great, and he’s too high a risk for them banks. Hell, he never should have taken the first mortgage fifteen years back, but I was a stupid kid back then and had no clue how it all worked behind the scenes. Dad’s convinced a second mortgage is the answer. To me, that’s more debt on top of debt. He figured I’d be approved no problem.” I shook my head. “I didn’t want him to switch the ownership to me. Not yet. But he insisted.”
“He still wants you to get the second mortgage?”
“Yeah. I think so. He wavers. Part of him thinks maybe we should just sell. He doesn’t wanna see me struggle. The other part wants to keep fightin’.”
JR nodded, absorbing the information. “So what’s got you in a tizzy? You seemed fine when you left earlier.”
I avoided his attentive stare and hitched my chin to the side. “Move outta my way and let me finish this.”
He moved but didn’t give up, following me out of the stables to the manure pile. “You gonna tell me or do I have to pull it out of you?”
I emptied the wheelbarrow, leaving it just inside the stable door since I was at the last stall, and headed to the large bales of straw at the back.
“Easton.”
I ground to a halt, my teeth aching from all the clenching I’d been doing over the last hour. Spinning to face my brother, I rested my hands on my hips. “There’s a developer from Edmonton who caught wind of our troubles. Don’t ask me how, ’cause I don’t know. He’s been out here twice, tryin’ to entice me into sellin’ with shiny dollar signs that don’t seem real. He was here when I got back. The guy’s a real prick, and he stirred me up, okay? I don’t like outsiders knowing our business.”
“A developing company?”
“Yeah.”
“How much are they offering?”
My brows met in the middle. “Don’t matter. They wanna build condominiums and a resort or some shit. Over my dead body.”
“Does Dad know?”
I sighed and continued toward the bales of straw. JR jumped in and helped me move one to the cleaned-out stall. “Not sure what all he knows. He set up the original meeting with the guy. Told me nothin’.”
Together we spread the fresh straw around. “Do you think Dad would prefer you sell?”
“I don’t know. Why bother transferring the ownership if that was the case? I can’t see it. He wants me to get a blasted loan, but that isn’t an answer. It’s a bandage.”
JR grabbed the wide broom and began sweeping outside the stall. “Dad doesn’t want you to struggle either. He’s been over his head for a long time, fighting to keep up. It’s been a huge burden.”
“Well, it’s my burden now. He can relax and let me take care of it.”
“You got plans?”
“Gonna start by cuttin’ back on staff. I hate to do it. These men and women are a solid team, but there’s a lot of shit I could pick up and do that would save us money in the long run. Like this. Muckin’ stalls.”
JR stopped sweeping and leaned on the broom, studying me. “You’ll wear yourself into the ground. Then it will be your health in trouble, not Dad’s.”
“Don’t start.”
“Stress will increase your seizures, you know.”
“That is not a proven fact, JR.”
“It’s not been disproven either. Dad said you’ve been good lately. You’ve had more control. Taking on too much could set you back.”
I tossed more straw as my blood boiled. The stall was finished, but I didn’t want to face JR or my health or the money issues at the stables. I just wanted to work myself to the bone until it all went away.
A gentle touch to my arm brought me down a degree, and I tossed the pitchfork aside.
“I’m not trying to be a dick. You’ve got a lot on your plate. I’m far away now, but it doesn’t mean I don’t worry about you. You’re my baby brother. I love you to death.”
“I’m fine.”
“All I’m saying is, this place ain’t worth your health too.”
“I don’t have a heart condition, JR. I have epilepsy. It’s manageable. A little stress ain’t gonna kill me but losin’ this place might. This house, these stables, it’s built on our family’s blood, sweat, and tears. In no universe am I ever gonna let ’em take it from me and build condominiums.”
JR stayed quiet for a long time. I refused to turn around and face him. After a silent few minutes,