Mom laughed. “You have a G.I. Bill. Put it to use.”
If only it were as simple as she made it sound. Yet, his heart longed to move home to Weatherton, and he’d been presented a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Would God have placed it there for him if he weren’t meant to take it? “I’ll pray about it. Do I have to sign the papers within a certain timeframe?”
Her sharp intake of air whistled over the line. “Within two weeks.”
He exhaled slowly. “I can’t get off work that soon, and besides, that carries into Christmas. I promised Sybil we’d spend it together.”
“Invite her out here.”
“I doubt her doctor would approve the travel. Her blood pressure’s been rising again.”
“I’ll be praying for her.”
“Thanks.” He pinched the bridge of his nose, warding off the start of a headache induced by information overload.
“Is there any other option to sign the paperwork?”
“No. You and the lawyer have to be present, and I doubt he’ll travel to North Carolina when he has nothing to gain from the deal.”
“And if I don’t make it in time?”
“Then the estate will be tied up in probate, and you could lose it.”
The weight of responsibility bore down on his shoulders. “I’ll talk to my boss and see what I can do, but I have to be home by Christmas. I can’t break my promise to Sybil.”
“Let me know as soon as you can.”
“I will. Love you.”
“Love you, too.” She hung up the phone with a promise to pray for him.
His head spun with the turn his afternoon took. When he woke up this morning, never in his wildest dreams had he expected to inherit a ranch by the day’s end.
He wanted it. Wyoming dirt ran through his blood, but he’d never thought he could make a viable living there. He had a good job in North Carolina and was grateful for it. Still, it was a contract, and while he’d been told the contract would be renewable indefinitely, there wasn’t a guarantee.
The Scott homestead would require hard work, but had continuously operated since the late nineteenth century. He would check into its financial health if he went to Wyoming, but he couldn’t imagine it would be in danger of failing after so many years running.
Either way, as he’d told his mom, if Sybil wouldn’t go, he wouldn’t. He’d think about keeping the land—it belonged in the Scott family—but put in place a plan for someone else to run it.Who ran it now?He’d have to ask.
He jotted down notes, but his hand wrote slower than his thoughts came. When he skimmed what he’d written, he realized he’d started three columns. Pros, cons, and questions.
The cons held the fewest items listed under it.
He folded his hands on top of his head and sighed. What a day. He’d have to tell Sybil, but she wouldn’t be home from work for another three hours.
Until then, he’d make phone calls, find out what he could. The first call went to his boss who agreed to give him the next week off, but without pay. Fair enough since paid time-off didn’t come with most contract jobs. The hourly rate and per diem made up for the lack of benefits.
Next, he called the law office listed on the paperwork. The lawyer in charge was out to lunch, but his administrative assistant answered a few questions after he confirmed his identity. She emailed him financial reports, and his mouth gaped when he saw the net worth.
He wouldn’t be rich, but he’d step into a debt-free ranch with a solid bank account and a three-thousand square foot cabin with no mortgage.
If it’s Your will, Lord, please provide a way.He prayed more in depth, wishing he’d receive an instant answer.
A few minutes before he expected Sybil to leave work, he sent her a text asking if she’d stop by on her way home. Her reply came quickly. —Sure.
She didn’t ask why, and that sent happy waves through him. They’d barely been acquaintances when she’d gotten pregnant, then they slowly became friends. Now they were more, though themorewasn’t clarified. It hadn’t mattered to him before, as long as they continued moving forward.
With what he’d learned today, however,morecovered a broader spectrum than he wished. He didn’t want to push her and he wouldn’t, but wanted—needed—to know where they stood. She’d come a long way, but he feared the least provocation would make the skittish kitten in her reemerge.
