Page 35 of Cameron

Finishing her tea, Samantha sighed. “I love the idea of a celebration. But, first, I’ve got more business to attend to. You guys make it fun and we’ll all be there.”

When she stood, Emily stood as well and hugged her. “Things will be all right. I just know they will.”

How could she respond? She would have to let all her employees go and she wasn’t even certain she had the money to pay them for their time and hard work.

That’s why she needed to see Casey.

“I hope so, Emily,” she said. “I truly hope so.”

Walking out of the kitchen, she saw the couple go into each other’s arms and she was so glad that her chefs had found one another. They were a great couple.

If that was the good that came out of this week, then so be it.

Knowing she needed to go speak to Casey but not really wanting to, she walked down the hall and then into her office.

Casey glanced up at her and frowned. That wasn’t a good reaction.

“Have you heard?” Samantha asked.

“No, what?”

“Sterling called off the wedding and has left the building,” she said. “Francesca and her mother are leaving for a relaxing spa weekend in the Swiss Alps while we’re here to clean up the mess.”

Casey rolled big eyes and shook her head. “Would you want to be married to that diva?”

“No, but we need them to pay their bill,” Samantha said.

A grimace filled her cousin’s face. “Sam, I’m sorry to tell you this, but we’ve got way bigger problems than just a canceled wedding. I think Edward has been skimming money until we’re just about broke.”

Could this day get any worse? She shouldn’t think that, because then it would be. With Cameron leaving, the canceledwedding, and now hearing this news, she didn’t know how much more she could take.

“I’ve printed out the audit. Almost half a million dollars is gone and we now owe the bank a lot of money.”

“What? The ranch is paid for,” she said gasping.

“Yes, but he took out a lean against the property. I’ve been doing everything I could to keep the banker from foreclosing on us, but I don’t know how much longer I can keep him at bay.”

Stunned, she sank down into the chair across from her cousin. “Why? Why would he do this? I mean we have a good life here. What has he been doing with all this money?”

The memory of the man who came searching for Edward came to mind and she suddenly feared the worst.

“There was a bill collector here yesterday. He had a gun stuffed in the waistband of his pants. Oh my God, what if he wasn’t a legitimate bill collector? What if he was…”

She couldn’t say the word out loud.

Casey handed her the paper. “Here’s the audit. I’m sorry, Samantha. I wish I had better news for you. And yes, I’d be very afraid of that man, whoever he was.”

“I’m going to kill Edward. All these years, I knew I should have been an only child. But no, Daddy thought Edward should run the ranch, not me. Well, that’s stopping right now, if I can…”

The thought of losing their family home brought tears to her eyes. All she’d done today was cry. Well, no more.

She was going after Edward. It was time she laid down the law and do what she could to save the land that had been in their family for so many generations. And yet her brother didn’t seem to give a rat’s ass that they were going to lose everything.

“Thanks, Casey,” she said taking the audit. “We’re having a big party tonight with food and wedding cake since the ceremony is off.”

Casey shook her head. “I’m so sorry, Samantha. This has been a horrible day and Christmas is so close.”

Christmas. Samantha had completely forgotten about the celebration of their Lord and Savior’s birth. She’d forgotten about everything but Cameron, the wedding, and now the ranch.

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