Page 30 of The Mountain Echoes

“I knew your daddy near forty years,” my father’s accountant says, his voice is rough with dust and age. “Wasn’t always easy, but he was honest. Stubborn, sure. Proud. He made bad calls, but he didn’t lie. That counted for somethin’.”

I tilt my head and raise both my eyebrows. “Get to the meat, cowboy.”

He chuckles and then becomes serious. “The debt is…there’s no good way of sayin’ this, Aria.”

“Then say it like it is. I don’t need anythin’ sugarcoated.”

I catch how I’ve starteddroppin’my Gs. Took about twenty-four hours, and now I’mtalkin’like a cowgirl.

What’s that saying—you can take the girl outta the ranch…?

Amos regards me thoughtfully. “Rami took out a second mortgage.”

“Why?”

Amos sets his wine glass down and leans forward. “Hudson was takin’ money off the top. Rami found out last year. Tried to fix it quietly—paid off some people he shouldn’t’ve had to pay. Bad men. Men who don’t take IOUs. Celine begged him not to go to the cops.”

My stomach goes tight.

“The worst part is that she knew he was stealin’ and said nothin’,” Amos snaps, disgust in his tone. “And she kept coverin’ for him. Girl’s got a taste for spendin’. Designer shit. Spa days in Aspen. One time, she had Hudson wire ten grand to some boutique for a single piece of jewelry.”

I feel eyes on me, and it doesn’t take much more than a glance to know who’s perusing me. The man with the blue-blue eyes, who is purported to be good friends with my sister.

He obviously is successful—what with Kincaid Farms being one of the biggest operations in the canyon, his name on that overpriced steakhouse, and his reputation polished like his damn boots.

He probably collects women the way some men collect belt buckles—flashy, well-shaped,anddisposable.

I shouldn’t care. And yet, my jaw tightens.Not because I want him. Absolutely not! Just because I hate being so predictable.

Focus, Aria! You came back to fight for Longhorn, not to get tangled up in a man like Maverick Kincaid.

“That the only reason he took out a second mortgage?”

“Big part. Then things got tight with the drought. He had to lay off people so he could afford hay and vet bills. He sold the cattle for less than it was worth ‘cause he couldn’t manage it.”

I feel sick as he continues.

“But they still have the apartment in Aspen?” That place was worth a shit ton of money.

Amos gives an exaggerated eye roll. “Celine and Hudson want to keep up appearances.”

A shallow inhale is all I’m able to manage before I choke out, “While they bleed the ranch dry.”

“Yeah.”

The server comes with our food, and in all honesty, I’ve lost my appetite. The way it sounds, selling Longhorn might be our only option.

We eat quietly, caught up in our thoughts.

“Tell me about Maverick Kincaid’s interest in Longhorn.”

Amos sets down his fork. Takes a sip of his wine. “He’s good at what he does. Smart businessman. Good rancher. Excellent at playing politics. He’s buying smaller ranches, so they’re not bought up by developers who want to build a fucking casino or some shit.”

“How altruistic of him,” I retort sarcastically.

Amos smirks. “He’s also interested in growing Kincaid Farms. He’s making a shit ton of money, and heintends to make more. He wants Longhorn for the farm and orchard. And the land, of course.”

I close my eyes and take a long, steady breath.