Page 12 of Cameron

The man stared at him. “I’ve heard of the Burnett Dude Ranch. That’s a big spread. You’re thinking of buying up here? Is there a particular piece of property you’re looking at?”

Cameron didn’t want to tell him which property because then it would spread through town like an out-of-control prairie fire.

“Right now, we’re just looking at the area, assessing the possibilities,” he said.

The older man nodded.

“How’s cattle prices up here?”

“Last year we had a great year,” he said. “The price of feed was low and we had enough summer grass that the cost of the beef on the hoof was very profitable for most ranchers.”

“That’s good to know,” Cameron said. “How about in the wintertime? I’m sure that’s when your feed costs go way up.”

The man nodded. “It can be. But most of the ranchers stock up on hay and even grow their own.”

Cameron pushed his cowboy hat back and nodded. “So what is the cost of feed right now?”

The man told him, and while it was higher than in Texas, the Mistletoe Ranch could’ve fed thousands of cattle with the amount they’d spent.

Did Edward think him a fool? Did he expect him to believe those costs he’d seen?

“What about the Mistletoe Ranch, where I’m staying? How is their feed bill compared to other ranches?”

He didn’t know if the man would tell him, but all he could do was ask.

The man sighed. “Since Ted died, that ranch has been floundering. His son doesn’t know squat about ranching. Rumor is that they’re in trouble, but I don’t know. I try to mind my own business. I feel sorry for Samantha and Betty. They don’t deserve to lose that place.”

Cameron nodded. It didn’t seem like the man thought Edward was the brightest bulb on the block.

“You’ve been a big help, thank you,” he said and left.

Next, he went to the Bear Claw, a typical small-town bar. When he walked in, it was so dark, it took him a minute to adjust to the dimness in the room.

When he sat at the bar, a woman came up to him. “What can I get for you?”

“A beer,” he said not planning to drink much since he was going to drive the sleigh for Samantha.

The woman slapped it down on the bar and he paid. He sat, gazing about the place.

“You’re not from around here,” she said.

“No, I’m not,” he said. “Looking at some properties in the area. Thinking about buying. Tell me which ones you think would sell.”

The woman narrowed her gaze at him and then sighed.

She named off several properties and then she leaned in close. “I hear that the Mistletoe Ranch is about to go under. You might get that one for a good price.”

“Oh really,” he said, sipping on his beer. “Why are they going under?”

She sighed and leaned against the counter. “Since Old Man Anderson died, his son’s been running the place. He’s not really the ranching type.”

Cameron nodded.

Leaning in close to him, she whispered, “He owes a lot of money to some unsavory types. He’s got to sell. The sooner, the better.”

Stunned, Cameron stared at her. Why would she tell him this information? Why would Edward have let his inheritance slip away like this?

Like she realized she’d said too much, she stood tall and walked away. There was so much more he wanted to ask her, but feared if he said too much, she would just clam up.

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