AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Well, then let me be blunt. I’m so sorry to have to call you like this, but your grandfather had a massive heart attack and didn’t survive.”
CHAPTER 2
Sebastian
The man I most admired was dead.
I couldn’t believe it.
I glanced at my credenza to the single picture I had of the time I’d spent with him decades before. The fading color photo reminded me of a different time in my life when I’d actually been happy.
“Dead.”
“Yes,” Hank stated.
Who the fuck was this man? I’d never heard of him before.
No shit, Sherlock. You ignored your grandfather for twenty years.
Another harsh reminder that I was just like my bastard father. I sat back against the chair, my pulse immediately racing. I had no idea what to say, the ache in my heart instantaneous. What also struck me was that it didn’t sound as if the man was sad about the situation at all. “You’re his best friend?”
“Yes, for years. I know it’s a shock. It was to everyone who knew him as well. He seemed to be in the prime of his life.”
Christ. My grandfather had also been trying to get in touch with me. I’d been too fucking busy to take the call. I rubbed my jaw, furious with the asshole’s tone and with myself.
“Thank you for letting me know. When is the funeral?”
“A few days. All the arrangements have been made and I’ll be happy to send you an email with the details. But that’s not why I’m calling.”
“Hold on. Who made the arrangements?”
He seemed put off by my question, snorting as if I had no right to ask. “Why, I did when I couldn’t get in touch with you initially.”
Why the hell was I the responsible party all of a sudden?
“What is the real reason for your call, Mr. Barclay? As I said, I’m a busy man.” The ache increased, so much so I was taking gasping breaths as if I was the one having a heart attack.
“He left you everything in his will. Now, I was appointed by the courts as a temporary executor but I’m certain the judge will rule on the probate shortly. Although we do have a backlog in the courts right now.”
“Temporary executor?” I fisted my hand, furious with a man I didn’t even know.
“Yes, given it’s a working ranch and business operation, your grandfather felt it vital to ensure the bills were paid and other necessary items attended to in the event something happened to him. It’s just a formality. As you said, you’re a very busy man, which is what I understood from your grandfather. I’m prepared and happy to do anything I can to make the sale easier.”
“Sale?”
“I’m certain you’re interested in selling the ranch as soon as possible.”
The man was a presumptuous asshole. Why did I get the feeling there was a huge profit waiting for the man as soon as the ranch was sold off? Hmm…
I finally managed to exhale the strangled air, trying to keep my anger from exploding. “The ranch? Does that mean there was a change in how my grandfather ran the place?” When I was there, it wasn’t much more than a couple dozen acres and a rundown house, the ranch likely to foreclose. That hadn’t mattered. I’d loved every moment of being there. The nature. The mountains. I’d hiked for hours at a time, learned how to ride horses. I’d never laughed so much, my grandfather teaching me the ways of the Old West. We’d even camped out under the stars together. He’d told me the day I arrived he was going to drive the city slicker out of me.
And he had.
But it had been short lived.
Hank laughed. “It’s changed significantly over the years.”
“Interesting. It can’t be that much,” I said in passing.
