Cowboy Casanova (Rough Riders #12)(119)

trouble are you in?”


Rielle’s cheeks turned bright red and her hands squeezed her coffee mug. “I told you

I’d pay you for the furniture. Are you here to repossess it?”


“God no. That’s pretty inconsequential, considering everything else you owe on,

doncha think?”


She nodded.


“So tell me, Ree, how bad is it?”


“Bad,” she whispered.


The bitter taste in his mouth wasn’t from too strong coffee.


“Can I ask how you found out?” Rielle asked.


“Besides that I took you to the bank and know they turned you down for a loan?”


Her lips formed a sneer. “So is everyone in town aware of my financial predicament? Is

everyone whispering that the hippie chick doesn’t have a clue how to manage money?”


“No. And if I ever heard anyone say shit like that about you, I’d bust them in the

mouth.”


“I know you would. You’re a good friend, Ben. One of the few friends I have in this

town, despite the fact I’ve lived here my whole life.” Rielle knocked back her coffee

like it was whiskey. “So how did you find out?”


No reason to sugarcoat it. “Rory.”


Her eyes turned to chips of ice and she slammed her cup down. “My daughter called you?

”


“No. Evidently she talked to Dalton when he was in Laramie, and Dalton came to me. He

’s worried about her.”


Stunned silence.


Rielle made a wounded sound. “She can’t… It’s why I…” She covered her mouth and

tears pooled in her hard eyes.


Christ. He hadn’t meant to make her cry. Ben went to her and pulled her into his arms.

“Hey. Rory is a terrific kid, Ree. You’ve done a great job raising her into a

thoughtful, responsible adult. This f*cked up situation hurts both of you, but we’ll

get something figured out, okay?”


It took a minute or so, but Rielle said, “Okay.”


“Good. ’Cause I’m too f*ckin’ old to have new neighbors move in here.”


She laughed. And sobbed. And hugged him tighter. “Thanks.” She stepped back and wiped

her cheeks. “I assume you wouldn’t have brought this up if you didn’t have a plan?”


He peeled the wrapper off the bottom of his muffin. “I’ve got a plan. But I’ll be

honest. I don’t think you’re gonna like it much. You’re in arrears to the bank…

eleven months on your loan?”


“Ten,” she corrected. “I’ve got about thirty days left before I default.”


“How much do you have to pay to get caught up in the next thirty days to keep them

from foreclosing?”


“I have to pay the first six months and all the penalties. Then I have sixty days to

pay the remainder to bring the account current.”


“How much we talkin’?”


Rielle closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “One hundred and twelve thousand

dollars.”


Shit. That was way more than he’d anticipated. He didn’t have that kind of money.

Could Dalton and Tell come up with that much cash? Plus more to put a down payment on