Page 14

Wyatt looked down at the figure Dad had left us.

“Twelve months,” he said. “October payment. Remaining scheduled payment at year end. Renewal solely at the holder’s discretion, contingent in part upon outside income.”

“That’s correct.”

“Send the complete terms to my office.”

“I’ll have them transmitted Monday morning.”

“Today.”

“It’s Saturday.”

“Yes.”

A beat.

“I’ll send them today.”

“Thank you.”

Dennis waited. “Wyatt.”

My brother’s gaze lifted toward Dad’s empty chair.

“Your father believed in that ranch.”

The fly struck the glass again.

Once.

Twice.

Wyatt’s mouth hardened. “He mortgaged it.”

No one spoke after that.

Dennis ended the call politely. Wyatt returned the receiver to its cradle with the same care he used for loaded firearms.

The kitchen clock kept ticking.

Josie rose from the table. “I’ll make fresh coffee.”

Nobody wanted coffee. She knew it. We knew she knew it.

Boone moved toward the stove with her anyway.

Wyatt returned to his chair. He drew a line beneath the debt figure and wrote OCTOBER in block letters.

Then YEAR END.

Then OUTSIDE INCOME.

He tapped the last phrase with the pencil.

“It means diversification.”

“It means a noose with adjustable sizing,” I said.