Free The Surge - 03 by Joe Nobody

dies.”
    One of the worst was a Texas woman who was obviously near term with her pregnancy. “I’m a citizen of Texas, born and bred,” she sniffled into the Mexican news microphone. “I came south to visit family before the baby came. My child is due any day, and if it’s not born in Texas, I don’t know what we’re going to do!”
    “Our business is going to fail if the borders are closed for much longer,” claimed a nice looking man in a business suit. “We depend on exports to Mexico and Central America. Our product is sitting on trucks at the border while our customers are trying to find other sources for the parts they need. We will have to lay off over 90 workers if this situation isn’t resolved soon.”
    On and on, droned the tales of the hardship and trauma being imposed by Texas’s unexplained act. It seemed like every day new video of yet an even greater tragedy was broadcast over the airwaves.
    Zach was just finishing his burger when the television behind the bar began another in a series of heart-wrenching reports. This time, it was a sobbing, older man standing beside a small truck overflowing with rotting vegetables. “I’m not going to be able to pay our mortgage to the bank,” he wept. “The rest of my crop is decaying in the field. We’re ruined.”
    The ranger peered at his partner, the discomfort evident on his face. Motioning to the bartender, he said, “Is there anything else on, Pete? That shit could ruin a man’s appetite.”
    It took the barkeep three presses of the remote to find a channel that wasn’t covering the situation on the border.
    Sam, seeing her partner’s scowl, repeated the same statement she’d already made several times during the last few days. “You didn’t tell the president to close the border, Zach. It’s not your fault.”
    Just like the half dozen times before, she braced for his moody, harsh response. She was spared by the ringing of Zach’s cell.
    The disgusted ranger glanced at the caller ID and then shook his head. “Not now, Cheyenne. It’s not a good time,” he whispered, returning the phone to rest beside his plate.
    “You should talk to her,” Sam advised. “As grumpy as you’ve been lately, a little personal time with your girl might improve that shitty mood.”
    Zach ignored the remark, stabbing a French fry deep into a puddle of ketchup.
    Again, his cell buzzed, Cheyenne determined not to be denied. With a frown, Zach answered the call. “What’s up?” he grumbled.
    “I’m in trouble, Zach. I hate to bother you, but I don’t know who else to turn to,” came the rushed response.
    The ranger’s demeanor changed instantly, something in the woman’s voice putting him on alert. “What’s wrong?” he said, throwing Sam a look.
    “I took out a loan… to consolidate my credit cards. And… well… the bank is getting really nasty with me, and I don’t know what to do.”
    Zach relaxed, visions of someone breaking into her apartment or threatening her with a gun pushed from his mind. “I can lend you some cash if that’s all it is,” he said with a matter-of-fact tone. “How much do you need?”
    Now it was Chey’s turn to be frustrated. “It’s not that. Not like that at all. I’m convinced this banker dude is up doing something very illegal. He’s threatening my career, my family … everything.”
    “How much do you owe them?”
    “I took out a loan for $65,000 Texas Greenbacks,” she responded.
    Before Zach could stop himself, a long whistle left his throat. “What on earth do you need with that much money, Chey? I know my birthday’s coming up, but that’s a ton of cash.”
    Her voice grew impatient. “I bought a new car and paid off all of my credit cards,” she answered with a snarl. “The payments were supposed to be a little over $1,200 per month, which I can handle, no problem. After I made the first installment, the bank sent me a statement saying I owed $3,500 next month.”
    “Huh? That doesn’t