“Didn’t think so.” Tom stepped closer and folded his arms. “As I’m certain you’re aware, I’ve been”—he stopped to correct himself—“the bank has been trying to reach you for some time now.”

“Yes, and I’m very sorry—I know what this is all about.”

“You do?”

“I’m behind on payments, I realize that, but it won’t be long now, business will pick up and we’re gonna get back on track.” Even Ryan had to admit the conviction in his plea was sorely lacking. It sounded rehearsed and robotic and he wasn’t fooling anyone.

“Behind on payments? Ryan, do you know how long it’s been?”

“We’re going through a slow patch, that’s all,” Ryan said, courageously rebuffing Tom with the same lies he’d told his father.

“I’m sorry to be the one to tell you this, but I’m afraid it’s worse than that. Am I to take it that you haven’t even been opening the mail?”

Ryan shook his head.

“So, you’re not aware. Well then, this is going to come as quite the shock.”

Something of a gulp sounded from inside Ryan’s throat.

“As you rightly know, you were already dangerously overextended, long before this ‘slow patch’ of yours, but the lack of cash flow isn’t the only issue the bank is concerned about. The other part of the problem is that your drawings have continued to increase, which has been compounded by the fact that your interest rates went up when we resettled the loan last year.” Tom drawled on for another minute, drifting into technical territory and citing terms like “loss mitigation” and “negative equity” and “margin of risk,” none of which Ryan understood.

“Just be straight with me,” Ryan blurted out. “In English, please.”

Tom bowed his head and took a step closer. “It’s bad.”

“What do you mean it’s bad? How bad?”

“Bad . . . as in, I’m afraid the bank must now take action.”

“Action? What kind of action?”

“The ranch has reached the point where it now owes more than it’s worth. It’s no longer viable for the bank to provide you the loan. Do you understand what that means?”

Ryan swallowed and mumbled something inarticulate.

“It means that, in three days, a foreclosure notice will be served on your property. The bank intends to put the ranch to auction and sell before the month is out.”

“No, no, there must be some mistake.” It took Ryan a considerable length of time to work his way through the shock. His heart was up somewhere near his throat.

“I’m afraid not.”

“But three days? That’s far too soon.”

“Ryan, this has all been explained to you,” Tom said, his tone beginning to harden. “If you’d only opened the letters, you would have had more time.”