Chapter 156

 

156.

Lilly was quiet an’ was lettin’ that sink in.

Ike finally asked, “So, you’re not sellin’ it? Puttin’ it in a land trust? Why? We might could buy it too? Might give you more money to help you out if needed. It should be ours.”

Lilly shook her head. “Nay. ‘Should be yours’. Hmmph. That’s enough of that sort of talk. Ain’t interested in sellin’ it. All this here is mine. I’m doin’ exactly what I want to do. I figure me an’ Nels is OK when we sell to y’all. We can split the money from that. Not tryin’ to offend y’all. I believe the land we’re sellin’ to y’all will set y’all up right good. We’re doin’ right by y’all. Doin’ right by your Choctaw ancestors too. Honey, besides that, from what you said, they ain’t none of them buffalo like you talked about livin’ free in nature. Right?”

“That’s true. But maybe this can be part…” Ike started.

“No, honey. Ain’t happenin’. I done made up my mind. It’ll be set up in that there land trust includin’ this grove, this burial place that’s part of my land. The home place cabin too. It’ll be preserved like it is. No one will be able to sell it or harm this place. Family can still use it. Y’all could hunt, fish, maybe even some day run them buffalo on it. I suspect that’ll be a long time. Y’all have to establish a small herd first. That might take most of your lives. Them that are the trustees of my land trust can decide that after I’m long gone. If the time comes, someone who knows will make them decisions.”

Nels took his sister’s hand. “Youngin’s, it’ll be named the ‘Lilly Carpenter Land Trust’. As long as we’re alive an’ of sound mind, we will have the controllin’ vote on the trust. Bess here, Joe Henry an’ your cousin, James Jones, I think he’s your partner in your business, they’re the rest of the Board of Trustees Sis’ll set up. That’s what she asked for.”

“What about us bein’ on that board?” Ike asked.

“Well, honey, I thought about that. Talked to Bess about it. I reckon y’all might have a conflict of interest. Don’t want to offend y’all. I just think there to ought to be a separation between my land an’ the land you an’ your two brothers an’ sister will own. Like I said, y’all can use it as much as y’all like. Just not own it.” Lilly explained.

Ike thought about it. He nodded.

“I reckon that makes sense. If some of my tribe wanted to come here, honor these buried here?” Ike asked.

“They’d be welcome. They are, after all, family too.” Lilly said.

Anita was smilin’. “I think that is a good thing. A wonderful way to honor you.”