you Rev. Alan Burner for sharing the words of the wedding ceremony and for you and your wife, Lisa, encouraging me.
Thank you to some of the police on the Tampa, Florida force for enlightening me about guns and wounds.
And last, but certainly far from least, my thanks to a dear friend, Donna Backes, who proofread and advised me even with brutal but loving criticism. And to a friend Dede Hammond, who organized our writing group and gave me lots of encouragement, although I played very bad golf with her.
This is a work of fiction, therefore, one cannot expect authenticity in everything. Mistakes are mine alone.
Prologue
Sugar Land, Texas, 2007
Daniel Cortland heaved a sigh of happiness, and relief, as he gave a final hug to his numerous grandchildren before they rushed away to their individual business; some to play and some to chores. The older ones to help with the important dinner planned for a very special occasion.
He breathed a prayer of thanks for all the blessings he’d enjoyed over the years. His happiness slightly dulled when he thinks of the loss of his precious Amanda two years before. They had celebrated sixty-four years of unbelievable joy. “As for me and my house, we serve the Lord” had truly been practiced faithfully, and each of their five children had also followed this.
Daniel and Amanda were both strong, independent people but they always talked everything over and came to an agreement. Amanda, two years older than Daniel, went to join their Lord with a smile of contentment on her face. She had loved Daniel with her whole heart and had loved their children, but she was ready to go to her rest. The dreadful cancer had robbed her of her normal easy-going nature and of her enjoyment of her precious family. They had first been blessed with triplet boys, Bradford, Broderick, Bickford, and then two girls, Hannah Ellen and Bonnie Victoria. All five of his children were at the ranch today to celebrate his ninetieth birthday.
Bradford, the oldest triplet, had married a sweet, auburn-haired girl, Margaret Ann Perkins, who gave him three beautiful children, two boys and a girl. Broderick, the second triplet, had married a lovely blond-haired girl, Valeria Stallard, who loved ranch life and had given him seven children, four boys and three girls. Bickford, the third triplet, had married a cute, perky strawberry blonde, Verta Lynn Rutherford, and they had two sets of twins, two boys and two girls. Bonnie had married an attorney, Raymond Bolling, and they had five children, two boys and three girls. Hannah had married a doctor, Jason Cooley, and they had five children, a set of boy and girl twins, two single boys and a girl.
The twenty-five grandchildren had been the heart of Daniel and Amanda. Now Broderick’s oldest son was married and they were expecting a child in two months. Daniel was pleased to think of welcoming a great-grandchild. He smiled knowing that Amanda would have loved the idea. They had never actively interfered in their grown children’s lives, but the children loved and respected the parents so much that they did include the parents in their plans.
Daniel settled comfortably against the pillows on the porch swing and began to reminisce about his wish that was fulfilled when he met his precious Amanda and the dangers they had experienced before they got married. He had been shot and his life threatened simply because he had been trying to find the person who was sabotaging the flying business of Amanda’s father. He smiled thinking about the years with Amanda. Most of them were a real joy, some were a little difficult because of both of their strong personalities, but all of them were so satisfying. I’d do it all over again, he mused. Being with Amanda made it all worthwhile. My precious Amanda will never again have any heartache, sorrow or pain. She suffered too much with the cancer and finally gave in with the grace she had always shown. Then seven months later my good friend, just like a brother, Frasier, went to our Lord. I can imagine that he and Amanda are hashing over old times and waiting for me. How blessed I’ve been over one desperate wish in an earnest prayer.
Chapter One
Sugar Land, Texas, 1940
“Aaagh! What is wrong with me? I’m wearing this horrible monkey suit, which I hate, and now this tie seems to be alive. My head is booming from the sickening bachelor party I was forced to give last night, and now all of this. It sucks! It’s bad enough I have to wear the silly outfit, now my tie has decided to have a mind of its own.” Twenty-three year old Daniel Leigh Cortland yanked at the silk cravat that was hanging askew below his chin.
“Shoot, Danny boy, I thought all of you rich, pretty boys lived in a tux. Here let me help you with that dangerous tie before you choke yourself. After all, the best man should look his best.” Frasier laughing, turned to help Daniel but his help was rejected.
“Put a sock in it, Frasier Burgess. You know I don’t let my family’s wealth dictate how I live. I feel more at ease in jeans, a sweat-soaked shirt, boots and - on a horse. I really enjoy being outdoors more than indoors. I feel suffocated indoors regardless. These fancy shoes are killing me. I should have worn my boots regardless -.”
Frasier laughed. “When the love bug bites, everyone goes crazy. Your time will come. We need to hurry. They’re probably wondering what’s happened to us. You are the best man. Remember? Do you need help with that dangerous tie after all?”
“No. I’ve got it.” Disgustedly Daniel straightened the knot on the tie at his throat, and then brushed his deeply tanned hands down the sleeves of his snow-white, pleated formal shirt, his calloused palms raking across the soft material.
He wondered why he ever agreed to be best man at his cousin’s wedding. He didn’t even like the creep, but Wakiza Youngblood was his cousin and Daniel loved Wakiza’s mother, Aunt Catherine. She was not only Daniel’s mother’s sister, but her best friend as well. Aunt Catherine had married a Senator from Oklahoma and had the one child, Wakiza. A dear family friend of the Youngblood’s, a full blooded Comanche, had named the boy, which meant one who fights against all odds.
Senator Youngblood died when Wakiza was six years old and left his wife and son extremely wealthy. Wakiza had grown up with servants of all kinds and had never learned to assume responsibility or respect others. Aunt Catherine is a sweet, gentle, caring person who loved her son but allowed him to become willful and too independent. Then wouldn’t you know, Wakiza, nerd that he was, would select an obnoxious society-type to marry. She had insisted on a full morning wedding followed by an elaborate brunch at the most expensive hotel in Houston.
Surrounded by ivory damask walls in a room with crystal chandeliers that looked more like a palace of Versailles, Daniel swallowed his resentment and went on with preparations to keep peace in the family.
Daniel watched his long-time buddy as he stood admiring himself before a full-length mirror. He grinned at Frasier when he looked and saw Daniel watching him. “Not bad for an old cowboy’s kid, right Danny boy?”
Childhood memories flooded Daniel’s thoughts. He could visualize Frasier and himself, on horseback, clad in jeans, sweaty t-shirts and well-worn boots herding calves away from their bawling mamas for the calves to be branded. He wrinkled his nose at the memory of the strong stench of horse manure as they mucked out stalls. They had often spent entire afternoons standing in filthy boots, laughing and hurling globs of pasture patties (dried manure) at each other ducking and screaming to stay out of the line of fire. Later they’d have breath-holding contests at the swimming hole in the Brazos River, which they preferred over the pristine swimming Pool at the Cortland mansion. Sugar Land, Texas was a wonderful place for a boy to grow up.
Friends forever, even though their backgrounds were wildly different, was a pledge that was taken seriously by both boys as they cut their palms and shook hands to mix their blood. There was almost a mystical connection between the two boys that went as deep as the history of their beloved Texas, binding them together for life.
Daniel mentally shook himself back to the present. “Yeah, you clean up pretty good, but you always look good to me. Now can we get on with this and get it over? Everyone must be wondering