By Summer's End (Christian Fiction) by Rosemarie Naramore

sister. 
Uncle Ben’s nieces.  He left the place to them, apparently.”
    “Yes, I know that.  I mean, the part
about him leaving the house to family.  Do they plan to have it moved soon?”
    He sighed.  “I get the distinct
impression they believe the land is theirs too.”
    “Whoa,” she said, shaking her head.  “I
don’t understand.  Why didn’t Forrest tell them different?”
    “Because Forrest hasn’t met with them
yet.  Apparently, he’s been out of town too.”
    “But…”
    “I’m surprised you didn’t know Forrest
was called away for a family emergency,” Ryan cut in.
    “Hey, I’ve been totally out of the
loop—or any loop for that matter.”
    “Yeah, I know.  Young love and all that
rot.”
    “How did you get so cynical?” she asked,
watching him with frustrated eyes.
    “How did you get so sappy?”
    Annabelle glanced off into the distance,
a soft smile playing at her lips.  “I met Harrison, that’s how.”  She aimed a
pointer finger at him.  “Mark my words, it’s going to happen to you too. 
You’re going to meet some woman and suddenly, you’ll be waxing poetic.”
    “Never going to happen,” he said
confidently.
    “Oh, yeah?”  She pinned him with a
look.  “So…  I take it you’ve evicted the squatters from our property?”
    He looked sheepish.  “No, I’m afraid
not.”
    “You’re telling me that my hard-nosed,
businessman brother didn’t drop-kick them off the front lawn?”
    “How could I?” he moaned, rubbing his
hands across his face.  “They moved here from out-of-state.  They don’t appear
to have much.  It won’t be cheap moving that home, and I doubt they happen to
own a piece of property nearby.  This is …bad.”
    “Bad?  Not for you, and isn’t that what
matters most?”  She watched him with accusing eyes.
    He sent her a scalding glance.  “You
have a fairly negative opinion of me, don’t you?”
    “I do not!” she scoffed.  “But you are
first and foremost about the almighty dollar.”
    “Wow.  You really don’t think much of
me, do you?”
    “Stop.  I love you and you know it.” 
She measured him with a glance.  “It’s time you and I sat down and made a
decision about the property, however.”
    “Have you … had a change of heart?” he
asked, hoping she had.  More than anything, he just wanted to sell it and be
done with it.
    “No.  I still think you and I could build
a riding arena and barns.  I’ve been doing some brainstorming and I think it
would be awesome if we could offer riding trails, as well.”
    “It’d be a huge commitment from both of
us,” he said.  “And I can’t…”
    “Commit.  Yeah, that’s always been your
trouble.”
    “Would you cease and desist with the
relationship jabs,” he implored.  “I know you think I’m some sort of playboy.”
    “No, I don’t.  I think you haven’t found
the right girl, that’s all.”
    He was surprised by the statement.  “But
you adored Maggie.”
    “Yes, I adored Maggie, but not for you. 
You need a stronger woman, a go-getter, a…”
    “A what?”
    “A Christian.”
    “Annabelle, don’t go there.”
    “I have to go there.  You’re my brother,
and someday, when I’m in heaven with Mom and Dad and Ben, I’d like to see you
there too.”
    He waved a dismissive hand and rose from
the chair.  “I have to go.”
    “Are you going to speak to Uncle Ben’s
nieces?”
    “Not today.”
    “Reeaallly?” she murmured, drawing out
the word.
    “Really,” he said crisply.  “I don’t
have time.”
    “You want me to drive over there.  I’ll
try to make it as painless as possible for them.”
    He pressed his eyelids shut.  When he opened
his eyes, his sister could see his pain imbedded within their depths. 
“Painless?  Yeah, I’m sure they’ll be whistling a happy tune when you’re done,”
he said sarcastically.
    “Ryan, what do you care?  Why do
you care?  This is business.  If you get your way and we do