Page 14 of Then You Happened
TATE
“It’s time to sell her.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose and close my eyes at the sound of my accountant’s voice
on the phone at my ear.
The day is hot, and my quick respite inside doesn’t offer much reprieve from it.
“Have we come to that?” I whisper, already knowing the answer.
“I’m sorry, Tate. I’ve held off calling you for as long as I could, but yes, it’s come to that.”
“Fuck.” The word is more for me than for her, but I say it anyway.
“Pretty much,” she agrees. “I’ve been making calls left and right, trying to have the mortgage company get you another extension, but you’ve already had one and so they’re not too keen on it even after that last chunk you paid.”
“That last chunk came from the sale of a yearling. I won’t have any new foals for a few months.” I withhold the groan because there’s nothing I can do.
“The plus side is that, even if they technically start the foreclosure process, you have about six months to figure out what’s next.”
I hear her but shake my head as I walk down the hallway, my feet needing to move. “There is no what’s next for me. You know I put all my eggs in one basket.” But my gorgeous Ruby flickers in my mind. She’s my derby horse, which really has no business being here on my quarter horse farm, but I love her with all my heart.
“How’d that new guy turn out? Maybe he can help you turn the place around.”
A nervous chuckle falls from my lips. “Don’t ask.”
“That good, huh?”
“Does it matter? I’m damned if I do and damned if I don’t.” I bite the inside of my lip, and I’m more than grateful that she remains silent so I can work through everything in my head. “I need him to help me here so that I can ensure a successful breeding season, but I can’t afford to pay him a salary.”
“You have to spend money to make money,” she murmurs.
“This coming from an accountant who’s calling to tell me I need to sell my derby horse or risk losing my ranch because I can’t pay my mortgage.” I’ll lose my house. The only things I have left to my name. “That’s rich.”
“You could always swallow your pride and . . .”
“And what?” I ask. “Sell off the equipment I need but that isn’t a necessity? Done that. Pawn my jewelry? Did that months ago. You already know this. I just—”
“I know. I admire you and your damn stubbornness more than you could ever know.” The line falls quiet, and I hate that I steel myself for what I know is coming next. “I meant you could call them. You’re their daughter. Words said in the heat of the moment are never truly meant.”
Emotions clog in my throat as I think of the one time I did call. How the phone was hung up on me. How I was reminded, without so much as a word being spoken, of how I made a choice . . . and it wasn’t them. Of the disgrace I brought to the Valor name by running off and marrying the country club’s hired help.
“Not an option.” My voice is resolute even if my feelings aren’t.
“Okay. Then since Ruby’s your biggest asset besides your physical property, which you’ve told me you won’t sell off, then you have to consider selling her. It will give you enough money to get by until the new foals are ready to be sold.”
“I can’t just put a for sale sign on her and parade her around town.”
“Why the hell not?”
I sigh deeply and lean my head back against the wall behind me. “Because I don’t want them to know.”
“Who to know? The town? Screw them, Tate. They haven’t once been concerned about you so why are you suddenly worried about what they think of you?”
“You wouldn’t understand.”
“Try me.”
