I have an appointment in Toronto to get to."
Jack then hung up the phone, then typed a message and sent it.
"What is your answer?" Jack said.
"You can't be serious." Carl said.
Jack pulled the papers and the check out of the folder and set them on the small table in front of Carl. He then held out a pen for him to sign the papers.
"I want my lawyer to go over the papers." Carl said.
Jack didn't say anything, but picked up the papers and check. He put them back in the folder and put the folder in his bag. He then turned and saw Doug, Frank and Nathan standing there still watching, but not watching him. He held up his left hand and touched his ring. Doug nodded and then turned to where Elizabeth was. Jack then looked at Carl.
"I will own those horses and you will regret the way that you spoke to me." Jack said.
Jack didn't give Carl a chance to say anything, but headed down the steps. Jack was halfway to the truck before Carl caught up to him.
"One hundred thousand that you have." Carl said. "And three straws from Wex."
"Nope." Jack said. "I told you my offer and it was more than fair. You are not going to get thirty-seven thousand apiece for them with the guarantee that they will stay together. I won't sell straws from a horse until after it has had a chance to breed with a mare."
Jack reached Frank and Nathan.
"Is Doug getting Elizabeth?" Jack asked.
"I am right here." Elizabeth said.
"Good." Jack said. "We are leaving. We have enough time, I want to stop and look at another pair of horses. Let's go."
Elizabeth just looked at Jack and was going to say something, when Frank put his arm around her and just guided her to the truck before she could say anything. Jack turned and followed.
"You should talk some sense into him." Carl said, looking at Nathan.
"We know better than to insult one the greatest minds we have ever seen." Doug said.
Doug then took Nathan's arm and led him to the truck. Doug wasn't sure what Jack was up to, but he had seen the look on his face. He wondered if there really was another pair of horses or was it a bluff. Once they were all in, Jack got on his phone. Elizabeth was trying to make out what was being said, but Jack only said a few words and it didn't make sense. When he was done he turned to Elizabeth and gave her a quick kiss. By this time, Frank had turned the truck down the drive.
"So you didn't buy the horses?" Elizabeth asked.
"Yes and no." Jack said. "I will get the horses, but now it is about teaching him a lesson. Did you have fun with the mini cows? They looked cute. I might have to check into them. Coal Creek has never had cows, but those might work. Would you like some mini cows?"
"Yes." Elizabeth said. "What do you mean yes and no for buying the horses. We are leaving and from what I have gathered, he didn't sign the paperwork. Jack, we will talk about the mini cows later, I am just confused about what happened."
"Because I withdrew the offer." Jack said.
"Then how are you going to get the horses?" Elizabeth asked.
"Plan B." Jack said. "Just wait. I will explain later."
"Okay." Elizabeth said.
"What did he say to you?" Doug asked. "I saw the face you made."
"He flat out said that I was too young to know what I was doing." Jack said.
Before anyone could say anything else, Jack's phone rang.
"Thornton." Jack said, answering on speaker phone
("I have her on the other line." The man said.)
"Twenty-five for each of the jumpers and fifteen for the other." Jack said.
The line was quiet for a moment and since no one knew what was going on they didn't speak.
("We have a deal." The man said, coming back on.)
"Good." Jack said. "Make the arrangements. I want those horses moved today. I have it on good authority that they were vetted yesterday by a local vet in anticipation of my buying them. They have been in isolation for several days. As far as I could see there was only one other mare and foal on the property along with goats, sheep and mini cows."
("On it." The man said. "They will be moved to the customs holding facility near Ottawa this afternoon. As long as there are no concerns, they should clear customs paperwork tomorrow. I will have transport on standby. With any luck they will be on the road by the time you land back at the farm.")
"Thank you." Jack said. "If there are any problems, please call my Grandpa John. I am taking my fiancee on a date and don't want to be bothered."
("As you wish." The man said. "Have a wonderful evening and I will send a message when we have the horses.")
"Again, thank you for doing this." Jack said. "Have a great afternoon."
("Bye." The man said.)
Jack hung up his phone. He had a smile on his face, while Doug and Elizabeth looked at him confused. If Jack could have seen Nathan and Frank's faces they would have had similar expressions.
"What the hell just happened?" Doug asked.
Jack just smiled at Doug and then leaned in to kiss Elizabeth.
"John Parker Thornton." Doug said. "What just happened, you are acting a little too smug. That sounded like Connor."
"Because it was." Jack said. "When I was looking into the horses, I realized that his daughter is co-owner of the horses and she has the right to sell them if a reasonable market price offer is made. Connor had been in contact with her as a middle man for a potential buyer. Connor had warned me that Mr Giroux had a reputation for being difficult. I had it set up that if I called Connor and asked him to fuel the jet, that he was to call the daughter and make a deal when I gave him a number."
Doug laughed. He figured that Jack had a plan B, but to go that route was genius.
"But won't the guy realize that you still got the horses for a lower price?" Nathan asked. "Won't that look bad and then won't he try to cause issues later down the road."
"I flat out told him I was going to get the horses and he was never going to get his asking price." Jack said. "Besides, I didn't buy the horses. Technically, DJL Inc bought the horses."
Doug started laughing again.
"I am glad to see that Doug finds something funny." Frank said. "But I am afraid the rest of us are missing something."
"DJL, Inc is a holding company." Doug said. "John started a holding company and used our initials. Technically, I am listed as the majority owner. We have used it to buy various things when we wanted to keep our names out of it so as not to drive up the price. By the time that they figure out that DJL is technically Jack we will already have the horses and there will be nothing that he can do. It is a completely legal holding company that can buy and sell items for Lee, Jack and I."
"Genius." Nathan said.
"I thought so." Jack said.
"So because he pushed your buttons." Frank said. "It cost him money."
"Thirty-five thousand." Jack said. "Give or take. When he said that he would prefer to deal with my grandfather because I wasn't old enough to have business experience, I decided that if he wouldn't take the offer I had in my hand, then it was going to cost him money. It isn't like he needs it, don't let the surroundings fool you, Carl Giroux is a multi millionaire. He was selling the horses because his daughter and son-in-law decided to move to Vancouver to get away from him, taking his three grandchildren. The kids really didn't want to jump as it was associated with bad memories of their grandfather."
"Wow." Nathan said. "I guess he had it coming then."
"Kindness always gets you further." Frank said.
They didn't talk anymore about the horses, but did enjoy the drive in the beautiful Ontario countryside. They took their time getting back to Bancroft as they had plenty of time before they had to be in Toronto.