Chapter 21

21

I n the ten days since Shy Blackwood had booted Ry from the family business— and the family —his life had changed exponentially. Ry needed an immediate source of income. Barbequing was in his blood, so he sat down with Emerson, who was eager to assist him in creating a solid plan utilizing his background and skills.

The top priority was purchasing a first-class smoker if he were going to produce quality meats. The gold standard for commercial smokers was Lang, located in Nahunta, Georgia. Ry wouldn't consider any other brand. To get the nine-foot smoker he wanted, along with the trailer hitch swivel front for easier transportation and a fold-down prep area, it would set him back almost eighteen thousand dollars. Fortunately, he had banked almost everything he had earned during his military career, and he was able to pay for his order in cash.

To expedite things and save on the freight shipping charges, which were high, Ry had driven his truck to Georgia in order to pick up the smoker and bring it back to Texas. While he was on the road headed for home, he had arranged a meeting with Jay Warner, the president of Lost Creek's only bank and its chief loan officer.

Ry's idea was to buy a food truck. He couldn't exist off the earnings from the weekend receptions he did for Weddings with Hart. Not every bride would choose him to cater their receptions. Some would still use Blackwood BBQ, while a few others contracted with other local restaurants Harper worked with. Because of that, he wanted to add a new layer to his small business and invest in a food truck.

He went to city hall and looked into permits in the town and places he could park the truck for sales. He thought he could do a decent lunch business, as well as bringing the truck to local events, including games and tournaments. Texans were wild about their sports, and the fever caught on early. Most kids were involved in playing one or more sport, everything from football to soccer to baseball and beyond. He could bring the truck to the city park, where the playing fields were located, and he believed he could do a steady business at that.

Today was his meeting with Jay Warner, and Emerson would be accompanying him to it. She was standing by him during this life crisis, and he loved her all the more for it.

They entered the bank and told the receptionist they had an appointment with Jay. She had them take a seat, and they waited about ten minutes before being ushered into the bank president's large office.

"Thank you for submitting your loan application online before our meeting so I could look over things before we met," Jay said, being friendlier than Ry had expected.

Jay had them take a seat and added, "I've been in touch with the Veterans Bureau and, in turn, the Small Business Administration. Together, they are willing to help you obtain a loan for up to seventy-five thousand dollars to help in creating your business. I have all the necessary paperwork here for you to fill out."

"I'd like to take out a personal loan on top of that, Jay," he said. "The food trucks and kitchens I'm looking at are going to cost more than that seventy-five thousand. I've already paid fully for my smoker."

The bank executive frowned. "I can't thank you enough for your service to our country, Ry. We need more young men making that kind of commitment to our citizens. I think you are doing a disservice to your father, however, by pursuing this idea."

His heart sank. This was more what he had expected.

"You would be competing directly with Shy. That's not good for Lost Creek— or your family. Besides," Jay said almost apologetically, "you have no collateral to back up a personal loan. You're paying a healthy amount each month on your truck, a payment only recently begun. You rent instead of owning your own housing. You have nothing of value the bank could go after if you defaulted on your loan from us. Frankly, I think you should pursue a different direction, Ry. The SBA has programs available specifically for veterans, as well as guidance on how to start up and be successful in a personal business. I'm sure you can find something of value to do now that you're home again. Other than barbeque."

Before he could reply, Jay smiled and said, "I know you and Shy have had words. Harsh ones. I think you should suck it up and apologize to your dad."

He reined in the anger rising within him, knowing it wouldn't do any good to explode.

"I'll take you up on facilitating the military loan. I'll find another avenue to raise the additional funds I need. Let's go ahead and sign whatever paperwork is necessary, Mr. Warner," he said formally. "And I'd like to also open a business checking and credit card account if you can help me with those, as well."

With obvious reluctance, the bank president opened the manila folder in front of him and walked Ry through the documents. He signed them, securing the loan for seventy-five thousand, which he then had placed in his new business account. If he had another choice, he would've taken his business elsewhere, but he didn't want to be petty, much less inconvenience himself. Besides, he should've known what he would be up against, going against his dad in the small town Shy Blackwood had been born and bred in.

The older generation in Lost Creek— if pressed to take sides —would come down in favor of Shy. Ry would have to count on the younger people in town, those in their twenties and thirties, raising families and looking for convenience in picking up a decent meal of barbeque, whether for lunch, dinner, or at a ballgame.

As they got into the truck, Emerson said, "I'm sorry that didn't go better."

"It went exactly as I expected. I've just got to figure out now what I'm going to do. How I'm going to raise the money to see this dream become a reality."

He dropped her at her house so that she could drive her own car to the winery. They made plans to meet at Harper and Braden's at five-thirty for their weekly Wednesday dinner.

Ry spent hours online that afternoon, looking at different food trucks and kitchens, as well as hunting for ways to finance them. Whatever he did, he needed to stay in Lost Creek, though. This was where Emerson had planted her own roots, and he intended for them to build a life together here. He wouldn't let his feud with his father chase him away from the town— and woman —he loved.

He drove to the Clarks and was surprised to see how many cars were already there, thinking he might have gotten the time wrong.

Ringing the doorbell, he was soon greeted by Harper. "Come in, Ry. We need to talk to you."

Puzzled, he followed her into the large den, where he found everyone already seated. Even Wolf and Ana Ramirez were on hand. Sitting, he realized he was the center of attention.

"What's going on?" he asked. "I feel as if I'm coming in on the middle of a movie and haven't a clue what's been happening."

Dax spoke up. "We've been meeting for the last hour, Ry. Emerson texted everyone to let us know what Jay Warner said at the bank today. We want you to know you have our full support." He paused. "Not just emotionally. Financially, too."

"I don't understand."

Holden cleared his throat. "We want to invest in your food truck. It's as simple as that. We know being turned down at the bank had to be disheartening, but we want you to go for your dream. We think you owning a food truck is a viable business and that with your spin on barbeque, you will make a success of things. We're ready to invest in your business. In you ."

Tears stung his eyes. "I can't ask for my friends to bankroll this," he protested.

"You didn't ask us," Ivy said. "We want to do this, Ry. You're as much family as you are a friend to each of us. We believe in you. In your vision."

"Some of us can kick in more than others," Finley told him. "We've been blessed to find success professionally in our own lives. While we're having dinner this evening, we want you to share with us what you're interested in investing in and how much you'll need. Then we can figure out our contributions to the operation."

His throat grew thick with emotion. "I'm honored to call each of you my friend. Your belief in me and your support will help me get on my feet. I promise that I'll pay you back as soon as possible."

"Come into the kitchen," Braden said. "I've done a taco bar, so you can assemble your tacos with whatever you want on them."

It took everyone a few minutes to fill their plates, and then the group gathered around the dining room table.

Once everyone was settled, Ry said, "There are three ways to invest in a food truck. Each of them has their pros and cons. If I'm going to do it right, however, I want a new truck, along with a new kitchen."

As they ate, he explained his reasoning. "Food trucks can run anywhere from fifty up to two hundred thousand dollars. With used ones, you run the risk of hidden costs since you don't know how hard the truck was used. Or abused. If you have to replace an engine after you've already purchased it, the costs could soar. Plus, the quality of the kitchen won't suit my needs in that fifty-thousand-dollar price range."

"Is it possible to buy a new truck and an existing kitchen?" Ana asked. "Or could you evaluate a truck to see if it's in good condition and place a new kitchen in it? I don't know if that would be possible, but it's a thought."

"I could get a brand-new kitchen on a used truck chassis for a little over a hundred thousand. Again, with a used truck, I could have a mechanic inspect it, but no one's going to admit they were hard on their vehicle when they go to sell it. I just don't want to open the can of worms mechanical problems could bring to the operation, draining money before or soon after I started up."

"To me, it seems comparable to buying a new home," Wolf said. "Yes, new is more expensive, but you inherit no problems, plus you can design your home to suit your needs."

"That's a good analogy," he said, nodding. "With a new truck, I'd have a warranty. From my research, most come with a five-year warranty or up to two hundred and fifty thousand miles, depending on the model I selected. Even doing proper maintenance, that warranty could be solid gold if I had problem with something, such as a chassis. New also equals reliable. Reliability will help me create a solid customer base, which is vital in this kind of business. I can build a kitchen to my specifications on a new truck, with everything also under warranty."

"I've been helping Ry research things," Emerson said. "The newer trucks hold up to regulations not just in Lost Creek, but for other places in Texas and the U.S. That means he would have the ability to operate his truck anywhere he needed to go for years to come. If Texas landed the Super Bowl or World Series, he could travel to those venues and make a killing. And if for any reason he decided not to stay in this business, new would mean a higher resale value for him."

"There is an option of leasing to own," Ry shared. "It's an alternative worth looking into. It costs a little less than four thousand a month to do so. It's a route I'm willing to take."

"No," Harper said firmly. "Leasing would be the same as buying used. You don't know how many others have leased the truck before you. They could have screwed something up with the truck or the kitchen. I say we're in— and that means we're all in with the best choice."

He concluded with, "You're right. That's why I prefer going new. That way, I'll know I won't have any kind of engine problems or need to replace anything on the truck or in the kitchen. I'll also be able to design the kitchen exactly the way I want it. But that comes with a hefty price tag."

"What are we talking then, Ry?" Wolf asked. "Bottom line it for us."

"It could cost anywhere between a hundred and fifty to two hundred thousand dollars. I've been online, and I think I've found the one I want. It's one seventy-five and has the kitchen layout that would be perfect for my needs."

"Is this the one you really want?" Braden asked.

"I'll need to see it in person, but I think it is. It's got everything I could ask for in the kitchen. It's in San Antonio, at one of the few food truck dealerships in the state, so I can run over there and view it before making a decision." He hesitated. "With my SBA loan of seventy-five thousand, that would mean a hundred thousand is what I need to raise."

"Done," Holden and Dax said in unison, and Dax added, "We can work out the details after dinner, but we want you to get what suits your needs. I'm a former accountant, and I began investing years ago. I've stockpiled a decent amount of money. I can fund the entire loan myself, but I know the others want to chip in, as well."

"I've done really well with the sales of my first two books," Holden added. "I'm happy to kick in a healthy amount so Dax doesn't have to shoulder too big a burden."

The others all chimed in, with Emerson finishing the conversation, saying, "I have some money left to me by Ethel. What's mine is yours, Ry. No loan is necessary."

Tears spilled down his cheeks, and he was man enough to own them.

"When I lost Todd, I lost my best friend and the brother of my heart. Little did I know I would return to Lost Creek years later and find friends just as loyal to me as Todd."

"He's here with you in spirit," Ivy said, smiling gently at him. "Todd would have been the first to tell you to believe in yourself. Think of him as the angel on your shoulder, watching over you now."

Ry shook his head. "You people are incredible. I'm touched beyond words."

Emerson took his hand and squeezed it, her love for him shining in her eyes. Then she gazed out at those seated around the table

"Who's ready for dessert?"

As they all got up to take their plates into the kitchen, a peace settled over him. This next chapter in his life would undoubtedly hold some bumps, but with Emerson, his work ethic, and a group of trusted friends, Ry knew he would make something of himself.