Page 17 of The Cowgirl's Secret Love
Alan waved a hand, tilting it from side to side. “He still had some controlling power. Silent partner, if you want to call it that. And until now, it’s made no difference. But at this point, knowing Bruce as we did, I would assume this is a final lesson or a kick in the pants for you two.”
Zach groaned as he dropped his head into his hands. “Dear God. I can see him now, cackling as he dreamed up some horrible challenge to drop on us.”
“You’re not far off, I’m afraid.” Alan glanced through the paperwork in his lap.
“Just tell us,” Finn demanded. “I’m up for one of Bruce’s challenges. If it involves working with Brandon, though, it becomes a lot less entertaining.”
The lawyer went into action. “Couple questions to clarify what I’ve discovered then I will lay it all out for you. Finn. Last financial investment you made through the corporation? I assume it’s this land?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Zachary? How about you? What are you spending money on these days?”
“I just purchased a building in downtown Heart Falls, but the money didn’t come from the corporation,” Zach informed him. “I don’t usually deal with the money side. Finn does that part. I deal with other areas.”
“But this property belongs to you both? Fifty-fifty?”
A bad feeling was growing in the pit of Finn’s stomach. “It was purchased by the corporation, yes. And since we share that fifty-fifty,thisis also both of ours.”
Alan nodded as he scrawled notes across a piece of paper. “Okay. Well, this makes things a little simpler. Before I go on, I want to note that your private bank accounts are exempt. I know you both have regular dividends that go from the corporation into personal savings. Those are protected and not a part of this challenge.”
Finn and Zach exchanged glances. “I suspect Bruce was feeling very creative one day and that we’re going to hate the hell out of this.” Zach made a face. “Damn if I don’t miss the bastard.”
“I hear you,” Finn agreed.
Alan laid down his pen and pulled off his glasses, looking Finn and Zach over solemnly. “Bruce was a wily old bastard, but he was a good man, so let’s hope he planned a way for you to win the challenge. What’s the idea for this place?”
No use in lying because it was impossible to know what was the best answer to give. And if he’d had learned anything from Bruce, straight-up and straightforward would serve Finn better in the long run. “It’s a dude ranch. Catering to tourists, especially from Calgary, but from around the world, to come and have a western experience. Small cabins, high-caliber service, with a small town and family vibe.”
He’d never seen the lawyer light up like that before. Alan didn’t try to hide his grin or his headshake of amazement. “Damn. You boys get this going, and I will bring out my family, guaranteed. I’ve always wanted to do it.”
“Live in a cabin? Ride a horse?” Zach asked.
“Be a cowboy,” Alan offered before getting back on track. “What’s your timeline? When did you plan to have her up and running?”
That sneaky suspicion was back. “At this point I’d like to say about five years from now,” Finn drawled.
Alan laughed. “Yeah, you figured it out. Or part of it, anyway. I will have to back up your estimate with a few others in the industry, so give me your best guess.”
Zach sighed. “Dear God, not again?”
It’d been one of Bruce’s favourite tricks to teach them to think smarter and move faster. Deadlines that shifted unexpectedly. Budgets that got drastically cut but the project still had to be finished.
They hadn’t been fun lessons, but they’d been effective.
“Realistically, we would get things set up this year and begin bookings for next spring. That would be the smart way to do it if you had the funds to put operations on hold that long. Which we do.”
“And people who didn’t have the funds? Who had to start making money as quickly as possible?” Alan asked.
“Hell, you would do the whole thing in stages, and start something in a month’ s time, but that wouldn’t be the kind of experience we’re looking to establish,” Zach said firmly. “And in this day and age, it’s damn near impossible to break a reputation of being a low-caliber operation because social media sticks around forever.”
Alan nodded. “Understood. Okay, here’s the deal. You have made a financial decision and set a goal. It is now Bruce’s intention to encourage you to up your game. With the timing to be clarified, you do not have until next spring to open your doors. Your deadline will be sometime prior to Christmas of this year. If you are successful, and reviews for the first month of people who come to your doors are high-caliber, five-star results, there is a second arm of the corporation that has, up until now, been operating silently. Meet the challenge, and you’ll find your net worth doubled.”
Blood rushed to Finn’s head. The amount of money Bruce had left them in the company was already jaw-dropping. There were a hell of a lot of zeros behind the digits at the start, more than Finn needed.
He glanced at Alan. The solution couldn’t be this simple. “It sounds like an interesting challenge, and I’m always game to try and do things smarter and better, but to be honest, I don’t think I need more money.”
Perched upon his log, his best friend grinned broadly. “Yeah, I’m not feeling the pinch,” Zach said. “I agree. Alan, if we can hit your deadline, great. But if we can’t because we want to make this project a success without burning the candle at both ends, I’m not looking to be a multibillionaire.”
