Lancer Ranch, San Joaquin Valley, California
Yesterday, the final paperwork arrived from Philadelphia displaying the correct signatures on the correct lines. Fletcher Garrett's estate is settled and my little cousin, according to the figures in front of me, will be a very wealthy young lady when she reaches the age of twenty-five. The process has moved slowly. The lawyers - a dozen of them, moved slowly. The correspondence from the East coast to the West coast and back again has moved slowly. Slow rejections. Slow approvals. Slow decisions. And, if the legal steps showed signs of speeding up, my grandfather got out the molasses by way of more lawyers. Grandfather. I was naive to think his meddling in his brother’s will would be minimal. Kinsey and I left Boston confident we took the high ground. Well, by God, we held on to it but not without a long, slow battle to do so. Lawyers. I shudder to think I briefly entertained the thought of being one.
What I wish would slow down have been Kinsey’s questions. Why is this taking so long? Where are the answers? She wants everything yesterday and change should happen overnight. Patience will never be one of her strong suits. I know her lack of patience has certainly been challenging what is left of mine. I've been short with her more times than I care to admit.
People might think my cousin’s agitation stems from wanting immediate access to her grandfather’s wealth, which would be a fair assumption. However, as the trustee to her inheritance, I know this is not true. She wanted nothing to do with the money. The realization of being the sole heir named in her grandfather’s will was confusing and frightening for her - still is to some extent. I can’t say it didn't have the same effect on me when I learned of my role as her executor. We both have experienced what wealth can do to an individual - good and bad. We have certainly grown weary of the debating and the uncertainty. Kinsey wanted it all done immediately so we can move forward with our plans. Finally!
Papers. There has been so much paperwork with Fletcher Garrett’s estate I was drowning in it. Positive I could handle the task, I refused to go to Murdoch. It took being overwhelmed and loss of sleep for me to swallow my pride. His displeasure with the entire affair remained just below the surface as we sifted through the baffling language created by law professors sitting in dusty library archives. Murdoch's vision for the San Joaquin Valley involves cattle. Nothing more - nothing less. But the rich soil of this valley offers possibilities beyond beef. My father’s definition of agriculture is limited. If cattle don’t eat it, it’s not worth growing. Grapes are at the bottom of his list. So the prospect of Kinsey and me investing in a small established vineyard and winery to learn the business was greeted with lukewarm enthusiasm, at best. He voiced concern over it being a foolish investment with no future. I disagreed while sharing my recent correspondence with George West, owner of the El Pinal vineyard. My father presented other negative aspects of the venture until he was forced to talk through his feelings regarding Harlan Garrett. Having my grandfather as the third partner was not a welcome choice but one Kinsey felt necessary to mend bridges. Murdoch saw it as an opportunity for Harlan to regain control of his grandson. Suggesting I was a little older and wiser didn't impress my father - it rarely does. Finally, he pointed out my focus would be taken away from the ranch. I’m guessing Lancer’s other “one-third” has been voicing a similar concern but for a different reason.
Murdoch’s lack of support is only surpassed by my brother’s. Johnny’s complaints of pulling more of the ranch’s workload than he felt fair is mostly a distraction from what is really bothering him. It’s not my focus being taken away from the ranch, but Kinsey’s focus being taken away from him. He’s in love with her and he sees my cousin’s new financial situation leading to new found independence. I’ve tried to assure my brother I plan to keep a fairly tight rein on Kinsey for now. This did little to appease him. Johnny finds change difficult and at times unnecessary.
When I told him of my thoughts on keeping a close eye on Kinsey, I failed to mention he was one of the main reasons I was doing so. I only have knowledge of two interactions my cousin has experienced with young men. One consisted of a Melbourne card shark teaching her the fine arts of the double card shuffle and kissing. I didn’t ask for details. The other was with the self-centered William Jenkins which ended poorly for Sam’s boy. How can a son be so completely different from his father?
Scott stopped to re-read his last sentence and laughed. “Right.”
She is infatuated with Johnny’s wild, daring nature and overtures. Maybe time away from the ranch could benefit us all.
With paperwork in order, it’s time I sat down with Kinsey and explained where we go from here. It’s been a long journey…
Scott glanced up at the timid knock at his bedroom door. He easily guessed who it was considering the words that were spoken earlier in the day and how the conversation had ended.
“Come in.”
Scott observed one brown eye on half a face peek from behind a slightly opened door.
“Teresa said you wanted to see me.”
“I do.”
The brown eye held its position behind the door.
“Kinsey, when I said I wanted to see you I was hoping for your entire face.” As the door slowly opened, he sat back and crossed his arms.
“Scott, I’m sorry I’m a pain in the arse.”
“Kinsey, I’m sorry you’re still using the word arse.”
“I apologize for slamming the front door.”
“I’m still trying to understand how you do it considering its weight.”
“I shouldn’t take my frustration out on you.”
“Agreed. Now change into your riding clothes and then saddle up Buck.”
“Why?”
“Perhaps to go riding? Move. I’ll meet you at the stables.”
Scott gathered up the papers, folded them and stuck them in the leather portfolio he planned to take along for their afternoon ride. The big oak tree out by the far fields should give him the quiet solitude needed to give Kinsey the answers she has been waiting for. Scott reached for his pen.
...time to begin the next adventure.
~S.
Comments