CHAPTER 1
The words 'bright, sullen, clever, devious and tough as old boots' would have described Jackie Stone as a young girl perfectly. She really was a mixed bag. Until Jackie turned ten she was a pretty and rather cute energetic youngster thriving under her mother's care and protection but during that year cancer was diagnosed and months later Rebecca Stone died.
The boys began the teasing, perhaps hitting out of the loss of their mom who'd displayed the greatest share of her love for Jackie. Pete aged fourteen and Drake sixteen intensified their teasing and often it turned bad enough to border on mental cruelty. Initially her father Terry reprimanded the boys but he became lazy about that and eventually joined in on the baiting and Jackie's bright personality disappeared behind enveloping sullenness.
But miraculously Jackie endured and in her final year at high school had escaped being nothing worse than bitter about her home life. School support including expert counseling had ensured Jackie didn't fall through the unseen safety net installed at schools and then there was the happiest day in her life each week, Sunday.
Jackie was totally focused on college but her father grumbled the boys hadn't gone to college so why should she. By the time the decision had to be made Drake, now twenty-four still lived on the farm but worked in their small town as a vehicle repair technician. He callously proposed Jackie should stay at home and look after them. Without thinking about fairness or what his late wife would have wanted, Terry agreed and ruled out college. Jackie was told that adamantly and advised she'd receive a small housekeeping wage.
The family hadn't counted on Jackie being stubborn and devious. She went to her maternal grandfather, a small town bank owner. The business was almost as old as the town. He'd long lost interest in the males of Jackie's family because of their unfriendliness and mean ways. For years every Sunday morning Jackie cycled to Grandpa Jack Gates' house and stayed on to cook the widower's dinner.
After dinner Jack would drive her home and wave and say howdy to the guys who'd line the front porch most times and stand like statutes. Jackie would collect her bicycle next day after school and cycle the seven miles home.
It was Saturday, an hour after breakfast, when the final decision was made that college was out for Jacki. She cycled to town and found her grandfather in the vegetable garden scratching around. After the exchange of greetings she went in and make coffee. Jacki poured herself a soda and they sat on the swing seat where grandpa used to sit with grandma during warmer times of the year.
"Gramps will you finance me through college and keep that news from my family?"
That was a big ask but then being a banker Jack was used to being dumped with people's problems and he knew what this was about. "I'll think about it."
The next Sunday he said yes, he'd do that. He'd found that Jackie rather than her parents was required to sign the application forms and she could name him as next of kin and guarantor. He handed her the forms and after reading them Jackie went on to the college website and checked out courses, mostly confirming information received at high school.
Jack gave her papers to sign. "I'm opening a bank account for your and you'll be issued with a credit card and checkbook linked to that account. Your father should be doing this but I know how he thinks and find his stance unacceptable."
Three months later Jackie departed for college.
She left a note for her father simply stating, "Gone to college.
Jackie worked in her grandfather's bank during college breaks and sometimes saw her father or brothers in town but they refused to speak to her. She eventually gained an MBA and invited her family individually to conferment but none of them showed up or bothered to reply. The college was just less than 100 miles from the farm.
Their no-show really hurt Jackie but her proud grandfather who attended her big day told her, "Forget that pack of assholes." But who can forget hurt that deep?
Jackie secured a marketing position with a company 250 miles away. On the Saturday she was booked to leave by train for her new city, Jackie cycled from her grandfather's home out to the farm knowing the three men would be out on the farm somewhere.
She was delighted they were not around the house and even more delighted to find Pete's rebuilt 1950s Harley-Davidson in the barn, along with Drake's cut-down bright red 1939 coupe and her father's two-year-old Mustang. She rode the bike out and parked it on the dirt road clear of buildings and then parked the other two vehicles in a line behind it. She cheerfully doused the vehicles with gas and set them alight and rode off not looking back.
Jackie had thought of leaving a note, "Aren't I a big tease" but decided if no one had seen her cycle up to the farm or cycle away the criminal responsible for that arson attack might never be solved.
Spending most of the afternoon with her grandfather before he drove her and her luggage to the train station, Jackie had expected to see a deputy-Sheriff drive up at any moment; the longer she waited the more relaxed she became.
"Bye Gramps. I'll email you my address when I settle into my apartment and will then expect you to visit me. Take care."
"Goodbye pretty lady. I'll miss your company. Now don't take too long finding a young man worthy of you and who doesn't tease, or if he does so, he only does it good naturedly."
The next day in her temporary accommodation in a rooming house Jackie received an email from her grandfather: 'There was an arson attack at your family farm on Saturday with no witnesses and no sign of a suspect or suspects. Do you have any knowledge of this my dear?'
Jackie replied in a way her grandfather would understand: 'No grandfather. I have no knowledge of Pete's bike, Drake's pride and joy coupe and dad's Mustang being taken out of the barn, lined up and set alight. I wonder who the big tease was? Jackie.'
Grandfather Jack visited Jackie three times during her first year at college and they spent a week at a lodge that first autumn where Gramps taught her to fly fish. They had such a great time. Two months later he suffered a major stroke and died two hours before Jackie arrived at the hospital. She stayed for the funeral, making sure her family were advised of the day, time and place of the service, but none of them turned up.
Meanwhile an elderly guy in a dark suit called on Jackie, who was staying in her grandfather's house. She recognized him as one of Gramp's friends Mr Mason who was also his attorney.
Over a glass of ginger beer Cecil Mason said it was his pleasant duty to advise Jackie she was the sole beneficiary of her grandfather's estate. She was advised two parties were interested in buying the house and four senior bank officers were preparing an offer to buy the bank as a going concern.
"My dear I must warn you that your father and your two brothers are likely to dispute the will."
"Yes that was likely. That has to occur before probate doesn't it?"
"Yes. My present reckoning is after everything disposed of according to your instructions and settles, the residual value of the estate will be in excess of $2,240,000."
"That much? Oh my. Before I leave I'll come to your office and leave documented instructions and sign power of attorney to arrange the sale of both the house and the business to maximize returns and should my family contest the will you are to oppose that, using any resources you require to accomplish that."
"Expressed very professionally young lady. Would you care to join my wife Annie and me for dinner at the Village Restaurant this evening? We both would enjoy reminiscing about dear Jack with you."
"I would be honored Mr Mason."
As soon as he'd left Jackie fell on to the sofa, her heart beating hugely. "Two million bucks. Holy fuck! Thanks a million, for every million Gramps. I so loved you."
Jackie cried but had some great memories running through her mind.
* * *
With the struggle gone out of her life Jackie became more relaxed and felt free to do as she wished. She had sufficient money never to have to work again but at twenty-six she thought the only two choices for a worthwhile life were remaining in business or living in a cottage somewhere in the wilderness and doing needlework and tending a garden. She grimaced and chose business.