Page 31 of Headstrong Cowboy
Chapter Fifteen
Chrissy’s back achedfrom sweeping the water out of both the workshop and the greenhouse.Sunny and Tilly had managed to get the flowers into one of the other greenhouses.It was cramped and wasn’t ideal, but it would work for at least a week.
This disaster was the last thing Chrissy needed when she was going to be competing in two days.That was what she’d been arguing with Len Winchester, the repairman, about.The town basically shut down because of the rodeo, and she understood why.The Copper Mountain Rodeo was the biggest event on the town’s calendar.Businesses everywhere reaped the benefits of cowboys, cowgirls, and tourists spending the week in Marietta.No doubt Len wanted to enjoy the festivities and not spend days fixing an irrigation system and water pipes that should’ve been fixed a year ago.
The expense wasn’t what they needed and added pressure to Chrissy to win her event.First she had to get through qualifying and the way her mind was whirling with all she had to do, that wasn’t a guarantee.
As much as it pained her, she was going to have to take the hit from withdrawing Beau’s money.She needed it and, while it might not be the whole amount, half was better than nothing.
But it still wasn’t enough.Her grasp on keeping the farm in the family was slipping through her fingers with every passing day.The bank hadn’t gotten back to her.When she’d last phoned, they’d told her they were still considering the loan application.Even with having Sunny’s and Tilly’s names on the loan, knowing that they could contribute to the repayments, she was still worried the bank would reject it.If she didn’t win on the weekend, and the bank knocked them back, then the dream was gone.The farm would have to be sold and the beautiful flowers they grew would wither along with the legacy her father had often talked about.
“I’ve finished in the greenhouse.Where’s Ryder?”Sunny asked as she entered the workshop.
“He’s gone back to town to pick up some dinner for us.I know neither one of us will feel like cooking, and I don’t want Mom to cook either.”Her mom was another thing she was worried about.After she’d come out and seen what had happened, she’d shaken her head and headed back to the house, plonking herself down in front of the television, watching the Lifestyle channel nonstop.The one time Chrissy had looked in, her mom had a picture of her and Dad on their wedding day in her hand, and she was weeping silently.She hadn’t had the heart to interrupt the private grieving moment, even though she’d wanted to.
Again, she had the thought that maybe selling was the right decision.Why was she fighting so hard for something that was only going to continue to cause them so much stress?“Is it worth it?”she asked Sunny.
“On days like today, no, but other days...”Her sister shrugged, her own face showing the misery of what selling would mean to her.Chrissy may have not said the words, but Sunny had picked up on the real unspoken question.
Chrissy returned her attention to the sweeping.All they needed to do was get through the next few months, and then things would be better.Spring would arrive, which heralded new growth and new opportunities.There was still more they could do, Chrissy was sure of it.If the three of them could convince their mom to hold off from selling, then anything was possible.
But did she have the energy?That was the biggest question.She was burning herself out, trying to do her contracted accounting work, as well as help at the farm and wade through the financial mess her father had left behind.
Some days, she was drowning, and other days, she was cutting through the waves like a pro surfer.Sunny was working hard, too, to try to keep on top of the day-to-day running of the farm.
“If it’s too much, Chrissy, it’s okay to let go.I don’t want this to be a burden for you.You didn’t come back to shoulder all of this.”
She looked up at Sunny.Her sweet, flower-loving sister would wilt like a bloom without water if she couldn’t have her hands in soil.Of course, Sunny could get a job working with plants, but it wouldn’t be the same—Chrissy knew that.There was a certain freedom working for oneself than working for someone else.She was finding that out by being in charge of the contracts she took on and those she rejected, which weren’t many.Sunny wanted the freedom to plant what she wanted.Work on her cross-pollination projects to come up with a unique bloom and scent that no one else had.If she did that for someone else, she wouldn’t own it.It would more than likely be owned by the people she worked for.She’d get credit, but it wouldn’t be the same as being in charge of the new flower’s future.
“I’m not alone, Sunshine.You’re with me.Tilly, as flighty as she can be, proved today that when we need her, she would drop everything for us.”Chrissy rested the broom against the workbench and closed the distance between her and Sunny.“We’re the Bloom sisters.We stick together.It’s like back in elementary school—you go after one Bloom, you end up with all the Blooms after you.”
A smile tugged at the corners of Sunny’s mouth.“Yeah, Billy Patterson found that out when he pulled Tilly’s pigtails right in front of you.”
Chrissy laughed at the memory.“Classic boy-crush move, but that didn’t mean I was going to allow him to get away with it.”
“I know you said you wouldn’t take the money I’ve saved up, but after this—” Sunny waved her arm around the room.“We need it.We’ll use my money to pay for the repairs.I should’ve insisted Dad get it fixed last year.”
Pride almost had Chrissy knocking her sister’s offer back, but the sensible accounting part of her reminded her that every cent counted.“Thank you, Sunny.That will be a big help.”
Sunny’s eyes widened.“What...you’re going to take it?Without arguing with me?”
Chrissy laughed.“Yes, I am.My words about all of us pulling together would be hollow if I didn’t accept your offer.”
“Finally!Maybe you can tell me just how bad things are, because I’m sure what you told me is only the tip of the iceberg.”
Sunny may be happy digging in the dirt and snipping flowers, but she was observant.She had to be to be able to do what she did when grafting flowers.Her saying that Chrissy had been keeping things from her was the truth.“Come on.Let me show you everything.”
“What about me?”
Chrissy turned and found Tilly standing in the doorway.“Of course, I just...”She shrugged.“I feel I need to protect you because you’re the baby, but you’re a grown woman now, and it’s wrong for me to do that.”
“I get it.I know I’m not the most reliable, but I don’t want to be left out.”
“I’m sorry for making you feel that way, Tilly-Pilly.”
Tilly smiled at Chrissy’s silly nickname for her.“You feel responsible for all of us and need to bear the brunt of it all.”Tilly smiled softly at her.“But you don’t have to take it on by yourself.Even if we get the loan and you win on the weekend, Mom’s still going to do what she wants to do, and if that means selling, then that’s what we have to accept.I know I’m not involved as much as I should be, but I don’t want to lose what ties us to Marietta.If Dad were here, you know that selling would be a last resort for him.”
“When did you become so wise?”Chrissy asked Tilly.
