A Heart Renewed by Karen Baney

said as a rancher you had to work the cattle.  Many ranchers back in Texas rarely worked with the cattle, at least when they neared forty or so years of age.  Not that Will was close to that.  He just turned thirty last month.  But, some of the ranchers he knew focused more on the business side of running a ranch, while some preferred working with the cattle. 
    Will had a keen mind and many plans for Colter Ranch.  His contracts with Fort Whipple and many businesses in Prescott meant he no longer had to drive the entire herd to distant markets.  As each new hotel or restaurant opened in town, he successfully negotiated contracts to supply beef.  He even built a smoke house and small slaughter house for preparing orders.  Snake handled most of the butchering and smoking.
    This coming year, in addition to starting the horse business, he was also going to start growing his own horse feed.  He detested farming and hoped to hire someone from one of the many incoming wagon trains who would be able to manage it.  If things went well, he would even grow extra and supply feed for the local livery or perhaps the fort.
    Hearing the supper bell, Will set aside the bridle he was mending and made his way to the ranch house.  As he entered, he gave Hannah a quick kiss on the cheek.  “Hello, beautiful.”
    She smiled at the compliment, but continued dishing up two plates so Rosa could take the remaining food out to the bunkhouse.  Taking a seat across from him, she bowed her head, waiting for him to say grace.  When he finished, he dug into his meal.  This was so good.
    “Did you work things out with Rosa?”
    “Yes.  It was so strange.  At first she thought I wanted to cut her pay.  But when I explained she would be paid the same, she was fine with whatever terms I set.”
    “Good.”  He paused to finish chewing a bite of steak.  “Would you mind this evening if we went over the ledgers instead of working on the reading lesson?”
    “I thought you were fine with the ledgers.”  Concerned tinged her voice.
    “I think I am, but it wouldn’t hurt to have you check my work for the last few weeks.  It makes no sense to me why I would be able to do that but struggle with words.”
    “Remember that Dr. Murphy said head injuries often have unusual outcomes.  I’m just thankful that you have no other lingering issues.”
    Will nodded.  How could he tell her it made him feel stupid to no longer be able to read?
    As he finished his last bite of food, Hannah stood.  Eyes sparkling with excitement, she said, “I have a surprise for you… Pecan pie.”
    “Mmm.  You spoil me.”
    Once the table was cleared and Hannah finished the dishes, Will retrieved the ledgers and laid them out on the table.  When she sat down and started reviewing the numbers, her eyes went wide.
    “What is it?” Will asked, worried that he overestimated his ability with numbers.
    “It just that… That is a lot of money.”
    Leaning over her shoulder, he looked at the tally.  “No that is what it should be.  It all adds up, right?”
    “The calculations are correct.  I’m just used to the meager earnings of a doctor.  This has a few more digits than I expected.”  She laughed nervously.
    Letting out the breath he was holding, Will explained, “That is more than what we made my last year at the Star C with twice as many cattle.  The Lord has been good to us.”
    “Very good, indeed.”
     

Chapter 7
    Cimarron Crossing, Kansas
    September 13, 1864
     
    They made it.  Finally.  Cimarron Crossing.
    Adam sighed as he dismounted his stallion, relieved to see a wagon train camped just outside of the small settlement.  Their arrival could not have been timed better.
    These last two weeks were the most challenging thing he experienced in his young life.  The first few days of the journey he set as fast of a pace as he could without injuring the horses.  Even though they camped at night, he could not shake the feeling they were