Military Romance Collection: Contemporary Soldier Alpha Male Romance by Undisclosed Desires Editions Page A

like sixty-five grand.”
    “Is there anything on the ranch we can sell for some quick cash?” Matthew asked. “What about Bad Ass? He’s got to be worth some serious money.”
    Charlie shook his head. “He’s the best horse I’ve got on this place.”When rodeo season started, he explained to his brothers, he would be able to send out some stock to work. “Until then, Bad Ass is the only money maker I’ve got.”
    “Shit,” Matthew said. “What about the other horses?”
    Charlie started explaining what he knew about the market value of the rest of his herd when he heard someone shouting in the background of the call. “David, are you all right man? You need to go be safe?”
    David’s reply was quick and puzzled. “That’s not me, man.”
    “It’s here,” Matthew cut in. “I’ve got to go. Talk to you all later.”
    He dropped off the call. “What is going on with him?” David asked. “He doesn’t sound right at all.”
    “I don’t know,” Charlie said. “But you’re right. Something is definitely up.”
    “He’s worried about money all the time lately.”
    “Well, I could say the same,” Charlie replied. “You wouldn’t believe how much simple shit – everyday stuff, like hay and grain – costs. It’s nuts.”
    “Freedom isn’t free, bro.” David laughed. “That’s the way life works.You’ve either got money and nothing to spend it on or stuff to buy and no money.”
    “I’d much rather have you back here and broke, you know.” Charlie said. “For real.”
    “I know, bro,” David said. “And don’t fret. Soon enough that’ll be the case.” He laughed. “So you better get started on finding my kickboxing, gourmet cooking, ballet dancer wife to be.”
    “I will, for sure,” Charlie laughed. “Talk to you soon. You stay safe, you hear?”
    “Wow,” David replied. “You’re even starting to sound like a Texan.”
    ***

Coming up with sixty five thousand dollars is much easier said than said than done. Charlie spent two weeks doing the best he could to turn what he considered expendable assets into cash. That raised ten grand. He had no option but to start selling some of the horses – but which ones? And to who?
    Uncertain of his own ability to price his horses fairly, he called Wyatt Roderigurez and asked for a favor. “I need you to come out here and help me figure out who gets sold and for how much,” Charlie said. “You know and I know that pricing horses is a tricky game, and no one around here is going to take my word on what they’re worth. But if you’ll put your numbers on them, people will respect that.”
    Wyatt laughed. “Or at least they won’t try to beat you up so bad.” He grew serious. “You’re in a tough situation, son. I wouldn’t want to be in your boots. But you’re a good kid, and you’ve treated me right. I’ll come out and give you a hand. This one time, for no charge, all right?”
    “Thank you!” Charlie said. “Thank you so much.”
    Wyatt arrived the next day, with a calculator in one hand and his cell phone in the other. “I’m old fashioned,” he grinned. “Give me one device just for figuring, and one for making deals.”
    “No multi-tasking for you?”
    The older man snorted. “I do things the way I know how to do them. Why make things complicated?”
    Charlie laughed. “You want to go up and look at the young ones first, or how do we want to do this?”
    “Before we go up there, I want to ask you a question,” Wyatt said. “Are you sure selling stock is how you want to handle this? Maybe you could borrow the money from your folks? Go to the bank?”
    “I tried the bank,” Charlie said. “And since I need the money for tax debt, they can’t help me. And since the tax debt is there, they can’t lend me money for anything else. So that’s a dead end,” Charlie said. “And if I absolutely max out my credit cards, we’re only looking at a few thousand dollars.”
    Wyatt raised an eyebrow.
    “That’s