Chapter 14 – The Bank Closes In

Several days went by, and with every day Maudie seemed to get stronger and Spreckles played less upon her consciousness. I know that she was still missin' him and grievin' that he wasn't' there, but she was strong and resilient and slowly but surely he seemed to slip from her mind. I knew there was something still bothering her, but she wouldn't tell me what it was.

Two or three weeks later she came to see me again and this time she finally told me. We were in my office and she was helping with the payroll when she out and out asked me. "Daddy how much money do I have?"

"Well, let's look. One, two, three hundred and twenty-five dollars. Quite a big sum for someone as young as you. Is there something that you want to buy?"

"How much are cattle?"

"You thinkin' about Benny?"

She looked at me with pleading in her eyes. "Not exactly."

"What then?"

"Well, how much do cattle cost?"

"Do you wanna buy cattle?"

"Just tell me."

"Way more than you've got, sweetie. It's a nice thought, but you can't buy him cattle."

"That's not what I want to do. He's in trouble and the bank is threatenin' to foreclose on the ranch."

"They what?"

All of a sudden I remembered what Mr. Mulland had told me about Benny and the ranch. It had slipped past me several times, and now I felt really bad about it.

"I said, the bank is . . ."

"I heard you. He borrowed the money to buy the cattle and he put the ranch up as collateral, is that what you're telling me?"

"Yes."

"Is that what's been bothering you? Why didn't you tell me?"

"He made me promise not to."

"Beau tried to lend him the money, and he wouldn't take it."

"I know. Benny wanted to do it all by himself."

"And you see what it's come to?"

"He was just tryin' to make it on his own, Daddy."

I softened my tone. "I know sweetheart, but I've got to tell Beau. That's what we're here for, to get you all started in life."

"Do you have to tell his father?"

"Yes, honey because Beau will never forgive me if I don't."

"Do I have to go with you?"

"No sweetheart, you don't. I'm gonna go down there now."

Within five minutes I was down at Beau's. Connie answered the door and Casandra followed her there. "Mr. Maverick, come in. Beau's in his bedroom. I'll get him for you."

"That's alright, Connie. I've got somethin' I need to talk to him about. And remember it's Bart."

She blushed prettily. "Yes, sir. Bart. Go right on back."

I rushed into Beau's bedroom and closed the door behind me. "Bart, what's wrong?"

"Beau, do you know how Benny got those cattle of his?"

"Uh, no."

"He took out a loan with the bank."

"Well, that's his problem."

"Beau, the cattle are all dead."

"They're what?"

"They're dead, Beau."

"How?"

"Yellow–fever."

"Jesus."

"That's not the worst of it.""

"It gets worse?

"It does. He put up his ranch for collateral."

"He what?"

"And he can't pay the mortgage payment. Maudie says the bank is about to foreclose."

"I have to go into town tomorrow and find out what's happening."

"I think that's a good idea. Don't mention Maudie. He swore her to secrecy."

"I'll let you know what I find out."