Never go to the farm, Catherine, promise me. Those words, spoken with uncharacteristic intensity, were among the few demands my husband Joshua ever made during our 24 years of marriage. I had always respected his wishes, even when curiosity gnawed at me during those rare moments when he’d mention his Canadian childhood on a property he’d left behind.
But now, Joshua was gone, taken by a heart attack that no one, not even me, had seen coming. After 24 years of marriage, I had become a widow at 52 with a bitter daughter and a hollow space in my chest where certainty used to live. Mrs. Mitchell, the voice of Joshua’s attorney, Mr. Winters, pulled me from my thoughts.
We sat in his wood-paneled office two weeks after the funeral, the finality of death reduced to paperwork and signatures. There’s one more item. He slid a small box across his desk. Inside lay an antique brass key attached to a maple leaf keychain and a sealed envelope with my name written in Joshua’s precise handwriting.
«What is this?» I asked, turning the heavy key in my palm.
«Your husband purchased a property in Alberta, Canada, three years ago. According to his instructions, you were only to be informed of its existence after his passing,» Mr. Winters adjusted his glasses. «The deed has been transferred to your name. All taxes are paid for the next five years.»
A property in Canada? I struggled to process this information. Joshua didn’t own any property outside of our home.
«It’s called Maple Creek Farm. Apparently it was his childhood home, though the deed shows it changed hands several times before he repurchased it.»
The farm. The place he’d forbidden me to visit. The place that had caused his gentle face to harden whenever it was mentioned.
«Mrs. Mitchell, there’s something else you should know,» Mr. Winters lowered his voice. «The property has become quite valuable recently. There have already been inquiries about its availability.»
«Valuable? It’s a farm.»
«Yes, but according to my information, significant oil deposits were discovered in the region about 18 months ago. Your husband declined multiple offers from energy companies.»
My head spun with questions. Joshua had never mentioned oil, money, or any property purchase. We’d lived comfortably on his engineering salary and my income as a high school English teacher, but we were hardly wealthy. How had he afforded to buy a farm, and why keep it secret from me?
I opened the envelope with trembling fingers.
My dearest Catherine, if you’re reading this, then I’ve left you too soon. I’m sorry. There’s so much I should have told you, but couldn’t bring myself to face. The farm is yours now. I’ve spent the last three years transforming it from the broken place of my childhood into something beautiful. Something worthy of you.
I know I made you promise never to go there. I’m releasing you from that promise. In fact, I’m asking you to go. Just once, before you decide what to do with it. On the main house’s desk is a laptop. The password is the date we met, followed by your maiden name.
I love you, Cat, more than you’ll ever know.
Joshua.
I clutched the letter to my chest, tears blurring my vision. Even from beyond the grave, Joshua was full of surprises.
«I need to see this place,» I said finally.
«Of course,» Mr. Winters nodded, «but I should warn you, Joshua’s family in Canada has contested the will. His brothers claim he was not mentally competent when he repurchased the family property.»
«That’s ridiculous. Joshua was the most rational person I’ve ever known.»
«Nevertheless, they filed legal objections. Given the property’s newfound value, it might get complicated.»
I tucked the key into my pocket, a strange determination settling over me. «I’m going to Canada, Mr. Winters.»
Today, 48 hours later, after hastily booked flights and a long drive through the Alberta countryside, I found myself standing before imposing wooden gates marked Maple Creek Farm in wrought iron. Beyond stretched a property far larger and more impressive than I had imagined. Rolling hills, stands of maple trees turning gold with autumn, and in the distance, a large farmhouse and several outbuildings, all freshly painted. This was no broken-down family farm. This was an estate.
The key turned smoothly in the gate’s lock. As I drove up the winding gravel driveway, my heart pounded with anticipation and apprehension. What secrets had Joshua kept here? What part of himself had he hidden from me for all these years?
The farmhouse was a stunning two-story structure with a wide porch and large windows. Nothing about it suggested the pain Joshua had always associated with his childhood home. This place had been loved, restored, reimagined.
My hands shook as I inserted the key into the front door. The lock clicked, the door swung open, and I stepped across the threshold into my husband’s secret world. What I saw inside made me gasp, my knees weakening as I gripped the door frame for support.
The entryway opened into a soaring great room with exposed beams and a stone fireplace. But it wasn’t the architecture that stole my breath. It was the horses. Not real ones, but everywhere I looked, exquisite paintings of horses in full gallop across endless fields, detailed sculptures capturing their power and grace, photographs of magnificent breeds framed in simple black frames. My lifelong passion, the one indulgence Joshua had always supported but never quite understood, surrounded me in a gallery dedicated to my greatest love.
And there, on a desk by the window overlooking endless pastures, sat a silver laptop with a single red rose laid across its closed lid.
Before I could take another step, the crunch of tires on gravel announced another arrival. Through the front window, I watched a black SUV pull up behind my rental car. Three men emerged, all bearing the unmistakable Mitchell features that Joshua had carried. Tall frames, dark hair, strong jawlines. The Mitchell brothers had arrived, and from their grim expressions, they hadn’t come to welcome the widow to Canada.
The men approached the house with a confident stride of people who believed they belonged there. I quickly closed and locked the front door, my heart racing. Through the side window, I watched them pause on the porch, conferring among themselves before the oldest, a silver-haired version of Joshua with harder eyes, rapped sharply on the door.
«Mrs. Mitchell, we know you’re in there. We should talk.» His voice carried the same Canadian accent that had softened Joshua’s speech when he was tired or upset.
I remained silent, backing away from the door. Joshua’s warning about his family had always been vague but emphatic. Now, faced with their unexpected arrival, instinct told me to be cautious.
The knocking came again, more insistent. «Catherine, I’m Robert Mitchell, Joshua’s older brother. These are our brothers, Alan and David. We’re here about the farm.»
Of course they were. They weren’t here about Joshua or to meet the wife their brother had loved for 24 years. They were here about the suddenly valuable property.
I glanced at the laptop on the desk. Whatever answers I needed might be there, not with the strangers on the porch. Ignoring the increasingly aggressive knocking, I moved to the desk, opened the computer, and entered the password: ZO5151998MITCHELL.
The screen came to life immediately, opening to a folder labeled For Catherine. Inside were hundreds of video files, each named with a date, starting from two weeks ago, the day after his funeral, and extending a full year into the future.
With trembling fingers, I clicked the first one. Joshua’s face filled the screen, not the thin, pale version from his final months, but healthy, vibrant, clearly recorded some time ago. He smiled directly into the camera, that crooked grin that had always made my heart skip.
«Hello, Cat. If you’re watching this, then I’m gone, and you’ve come to the farm despite my years of making you promise not to.» He chuckled softly. «I should have known you wouldn’t be able to resist, especially after Winters told you about it.»
A lump formed in my throat. Even now, he knew me so well.
«I’ve made a video for every day of your first year without me. One year of me keeping you company while you grieve. One year of explaining everything I should have told you while I was alive.» He looked down briefly, then back at the camera with determination. «Starting with why I bought back the farm I swore I’d never set foot on again.»
The knocking outside had stopped. Through the window, I could see the men returning to their vehicle, retrieving documents, conferring with stern expressions.
Joshua continued. «Three years ago, I was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a heart condition I inherited from my father. The doctors gave me two to five years. I chose not to tell you or Jenna. I didn’t want pity, and I didn’t want our final years overshadowed by death.» His eyes softened. «I wanted to live fully with you until the end, not slowly die in front of you.»
Shock and anger surged through me. He’d hidden his diagnosis, made medical decisions without me, denied me the chance to prepare, to cherish our final moments knowingly.
«I know you’re angry right now,» he said, as if reading my thoughts. «You have every right to be, but I hope you’ll understand that I made this choice out of love, not deception.»
The men outside were making phone calls now, pacing the gravel drive with the frustrated energy of thwarted entitlement.
«When I got my diagnosis, I decided to use whatever time I had left to create something meaningful for you. You always loved horses, always talked about having land someday where you could raise them, so I found the last place anyone would expect me to go. The farm I’d fled at 18, vowing never to return.»
He leaned closer to the camera. «What my brothers don’t know is that I legally bought the farm from our father before he died. The old man was broke after years of failed schemes, drinking away the family money. He sold it to me for a fraction of its worth, desperate for cash, swearing me to secrecy from my brothers who still thought they would inherit it someday.»
This explained the legal challenge. They believed they had rights to property that Joshua had legitimately purchased.
«The farm was in ruins when I bought it, Cat, just like when I was a kid. But this time, I had the resources to transform it. Every business trip in the last three years, I was here, overseeing renovations, building something for you.»
Outside, the brothers had approached the door again. This time, the oldest, Robert, held a document against the window for me to see, a court order of some kind.
«My brothers will come for it,» Joshua continued in the video, his expression hardening. «They never wanted the farm until last year, when oil was discovered in the region. Suddenly, the worthless property they’d mocked me for buying was valuable. They’ll try everything to take it from you.»
One of the brothers was on the phone again, his expression triumphant as he ended the call.
«In the bottom drawer of this desk is a blue folder with every legal document you need. The farm is unquestionably yours. I made sure of it.» Joshua’s face softened again. «But Cat, whether you keep it or sell it is entirely your choice. I built this place for you, filled it with beauty for you, but I don’t want it to become a burden.»
A vehicle was coming up the driveway, a police cruiser with Royal Canadian Mounted Police markings. The brothers watched its approach with satisfied expressions.
«One last thing,» Joshua said. «In the stables, you’ll find six horses, all breeds you’ve admired over the years. The staff I’ve hired will continue caring for them, whether you’re here or not. They’re my last gift to you, along with the means to enjoy them.»
The video ended, freezing on Joshua’s smiling face as knocking resumed at the door, more authoritative this time. «Mrs. Mitchell? RCMP? We need you to open the door, please.»
With a deep breath, I closed the laptop, retrieved the blue folder from the drawer, and went to face whatever came next. As I reached for the door handle, my phone rang. Jenna, our daughter, calling from home. I hesitated, then answered.
«Jenna, now’s not a good time.»
«Mom?» Her voice was tight with anger. «Why didn’t you tell me about Dad’s farm or the oil? His brothers just called me, offering a fair settlement if I helped them contest the will. What the hell is going on?»
So they’d reached out to my daughter already. The realization ignited something protective and fierce within me. They weren’t just coming after me; they were trying to manipulate my grieving daughter.
«I’ll explain everything later,» I promised, watching the police officer exchange words with the brothers. «But Jenna, don’t sign anything. Don’t agree to anything. These men are not our friends.»
«Mom, if there’s money involved—»
«This isn’t about money,» I interrupted, surprising myself with the conviction in my voice. «This is about what your father wanted. Please, trust me on this.»
After a moment of silence, she sighed. «Fine, but call me back as soon as you can.»
I hung up and opened the door to face a young RCMP officer flanked by three Mitchell men whose expressions ranged from smug to openly hostile.
«Mrs. Mitchell, I’m Constable Wilson. These gentlemen have a court order requesting an inspection of the property as part of an ongoing estate dispute.»
I smiled calmly, channeling the strength Joshua had always admired in me. «Of course, Constable. But first, I think you should see these.» I held out the blue folder containing Joshua’s documentation. «My husband anticipated this exact situation.»
The oldest brother, Robert, stepped forward with a dismissive wave. «Family property disputes are complicated, Constable. My sister-in-law is understandably emotional and confused.»
«Actually,» I interrupted, «I’m neither emotional nor confused. I’m a widow standing on property that legally belongs to me, facing three strangers who happen to share my late husband’s DNA.» I turned to the officer. «And I’d appreciate if you’d review these documents before allowing anyone onto my property.»
The constable took the folder, his expression neutral, as he began examining the contents. The Mitchell brothers exchanged glances, their confidence visibly wavering for the first time.
I thought of Joshua’s video, of the secret he’d kept to spare me and Jenna unnecessary pain, of the magnificent gift he’d created in his final years. Whatever game his brothers were playing, I was determined not to lose the last tangible expression of my husband’s love without a fight.
The constable looked up from the documents. His expression changed. «These appear to be in order, Mrs. Mitchell. A clear deed transfer, properly notarized statements, even certified bank records of the original purchase.» He turned to the brothers. «Gentlemen, I don’t see grounds for forcing an inspection today. This appears to be a matter for the civil courts.»
Robert’s face flushed with anger. «This is outrageous. That woman has no right—»
«That woman,» I interjected calmly, «is Joshua Mitchell’s wife, and I have every right to be here.»
As the brothers reluctantly retreated to their vehicle, followed by the apologetic constable, I felt a strange sense of both loss and discovery. The husband I thought I knew completely had kept secrets, some painful, others breathtakingly beautiful. Now I faced a choice. Retreat to the safety of my familiar life, or step fully into this unexpected legacy and the battle that came with it.
I closed the door, walked back to the desk, and opened the laptop again. Tomorrow’s video awaited, and with it, more pieces of the man I had loved and was only now beginning to fully understand. Outside, the Mitchell brothers might have lost this skirmish, but their expressions as they drove away made one thing abundantly clear. The war for Maple Creek Farm had only just begun.
I spent that night in Joshua’s—no, our—farmhouse, surrounded by the evidence of his secret labor of love. Sleep eluded me, my mind churning with revelations. Joshua’s hidden illness, the transformed farm, his brothers’ determination to claim it, and the hundreds of video messages awaiting me on the laptop.
At dawn, I explored the property properly for the first time. The main house was a masterpiece of restoration, blending original farmhouse elements with modern comforts. Every room reflected thoughtful consideration of my tastes, from the library filled with first editions of my favorite novels to the sunroom overlooking the eastern pastures, perfect for morning coffee.
But it was the stables that truly took my breath away. As promised in Joshua’s video, six magnificent horses occupied the spotless stalls: an Andalusian, a Frisian, two quarter horses, a thoroughbred, and a gentle Appaloosa that knickered softly when I approached.
«Good morning, ma’am.» The voice startled me. A man in his early sixties emerged from the tack room, wiping his hands on a cloth. «I’m Ellis. Your husband hired me to manage the stables.»
«Catherine Mitchell,» I replied, extending my hand. «Though I suspect you already knew that.»
He nodded, a gentle smile crinkling the corners of his eyes. «Mr. Mitchell spoke of you often during his visits. Said you had a natural way with horses that he never managed to acquire.»
«You knew my husband well?»
Ellis hesitated. «As well as he allowed anyone to know him, I suppose. He was here every month for the past three years, overseeing everything personally. Never delegated a decision if he could make it himself.»
That sounded like Joshua. Methodical, hands-on, attentive to detail.
«The black Frisian there,» Ellis continued, nodding toward a magnificent stallion watching us with intelligent eyes. «That’s Midnight. Your husband spent months tracking him down specifically. Said he reminded him of a horse in a painting you loved.»
My heart clenched. «The Stubbs painting of a black horse against a stormy sky?» I’d admired it at a museum twenty years ago, and Joshua had remembered.
«Did he…» I hesitated, unsure how to frame the question. «Did my husband ever mention his health to you?»
A shadow crossed Ellis’s weathered face. «Not directly. But these last six months, he pushed harder, worked longer hours, added more features to the property. Like a man racing against a clock only he could see.»
The confirmation stung, but also explained the driven quality I’d sensed in Joshua during his final months. I’d attributed it to work stress, never imagining he was creating all this while knowing his time was limited.
«His brothers were here yesterday,» I said, watching Ellis’s reaction carefully.
His expression hardened. «They’ve been circling since the oil was discovered on neighboring properties. Suddenly very interested in the family farm they hadn’t visited in decades.»
«What can you tell me about them?»
Ellis secured a stall door before answering. «Robert’s the oldest, runs some investment firm in Toronto, always acted like he was doing Joshua a favor by acknowledging him. Alan’s the middle one, lawyer, slick talker. And David’s the youngest, followed Robert into finance, always in his shadow.»
«And their relationship with Joshua?»
«Strained doesn’t begin to cover it. From what I gathered, they tormented him as a child. City boys who visited the farm reluctantly, looking down on him for staying to help your father-in-law run the place.» Ellis shook his head. «When Joshua returned to buy the property, they mocked him for wasting money on worthless land, right up until the Petersons struck oil two properties over.»
This aligned with the fragments Joshua had shared over the years: his difficult childhood, his escape to the United States for college, his reluctance to discuss his Canadian family.
«They’ll be back,» I said, more to myself than to Ellis.
«Count on it,» he nodded grimly. «But Mr. Mitchell prepared for that. He was always three steps ahead.»
Back at the house, I forced myself to eat breakfast before opening the laptop for today’s video. Joshua appeared on screen, seated in what I now recognized as the farm’s library.
«Good morning, Cat. I hope you slept well in our new home.» He smiled that crooked smile I missed with physical intensity. «Today I want to show you something special.»
The camera moved as he carried it through the house, down a hallway I hadn’t explored, stopping at a locked door. «This room is for you alone. The key is in the top drawer of the bedside table, the antique silver one with the horse engraving.»
I paused the video, went to the master bedroom, and found the key exactly where he’d described. Retracing Joshua’s path from the video, I located the door, unassuming, situated at the end of the east wing. The key turned smoothly in the lock. I pushed the door open and gasped.
A fully equipped art studio filled the large corner room, bathed in perfect northern light from floor-to-ceiling windows. Easels, canvases, paints, brushes—everything a painter could desire, arranged with loving precision.
I hadn’t painted in 20 years. After college, I’d set aside my artistic aspirations to teach, to help support us while Joshua built his engineering career, to raise Jenna. Over the years, «someday» had become a distant dream, then eventually a bittersweet memory of a path not taken.
The video continued, Joshua’s voice pulling me back to the laptop I’d carried with me. «You gave up so much for us, Cat. Your painting was the first sacrifice, though you never complained. I always promised myself I’d give it back to you someday.»
Tears blurred my vision as I surveyed the studio, the professional-grade supplies, the inspiration books stacked neatly on shelves, the north-facing windows that would provide perfect, consistent light.
«There’s one more thing,» Joshua continued. «Check the cabinet below the window seat.»
I crossed to the cushioned window seat that overlooked the eastern pasture, now golden in the morning light. Below it, built into the wall, was a cabinet I might have missed if not directed to it. Inside lay a flat archival box.
With trembling hands, I lifted the lid, then sank to my knees in shock. My paintings. Dozens of them. All the work I’d created in college, the pieces I thought had been lost in our moves over the years. Joshua had preserved them, protected them, kept them safe for two decades, until he could return them to me in this perfect space.
On top lay a small canvas I recognized immediately—my final project before graduation. A self-portrait of a young woman looking forward, eyes alight with possibilities. Joshua had asked to keep it the day I completed it.
Tucked beside it was a handwritten note in his precise script. She’s still in there, Cat, the woman who painted with such passion and vision. I’ve given you the space. The rest is up to you.
I clutched the note to my chest, overwhelmed by love and loss in equal measure. Joshua had seen me, truly seen me, in ways I hadn’t allowed myself to be seen in years.
The sound of vehicles on the gravel driveway pulled me from this emotional moment. Moving to the studio window, I watched two cars approach: the now-familiar black SUV of the Mitchell brothers, and behind it, a sleek silver Mercedes I recognized instantly. Jenna had arrived, and from the way she emerged from her car and strode confidently toward the brothers, it appeared they had already begun working on her.
My daughter, Joshua’s daughter, with her father’s dark hair and my stubborn chin, was smiling and shaking hands with the uncles she’d never met. Whatever fragile peace I’d found in Joshua’s posthumous gifts evaporated in the face of this new complication. The battle for Maple Creek Farm had just become significantly more personal.
I watched from the window as Jenna exchanged friendly greetings with her uncles, her body language open and receptive. At 27, our daughter had her father’s analytical mind and my determination, but lacked Joshua’s patience and my caution. She had always been quick to form opinions, slow to revise them.
My phone buzzed with a text from her: Arrived with Uncle Robert and the others. Coming in now. We need to talk.
Uncle Robert? They’d known each other less than a day, and already she was claiming family connection. I tucked Joshua’s note into my pocket, locked the studio behind me, and went to face this new alliance.
They entered without knocking, Jenna using the familiarity of a daughter’s privilege, the brothers following in her wake like wolves behind an unwitting guide.
«Mom!» Jenna embraced me briefly, then stepped back, her eyes darting around the impressive entryway. «This place is unbelievable. Why didn’t Dad ever tell us about it?»
Before I could answer, Robert stepped forward, his resemblance to Joshua painfully sharp in the morning light. «Catherine, I believe we got off on the wrong foot yesterday. We were surprised by your sudden appearance, just as you were surprised by ours.» His conciliatory tone didn’t match the calculating look in his eyes. Beside him, Alan and David maintained carefully neutral expressions, though I noticed Alan clutching a leather portfolio that undoubtedly contained legal documents.
«Jenna,» I said, ignoring Robert completely, «I thought we agreed you wouldn’t engage with your father’s brothers until we’d had a chance to talk.»
She flushed slightly. «They called again this morning with a very reasonable proposal. I thought I should at least hear them out in person.» Her chin lifted defiantly, the same expression she’d worn as a teenager challenging curfew. «Besides, they’re my family too.»
«Family you didn’t know existed until yesterday,» I reminded her gently.
«Only because Dad kept them from us,» she countered, «just like he kept this whole place secret. Don’t you think that’s strange? What else was he hiding?»
The question hit uncomfortably close to the revelations in Joshua’s videos. He had hidden his illness, his property purchase, his reclamation of my artistic dreams. But his reasons had been born of love, not deception.
«Your father had complicated relationships with his brothers,» I said carefully. «He had reasons for the distance he maintained.»
Robert gave a dismissive wave. «Ancient history. Siblings clash, especially in difficult families like ours. What matters now is moving forward together.»
«Exactly,» Jenna agreed, with the earnestness of someone who believed they were being perfectly reasonable. «Uncle Robert has explained everything. This farm has been in the Mitchell family for generations. Dad bought it from Grandpa Mitchell, but it was always meant to be shared among the brothers eventually.»
I suppressed a sigh. They’d been working on her for less than a day, and already she was parroting their version of events.
«And the sudden interest in the property wouldn’t have anything to do with the oil discovery?» I asked mildly.
Alan stepped forward, opening his portfolio. «The mineral rights situation is just one aspect of the complex legal picture. We’ve prepared a fair settlement offer that honors Joshua’s wishes while acknowledging the Mitchell family’s historic claim to the property.»
«We’re prepared to be very generous,» Robert added, placing a grandfatherly hand on Jenna’s shoulder. «A one-third share to you, Catherine, one-third to Jenna, and one-third split among us brothers. Everyone wins.»
Jenna looked at me expectantly, clearly already sold on the proposal. «It makes sense, Mom. We don’t need this huge place. We could sell it all, walk away with millions, and Dad’s family stays intact.»
«Your father specifically left this property to me,» I said, meeting Robert’s gaze steadily. «Not to you. Not to his brothers.»
«Out of confusion and misplaced sentiment,» Robert countered smoothly. «Joshua wasn’t thinking clearly in his final years.»
A flash of anger burned through me. «My husband was perfectly sound of mind until the day he died.»
«Then why all the secrecy?» David spoke for the first time, his voice softer than his brother’s but no less pointed. «Why hide the property purchase from his wife and daughter? Why the elaborate arrangements with the lawyer? These aren’t the actions of a man thinking rationally.»
I thought of the videos, the renovated farm, the art studio—each element meticulously planned as a final gift. Nothing about it suggested confusion or impaired judgment.
«Mom,» Jenna said, her voice gentler now. «I know this is hard. Dad left you, left both of us, and now we’re discovering all these secrets. But this proposal makes financial sense. We’d both be set for life.»
The door opened behind them, and Ellis appeared, his weathered face concerned. «Everything all right, Mrs. Mitchell? I saw the vehicles arrive.»
The brothers turned, clearly annoyed by the interruption. «This is a family matter,» Robert said.
«Ellis is my employee,» I said firmly. «He’s welcome in my home.»
«Actually,» Alan interjected, «his employment status is among the disputed assets pending resolution of our legal claim.»
Ellis stood his ground. «Mr. Mitchell hired me personally. Made me promise to look after the place and Mrs. Mitchell if anything happened to him.»
«We’ll be reviewing all staff appointments,» Robert said dismissively.
I’d heard enough. «I think it’s time for you to leave. All of you.» I looked pointedly at the brothers, then softened my gaze when it reached Jenna. «Except you, of course. You’re always welcome to stay.»
«You’re not even considering their offer?» Jenna asked, incredulous.
«I’ll review any written proposal with my own attorney,» I replied. «But I won’t be pressured in my own home.»
Robert’s mask of conciliation slipped, revealing the hard businessman beneath. «This property is worth tens of millions with the oil rights. We can do this amicably, or we can make things very difficult.»
«Is that a threat?» I asked with more calmness than I felt.
«A reality check,» he corrected. «You’re a schoolteacher from Minnesota facing a legal battle against opponents with significantly more resources. Joshua may have meant well, but he placed you in an untenable position.»
I thought of the blue folder with its meticulous documentation, the videos showing Joshua’s clear-headed planning, the transformed property that represented his final act of love.
«I believe my husband knew exactly what he was doing,» I said quietly. «Now please leave. Jenna, you’re welcome to stay for lunch if you’d like.»
She looked torn, glancing between me and her newly discovered uncles. «I think I’ll go with them for now. We have more to discuss.» She kissed my cheek quickly. «Think about the offer, Mom. Please?»
I watched them leave, a hollow feeling expanding in my chest. In just 24 hours, my daughter had been pulled into the orbit of men Joshua had spent his life avoiding. Whatever they were telling her was working. I could see it in her receptive posture, her quick adoption of their perspective.
Ellis waited until their vehicles had disappeared down the driveway before speaking. «Mrs. Mitchell, there’s something you should know. Something your husband asked me not to mention unless absolutely necessary.»
I turned to him, mentally exhausted but forcing myself to focus. «What is it?»
«It’s about the true extent of the property. And what’s really hidden here.» He gestured toward the stables. «We should walk. Some things shouldn’t be discussed indoors, where walls might have ears.»
As I followed him across the yard, the morning sun illuminated the beautiful farm my husband had created in secret. Whatever revelation awaited me, I was certain of one thing: Joshua had anticipated this battle, perhaps even Jenna’s vulnerability to his brothers’ manipulation. The question was whether he had prepared me enough to win a fight I never knew was coming.
Ellis led me past the main stables, toward a weathered barn I hadn’t explored yet. Unlike the pristine, renovated structures on the rest of the property, this building retained its original rustic character, deliberately unimproved to appear unimportant.
«Your husband was a careful man,» Ellis said, producing an old iron key. «After his brothers’ first visit last year, he became even more cautious.»
«They visited before? Joshua never mentioned that.»
Ellis nodded grimly. «Showed up unannounced once they caught wind of the oil discovery on neighboring properties. Your husband was here, supervising construction of the art studio. They didn’t recognize him at first.» He paused. «He’d grown a beard during his treatment.»
The casual mention of Joshua’s treatment sent a fresh wave of pain through me. While I’d been obliviously teaching high school literature in Minnesota, my husband had been here, sick, creating this sanctuary while fending off his predatory brothers.
«What happened?»
«He observed them from a distance, then left without revealing himself. That night, he made changes to the property plans.» Ellis unlocked the barn door. «Starting with this.»
The door swung open to reveal an ordinary-looking barn interior. Hay bales, old farm equipment, dust motes dancing in beams of sunlight filtering through gaps in the walls. Ellis moved confidently to the back corner, shifting several bales to expose a trap door set into the dirt floor.
«Your husband installed this entrance last winter. The workers thought they were building a root cellar.» He pulled the heavy door upward, revealing a sturdy wooden staircase descending into darkness. «After you, Mrs. Mitchell.»
Curiosity overcoming apprehension, I followed Ellis down the stairs. At the bottom, he flipped a switch, and lights flickered on, revealing a concrete tunnel stretching forward into the earth.
«What is this place?»
«Your husband called it ‘insurance.’ I call it genius.» Ellis gestured for me to follow as he walked the tunnel. «The Mitchell brothers think they know the full extent of the property and its value. They don’t.»
The tunnel extended perhaps fifty yards before opening into a large concrete room filled with filing cabinets, a desk with computer equipment, and walls covered with maps and documents.
«Welcome to Joshua’s war room,» Ellis said, a hint of pride in his voice. «Everything he collected about his brothers, their business dealings, and the true value of Maple Creek Farm.»
I moved to the nearest wall, where a detailed survey map was pinned, showing not just the farm but surrounding properties for miles. Red markings indicated oil deposit locations with handwritten notes about depth, quality, and extraction challenges.
«I don’t understand,» I said, turning to Ellis.
«He didn’t know about the oil at first. He bought this place to renovate for you, pure and simple. But about eighteen months ago, when Peterson’s land showed oil, he hired geologists to survey Maple Creek secretly.» Ellis pointed to the map. «They found something unexpected. The largest deposit isn’t under the eastern section where everyone’s drilling. It’s here, under the western acres that look worthless.»
I studied the map more carefully, noting the concentration of red markings on the rugged, apparently unusable portion of the property that stretched into the foothills—land Robert hadn’t even mentioned in his proposed division.
«The oil company surveys missed it because the formation is unusual—deeper and shaped differently than they expected,» Ellis continued. «Your husband verified it with three independent experts, swearing them to secrecy.»
«So the property is even more valuable than his brothers realize?»
«Exponentially. But that’s not all.» Ellis moved to a filing cabinet, withdrawing a thick folder. «Joshua documented decades of questionable business practices by all three brothers. Tax evasion, insider trading, misappropriation of client funds. Enough evidence to ruin them professionally, if it ever came to light.»
I leafed through the meticulous documentation, recognizing Joshua’s thorough approach to problem-solving. Email printouts, financial records, sworn statements from former employees. He had built an airtight case against his brothers.
«Why would he collect all this?»
«Protection.» Ellis sat at the desk, gesturing for me to take the other chair. «He knew they’d come after the farm once he was gone. He wanted you to have leverage.»
I thought of Robert’s smug confidence, Alan’s legal maneuvering, their quick work turning Jenna against me. «He anticipated everything.»
«Not everything,» Ellis said quietly. «He didn’t expect them to get to your daughter so quickly.»
The reminder of Jenna’s alignment with them stung. «They’re manipulating her with half-truths and promises of wealth.»
«And playing on her grief,» Ellis added. «She lost her father suddenly. They’re offering a connection to him through shared blood and history. Powerful draw for a young woman mourning her dad.»
He was right. Jenna had always been a daddy’s girl, sharing Joshua’s analytical mind and love of puzzles. His death had left her adrift, vulnerable to anyone offering connection to him.
«What do I do now?» I asked, half to myself.
«That depends on what you want,» Ellis replied. «You could sell everything—property, oil rights, the whole package—and walk away wealthy but perhaps forever estranged from your daughter. You could fight the brothers legally using this leverage, which might win the battle but worsen family wounds.»
«Or?»
«You could do what your husband always did. Think three steps ahead and find the path no one expects.»
I considered this as I continued examining the war room. On the desk sat a framed photograph I’d never seen before: Joshua as a teenager, standing proudly beside a magnificent chestnut horse, his face alight with an innocent joy I’d rarely glimpsed in the man I married.
«That’s Phoenix,» Ellis said, noticing my focus on the photo. «Your husband’s horse when he was a boy. Only bright spot in his childhood here, from what he told me. His brothers sold the animal when Joshua was away at school. Just to hurt him, apparently.»
Another piece of the puzzle clicked into place. Joshua’s support of my love for horses, despite having no personal interest in them. The six magnificent animals in the stable weren’t just a gift. They were his reclamation of something precious his brothers had stolen from him.
I picked up the photograph, a plan beginning to form in my mind. «Ellis, does the laptop with Joshua’s videos work down here?»
He nodded. «There’s a secure Wi-Fi network throughout the property. Your husband made sure of it.»
«Good. I need to watch the next few videos ahead of schedule. Then I need you to arrange a meeting for me.»
«With whom?»
«First, my daughter. Alone, away from her uncles. Then my attorney. And finally,» I glanced at the wall of evidence Joshua had compiled against his brothers, «I think I’d like to speak with those oil company representatives who’ve been making offers on the property.»
Ellis smiled for the first time since we’d entered the hidden bunker. «You’re planning something your husband would approve of.»
«I’m planning something worthy of the man who loved me enough to create all this,» I corrected, a new determination steadying my voice. «And I’m going to need your help.»
«Whatever you need,» Ellis promised. «Your husband saved my life once, years ago. Gave me this job when no one else would take a chance on an ex-con trying to rebuild his life. I owe him everything. And by extension, I owe you.»
This was yet another side of Joshua I hadn’t known—his quiet generosity extending beyond our immediate family, changing lives I’d never even heard about.
As we left the bunker, carefully concealing the entrance again, I felt a strange sense of connection to my late husband. Not the grief that had dominated the past weeks, but a partnership that somehow continued beyond death. He had left me not just a property and material security, but tools and knowledge to forge my own path forward.
The Mitchell brothers believed they were facing a naive widow out of her depth. They had no idea what was coming.
Over the next 48 hours, I barely slept, fueled instead by determination and the growing clarity of my plan. I watched a week’s worth of Joshua’s videos in a single night, each one revealing more of his strategy and the depth of his foresight.
«They’ll try to divide and conquer,» he warned in one recording, as if speaking directly to my current situation. «Robert will be the friendly face, Alan the legal threat, David the silent observer. And they’ll target Jenna. She’s their easiest path to destabilizing your position.»
In another video, he walked through the western section of the property, the supposedly worthless acres his brothers had deliberately excluded from their proposal. «This land looks like nothing, Cat. Scrubby hills, rocky terrain, difficult access. That’s why it’s perfect. No one looks closely at what appears valueless.»
Armed with Joshua’s insights and my own growing understanding of what I faced, I arranged to meet Jenna at a small cafe in the nearest town, twenty miles from the farm—neutral territory, away from both the Mitchell brothers’ influence and the emotional pull of Joshua’s carefully crafted sanctuary.
She arrived fifteen minutes late, defensive posture already in place before she even sat down. «I can’t stay long. Uncle Robert is taking me to meet the family attorney this afternoon.»
«‘Uncle Robert,’» I repeated mildly. «You’ve become quite close in three days.»
She flushed. «They’ve been nothing but kind and welcoming, which is more than I can say for you. You’re treating them like enemies instead of Dad’s family.»
I sipped my coffee, choosing my next words carefully. «Do you remember that art history course you took sophomore year? The professor who talked about perspective—how where you stand completely changes what you see.»
«What does that have to do with anything?»
«You’ve only heard their perspective on this situation. I’m asking you to consider there might be another view. Your father’s.»
«Dad’s dead,» she said bluntly, pain flashing across her features, «and he obviously didn’t trust either of us enough to tell us about this place while he was alive.»
I reached into my bag and withdrew a tablet. «Actually, he left something for both of us.»
«What is that?»
«Your father made videos, Jenna. Hundreds of them. Messages to guide me—us—after he was gone.» I turned the tablet to face her, queuing up the specific video Joshua had labeled For Jenna — when she needs it.
Her face paled. «He made videos?»
«He knew he was dying,» I said softly, finally sharing the truth. «He was diagnosed three years ago with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. He chose not to tell us, wanted to spare us watching him decline.»
«That’s impossible. He would have told me—» But uncertainty had crept into her voice.
«Watch the video, Jenna. Hear it from him.»
With trembling fingers, she pressed play. Joshua’s face appeared, healthy, vibrant, his eyes crinkling with the smile that was so uniquely his.
«Hello, my brilliant girl. If you’re watching this, then I’m gone, and knowing you, you’re probably angry about all the secrets I kept.» He chuckled softly. «You never did like being kept in the dark about anything, even as a toddler.»
Tears welled in Jenna’s eyes as her father continued. «I should have told you I was sick, should have given you time to prepare, to ask all those questions you’re so good at asking. But I was selfish. I wanted our last years together to be normal, not overshadowed by my diagnosis. I hope someday you’ll forgive me for that choice.»
Joshua shifted, leaning closer to the camera. «But there’s something else you need to know, something about my brothers that I’ve never shared with you. Our estrangement wasn’t some petty family squabble, Jenna. They embezzled my portion of our father’s estate when I was 19, used my name on fraudulent documents while I was away at college. When I discovered it and threatened to expose them, they threatened to implicate me as a willing participant.»
Jenna’s hand covered her mouth, her eyes never leaving the screen.
«I left Canada, changed my name slightly from Jonathan to Joshua, and started over in Minnesota. Met your mother, built a life, raised you. It was more than enough.» His expression hardened. «But my brothers never changed. Whatever they’re telling you now, remember this: they’ve wanted control of the family property for decades, not out of sentiment but pure greed. And they’ll use anyone, including my daughter, to get it.»
The video ended, freezing on Joshua’s concerned face. Jenna sat motionless, tears streaming silently down her cheeks.
«He was protecting us,» she whispered finally. «All this time.»
«For more than just his illness,» I confirmed gently. «Your uncles aren’t the family connection they’re pretending to be. They’re opportunists who see you as their easiest path to what they want.»
She wiped her tears, anger replacing grief in her expression. «They’ve been lying to me, haven’t they? About everything.»
«Not everything. The farm is worth millions—that part is true. But they haven’t told you about the western section they conveniently excluded from their proposal, or the true extent of the oil deposits there.»
Understanding dawned in her eyes. «They’re trying to cheat us.»
«Us,» I repeated, hope flickering. «Does that mean you’re back on my side?»
«Mom, I never left your side. I just—» she looked down, ashamed. «I wanted to feel connected to Dad through his family. They had stories about him as a kid, photos I’d never seen.»
«I understand,» I assured her, reaching across the table to squeeze her hand. «Grief makes us vulnerable in ways we can’t anticipate. But now, we need to be smarter than they are. Together.»
Jenna straightened, her expression shifting from devastation to determination—so like her father that my heart ached. «What’s the plan?»
I smiled, feeling the first real sense of confidence since this ordeal began. «First, we’re meeting my attorney this evening. Not the family attorney your uncles want to use, but someone recommended by Joshua’s lawyer in Minnesota. Then tomorrow, we have an appointment with Western Plains Energy.»
«The oil company? Why?»
«Because knowledge is leverage, and right now, we know something your uncles don’t: exactly where the oil is, and how much there really is.» I showed her the geological surveys from Joshua’s war room. «They think they’re dealing with an uninformed widow and a naive niece. Time to show them exactly who they’re really facing.»
For the first time since Joshua’s death, Jenna laughed, a sound of genuine amusement. «Dad always said you were the smartest person he’d ever met. That underneath that quiet high school teacher was a tactical genius who could outthink anyone if properly motivated.»
«Did he really say that?» I asked, surprised.
«All the time.» She smiled, wiping away the last of her tears. «He also said that the biggest mistake anyone could make was underestimating Catherine Mitchell.»
As we left the cafe together, I felt a shift in the dynamic of this battle. The Mitchell brothers had unwittingly united us instead of dividing us. They had no idea that their apparent early success with Jenna had only set the stage for their ultimate defeat.
Later that evening, with Jenna beside me, I laid out my complete plan to the attorney Joshua had selected for this exact scenario. His expression moved from professional interest to undisguised admiration as he grasped the full scope of what I proposed.
«Mrs. Mitchell,» he said finally, «your husband said you would surprise me with your strategic thinking. He was right.»
«My husband,» I replied, «was right about a great many things. Including, it seemed, his belief in my ability to not just survive his death but to emerge stronger from the crucible of grief and betrayal.»
The Mitchell brothers arrived at Maple Creek Farm exactly when I expected: 10 a.m. sharp, three days after my meeting with Jenna. Their black SUV crunched up the gravel driveway with the confidence of men who believed victory was merely a formality. Behind them followed a silver Mercedes I didn’t recognize—likely their attorney or financial advisor.
