Free A Family Name by Liz Botts Page A

this.
    "So cool. Charlotte, you have to see it."
Lexi grabbed Charlotte's hand and started tugging her down the
path.
    Telling herself to stay in the moment,
Charlotte tried to keep up with Lexi's pace, but the calf-high
boots she had zipped over her jeans that morning weren't the best
for running. When they got to the top of the next rise, Charlotte
caught her breath. A low stone wall bordered the path on one side,
although most of the rocks were broken and crumbling. Past the
wall, a meadow full of minty colored spring grass dotted with
purple and white wildflowers stretched to the west. In the middle
of the meadow sat the stone farmstead Lexi had proclaimed to be
awesome. The little one-room structure was modest to be sure, but
as Charlotte turned in a slow circle, drinking in the view, she
understood why Will's ancestors had settled there all those years
ago.
    "It's magnificent," Charlotte said, as Will
approached.
    He gazed around and nodded slowly. With a
thoughtful look on his face, Will said, "I've been out here
thousands of times, and it always hits me the same way."
    "When did your family settle here?" Charlotte
asked.
    "1877," Will said. "After the gold rush in
Deadwood started to peter out. My great-too-many-greats to mention
grandfather staked himself a little claim here and sent back East
for his bride. And we've been here ever since."
    Charlotte looked at Lexi who was watching
Will with rapt attention and shining eyes. "That's amazing." She
turned her face toward Charlotte. "My family built that."
    The way Lexi emphasized the word family made
Charlotte's heart squeeze. Hard. She knew that longing, that desire
to be part of something bigger, that need to be loved just as she
was. Charlotte knew that she would let Lexi go when the time came.
She would have to, legally of course, but also just because it was
best for the girl. But until then she had to keep her sanity and
protect her job, which would be the only thing she had after she
lost Lexi.
    She swallowed past the sudden lump in her
throat. "Lex, we have to go, sweetie. Tell… your dad good bye.
We'll set up another meeting again real soon."
    Lexi's eyes flashed, first with anger, then
sadness. "I don't want to leave."
    Charlotte felt the stab of guilt that she had
been anticipating, and said, "I know you don't, but I told you that
I've got some files to go over."
    "Okay."
    Lexi flung herself at Will, who looked
startled by the girl's sudden burst of emotions. Despite the tangle
of emotions mixing up inside, Charlotte had to smile a small smile.
Thirteen-year-old girls certainly weren't in his repertoire. When
Will wrapped his arms around his daughter, Charlotte knew that the
world of father and daughter was complete in that moment. And she
felt a measure of relief. Not everyone's stories got to have those
kinds of moments. She wanted that for Lexi… and for Will.
    As Lexi stepped away, the sound of hoofbeats
thudded down the trail behind them. They all peered over the rise
as Bill rounded a curve. As he reined his horse in beside their
little trio, Charlotte noted the scowl that settled over Will. She
understood that he and his father didn't get along — any fool could
see that — but she knew there had to be something deeper going on.
She surprised herself by admitting that she wanted to find out. In
the space of a walk around the property, Charlotte had stopped
fighting herself, and had given in to the idea that she'd like to
get to know Will better.
    "What do you want, Dad?" Will's voice
stretched taut and tense over each word he spoke.
    Bill gazed down from his perch, and Charlotte
couldn't read the expression that crossed over his face. "Just
wanted to see how the ladies were enjoying the tour of the
ranch."
    "We love it, Grandpa," Lexi said, her voice
sing-songy.
    Charlotte stepped closer to Will. "We are
enjoying it very much, thank you."
    Will glanced down at her, his scowl
disappearing as a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "We