| |
"Is everything OK?" Chance asked when he walked back into the room and found me staring at my laptop screen. "What did the lawyer have to say?"
"It seems that I was named in Dr. Bellamy's will. They want me to come to the reading. There are other people involved."
"Do you want to go?"
"That's what I was thinking about. I am so happy for the opportunity Uncle Harry gave me when he left me Hairy's Cryptid Cafe. It changed my life," I said, getting up to hug him. "I wouldn't have you in my life, if it wasn't for his will."
"What's there to think about?"
"As much as I love what Harry's will led me to, my life has been chaos ever since. I've been looking forward to things calming down a little bit. There's a part of me that's afraid if I hear what's in Renee's will, everything will change again."
"I understand that you've had a lot to deal with the last few months, but I feel like this is something you should do."
"If it were you, would you go?"
"Definitely. I’ll go with you if I can, but you have to make the decision for yourself. When and where is the reading?"
"It's in Little Rock next week. That's another reason I'm hesitant."
"If you decide to go, I can handle the Valles Caldera hunt on my own. I'll miss you though."
Chance and I spent some time talking about our plans for the cryptid museum in Wilkins' Gap. We had the location and a few ideas for displays, but we were still struggling to figure out what to do about the information Harry and Dutch gathered on the BFFam. "You said John thinks there are changes coming to BITES. I wonder how that will affect the lab."
"I'll ask next time I talk to him. I'm curious to find out if they plan to have Jared's team try to round up the cryptids that Harry and Dad saw in the area."
"I think that part of the situation got lost in the hostage thing and Gracie Layne's kidnapping."
"Since Jim is DHS, maybe he'll know what their plans are."
"He might, but we don't have time to call him now. It'll have to wait."
"I'll add it to the list."
XXX
We checked out of the hotel and stopped for lunch on our way to the airport. Chance shifted focus to preparing for his clients. "Are you excited about the hunt?"
"I'm a little nervous. I've never been on a hunt where we actually hoped to kill the animal."
"You'll enjoy it. It's always a little surreal to hunt oryx at WSMR. This is one of those hunts that I'll always want to lead myself if I can."
We picked up the clients at the airport. They were two business men who had been friends since college. They took an annual hunting trip together each year. For the last three years, Chance had been their guide.
We drove to Las Cruces, New Mexico close to WSMR and checked into our rooms for the next four nights. We all headed for our rooms to settle in before meeting for dinner.
"I've decided to go to Little Rock," I said as we walked down the hall. "I feel like Uncle Harry would have wanted me to help Renee if I could, but I hate taking more time away from you."
He wrapped me in a hug. "At least we have this hunt and a couple of days after it that we can spend together. We'll just have to make the most of the time we have," he said, pulling me into our room and shutting the door behind us.
XXX
"Have you been to White Sands before, Everly?" one of the hunters asked as we enjoyed diner at a local steak house.
"No. It seems kind of surreal to even think about it. I understand this will be the first hunt there for y'all, too."
"Yes, ma'am. It's going to be a once in a lifetime experience I just hope Chance can find us a couple of oryx. One of those heads sure would look nice hanging on the wall of my office."
When we got back to the hotel, I left the men in the hotel bar and went back to our room to make my travel plans for Little Rock. I emailed the attorney and let him know I planned to attend the reading of Dr. Bellamy's will. I know it made no sense to be apprehensive about a will reading, but I couldn't seem to stop myself from picturing all sorts of negative fallout. Once the plans were made, I turned my focus back to enjoying my time with Chance.