Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 76203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
“I don’t understand. I never brought Denny here.”
“Nope. No. I heard that too. Your grandfather, he had a lot of regrets in his last years. Not mending things with you and meeting his great-grand baby were top of that list.”
“How did he know I had her?”
“Well, I guess there’s no use keeping it from you now that he’s not here, God rest him. Your granddaddy spent a lot of money trying to track you down, keeping an eye on you as you moved place to place.”
My spine tingled at that.
“I know it might seem creepy to you, but he had a few pictures of the two of you through the years. Showed them off to any and everyone who would look.”
“Why didn’t he ever reach out?”
“Well, I imagine he thought he had more time. He was sick for a long while, but he passed what felt like very suddenly. Luckily, though, he did manage to have me come to his bedside right at the end, though. To sort out his final wishes.”
My mind couldn’t seem to move past him tracking us down, getting candid pictures of us.
Was that what it was in Philly?
Just guys my grandfather hired to take our picture? To make sure we were okay?
If that was the case, though, why did they start to attack me?
“Well, to take all the legalese out of this, let me put this in plain talk,” Gary said, pulling me out of my thoughts. “Your grandfather left the ranch, the house, the cars, his bank accounts, and the newfound mineral rights to you.”
The floor fell out from beneath me.
No passive-aggressive or aggressive-aggressive notes for me to read. Just… everything. Absolutely everything he had left in the world.
Greg kept talking, giving me all the details about the property, the minerals, the house, the cattle, everything.
It was more than I could even try to wrap my head around as I sat there.
“I guess I should give you these,” he said, producing a set of keys with a familiar beaded cow keychain I’d made for him one year. The beads had faded and the elastic had stretched, but he’d carried it around with him for years. “I’m sure you’re going to have more questions for me in the future. But maybe go back home, see the sights, grieve your grandfather.”
“Yeah. Yeah,” I said, too numb to manage anything more.
“Did you bring that sweet little girl of yours with you?”
“I did,” I agreed. Then, remembering that safety was still an issue for me, added, “She and her father are at the cafe waiting for me.”
“Good! Good. Glad to hear you’ve got a good man to take care of you. Your grandfather was worried about that.”
There were a few more pleasantries before I was walking out of the office and across the street.
I didn’t even really remember walking into the cafe or finding York’s table. But I was seated next to Denny and looking at him as I tossed the keys on the table.
“Does that mean what I think it means?” he asked.
“After everyone finishes up, I guess we should go check out my ranch.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Runa
It was exactly how I remembered it.
But also changed.
The three-story log-cabin-style home I’d grown up in had been large. This place was massive. My grandfather had clearly added on over the years.
For what, I had no idea.
“Damn,” York said, looking over at me.
“It’s bigger than it used to be.”
“Very rustic,” York said as I stuck the key in the lock and pushed the heavy wooden door open.
It was an expansive space full of windows, exposed wood walls, and giant brick fireplaces.
Like with Gary’s office, there was no shortage of western art, head mounts, and leather, but there were warmer touches to soften the masculine vibe of the place—warm, aged copper cabinet pulls, lush rugs, and large indoor plants. All of them still alive. And the house itself was spotless. So someone was clearly still around to keep the place up.
I think Greg might have mentioned something about how the will had stipulations for the home and ranch staff, but it was all too blurry to remember clearly.
“Mama! Look!” Denny called, making me jump and walk over to where she was standing at the doors to the back porch.
“What, munchkin?”
“Over there!”
Sure enough, far in the distance, three bison were grazing beyond the fence of the ranch.
“How many acres is this?” York asked.
“Twenty-five-hundred.”
“Damn. Over there, is that the cattle?” he asked, gesturing toward the left.
“Yeah.” But the herd looked much smaller than it had once been. I guess there was no need to go through the usual yearly breeding program, if the money from the ranch now came from minerals.
“Can we go see them?” Denny asked.
“Sure,” I said, but my heart wasn’t in it.
“How about I take you out there to look at them?” York asked. “So Mommy can have a few minutes to walk around the house.”