A Desperate Situation

A Desperate Situation

By

Bridgitte Lesley

Version 1

Published by

Bridgitte Lesley on Smashwords

A Desperate Situation

Copyright © 2013 Bridgitte Lesley

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only and may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy. Your support and respect for the property of this author is appreciated.

This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or locations is purely coincidental. The characters are a production of the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously.

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A Desperate Situation

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CHAPTER 1

Shane sat in the kitchen sipping his cup of coffee. He sat quietly and mulled over the rental of his cottage. He was in two minds. He got up and put his cup in the sink. He took his cell phone and dialed Edward. Edward. Hey Shane. Come to a decision about that cottage of yours? I have. Edward. I don’t think so. Pity. I need a place for a minimum of three months. So the rental would be guaranteed. I just don’t agree with what this Burton person is doing. And if I have to house him people are going to look at me and point fingers. I don’t need that in my life. On top of everything else. Edward chuckled. I am having a tough time. I must tell you. I think I have tried everyone. Well. If I change my mind I will let you know. You do that Shane. Thanks. Shane cut the call. He sat down again.

Merle walked through and smiled. Gosh you are early today. Shane nodded. So have you made a decision about the cottage or not yet? Mom. No. I gave it a lot of thought. No I am not going to rent it out. Yes I know everything is ready and waiting. But it could backfire in my face. Merle smiled. You are not harboring a criminal Shane. It feels that way. Why has everyone got their back up?

Quite simply. This is the way I see it. I would never let a complete stranger waltz in to this place and start making changes. Different story if I decide what to do. Then if something goes wrong I am to blame. But who in their right mind would even think of doing something like that? Whoever this guy is. He is coming on to their land. Going to analyze the way they do things. They are paying him a huge fee. And they even had to sign a document saying that they would do whatever the suggestions are. Who does that?

Well then they are doing it for a reason. I think they are desperate. Mom it just does not sound right. Who is this guy anyhow? Is he from the bank? Are they almost bankrupt? Why are they doing this? Merle shook her head and sat down. I don’t know Shane. But it must be quite serious if they have called someone in. Mom people could lose their jobs because of this guy. I think maybe we should keep an open mind. And hope it pays off for them. I still don’t like it.

Gregg walked in to the kitchen. Merle smiled as she got up and started making their breakfast. So is Edward still looking for accommodation for Burton? Burton? Gregg nodded. Yes. Edward mentioned the name Burton. Shane nodded. Afraid so. I said no. Gregg nodded. Son you have the perfect place. We are right next door to the Basset spread. Yes. But if something goes wrong no way am I going to be the one stuck with this Burton bloke. So the conversation ends right there. A pity. You could have made a little extra which would come in handy. I know. Gregg nodded and smiled.

It was suddenly loud as Barry, Tony and June walked in to the kitchen. Merle smiled as she put the plates down in front of them. Hey Shane. So what did you decide? Well seeing as we are all here. I have decided not to rent the cottage out. And there are reasons for that. I don’t think I need to go in to too much detail. June nodded. I guess this person will find something. Somewhere. Shane nodded. I know it is only for three months. But if things went wrong next door I don’t want to be the one chucking people off my land. I would rather stay out of it. Keep my nose clean. June chuckled. What can possibly go wrong? Anything can go wrong. What if the Basset family end up chucking him off their land. No thanks. I do not need any excitement on my land. Tony chuckled. Hey a little excitement would be kind of nice. Shane chuckled. It would be very exciting to see a little rain. Now that would be the exciting bit. Tony grinned. Yeah right. So when does this person. What did you call him? Burton. So when does Burton arrive? Not sure. He doesn’t have any accommodation. So I can see this bloke sleeping in his van.

June shook her head. That is cruel. They all roared with laughter. No. That is really cruel. And not funny at all. Whoever this guy is does need to eat and sleep. Have a bath. Everyone needs the basics. They all grinned and looked at June. June I am sure Edward will come up with something. Well I hope so. And not that grotty hole on the Marshall’s spread either. They all chuckled.

They finished eating their breakfast and everyone left the kitchen. Shane sat for a while. He felt so strange. He had a weird sensation in his stomach. He hoped he had made the right decision. The extra money would have helped. Merle looked at him. You okay Shane? Shane nodded and got up. To the office. She nodded and smiled. He was always so serious. And even more so when he was stressed. And that seemed to be par for the course. He carried the ranch on his shoulders. He didn’t complain but carried on regardless. Shane walked through to the office and sat down. He put the PC on. He had been analyzing his own business ever since the mention of a business analyst. But there was nothing he could change. And they were only just surviving. He sighed as he started looking at the schedules that he had created. It was back to work.

CHAPTER 2

Douglas got in the van and drove over to town. Ben and Phillip were both quiet as he drove. So when is our Business Analyst going to arrive Dad? Should be some time this week. He mentioned that he would get to town and would see us the same day. Ben smiled and nodded. I know he is costing big bucks Dad. But can we really afford him? Douglas sighed and shook his head. I am going to be very open and honest with you two. And this is why Luke is annoyed with me. He was quiet for a while as he thought. We have enough in the bank for the next six months. I always like to have that buffer should something go wrong. But I hate living like that. It has been a struggle for the last two years. We just don’t seem to be getting out of the hitch. So I decided to take a chance. Yes it is a big risk. I have appointed this guy which means the six months buffer is now reduced down to two months.

Phillip and Ben both stared at Douglas. I have to do something. We are hardly living. We survive. But what kind of life is this? We can’t afford anything extra. We basically count every penny that we spend. If I knew how to make the changes I would. But I am stumped. I don’t know where to start. Everything runs smoothly. But it has been the same forever. When foaling season comes you expect a certain number. But then you are short by ten or fifteen. You can’t do anything. So you carry on and try and cover the losses.

Dad what is this guy going to do for us? Phillip. He has looked at every single thing on the ranch. He has asked for so much information and I have sent him everything. What kind of information? The number of cattle. The processes that we follow. How we maintain our herds. He asked for every single detail. Which I sent through. What you must understand is that this guy does not accept every request that is sent his way. So he is selective. No it isn’t that. I have read up on his company. He has worked with large companies and turned them around from almost being in or going through liquidation and they ended up way better than the rest. I even made a call to a guy. Who was in a worse situation than us. But his predicament was compounded. How so? He was running his ranch and things started to slip a little. He decided not to appoint Rick Burton. Phillip and Ben nodded.

But then things worsened. He had an accident and found himself confined to a wheel chair. Really? Douglas nodded. "So he was really stumped. So he decided to appoint the guy in the end. But Rick Burton moved in to the ranch. He literally took over. He started teaching the guys’ wife how to run the ranch. What to look for. What changes to make. It took her six months and he had her trained up. In that time Jonathan. His name is Jonathan and his wife is Penelope. In that time Jonathan was able to mend. Rick Burton ran the show with Penelope by his side.

Ben smiled and nodded. Rick Burton turned the ranch around. They ended up starting to export. He says they hit the pound seats. They still have the same ranch with the same animals. Nothing changed. But Rick Burton was the instigator of them exporting. Douglas chuckled. Jonathan is up and about. He says he is as healthy as a horse. He says he has to thank Rick for many things. He roared with laughter and Ben and Phillip looked at him. He says Penelope lost so much weight that he fell in love with her all over again. Ben chuckled. So his wife was overweight. Douglas grinned and nodded. Jonathan says Rick Burton turned his business around, his life, and gave him back his childhood sweetheart. Phillip grinned. Jonathan says she is so beautifully built that he has to be careful not to over spend on all the lingerie he buys her. They all roared with laughter.

Did Rick Burton say you can give them a call? Douglas nodded. Rick Burton gave us a list of every single person he has dealt with. Please remember that we have signed documents with him because everything is confidential. They both nodded. But yes. He gave us a list of all his clients. We could choose to phone any of them if we wanted to. There is no explanation next to the names. And they all have something to tell. And success is what they harp on. How successful they are.

Phillip smiled and nodded. And that was the deciding factor. Douglas nodded. I am not a hi tech rancher Phillip. I do what I have learnt to do. I know the land and I know the animals. I am not trained or taught to do anything else. And I want to make a success of our ranch. I might be a Joe Blogg, like everyone else, but I want to do my best.

Ben smiled. Dad you can’t say that. You are running a very big spread. You aren’t just a farmer. You are a rancher. And a good one. Douglas smiled. Son. I want all of us to be able to say we run a successful business. That is all I want. I don’t need the riches or the wealth. But I would like to have a little extra in the bank. If I want to go in to the shop and buy your mother a bunch of flowers I want to be able to do that. But if I did that now I would feel as if I am squandering.

Ben and Phillip smiled and nodded. And why is Luke so anti this whole exercise? Because of the amount that Rick Burton charges. And he says not one person can have the knowledge to walk in to a ranch and turn it around. He says that change cannot happen that fast. I think, like all of us, Luke has decided that we are going to lose the ranch. Ben looked out the window and nodded. He whispered. I felt that way Dad. Phillip nodded. Douglas sighed. I did feel like that. Sometimes I feel a little negative. But I am hoping that Rick Burton will come in and guide us. Show us or tell us what to do. Where to make the changes. I don’t have to export. I don’t need to expand the business. But I want things a whole lot better. I will be happy if I can change just a few things and start showing a profit. And be able to walk in to the shop and buy Mom the flowers that she loves. They all smiled and nodded.

Do I have your support boys? Phillip smiled and nodded. Yes Dad. You have. And I will do whatever Mister Burton suggests. If he is willing to help us then yes. Ben nodded. Does Rick Burton come with a guarantee? Yes he most certainly does. He has all our bank statements, list of assets, the works. He has given me a figure. If we do not achieve that figure then he pays back every dime. Ben gasped. Not serious! Douglas nodded. And he keeps reminding me that if I am not happy with the service then we part ways. What happens if after a month you pull out? Then I pay for that one month. Ben nodded. So you don’t have to put the whole chunk of money up front then. Heavens no. The fee is structured by month. Payment is due on the last day of the month. And he doesn’t ask for a deposit or anything? Douglas smiled and shook his head. No. Nothing. Not a cent. So he is actually open to being ripped off. Yes if I was that way inclined. And I am sure there have been instances like that. But we do sign an agreement. So I do not think that can really happen. They both nodded and smiled.

Douglas smiled and looked at Phillip and Ben. Let’s get the groceries. They chuckled as they got out of the van and walked inside the shop.

CHAPTER 3

Erica drove in to town. She pulled up to the hotel and checked in. And how long will you be staying Miss Burton? I would like the room for the week. But if I need to extend my stay it could quite possibly be for a period of four or six months. The clerk smiled and nodded. Should I do the booking for six months? Erica nodded. But I will pay weekly. Settle my bill every week. He nodded. That isn’t necessary. No I think it will work. If things change. Roger nodded. And is this a business trip. Or pleasure? Erica looked at his name tag. My business is my pleasure. Roger. If you enjoy what you are doing then it can be a pleasure. Roger chuckled and nodded. I like your thinking Ma’am. He smiled and handed her the key. You are on the second floor. Dennis please carry Miss Burton’s luggage through to her room.

Dennis smiled as he carried two suitcases and followed Erica. She smiled as she walked up the stairs. Dennis followed quietly. Erica looked at her room number and put the key in to the door. She slowly opened the door and stepped inside the room. Oh this is lovely. Dennis smiled. You have your own bathroom. And you have the room with the working area. Yes this will do. Dennis smiled. "How long are you here