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“You met her a few years ago at Christmas.”
Lane nodded. “It was brief, and I probably wasn’t paying attention to a pregnant woman hiding out in the bathroom.”
“Yeah, she’s had it rough.”
Lane said nothing.
Holt waited, because he was pretty sure his brother had more of an opinion on the matter. He was right.
“I’m sure you’ve considered this from all angles,” Lane began. “And looked at all the scenarios.”
Holt scrubbed a hand through his hair. “Correct.”
“And I assume there’s no changing your mind or redirecting your intentions.”
“Correct again.”
Lane nodded.
It wasn’t a simple nod, but an accepting nod. “Then I vote you tell her that.”
Yeah . . . Lane was probably right. Holt released a breath. “It’s complicated.”
Lane met his gaze then. “If anyone can manage complicated, it’s you, Holt.”
Holt didn’t know if this was a compliment he wanted.
“Also . . . I peeked into the office and saw the junk mail from debt consolidation companies. What’s going on?”
Holt froze. Yeah, his little brother was a numbers whiz, but what did he know about financial debt?
“Come on, Holt,” Lane said. “I’m no dummy. And I’m guessing that you haven’t told Mom or Dad about any of this.”
“You’re right.” Holt drummed his fingers atop the corral. “Things have been tight since Evie started college. With three of you . . . it was to be expected. But then Knox went through his divorce, and I lent him some money. Multiple times.”
Lane’s jaw clenched, but he said nothing.
“So, last winter, I made the rounds throughout Texas,” Holt said. “Did some freelance training and rehabbing rescue horses. Got the coffers built up, but then I returned, and Jerry had let things slide. A lot. Turned out his knee had been bothering him, so instead of letting Dad know, he just did the bare bones.”
“You talked him into getting surgery?” Lane asked.
“That’s right,” Holt said. “Spent all spring catching up. Knox kept the begging up, and finally, I started lending to him from my own savings. Jerry’s still recovering. Macie and Ruby showed up. And the offers are rolling in from the debt consolidation companies.” He gave a self-deprecating laugh. “A bit messy, I guess.”
“Has Knox paid anything back?”
“No,” Holt said. “But I’ve effectively cut him off. I don’t expect to hear from him for a while after he won the championship last week.”
Lane rubbed at the back of his neck. “Well, I’ve taken business finance and business marketing, and I think you have some options open to you. You know, there’s grant money out there for rescue horses. You could turn a profit when you have them rehabilitated.”
“Something to look into, I guess.”
“And no more loans to Knox,” Lane said. “He’ll have to find a regular job like everyone else when his ten grand runs out. And you need to talk to Dad, at the very least. He needs to be made aware. The ranch belongs to all of us, and you shouldn’t be the only one shouldering this burden.”
“I wanted to wait until I had better news.”
“I’ll find some for you,” Lane said, stepping away from Bonney. “Mind if I look at the accounting, and maybe go over it with one of my professors? See what he recommends?”
Holt didn’t love the idea, but Lane had impressed him thus far. “All right. I’m definitely interested in new options.”
