It was just like the dreams she had had as a child. She stood stalk still in a sea of black, men and women in raven colored robes inching their way glacially on an endless path. Only this time the path ended, the men wore dark suits and the women dresses cut to the knee, vials covering their tear stained faces, her grandmothers plot lined on all sides with crisp white stained wicker chairs.

Louisa was a sensitive young girl and losing her grandmother was like losing a part of herself, a best friend and confidant. Ever since she was a very small child her grandmother had been a huge part of her life, she would spend every summer raking the leaves and baking pies on her grandmothers ranch. 

The ranch itself -Louisa drew herself out of the crowd walking slow out toward the field, hoping up on the bottom rung of the gated metal fence and looked out across the fenced in field- was a full 160 acre quarter section. The fresh undeveloped land, dewy green grass springing up through the brown rolling hills, mares galloping happily unaware of the devastation that had invaded their world. To her immediate left stood the hidden treasure of this ranch, the spotless three story white Queen Anne Victorian country house with its majestic turrets and hand carved spindles was her grandmother pride and joy. In direct contrast across the field, beyond the thick garden of begonias and trellises overflowing with ivy, stood her Auntie Bert’s house. The modest yellow cottages hunter green roof was just peeking out above the dense foliage that lined the property and swooped up to frame the white picket gate, but Louisa knew that if she ran across the field and through that gate, and into the garden she would find the welcoming red door she most longed for. In her mind Louisa’s Auntie Bert was no other aunty on earth. His thick beard and burley manly physique stood in direct competition to what she had learned about other Aunties, but it was his endearing love and humor, his ability to make simple words magic and any space feel like home that would always make him simply dear Auntie Bert, and no one would ever question that. She wanted so badly to feel her aunties touch, to know that everything would be alright, but like the tree line that bordered the property which seemed unusually saddened as if they too know a great spirit had left this world, she knew it would take him time to heal.

“Are you alright sweety?” a mans hand touched her back.

It was her dad. His gentle touch a welcome relief from the hoards of strangers and onlookers who still gathered around the burial plot long after the final dirt had been laid, as if they imagined she would miraculously reappear. Louisa nodded her head and tried a courageous smile, then changed her mind and shook quietly while the tears began to whelm up yet again. “What am I going to do?” she coughed back the tears. “This is my home.”

“Hunny.” He rubbed his little girls back, though she was far from little any longer nearly sixteen and close to his own height of six feet. “No one is taking anything away from you. It’s always been yours, G.G. decided the day you were born, it has never been a question. Okay?” He squeezed her close “Auntie Bert and your mom and I are perfectly able to keep this place up, the property taxes and maintenance are taken care of, everything will be ready when you are.” 

“I don’t want it. I want my grandma.”

“You can come here anytime you want and visit her.” 

“But she wont be here!”

“You might not be able to see her, but she will always be here. In these crazy ass horses of hers, or in this beautiful house she loved, in your Auntie Bert. But mostly in all here.” He rubbed Louisa’s shoulder, wrapping his arms around her and patting her heart, then his own. “We all loved her so much Ouisa, but we have to be strong and let her be at peace. No matter how hard it might be.” Hugging her close Louisa could feel her fathers tears as they seeped out on to her bare shoulder, rolling down the back of her neck. Though her father knew his emotions should be focused on keeping her strong, they cried togehter staring off into the beauty that was G.G. Ferns legacy.

“What are you Summerfields doing hanging out all alone without me?” Louisa’s mother approached spreading her long willowy arms out around the two. Louisa smiled as her mom tossled her hair.

Robert, Louisas dad, did not even bother to wipe his eyes before he turned his head toward his wife and kissed her. They were constantly lathering each other with affection like this. “We are just recollecting the good stuff.”

“Oh hunny.” Suzanne leaned in toward the fence, wiping her husbands tears then her daughters, her large doe eyes speaking volumes to let them know they were her two greatest joys. ”Like what?”

Robert looked around. “Like Starla.” he smiled nodding toward a Toveros mare. “She must have been the only animal on this ranch that had more gumption than GG herself.”

“Like how G.G. and I would repaint my room a new color every year.” She began to cry again. “And that miserable old cat would just stick his nose up, no matter what color I choose. And what about Percy whose going take care of him? He can’t be trusted not to get into everything.” Louisa looked to her mother for answers.

“Thats something we need to talk about Ouisa.” Suzanne wiped the tears out of her eyes. “G.G. Heroine doesn’t want Percival to stay out here all by himself. He’s getting old and…”

“Well we are not just gonna get rid of him. Put him down!” Outraged

Shocked Suzanne stuttered.”Well… why? No hunny! NO!” Suzanne grabbed Louisa’s face. “She wanted him to come and stay with us. She knows how much he loves you. More than he ever loved me.”

“She told me about that, he must be so old.” She half smiled.

“You know that cat, these horses, those fields, nothing has changed in over thirty years. Damn to think they would ever out live her.” Suzanne pondered. 

Louisa ducked down wiggling out of her parents grasp and ran off back to the house, her knee length black plaid silk dress tailed with the wind. 

“Awe Shoot! I’ll get her, make sure the guests are all taken care of.” Suzanne kissed her husband and tried to chase after her fleeting daughter. “Thanks.”

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This is my first attempt at a fantasy based story, please be kind! :) but let me know what you think.

updated Nov 20 '10 by wickedmirror