The news hit Kate like an unexpected splash of cold water. Her grandfather had left Coyote Glen toher? Why? It was supposed to go to her father. Shock made it hard to concentrate on the lawyer’s next words.
“She isn’t allowed to sell land, equipment, or other assets during that time. She may sell livestock, but at the end of the year, her number of cattle can’t be down more than ten percent.”
Mr. Wagner checked a figure on one of the papers. “Cal had been culling his herd the last few years, so currently the number is three hundred and forty-eight. Kate will need to have at least three hundred and thirteen. She isn’t allowed to take gifts of cash, livestock, or equipment from outside sources in order to make the ranch profitable, and no one is allowed to live on the property with her except a qualified foreman. The reasoning being that she needs to be involved with the ranching herself. To be considered qualified, the foreman must have worked on a ranch for at least the previous five years.
If at any time within the year, Kate vacates Coyote Glen or is unable to keep the ranch out of the debt for three consecutive months, the trust and all its assets will go to Landon Wyle.”
Kate’s mouth dropped open. The air seemed to have left her lungs without any thought of returning. “What?” she finally managed.
Her mother looked from her father to the lawyer, blinking in disbelief. “That can’t be right. How could that be legal?”
Mr. Wagner folded his hands over the table. “People make all sorts of stipulations where trusts are concerned. Technically, Kate won’t inherit for a year. Until then, my office will oversee the ranch’s books to make sure everything is in order. After the will’s terms are met, she’ll be able to keep or dispose of the land and assets as she sees fit.”
He flipped through another page. “I also need to let you know about a provision leasing water rights to the Wyle Away Ranch for the duration of the year. As listed in section seven, the cost for that transaction will be one dollar.” He slid a paper to Landon. “I’ll need to collect payment and have you sign this.”
Landon smiled brightly, pulled out his wallet, and handed a dollar bill to the lawyer. “I’m much obliged.” He took the pen Mr. Wagner proffered and clicked the top. “Turns out Cal’s wishes do count for something after all.”
Kate’s stomach turned over on itself. This was not how things were supposed to go. Her parents were already grief-stricken, and now both were growing pale with the added pain of this blow.
“Why would Grandpa do this?” she asked. “Why would he make me stay at Coyote Glen for a year? I have a job.” Shock turned into panic. “I can’t raise cattle. I don’t know how to do that.” It was a punishment—that’s what her grandfather had left her. Kate’s eyes flew to the lawyer. “If Grandpa planned to cut his own family from his will, why didn’t he just do it outright? Instead he wanted me to live out in the middle of nowhere, failing, so that after a year, I’d feel extra horrible about losing the family ranch?”
She thought of her position at the interior design firm, her clients, her ordered life—in the way a dying person sees her life flash before her eyes. Kate’s boss had told her that she showed so much promise, she would be moving up the ranks quickly.You could make driftwood and seaweed look glamorous,she’d said more than once.
And now Kate was going to have to quit her job in order to run cattle for a year.
Mr. Wagner adjusted his glasses, clearly uncomfortable at the tension in the room. “Normally, I don’t comment on my clients’ motivation, but Calvin told me he wanted the ranch kept in the family, and he knew his son preferred another profession. He felt if Kate gave ranching a try, she’d like it. But if she didn’t, his property should go to someone who did. In this case, Mr. Wyle.”
Kate’s father was not one to lose his temper easily, but a red flush crept up his throat. “You don’t have to move here,” he told her. “I wouldn’t let Grandpa bully me into changing careers, and I’m not about to let him force you into it.” He turned to Mr. Wagner, his back rigid with determination. “We’ll fight this. My father couldn’t have been in his right mind when he made this will. You said he changed it after my mother died. He must have been grief-stricken, and he didn’t know what he was doing.”
Mr. Wagner was nonplused, almost pitying. “It’s certainly your prerogative to contest the will. However, retaining lawyers is expensive and will most likely not end in the result you want. The documents were legally filed, and Calvin had years to change them if he wanted.”
Kate’s father waved a hand in Landon’s direction. “The way this trust is set up, all Mr. Wyle has to do is sabotage the ranch to make it unprofitable for three straight months, and he’ll inherit the whole thing. You can’t tell me that sort of arrangement would stand in a court of law.”
“I would never sabotage Coyote Glen.” Landon grinned. “I don’t have to. Kitty already admitted she doesn’t know how to raise cattle.” He slid the signed document back to Mr. Wagner. “Is that all you need from me?”
Landon was entirely too pleased about this. Had he and his brothers influenced Grandpa—perhaps made comments that her family didn’t deserve to inherit? How could her grandfather have turned his estate into some sort of contest?
Mr. Wagner picked up Landon’s paper and tucked it into a file. “That should do for the present. I’ll contact you a year from today concerning Coyote Glen.” His gaze turned to Kate. “Sooner, if Miss Benton decides not to pursue her claim on the property.”
Her father narrowed his eyes at Landon. “You know what that land is worth, and you know it isn’t rightfully yours, but you’re willing to take it from us anyway?”
Landon scooped up his copy of the will. “Like you said before, I’ve got to think about what’s best for my family. I’m sure you understand.” As he stood to go, he nodded at Kate. “You should listen to your dad and not let your grandfather bully you into ranching. I’m sure you’re a wonderful interior decorator.”
Not a chance. She refused to let him win like this. She wouldn’t allow him to take the ranch and leave her family with nothing. “I’ll stay at Coyote Glen,” she said. “And I’ll make sure the place turns a profit.” Landon still seemed entirely too cheerful, so she added. “How hard can it be to keep cows alive? That’s what Grandpa hired a foreman to do.”
Landon’s grin grew. “Right. As they say, ignorance is bliss.” He waltzed out of the room with an extra bounce in his step.
Some of Kate’s confidence left at the same time he did, and she stared at the door while the ramifications unrolled in her mind. What had she just gotten herself into? She was going to be stuck on a ranch in the middle of Nowhere, Arizona, for an entireyear.
Despite Mr. Wagner’s assurance that her grandfather had wanted her to give ranching a try, she knew he’d rewritten his will to be spiteful, not just to her parents but to her too. After the cattle drive, she’d refused to spend summers in Arizona, so he’d sentenced her to a year here. He’d known she wouldn’t have another choice.
Her design projects, her friends, and that guy from her apartment building she flirted with—all of it would have to be put on hold. Goodbye chic office. Hello pitchfork and cattle chute.
“I’m sorry, Jeff.” Mr. Wagner’s words drew Kate’s attention back to her parents.
Her father, who’d always been so strong—the rock of the family—had put his elbows on the table and buried his face in his hands.
Her mother rubbed his back consolingly. “It’ll be okay. We’ll get by.”