Bodhi clicked on the screen, bringing up an overhead map of the Blue Creek Ranch property. He pointed. “Here’s where our property butts up against Millsbrook Road. I’ve already started construction there, clearing trees and building the entrance. Most of the wood we can send for processing and then use it for building. That way nothing goes to waste. It’ll be about twenty acres, just a little less.” He clicked to a new diagram that showed the proposed buildings, arenas, and trails. “I have enough saved to get started. I need a loan for the rest.”
That explained the construction I’d seen. I nodded. “Show me the business plan.”
Bodhi brought up that document again, and I read through it thoroughly. It was well done, for the most part, and I only had a few suggestions. Where he could make things a little stronger and pointed out that he should be more conservative with his projections. Even though I anticipated that what he expected to make was accurate, it was safer to bring that down to account for unforeseen circumstances. Bodhi took notes so he could make the changes.
When he was done, I looked him straight in the eye. “I want to invest.”
He crossed his arms over his chest, making his biceps bulge. “I’m not taking your money.”
I knew that was coming. I didn’t know the man well but I could see the pride practically pouring off him. And while this was aworthwhile endeavor, I understood the need for Bodhi to do this on his own. I shook my head.
“Oh, no. I mean, Icouldfund the whole thing, but we’re not mixing business and personal. That’s not smart on any level. When I say invest, I mean you pay me back certain dividends out of the profits.” I leaned forward. “Because I wholeheartedly believe that this will turn a profit in two years, not the four you’re projecting. One thing I’ve learned is that horse people will do anything for their horses. And horsey sleep away camp sounds like a blast.”
He cracked then, finally giving me a smile and loosening his arms. “What are we talking here?”
I ran the numbers quickly in my head. “Ten percent, which will give you a cushion to get going. Once the retreat opens, I’ll anticipate quarterly payments of one percent until I’ve made back my investment.” I couldn’t resist pointing out, “And with the lower amount for the loan, they are more likely to grant it.”
Bodhi rubbed a hand over his mouth, brain clearly working. “I need to think about it.”
“Of course.” I pulled my phone out of my pocket. “I can have my assistant draw up a contract with those terms and you can have your lawyer look it over. Take your time deciding. No hurt feelings if you decide to decline. But, Bodhi?”
He dropped his hand and looked at me. I stared him down.
“This is an excellent business, and your plan is rock solid. If I didn’t believe in it, I wouldn’t have offered. So remember that.”
His eyes went wide for a moment before he schooled his expression. He nodded once. “Thanks.”
“Shall I have Marielle get to work then?” I shook my head with a little laugh. “When she gets back from her vacation, that is.”
It still took him another few seconds to answer. “Yes. I’ll look it over and let you know what I decide.”
“Good.” I shot Marielle a text, just to put it on her radar. When she got back to the house, she would have to remind me to put the wheels in motion. That done, I stood and Bodhi did the same.
We shook hands and when he rounded the desk, I clapped him on the shoulder. “Let me know if you need anything else. If you want me to look it over after you’ve made the changes, I’d be happy to.”
“Thanks, Carter.”
This time I led the way downstairs and was not wholly surprised that Hawk was nowhere to be seen. We’d been up there for at least a half an hour. At the very least, he was putting Greta away and getting someone else out for training. I was about to go see if I could find him, when Fern walked into the barn, with an older couple.
The woman was artificially blonde, had breast augmentation, and was wearing clothes that were far too fancy to be in a barn. I mean, they looked like Western attire but were designer and not actually appropriate. The man’s clothes were more suitable, as though he actually understood working attire, but he was much more interested in the barn, gaze roving all over, like he was looking for something.
“Bodhi, Carter, let me introduce you to the Buchanans,” Fern said, her voice all customer service, but sounding a little strained. Bodhi picked up on it too, instantly going on alert beside me. Fern made a face, just a split second, before she was back to smiling. “Charity saw my social media and wants to book the event barn for their twentieth anniversary party. Richard insisted on a tour.”
Something was off here, I just couldn’t put my finger on it. Subconsciously, Bodhi and I stood shoulder to shoulder in front of the couple. We shook hands, Charity’s handshake like a deadfish and Richard’s as though he was trying to prove how macho he could be. Instantly, I didn’t like either of them.
“Oh, it’s so quaint and cute,” Charity said, gushing for reasons I couldn’t understand. “As soon as I saw the video, I just knew we had to book in here. Even though it’s quite a drive.”
“Where are you all from?” Bodhi asked, almost sounding interested. He knew something was wrong too.
“Iowa,” Richard said, tone short. He hadn’t stopped looking around.
Charity slipped her arm into Richard’s, who didn’t even seem to notice. “I was gushing about this place, demanding we come check it out, when Richard mentioned this is where my gelding was trained.” She batted her fake eyelashes up at Richard who spared her a strained smile before returning to his searching. She was actually really pretty, but her husband didn’t seem to care. “My sweet, adoring husband surprised me with Prince for our fifteenth anniversary. Had him delivered to our door without me knowing a thing. Isn’t that so romantic?”
It took a second but not more than that. All the pieces fell into place. The story that Hawk had told me that night, about the encounter that had traumatized him. The way this fucker was looking around the barn as though he knew where he was and was searching for something, or more accurately, someone, in particular. The details were far too similar for it to be a coincidence.
I saw red and I took a step closer without conscious thought. “You need to go. Now.”
Fern’s mouth dropped open, the fuckhead’s eyes blazed in anger, Charity blinked in surprise, but I wasn’t backing down. Even better, Bodhi stepped up so he was once again beside me, so we were a united front.
