Sunday October 6

Bobbie leaned against the window of the airplane. She squinted against the bright sun but as the plane descended through the clouds, things came into focus and she began to see the airport where they would land.

Bobbie called the Carson home before she left and spoke to the housekeeper Dina but didn’t expect anyone to meet her so she was surprised to see a man in a casual linen suit looking at her intently. He walked toward her and extended his hand.

“Hello, Bobbie Orlov, I presume? I’m Daniel Ruggle, Townes’ friend and lawyer.”

“I’m very pleased to meet you Mr. Ruggle, I’m sorry we have to meet under such a dark cloud.”

“Dark cloud indeed. I can hardly believe Townes is gone. And Mrs. Carson too. It’s certainly rocked our little community. I want to see you in my office but I will to take you to the Carson ranch for you to get settled in and whatever. Oh, and please call me Daniel or Danny.”

“That’s very thoughtful but I only have this one bag and I’ve been thinking and worrying and I’d really like to get over to your office as soon as possible. She indicated a tote bag that she was carrying separate from her regular bags and said awkwardly. “Um this contains their remains; can we take them somewhere first. Feel free to call me Bobbie.”

Daniel nodded. “I can take that from you Bobbie and drop it off later. We can head right to my office. I’m sure you have questions.”

Bobbie followed him out of the small airport and over to a large land rover style vehicle. He opened the door for her. She climbed in and shut the door and buckled up.”

“We’ll have to have you over for dinner this week. Melanie, my wife wants to meet you. She’s dying to know who so thoroughly bewitched Townes. Not to mention Ambrose Hennesy, one of the country’s most eligible bachelors.”

Bobbie knew Townes and Brose were friends. It wasn’t a surprise Daniel new him too. She remembered that Townes and Melanie used to date and didn’t realize she was married now. She wasn’t looking forward to being judged. “I’m just a plain old East Coast girl, nothing special.” She had a vague sense of unease about this whole situation.

His Office was in an old house in the downtown of the little village. “My father was a lawyer and founded these offices. Town’s father was a client.”

Your families go back a long way. You said Townes left it all to me. I’m not sure what you mean by that, nor why. Did you discuss it with him?

“Townes didn’t expect to die. He came to me to change his will to sort of stick it to his mother; who wasn’t supposed to die either. They were arguing about Carson Oil. Townes had already stopped all dealing with coal and coal mining and he wanted to sell the oil interests to move into property investments. He took a smallish property acquisition part of the company and grew it into an entire investment and development wing. With more staff and actual projects and everything and he did it with money he’d saved in his trust. He had a whole plan and his Nancy was digging her heels and wanted to look into fracking.”

Bobbie shook her head. “I know he and his mom didn’t agree on things. Pulling oil and gas out of the ground still makes a lot of money. I’m sure many families in that business have disagreements.

“Truthfully all the crude has been sucked out of their land for years. The company buys and sells oil wells, mines and oil futures and make money but that’s a bit of a Ponzi scheme and they really had to move on. He met Trixie, from Fox Oil, or should I say Fox Energy and liked her vision. It was always going to be that he would get the reigns of Carson Oil when his mother decided he was ready and he concluded she would never think he was ready. He told her he was moving to Crow Harbour and was going to live with you and enjoy your grand kids and to heck with her and her company. He reasoned that if his mom died half of what he had would go to you and if he died you may as well have it all. I tried to talk to him about it but he told me if things didn’t work out, he’d change the will and sell the company to Fox Energy and use the profit to build houses and apartment buildings.”

“He was trying to make long term plans, hence the update to the will.”

“OK, I think I understand. Is there anyone who will contest this will. Has anyone been overlooked?”

“I can’t know for sure but it is legal and binding and you own Carson oil.”

A petite blond-haired woman walked into the office. “Well, aren’t you the lucky one. I suppose you are the great Bobbie Orlov that everyone’s been talking about. You’re a little older than I expected.”

Bobbie smiled, “You must be Melanie. Townes told me all about you. I’m pleased to meet you.”

Melanie came in and kissed her husband and handed Bobbie a black coffee.

“Oh, thank you, Melanie.”

Dan handed her a big file. “Here’s a hard copy of the will and the basic explanations and implications. He handed her a USB. “And this has all the Carson Oil information. You should read the will. I have to keep it here. I’ll make a copy for you when you’re done.” He took Melanie’s hand and she reluctantly followed him into another room.

Bobbie sipped her coffee and read her file. She got the land development company. They were focused in land acquisition and the only actual building project was the apartments in in Crow harbour. She had the oil company which was worth about 400 million dollars. She reminded herself this was all on paper. That was an astronomical number for her and she needed advice. Maybe sell it to Fox Energy; she did now have a seat on their board. Trixie would love that. She knew she’d be leaning on Trixie a lot.

She could hear Melanie in the other room. “I don’t think she should get anything. What did she have on Townes to make him sign his life away?”

“Oh Mel, it is not anything like that. There’s not even that much left.”

“Oh my God, what is she getting?”

“There’s some land and an apartment building that just broke ground out East and the dregs of the oil company.”

“Well, what about the trust money Townes had?”

Bobbie heard enough. She walked in and handed Danny the file folder. “Townes spent some of his trust but the rest will be donated to some charities he supported. Thanks for everything Daniel I think I’ll get an Uber to the ranch. It was nice to meet you, Melanie.”

She heard laughing as she left and it dawned on her that this town probably didn’t have Uber. She put away her phone and looked around. It was a nice little town. It was clean and she saw the coffee shop where Melanie had procured the coffee, across the street. She could just see the diner sign further down the road. She began walking. It’s a stereotype she thought but I bet that place has really good pie.

She walked in an sat at a small table by the window. It was very pleasant. A waitress came over looking curious. “Hello sugar, what can I get you?”

Can I get a nice cup of hot tea with a little milk on the side and a piece of your best pie please.

The waitress laughed. If I can make a suggestion. Our pie is fair to middling but we are famous for our carrot cake with pecans and cream cheese icing.

“Well, thanks for the tip. I’d love to try the carrot cake.”

The waitress left and Bobbie got her phone out and called the Carson home number. “Hi Dina, this is Bobbie Orlov. I arrived safely and had a meeting with Daniel Ruggs, Townes’ lawyer but I seem to be stranded in town. I should have made arrangements. Do you think you can pick me up? I’m at the diner.”

“Certainly M. Orlov, My Sam can come get you. He’s already in town getting some supplies. I’ll text him and let him know.”

Bobbie thanked her, put down her phone and her tea and carrot cake arrived. She thanked the waitress, poured her tea and took a bite of the cake. She sat holding her fork for a minute and savoured the slightly salty sweetness. It was really good. Her grandmother made carrot cake. it triggered nice memories.

The memories were almost enough to distract her from the half a billion dollar oil company she had to deal with.

She noticed a tall black man approaching her. “I see Millie talked you into the carrot cake. You must be M. Orlov. I’m Sam and I’m her to bring you home but there’s no rush.

Millie the waitress appeared. “Hi Sam. It’s nice of you to not rush the lady; could it be you’d like a piece of carrot cake too?”

“If it’s all the same with M. Orlov, I’d love one.”

“Oh yes, please join me Sam and please call me Bobbie. It’s nice to meet you and thank you for the lift; I’ll treat.”

They chatted and ate cake and Bobbie found out the married couple of Dina and Sam had been running the Carson household for almost 30 years. Sam remembered the old man (Townes’ father). They were hired by Nancy when she was looking after a sick husband and as their knowledge of the ranch grew, they stayed useful. Bobbie estimated they must have been in their 50’s and wondered if they wanted to stay on the ranch.

She gingerly pushed her cake away from her. “This is really good cake but I lose my appetite when I’m sad or upset. I’m sad My visit is not under better circumstances.”

“That’s so true Bobbie. How about I take your bag out to the truck and we settle up in here.”

Bobbie walked over to the counter.

“Was everything OK with your cake sugar?”

“It was delicious, I just don’t have much of an appetite thanks.”

“You must be here because of the Carson tragedy.”

Yes, I was a good friend. My name is Bobbie Orlov.”