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The church was packed with bodies, each one a life she had touched. I sat in the front pew, my hands clasped tightly in my lap, my heart a tumult of emotion. Around me, soft murmurs of condolence swirled, a comforting yet painful reminder that I wasn't alone in my grief.
When the time came for the eulogy, my feet felt like lead as I walked up to the podium. The room fell silent, all eyes on me. I cleared my throat, my fingers gripping the edges of my notes, the words I had written a shaky lifeline in the sea of my sorrow.
"Aunt Dina wasn't just family; she was an inspiration," I began, my voice stronger than I felt. "She gave me not just a love for horses, but a passion for life. Her spirit, her joy, it was infectious, something that touched everyone she knew."
I paused, the faces in the crowd a blur through the tears that threatened to fall. "She taught me to chase my dreams, to live with my whole heart. And though she may be gone, her legacy lives on. In the stables of Horseshoe Lake Ranch, in the thundering hooves of the horses she adored, and in every moment, I choose to live fully, just as she did."
As I finished, a hush hung over the room, the weight of shared loss and remembrance palpable in the air. I made my way back to my seat, the echo of my words a faint whisper in the quiet.
After the service, as people milled about, offering hugs and shared memories, a man approached me. He was tall, dressed in a somber suit, his expression serious.
"Miss Kent?" he asked, his voice low.
I nodded, wiping a stray tear from my cheek. "Yes, that's me."
"I'm sorry for your loss. I knew your aunt well," he said, his eyes kind. "I need to speak with you in private, if that's okay. It's about Dina's estate. I'm her attorney."
A flicker of surprise crossed my face. Aunt Dina's estate? What could that possibly have to do with me? I nodded, curiosity piquing my grief.
"Of course," I replied, my voice steady despite the whirlwind of thoughts. "Where should we go?"
“We can meet at my office in the morning, if that works for you. Here’s the number for my assistant. She can set it up.”
He handed me a card and was gone. On the car ride back to the hotel, I called and set up the appointment, and the following morning, I arrived at the office.
The attorney greeted me and ushered me into his office. Once the door was closed, he turned to me, his expression somber yet reassuring. "Thank you for agreeing to speak with me, Miss Kent.”
I managed a nod. "Of course. What is this about?" My voice came out steadier than I felt.
He took a deep breath, the kind that precedes life-changing news. "It's about Dina's will," he began, his tone measured, careful.
I blinked, confusion swirling with the myriad of emotions already inside me. Aunt Dina's will? I loved her dearly, but I never imagined I'd be a part of her final wishes. "I... I don't understand. What does her will have to do with me?"
The attorney gave a small, sympathetic smile. "Well, it appears that Dina held you in very high regard. She mentioned in her will your love for the ranch, your passion for horses, and your dedication to pursuing a degree in a field that allows you to work with them."
I listened, each word hitting me like a wave, pulling me under. But nothing prepared me for what came next.
"And because of that," he continued, his voice growing firmer, "she named you as the sole inheritor of Horseshoe Lake Ranch."
The room spun, the words echoing in my mind. The ranch? Inherit the ranch? A surge of disbelief washed over me, leaving me momentarily speechless.
"The ranch?!" I finally gasped, my voice a mix of shock and incredulity. "But why? I mean, I loved the ranch, but to leave it to me?"
He nodded, understanding the tumult of emotions that must have been written all over my face. "Yes, the ranch. Dina saw in you a future for Horseshoe Lake, a way for her legacy to continue through your hands. She believed in you, in your passion and your dedication."
My mind raced, memories of summer days spent at the ranch flooding back. Aunt Dina's laughter, the scent of hay and horses, the sense of peace and belonging. It all felt like a different life, and I had dreamed of owning my own ranch someday. And now, it was all within reach, a future I had never dared to imagine.
"But I... How can I run a ranch?" I stammered, the weight of the responsibility crashing down on me. "I've just graduated. I'm not ready for this."
The attorney's gaze was steady, reassuring. "Dina believed you were. And she left behind resources, a team at the ranch that can help you transition. It's a big responsibility, yes, but one that she wholeheartedly believed you are ready for."
I stood there silent. The ranch, my childhood sanctuary, was now mine to care for, to nurture. It was an overwhelming, staggering thought.
The attorney gave me a moment to process. "This is a lot to take in, I know. And you don't have to make any decisions right now. Take your time, think it over."
I nodded, grateful for the understanding. "Thank you. I... I'll need to think about this. It's just so unexpected."
He offered a kind smile. "Of course. Take all the time you need. And if you have any questions, any at all, I'm here to help."
