“He Kept Two Promises His Entire Life.”
Michael stepped between me and them like the world was still simple enough to protect me with his body.
“My father never mentioned any of this,” he snapped. “Not once.”
Maggie didn’t flinch.
“Because he promised your mother he wouldn’t,” she replied.
I felt something inside me crack.
Not grief.
Not anger.
Recognition.
Maggie looked at me, then at my son.
“He kept two promises his entire life,” she said quietly. “To never leave those in need… and to never hurt Ellie with memories of this place.”
Michael scoffed.
“We’re not here for some story. This land is being sold. There’s a mining offer. Twenty million.”
I watched the people behind Maggie glance toward us.
Some froze mid-task.
A woman pulled a child closer.
Fear moved through the ranch like a shadow.
Thomas, suddenly nervous, tucked himself behind me.
“Mr. James said we could stay forever,” he murmured.
Michael’s voice sharpened.
“Dad has been dead for six months. And this land isn’t his alone. My mother owns it, too.”
“Yes,” Maggie said, businesslike now. “Which is why we waited.”
She reached into her pocket and brought out a key ring.
“James left instructions. There are things he wanted your mother to see. When she was ready.”
Michael’s eyes narrowed.
“This is trespassing. We should call the sheriff.”
My voice came out steadier than I expected.
“Michael. Please. Give me one hour.”
“Mom—”
“One hour,” I repeated. “Then we’ll talk.”
He hesitated, then gave a tight nod and stepped back toward his car.
Maggie turned to me gently.
“Come inside,” she said. “There’s something upstairs you need to see first.”
My feet moved before my mind agreed.
Because some part of me already knew:
James didn’t come back here three times a year.
He came back much more than that.
And whatever he built… he built it without me.
Read more on the next page ⬇️⬇️⬇️
