Im not believing this.
He shrugged. I suggest you find another financial institution rather than filing for bankruptcy. You might also consider letting go of some of your help. Like your new hire. He glanced down at his watch, then abruptly stood. Now, if youll excuse me, I have another appointment. He cupped her elbow with a cool, clammy palm and urged her from her chair, practically pushing her out the door.
Still too stunned to respond, Mona let him usher her out, stopping only as they emerged in the bank lobby. Mr. Kuhn When she turned to confront her new nemesis, she could have stomped her foot in frustration.
Jeffrey Kuhn had left her standing alone while he smiled and greeted two men wearing expensive suits. With little more than a passing glance her way, Kuhn ushered the wealthier clients through the door of his office, closing it firmly behind them.
Well, that was that. If she needed confirmation that her uncle was right and she was fighting a losing battle, todays news was it.
In a daze, she stumbled out into the Texas sunshine beating the heat into the top of her bare head. She plunked her straw hat in place and stared around the brick-paved Main Street of Prairie Rock, at a loss for what to do. Her feet carried her the two blocks south to Dees Diner near the town square. Shed left her truck parked near the diner for her lunch date with Catalina, Rosa and Fernandos only daughter.
By the time she pushed through the swinging glass entrance of the café, perspiration beaded on her brow and upper lip and slid down between her pregnancy-enhanced breasts. Since when had walking become more difficult?
Catalina Garcia met her at the door, a mug in one hand and a carafe of aromatic coffee in the other. Hey, sweetie.
Mona smiled and carefully hugged her friend without spilling the coffee.
Would you hurry it up? We dont have all day. Wayne Fennel sat at a table several yards away, facing Mona. His shiny new cowboy boots tapped against the linoleum-tiled floor, a scowl marring his otherwise handsome face. The guy had always been a jerk, especially as a football player in high school. Now he owned a body shop with his partner Les Newton, another equally big jerk.
Les turned to stare at Mona, barely giving her more than a glance, but his gaze ran the length of Catalinas bare legs, a leer forming on his tanned face. A quiet and more creepy version of Wayne.
Mona wanted to throw up. Gentlemen, they werent. If a barroom fight was what you wanted, you could count on those two to deliver.
Catalina grimaced at Mona and tipped her head toward an empty booth in the far corner. Take a seat by the window. Ill get you some water just as soon as I take care of Wayne and Les. With a flounce of her long, bleached hair, she hurried toward the two men and sloshed coffee into their mugs.
Catalina had been Monas friend from the day she was born. Theyd been inseparable until their teens when Catalina decided she no longer wanted to be Mexican, Hispanic or anything related to Latino. In the past ten years, Catalina had done everything in her power to change her image from Hispanic to white. From gloriously black to bleached-blond hair, brown eyes gone blue with the aid of contacts, down to erasing every hint of accent from her speech. She even affected a southern drawl around eligible men from the big cities who found their way to the small Texas town.
Not Mona, she embraced everything about her mothers Mexican legacy that she could. It was all she had left of the woman whod died when she was only six years old.
Mona slid into a vinyl-covered booth overlooking the town square and fought the overwhelming despair washing over her. She wished her mother or father were there to help her figure out the mess she was in. What was she going to do? How could she come up with fifty thousand dollars in a month? She didnt have two nickels to rub together in her savings, having depleted it to pay her hands and make this months loan payment. The sale of some of her herd was supposed to help her make next months payment and overhead. Now with over fifty head rustled, even making payroll was looking like a no go.
Catalina swung by the table and called out to the room, Im on break, Kelly is covering for me. Then she dropped into the seat across from Mona, her deep-brown brows tugging downward, a sharp contrast to the bright blond of the fringe hanging over her left eye. Whats wrong?
Everything. Before she could say more, tears welled in Monas eyes and spilled over. She brushed them away with the back of her sleeve. Damn it, I never cry.
Its the baby talking. All those hormones play hell with a womans emotions.
Shh. Dont say that too loud. Mona glanced around the room to see if anyone had heard Catalinas remark.
Dont worry. I wont tell. Especially since you wont tell me whose it is. Catalinas eyes narrowed. Was it Jimmy Raye over at Bar M?
No. And forget it. Im not telling anyone. That particular secret will go with me to my grave.
Damn. And I thought best friends shared all their secrets.
I cant afford for this one to get out. Monas gaze dropped to where her hands twisted together, more tears slid down her cheeks.
Okay, okay. I wont push it. Now tell me whats got your chaps in a twist.
I just came from the bank. She gulped and forced calm into her voice. Theyre going to start foreclosure proceedings on the Rancho Linda if I dont make the balloon payment thats due in thirty days.
Madre de Dios! Catalina slammed her palm against the tabletop, all of the Latino in her coming out in the one phrase. As if you dont have enough problems. Why wont they roll it over into a new mortgage?
From what I gathered, theyve lost faith in my ability to manage the ranch. What with the rustling and hiring a new ranch hand.
Was it the advertisement that got them in a froth? Catalinas chocolate-brown eyes lit. I have to admit, it reminded me of the Wild West.
Her fit of desperation had backfired, and now Mona regretted placing the ad. However, she didnt regret hiring the man with the gun. His green eyes haunted her thoughts, vaguely familiar, as if shed seen them before, when she knew she hadnt met him until hed shown up in the canyon. Something like that.
I heard you actually got a man to apply for it.
I hired one. Mona didnt want to go into the details. She wasnt altogether sure why shed hired Reed Bryson on the spot. For now, she attributed her brash move to desperation.
So whats he like? Does he look like Clint Eastwood or John Wayne from one of the old westerns?
No. And it doesnt matter what he looks like, I have bigger troubles. She inhaled and let out a deep breath. How can I come up with fifty thousand dollars in thirty days?
Have you tried one of the other banks in Prairie Rock? If they wont help, you may have to go to Amarillo.
Ive never applied for a loan, which means I dont have a credit history. Ive only been paying on the loan my father set up. She dropped her head into her hands. I cant believe I didnt pay closer attention to the terms of the loan. Im doomed.
Cut yourself a little slack. Its not as if youve had a lot of spare time on your hands. Catalina snorted. So who is your cowboy? Anyone I know?
Why are you asking? You already know its Reed Bryson. By now everyone in town should know. She smiled sheepishly.