After lunch, she sat at the small desk her husband had used. She thoroughly reviewed their finances and what she found appalled her.
Davie appeared at her side. “You look awful upset. Things are pretty bad, aren’t they?”
She wrapped her arm around him. “Don’t worry, son. We’ll do our best to make the ranch as successful as Papa planned.”
“Before he died, he said he was sorry he’d bought that land last year.” He stepped away.
She recognized the worried look on his face that was so much like his father’s. “Oh, I didn’t know that. At the time, he said it was a once in a lifetime opportunity. I teased him that ranchers always want to own any land that touches theirs.”
He smiled. “I remember.” Davie’s voice sounded wistful then his expression changed. “I sure miss him.”
“I know, we all do.” She thought Davie missed her husband more than anyone else did.
“With half the cattle stolen and no ranch hands, how are we gonna make the bank payment?”
She stood and placed a hand on each of his shoulders. “Davie, you’re a good son and mature for your age. But you’re still a boy and should let me do the worrying if there’s any to be done.”
He shook his head. “No, Papa said I’m the man of the family now and have to take care of you.”
“Thinking of protecting me was nice of him but he put too much of a burden on you. He told me he knew I’d take care of you and Susie and Jimmy. We’re lucky to have one another, aren’t we?”
“Yeah, but I still miss Papa.” His expression became harsh for a youngster. “I hope they catch and hang the polecat that shot him.”
“Oh, son, so do I. But let’s put that behind us or we’ll become bitter. We mustn’t let things we can’t control upset us. Focus on all we can do to help ourselves. Most of all, quit worrying.”
Tears glistened in his eyes but none fell. “Mama, will you tell me if you know we’re gonna lose the ranch? I love this place and don’t want to ever leave here.”
Her heart ripped into shreds for her son. “I don’t want you to have to leave. If I see there’s no way to save the ranch, I’ll tell you.”
“You promise?”
She made an X motion over her heart with her index finger. “Cross my heart.”
Davie smiled weakly and went toward the room he shared with Jimmy.
***
Charlotte was deep in thought when she heard what sounded like the clopping of a horse and jingle of harness and crunch of buggy wheels in the yard. The two dogs, Buster and Billy, barked their alarm. She pulled off her apron and smoothed her hair. At the door, she saw Mr. Edmondson, the banker.
She was thankful she’d gone over the finances earlier so she was familiar with whatever he had come to discuss. “Won’t you come in, Mr. Edmondson?”
In the parlor, she gestured to a chair. “Please make yourself comfortable. Would you care for coffee?”
He sat and cleared his throat. “Nothing for me, thank you. I may as well get right to the reason I came. You know your husband borrowed money with this ranch as collateral.”
She sat in the chair angled toward his. “Purchasing the Mills place was a once in a lifetime opportunity. He felt he couldn’t pass up the chance to expand this ranch.”
“I quite understand and approved his loan. Since you’ve lost a great number of your cattle, someone has approached me. The person feels you’ll fail to make the payment. He wants to buy your loan, which would free the bank. We’d prefer having the money to a property.”
Her heart pounded so hard she feared it would leap from her chest. “Then that person could call in our loan at will, is that right?”
“Exactly, which is why I’ve refused. This person—”
“Who is it? Is it Elwood Winfield?” She gripped the arms of the chair so hard her knuckles turned white.
Mr. Edmondson’s slight smile disclosed his embarrassment. “I’m not at liberty to reveal his name. The bank’s investors have urged me to sell. I’ve been reluctant to do so for the reason you mentioned. However, I feel honor bound to warn you.”
“Then it is Mr. Winfield. Otherwise you would have answered no before you said you weren’t at liberty to tell his name.”
He ran his finger around the inside of his collar. “Ahem, not necessarily. If you see you’re not going to be able to raise the cash to make your payment, please consult me.”
“What could you do?”
He steepled his fingers on his chest. “I’m not sure I’d be able to do anything but I’d try. I might be able to restructure the loan.”
“But… I thought you owned the bank.”
He inclined his head in a slight nod to the left. “I do, but I have investors and they demand profit for their shares. I’m afraid everyone is accountable to someone.”
“So a person—who I think is Mr. Winfield—is pressuring you. At the same time, Mr. Winfield has offered a low price to buy our place. Ours is a very good ranch, but I don’t understand his obsession with it.”
“As you say, it’s a good property and abuts his. He’s a good businessman and has done a lot for the community. He has a lot of admirers.”
“His last offer was not much more than half what the ranch is worth. I found it worrisome and almost insulting.”
“Due to your age and your being a woman fairly new to the West, he probably believes you’re doomed to fail. I have more confidence in your ability but—as I said—I’m being pressured to sell your note or call it in.” He appeared so forlorn that Charlotte’s sympathy was raised.
