Page 4 of Ropers Can't Tie Knots
Game on, cowboy.
two
Hunter
“You can go right in, Mr. Burke.”
The secretary in the lobby of the swanky law firm buzzes me through, and I navigate the halls to my lawyer’s office. I would’ve preferred keeping this matter with a lawyer in town, but most had dealt with my grandfather at some point, and I wanted an unbiased opinion.
Which proved harder than I initially thought.
With a light knock on the door before opening, I step inside to meet with the man who has hopefully untangled some of the mess my grandfather left behind.
“Hunter. Nice to see you.”
Jonathon Conway thrusts his hand forward with a nervous smile. He always carries this air of uncertainty when we meet, and I really hope it’s just me being overly sensitive and not that he lacks confidence in his profession. I have a lot hanging on him being competent and not another asshole in a custom fit suit.
“Likewise, Jonathon.” That’s a lie. I’d rather not see him, but I still know how to operate with a bit of social decorum. Most days anyway.
After taking our seats, he opens a file on his desk and passes me a large manila envelope.
“I have good news and bad news.” He starts, and my heart sinks.
“Can we please start with the good news?” Fuck me. If this is another shitty day that comes at me when I’m not prepared, I might actually weep. “I could use some.” So could my lines of credit and bank account. Probably my fucking blood pressure, too.
“Yes, of course.” He taps his fingers on his desk and clears his throat. A nervous sound that has me on edge more than I was when I sat down. “I secured you access to the first trust for physical property. The account to maintain the costs of the ranch should have had you listed at the financial institution. I believe it was an intentional oversight as it clearly states in clause 5.3 that the current inhabitant should draw funds as needed for property and business maintenance.”
My chest loosens with his words. I can believe it was intentional. Not a stretch in the least, and yet another example of how money can influence people to do the wrong thing.
“So I can submit all the receipts I’ve kept for the animal and equipment care, property taxes and the like?”
“Oh yes. The trust specifically states for care of the animals and property under the ranch name.”
If you could name what relief feels like, it’s the decision to hire a lawyer and help with this bullshit. The last eighteen months have been hell. I thought I’d lose everything. While it wasn’t directly willed to me, I wasn’t kicked out and trusted to care for the property.
But I couldn’t pay for it all on my own. The taxes on the land alone were staggering. The only thing that kept me afloat was my name on the business of breeding rodeo livestock. My name was only on it because I registered the paperwork. Since it was myefforts running it, and essentially my company, I put my name on it all. Jeremiah Burke was furious, but he also never changed it.
Maybe he never changed it because he knew he’d bend me over in the will and I’d have to see all my hard work dismantled piece by piece.
I had to sell it all off, though. It broke my heart, and if it wasn’t for Jackson pushing me to get a second opinion on this, I might be living out of my horse trailer now.
“It’s all summarized in the envelope for you. I’ve already sent all the legal documents to the trustee with instructions and you should be able to get your money back in the next week, if not sooner.”
“Thank you so much, Jonathon. Now, what’s the bad news?”
He fidgets with the papers in front of him, and I brace myself. I’m used to bad news these days, but it doesn’t get any easier each time it’s delivered.
“The second trust about the estate residue…I couldn’t get to it. Your retainer only covered my time for the first trust.”
Oh. That’s not as bad as I thought.
“I understand. You don’t work for free.”
I also can’t afford to pay him another three grand right now to help with the other trust.
“I do require payment up front for these cases, and I’d be happy to help again when you’re able to handle the fee.”
“You’ve been extremely helpful so far, and this helps. I’ll be in touch then when I’m ready to continue, if that’s okay?”
