The Journal And It's Legacy Will Remain For All To Protect

 Grandma Lu couldn't look at the crowd that had gathered on the Marleewood parking lot. Marleewood had been closed for so long because of the dreaded virus that had stopped the fun and story time there. This was not the time for her to leave. She couldn't believe that she had been found by a relative she didn't know very well at all. She had no choice but to leave however. She could not allow the destruction of the Double D Ranch because of some money hungry investors insisting on strip mining the silver mine. It was not going to happen.

She was so angry she felt crying, but instead had to somehow explain the age old secret to her husband and children. The trip was going to take quite a long time. She didn't know what she was going to find when she got there, but she would just have to deal with it. Throughout the generations the journal had been kept safe. It was now in her hands and would travel with her to Texas. She was getting elderly and would have to pass the journal on to someone that would love and care for her beloved ranch. Who that would be was yet to be decided. There were many that would just put the ranch on the auction block or like the unknown "want a be rich" folks strip the land. She shook her head and thought, "I will not have it. It is my legacy to not only my family, but to the state of Texas. I will figure it out somehow."

She was packed and in the car headed for Texas within an hour. Her husband was staying at home to care for their home and dog. As she headed down the highway she thought of her many ancestors that had built a home from practically nothing to a beautiful home. She could almost see her great great grandmother tending to her flowers that she had watered with her mother's dish water. The drought and burning heat was so terrible they had little water to spare. "Oh the hardships they endured. I have to do my best to preserve it."

The Double D Ranch will always be a place for good folks to enjoy the outdoors and beautiful horses. As well as the hunting and fishing. Oh the trail rides that old ranch has seen. Yes, I will see to that."

A Stranger Makes A Surprising Speech Part 5

 Grandma Lu was thrilled to see so many people gathering on the parking lot of Marleewood. Marleewood had been closed for quite some time because of the pandemic. As she looked around there were so many people she recognized that had been meeting there and the children! "Oh my goodness they have grown. They are no longer babies anymore; that's for sure." She felt a bit of sadness as she marveled at the children that at one time had sat by her knees as she told them countless stories. Some of the stories were made up ones and some were true. The children didn't care. They just felt comfortable and safe within these old walls. She grinned as she saw girls and boys actually talking to each other as friends. The boys were not pulling pigtails or giving them bugs to look at. She looked behind her and saw her old friend walking away from the side door. "Hmm, wonder what Nancy was doing in the Quiet Room?" She was about to walk over to her to ask her old friend if everything was alright when she was surprised to see a lady
that she hadn't seen in many years. She was from her hometown, but now lived on the west coast. "Oh my goodness. This is like old home week. I wonder if there was a golf tournament this week. That's her passion for sure. Oh look at that dog! So cute."

She started to wave and yell to stop so that they could visit when she saw that Nancy and Ann were having a serious conversation. "Well, I wonder what that's all about. I think I will just get myself over there to see what's wrong. I can't have unhappy people on this beautiful day."

Out of the corner of her eye she saw familiar faces. "Oh my goodness, look who's here! Charlie and her grandma. What a wonderful day. She turned to greet them and visit, but soon she heard a clinking noise. Someone was going to make a speech. Who is that? She looked familiar, but couldn't quite place her. "Oh my. She's a long ways from home. I know who that is. She is Chata's human. What in the world is she doing here I wonder. There's that precious Chata. I'm so surprised to see them here. But why is she making a speech? She doesn't know anyone here and she hasn't seen me in years."

"Hello, everyone. I heard about Marleewood opening it's doors once again. I am so happy for my Great Aunt Lu. She loves Marleewood and the folks in this little town. However, I am here to take her back to Texas where she belongs. The Dude Ranch that she owns needs her there to stop the environmentally dangerous activity that's going on at the silver mine. So everyone eat up all this scrumptious food, but your old friend needs to come with me as soon as she can get packed up."

The talking and squealing of happy youngsters and visiting of neighbors had completely stopped. What did that woman mean? Grandma Lu didn't own a silver mine let alone a ranch in Texas. She had lived here for years. Surely someone knew the truth about this. That someone was not Grandma B. She was just leaving the kitchen when she heard that Grandma Lu her dear friend was actually an owner of the Dude Ranch in Texas that she had been writing about for almost two years? No; surely not. She would have told her about it. Wouldn't she?"