My Unexpected Hero (Cowboys of Sunnydale)

Chapter 1-2

Dear Lindsay,

Sweetheart, if you are reading these words, then I must be buried next to the love of my life on the hill. I hadn't wanted to write this letter to you, but I worry about you and Candy.

You have been the joy of Ida's and my lives, especially since we didn't have any daughters of our own. We loved watching you grow up to be a beautiful, thoughtful, smart young woman. We were so proud of you when you received that scholarship to go to college. The first person in our family to go to school and going to be a doctor, nonetheless.

You and Larry, even though you were cousins, were such great friends. He was like a big brother to you and you a little sister to him. You made his childhood grand. When he died in Afghanistan, you were there for Ida and me. I could see how much you loved him when you wrote the song for the funeral. It was beautiful and so much like him.

Our hearts broke for you when Candy got injured in that car accident and you quit school to come home. Never having been to college, I can't imagine what you gave up to be there for your mother. We were so proud of you then too. We loved you like you were our own daughter and in the last several years our family was complete, again.

Sweetheart, don't cry for us. Ida and I lived lives full of love and happiness. In truth, the last few years without Ida have been hard and I'm looking forward to seeing her again.

I am worried about you and Candy. I want to provide for my girls, even if I am not physically there. And that is why I did not leave you the ranch in the will. Ida and I loved the ranch with all of our hearts. We put blood, sweat, and tears into it. It wasn't an easy life with the two of us after Larry was gone. It will be impossible for you to do it all on your own without killing your love for the ranch and yourself. I don't want to sit up here and watch you suffer. So even though it has been in the family for generations, I am selling the ranch twenty-one days after my death. Unless you can find a husband to help you run the ranch. Call me old-fashioned but running the ranch works the best with a man by your side and a family to help. Ranching is not meant to be a solo endeavor. If you can find a man and be married in fourteen days after reading this, you can keep the ranch. Otherwise, it will be sold, and the money used to keep you and Candy comfortable. I know you are going to be mad after reading this, but I have your best interests at heart.

Sweetheart, I love you and I love Candy. You are a very special woman and deserve the best I can possibly give you.

Love forever in heaven,

Uncle Clarence

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I reread the letter a couple of times as the tears blurred my vision, making it hard to read his short abrupt script. The dam that had held them at bay weakening and they flowed down my face. Mr. Philips placed a tissue box at my elbow, and I dabbed at my eyes and blew my nose. I folded the paper carefully and placed it back into the envelope. I wiped my eyes again, taking tracks of mascara with it. Blinking, my gaze rose to Mr. Philips. His mouth pulled down and pity filled his eyes.

"Is he serious?" My voice croaked like a bullfrog. "I have to get married in two weeks or I lose my home?"

"Yes, he is." With a sheepish look, he added. "He even found a buyer for the ranch if you don't want to get married."

"What!" I slid my chair back. Placing my palms on the armrest, I pushed myself to my feet. My cowboy boots squished, and the chair groaned.

"Lindsay..." Mr. Philips stood and held out his hands. "You need to think about this. Do you have a young man in your life?"

I shook my head. My wet hair flung beads of water around the room.

"Do you want to rush into a relationship to keep the ranch? Or would you rather have enough money to care for Candy and yourself?"

My head spun and the room shifted in and out of focus. "I don't know what to do." Pressing my hand to my forehead, I tried to calm my spinning thoughts.

"Why don't you go home and sleep on it? Talk to your mother." He came around and grabbed my purse. He slid it over my shoulder, resting his hand there.

I nodded and glanced at my watch. "I've gotta go to work...and think about this." I turned to leave.

"Take a couple of days. Let me know on Monday. The fourteen days will begin then."

I walked slowly through the rain to my car parked at the spot in front of the door. I slid into the driver's seat and lowered the visor. My keys fell out and I caught them before they hit my lap. A piece of paper fluttered down and landed on the steering column. Another letter. How many was I going to get today?

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Put a new tire on for you. You are good to go. - Mike

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