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As he left the room, closing the door softly behind him, I sank into a chair, the reality of the situation wrapping around me like a thick fog. Aunt Dina's ranch, her legacy, was now in my hands. The future, once a distant horizon, was suddenly here, knocking at my door. And with it came a choice, a path that could lead me back to the life I'd once loved, a life among the horses and the rolling fields of Horseshoe Lake Ranch.
The car ride back from the attorney's office was a silent one at first, the hum of the engine the only sound breaking the quiet. My mind was a jumbled mess. Finally, I turned to my dad, the words spilling out in a torrent.
"Dad, I... I've inherited the ranch. Aunt Dina left it to me," I said.
He glanced over, his expression a mixture of surprise and concern. "The ranch? But Heather, that's... that's huge. Are you sure you can handle it?"
The doubt in his voice mirrored my own. "I don't know, Dad. It's a lot, and I've just graduated. But it's not just about handling it. It's about keeping Dina's legacy alive."
He nodded, processing my words. "You could always sell it, you know. It'd set you up for life with the profits."
The thought had crossed my mind, the easy way out. But it felt wrong, like a betrayal to Dina and to my own dreams. "No, Dad. Dina loved that ranch, and so did I. I'm going to do everything I can to keep it thriving."
He smiled then, a proud, knowing smile. "You've got your aunt's spirit, kiddo. If anyone can do it, it's you. It was your dream job to work with horses, right? Now you're going to get to."
The next few days were a blur of activity, making arrangements for the move to Silver Creek and packing up my life into boxes. It felt surreal, like I was stepping into someone else's story. But it was mine, this path that was unfolding before me.
Dad helped. "You've got this, Heather," he'd say, packing another box. "You're made of tough stuff. Just like Dina."
And then, the day came. The car was packed, the goodbyes said. I stood at the threshold of my childhood home, the future calling me onward. It felt right to drive alone, a symbolic journey, the first of many steps I'd take as the new steward of Horseshoe Lake Ranch.
The drive was long, the landscape shifting as I moved closer to Silver Creek. Each mile was a step away from the life I'd known, a step towards the unknown. My hands gripped the steering wheel, the road ahead a ribbon of possibilities.
Silver Creek welcomed me with open arms, the town a familiar sight. But this time, it was different. This time, I was coming home. Not to the house where I'd spent my summers but to a life that was now wholly mine to shape.
I didn't head straight to the ranch. Instead, I drove through the town, the streets a tapestry of memories and new beginnings. I saw the diner where Dina and I had shared countless meals that summer after my mom died. She had known I needed something to distract me, something to take care of—like the horses.
I took a deep breath. The journey here was just the start. Ahead lay the real work, the real challenge. But as I looked around at the town that was now mine in a way it had never been before, I felt a surge of determination.
This was it. My new beginning. The start of something beautiful and daunting and utterly mine. Horseshoe Lake Ranch awaited, and I was ready. Ready to honor Dina's legacy, ready to chase my dreams, ready to start this new chapter of my life.
I pulled up to the ranch and stepped out of the car. But as I headed towards the porch, a noise from around the side of the house caught my attention. Tensing, I edged towards the corner, ready for anything.
Rounding the bend, I came face-to-face with a man, tall and imposing. "Hey! Who the hell are you, and what are you doing here?" I demanded, my voice sharp, my hand already fishing for my phone.
He turned, his movements calm, almost nonchalant. "I'm Danny Lopes, police sergeant," he said, showing me a badge that glinted in the sunlight. "I'm investigating some illegal activity. You shouldn't be here. This is a crime scene."
A crime scene? At Aunt Dina's ranch? Confusion and anger swirled within me. "Illegal activity? And since when is my house a crime scene?" I shot back, disbelief coloring my words.
He blinked, taken aback. "Your house? This is Dina Kent's property."
I crossed my arms, my patience wearing thin. "Well, if you were a real cop, you'd know Dina is dead. And I'm about to call 911 if you don't start explaining yourself right now."
I could see the realization dawning in his eyes, the situation suddenly shifting beneath his feet. "Okay, look, I'll go. But I'll be back with a warrant," he said, a hint of urgency creeping into his tone.
I stood my ground, my stance unyielding. "And just who do you think you are, demanding warrants on my property?"
He hesitated, then asked, "Who are you?"
"I'm Heather, Dina's niece. And the new owner of this ranch, thanks to her will," I stated, the words carrying my determination to protect what was now mine.
For a moment, we just looked at each other, two strangers caught in a standoff. Finally, he nodded.
"I'll leave. For now. But this isn't over," he said before turning to walk away.
As he disappeared from view, I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. What did he mean, warrant?
Chapter Five
