“Dad thought I did,” I replied. “He trusted me with the truth. He clearly didn’t trust you.”

She hissed at me through the phone. “This is not over. I will not let you cut me out of this.”

I hung up and stepped out onto the porch. The night air was cool and crisp against my skin.

I looked at the dark tree line and felt a sense of peace. Skylar could try whatever she wanted, but I was the one holding the line.

The following week was a whirlwind of legal filings and phone calls. Skylar hired a high-priced attorney to contest the will.

She claimed I’d coerced our father into leaving me the land. It was a lie, of course, but it was meant to drag me into a long battle.