Tomás hated money.
He hated how necessary it was. He hated how it could corrupt people. And he especially hated that Rancho Lindo never seemed to have enough of it these days.
“I thought we expected to make a profit this quarter because of the expansion of the microgreens contract,” his brother Daniel said.
They were all sitting in the home office for their monthly finance meeting. Cruz had just let them know that if they weren’t careful, they were bound to show a loss at the end of the quarter. He’d had the same thought as Daniel. Rancho Lindo’s contract with the Green Grocery Store—a growing organic and locally sourced grocery chain—had expanded thanks to the popularity of the microgreens cultivated in Nora’s garden. Their production was about to double in size during the spring. Tomás didn’t understand why that wouldn’t make the ranch even more money.
“The microgreens contract is going to make us a profit,” Gabe explained. “But it’s going to be offset by our losses everywhere else.”
Cruz stood up from behind their dad’s desk. “We need some new income revenue, guys. Because if we don’t have at least one quarter where we’re in the black this year, then we’re going to have to start looking at getting a business loan.”
“Dad isn’t going to like that,” Nico warned.
“Well, Dad doesn’t need to worry about this,” Cruz said, pointing at Nico. “We’re going to figure things out on our own. So let’s come up with a few more ideas.”
They spent the next hour going around the room and brainstorming ways to bring in more money to the ranch. The last resort would be selling off some equipment and letting go of another ranch hand. The very last resort would be a loan.
When they were done with the meeting, Nico jumped up and announced, “I think we all need a shot after talking about this crap.”
Tomás wasn’t in the mood, but he also knew there was no arguing with his brother. So he joined Daniel and Gabe as they walked out to the backyard and took their usual seats around the firepit. Oreo and Shadow followed—always ready to go where the boys went. After it became obvious no one was going any farther than the patio, they lay down next to the circle of chairs.
A few minutes later, Nico and Cruz joined them—one carrying five shot glasses and the other a brand-new bottle of tequila.
“Boys, we’re trying something new tonight,” Nico announced and raised the skull-shaped glass bottle.
“Where’d you get that?” Gabe asked.
“Picked it up a few weeks ago when we were up in Nevada for that auction.”
“Let me guess,” Tomás said. “You also taste-tested it.”
Nico shrugged. “Pues, of course. I always try before I buy.”
“Tequila is just tequila,” Cruz explained as he passed out the shot glasses.
Nico literally gasped. “How on earth are we related, man?” he asked Cruz.
“As long as it goes down smooth, I couldn’t care less about what the bottle looks like or what kind of container it comes in.”
Cruz took the bottle from Nico and walked around the firepit to serve each brother. The rest of them stood up and raised their shot glasses in the air.
“All right, who’s going to start us off?” Cruz asked as he took his place next to Gabe.
“I will,” Daniel said. He cleared his throat and continued. “To Rancho Lindo, may it always be our home.”
Nico went next. “To friends and familia, may we never be alone.”
“To the loves we’ve lost and those we have yet to find,” Nico added.
“To lessons learned and leaving mistakes behind,” Gabe said.
The brothers all turned to Tomás. He nodded, raised his glass, and said, “And to forgetting the bad, so we can always remember the good.”
“Salud,” they all said.
After two more rounds they sat in silence, leaving only the sounds of the crackling wood and usual animal noises to fill the uneasy night air. Tomás knew they were all thinking of the same thing. They had to do whatever it took to make sure Rancho Lindo was around for the next generation. So whatever sacrifices had to be made or whatever last resorts had to be taken, then so be it.
And no matter what, their dad couldn’t know that the finances were so unstable.
“So, Tomás, how’s it going with Veronica?”
Nico’s question pulled him out of his dark thoughts. He shrugged and set his glass on the table next to his chair. “It’s going fine.”
“Fine? That’s it?” Gabe asked.
“What else do you want me to say?”
“Well, what do you think she’s telling her father about Rancho Lindo?” It was Cruz who had the question this time.
Tomás crossed his arms over his chest and leaned farther back into his chair. “I have no idea. Why?”
“Why? Tomás, we talked about this. If Enrique del Valle is happy with the services here at Rancho Lindo, it could open up a whole new source of income.”
“I get that, Cruz. But what do you want me to do? Ask Veronica if she’s saying nice things about us to her dad?”
Cruz nodded. “Uh. Yeah. That’s exactly what I want you to do.”
“Well, Nora mentioned that Veronica did say she was very grateful for everything we were doing for her,” Gabe added.
“See?” Cruz told Tomás. “That’s what I wanted to know. Now maybe you can ask if she could share her positive thoughts with her dad.”
Tomás rolled his eyes. “I am not going to do that.”
“Didn’t you just promise less than an hour ago to do whatever it takes to make sure the ranch shows a profit next quarter?”
That wasn’t fair. Tomás was already doing everything he could to help. Plus, he didn’t want Veronica to think that was the only reason he was trying to make sure she had everything she needed. Tomás was making the effort because he wanted to.
“I’m going to keep my promise, Cruz. I just think that asking Veronica to convince her dad to give us more business isn’t very professional. In fact, it reeks of desperation.”
Cruz shrugged. “Desperate times and all that, brother.”
“All right, this conversation is both boring me and depressing me. I’m heading to bed,” Daniel announced.
“Me too,” Tomás said, looking directly at Cruz. “I’ll see what I can find out and let you know.”
Cruz nodded and stood up. They each picked up their own shot glass, while Nico grabbed the nearly empty bottle. “Damn. This is the last time I’m sharing my tequila with you greedy bastards.”
“That’s why I keep the good stuff up in my room,” Cruz said as they began walking toward the house.
“Tomás, hold up.” He felt someone tug on the sleeve of his sweatshirt to stop him from walking through the door.
He turned around to find Nico right behind him. “What’s going on?” he asked.
Nico waited until they were the only two left on the backyard patio. He cleared his throat. “I wanted to ask you a question. But I need you to be honest with me, like one hundred percent honest.”
Tomás nodded. “Okay. What is it?”
“Do you think Veronica would say yes if I asked her out?”
“Are you joking?” Tomás already knew the answer because he knew his brother like the back of his hand. It was obvious that he’d been interested in Veronica since the day she’d arrived. Still, for some reason he didn’t want to make this easy for him.
“Not joking. Come on. I don’t joke about stuff like this.”
Tomás rolled his eyes. Nico had never been serious about dating because he was never serious about relationships. The only reason he was interested in Veronica was because she hadn’t shown any real interest in him. She was a challenge. She was something he wanted just so he could prove to himself and others that he could get her.
Irritation heated the back of his neck even in the chilly night air. “I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
“Well, I didn’t ask permission, Tomás. I just wanted to know if you think she would go.”
Tomás threw up his hands in frustration. “How the hell would I know that?”
“Because you see her every day. You talk to her, don’t you? Pretend she’s one of your horses and you’re trying to figure out what she needs.”
Anger exploded from within. “You’re an asshole, Nico.”
His brother raised his arms. “Whoa. Calm down, big brother. I just meant that you’re the one who probably knows her the best by now. That’s all.”
“That doesn’t mean I know what kind of guy she likes or if she’s dumb enough to go out with you.”
“Hey now. No need to be mean. Why are you so worked up about this?”
“Because I’m not the Veronica expert, okay? You and Cruz seem to think we have the kind of relationship where she spills her secrets to me. She barely likes me. Why on earth would she confide what her dad thinks or about her love life?”
As soon as he said the words, Tomás realized what he was really irritated about. After their ride the other day, he’d thought they had gotten closer. He thought maybe they were even becoming friends. But then she kept telling him how grateful she was for what he and his family were doing for her. It was almost like she’d been surprised he could actually be nice.
At least, that’s how it had made him feel. And he wasn’t exactly sure why he’d been so disappointed by it.