Page 254 of The Texas Sterling Collection
Rod nodded, closed the folder, and laid it on the table. “I bet this trunk contains more information about my ancestor Felix. Let’s dig for what other treasures lay underneath.”
Wyl lifted a pair of stiff leather boots from the trunk. “These are well-worn, like those of a working cowboy.” Wyl placed them on the table. “I guess them to be about your size.”
“I’m not putting those on,” Rod said. He placed a hand under a pile of folded clothing, his other hand on top as he lifted the items out of the trunk. He set them on the table, then separated each piece. "A shirt, a pair of pants, and a pair of drawstring boxers.” He stroked the fabric. A sense of history flowed through his fingers, accompanied by the scent of age. This clothing belonged to someone memorable. A long-deceased child of his great-grandfather, perhaps?
“And a hat.” Wyl lifted a worn gray cowboy hat. Crushed from the weight of the other items, with stains around the sweatband.
“What’s this at the bottom?” Rod lifted the metal objects for closer inspection. “Two horseshoes. Odd. What do you suppose made them memorable enough to save?”
“I’m not sure.” Wyl nodded toward the faded red book on the table. “Do you think the book has the answers?”
The old horseshoes clinked as Rod laid them on the table. He pulled out a chair, sat, and picked up the book. As he opened it, the binding crackled. The yellowed pages smelled musty. He turned the first page, revealing beautiful script handwriting in pencil at the top of the second page, The Diary of Felix Bonner - 1898.
Wyl read over Rod’s shoulder, his arms crossed on Rod’s shoulders. “Felix, your ancestor, wrote this old book.” Wyl pondered. “We might learn about the guy in the other photograph, Joey.” Wyl tugged at Rod’s shoulder. “Let’s sit in the living room. We can be comfortable and find out more from Felix Bonner.”
“Good idea,” Rod said.
They settled on the tufted leather couch shoulder-to-shoulder. Rod took a draw of his beer, opened the book, and turned the page.
Five days ago, Father and I discussed my intentions for Emmaline Crabtree. He thinks she would make an ideal wife. An opinion with which I disagree. I wanted to attend college, but he says college is for sissies, and learning to be a man would do me more good. The result was his decision to send me to Sterling Ranch for the summer. Mr. Sterling brought me out today, and I met Mrs. Sterling and their son, Joey. The Sterlings seem friendly, but I’m not sure I’ll take to ranching.
“Joey Sterling.” Wyl elbowed Rod. “I suppose Joey is short for Joseph, my middle name. Hmmm, Felix and Joey. Wouldn’t it be weird if…” Wyl stopped and grinned. “Nah…it would be too much of a coincidence.”
“This old diary is about Felix and Joey. I bet Joey is the ancestor of your middle name, Joseph. It's obvious our ancestors developed a relationship long before us.” Rod nudged Wyl in the ribs. “What are the chances of us meeting and marrying a century later?”
“Do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do,” Wyl’s rendition of the Twilight Zone theme floated through the air.
“Shut up.” Rod chuckled.
Wyl put his arm around Rod’s shoulders. “This is more than interesting, Rod. It’s uncanny. More than 100 years later, we get together and discover our ancestors knew each other.”
“Let’s find out.” Rod turned the page.
Chapter Four - 1898
After Grover placed Felix’s bag in the travel chest at the back of the carriage, he motioned to the right side. “Climb aboard, Felix.” The covered carriage dipped as Grover pulled himself into his seat. “The buggy ride to the ranch takes about an hour.”
Felix climbed on board and sat against the rail at the right edge of the padded seat. He was unsure how to act around Mr. Sterling or the Sterling family. With his father, he never sat close to him. Father didn’t like closeness with other men. Felix decided to exercise the same caution with strangers. “Thank you, Mr. Sterling.” He held out the two wrapped items. “Mother made a sandwich for each of us.”
“That was gracious of her, Felix.” He pulled out his pocket watch and flipped open the cover. “By golly, it’s almost noon. We’ll be hungry before we reach the ranch.”
Grover shook the reins, clicked his cheek a couple of times, and the carriage began to move. A shudder flowed down Felix’s back. Sent to live with strangers on a ranch for the summer filled him with worry. Was he expected to be the hired hand? And what about this Joseph Mr. Sterling mentioned? Would he laugh at Felix for not knowing how to do ranch things? Would he be sleeping in the barn? What did his father mean about making him into a man? The ride stretched on forever. A clearing throat caught his attention, and he turned to Mr. Sterling.
“I take it by your reaction that you did not expect a summer on my ranch, Felix. Did your father not mention his plan until I arrived this morning?”
Felix shook his head. “No, sir. Father said nothing to me about spending the summer away.” He set the sandwiches on the seat between them. “It did surprise me. I don’t understand what he expects.”
“Relax, Felix.” Grover jiggled the reins and clicked his cheek again. The horse went into a trot. “You will enjoy the ranch. It’s not all work. Joseph, we call him Joey, will like having a guy his age on the place.”
Felix turned to Grover. “May I ask how old your son is?”
“Joey turned seventeen a few weeks ago, Felix. How old are you?”
Felix caught his inquisitive glance and couldn’t help puffing out his chest as he announced his age. His father discouraged pride, but did Mr. Sterling? “I turned eighteen in February.”
Grover chuckled. “Eighteen makes you a man, Felix. Something to be proud of. I remember that age. I knew everything, or at least I thought I did. You’ll do fine on the ranch. We’ll teach you to rope, brand, and herd.”
Everything he mentioned sounded foreign to Felix. Fear of failing tied his stomach in knots. His father did not prepare him for this. The summer on Sterling Ranch would be a total disaster. “Those tasks are unfamiliar to me, Mr. Sterling. I hope I can learn.”
