Page 46 of Colt

“You don’t even know if he left anything for you,” he muttered, shaking his head because if he left money for the ranch hands, he was sure the man left something for him too. He wasn’t interested in the money though; he’d rather have Walt back, but he knew that wasn’t possible.

With a heavy sigh, he got back to work. He would open the envelope when he got home this evening.

It was eight o’clock by the time he got home and, he was exhausted. As he sat down in his chair, he took off his boots and socks and leaned back with a deep breath. If he didn’t get up soon, he’d fall asleep in the chair.

He needed a shower, something to eat, and then bed. In that order. He wasn’t seeing Chelsea tonight since he was still pissed over their encounter earlier today. It was best if he cooled down first.

After eating and showering, he entered his bedroom and opened the nightstand drawer to find the sealed envelope. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he stared at it for a moment, tracing his name written in cursive on the front in Walt’s handwriting. Damn, he missed that man.

Taking a deep breath, he opened the envelope and found a folded sheet of paper inside. As he unfolded it, another piece of paper fell to the floor. Bending over, Colt picked it up and did a double take.

“Holy shit. Is this real?” he muttered as he looked at the check for two million, five hundred thousand dollars. “Seriously?” He turned the check over and saw where he needed to sign it; there was no doubt that it was very much real. It was definitely more than ten thousand dollars.

“Damn, Walt. Why did you do this?” He set the check on the nightstand and picked up the folded letter addressed to him. As he read it, he swallowed hard.

Dear Colt,

I’m sure you are aware of why you have received this letter. While the enclosed check may come as a surprise, it is our way of showing our appreciation for everything you have done for us over the years. We would have left the ranch to you, but you made it clear that running a business wasn’t your passion. That’s why we sold it. The money from the sale is our gift to you. Tricia will have more than enough to live comfortably on without me. The ranch hands were also given something.

My brother will also receive some inheritance but know that we loved you like a son, Colt. Your arrival was a blessing in disguise, and we were both overjoyed when you decided to stay with us. You have been a huge help to us, and we believe you deserve this gesture of gratitude. We know you may not think so, but we do. Enjoy the money and use it however you see fit.

With love,

Walt

Colt wiped away his tears, rereading the letter in disbelief. He never could have imagined that they would do something like this for him. Gratitude filled his heart as he thought of Tricia, who had taught him to always thank those who helped him, and he would call her tomorrow. He picked up the check once more, examining the amount written on it with amazement.

“That’s a huge sum.” Colt shook his head, placing the check back in the envelope and placing it in the drawer of the nightstand. He would have to make a trip to the bank soon.

He couldn’t believe his luck. He knew he would never come across such a large amount of money in his lifetime, and now it was simply handed to him. He wasn’t going to mention this to anyone until he figured out what to do.

With a smile on his face, he stood then climbed into bed, turning off the light. As he lay there, his mind couldn’t stop racing about the check and what it meant for him. He clasped his hands behind his head, gazing into the darkness as he tried to process the fact that he now possessed such a significant sum of money.

****

Chelsea walked out of the house and made her way across the yard to the barn. Hearing someone enter the barn, Chelsea turned around and saw Brian. He paused in his step when he noticed her and she fought back a laugh.

“Good morning,” Chelsea greeted him.

“Morning, Ms. Kennedy,” Brian replied respectfully.

“Please call me Chelsea, Brian. We’re not formal around here.”

“Yes ma’am,” Brian hesitated before speaking again. “I’ve given the job you offered a lot of thought, but I’m sorry, but I don’t want to work in the riding stable.”

Chelsea nodded understandingly. “You wouldn’t just be working there; you’d be running it.”

“I know, but I’d rather stay here with Colt.”

“That’s fine. I’ll look into hiring someone else,” Chelsea assured him with a smile, hoping to convey that there were no hard feelings.

Brian’s face lit up with relief. “Thank you.”

Curiosity getting the better of her, Chelsea asked, “Can I ask why you told Colt?”

“Colt has always been my boss. He’s the best, and I wanted to let him know about your offer. I was afraid you would fire me if I turned it down.”

“I would never fire you for something like that, Brian. Honestly, it’s fine. I’m going to have Joey working in the riding stable, along with the other barns, to clean up.”

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