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Treasure for the Heart

By Martha Rogers

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“Lay not up for yourselves, treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doeth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do break through and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
Matthew 6:19-21 KJV

Chapter 1
Fort Worth, Texas 1895
Blake Sullivan strolled through the Fort Worth stockyards where pens contained cattle from all over Texas with buyers from points north hoping to buy the best of the herds. The number of cattle brought in on the trail rides grew each year and converged here in this stockyard. Some would be shipped on to markets in Kansas and Missouri, and some would wind up at the meat packing plants in Chicago.
The bawling animals, stench of manure, and heat of their hides only whetted Blake’ desire to be the owner of his own herd. Right now the cattle were a sea of bodies with some sporting the wide span of horns well known in Texas, some with white faces and red hides and others all black. He had yet to decide which breed would graze on his own land someday.
Today, interested buyers wandered through the herds searching for prime beef. They would soon be bidding on those same animals and then shipping the ones they bought on the railroad back to points in the mid-west. Everywhere one could see, cowboys roamed the pens. The town’s nickname, Cow Town, fit it well.
Working for ranches in Kansas and Oklahoma the past eleven years had schooled him well on the ins and outs of cattle raising. For several years now he’d yearned to have his own spread and had begun saving for it. Other cowboys spent their earnings on whiskey and women, but none of that appealed to Blake. Not that he didn’t like women, but the ones in the saloon were not what he ultimately wanted in his life. He figured another year or two would give him all he needed for a ranch, and he hoped to find it here in Texas.
Even now the image of his friends after they received their pay for their part in the drives across the state filled his heart with sorrow. For the most part, many of them would spend near half their earnings in the saloons. He’d tried to convince some of the ones from the Holstead ranch to be more careful and plan ahead. That advice had been met with laughter and back slaps and pleas for him to let loose and have fun for a change.
He inspected the cattle milling in the pens with an eye to what he might want on his own ranch when he finally bought the land. He intended to learn as much about the business as he possibly could now in order to be successful later. So far, he’d been lucky enough to find well-paying jobs with good men where he gained the reputation as a straight-talking, honest man who knew how to run a ranch. His father had said God blessed Blake, and he should be thankful for what he had.
Blake may be thankful, but he’d done all the work, not God.
Men like himself moved around a lot and didn’t stay around a ranch more than a year or two. The next ranch and possible higher pay were always incentives to move on. As much as he liked working for Oscar Holstead, he’d been with the ranch three years in Oklahoma, and now the time to move ahead had come. When he had approached Mr. Holstead about coming with him to the stockyards and why, the rancher had been understanding and agreed to this trip.
With one last inspection of the cattle ready for sale, he found the brand that interested him—the Circle W. He’d heard about the Wingate spread in Texas that had grown to become one of the best in the state. When Blake mentioned it, Holstead had been supportive and recommended talking with Mr. Wingate as a good place to start. Blake liked what he saw in the herd and made his way to the auction building.
If he could meet Mr. Wingate, he’d make his pitch about coming to work for the man from Willow Grove. He wanted a family of his own, but not until he had fulfilled his desire for a ranch. After he had the land and a ranch established, he’d then look for a good woman with whom he could share it.
From inquiries he’d made earlier, he’d learned where Mr. Wingate would most likely be during the auction. He sauntered in that direction until he spotted the rancher. Blake drew a deep breath and exhaled before making his way over to Charles Wingate.
The rapid fire spiel of the auctioneer stopped Blake a few feet short of his quest. He’d wait until the bidding concluded before approaching with his introduction. All around him, the buzz of the crowd and the bids reminded him of the serious business side of the cattle industry.
Raising a herd and getting it to market represented the labor and expense involved, but the bidding, dealing, and trading at the stockyards determined whether the hard work would pay off. If well-fed and in good condition after the trip here, a herd could bring top dollar which meant more money for the ranch hands and profit for the ranch. Then it started all over again as the men returned to their duties at the various ranches.
The auctioneer banged his gavel and yelled, “Sold!” Blake moved toward Mr. Wingate.
The rancher turned and spoke to the man beside him as Blake approached. He stopped again and waited, but he couldn’t help but overhear their conversation.
“We’ll have a small bonus for each of the men if the prices keep to this level. Our herd is a quality one and should bring in good money. Too bad Rankin isn’t here to see this. He did an excellent job with them.”
“Yes, he did. His death couldn’t have come at a worse time.” The man with Mr. Wingate shoved his hat back. “What are we going to do about replacing him?”
“I don’t know. No one in our crew has any desire to be foreman. I guess you’ll have to do his work until I can find someone.” Mr. Wingate placed his hand on the man’s shoulder. “You’ll do a good job, son. I have confidence in you.”
“Thank you, Pa, but with Margaret expecting our second babe, I’d rather not be so tied up with the managing right now.”
“I know, and I appreciate all you’ve done to help us get the herd to market. Maybe that young man Oscar mentioned this morning is interested. We’ll see.”
Those words bolstered Blake’s courage and his resolve to work for this man, and his former boss had given him the opening he needed. The men turned their attention to the lists in their hand. Blake approached the men.
“Mr. Wingate, may I have a moment of your time?”
~~
Charles turned toward the voice to find a tanned young man with a lean, sturdy body and steady gaze in front of him. “Yes, what can I do for you?”
“Name’s Blake Sullivan. I’d like to hire on with your crew.”
So this was the young man Holstead mentioned this morning. Charles ran his gaze from Blake’s off-white Stetson to his dusty black boots. “Blake Sullivan? Are you from the Holstead ranch?”
“Yes, sir. I am. Been with him for three years.”
When Charles had met Holstead at the barns this morning, Oscar had mentioned that Blake desired to work in Texas, and as much as he hated to lose him, he said Charles couldn’t find a more trust-worthy, cattle knowledgeable young man to work for him than Blake Sullivan.
“I see. That’s a well-known operation, so why would you want to leave?”
“Someday I’d like to run a ranch of my own, so I aim to learn the business from the best ranchers around. I hear you’re one of the best.”
Wheels began turning in Charles’ head. He needed a foreman, and even if Blake was younger than his last one, if he knew the business as reported, he could do the job. Charles studied the cowboy and liked what he saw. Blake had never wavered in eye contact and stood straight and tall at around six feet with no signs of uncertainty or nervousness about him.
Now those wheels turned faster. He couldn’t be more than a few years older than Adelaide which would make him perfect for her. She needed a husband, and this young man wanted a job. Maybe he could combine the two.
“We are short-handed at the moment, and I’ve heard good things about you.” He glanced over to his son then back to Blake. “If you’ll excuse us a moment, I’d like to discuss this with my son.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll wait over there.” Blake pointed to one of the pens and stepped away.
With Blake out of range, Charles spoke to his son. “What do you think, Lucas? He looks like a young man with experience and about your age. Could you work with him?” If Lucas liked Blake and accepted him, the other hands would as well.
Lucas peered over to where Blake stood. “I have a lot of respect for Oscar Holstead, and he had high praises for Mr. Sullivan. He does look to be about my age, maybe a year or two older, but if he’s as good as Holstead said, then we should take a chance and hire him on.”
“I’m thinking the same thing.” Charles rubbed his chin. Now for his other part of the idea brewing in his mind. “He’d be a good match for Addie, too.”
Lucas opened his eyes wide and raised his eyebrows. “Adelaide? What are you talking about? What does she have to do with it?”
“I’ve been searching for a suitable man for her. She needs a good, honest man to marry. You’ll both share in the ranch when your mother and I are gone, and now it’s time for Adelaide to think about her future. She should have someone with whom she can have a life and a family.”
“Pa, love isn’t something you can barter around. I fell in love with Margaret back during our final days of school. Her pa wanted her to go to college, so I waited for her. That’s what true love does.”
“I know. Your mother and I have that kind of love, and I want it for Adelaide. I happen to think Blake Sullivan is one who can give it to her.” Knowing what he’d been told in his inquiries as to Blake’s background after his talk with Oscar, he’d be the perfect husband for his Addie.
“What about this. If he agrees and marries Addie, I’ll give him the money for his own ranch or he can share Addie’s portion of the ranch. If he’s good at his job, he’ll help keep the ranch the profitable one it has grown to be”.
“I wouldn’t mind that part, but I think paying him to marry Addie is a bad idea.” He glanced over at Blake once again and shook his head. “You’ll do what you want to do as usual, so I won’t say anything to Addie.” Lucas slapped his gloves against his thigh and turned to walk away, but stopped. He glared at his Pa. “Have you really thought this through? Have you prayed about it? If she ends up hurt with a broken heart, you’ll only have yourself to blame.” Lucas stalked off and disappeared into the crowd.
Lucas’s parting words dug into Charles conscience, but with no prospects in Willow Grove, this plan would be the best for Addie. She loved living on a ranch, and having a husband who would insure her future as well as keep the Wingate legacy going through his children. His brother Simon had let it be known that his interests lay anywhere but at the ranch. He’d even sold his share to Charles and moved to Houston to seal his decision.
Praying about a husband had brought no prospects thus far, and it may well be that Blake had been sent as the answer to his prayers. That idea firmed his decision.
Charles waved to Blake and gestured for him to return. He’d make his proposal and see where it went from there.
~~
Adelaide paused in her writing and stared out the window next to the desk in her bedroom. Rays of golden sunshine splayed on the floor attested to the warmth of the early fall day but did nothing to lift Addie’s spirits.
With a sigh, she closed her journal and laid down her pen. She glanced around the room that had been her home for all of her life. The only time she’d been away had been the summer she’d been sixteen and spent time with her mother’s family in Kansas City.
The décor had changed as she had grown from infant to a young woman soon facing her twenty-sixth birthday, but it still reflected her love of nature and all things outdoors. The floral bedspread in shades and hues of pink, blue and green complemented the same colors in the curtains and wallpaper. Papa had even painted the iron bedframe blue, her favorite color. It reminded her of the Texas sky now seen through her window, and the bluebonnets that bloomed every spring in the nearby meadows and on the hills.
She had always loved this room, but lately it had become a daily reminder of her mundane life.
Why did she still live in this room—this house—on this ranch? Why didn’t she live in a home of her own with a husband and children? She’d asked that question a thousand times since her twenty-first birthday when her brother had married his true love, Margaret. Now they had a child with another due soon. Would that ever happen to her?
The ranch may hire a dozen or more cowhands, but they were either too young, too old, or too rowdy for her. Papa had said as much when she lamented about the lack of men in Willow Grove.
Perhaps she could wrangle a visit to her cousin’s home in Houston. She missed Sarah, but after Uncle Simon moved them away, Addie had seen her cousin only at family events.
She pushed out of her chair. No need to fret over that now with Papa gone. She may as well go on downstairs and see if Hannah needed help with lunch. Someday, maybe God would send a cowboy her way.

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