Ch25
A New Start
The next morning found Ann and Lee up
early as Ann said the night before that she had a surprise. So
when Ann stirred
around in the morning, Lee just went ahead and was out of bed as he too was
interested in what Ann said she would offer in the way of an explanation at
breakfast. All Lee knew was that she received a phone call and that she talked
to this person away from him so that he couldn't hear. He knew she was up to something,
he just couldn't tell what it was and with Ann you didn't ask very many questions,
you just kinda went along with the program. Which he did .
Ann hurried around the kitchen and started
some breakfast making French toast for all, coffee was poured and light chit
chat with some verbal sparring seemed to be the course of things as we went
about our wake up routine. We had finished our breakfast and moved to the back
porch overlooking the river and we were finishing our coffee for the day when Ann
finally announced what all the secrecy was about.
Ann said to Lee first.” Hope you won’t be
upset but I took the liberty to get us back on the road.”
Lee asked her , “And how did you do that
dear? “
“You know me and my ways, I just get it done,
yesterday I went looking for another RV to use to finish the trip we had started.
I found one at Dealing Dan’s in Marietta
and he is supposed to deliver it this morning in fact almost anytime he is
supposed to be here. We might want to make some room in the driveway or at
least figure out where it will sit till we are ready to leave it is a little
big. “
She had both of our attention and Lee asked
before I did as my curiosity was aroused also.
“What is a little big dear?” Lee asked.
Ann said.” How about twenty eight foot long,
oh and I forgot to mention the car behind it also, and of course both are automatic.
No longer am I going to be left out of the driving thing.” She laughed.
I looked at Lee and he just shrugged his
shoulders as there really was nothing to do but go along with Ann when she was
on a roll , and she was rolling now . I let Lee do the questioning after all it
affected him the most as it was his woman and he did a good job at asking the
questions I wanted answers to myself.
Ann went on to say” I have all kinds of
money just begging to be spent and really don’t want to sit on my laurels
waiting on an insurance settlement to get on with this again. I also kinda
looked forward to us finally getting on the road with this thing till we got
hit in the rear. It was outside my box so to speak, living on the edge, not
knowing what was coming for sure. Having the flexibility to enjoy all we could.
We could do that with the van as I intended to spend a few nights in the van as
we went along. And now Guy, with this
new RV I have more than enough room to bring you along as you are our most
dearest friend and I and I am sure Lee want you to go along. You can help drive
to.”
“Of course guy come along? Won’t you? “ Lee
pleaded.
I asked. “But who is going to take care of
the dogs?”
And Ann said “They can come along now.”
“So what is it you bought dear that is twenty
eight feet long? Surely not one of those
huge Gulf Stream Road Warriors you were talking about before? “
“Exactly
what I bought dear, this time when someone hits us in the rear they are going
to know they hit something. And there is more to what I have figured out for us
since we tried it your way.
“I love the idea of the trip and climbing
in the trees is more than exciting to me, so I am determined as you are to see
the Sequoias and finally be able to climb up in them. But I also have another
thing burning in my mind and that is what I am going to do with all this money.
It is earning a small amount of interest compared to the taxes I am going to
have to pay , so we are going to buy property, wherever until I have used up
most of my money . This property will be set aside for future generations to
use as they see fit. Until then it will be put in a trust and people may use as
it is, but will not be allowed to build, hunt or develop in any way, any part
of the land. So how much will 325 million buy? Or whatever the number is today as I never
keep track, think we can do some good with this Lee?”
Lee was flabbergasted and finally he asked
again slowly and for effect. “So the RV is
for going around and inspecting land to be set aside after we finish our trip?”
Ann said. “Sure we don’t just want to buy
any old land we want the best of the best. Also it needs to have all the
mineral rights. Being a Gunnite I know how important it is to buy the mineral
rights and since I am preserving the land in its natural state I don’t want any
oil, gas or coal mining company to tell me what is best for the land . If it
isn’t developed already then it will just have to wait. This is my money now
and I know what I want, and I don’t have to ask my brothers anything. “
“Wow.” Lee said, and then continued ,” This
is big and yes I was wondering what you were going to do , this alone could be
a full time job just checking things out and you do have a sizable amount of
money to spend and for what better purpose. Besides that will only make what
land is left more valuable. And in twenty, thirty, or even a hundred years,
just think what that will mean. Wow Ann that is great.” and Lee jumped to his
feet and gave Ann a hug and a kiss and told her he loved her. I also congratulated her as it sounded like a
fine thing she was doing, not only for humanity but also for nature. Wow I was impressed.
“Hope you saved a little for us in your budget?”
Lee laughed.
Ann
says, “Of course silly have a couple of mil I tucked away before I received my
portion of Gunnite. Oh and by the way there is more” as she was startled by her
cell phone as it started to ring she looked at the screen and as she smiled and
said to us , “You had better find room in the driveway for the new car also . I
bought us a car, an economy minded one to boot, to add on to the rear of the
Gulf Stream, to shuttle us around from the RV parks dear. That was Dealing Dan
and he will be here in ten minutes with them both. I looked at Lee. Then Lee and I arose to see where we could park the
thing till they were ready to leave.
I
said. “She is really into surprises isn't she?”
Lee
said.” You don’t know the half of it.”
Lee
hobbled with me around the corner of the house to see Dealing Dan and the Road Warrior
thundering up the drive. He just pulls the Road Warrior into my front lawn and
shuts it off then as we went around this behemoth so we could see the new Ford Escape tied on
behind. Ann had finally caught up with us as we stood there with our mouths open
catching flies.
All I could say is,”Wow, money does talk apparently!”
With
that a button was pushed from somewhere within, then the stoop of the door
extended and lowered automatically, as other noises occurred almost
instantaneously. The Gulf Stream began to level itself, then the swoosh of new
car smell escaped and was instantly detected by all present as the door opened , and out stepped dealing Dan.
With a big shit eating grin spread all
over his face as he just finished one tremendous deal.
Then
he says” Howdy y’all I’m dealing Dan. “
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