Page 39 of Cameron

“When did you take out a loan on the ranch without telling me,” her mother said.

His head jerked up. “I’m in control of the ranch. I can do what I want with the land.”

Her mother took a sharp intake of breath and Samantha suddenly worried about her having a heart attack.

“No, you can’t,” she said. “Your father left the ranch to me with you in charge of the business.Istill own this property and don’t you ever forget it.”

Sadly, Samantha knew that with what Edward had done, she doubted they could hold onto the property much longer.

“You need to tell us what you did with the cash. Be honest or I’ll have the men walk you out the door right now. Do you understand me?” Samantha said.

He licked his lips. “I got into a bind. You know I’ve always liked to play cards. I owe a shark a lot of money and they’re threatening to break my legs if I don’t pay them.”

Stunned, Samantha stared at her brother. “You’ve taken out half a million dollars. Did you lose it all to gambling?”

Nodding, he stared at her. “That’s why I haven’t been around much. I know that one of them has been searching for me. If I didn’t pay him, he was going to give me a dose of what he would do to me.”

Her mother started to cry. “Your father warned you.”

“Yes,” he said. “He did.”

That was news to Samantha.

“And yet you still got into trouble,” she said, glaring at him through her tears.

Hanging his head, he sighed. “When I went to Daddy and told him I needed a loan to pay some of my debts, he had a heart attack. I blame myself for killing him.”

It was all Samantha could do not to jump up off the couch and throttle her brother.

Her mother sobbed. “And now what have you done to us?”

“We’re about to lose everything,” he said. “But I’ve found a buyer. Someone you’ll really like.”

“Who?” Samantha asked, a trickle of fear filling her. Fearing she already knew the answer.

“Cameron Burnett. He wants to buy the ranch and turn it into one of those adult playgrounds.”

Stunned, she stared at her brother, wanting to curse him. The man she had been falling in love with, who had not been honest and told her the truth, wanted to buy their family land.

Damn him!

Putting her face into her hands, she cried. He’d not been honest with her and that hurt more than anything. That one night with him had her heart missing and wanting more time with him. How could she be falling in love with the man who was trying to take her family home from her? No, she refused to let him have her heart. Just no.

Raising her head, she stared at the man she almost hated. “Did you think we would approve of selling the ranch?”

Her brother squirmed in his chair. “No, but I don’t have a choice.”

They both stared at Edward like he was crazy. He expected them to be excited about losing their family home.

Her mother was getting up there in age, but she stood, her face was red and Samantha could see she was outraged.

“As the matriarch of this family, on Monday, I will make certain that the bank knows that your name is to be removed from all accounts. Your name will be removed from this place, do you understand me? Your sister is now taking over and I’m going to do everything I can to help her save this place. I’m so ashamed that my son, my only son, is going to lose the land that has been in this family for so many generations.”

Her brother’s brown eyes widened. “We can start somewhere new. As a family.”

“No, we can’t,” her mother said. “I’m almost eighty years old and you want me to begin again? No.”

Samantha had never seen her mother so upset.

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