A Dream Unfolding (7 page)

Wagons and horses lined the streets near the small white church on the edge of town.
 
Many ranchers and townsfolk already crowded into the graveyard next to the church.
 
Edward
Colter
was well respected, so Will expected the large number of mourners.
 
Will found a spot to tie his mount, then hurried to help his sister from the parked wagon.
 
The family took their place at the front of the grave site where the pastor waited.
 
Will stood next to Julia across from Reuben, Mary, and the two squirming children.

The service was short, but respectful.
 
The pastor read from Psalms 23, while Will recited it quietly to himself.
 
The Lord really was his comfort and he knew his father was dwelling in the house of the Lord even this minute—no matter how he longed to have his father still at his side.
 
Julia reached over for his hand, but he put his arm around her instead as she tried to wipe the tears from her face.
 
One of the ladies from church sang “Amazing Grace.”
 
When she finished, Will took Julia by the hand and led her back to the wagon through the crowd.

Back at the ranch house, the women from the community prepared a meal for the family.
 
Although Will longed for peace and quiet, he appreciated the gesture.
 
Many of the area ranchers and townsfolk came for the meal as well.
 
Each person offered their condolences and shared stories of his father.
 
It was good to hear how much his father meant to these people.

Reuben seemed relatively unaffected by the events of the day.
 
As Will watched from a corner, his older brother worked the room to his own advantage.
 
Of course, Reuben would never do anything to lessen the perfect perception others held of him.
 
He slyly used the mourners’ sympathies to garner support for his latest scheme—whatever it may be.

Will, disgusted by his brother’s display, moved to the background where he could observe without engaging.
 
Looking around the room, he watched Julia in deep conversation with her best friend, Caroline.
 
He hoped the time Julia spent with Caroline would lift her spirits.
 
She had been inconsolable since he brought their father’s lifeless form home.

Another wave of sadness washed over him.
 
Seeing that no one would miss him, Will ducked out the front door.
 
He needed some time alone.
 
Taking Jackson by the reins, he led him into the stable, removed the gear and began brushing him down.

Will would miss his father—he already did.
 
His wise counsel kept Will from many a foolish decision over the years.
 
He hoped to run his own ranch as well as his father.
 
He led by example, full of integrity.
 
His men respected him.
 
His children—at least Will and Julia—loved and adored him.
 
The townsfolk and neighboring ranchers thought highly of him.
 
Will prayed he would be much like his father.

As he breathed in the scent of hay intermingled with horseflesh, his thoughts turned to his sister again.
 
This was going to be toughest on Julia.
 
She needed a father's love, especially with mother being gone.
 
Who will protect her?
 
Who will find her an honorable husband in a few years?
 
Would Will be able to take her with him, wherever he went, to protect her?

Not having any of the answers to his many questions, Will dejectedly returned to the ranch house and to the waiting throng of mourners.
 
One thing was certain, the coming days would bring change.

Monday morning dawned early.
 
Three days passed since they buried their father, and today was the day they would hear Edward James
Colter’s
will.
 
Although none of the children knew the specifics of their father’s last wishes, Will was certain each of them would be well cared for.
 
As he donned his usual jeans and work shirt, he glanced out the window.
 
Reuben already waited out front with the wagon and his horse.
 
He must be eager to leave.

Julia sat sullenly next to Reuben, looking down at her folded hands in her lap.
 
Will quickly mounted the saddled horse tied to the post and led the way to town at a gentle pace.
 
The short distance to town passed quickly.
 
Reuben pulled the wagon to a stop in front of the attorney’s office.
 
After helping Julia down, he led the way into the building, leaving Will trailing behind.

Reuben took the seat directly across from Mr.
Gainsly
, Attorney At Law.
 
Julia sat to his right.
 
Will leaned against the wall furthest from Reuben, crossing his arms over his chest.
 
He rested his right leg over his left, settling the toe of his right
boot
on the floor.

“Shall we begin,” stated Mr.
Gainsly
.
 
In his gravelly monotonous voice he read the will.
 
“To my first born son, Reuben James
Colter
, I give full ownership of the Star C Ranch land and house.
 
The herd and stock are to be equally distributed between Reuben and my second son, William Edward
Colter
—”

“What!” Reuben shouted, pounding his fist down on Mr.
Gainsly’s
desk, causing Julia to jump at the abrupt motion.
 
“Why should Will get half of everything?”

Will stood upright, uncrossing his arms.
 
Facing Reuben, he said in a low voice through gritted teeth, “I have as much right to half of the ranch as you do.
 
If anyone should be complaining about the terms, I should—since I am to get none of the land or the house.”

Reuben stood, puffing out his chest.
 
The act made him look ridiculous in his fancy brown suit and bowler hat.
 
Anger creased his face and his tone became harsh, “I am the first born son—”

Will moved closer, “A fact of which you remind me of constantly.
 
Still, that has nothing to do with father’s last wishes.”

Reuben took a step closer towards Will, the two separated only by Julia still seated in the chair.
 
Mr.
Gainsly
looked horrified by the confrontation between the two brothers and Julia began sobbing.

She reached up and touched Will on the arm.
 
In a soft voice she said, “Please, stop.”

Will looked from Mr.
Gainsly’s
discomfort, to Reuben’s fierce anger, to Julia’s pleading.
 
Returning his fisted hand to his side, he took a step back, closer to the wall.
 
Nodding towards Mr.
Gainsly
, Will said in a flat tone, “Please, continue.”

Mr.
Gainsly
looked from Will to Julia to Reuben.
 
“Very well, then.
 
Mr.
Colter
,” he said referring to Reuben, “please take a seat.
 
I understand that our loved one’s last wishes can be a bit of a shock—sometimes they make choices we may not agree with.
 
I assure you, your father was very clear, wishing to be as fair as possible for all three of you.”

As Reuben returned to his seat, Mr.
Gainsly
continued reading, “Other than a sum set aside for Julia Catherine
Colter
, my daughter, the remaining financial holdings are to be equally divided between Reuben and William,” he paused, looking to Reuben.
 
Reuben growled, but remained seated and silent.
 
“If Julia has not yet reached her majority, Reuben will be her guardian and the trustee of her stipend.”

Reuben’s face went from anger to delight in a few short seconds, prompting Will’s distrust.
 
Why did that news please Reuben?
 
He barely seemed to notice her, though they lived under the same roof.
 
Was it controlling her money?
 
Or was there something more?

Finally,
Gainsly’s
irritating voice halted.
 
The room remained silent for a few short seconds before Reuben made his wishes known.

“Please see to the details of dividing the money,” Reuben commanded with his usual air of superiority.
 
“If there is nothing further, let us be on our way.”

Standing, Reuben, in an uncharacteristic display, waited for Julia to control herself.
 
Looking at Will over her seated form, Reuben gave him a bone-chilling glare.
 
If Will had any doubt about his brother’s feelings towards him, that look clearly communicated his loathing.
 
When Julia finally rose, Reuben led her to the wagon without waiting for Will.
 
As Will walked out of the attorney’s office, Reuben already set the wagon in motion towards home.

On the ride back to the Star C with the dust of the wagon in the distance, Will considered his options.
 
With half of the financial holdings and half the herd, he could make a nice start somewhere else.
 
He knew there was no chance Reuben would let him stay.
 
The animosity between the two brothers was too great.
 
Will was the conscious Reuben never wanted.
 
Perhaps there was a nearby rancher looking to sell out.
 
That would allow him to stay in Texas and keep watch over Julia.

His thoughts went back to Julia’s new guardian.
 
Why had father left her to Reuben’s care?
 
Will shook his head, knowing the answer.
 
Father never saw the darkest side of Reuben, so he would naturally leave Julia to his eldest son’s care, especially since he left the land and house to him.
 
While he left Will with financial holdings and a herd, he did not leave him a home; thus, limiting Will’s ability to provide for Julia.
 
Though he understood it, he disapproved.

Instead of stopping at the ranch house, Will continued out to the pasture to work.
 
The more he thought about his situation his aggravation rose.
 
In one short day, Will went from being the rancher’s second son, to owning half of everything—except the land and house.
 
A part of him understood why father did not leave him a home, yet a part of him resented it.
 
Perhaps if he and Reuben acted more like brothers and less like enemies, father would have left them both the Star C.
 
But, his wise father knew a partnership between his two sons would never succeed.
 
This knowledge failed to take away the sting.
 
Will spent his life putting his heart and soul into this ranch and now he would have to leave.

Will rallied from his thoughts, hearing the sound of an approaching rider.
 
Ben must have spotted him, because he rode toward Will while he was still a hundred yards out from where the herd was grazing.

“Whoa there!” commanded Ben as he reined Sheila up next to Will.
 
“How was the meeting in town?”

Will spent the next hour explaining the highlights of his father’s estate and his own reaction to the news.
 
When he finished, he confided in Ben, “Leaving is the only option, but where?”

“
Startin
’ over is going to take some doing,” Ben commiserated.
 
“Remember in the spring when
yer
pa was talking about the Arizona Territory and those reports he heard of good
grazin
’ land throughout the place?
 
Maybe we could drive the cattle out there and set up a ranch.”

Did Ben want to go with him?
 
“We?” Will asked.
 
“You don’t have to come with me, Ben.
 
You know Reuben won’t be happy.”

Ben’s sour expression told Will what he thought of that.
 
His features softened as he continued, “You’ll be needing someone to watch
yer
back and I figured since I’ve been doing it for this many years, what’s a few more.”