When You Fall... (30 page)

“Did my father tell you anything about the property?” Carter asked.

“Basic information only.”

“Right. Well then, our ranch has about 1,200 feet of riverfront. The good old Guadalupe River runs through on its way into town. It splits into a small stream that forks left and eventually makes its way to our pond located further back on the property,” Carter said, turning right and following the river. They stopped at the fork of the river that marked the beginning of their small stream. The small waterfall that flowed into their pond was also visible from here.

“Nice,” Courtney said.

“Stables?” Carter asked.

“Yes.”

“When I was a kid growing up here, we had two stables. The old one in the back, which is about to fall down,” she said, pointing to it. “Maximum capacity for that one is about 35 horses. Whoever buys the ranch will have to do some major work to restore those.”

“They could just tear them down.”

“There is that,” Carter said and stopped. “I guess so,” she said, thinking through that very real possibility that they could be razed. Painful thoughts, like someone had slapped her and her feelings must have reflected on her face.

“You okay?” Courtney asked.

“I am,” Carter said, recruiting her best smile. Once it slipped into place, they started moving again.

“This is the newer barn and stables built about 15 years ago.” They’d entered the building and the horses neighed in recognition.

“You have horses?”

“Four horses and two donkeys. Grey, Augustus, Racer’s Dream, and Sandy are the horses, and the two donkeys, Heavy D and GMF—short for Grand Master Flash. I’ve accumulated them since I’ve been here. They will all need to be adopted. And now that we are going ahead with the sale, I’ll have to get serious into finding homes for them.”

“You weren’t serious before?”

“No, not really. I was hoping I could convince my family not to sell,” she said.

“But I thought you wanted to sell, that all of you wanted to sell. At least that was what your father told me.”

“Nope. I’m the lone holdout. My stepsisters, who were added to the will after my father married their mother, have a vote and they all want to sell,” Carter said. It was quiet for a few minutes. Carter glanced at Courtney who was staring at her now as if she was puzzled by something.

“What is it?” Carter asked.

“You don’t know, do you?” Courtney said.

“Don’t know what?”

“That you don’t have to sell.”

“What do you mean I don’t have to sell?”

“Have you ever read your great-grandfather’s will?”

“No, I haven’t. Why would I need to?” she asked.

“Come with me,” Courtney said, reaching for Carter’s hand, dropping her professional mask and was that sympathy Carter thought she’d seen on Courtney’s face. They moved at a fast clip back to the house. Courtney leading, long legs eating up ground, pulling Carter behind her. She hustled Carter in through the front door, once they’d reached the house. It was a quick trip to the kitchen table where Courtney pushed her into a chair, and stood looking at her oddly.

“Now you can put on that tea. I’ll be back in a second.” Courtney said before vanishing.

“Okay,” Carter said, puzzled by the sudden change in Courtney’s behavior. She went to the stove, and turned the heat on under the teapot.

She’d taken a seat by the time Courtney returned, carrying a huge stack of folders in her hands.

“What’s all that?” Carter asked.

Courtney sat in the chair next to her and handed her a sheaf of papers. “This is The Last Will and Testament of Carter Woodson, your great-grandfather’s. You read while I make us tea.”

It took ten minutes for Carter to find the section that was behind Courtney’s earlier query; referencing the homestead property:

Paragraph IV, Section A

The final word on the sale of “the property,” as defined and referenced above in paragraph II, and known as “the property,” shall be given by my youngest and only heir by blood, who bears my name, Carter Nicole Woodson. Carter Nicole Woodson alone shall have sole and final authority to dispose of “the property” in the manner that she deems fit. If she approves of the sale of “the property”, then the proceeds will be divided among my great grandchildren equally.

Carter Nicole Woodson may, also at her sole discretion, distribute any and all income associated and belonging to “the property” for the benefit of the remaining grandchildren listed in Paragraph IV, Section B as she deems necessary.

All income shall include earnings from any oil and gas leases, and interest earned from all yield-bearing assets.

In the event that my grandchild, Raymond G Woodson, produces any heirs not named in this will, they shall be included in the provisions set aside for my other adopted great grandchildren as listed in Paragraph IV, Section B.

Section B

If “the property” is sold, the proceeds shall be divided between my six great grandchildren, listed at the time of my death as follows: Carter N. Woodson, my only known blood heir at the writing of this will, and the five children, all female, adopted by my grandson Carl S. Woodson during his marriage to Gloria Lee. The children adopted are: Savannah A. Woodson, Madison Lynn Woodson, June May Woodson, August Eleanor Woodson and Cari Ashley Woodson.

In the event of death of any of the adopted great grandchilden listed above, their share shall terminate. Their right to any portion of the property shall terminate and will not be passed on to the heirs of said deceased grandchild. The remaining living grandchildren shall divide the property in the amounts that there are living grandchildren at the time of the sale.

In the event of a divorce between my son, Carl Woodson and Gloria Lee, the rights to any and all property given to my adopted great grandchildren will terminate.

She sat for a second, letting the words sink in to her brain.
Oh God, not another revelation
, was her first clear thought. Her mind had taken off, moving in a thousand different directions. It couldn’t be. It was too much.
She didn’t have to sell
was the first thing her mind settled on. Her grandfather had assigned the final decision regarding the ranch to her. She would determine if her sisters could receive money. Why hadn’t she known that? Had her father known that? Of course he had.

“I can’t breathe. I need my inhaler,” she said, leaning forward, putting her head down between her legs.

“Where is it?”

“In my purse.”

Courtney dug through Carter’s purse quickly, found her inhaler and handed it to her. Carter took a few puffs and sat back against the chair.

“How did you know this? What are you doing with the files?” she asked.

“I’ve met with the family’s attorney. I’m your cousin. The attorney gave me these documents,” she said.

“But I don’t have any cousins,” Carter said, stopping. “Uncle Raymond?” Carter said a few seconds later.

“My father,” Courtney said.

“I thought he was gay and died with no children.”

“He was gay. He died with one child. Me.”

Carter sat back. No, he’d fathered two children, she thought, but apparently Courtney didn’t know that. Carter groaned.

“You all right?” Courtney asked. Carter nodded and took another puff from her inhaler.

“Let me explain,” Courtney said, her eyes fixed on Carter’s. Carter nodded, incapable of forming words at this point.

“You and I are the same age. My father died in 1989. He lived with my mother and her brother. Her brother, my Uncle Broderick, was my father’s life partner, husband—not legally—but for all practical purposes. They were together for 7 years before my dad died of complications associated with AIDS.

“My father provided the sperm for me. My mother had never married and she wanted a child. My father agreed.”

Carter put her head back between her legs, taking another puff from her inhaler.

“It’s a lot to take in, I know. My father, before he died, told me about his past. I located the attorney who represents your family. Then I got my own attorney, and we’ve been working on how to proceed, looking for a way to prevent the sale. So far, I hadn’t come up with anything.

“The way our grandfather treated his son was unconscionable and as for your father… well, he’s a sorry excuse for a brother, if you ask me. That was unforgivable, too. But that’s my hate. I can’t believe you didn’t know!”

“I had no idea,” Carter said.

“What an asshole your father is for not telling you, for selling this place out from under you,” she said, her anger at Carter turned just as quickly to sympathy. They both sat for a while and gave that some thought.

“My father used to talk about the ranch all the time. He loved this place until his father and our great-grandfather found out about him and his ‘abnormal behavior,’” Courtney said, doing those quotation things with her hands.

“I’ve been driving around here for years, keeping an eye on the property, watching it fall into disrepair, and growing angrier that you all had what I wanted and didn’t appreciate it enough to take care of it,” she said.

Carter nodded. “I wanted it, too,” Carter said, her eyes wet with tears. “But I kept my distance, too. It was too painful, too hard to see, and I didn’t have the courage to go after it. And then came the recession and the decision to sell it,” she said. She looked out the back window, her voice soft into the room. “I thought it was too late. Never thought I could have it,” Carter said, tears falling down her cheeks. Courtney squeezed her hand.

Courtney sighed, hadn’t ever considered this outcome. Hadn’t every considered that Carter hadn’t been told about her heritage, her rights. What a dick, her uncle was.

“I’m an Aggie. I’ve always had an affinity for being outdoors, so it was farm and ranch study and all the classes that went with that. I was driven by an inner desire that matched my dad’s and his great-grandfather and grandfather. I was proud of that heritage, and all that they had done and had struggled to overcome and you and your stepsisters only saw money,” Courtney said. Her anger was palpable. She took a deep breath to calm herself.

“After school I went into real estate, which I like, but what I really wanted to do was farm. All I ever wanted to do was farm.”

“It wasn’t me that wanted to sell?” Carter said.

“I know, and I’m sorry for thinking so bad about you. I didn’t know.”

“I’m not selling,” Carter said.

“Good,” Courtney said, offering Carter her first genuine smile. “Can I show you something else?” Courtney asked.

“Sure.”

“Keep your inhaler close,” Courtney said, as she reached for another set of folders. She pulled out more papers and placed them in Carter’s lap.

“I don’t think I could take any more surprises,” she said, looking down at the top sheet.

“These are reports listing oil and gas income. It is the ranch’s main asset; has been for years. You didn’t know? Don’t take this the wrong way, but your family sucks,” Courtney said, pointing to some figures on the sheets she’d placed in front of Carter. “Your grandfather agreed to a little drilling in the 70s, and the proceeds were held in trust, for the upkeep of the ranch.

“The capital has been accumulating for at least 30 years. It’s more than enough to make renovations, or do whatever you choose to do with it.”

“Wow, I didn’t know. I have to tell you something first. I just found out, too, so don’t faint,” Carter said.

“I know what you mean. I didn’t think we would have this conversation so soon, but it’s probably a good thing to get it all out in the open.”

Carter took a deep breath. What was the best way to tell her?

“You are my half-sister. We have the same father, Raymond. I didn’t find out until a few weeks ago. I always thought Carl was my father.”

Courtney sat back. Her eyes grew large and she grew quiet as she absorbed this information.

“I wanted to keep the ranch too, before you were hired. Anyway, I went to talk to my dad, or Carl, to ask for some time to see if I could make the ranch possibly pay for itself. He said no, of course. It was what I expected him to say, but he also told me that I wasn’t his daughter, that his brother was my father,” she said.

“I have a half-sister. You’re my half-sister.” Courtney said, astonished. Carter nodded her head.

“This is a lot,” Courtney said, standing up and walking over to the window.

“I need time to think. Everything has changed.” Carter said.

“I understand. And I guess so do I now,” Courtney said, turning to face Carter. They stared at each other.

“Okay, let’s take some time. Instead of staying here as planned, I’ll go back to Austin. You take your time, look through the files, get used to the idea, and I’ll take some time too, to get used to the idea,” she paused, touching Carter’s hand to get her attention.

“Are you going to call your dad, your sisters, and tell them?” Courtney asked.

“I don’t know.”

“Don’t call them yet. Hear me out,” Courtney said, staring intently at Carter.

“Your father asked for me to report back to him in two weeks on the state of the property. He thought that was sufficient time for me to check everything out and I think we should stick to that timetable. Don’t talk to him yet, not until you’ve reviewed the paperwork, seen an attorney, make sure you covered all of your options. Read the will again. Then I think you and I should talk, maybe see if we can work together—even more so—given what we know now… that we are related. We can do that in two weeks. I know it seems quick… but…” she said, and stopped talking, took a deep breath and said, “I’ll come back when you’re ready. Call me and I’ll drive down. What do you think?”

Carter nodded. “I’m okay with that plan.”

“Good then. I’ll go get my stuff and get out of your hair,” she said before walking out of the room. Ten minutes later she was back.

“Are you going to be okay?” she asked, concern etched her face. Carter was still sitting in the spot she’d left her in. Shocked. Courtney understood, she was feeling that, too.