Tory looked down at the paperwork in front of him and fiddled with the pages. "Your sister is fine. That's about all I can say at the moment. She will fill you in on what’s happened but I have to say, she wasn't thrilled to be coming back either."
"I don't blame her one bit. The old man worked her over when he caught her with Stevie. Poor kid had welts on her butt for days." Cade shook his head, a smirk on his face, and Russ wanted to hit him. If he’d stood up for his sister, they might have kept contact with her. She’d avoided them and Russ was sure it was because Cade didn't defend her.
"Perhaps if you’d supported her a bit more instead of thinking the sun rose and set on your football career, she might want to have some contact with the family. As it is, she could have been through hell with no one to help her."
"Stop your bleeding heart. For God's sake, Russ, she knew what she was doing when she jumped in the sack with that no good boy. It's her fault Father found them out. Rooney always thought she could get away with anything being the baby of the family. Besides I gave her a bed for a few days after she left home. Not like you did anything for her yourself."
"Could we continue with the will here, guys? You can have your family domestic on your own time. Now, the funeral." Tory picked up the papers in front of him. "I know you said you wanted him to rest beside your mother and I've made the arrangements. Tomorrow afternoon at three. The minister will be in touch sometime this afternoon to work out the service."
"Thanks."
"Now, there were a few small bequests to other people as well. Estelle Green has been left a small sum of money and the promise she will have a home as long as she lives. The servants’ quarters are hers until she dies or chooses to move on."
"She deserves it for all she’s done over the years." Russ thought about the woman who let him sit in the kitchen and lick the bowl when she baked cookies. The same woman who cleaned up his scrapes and bruises when he came in crying from a fight with Cade and some of the other kids on the farm. If his mother wasn't always around for the children, Essie was. "I'm looking forward to seeing her again."
"The farm has had a new manager for the last few years too. Kate Robins has taken over the everyday running of the farm and is doing very well."
"What, little Katie is the farm manager?" Cade shook his head. "I don't believe it. Was the old man sane when he gave her the job?"
"Why do you doubt it, Cade?" Tory asked, taking his glasses off and rubbing his eyes.
"Because she was always talking about leaving as soon as she could and heading to Sydney, getting away from the farm. I can't see her hanging around unless there was something in it for her."
"I've known Kate as long as I've known you guys and I don't like what you’re insinuating. Kate has shown how capable she is at the job and there isn't any reason to change that." He picked up the will and continued to read. "Kate Robins is to be kept on as manager until my legal representative, Tory Daniels, sees fit to make changes." Tory looked up. "Along with the manager’s cottage, Kate is to receive the same wage she is on now, subject to CPI, with an added bonus each year, after the yearling sales, if she makes a ten percentage of profit and keeps the stock sales in the black."
"Fair enough," Russ said. "I sure as hell can't run the farm and Cade doesn't want to."
Cade snorted in reply.
"Shall we continue?" Tory put his glasses back on and looked over the black frames at the two brothers.
Cade shrugged and Russ nodded his head. He wanted this over and done with so he could go and see how much had changed since he’d left.
"To my children. Russ, Cade and Rooney, I leave the farm known as Petersham Homestead and all it entails. Land holdings, stock and adjoining small holdings will remain in joint ownership provided the attached provisions are met." Tory looked up again. "I've told you those." He looked back at the papers in his hands. "In the event of a death among them, the shares will be passed to the remaining siblings. After the death, the siblings and children will inherit the property." Tory paused and looked over at his clients before reading further.
"All profits from the sale of stock will be reinvested in the property for maintenance and running costs. Bonds, term investments and bank accounts will be divided equally between my remaining children. My late wife's jewellery is to be given to my daughter, Rooney. Artwork is to remain part of Petersham Homestead to be gifted along with the property if that is what comes to pass."
"Geez, I get it already. We can't sell the damn place." Cade brushed a lock of blond hair from his forehead. "Don't know how the hell I'm going to live there though."
"As I say, you may not have to stay in the city if your leg is too badly busted." Russ hated to be cruel but it was time Cade thought of someone other than himself.
"Whatever. Is that it, Tory?" He grabbed his crutches and tucked them under his arms.
"Yes, for now. All of the accounts will still come to me for payment. If you could give me your bank accounts details, I can arrange the transfer of funds when the bonds and
