Chapter 133

"So Charlotte, I'm sorry for making a big scene like that, but we really did want there to be no question to anyone in this community that you are one of us. We want our neighbors and fellow farmers to treat you as they treat us," said Tess.

"It's okay, Aunt Tess, it was the most generous gift I've ever received. Not just the ownership, but making me part of your family, just including me in all of it, is really incredible."

"Charlotte, you are a part of this family. From the day Claire died, I was always going to give you her share of Drovers Run. I never thought of it as anyone's but yours. Jodi and I were just going to take percentages from our shares, but Stevie insisted she give up her ten percent first. She wouldn't take no for an answer. We begged her to at least keep one percent, so she was still symbolically part owner. She finally agreed to make the one percent part of a bet. If the Drovers car finished ahead of the Killarney car in the Demo Derby, she would keep the one percent, but if Killarney won, she would give all of it. I did my best, because I wanted to keep her in the fold, but she won the whole thing. Stevie Hall-Ryan is a very generous woman. We are lucky to have her in our life," explained Tess.

"I don't even know her that well, why would she do that for me?" asked Charlotte.

"Because Charlotte, you represent your mother to many of us. It might be unfair, and I know it's a lot of pressure, but it's the truth. Claire and Stevie were friends, they competed in rodeo together, Stevie loved your mom, but there's more than that. Your mother was in love with a man named Alex Ryan. He was my ex-husband's older brother. Yes, sisters were in love with brothers. He was going to propose to Claire the night she died. He wanted to raise you, to be your dad. He loved you. I don't know if you remember much of him, but even after I left for Argentina, Alex remained a part of your life. We even negotiated for him to have visiting rights into your adoption agreement when you went to live with your dad. You were the last piece of Claire he had, and he loved you so much. Several years after your mom passed away, Alex and Stevie fell in love, and got married. Stevie was pregnant with Xander and Alex was tragically killed in an accident. She didn't say this to me, but I reckon that Stevie did what she did both for Claire, one of her closest mates, and for Alex, who loved you so much and wanted to raise you as his own with my sister, Claire. I'm sorry you didn't get to know him better. He was a great guy," explained Tess.

"Aunt Tess, this is a lot of pressure. I'm not my mom, I'm not Claire. I'm not perfect like she was. I can't live up to her," said Charlotte.

"Oh Charlotte, I'm sorry if we have overwhelmed you. We McLeods tend to be an intense, passionate bunch. Your mother definitely wasn't perfect. We didn't even get along at first. She was impatient, and very stubborn and she did not like sharing her things with her little sister. She didn't take criticism well and she was also possibly the worst cook you've ever met. People don't talk about the bad points, because that's not how we want to remember her, but she was human like the rest of us. You don't have to worry about being Claire, just be the best person you can be. I love that person." said Tess.

"Thanks Aunt Tess. Thank you for teaching me all about my mom and for keeping a place in this family for me."

"I know becoming a part owner of Drovers was a big shock, and there is no pressure for you to move in or do anything with it at all, but there is always a home for you here. We just want you to visit us sometimes, that's all we ask of you. That being said, there is an emergency meeting of the Gungellan Farmers Council tomorrow evening. As a part owner of Drovers Run, you are entitled to attend if you want. Jodi and I will be going regardless, as well as our cousins and Stevie, but if you want to see what it's like, you can come with us. It won't be a fun outing, but it will give you an idea about some of what it takes to run a farm. If you don't want to run a farm, that's okay too, you can be as silent or as vocal a partner as you want to be. Either way, one third of any profits we make will go to you,"

"I think I'd like to go to the meeting tomorrow. I'm not sure about anything else, but I think it would be a good idea to get some information so any choices I make are as educated as they can be." said Charlotte.

"Sure, I'll let Jodi know you're coming."

"Aunt Tess, Finn seems nice. Aunt Jodi told me a little about how you got together. I'm glad you're not afraid anymore. I'm glad you found him."

"Thanks, but he came all the way from the US, so I think maybe he found me."