“That Maverick sure can play football. Hoo boy! That championship game had me yelling at the TV.”
Beau nods. “We’re mighty proud of him.”
Harlan rubs his chin. “Did ya bring the financials I asked for?”
“Yes, sir.” I hand him my folder. “It’s all right there.” Our profit and loss, which, unfortunately, is mostly loss at the moment.
He frowns as he flips through the paperwork. “Hmm. I see.”
Shit.
After another agonizing minute, he closes the folder and sits back in his chair. “Fellas, I wish I had some good news for you, but you’re mortgaged to the hilt.”
“I know our financials don’t look great, but it’s mostly a cash flow issue. If we can gut it out until the fall when our cattle go to market, we’ll have the funds we need.”
He rubs his chin. “Why didn’t you do it last month when you’d get the best price?”
I guess there’s no way around that question. “The drought last year hit us hard, so the cattle weren’t heavy enough.” Not to mention I couldn’t afford to get our trailer fixed to haul them. But taking them to auction in October or November is gonna suck too because the prices are usually low then.
He’s quiet for a stretch, then leans forward with a sigh. “I sure wish I could help y’all. Rhett, you’ve done a fine job looking out for your brothers all these years.” He means when my father was too drunk to get out of bed. “I sure do admire you, but the bank can’t extend any more credit.”
Fuck.
I nod slowly, wondering how much my life insurance would pay out. Maybe if I accidentally drive off Devil’s Cliff, my brothers could pull through and save the ranch.
That’s a dark thought.
Goddamn it. This can’t be the end. What did I tell my brothers at lunch? That I’d set aside my pride and beg?
Resisting the urge to tug at my collar, I take a deep breath. “Would you consider a personal loan or a bridge loan?” I rush to talk before he turns me down. “Harlan, our families go way back. My grandfather taught you to drive a tractor. You went hunting with our father for years. Doesn’t that count for something? I’ll do anything to get the ranch back on track. If you could just see it in your heart to help us out, I would be forever in your debt.”
He scratches his stubbled cheek. “What else do you have besides the ranch as collateral? The bank almost owns it outright at this point.”
Beau sits forward. “We could put our horses, machinery, and trucks up as collateral.”
Jesus Christ, we’d be ruined if we screw this up, but what choice do I have? “Beau’s right. Those assets run well over two hundred grand, and we really only need a hundred K.”
“Only need a hundred K?” Harlan says with a chuckle. “Do I look like I’m made of money?”
I ignore the impulse to stare at his Rolex. “No, sir. We’re not trying to take advantage of you. We just need a break. Our father’s nursing home bill knocked the wind out of us, but with this money, we’ll set things right and get back on track.”
I don’t mention that my father took out a second mortgage and then blew the money on God knows what, but Harlan has our balance sheet, so he knows the big picture.
Harlan blows out a breath and taps his finger on his desk. “I’d be open to it?—”
“Thank God,” Beau says.
“Son, you didn’t let me finish. I’d be open to itifRhett here was a married man. Call me old-fashioned, but I have to listen to my gut. It’s never let me down before. And my gut tells me that I should be wary of loaning that kind of money to a household of bachelors.”
He gives me a look that makes me think he’s heard the rumors of Jace carousing around town. Fucking hell.
I’m scrambling to think of something to turn this conversation around when Beau slaps me on the back. “You didn’t hear? Rhett’s been dating a nice girl for a while now. Things are getting serious, and he’s gonna pop the question soon.”
Harlan’s eyebrows lift. “Really? Well, that’s a whole different ballgame, son. I think I can work with that. Who’s the lucky woman?”
That’s a damn good question. “I… I don’t think you know her, sir.”
He stands and reaches over to shake my hand. “Congratulations.” He stares at me long and hard. “I’m looking forward to getting that wedding invitation.”
