Ace High (Lost Creek Rodeo #6) - Heather B. Moore Page 0,34
them, Lars didn’t let his gaze linger.
“Dinner’s ready, boys,” Kellie said. “There’s plenty for both of you.”
“Thanks, sis,” Ryan said. He moved into the hallway.
“These are washed and dried now,” Kellie said, holding up two bathroom rugs.
Lars took one from her and spread it in front of the shower.
Kellie set the second one in front of the sink cabinet, then she hovered in the doorway. “Thanks for letting me hijack your day.”
“It’s fine.” Lars eyed her, wishing they were truly alone so he could talk to her privately. “Where are the other bathrooms? I want to check those, too.”
Her brow wrinkled. “You don’t have to. Ryan …” Her voice trailed off. “All right. Come with me. But no more work today. We’re eating, and then you’re taking the night off.”
Lars followed her down the hall, and in each bathroom she led him into, he checked the water pressure, then did another check under the cabinets for any signs of leaking. When he straightened at the last one, which happened to be adjacent to the master bedroom where he suspected Kellie slept, he said, “They seem fine. But if you notice anything, let me know.”
“I will.”
He moved toward the door, but she remained in the doorway, blocking his exit. When her gaze held his, he said, “Everything okay?”
“Uh …” She bit her lip. “I think we need to talk. Not now, or here.” Her smile appeared. “Maybe later.”
“Apparently, I have the night off, so anytime, Sunshine.”
She nodded, then stepped back. “All right. Then … maybe after Ryan takes off so we don’t have him around.”
His heart did a little jump. “Fair enough.”
“Oh, and your phone.” She pulled it out from her back pocket. “It rang a couple of times in the kitchen, but I didn’t look to see who it was.”
Lars exhaled and took his phone. Three missed calls from Braden. “Damn.”
“What’s wrong?” Kellie’s voice immediately went on alert.
“My brother … we’ve been playing phone tag,” he said. “Something about the ranch, and I don’t have a good feeling about it.”
“I should have brought it to you earlier, I’m sorry.” Kellie took another step back. “Go ahead and call him. Join us for dinner when you can.”
Lars only nodded, because he’d already pushed his brother’s contact. Kellie headed out of the bedroom, and the phone continued to ring. Three times. Four. Finally, on the fifth ring, Braden answered.
His voice was rough, like he was sick or something. But Lars soon found out that a sick brother was the last thing he had to worry about.
“I’m so sorry, Lars,” Braden started out.
The sense of foreboding Lars had had hours ago from the first message grew stronger now.
“They’re coming for the ranch,” Braden continued, “and there’s nothing I can do about it.”
“Wait, what?” Lars said. “Who’s coming for the ranch?”
His brother paused. “The bank. It’s gone, Lars. All gone. The cattle sales were good, but not good enough. We’re in foreclosure.”
Lars’s legs felt like water, and he sat down on the bed in the center of the room. “What the hell are you talking about? We’ve been making the payments every month.”
His brother released a moan.
“Braden?”
“You’ve been making payments, but that’s only half.”
“Right,” Lars said. “I pay half, you pay half. That’s how we set it up.”
When his brother didn’t respond, Lars said, “You didn’t pay your half, did you? What did you do with the money?” It was entirely possible that his cell phone was going to crack because of how tight he was gripping it.
“It’s gone,” Braden said in a voice that was hard to understand over his crying. “I thought I could double it, you know. I did win some, but then I lost it. So I kept trying, because I knew I was going to get lucky.”
“You gambled our mortgage payments?” Lars asked, but there was no point in Braden answering. Lars should have never left Montana. Never trusted his brother. His love of rodeo should have never trumped his true responsibilities, no matter how convincing Braden had been.
“I’m sorry,” Braden said on a sob. “I’ll do anything. Anything to make this up—”
“How much?” Lars cut in. “How much will put us in the green?”
Braden sniffled. “Three-fifty.”
Lars closed his eyes. “We’re completely upside down, then.” He had to think—there had to be a way. But even if he sold his truck and all his rodeo equipment, he still would have less than one-hundred thousand—the money he’d put away for his own property down payment. That wouldn’t even be close