Page 37 of The Cowboy's Redemption
The large window of the conference room atGrand Cooper and Nashoverlooked the boardwalk fronting the Yellowstone River. Water streamed down the glass. Below them, the rain-slickened boardwalk was empty. Boats bobbed on the uneasy river, tossed about by the wind.
Olive Danby took a seat at the far end of the long conference table. Her son and grandson chose chairs on either side. Dana and Levi seated themselves side-by-side, facing the storm framed by the window. Ford walked in with George a few moments later. He sat across from Levi while George took position of honor at the head of the table.
As George made opening statements and began to read out the terms of Otto’s will, Dana only half-listened. Her thoughts were otherwise engaged in self-reflection. She hadn’t liked feeling jealous of Tate and the life she’d made for herself. She wasn’t about to be jealous of Shauna and her interest in Levi now, either. Jealousy was a terrible, terrifying, controlling emotion that caused nothing but misery and had ruined her relationship with Tanner.
Except, she didn’t have a relationship with Levi for it to ruin. Sex didn’t give her any more right of possession over him than it gave him over her, and really, that was all they had in common. The other woman’s interest served as an excellent reminder that she could be replaced if he chose, and that he’d be free to replace her very soon, because she had to return to Billings before the McCone County rodeo so she could work with Crackerjack.
She caught a little of what George was saying. Enough to advise her that she should pay closer attention. Otto had left Olive Danby a considerable lump sum of money.
Levi Harrington receives the horse registered as Nova, along with one-third of the property comprising…
Ford Shannahan receives the horse registered as Buckwheat, along with one-third of the property comprising…
Dana Barrett receives the horse registered as Tanoa, along with one-third of the property comprising…
George must have misunderstood Otto’s final instructions. Or someone had made a major typographical error. Why would he leave one-third of his horse ranch and business to a woman he barely knew?
Wind hurled sheets of rain at the window while she waited for the Danbys to protest.
“That land has been in the Hart family for three generations,” Olive Danby said. She sounded more curious about it than upset.
“Otto left you enough money to cover its fair market value. Put plainly, he bought you out. He said the land would only have sentimental value to you, and your family would most likely push you to sell it, and he thought to spare you the trouble,” George said.
Parker Danby spoke up. “Fair market value for his horses would have been preferable.”
George shrugged, but otherwise, offered no comment. The money had been left to Parker’s grandmother, not him.
“The terms for the land and the horses are restrictive,” George said, gazing in turn from Ford, to Levi, to Dana.
He began listing them off, but Dana caught only a few. The news slowly sank in. If she wanted Tanoa, she’d have to help Levi and Ford run the ranch for six months, which would allow each of them time to continue pursuing their respective careers and prepare for the future.
After six months Tanoa was hers. She also then had the option to sell her share of the ranch and its holdings to Levi or Ford. At the end of the year, all remaining horses and property could be sold on the open market and the proceeds divided amongst the owners accordingly.
She pressed her knees together to stop them from wobbling. Six months was too long. A year was beyond comprehension.
“I’d like to buy Tanoa outright,” she said. She’d find the money.
George was shaking his head. “I’m sorry. That option isn’t available to you. For the next six months, Tanoa—and Nova and Buckwheat—all belong to the estate.” He paused before dropping the bombshell. “Ryan O’Connell is Otto’s executor. Any requests for exceptions will have to go through him.”
From what little Dana knew of Ryan, she’d figured out this much about him—he’d make no exceptions. He’d follow the terms of the will to the letter. Otto had taken every loophole into consideration.
Across the table, Ford was staring at her. “It’s not a problem, Dana. Otto left you what he would have given Tanner.”
If he’d meant to reassure her—and she believed that he did—then he was mistaken. She’d never expected this. She’d never asked for it. All she’d wanted was Tanoa. She’d planned to come to Grand, arrange for the purchase, and leave, avoiding the Shannahans altogether.
Instead, she’d been forced to stay a night, then she’d bumped into Tate the next day, and now she was expected to spend six months with Ford—who behaved as if her receiving an inheritance intended for his brother, from a man she barely knew, was a natural thing.
Olive Danby seemed inclined to share Ford’s opinion.
“Our family didn’t treat Otto’s decisions with much respect while he was alive,” she said to George, who appeared impervious to the uncertain mood the room had acquired. “The least I can do for him is respect his final wishes now that he’s passed on. I’m touched he thought of me.”
“He had to leave you something in case you challenged his will,” her grandson, the cynic, pointed out. “Now a judge will look at it, see he left you fair market value for Hart family land, and decide he could do as he pleased with the rest.”
“Otto was smart,” Olive said, smiling and nodding with pride and approval. “After more than sixty years, he could have done what he pleased with the land, too.”
George cleared his throat. “I’m confident the will is valid, but the conditions on the three parties involved are restrictive and the situation might well change in six months. You’re welcome to consult with your own lawyer. In fact, I recommend it.”
Dana did want to consult with a lawyer. She didn’t have one of her own, but she trusted George. If there was a loophole that might get her out of this, he’d find it.
