The Price of Home
The moment was painful. She was alone but not the solitude she sought. It was not loneliness, not at all. The door had closed with a solid slam followed by the throwing of the deadbolt. She heard her stepmother’s bootheels slam on the wood floor of the entry hall. She saw in her mind how Mrs. Scotty McWilson would stomp past the stairs and back to the bright breakfast room. Joelene would ring the small bell on the table for Suzana, the current house maid. A new one because no one lasted long working for the very important Mrs. McWilson.
She turned and walked down the brick steps of the big house, her former home. Yes, she said it to herself, former home. She was no longer welcome. Cut adrift, on her own.
No, pain was there but she refused to cry. To cry was to let Joelene win. All she wanted was time for herself. Time to decide, time to think. It was too soon to consider what she would do now that her grandfather was dead, and his ranch was no longer her home. Her stepmother had made it clear. Either hand over her half of the property to her brother or leave. Only men should own land. Only men, like her younger brother should run things. But who ran him, she asked as she jumped into the battered pickup. Who ran James Thomas McWilson.
Roberta Elaine McWilson shifted the balky transmission into reverse and backed up to the fancy gate her stepmother had had installed on the driveway. She was tempted to just slam into it but knew that a show of temper would please Joelene. She drove down to the ranch house where she had stayed since the funeral. She had her directions. All her stuff had to be out of the ranch headquarters by sundown and she had to be off the property. Her stepmother had said James was clear. She was not welcome on the ranch. He had hired a manager for the cattle operation or really his mother had. Probably some young, good-looking hunk she had picked up at the Houston Stock show. They never lasted because Bobbie had always run them off by making them work for their money. She ran a tight ship just like Pop had taught her.
As she drew close to the ranch house, she noticed a strange car parked by the porch, a rental car decal on the trunk lid. She figured it had to be one of the lawyers from Dallas who handled the estate. She slowly got out of the truck and walked toward the porch. She expected the lawyer to be waiting in one of the rocking chairs, but no one was there. What she was not expecting was being grabbed and hugged by a man who came up behind her.
“Damn, I am so glad to see you, Bobbie-Elaine!” It was her younger brother Jimmy-Tom. He planted a kiss on her cheek, and she was surprised to feel whiskers. She pulled away and stared. It had been months since she had seen him, not since Pop McWilson’s funeral. Pop had hated the neatly trimmed beards of the younger generation. A real man didn’t wear a beard. Even on a cattle drive, the men shaved. Not only did he have a beard, but he was wearing jogging shoes, dress pants, and a collared knit shirt. He looked just like you would expect a college boy to look.
“You aren’t at A&M anymore?”
“Nope, I’m studying economics at UT.”
“Pop may show up to haunt you.”
“Only if the devil lets him out. Let’s get out of this sun. We need to talk.”
“Yeh, we do, Joelene just gave me your ultimatum.”
“The hell she did,” Jimmy stopped with one foot raised above the porch step. “I haven’t talked to her since Pop’s will was sent to probate.” He stomped on the step and glared.
“Come on, I’ve got Dr. Pepper in the fridge.” Bobbie was cautious. Jimmy-Tom was just too cheerful. Maybe it was not having to be an A&M cadet anymore, but it was not the little brother she was used to.
Bobbie was the child of Scotty’s first marriage. That had ended when his driving drunk had killed his wife. Scotty had remarried when Bobbie was three. Joelene was a society girl from Dallas he had met at an A&M party. James Thomas was born about six months after the wedding. He was big for an early calf, Pop always said.
Joelene Binfield McWilson spent most of her time up in Dallas with her mother. Supposedly that was so her mother could help with the baby, but the scrapbook she showed Bobbie chronicled her appearances in the social pages. Jimmy-Tom was raised by a string of nannies. As a result, he spoke pretty good Spanish. Bobbie was raised mostly by Pop’s housekeeper, Rosa, since her grandmother had been dead for years. Joelene wasn’t keen on her friends knowing her husband might be rich, but his first wife was one of those “mesican” women he went to high school with. Bobbie looked like her mother, with black hair and warm brown skin. She’d gone to Tech because girls didn’t go to A&M according to Pop, even if the state allowed it. Agricultural management was her major and she was good at it.
When Jimmy-Tom was ten, Scotty had drowned suspiciously. They had found him in the swimming pool at the house he built for Joelene on the ranch. The JP said he was probably drunk and fell in. Scotty had the house built to keep Joelene on the ranch, but living out in the country was not her style. They had a condo up in Highland Park. After he drowned, she had to move back because Pop said he wouldn’t pay for the condo anymore. Turns out it was rented. Pop said Joelene had to start being mother to both Scotty’s children not just the boy. So, Bobbie had to live in the big house and Jimmy-Tom had to ride the bus into town. No more private school in Dallas.
It wasn’t too bad since Bobbie was spending most of her time either up in Lubbock or working with Pop. When Pop died, she moved back to the house he had built for her grandmother where he had his office. She always assumed she would run the place until Jimmy-Tom finished at A&M.
“What is this?” Jimmy-Tom said after he took a swallow from the glass bottle. “It doesn’t taste like any Dr. Pepper I’ve ever had.”
“Mexican, has real sugar in it. Better for you,” Bobbie answered. “Sams carries it. I don’t like that corn syrup they put in sodas, waste of good grain.”
“So, what did my dear mother tell you? I need to know so I can fight with her over it. I stopped here because I wanted to see you first. I saw the lawyer and know the truth.”
“Okay, that first then I’ll tell you what she said.”
“The will gave us the ranch, most of the oil royalties, such as they are. Oh, and all the investments Pop made. Joelene gets the acre that the house is on and the house. Nothing else, not even access across the ranch. Mr. Jaworski said that was illegal. In the will, Pop says she had money from her family she can live on.”
“She told me ‘James has hired a manager and wants you off the ranch by sundown today.’ I guess she knew you were coming.”
“She did and she knew I was mad. She is hurting pretty bad for money. Uncle Larry bought up a bunch of dry holes to try his hand at fracking. They were dry holes when they were first drilled, and they’re still dry holes. The Binfield oil company is about to go bankrupt.”
“How do you know?”
“We had a class on the economics of wealth management, and I used Binfield Oil as my subject for a paper. Ended up learning more than I wanted to know. My Binfield cousins are going to be hurting.”
“Living high on the hog like Pop used to say. I got a look at the books after Pop died and we’re in good shape.”
“Joelene thinks she can tell me what to do and I’ll do it without a question. I got over that when the great aunts asked the Binfield cousins to come meet with Jones and Jones after Uncle Larry sold off a bunch of investments. I was the only one that showed up.”
“Joelene was lucky to get what little she got. Pop never liked her. So, do I move out of this house, or do I stay?”
“Bobbie, how in the hell would I even know what to do? I’d hire some idiot from A&M with cow shit on his boots and spitting tobacco juice who’d over graze it and ruin the place just to show a profit. Oh, you still going to get those bison?”
“Lord, you have not changed a bit, Jimmy-Tom! Pop used to say you had a mind like a really smart jackrabbit.” Her brother had just taken a gulp of Dr Pepper, and his reaction necessitated grabbing a rag. Jimmy told her what he had in mind for his mother and Bobbie agreed. It was a good solution.
As for what he wanted to do, he had a buddy in Austin who wanted to start investing in sustainable beef. He had investigated crossing the Braham cows with the bison. Bobbie said it might be worth a try but first they had to confront his mother.
Jimmy brought his suitcase in and put on a sports coat. He got his very official looking briefcase out of the rent car and indicated he wanted to take her truck. He sent a text message to his mother that he was almost to the house, and they climbed into the truck.
“Why don’t you use Pop’s new truck?”
“Joelene took the keys off the hook in the kitchen when she was down here right after the funeral. I think it’s up at her house or maybe the latest boy toy is driving it. Besides, this one belongs to me, and it’s paid for.”
“Makes sense.” He was quiet as they drove up to the circular drive. Unlike her earlier visit, the fancy gate was open, so they drove to the side of the house. Joelene was standing at the door. Her latest boyfriend was standing behind her holding a shotgun. Jimmy slid out of the truck and grabbed his case.
“Mr. Jaworski knows I’ve come to talk to you about the estate, Mother. If anything happens, he will know where and when.” Bobbie watched Joelene’s face. There was a flash of surprise, then she glanced behind her. The boyfriend stepped back a bit, and carefully placed the shotgun against the wall in the hall. He looked as if it was a coiled rattler as he backed away from the gun. He had not set it level on the floor. It fell over and fired. Fortunately, it fell with the business end pointed up the hall but the rug in the den would never be the same.
Joelene’s scream brought Suzane out of the kitchen throwing her apron off and yelling.
“This was the last straw. I’m moving back to Dallas, Mrs. McWilson. I ain’t putting up with anymore of this evil place. As Jesus is my witness, you are a sinful woman. I’m going to tell the agency not to send anymore good women out here.” Suzane swept past Joelene and stalked to the servant’s quarters behind the garage. A few minutes later her ancient Cadillac sedan pulled slowly past Bobbie’s truck, and she was gone. Her leaving had obviously been planned.
“You stupid idiot, you said you knew how to use a gun!” She screamed at the shaken young man. “Get off my property.”
“How am I supposed to get back to town?”
“You have feet, don’t you?” Joelene screeched. She pushed past him and began yelling about how much the rug in the den had cost and continued cataloging the other damage to the furniture.
“Do we go in or not?” Bobbie suppressed a laugh as she shook her head. “Hay, pretty boy, you got a name?”
“Fred, Fred Alred, and mam I’m sorry about the gun. That’s an old shotgun and we never used something like that in the Army. Am I going to get the money she promised me? I put up with a lot from that woman.”
“Hope you got paid up front, Fred,” Bobbie said. “You ever worked on a ranch?”
“Grew up over near Goldthwaite. Never worked cows but worked goats and sheep.”
“Another ghost of Pop due for that, a stinking goat roper working on his land.” Tommy observed as Bobbie’s snorted.
“Go see if you can help Paulo with the evening hay dump and we’ll talk later,” Bobbie said. “But I recommend you change those fancy boots.”
“Oh, yes mam, I got my work boots in the room. I saw the hay barn when I was walking around yesterday.” He disappeared down a hall and his bootheels made a revealing thumping on the wooden stairs.
Joelene appeared in the doorway to the den with a drink in her hand. “I thought better of you James. What are you doing with that butch woman?”
“Not exactly a nice thing to say about your daughter, Mother.” Jimmy and Bobbie walked past Joelene into the den. Joelene flopped into the recliner and lit a cigarette.
“She’s not mine. She’s a brat some woman claimed was Scotty’s. Everyone could see that. She doesn’t look like Scotty at all.” This was pronounced as Bobbie stood next to a portrait of her father that showed how much she resembled him. The placement was accidental, but Jimmy could not help laughing.
“Pictures are truer than words, Mother dear. The probate is over, and I have news for you.” Jimmy then gave his mother the news on the division of the property.
“Damn it, James. I knew all that. That is why I tried to get this bitch to leave so you could have it all.”
“Really, Mother, and the call I got from that real estate agent buddy of yours in Dallas about the title to the ranch was just a cold call? You hadn’t talked to him about listing the ranch.”
“I know what is best for you, damn it, and running this stupid ranch is not in your future. We’re close enough to Fort Worth to interest some of our kind of people in a place as a tax write off. This place hasn’t shown a profit in years.”
“And Binfield Oil has?”
“I don’t give a damn about what my brother does with that mess. You and I have this land and the wells here are still producing. Wesley McWilson was a cheap bastard and wouldn’t cut loose the money I had a right to. I’d still be having lunch at the Dallas Club and spending the winter in Cabo like a woman of my class should, but no, I had to come back here and babysit. That is what nannies are for.”
“Charming, Joelene, you get this house, and you’ve got the money from your family trust. That’s not enough?” Bobbie said as she perched on the corner of the leather sectional. The shotgun pellets had made an interesting pattern across the side that faced the door. The fan shape was so perfect, it looked planned.
“How would you know, Miss Eau de Cow Poop?”
“Part of having a degree in ranch management is knowing how to keep books. Pop has had me doing them ever since I graduated. I suspect you were looking at the cost page rather than the balances. We are doing quite well even if we didn’t win the grand prize in Houston. But none of that is your business.”
“This is the deal, Mother. Bobbie and I have agreed. The will gives you this house and the land it sits. We’ll include the drain field. Gives you about two acres. What you don’t get is access to the main road,” Joelene gasped and tried to sit up straight in the recliner only to spill her drink. She was unable to push the footrest down and let out a string of curses about the lack of a motor in the furniture. “Just another sign of the old man’s stinginess.” Bobbie stepped over and pushed the footrest. Joelene wasn’t ready for that and almost fell out of the chair.
“We agreed that if you accept the offer, we’ll deed enough land between the house and the country road so you can have a new road built.” Jimmy said. He walked to the bar and found a cold can of Dr Pepper that he opened for himself. He offered his sister a bottle of water, but she waved it off covering her mouth to keep from laughing.
“Like hell, I’ll settle for that,” Joelene said. “You owe me, you damn brat. Scotty got me drunk and knocked me up. My mother said she knew his family had money, so we got married. I didn’t want to be a rancher’s wife and had a good thing going with petroleum engineer. You owe me.”
“No, that’s not true, Joelene,” Bobbie said. “We don’t have to let you keep any of this. The will is clear. Pop didn’t want to give you anything, but Mr. Jaworski said he had to, or it wouldn’t stand up in court. You get what we offered, or you’ll get nothing. I’ve read the will.”
“Not a chance. You’ll hear from my lawyers, and I’ll win the whole damn place. You just wait. And this drink better come out of this silk blouse, or you’ll pay for that too.” Joelene stomped pass Bobbie and stumbled up the stairs.
“Jimmy, I think we need to hide the car keys until she sobers up. She’s a danger to the neighborhood if we let her drive, and I like our neighbors.”
“Get pretty boy back in here and have him drive her. That gets rid of both of them.”
“I’ll pay him $100 cash to do it. I don’t need another hapless hand hanging around.”
“Let’s hit the kitchen and see if the maid left anything cooking. I’m starved and I answer to Jim now.”
“Well, Jim I’m glad you’re home and as soon as we get rid of the in-house annoyance, I’ll take you up on that.” Bobbie went to find the boy toy and then get her things from the ranch headquarters. It would be nice to be back in the big house with its soften water and dependable air conditioning.
It would be nice to be home.