“I owe too much, Mo.”
“I don’t care. There’s no way I’m going to let Stark take your land.”
If I hadn’t already been in love with Mo Valentine, I’d have fallen then. His adamance to help my father, his long time friend, warmed my heart. Of course, Mo’s motivation was probably partly not liking Stark or whatever he’d do with the land, but still. I was glad my dad’s friend had his back.
/> “I don’t have much time. I need to sell soon, or I’ll lose everything.”
What? It was that bad? Tears welled in my eyes.
“I’ll figure something out, but you have to promise not to sell to Stark. I mean it, Frank.”
“I owe too much not to sell to whoever will buy,” my father said. “Also, Brooke doesn’t know. Please don’t tell her.”
“She’s going to know when Stark bulldozes your home. He’s not going to live here and work the land.”
“I just need time.”
I couldn’t take it anymore. I stepped into view of the kitchen.
My father’s eyes widened as he saw me.
Mo turned in his chair to look at me. He turned back to my father. “I think your time just ran out.”
“What are you talking about, Dad?” I asked. “We can’t be broke. You can’t sell this place. It’s our home.”
My father looked completely gutted. It was exactly how I felt.
“Just some bad business decisions,” he muttered, his head lowering.
“And my education? Why didn’t you tell me? I could have—”
“I wasn’t going to skimp on your education. Brooke,” he said, and his eyes had a fire in them. He’d never gotten past tenth grade, leaving school when his father died to take over the ranch. He’d always told me that I’d have the best education. But goodness, the price he was paying. I could have gotten a perfectly fine education for less money had I known.
“But—”
My father sagged back against the counter as if all the air had gone out of him. “I’ve failed you, Brooke. I’m sorry.”
I rushed to him, putting my arms around him. “You’re not a failure, Dad. People have struggles all the time. We’ll figure something out.” I didn’t know what, but I was determined to find an answer.
“I’ll help, Frank,” Mo said from behind me. “Like Brooke said, we’ll figure something out.”
“This isn’t your problem, Mo,” my father said. “I can’t ask—”
“You didn’t ask. That’s part of the problem.”
He shook his head. “It’s a lot of money.” He looked from me to Mo. “Too much, even for you, Mo.”
“Don’t be so sure.”
I looked at Mo, and my heart was so full and so empty at the same time. I couldn’t believe this man would do so much for us, and yet it was exactly what he’d do. He was a good man.
“Listen, I have to run. If you could gather your financials for me, I’ll see what I can pull together. Maybe you can sell me the forty acres your granddad bought from my granddad.”
My father mustered a smile, but I could see it wasn’t enough. “You and I both know that it wouldn’t stop Stark from wanting the rest.”
“It’s a start. That’s prime river area. Chances are, the land won’t be as attractive to him without the riverfront. But let’s start with the financials, and I’ll see what I can do.”
My father nodded, looking completely defeated.