Rosa grabbed Monas arms. You cant continue to ignore the fact and, if youre not careful, youll hurt yourself andothers. Look at you. You cant even keep food down.
It doesnt change anything. I still have a job to do and I will find the cattle rustlers.
You need to tell him.
No. Tears welled in her eyes and she shot a panicked look at Reed. Ah hell. Mona clamped a hand to her mouth and ran from the room.
Reed could hear her being sick in the bathroom and he started to follow her.
A hand on his arm stopped him.
Let me go. Shes obviously sick. When he tried to move past the woman, her grip tightened. Whats wrong with her? Thats the third time since we met shes lost it.
Mr. Bryson. If you really want to help Miss Grainger, you need to understandshes pregnant.
Chapter Four
Good afternoon, Miss Grainger. Jeffrey Kuhn stood in the doorway of his office and waved her over. His graying blond hair and green eyes were set off by the light gray tailored suit he wore.
Something about his tanned skin and broad shoulders didnt fit the suit and tie. Having known the man for most of her life, Mona didnt understand why, all of the sudden, shed think Kuhn didnt belong in the bank. Hello, Mr. Kuhn.
If youd step into my office, we have matters to discuss.
We do? Mona had come to Prairie Rock to make the monthly mortgage payment on her land, not chat with the bank president. She had a lot of work to do back home. An uneasy twinge gripped her belly as if the baby tried to warn her something was amiss.
Yes, we do. He waited until she entered his office and then closed the door behind her.
If shed known she was going to have a business meeting with the bank president shed have worn something other than her usual jeans and denim shirt. Hell, shed have left her hair loose instead of pulling it back into a juvenile ponytail. Mona resisted the urge to pat the dust off her clothing before she took the seat opposite the banker, a massive mahogany desk between them. What is it you wanted to discuss?
He stared at her for several seconds before beginning, as if sizing her up. I understand youve had troubles out at the Rancho Linda?
Mona fought to keep her expression blank. Cattle rustling in the area couldnt be kept a secret. Not when everyone knew everyones business and the sheriffs blotter in the local newspaper was the highlight of the week. Nothing we cant handle. She hoped. The rustlers had to slip up soon and be caught. Preferably before she went out of business.
I couldnt help but notice your advertisement in the local gazette for a ranch hand. He planted his elbows on his desk and laced his fingers. Or should I say, gun for hire?
Mona sat up straighter. Why do you ask?
As you well know, the bank has an interest in everything that goes on with their investments. If something were to happen to you or the ranch, we stand to lose money.
Thats true. But nothing is going to happen to me or the ranch.
We at the bank disagree. He leaned forward. Advertising a gun-for-hire only reinforced our opinion that youre in over your head.
Did the man think her stupid? Was he carrying a mouse in his pocket? We, or you, Mr. Kuhn? Mona stood, anger pushing her blood pressure skyward. Not good for the baby.
His brows rose and he eased to his feet. The bank, of course. Not me personally.
Right. Mona held out the check shed come to deliver. I came to make my mortgage payment.
The man stuffed his hands in his pockets. Im afraid that isnt enough. You do realize your mortgage is on a seven-year adjustable-rate plan with a balloon note at the end, do you not?
Mona stared at the banker for a full thirty seconds. Shed spent all of her time on the ranch in the saddle, not behind the desk. Her father handled the finances up until the day he died. When she took over, shed only done what she had to do to make payments and keep money in the checking account. No, I didnt realize. What does it mean?
Kuhns brows rose. This is the end of the seven-year period. The balloon payment is due in less than thirty days.
It is? She swallowed, her throat dry as a desert. Cant we roll it over into a fixed-rate loan?
Im afraid not. He crossed his arms over his chest, his face blank of all emotion. The bank doesnt consider you a good risk. You have thirty days to pay the balance in full or we begin foreclosure proceedings on the property.
The ground threatened to open up and suck in Mona. With more than a little effort, she fought off that dizzy, fuzzy-headed feeling and the encroaching blackness. Instead of fainting, she squared her shoulders and faced Mr. Kuhn. You cant do that. Weve done business with this bank ever since I can remember. How much was left on the loan? Thirty, forty, fifty thousand? No way could she come up with that kind of money.
Im sorry, Miss Grainger, but the decision has been made. He sat forward, resting his elbows on the desk. Have you considered selling the ranch to someone morecapable?
Monas hackles rose. Even though shed doubted her ability lately, she sure as hell wouldnt let Mr. Kuhn know that. Im perfectly capable of managing the ranch on my own.
How about selling to one of the oil speculators here in town? I hear Lang Oil Exploration is acquiring property.
Stealing, more likely. Everyone whod sold to Lang Oil lately had gotten the shaft in some way or other. And not an oil-drilling shaft.
Plucking up enough anger to make her voice strong, Mona stood. Rancho Linda is not for sale. And for your information, Im every bit as capable as my father was to run it.
Im afraid the bank doesnt see it that way. Im sorry, but we wont be renewing your loan and we wont accept less than the payoff amount of fifty thousand one hundred and twenty-six dollars. Ill give you thirty days to comply.
Thirty days? You couldnt give me a little more time to secure financing? Her head spun with the amount of money shed have to come up with. Even if she sold all her remaining cattle, she wouldnt come close to the amount she needed, and shed be out of stock, nothing to start over with, nothing to pay the overhead.
Youve had seven years. We sent a payment-due notice in your last statement. Im really surprised you havent come in sooner to discuss this matter with me.
He was lying and Mona wasnt buying it. I never saw it.
Jeffrey Kuhn sat behind his desk, tapping the point of a pen against his date calendar. Are you having trouble with your mail service as well as cattle rustling?
Do you think Id get this upset if I had received the notice? Dont you think Id have been in here much earlier, had I known? Granted, she hadnt had time to go through all of what shed thought was junk mail, but shed opened and paid her bills. If there had been a note from the bank, shed have opened it. Damn it, I know I havent gotten a single letter from you.
Mr. Kuhns gray-blond brows rose. I cant help it if your mail isnt getting to you. The bank stands firm. Im sorry, Miss Grainger, my hands are tied. Unless you can come up with the payoff amount in thirty days he leaned over to look at the desk calendar that would be on the twentieth of next monththe Prairie Rock Bank will have to start foreclosure proceedings on the property.