Unusual Inheritance by Rhonda Grice Page A

rubbed his chin back
and forth as if he were thinking. “Well I've been called many
things lady but never that. So don't be so uppity about
your…attributes.” He looked her up and down as he spoke. “I just
want to water my horse, like I said.” He led the horse to drink and
bent to quench his own thirst as well, ignoring those dainty hands
resting upon shapely hips as Stormy mumbled under her breath.
    “Well, I don’t have to stand here and be
insulted”. Stormy mounted her horse, and rode off before the man
could say anything or ask any questions she didn't want to answer.
She had only ridden about a 100 yards before she realized that
egotistical cowboy, dirt farmer, or whatever he was, had called her
pretty. Yeah, she would admit he wasn’t hard on the eyes and smiled
for a moment. A perfect stranger thinking she was pretty. Hmmm,
maybe this ain't such a tiresome day after all!
    The weather was almost unbearable as Stormy
plodded along. Her behind was throbbing and old Wobbles seemed
about ready to call it a day. Once he made up his mind to stop you
might as well be prepared to stop, because that’s the truth of it.
No doubt about it, old Wobbles had a mind of his own at times.
She’d better get to town and quick!
    Stormy spent the rest of her ride reflecting
on her situation. Aunt Lucy had died, that was the reason for the
letter. She wasn't sure what all was involved in this inheritance
because the attorney indicated he needed to talk to her in person.
Truth be told she wasn't even aware she had any living relatives
until right before her momma died. Her momma had tried to get her
to make contact with Aunt Lucy, knowing she was dying, but Stormy
was too pig headed to ask for help from a strange relative she had
never known existed.
    What could have happened to keep them from
speaking all these years? She may never know since both sisters are
passed on now. It was as strange as the letter she had received
instructing her to come to Possum Junction. However, if it had
something to do with her momma she would find the truth before
leaving.
    Her ma and pa both died of the fever a few
months apart, leaving her alone on the farm which the bank soon
took away as well. No need feeling sorry for herself, she thought.
She had managed to get a one room shack on the edge of town where
she took in laundry for folks and was able to scrimp by.
“End…of…story,” she said out loud, refusing to give in to any kind
of sadness! Stormy gave old Wobbles a little kick, hoping to end
this trip before she got so stiff she couldn’t walk.

Chapter 2
    The town loomed before her and was larger
than she had expected. It was full of shops of every kind and
people coming and going. It literally bustled with activity! With a
name like Possum Junction she had expected very few buildings with
maybe some farm land on the outskirts of town. It wasn’t anything
like her Cedar Wells. It appeared she wasn’t the only one taking in
the scenery. All eyes were on her as she rode down the main street.
It's almost as if they were expecting her.
    The brown sign with large white letters
caught her attention about half-way through town. Biggs, Attorney
At Law, is how it read. She may not have the best education but was
proud she could read and write better than most people she
knew.
    Stormy threw one leg over to the other side
of Wobbles and slid down to the ground. She tied his reins to the
hitching post, pressed the wrinkles out of her dress the best she
could, and entered the office of Biggs, Attorney At Law.
    Her eyes took in the high back chairs and an
opulent desk that dwarfed the small but tidy office of Mr. Biggs.
He saw her, rounded his chair, and met her with a smile.
    “Good afternoon, Theodore Biggs at your
service Ma’am.” He extended his hand and guided her to a chair.
“Please sit,” he added.
    Stormy spoke right away. “I'm Stormy Calder,
the one you sent the letter to. I'll be honest Mr. Biggs, I didn't
really know my Aunt