East Texas Barn of Wonders

All my life I lived in Texas. My parents were attorneys and both of them wanted me to follow in their footsteps. This was not what I wanted, but I completed law school and worked with my parent’s in their law firm. I did not want to disappointment them, and this was the only path to take at the time.

One of my clients surprised me after their death with letting me have a farm in east Texas. I researched his family lineage because I did not want someone to sue me due to his judgement. This usually was the case with wealthy families. When the children were not happy with the parents’ decisions, they would file lawsuits against the beneficiaries, and this was a long process. I certainly did not want to go through that.

My research skills came to a halt when I found he had no living family members. He had a ranch hand named Tom Elliott who lived on the farm. This was the closest family he had. I was able to get in contact with him and he provided more information regarding Mr. Belorei’s estate.

I decided I would take a month off from work seeing as the bosses were my parents, they could not refuse. I was their favorite and only child. I was indecisive as to what I would do with a farm. I was a city girl. I could sell it or keep it and make it a vacation home for when I needed to get away from my family. Or I could AirBNB it and have another source of income.

I drove down the five hundred miles out to the farm. It was a long drive since I had never been to east Texas. I must have written down the directions to the farm because I got lost. I called him and waited for him to pick me up. I was driving my Camaro and it was hard to miss. I was on the side of the road with my emergency lights on. I fell asleep waiting on him.

I woke up to a knock on my window and for a split second, I almost grabbed my gun out of my purse. I looked up and saw a guy staring at me through the front window. My windows were tinted very dark and hard to see through at night.

I lowered the window and asked if he was Tom Elliott. He said it was and I asked him for his identification. I wanted to ensure it was him. He hesitantly took out his wallet and showed it to me.

I apologized and opened the door to get out and stretch. Good lord! I slept for three hours. Tom had been waiting for me all this time. Apparently, he arrived half an hour later after our phone call and did not want to wake me. He was patient enough until he had to get back to the farm to herd the cattle. I apologized and followed him.

It was dark when I arrived and it was getting close to midnight. He ushered me into the house and said he would come back after he got the cattle in the gates. I felt awkward sitting in my client’s home and did not move until Tom came back. I was wide awake after my nap.

Tom walked in the door and looked exhausted. He was covered in mud because he tripped and fell while herding the cattle. He looked upset.

He let me know he would take a shower and get rest and we would speak in the morning. I wanted to refuse and spend the night in his house because I was a chicken and being alone in a three-story home that I had never been to, was scary. I sat back and decided that if he was going to leave me alone, I would sleep in my car for the night. I felt as if I was intruding into my client’s home.

The morning was the same as when I fell asleep waiting for Tom the night before. He looked upset. I opened my door to get out. I yawned and stretched as I tried to see the time. My phone was dead. I fell asleep with it and forgot to charge it.

“I’ll show you around, so you won’t have to sleep in your car. I don’t see it as being more comfortable as a bed.” Tom said walking into the house.

“I’m sorry.” I responded. “I feel like I’m being intrusive.”

“Don’t.” he snapped back. “This is your home now and you’re my boss.”

“I’m not your boss. I simply came because I was unsure why he would leave this to me.” I responded snarky.

“His children passed away before he did. They never married and he never remarried. He was sure you would be the one to take care of his legacy. Just as you did with his case years ago. You left quite an impression.” Tom said looking back at me.

“Are you upset because he didn’t leave you the farm?” I asked wondering why he was being rude to me.

“I’m not mad. I’m annoyed he would leave us to someone who obviously has never set foot in a farm.” Tom responded.

“That may be true.” I responded hurt because he didn’t know who I was. He was judging a book without reading the contents. “I am capable of taking care of a ranch.”

“That may be, but you’re not prepared for what is in the barn.” Tom said.

The barn? What was in the barn?

Tom showed me around and when we arrived in the main bedroom, he said he took care of taking out the old furniture and buying all new since I would be arriving. I was pleasantly surprised.

After a couple of weeks of knowing how the farm ran, Tom was warming up to me. We would have dinner together because I hated eating alone. The only thing he would not show me was the barn. Every time I tried to sneak that way, or ask him about it, he would steer me away.

One night during dinner, I made chicken enchiladas the way my aunt to use to make them in her restaurant. I figured this would help him open up to me regarding the barn. Tom came in and sat down waiting for dinner to be ready.

“Tom. Why won’t you tell me about the barn?” I asked.

“There is nothing to tell.” Tom responded. “I don’t want you near it and that’s final.”

“No. You don’t get to tell me that. I own this now. So eventually I will go in there.” I responded turning my back to him.

He got up and went into the dining room. He sat in silence and stared out the window.

When dinner was ready, I put together two plates and headed to him. I placed the plate in front of him then moved it away. I wasn’t going to give him the dinner until we discussed why I was not allowed near the barn.

He gave me a side eyed look and turned red. He wanted to say something but took the opportunity to stay silent.

“So, you are not going to talk?” I asked. I grabbed my fork and began digging into the food. “Mm mm hmmmm.”

“Please give me the plate. I’m starving. I cannot tell you about the barn until it accepts you.” Tom pleaded.

“What? Who accepts me?” I questioned confused.

“The barn.” He responded pointing toward it. “You haven’t exactly made a great impression. It won’t let you in quite yet. And this is why you cannot go near it without me.”

“What do you mean it?” I asked. “You’re talking about it as if it was a live thing. It’s just a barn.”

“You don’t understand.” Tom said. “The barn is a portal to take you wherever your desire. Jackson could never destroy it and it chooses its next owner.”

“And this is why you are upset? It didn’t choose you. Is this why you don’t like me?” I asked making fun of him.

“You simply do not know what you were chosen for.” He said upset.

“No. I don’t understand why I am here. Jackson was my client for many years, and not once did he mention I would be in his Will. I am just as surprised as you are.” I responded.

I pushed the plate towards him so he could eat.

He grabbed it and dug in. He savored every bite he took. I took this a compliment.

We ate in silence the rest of the evening. When we were done, we both sat in silence and stared at each other.

“C’mon. Let’s see if the barn accepts you now.” Tom said getting up.

I hurriedly followed after him.

The barn was beautiful in red and silver. When we walked up to it and stood in front of the doors. They opened on their own. I thought Tom maybe had a remote to open them. He looked at me and smiled.

“Does this mean I am accepted?” I asked.

“Yes. She does.” He responded.

“She?” I asked.

“Yes. She is a matchmaking barn.” Tom said.

“No way. This is not possible.” I responded laughing.

The barn closed her doors and I stopped laughing.

“What happened?” I asked confused. “I thought she liked me.”

“You are making fun of her.” Tom said turning around. “You need to accept what the barn is, and when you do, our wedding will occur. She will decorate, send out invites and have everything ready. She will also port us to the honeymoon destination.”

“Okay. Now you are making this up.” I said walking away.

I was ported back to his side. I tried walking away again. It seemed as if the barn wanted to keep me there.

“How is this possible?” I asked.

“I do not know. I was brought into Jackson’s life many years ago and the barn has never accepted anyone for me. Until now.” Tom said looking at me.

“I do not know if I want this. What if I was married already?” I spoke.

“You are not. The barn does not choose people who are married or taken.” Tom said with a chuckle. “We have to see if we are a right fit for each other and if not, the barn will let you go.”

I couldn’t understand this logic or how this barn came to be. The rest of the night we talked about its origin and how Jackson was brought to it. The same way I was brought to it. Except for Tom and his family. They had been living there for centuries. The barn would also choose who it would be a matchmaker for. She was odd and did not like everyone.

Over the next few weeks Tom and I spent more time together. I was attracted to him and wondered if he found me attractive to be his wife. This was a crazy concept. How would a barn determine who our spouses would be? If this did not work out, I would be alright with the outcome.

I contacted my parents and let them know I would take the rest of the year off since I had more work to do. I did not want to jump into a relationship and straight into marriage with Tom. We talked about the possibilities of a future, but we never set anything in concrete if we both wanted this.

Six months later, Tom and I married. The barn decorated itself as if it knew exactly what both of us wanted in our wedding. The kicker was the invitations. They magically appeared with the details of when and where the wedding would take place. Tom and I had no say in this. Almost everyone who was invited showed up for the event. My parents were shocked at first, but said if I had found true love, then it was meant to be. It was as if Jackson was my matchmaker is what they said.

Tom and I visited the barn often and would take trips wherever we wanted to go. We blended in so well when we arrived. The money also appeared when needed it.

And to think, I was very close to selling the farm without stepping foot in it. I’m glad I did not. I met the love of my life and we live a wonderful life together.

One question remains, how is this going to work for the next person?