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“Likewise.” Shep offered his hand, and once Colin returned the handshake, he got right to the point. “I had a chat with Lee Schultz yesterday.”
“Ah,” Colin said, and the awareness on his expression told Shep that Colin had known this day was coming. “Let’s head into the meeting room where we’ve got the space to talk.” Colin strode by them, calmly exiting his office, one hand tucked into his pocket.
Shep tried his best not to get too far ahead of himself when he followed. Colin had to have had a good reason not to share this news.
When they entered the meeting room at the end of the hallway, Colin turned to them and said, “I know you’ve come here probably ready to bite my head off. However, let me explain before you do.”
“We’re listening.” Shep took a seat to the right of the head of the table. Nash next to him. Chase sitting across from them.
“Your father asked me not to tell you the company was in financial trouble.” Colin took his place at the head of the table. “When he passed, I wanted to give you the time to mourn him before dropping this on you.”
Shep shared a long look with Chase and Nash before he focused on Colin again. He zeroed in on the only thing that mattered in what Colin said. “Why exactly did our father not want you to tell us?”
Colin leaned back in his seat, resting his hands on the armrests. “He didn’t want to involve you in all this until we had a solid plan going forward.”
“What plan?” Nash asked.
Colin glanced at him. “The day before your dad passed away, your father asked me to schedule a meeting with Clint Harrison. Rick was thinking of selling them some land to get the company back afloat.”
Shep’s mouth nearly hit the table. He looked between his brothers, finding them in similar states of shock. The Harrisons and Blackshaws were raised to hate each other. Clint Harrison was the competition; a man determined to steal his father’s clients. “I’m having a real hard time believing this,” Shep finally admitted.
“You’re not alone,” Chase said, a frown marring his face. “Was this Dad’s idea?”
“It was,” Colin confirmed with a slight nod. “He knew he had to sell to keep the company going after losing some clients to the Harrisons, and that’s what we’ve been working toward for the past few months.”
Nash cursed and pushed out of his chair, sending it slamming back into the wall. He stormed toward the window, arms folded, glaring at the sky. Always the hothead, Nash would be angrier that his father would dare sell what belonged to the Blackshaw name than that the company was going bankrupt.
Shep, though, understood. And right now, probably as his father had done, the only person he worried about was his mother. What would she be left with? “Did Harrison agree to the meeting?” he pressed on.
Colin nodded. “He did, under the assumption that he would only buy the land, not the business.”
“That fucking prick,” Nash snapped, turning around, his jaw set. “Our land is good enough for them, but they’d shut us down for good.” To Shep, he growled, “There’s no goddamn way we’re doing this.”
Colin sighed and gestured to Nash with a flick of his chin. “That right there is why you’re father never told any of you. He knew you’d step in and want to become involved, and he respected that you all have your own lives. He didn’t want to burden you with this, or so he told me.”
Shep leaned back in his chair and ran a hand over his mouth, pondering. He searched for the anger Nash had, but he couldn’t find any. Possibly because now he understood where his father came from. Shep wouldn’t go to anyone else for help either. He’d fix the situation himself. “How did Dad feel about shutting down the company and selling the land?”
Nash growled, “You cannot possibly think this is a good idea?”
“I’m not thinking anything yet,” Shep growled back. “The only thing I’m thinking is that I want to know what Dad thought.” He glanced Colin’s way and motioned him on. “So, tell me, was Dad content in shutting things down?” Maybe he felt Blackshaw Cattle had run its course, and Shep trusted in his dad’s business sense.
Colin hesitated then shook his head. “No, he wasn’t happy with any of this; no matter if he thought this was his only choice. He was watching his dream die, and I could tell it upset him.”
“Good,” Nash piped up. “That means we can shut this talk down immediately. Blackshaw land stays with us.”
Chase sighed at Nash, then focused on Shep. “I have to say that I’m with Nash on this. There needs to be a way out of this without selling the company, or the land.”
Again, Shep rubbed his hand against the slight stubble on his jaw. The walls felt tight around him when he glanced Colin’s way. “What are your plans?”
Colin looked between them then placed his hands flat against the meeting room table. “Listen, guys, I loved your father. I was loyal to him, and I still am. But I also won’t go down with a sinking ship.”
“I can understand that position,” Shep said, knowing he’d feel the same way. But Colin handled the inner workings of the company. Without him, the company was done. “Though, what if we find a way to bring the company back afloat? Would you stay?”
“Of course, I would stay. That’s without question,” Colin confirmed, his expression slowly filling with pity. “I know it might be hard for you all to admit this, but this problem is big. This isn’t an easy fix. Your father realized this, which is why he was looking to sell.”
Chase cursed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Regardless of what he thought, we need to do what’s right here. We’ve got all the employees to think of too. What will happen to them if we close the company?”
Shep nodded. “We need time to think this through.”
