“Enough. I didn’t call so I could listen to you trash him.”
“You’re right. How’s your head?”
I sighed. “It’s fine. I’m calling because I need a favor.”
“Name it, and it’s yours.” Duke might have a brash way about him, but he’d always come through for me. Knowing this time wouldn’t be any different eased the tightness in my chest.
“Can I borrow ten thousand dollars?” There. I’d put it out there. I knew he had the money. What I didn’t know was if he’d give it to me, especially since the reason I needed it revolved around Henry.
“What’s it for?”
I should have known my brother would want details. “The emu with the mangled leg needed a brace. Henry made one for her, but now his company wants to charge me for it. I need ten grand if I want to keep it. Otherwise, I’ll have to give it back and the vet will put her down.”
“Ten grand for a bird?”
As much as Duke loved me, and I knew he did, he didn’t understand me. While I’d be willing to give up everything to prevent another living creature from suffering, Duke had a chip on his shoulder bigger than the entire state of Texas. He’d always put the needs of the ones he loved first, including himself, but I’d never seen him go out on a limb for a stranger.
“I’ll pay you back.” I’d find a way, even if it meant taking on another job.
“This is his fault, isn’t it? What did he do?” The sneer I pictured on my brother’s face came through the phone.
“It was a miscommunication. He asked if they’d donate the materials, and they said no.”
“So, he did it anyway, and now you’re the one who’s going to get stuck footing the bill. Sounds like Maxwell’s the one who needs to pony up the cash to bail you out, sis. Sorry, I’m not going to be able to help you out with this one.”
“That’s it?” Tears filled my lower lids. I’d hoped Duke wouldn’t make me choose.
“I’ll give you the cash if you promise not to see him again. I know what he’s like. Trust me, you don’t want to get involved with him.”
“It’s too late. I already am involved with him. He might have taken things too far, but at least he’s not afraid to do the right thing. Keep your money. You’ll need it to be able to afford that high horse you always seem to be sitting on.”
Duke groaned. “Dev, you don’t know him like I do.”
Seeing as how Henry and I now knew each other in the biblical sense, I couldn’t agree more. “Bye, Duke. Take care of yourself.”
“Wait, you don’t—”
I disconnected the call. If Duke wouldn’t help me, it was time I started helping myself. I’d hid behind my brother for far too long.
If I wanted to dig my way out of the hole I’d fallen into, I’d need some help. I dialed Lou Ellen, hoping she wasn’t spending the day at another one of her volunteer gigs.
“Hey, Devyn. Everything okay at the rescue?”
“It will be. Henry’s company wants to charge me for Shirley’s brace. I know you’ve done online fundraisers for other groups where you volunteer. Would you be willing to stop by later today or tomorrow and help me set something up?”
She’d been bugging me for months to set up an online campaign to collect more donations. There just never seemed to be enough time in the day to take care of everything around the farm, much less start up new projects. Circumstances were forcing me to make time, and with Lou Ellen’s help, it might not be as complicated as it seemed.
“Of course. I have to head into town later. I’ll stop by on my way back.”
“Thank you.” I let my breath out with a relieved exhale. “You don’t know how much I appreciate it.”
“And you don’t know how much I appreciate you finally going out with Henry. I knew the two of you would be good for each other. Graham hasn’t stopped talking about the time he got to spend at the rescue. Think there’s a future for the two of you?”
Leave it to Lou Ellen to push for gossip in the middle of a crisis. “We’ll see. Looks promising so far.”
“I knew it. I’ll see you in a bit.”
I hung up, relieved to have help on the way. My phone pinged with a couple of notifications. I scrolled through them, my pulse ticking up as I scanned the comments people were leaving under the video Henry posted. This was going to work. Together, we’d figure out a way to save Shirley. We had to.