Listening to her sisters made her smile. “Remember that time he created a scavenger hunt for us on Mama’s birthday?”
Laughter filled the room, and Whitney tucked the letter into her reticule. They could read it at home. Each of them knew about Granddad’s code. Granted, it had been many years since they’d used it, but when they were little, he’d given each of them a piece of the key. One of them couldn’t decipher it on her own. They had to come together to do it.
“There’s one more part of your grandfather’s will that I need to read.” Mr. Davis walked back behind his desk and put his spectacles on his nose. He sat in his chair and lifted another envelope. “Chuck had me write this out for him a couple weeks ago.”
Whitney looked at her sisters. Hadn’t everything been covered in the will? But Granddad was nothing if not thorough.
Mr. Davis held the note and read: “‘It is my desire that Christopher Powell, his two children currently in Alaska, and his sister-in-law, Ruth, move into the family farm while Chris is searching for Stan. There’s no need for the family to be separated, and since it was my hand that did the separating many years ago, I want to rectify that now. I know it is costing a good deal of money for them to stay in a hotel in town, and it must be quite cramped. So, girls, I’m asking you to invite your father into your home and back into your lives. This is my last wish. Maybe then you can see how the Lord creates beauty from ashes, and from old men’s mistakes.’”
Mr. Davis laid the letter down.
Whitney stood to her feet. “I think that’s a bit much to ask of us right now.” Fidgeting with her bag, she pleaded with her sisters. “Maybe after we’ve had time to grieve, but not now.” She shook her head. “Not now.” Her heart pounded in her chest and that horrible feeling of being out of control overwhelmed her. More people at home meant more eyes to potentially witness her struggle. She had a hard enough time keeping her emotions in check as it was. No. This couldn’t happen. How could Granddad ask such a thing of them?
Of her?
Madysen stood and took slow steps toward her. “I know this is a lot to take in, but we need to honor Granddad’s last wishes. This was his farm. He built it. He paid for it. He made it what it is. And he’s right. Dad has been separated from us for too long. We need the chance to be a family again.”
Whitney sent pleading eyes to Havyn. Could she at least see how difficult this would be for her? But the compassion in Havyn’s gaze showed her that she was outnumbered.
“Maddy’s got a good point, Whit. We need to do what Granddad asked.”
The protective wall she’d worked so hard to erect began to crumble. “Very well.” She mustn’t let them see how this shook her. Or how alone it made her feel. “I need a bit of fresh air. Is there anything else you need from me, Mr. Davis?”
“No. Not a thing.” The man tapped the will. “I will take care of everything else.”
“Thank you.” With a glance to her family, she went to the door. “I’ll meet you at the sleigh.”
When she pulled the door closed behind her, she heard the muffled voices. All probably expressing their concern for her. She could just imagine it.
Poor Whitney, she hasn’t recovered from the attack.
Poor Whitney, she was the only one unmarried.
Poor Whitney, she’ll probably be a spinster forever.
If only things could go back to how they had been before....
When she was strong. Sure of herself. Hadn’t been hurt by that awful man. Hadn’t lost the two most important people in her life.
But that was the past.ThatWhitney was gone. Who was she now?
As she climbed up into the sleigh, she took several long, deep breaths. It wouldn’t do any good for her to fight her sisters on this. Best to make them think she was fine. That it was simply grief making her react this way. The way forward now was to keep herself busy. She could keep up the façade. She could. No one needed to know anything different.
Which wouldn’t be a problem because the farm had plenty for her to do. She’d wanted to breed more dogs and trainthem. Goodness, there was enough demand for her trained teams that she could focus on that alone and keep herself plenty occupied.
She leaned back in the seat, a plan forming in her mind.
Voices sounded behind her. They would head home now, and she’d have to deal with figuring out where to put her dad, Eli, Bethany, and Ruth. Steeling herself for company, she slapped what she hoped was a congenial look on her face and waited.
John helped Havyn up into the front of the sleigh and then climbed in beside her and took the reins. He looked over his shoulder to Whitney. “Do you need anything while we are in town?”
“No, I’m fine. But thank you.” It wasn’t a lie. In front of her family, she would be fine. In private could be a different story. No need to worry any of them. She gripped her handbag a bit tighter and gave a sad smile.
Daniel and Madysen joined her on the back seat. Once they were underway, Maddy leaned forward and tapped Havyn’s arm. “I had an idea and want to run it past both of you.” She shot a smile to Whitney.
Oh boy. Here it comes. “Go ahead.”
Maddy touched Whitney’s knee. “Since the house has five bedrooms—not including the room where John stayed when he first came here—”
