1. RHETT
1
RHETT
SEVEN YEARS LATER
Clean cuts. I give my younger brother Beau a look. “A cow didn’t do this.”
He tosses me my gloves. “Who do you think did?”
As we run new razor wire between the fence posts to patch what someone obviously cut, I start to wonder if I’m in over my head. These days, it seems I’m drowning at every turn. We spent half the night chasing down cattle. “What are the odds it was those high school kids who got in trouble for tagging the grocery store?”
“Slim to none.”
I was afraid he was gonna say that. “I’d hate to think it was Frank.”
“He’s pissed about the rent increase.”
With the back of my arm, I wipe the sweat from my brow. “Dad gave the Fletchers that cottage for a steal. It’s been ten years. We’d be fools to not increase the rent.” Our father Augustus was an asshole, but if you drank or played poker with him, he’d do dumb shit like let you rent our cabin for a song. It makes me wonder if good ol’ Gus gambled away the money he got from the second mortgage.
“I agree.”
“And if he moves out, that’s even better because then you could have the cabin.” Beau’s been living in a camper on our property, but he works his ass off on the ranch and at the firehouse. He deserves a place of his own. “I’ve never known Frank to be an asshole like this.” Which leaves one other suspect. “What about the McAllisters?”
Beau’s quiet a stretch. “Cash has a bone to pick with you, so I’d say he’s a good bet.”
That asshole. I grind my teeth as I think about the last time we got into it.
Once Beau and I finish inspecting the rest of the fence, we head back to the house. He lifts his chin. “Look on the bright side. At least we caught all of the cattle.”
“This time. We were lucky.”
After I wash up, I grab a loaf of bread and sandwich fixings, throw that on the table, and sit just as our younger brother Jace waltzes through the front door.
“Nice of you to join us,” I grunt.
He flips the chair backwards and joins us. “Sorry I’m late. The traffic from Austin was a bitch.”
“How’d your show go last night?” I ask as I toss him the bread. My brother’s the lead singer for a band. Even though I need his help on the ranch, part of me hopes he’ll hit it big and be able to contribute more financially. Plus, he’s really fucking talented.
I remember what it was like to think I could do something other than herd cattle and shovel horse shit all day. If my brother can make a living doing something else, more power to him.
Jace slaps some ham on his bread. “Great. I slept with three groupies last night.” I roll my eyes, and Jace chuckles. “Kidding. I only slept with two. But some A&R guys asked for our demo.”
“Good luck. Hope something comes out of it.” I don’t mention how much gas his van guzzles when he drives it all over the state for those gigs.
Beau looks at his phone. “What time is that meeting?”
“Two o’clock. Can you still come?”
“Yeah, I don’t need to get down to the fire station until six.”
Jace downs half the sandwich and talks around his food. “What meeting?”
I scrub my face. “The one where I set aside my pride and beg Harlan Calhoun for a loan.”
He stops chewing. “Are things that bad? I thought with Beau moonlighting as a firefighter, we were doing okay.”
Leaning over, I grab the damn letter from the bank. “Between Dad’s nursing home bill, that second mortgage no one knew about, and my alimony payments, I’m drowning. Shady Pines was gonna sue my ass if I didn’t pay the rest of Dad’s nursing home balance.” It pains me to admit I can’t even buy my boys clothes this summer. Hopefully Amber will use the money I give her for the kids and not her nails. “Dad’s life insurance should’ve covered everything, but he canceled it.” I unfold the paper I stared at half the night. “We have thirty days before the bank forecloses.”
“Shit. Are you serious? You said things were bad, but you always come through.” Jace reaches into his back pocket and pulls out a few hundred bucks. “It’s all I have, but it’s yours.”
“Thanks, bro, but I need more than that. Keep your money. You earned it.”
He slouches in his chair. “Guess this means no ranch rodeos this fall.”
“Sorry. Can’t afford it.” Sure, we might be able to win, but ranch rodeos are more about bragging rights than payouts like the regular rodeo. And I can’t justify the expense of entering.
“Damn. I was really looking forward to kicking the McAllisters’ asses again.”
That’s always a highlight. “Maybe next year.”
“What about Zey? Is he coming home now? Can he pitch in again?”
Meaning, is our brother Isaiah returning now that Dad has passed? “I talked to him last week. He’s in some hellhole in Ecuador doing God knows what. Probably teaching people how to BASE-jump off cliffs into a kiddie pool. But he’s in the middle of some ‘personal crisis’ he was too cagey to explain and says he needs a little time to work through some red tape. Maybe he’ll be back before Christmas. Except we need the money now.”
I can’t be pissed at Isaiah. He’s pitched in financially more times than I care to remember. Considering our father disowned him, I’m just grateful he didn’t disappear altogether.
Jace makes another sandwich. “Too bad Mav has one more year of college. If he could get drafted, we’d be set.”
Our youngest brother Maverick is a hell of a football player. He’ll be a senior at Lone Star State this fall. “I don’t wanna take his money either, but yeah, a little liquidity wouldn’t hurt. We could pay him back.”
“Why didn’t he go for the draft this year? I mean, the Broncos just won a national championship.”
“He needs his degree.” I take a swig of root beer that reminds me of my best friend Danny, and the thought of him only makes me feel worse. I don’t let myself think about his little sister, who I haven’t seen in years. I’m failing in all the ways that matter, and Paige is just a reflection of that. “No one is guaranteed shit in the NFL. At least with a degree, Mav will have options if the pros don’t work out for him.”
I went to college for a semester, but Dad was too drunk to watch my brothers and keep the ranch going without my help. Maybe I’d have more options too right now if I’d gotten that degree.
Jace grabs the letter from the bank and whistles. “Assuming we survive this, we’re gonna put Zey back on the title of the ranch, right?”
“Damn straight.” Fuck what my father wanted. He got us into this mess.
“So what’s the plan?” Beau asks as he finishes his lunch and balls up his napkin.
I shrug. “What’s that saying? Beg, borrow, or steal? I figure I’ll try the first two before I become an outlaw.”
Beau chuckles. “You mean you don’t wanna add to the rich Wild Heart history of outlaws and bandits?”
Jace snickers as he chomps on his sandwich. “You know Rhett loves rules too much to take a walk on the wild side.”
My rules kept my little brothers alive when they were growing up, but I don’t bother pointing this out. “Before our bank appointment, we need to stop by the McAllister place.”
Beau nods. “Hell yes, we do.”
Jace shoves the rest of the sandwich in his mouth. “I’m game, but what’s going on?”
Beau balls up his napkin. “You missed all the fun last night and this morning, little brother.” He fills him in as we gear up to confront our asshole neighbors.
Twenty minutes later, I’m banging on the McAllisters’ front door. Beau and Jace stand behind me with their shotguns. Can’t be too careful in these parts. Wild Heart, Texas, has its roots in the lawlessness of the Wild West, and I’d be a fool to ignore that.
Cash’s younger brother Trig opens the door with a yawn as he scratches his bare belly. He’s clearly not expecting us because his eyes widen. “The fuck do y’all want?”
“Morning, Trig.” I cross my arms. “Is Cash home? I need a word.”
He slams the door in our face and yells for his brother, who’s a few years younger than me. Cash and Trig also have a younger sister, Honey.
Our families have been feuding since Wild Heart came into existence. I’d been hoping we could forget that foolishness, but then Cash had to fall dick first on Amber.
The asshole finally emerges. “Don’t recall inviting y’all over.”
“Don’t remember asking you to fuck my wife, but that didn’t stop you.”
Cash huffs out a breath. “I’m not blowing smoke up your ass when I say she told me you were splitting up.”
I take a sick pleasure in that notch on his nose where I broke it. “Have you been messing with our fences? Someone cut them last night.”
He smirks. “Can’t say that was my work, but kudos to whoever did the honors.”
Motherfucker. I lean closer to make sure he hears me. “I’m only gonna say this one time, McAllister. If I ever catch you messing with what’s mine, I will end you. You hear me?” I don’t really plan to shoot him dead, but you gotta act like you will around here or the vultures will descend. People have been trying to get their hands on my family’s property for decades. “Stay the fuck away from my ranch, Cash.”
“No one wants your shithole, Rhett.” He holds open his arms. “In case you haven’t noticed, I’m doing mighty fine here.”
It pains me to admit his place is a helluva lot nicer than mine, but there’s one thing I learned long ago—you can never trust a snake in the grass.
With a grunt, I tug at my collar that’s cutting off the circulation to my brain. Been replaying that conversation with Cash all morning. If the McAllisters didn’t cut my fences, and that’s a big if, then who did?
Beau scratches his neck and then leans over to whisper, “Did we really need to wear suits?”
“Yes.” We sit on the bench in front of Harlan’s office at the Cornerstone Bank & Trust. I watch the president of the company, my father’s old friend, through the giant glass windows of his office. He’s on the phone, laughing, as he stretches out behind the executive desk. Harlan has to be in his sixties, but he doesn’t seem to be slowing down and still commutes between here and the corporate office in Dallas. He and his brother Prescott have built a small banking empire in Texas.
We’re in one of the alcoves that surrounds a large seating area in the middle. Across the reception area, I spot that little fuck Kacey Miller, who’s chatting up his secretary. He’s some low-level executive. He’s reason enough not to come here, but I don’t have family friends at any other banks.
Amber finally admitted she’d messed around with Kacey before we got married. Unfortunately, I never had the honor of breaking his nose, and now that I need this loan from his boss, I probably shouldn’t be plotting to kick Kacey’s ass.
I tap the manila folder against my leg and pray I can figure this out. I don’t know what I’ll do with myself if I let down my boys and my brothers.
Beau nudges me. “I have a good feeling about this.”
I don’t respond because, frankly, I think we’re a bad bet.
Finally, Harlan’s assistant waves us forward. “Mr. Calhoun can see you now.”
I push through the giant glass door, and Harlan grins at us. “Good to see you, boys.”
I’m thirty-two, but I guess I’ll always be a boy in Harlan’s mind. “Thank you, sir. Good to see you too. How’s Mary Sue?”
“Great. She dropped off some homemade macaroni and cheese for lunch.”
“She’s always been a mighty fine cook.” Must be nice. Amber hated doing anything domestic. Not sure why she thought marrying a rancher was a good idea. “Tell her hi for us.”
My mood turns darker with thoughts of my ex. The best thing she ever did was sign our divorce papers three years ago. My boys are my pride and joy, but their mother is the worst thing to ever happen to me. After that experience, you’d have to hold me at gunpoint to even consider getting married. No, thank you. I’m done with marriage.
Harlan nods. “How have y’all been? Things must be rough after your daddy passed, rest his soul. Gus was a good man. He’ll be missed.”
I’m not sure Augustus Walker was a good man or that he’ll be missed, but I hold my tongue. The town already knows he was a drunk. “Thank you. We’re holding down the fort. Beau, Jace, and I have things covered.” By covered, I mean we’re barely making ends meet and working ourselves to death.
“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 it if Rhett 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.”
Son of a bitch.