Ransom of Love (29 page)

“Herdin’ cattle, roundin’ ’em up, brandin’ ’em, and takin’ care of ’em is sometimes dangerous work,” Hal said. “Exceedingly toilsome, too. When you’re out there workin with ’em, there’s little or no rest.

“The danger is that you’re continually among wild, vicious, wide-horned bulls. And even though most of the male types are always steers among the herd, even the steers can be dangerous. In many instances—and I’ve seen this with my own men and cattle—the cowboys owe their lives to their horses.”

“How’s that?”

“Sometimes when a bull sees a man down on his knees, holdin’ a calf he has thrown, he’ll charge him. A good cow pony will whistle a warnin’ and put himself between the chargin’ bull and his rider till the rider can get in the saddle. The horse will then dodge the bull till he gives up on gorin’ the cowboy.”

“I’ve never even thought about that kind of danger,” Dan said. “A steer won’t charge a man, will he?”

“Not like a bull will, but often when the herd’s milling, the steer’s horns can gore a man’s legs while he’s in the saddle just because he’s in amongst ’em. A good cow pony will keep his rider out of that kind of danger. The Lord has just given ’em a sixth sense about those sharp horns.”

“Amazing,” said Dan. “You don’t suppose the God of creation planned for men to use horses in cattle work and gave them that sixth sense, do you?”

Hal laughed. “You’d have a hard time convincin’ a died-in-the-wool evolutionist of that, my friend.”

“Well, God said in His Word that a person is a fool who says He doesn’t exist, and denying God’s existence is the foundation of fools like that fella Jean Lamarck and those upstart pals of his, Charles Darwin and Alfred Russell Wallace.”

“Fools, all right,” Hal said.

“Anyway, thanks for telling me about the cow ponies. That’s interesting and necessary information for this green owner of a cattle ranch.”

“Here it is, Dan,” Hal said. “The Circle J property starts right here at this fence. We’ll get to the gate in about five minutes.”

Hal guided the wagon off the road beneath a large wooden arch that bore a four-foot-square frame with a
J
in a circle. “You won’t see the ranch house, bunkhouse, barn and outbuildings till we pass through that stand of cottonwoods up ahead.”

As Dan ran his gaze over the Circle J property, he could not believe its beauty. The wide creek—often lined by trees of various descriptions—wended its way through the five thousand acres like a golden thread in the Texas sunshine. Among the rolling hills of green pastures dotted with Texas longhorn and white-faced Hereford cattle were huge wooded areas. The slight breeze wafting across the land made the leaves in the tightly packed trees dance and flutter.

Dan could feel it in his bones. He was going to be happy here. “Hal,” he said, “I’m looking forward to visiting your church. I appreciate your letters that answered my questions about it.”

“You’ll love it. Pastor Mike Custer is a powerful preacher. His sermons are filled with the gospel and sound doctrine through and through.”

The wagon passed through the stand of cottonwoods and Hal pointed up ahead with his chin. “There’s your new home.”

Dan immediately loved the log house and log-constructed buildings around it. He could see four men working in the corral next to the barn.

When Hal pulled the wagon to a halt in front of the ranch house, a silver-haired man sitting on the porch rose from his chair and said, “Howdy, Hal, Dan.”

Hal wrapped the reins around the brake handle. “Good to see you, Hollis.”

“Good morning, sir,” Dan said with a smile and hopped out of the wagon. As he headed for the porch, he studied the wizened little man who was ludicrously bowlegged and had a face the color and texture of a burned-out cinder. He was hobbling toward the edge of the porch, and one of his short, crooked legs dragged a bit.

Dan mounted the steps and extended his hand. He towered over Jourdan. As their hands clasped, he said, “So far, what I’ve seen of the place is magnificent, sir.”

“Glad you like it.” Jourdan turned to Hal and shook hands, then turned back to Dan. “Do you want to take a ride over the place and look at all of it before we close the deal?”

“That’s not necessary, sir. Let’s go ahead and close the deal, then I’ll take a tour.”

“Fine. C’mon into the house. I’ve got everythin’ ready.”

They sat down at the kitchen table to finish the paperwork. When the money had exchanged hands and the papers were signed, Dan eased back on his chair and said, “This is like a dream, Mr. Jourdan. I can hardly believe it’s really happening.”

The old man laughed. “You’ll believe it when those hands of yours are blistered good.”

“Yes, I’m sure I’ll come out of the clouds about then.”

“Well, the blisters will soon turn into calluses, son, and by then you’ll have this cattle ranchin’ in your blood. It’s a good life. It’s gonna be hard to leave it, but these old bones of mine tell me I have to do it.”

Dan nodded. “I’m sure glad both of our last names start with a
J
. The name of the ranch can stay ‘Circle J,’ and the brands won’t have to be changed.”

“Yeah, I thought of that ’bout the time I sent my last letter,” said Jourdan. “Well, now that the place is yours, I’ll need five or six days to vacate the premises. That okay?”

“Certainly.” A sly grin curved his lips as he added, “Of course, the rent will be fifty dollars a day.”

The three men had a good laugh, then Jourdan said, “All that goes with me is my personal property—clothing, keepsakes, and the like. The furniture in the house, lanterns, and everything here in the kitchen stays.”

Shoving his chair back, Jourdan said, “Let’s go out to the barn. I want the boys to meet their new boss.”

Hal went with them to the barn where Dan met Tim Cook, Chad Underwood, Floyd Shaffer, and Jose Martinez. They were a jolly bunch, and Dan could tell right off that he and his ranch hands were going to get along well. They told him they would help him in every way to learn the cattle business.

“Well, Hal,” said Jourdan, “I’ll take Dan through the house, barn, and other buildin’s, then how about you and me takin’ him on a grand tour of the property in your wagon?”

“Sounds good to me,” said Robards.

Nearly two hours had passed when the wagon rolled back into the yard after Dan had seen the property lines to every corner.

As Hollis Jourdan climbed out of the wagon, he said, “Dan, I hope you’re happy with it.”

“I love it more every minute, sir.” To himself he thought,
The only thing missing is a wife and children to share it with
.

On Sunday, Dan went to church with Hal and Ethel Robards and loved it at once. He and Pastor Michael Custer felt a kindred spirit between them, and Dan knew he was going to be happy in the church. When he saw Mexicans and Negroes in the congregation, he was thrilled because Benjamin and Dorena would be welcome here.

He moved onto his ranch the following week. Ethel Robards and Grace Custer, the pastor’s wife, came to help him with the ranch house by giving it the “woman’s touch.”

On the first night, Dan wrote letters to his family and to Benjamin to let them know he was now living on the ranch.

Day by day, the ranch hands worked with their new boss, instructing him about raising cattle and operating a ranch. Hal Robards spent half a day with him, teaching him how to structure and handle the financial part of the cattle ranching business.

When Dan had been on the ranch for ten days, he rode to the Rocking R and told Hal he was ready to go visit the Wickburgs. They left early the next morning on horseback and arrived at the
Box W ranch just before noon. There was a warm reunion, and Bill proudly introduced Dan to his new bride, Betty.

During lunch, Bill elaborated on how he and Betty got together through a mail order bride advertisement.

Shaking his head, Dan said, “I’m glad for both of you. It’s quite obvious you are happy together. But …”

“But what, ol’ pal?” Bill said.

“I’d be afraid to order a bride by mail.”

“Well, I’ll tell you, Danny, you’ll find that eligible young ladies are scarce as hen’s teeth in Texas. The entire West, for that matter. Something like one for every two hundred unmarried men.”

“Really? I … well, I’ve known about the mail order bride system since it first hit the papers back in ’49 when the gold rush took California. But it seemed scary to me for both the man and the woman to come to a marriage agreement through the mail. I mean, they’ve never met, yet when she comes west, she’s expecting to be carried off to the marriage altar as soon as she gets off the train or the stagecoach.”

“No, Danny,” Bill said. “It’s seldom like that. Most of the couples agree that she will live in a boardinghouse or a hotel until they see if they’re really compatible for marriage. And when it comes to Christians using the system, they have tested each other’s salvation testimony by mail before she ever comes west. And they put a lot of prayer in it before she arrives; then they pray together while she’s living in the boardinghouse or hotel. Betty and I didn’t marry until we were absolutely sure the Lord had led us together and we had been counseled over a period of several weeks by our pastor.”

Dan sighed. “Well, I feel better about it now.”

Bill chuckled. “Christian men here in the West need wives, too.”

“How many newspapers did you put ads in?” Dan asked.

“Eight. And, of course, in the ads I made it plain that I am a born-again man and that only born-again women need reply.”

“I see,” said Dan, smiling.

“And then, when Betty answered, she asked for my testimony,
wanting to be sure I was a Christian for real. In her first letter she left no doubt for me that she was really saved. Once that was clear, and we had both received peace from the Lord, I sent her the money to come. She lived in the home of a family in the church for several months while we fell in love. Then we got married. And as you can see, we’re happy.”

When Dan and Hal climbed into the wagon to head back, Betty invited Dan to come back when he could stay longer. She and Bill lived in their own house on the ranch and it had a guest room.

As the wagon pulled out of the yard, Dan turned and waved. He focused on the happy young couple and once again felt the emptiness in his life and in his heart.
Lord, please bring the right young lady into my life soon
.

Letters from Dan’s family and from Benjamin came on Monday, May 4. Benjamin’s letter informed him that Priscilla Moore and Craig Hartman had set their wedding date for Saturday, August 8.

Dan immediately wrote back, telling Benjamin that he wanted him to arrive the last day or two of May and begin his job the first of June. This would give him June, July, August, and September to save up the money for Dorena’s ransom. He could go back for her the first week of October.

At the Moore plantation, Benjamin helped Angeline out of the carriage. “I hope you have an enjoyable day, Miss Angeline.”

Priscilla and Dorena were coming out the door. Glancing at them, she said, “I will, Benjamin. Thank you for bringing me over.”

Benjamin’s eyes stayed on Dorena, who was warming his heart with a big smile. “Benjamin,” Priscilla called, “I’m excusing Dorena for a few minutes so she can stay here and spend them with you.”

Benjamin’s eyes brightened. “Thank you, Miss Priscilla. Your kindess is very much appreciated. We do need time together.”

“I know; I’m in love, too.”

When the two young ladies had gone inside, Benjamin and Dorena embraced, then sat down on the porch steps.

“I have something to show you, sweetheart,” he said, pulling an envelope from his shirt pocket.

Dorena glanced at it. “A letter from your best friend!”

“Yes! And I want you to read it.”

She took the letter from him and read it slowly. When she came to the part with the date Dan Johnson wanted Benjamin to come, and realized that Benjamin would be coming for her the first week of October, she said, “That’s not very far away.”

“Just a little over five months from now.”

“Five months,” she said, closing her eyes. She felt overwhelmed at times with all that had happened in her life of late. She couldn’t imagine what a life of freedom would be like. The thought of being away from the security of the plantation and the watchcare of Master Charles and Miss Evelyn was a little frightening.

In all of her life, Dorena had never been any farther from home than Charleston and the plantations closest to the Moore estate. She thought of the hustle and bustle of the city … the horses and carriages, the crowded boardwalks with people shoving and pushing her, and some even being rude and calling her unkind names.

Benjamin studied her as she sat with her eyes closed. He watched the emotions playing across her face and fear struck his heart. He laid a hand on her shoulder, which caused her to open her eyes.

“Honey,” he said in a whisper, “what is it? Do you not want to marry me? Do you not want to be free and no longer subject to a master? Do you not want to make a home with me in Texas?”

Startled, Dorena blinked and looked up into Benjamin’s questioning eyes. In that instant she knew she had nothing to fear. He was her world now, and the one with whom she wanted to spend the rest of her life.

“Yes, darling,” she said softly. “I do want to marry you. I do want to be free, and wherever you go, I will go with you. Since the Lord
wants you in Texas, then He also wants me in Texas.”

Benjamin cupped her face in his hand and looked deeply into her eyes. “I am sorry,” he said. “Certainly you have had some natural fears about all of this. Now that a date is set, it has made you a bit on edge. I should have thought of this and not come at you so bluntly with it.”

“No, no, darling. Do not blame yourself. It’s just that it’s such a complete change in my life.”

He pulled her close. “I understand, my love. I understand. Please know that as this change comes, I will protect you with my very life.”

Looking up into his dark eyes, she smiled, then laid her head against his chest and said, “I know you will. Thank you for understanding what was going on inside me … and for knowing my need.”