Carson slowly swiveled his chair from the peaceful evening stretching before him back to the two very thick files awaiting him on his desk. One file contained the future he wanted to pursue and one file contained the future his sons were determined to manipulate him into protecting. In his heart, Carson knew it was possible to do both adequately but his head wouldn’t stop reminding him of all the very logical reasons why it was time disband the law practice.
Dove made the decision for him inadvertently by draping herself over the legal file. “Alright old girl, you win. I will make an appointment with the clients and tell them that they need to find a different legal eagle.” Carson’s voice was gruff with emotion and tinged with relief. At seventy, the everyday practice of law was exhausting and while still intellectually thrilling, it was more time and effort than Carson wished to devote.
Carson flipped open the other file and a casual observer would have observed the change in his posture and mood immediately. His sun weathered face relaxed into a smile, his hazel eyes quickly skimming the pages in the file, and the tension slowly seeping from his shoulders and spine. Whatever Carson was reading clearly energized him and Dove’s purring grew even louder.
After another hour of reading, Carson started locked the two files away in his desk. Carson was habitual about not taking work home to the ranch, even work that was more pleasure than labor. Over the years, Carson had realized that the ranch was his refuge from the stress and politics of a successful law practice and bringing work back to the ranch only polluted the oasis Rita had so successfully created on his behalf. Something prevented Carson from locking the two files in his desk however and he opened his battered leather briefcase and stowed the files.
After the files were secure in his briefcase, Carson quickly checked his calendar of appointments for tomorrow. An interview at an eleven o’clock with M.M. Connelly and a two o’clock meeting with Jo Olivera the town librarian and historian.
“An easy day,” Carson thought as he stood and looked around him. Darkness had enveloped the world outside his window, the office was quiet and still, and the only sound to be heard was the creaking of the pines and Dove’s purring. “Let’s go home old girl. It’s been a long day and there’s nothing I wouldn’t love more than a whiskey in front of the fire after dinner.” Exhaustion, exhilaration, and weariness tinged his voice as he moved through the office, flickering off the remaining few lights that still glowed.
The office wasn’t large as law offices go, but for a town the size and population of Smithson it was enormous and out of place. However, Smithson was the satellite and refuge for the much larger law offices maintained in Phoenix and Tucson. Very little day to day law was practiced from Smithson but all associates in the firm knew that every important decision in the life of the firm had been made from the Smithson law office. Carson Stone was the sole partner in the firm, something he made sure every potential attorney seeking to join his firm understood would not be changing as time marched forward. Gabe and Rafe managed the day to day business of the practice of law, but Carson’s word was still final on all major decisions.
Pulling the large intricately carved pine door firmly closed behind him, Carson turned his key in the lock and slipped it into his jacket. Carson and Dove climbed into the car, the engine rumbling to life disturbing the peace surrounding the office.
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