After Will Colter’s father passes away in a tragic accident, he and his older brother and younger sister go to town to hear the reading of their father’s will.  The news isn’t what any of them expected.

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.  “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.

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Following a bank robbery committed by her brother-in-law, Hannah prepares for what she thinks will be a normal Sunday.  But it doesn’t quite turn out the way she expects.

Sunday morning, Hannah put the finishing touches on the roast and slid it into the oven.  Bounding up the stairs she quickly untied the apron from her waist.  Standing before the mirror she brushed out her long strawberry blonde hair then twisted it into a chignon at the base of her neck inside the decorative black netted hair piece.  She smiled, pleased with her appearance.

“You look lovely,” Drew commented as his pale blue eyes surveyed the light blue calico dress before resting on her eyes.  Color flushed her face with the intensity of his appraisal.

“Come here,” he added, pulling her close.  “Your eyes look bluer than the sky in that dress.”  He brushed lips lightly across hers in a brief kiss.

Releasing her, he asked, “Looking forward to Emily’s visit?”

“I can hardly wait,” Hannah answered giddily.

As Hannah preceded Drew down the stairs, she could not contain her excitement over the planned Sunday dinner guests—Levi and Emily Werner.  It had been two months since Hannah had seen Emily.  Earlier this week, Levi stopped by the clinic to let Hannah know Emily would be back to church this week, having recovered from her morning sickness.  Hannah missed her best friend dearly, so she invited them for Sunday dinner.

Emily and Hannah grew up on adjoining farms several miles outside of Cincinnati.  Hannah could not remember a time when she and Emily weren’t friends, despite being such opposites in looks and personality.  With her dark curls and flashing nutmeg brown eyes, Emily charmed everyone, from the most reserved students to the toughest bullies in their school.  As she grew older and began filling out her dress, boys noticed her long before noticing Hannah—not that any had noticed Hannah in school.  Walking to and from school together, Hannah often found herself in the role of quiet listener to Emily’s constant chattering about what Amanda Taylor wore that day, or how the pigs on the farm gave birth to a large litter, or who danced with who at the last barn dance.  Perhaps if Emily had set her mind on memorizing her lessons at school and not on such things, she would have made higher marks and Hannah would have spent less time trying to help her catch up.

Besides helping Emily with her school work, Hannah found in her a friend with whom she could confide her deepest sorrows, especially following her mother’s death.  Even when her father sent her away to live with her aunt, she wrote letters to Emily almost weekly.  When Hannah moved back to the farm with her father, years later, she easily picked up her friendship with Emily.  Sadly, she was the only constant person in her life.

As Drew pulled the carriage to a stop down the street from the large whitewashed church building, Hannah scanned the crowd for her tall friend.  Spotting her, she raised her arm for a quick wave after Drew helped her to the ground.  Emily turned without acknowledging Hannah and entered through the large dark wood doors.  Perhaps she just didn’t see me.

Placing her hand in the crook of Drew’s arm, Hannah smiled, confident nothing could ruin her good mood in anticipation of a wonderful afternoon.

Once inside the church, Hannah watched as Emily and Levi took their seats in their normal pew.  Drew led Hannah to the same pew.  As soon as Drew and Hannah sat, she leaned forward to greet Emily, who immediately, without word, stood and followed her husband out of the pew.

“Emily, wait—”

“We’ll talk later,” Emily hissed, glancing back over her shoulder with a frown.

As Levi and Emily took a seat on the other side of the sanctuary, she couldn’t help but feel hurt by her friend’s angry response.  Had she unknowingly done something to offend Emily?

When Drew stiffened next to her, she glanced in his direction.  The couple on the other side of him stood and moved elsewhere.  Soon, the pew in front of them emptied, as long time friends scattered to the edges of the room like marbles spilled on the floor.

Looking up at Drew she saw the stoic expression etched on his face.

“What’s going on?” she whispered, still trying to understand how they may have offended so many people.

Drew shook his head curtly.

When the music started, she shifted her gaze to the words in the hymnal, not needing to read them, but needing to hide her growing sadness over the rejection of her friends.  Her voice sounded forced as she tried to sing praises to her God.  Inside, she felt anything but gratitude.

Hannah shifted in her seat as the service dragged on.  Her attention waned.

As the last strains of the final hymn echoed in the wooden room, the pastor stood and gave a blessing.  The sound of booted feet heightened as the crowd exited the church.  Not waiting for Drew, she hurried to catch up with Emily outside.

“Emily, we’ve been sitting together for years.  Why did you move this morning?”  Hannah asked as her friend tried to dodge her for a second time.  “Aren’t you coming to dinner?”

“No, we are not,” Emily replied emphasizing each word, not looking Hannah in the eye.

“Are you not feeling well?”

“I am feeling fine,” Emily said, glaring at Drew as he came to stand next to his wife.

Hannah held her breath, hoping Emily might elaborate on her strange behavior.

“If you’ll excuse us,” Emily snapped as Levi started leading her around Hannah again.

Confused and hurt by Emily’s behavior, she reached out, placing her hand on Emily’s arm.  “Please tell me, what I’ve done to offend you?”

Emily’s dark eyes flashed with anger as she turned to face Hannah.  Brushing Hannah’s hand from her arm, she said, “It was our money, Hannah.  We sacrificed and saved for years for that money.  Levi took on that second shift at the meat factory so we would have enough for a home of our own to get out of that horrible squalor.”

“I don’t understand—”

“No, you don’t understand.  And neither did Thomas.  He just thought he could walk right into that bank and take what we worked so hard for.”  Emily wagged her finger in Hannah’s face, causing her to take a step backwards.  “And him, a worthless, gambling scoundrel!  Never worked an honest day’s labor in his life.  But, he thought he could just take what wasn’t his.”

“I understand your anger with Thomas, but—”

Levi, who stood with arms folded across his barrel chest, finally spoke, directing his comments to Drew.  “A doctor is nothing without his reputation and yours is tainted by your brother’s wild ways.  Tell me, Drew, did he try to hide out at your clinic when his plan failed?”  Anger shrouded his words.

Drew dropped his arms to his side, stepping closer to Levi.  “How could you think such a thing?”

Hannah bit her lower lip, hoping Drew and Levi would not come to blows.  She was certain Drew would not win against the much larger man.

“Everyone knows you’ve been bailing him out of trouble for years.  Well, this time the people of this city are not going to stand for it,” Levi responded through clenched teeth.

By now, several other couples gathered around listening to the heated conversation.  Friends, who greeted her with a hug and warm smile last week, looked on with hatred carved on their faces.  Tears threatened at the corners of Hannah’s eyes as the pain of betrayal heightened.

“There is nothing to get upset about,” Drew pleaded, looking around the crowd.  “I have not seen Thomas in over a year.”

“That’s not what Mrs. Pierce said!” one woman from the crowd shouted.  “She said she saw a man who looked like your brother going into the clinic late that night.”

Hannah frowned, balling her fist at her side.  How can they believe that busybody over my husband?

“If anyone did enter the clinic that night,” Drew’s voice boomed, “it was without an invitation.”

“So you don’t deny what Mrs. Pierce said?” Levi pulled Drew’s attention his way.

Running his hand through his short sandy hair, Drew said, “I’m saying that it is possible someone could have entered uninvited without our knowledge.”

Emily raised her voice above the growing murmurs, “It doesn’t matter to me if Thomas entered your house with your blessing or not.  I for one,” she said, resting her hand on her protruding belly, “will not be birthing my child at your clinic or with your assistance.”

Hannah’s tears streamed down her heated face as Emily’s words pierced her heart.  How could Emily say such a thing?  She talked for months about how wonderful it would be to have her best friend by her side as she labored to bring her first child into this world.  Now, the friend who stood by her in a school yard full of bullies was acting the part of instigator.  Did their friendship mean so little?

“And I won’t be stopping at your clinic for Franklin’s medications!” another older married woman shouted.

“When my niece has her child, I’m telling her to go to Doc Henderson!” A typically quiet man shouted.

As others added in vehement voices their promise to no longer visit Drew’s clinic, Hannah watched his face harden.  Closing his eyes, he bowed his head.

Don’t give up, Drew!  Her heart shouted.

When he lifted his head again, he held out his elbow for Hannah wordlessly.  With a firm nod to her, she read the silent message:  it was time to go.  In the midst of angry murmurs circling about them, Hannah followed her husband to their carriage.  As he took the seat next to her, his eyes faced forward.  His jaw set in a hard line.  His shoulders slumped in defeat.

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This excerpt is from A Dream Unfolding (Prescott Pioneers #1).  Will Colter and his men came in to the town of Prescott for the 4th of July celebration.  At this point in the story, Will is trying to woo Hannah, but has some competition.

Hannah smiled and took his hand.  Inwardly, Will rejoiced over the small victory.  He helped her up and waited as she brushed bits of grass from her skirt.  When he offered his arm, she took it.  They arrived at the miner’s competition just as it concluded, dashing his hopes momentarily.

Someone suggested a roping contest among the cowboys, unknowingly aiding Will’s cause.  Several men from the other area ranches lined up, next to Jed, Whitten, and Owens.  Will pointed out his men to Hannah and could not help but notice her louder cheers for them as they dazzled the crowd with their lasso tricks.

Then Covington came up next to Will and Hannah.  “Boss, you should go out there.  You’re the best roper in this whole territory,” he bragged.

While Will was good with the rope and knew several fancy tricks, he doubted he was the best.  He certainly didn’t want to leave Hannah’s side again, especially not to show off in front of the crowd.  He pretended not to hear Covington’s comment, until Hannah spoke.

“Go ahead, Mr. Colter,” Hannah said.

Several others around them agreed so Will was obliged to take the stage.  As he started forming the loop, he noticed Harrison and Covington flanked Hannah in the crowd.  He sighed inwardly, thinking he lost her attention again.  However, catching Hannah’s gaze, he realized the opposite was true.  Maybe showing off his rope skills would work to his advantage after all.  He started with some easy twirling of the rope in front of him then progressed to more challenging moves.  He finished with stepping into the loop while continuing its spinning up his body, until it was over his head.

Covington shouted out that he should take a volunteer to step into the loop. Agreeing, he waited to see who would come forward.  Will had not expected Hannah to stumble forward, until he saw Betty and Martha’s mischievous looks from behind her.  If he didn’t know better, he would have thought the two women were conspiring to help him.

Will took Hannah’s hand and led her to the center of the stage, his heart racing.  He explained that when he started twirling the rope near the ground, he wanted her to step into the center when he nodded.  When she was ready, he started.  Once she was inside the loop, he performed the same trick with her—moving the loop upward, overhead and back down again.  He resisted the temptation to tighten the rope about her waist and pull her to him.  The last thing he wanted to do was embarrass her.

The crowd applauded and cheered loudly.  Will took Hannah’s hand.  While she curtsied, he bowed.  She was breathtaking as her face glowed from the thrill of the experience.  He wanted to take her in his arms and kiss her.

Instead, he directed her back toward the crowd.

“That was amazing!” she exclaimed, followed by nervous laughter.  “Where did you learn how to do that?”

“Growing up on a ranch can be kinda boring.  It was a creative use of my time that kept me out of trouble and away from my brother.”

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