“Any handwritten notes he left behind have no legal bearing on the current guardianship petition.”

“They have account numbers in them,” I said.

Richard walked right up to me and stopped less than a foot away.

I could smell the expensive tobacco on his wool jacket.

“You think you can ride back into Oakridge on your high horse and take over this family?” Richard asked, his voice sinking into a harsh rasp.

“You walked out on us the day you enlisted.”

“I swore an oath,” I said.