WATER RIGHTS, CHAPTER 11, SURPRISING NEWS

           When Hannah began to climb from the depths of sleep, she felt so warm and secure and happy. Then, her memory took all that from her as the fact of her gramps’ death and Luke’s betrayal took front and center in her mind. Her first reaction was to roll over and pull her pillow over her head. That didn’t work because she could hear her gramps saying, “You can’t be doin’ that Han. You got some hungry workers to feed. You gotta be good to them so they’ll stay on and help you. C’mon Han, you’re my strong girl. Git moving.”

          So, Hannah got up, took a quick shower, thankful as always that she didn’t have to fool with her hair beyond pinning her braid on top of her head. Dressed in work clothes that still fit, although maybe a bit more snuggly than they had the week before, she went downstairs and started breakfast.

           By the time Joe and Dave came into the mud room and began to wash up, the bacon was done, coffee ready and all Hannah had to do was pour the scrambled eggs into the bowl. Over breakfast, the three of them talked about the ranch work that needed to be accomplished that day and in the days beyond. She learned Luke had been a good boss and that he’d followed gramps’ instructions to the letter. Since she’d helped out for years and years, it didn’t take her long to become knowledgeable enough about what she needed plan for.

          “Okay, so the two of you are going to go to the huckleberry canyon and find the cattle that have made it a home. Gramps already had you put up a little corral to keep them in until we need to make the big push.”

          Both men agreed and Hannah continued, “Sounds to me like we’re going to have to make the roundup in a couple of weeks, but we’re going to need additional hands to make it successful. Just how many do you think I should try to find in town? And, I know the going rate of pay, but I’d like to give the two of you a little bonus for staying and working now that it’s just me in charge.”

          “You don’t need to do that Miz. Hannah.” Joe responded. Your gramps and Luke and even you have been really good to us. I don’t think I’ve ever worked a place besides this one where the food is so good and well made. I never leave your table hungry.” Dave nodded his head in agreement.

          “Thank you Joe, Dave. I appreciate the compliments, but I want to increase your wages. Since you’ve been here for a while and I won’t be able to be everyplace at once, I’m going to make you my two right hands. What you say will be as coming from me when I’m not with you. Does that sound okay to you?”

          Both men nodded, thanked her again and pushed away from the table. “Thanks for breakfast.” Dave said, while Joe said, “We’ll be heading out as soon as the horses are saddled.”

          “I made your lunches and they’re in the mud room on the shelf as always. And, one other thing,” Hannah said, pushing back her own chair. “Gramps’ lawyer was here yesterday and asked me to come into his office today. So once, I get the kitchen cleaned up I’ll be heading into town. I’ll get some dinner started or at least do the preparation before I go, so we’ll eat as always at 6:00 or 7:00, whichever time you guys get back. Is there anything either of you would like me to pick up in town. I’m going to have to stop by the grocery and feed stores.” Joe asked for some of the red licorice he seemed to be addicted to while Dave told her he didn’t need a thing.

          Hannah didn’t bother to dress to go into town. She went as she always had in her boots, jeans, shirt and hat. She added dark glasses so if people just had to offer their sorries and give her a hug or a pat, she’d be able to keep her misty eyes from view. She actually wondered why the attorney wanted to see her since the ranch was in a trust, but she’d find out when she got there. Couldn’t be anything too terribly important she was sure.

          She parked the truck by the feed store because what she needed from there would be the heaviest. She wondered if she should be carrying heavy things in her condition and decided she’d have to go online and read up about pregnancy. She had a ton of questions and worries and no one with whom to share them. For a moment her shoulders slumped and she felt as though her life was simply going to be too much for her to handle. Once again, gramps spoke in her head, “Han, you just take it an hour at a time and before you know it, you’ll have another day under your belt. No need to rush Han.”

          So, Hannah straightened her shoulders and strode back toward the lawyer’s office. Once there, she stepped through the door and told the young woman, actually a classmate of hers and the attorney’s daughter, Celia, “I’m here to see your dad. He asked me to come by today.”

          Ceilia had never been one of her tormentors, but they’d never become real friends either. As Celia pushed back from the desk, saying, “I’ll let dad know you’re here,” Hannah noticed her belly.

          “Oh, you’re expecting.”

          “Yes, just a few more months to go. Ted and I didn’t plan on starting a family so soon after we married, but Mother Nature doesn’t always participate in your plans, so we’ll be having our boy in January. I’ll be right back.”

          “Congratulations on your marriage and your baby.” Hannah said to Celia’s retreating back. She wondered if Celia would be interested in discussing pregnancy and babies. Then, she shook her head because she knew she’d probably be far too shy to bring up the subjects, especially since she didn’t have a husband. She could already hear some of the town folk talking about how she’d shamed her family by getting herself pregnant by that no-good Luke. Not that they’d know for sure it was Luke, but who else could it have been. That’s what they’d think and Hannah was determined to not ever answer any questions about her baby’s father.

          Celia came back and said, “Dad’s on a phone call, so it will be a few minutes. Thank you for the congrats. I really should have invited you to the wedding, but we kept it kinda small. To be truthful, Ted and I got a little carried away graduation night. It was worth it and we would have married eventually, but we’re trying to look at it as starting our family early and being kids with them as they grow.”

          “Well, you and Ted were going together back when I showed up in town all those years ago. I figured you’d get married at some point. How’s it all going?”

          “It’s a bit difficult because Ted really wanted to go to college and received several scholarships. That’s one of the reasons I’m working for dad. His secretary retired to move out to Seattle where her daughter lives. Her daughter just gave her the first grandchild and she wanted to be able to assist with the care. You know you really need two salaries to live in Seattle, so the baby would have to go to daycare or something. Once my baby comes, I’ll still be able to work for dad because I can bring him into the office.”

          “Oh, you know it’s going to be a boy.”

          “Yes,” Celia responded, rubbing down her belly the way Hannah had seen other expectant mothers do. She wanted to rub her own still flat belly, but kept her hand at her side. “Ted’s going to get his degree in ranch management so he can eventually take over from his folks. We’re going to need a lot of children to work that place.”

          “Well, good morning Hannah,” Mr. Travers said as he came from his office and pulled her into a hard hug. “Again, I’m so sorry about Thomas. I knew him my whole life and there wasn’t a better man in the valley. Now, c’mon back to my office. I’ve some things to tell you that might make your day a bit better. Celia, please hold my calls.”

          Instead of going behind his desk, Mr. Travers led Hannah to a small round table that held a couple bottles of water and some file folders. Once she was seated, he opened one of the folders.

          “Now, just to review what you already know. Thomas put the entire ranch into a trust to insure its forests would never be cut, its water never damned, and nothing changed that Mother Nature didn’t change herself. Is that your understanding?”

          “Yes, plus the fact I can, or future Wakefields, continue to live on the land and work it as a ranch if we wish to do so.”

          “Correct. And, I assume, and please correct me if I’m wrong, you will remain on the ranch and continue to raise cattle for the market.”

          “Yes. There’s lots of other things I’d like to do as well, but I don’t think there’s a budget big enough to hire enough hands to do all the work I can imagine doing.”

          Mr. Travers closed the first folder and opened the second. “And, that’s where you’d be wrong Hannah. Thomas and the Wakefields before him always managed to put aside something for the future. Sometimes that something grew well and sometimes it did not. I know there were things Thomas planned on doing, but when he lost Gracie and then had his heart attack, I believe he just stopped, well, not caring, but not having the energy to undertake the kind of projects that would have needed his attention.

          “Here’s a spreadsheet of your holdings. That figure on the bottom right is the total amount of funds available to you for your use, however you see fit to use them.”

          Hannah took the paper and looked where she’d been directed. She felt as thought her eyes were bulging from their sockets and could feel her heart rate increase. OH. MY. GOD. She thought. That’s so much money. It can’t be right. She raised her eyes, open so wide she thought she’d never get them closed again. “You’re telling me this money is mine? I can spend it however I want?”

          “Yes, Hannah, that’s what I’m telling you. Thomas and I talked about whether we should attach any strings, but Thomas was positive you wouldn’t clean out the account and head on down the road. He knew how much you’d come to love the ranch. He knew you’d do the best you could to make it a real working ranch again. So, yes, that money’s yours.

          “There are some papers for you to sign. I know you’re already on the ranch checking account and have debit and credit cards for same, but you’ll need to go in and have Thomas’ name removed. I would suggest, however, you contact the woman who’s become the financial advisor for the account. She can answer any questions and offer any advice when it comes to how best use and/or increase the account balance.”

          Mr. Travers slid various papers across the table to Hannah. She probably should have read every single word, but she felt kinda out-of-body, as though she were alive in a dream. Then, gramps’ attorney, or rather now her attorney, gave her a packet of papers that included information about the investment account, contact information for the financial advisor and other documents he suggested she go through on her own.

          “That’s it,” Mr. Travers said, “except for this personal letter from your gramps. He wrote it and gave it to me the last time I saw him. Again, I’m sorry about Thomas, but am so happy he made arrangements with me for you to carry on. I know you’ll do Thomas proud. And, please, call me any time if you have any questions.”

          Hannah felt dazed. She hadn’t expected this and was barely able to get up and accompany Mr. Travers out the door. She did manage to say, “Congratulations, again.” To Celia, but that was it. Outside the office, she headed for her truck where she sat and thought about everything that had just happened. Then she remembered the letter. She dug through the packet of material until she found the plain white envelope with her name scrawled on the front in gramps handwriting. She used the knife on her belt to slit it open.

          “Dear Han: If you’re reading this, it means I’ve gone to be with Gracie and your folks. If I know you, I’m sure you’re sitting in your truck gob-smacked by what my friend Dan just showed and gave you. I’m sorry we didn’t talk about this, about the plans I wanted to make for you and the ranch. I just couldn’t. I just don’t have the energy, especially since I know you do and will.

          “I’ve also got to say I’m really encouraged by the way you and Luke have hit it off. I was hoping the two of you would get together before I died. I really wanted to walk you down the aisle and hold my first grandchild, but what I want and what happens isn’t always what I get. I believe Luke is a fine man and would make you a wonderful husband and a terrific father to your children.

          “To this letter, I’ve attached a list of what I’d do at the ranch were I a young man. I’m hoping you and Luke will take on these projects and make the Wakefield land produce all it’s capable of once again. That doesn’t mean you have to take on every single thing on the list, just those you want to do and that will have meaning for you and future generations.

          “Han, losing your folks was the worst thing that could have happened to you. It was the absolute best thing for me and Gracie. When you came into our lives, sad and almost broken, all we wanted was to help you grow, watch you grow, and become a young woman who knew her own mind and loves the land as we did. We knew our prayers had been answered by the time you were 15.

          “You, my sweetest granddaughter, have been the answer to so many prayers. Your granny and I are so proud of the young woman you grew into and wish we could have remained longer to share in the life you’ll continue to have.

          “Han, please know that while Granny and I may not be present physically any longer, our love and hope for you will endure. You’re strong and beautiful and a Wakefield through and through.

          “I love you. Gramps.”

          Hannah had had to stop several times as she read the letter to swipe the tears from her face and eyes. It was hard to read when the words became all blurry. She carefully folder the papers and returned them to the envelope. She’d read gramps’ letter again at bedtime, but now, this minute, this day, she had work to do. Wakefields didn’t sit back and languish and make wishes that wouldn’t come to fruition. Wakefields soldiered on and so would she, head up, shoulders back, stride firm and sure. It was time to visit the grocery and feed stores.