but if you’re around them often, you can recognize the differences.”
Adrianna smiled and acknowledged everyone. Laying her cheek against Daniel’s she said, “Are you coming now? Dad wants to get home and check on the new bull.” She rolled her eyes and gave a fake shiver. “I wish he’d put that monster farther out in another field.” She explained to those sitting near them, “He’s a big sucker and he bellows every time he sees one of us.”
“The monster bull will be moved soon, and his name is Noir D’Oro. That means gold of the night,” Daniel told those around him. “He’s coal black and worth a fortune to us. No, I’m not leaving yet. Frasier and I will bring Ryan to spend the night. We’ll be there later.”
“Hey, pretty girl. What runs all around that bull’s pasture yet never moves?” Joel Hardy asked. She shook her head. “A fence,” he screamed with laughter while the group groaned and the girls on either side of him smacked his arms.
“That’s so juvenile,” his girlfriend scolded.
Adrianna waved to all of them and skipped off with a dimpled smile.
“Oh, I’m in love,” Luke Walker grabbed at his chest pretending to fall off his chair. “Wow! That tall, statuesque, beautifully shaped figure and those gorgeous gray eyes with long, dark lashes and waist-length honey-blond hair. And, oh, those dimples; Daniel, you’re probably fighting admirers away daily.”
“No. We have armed guards all over the place, and vicious dogs running loose,” Daniel teased.
“Besides they’re only fourteen, but tall for their age which makes them look more mature. I hope it will be many years before I have to worry about admirers.” Daniel leaned toward Frasier and lowered his voice. “Back to your comment about wanting Dad’s help. Maybe so, but I’d like to be allowed to make an effort to support myself. And to answer an earlier comment of yours, yes, I’d like to marry someday and have children of my own. I wish I could meet a nice girl who isn’t impressed with my family name or wealth. Dear Lord, why can’t a girl fall for me just because I’m me?” Daniel slumped down in his seat.
Frasier reached across the table and placed his hand on Daniel’s. “Don’t be discouraged. Everyone knows you’re a great person and you do have a family that loves you. You’re intelligent, kind, compassionate, loyal and -”
“Whoa,” Daniel broke in, “are you describing me or a dog?” he laughed.
“What’s the joke?” Ryan Barr asked as he sat down beside Daniel. “Don’t forget,” he went on in the same breath, “I’m staying with you tonight and then off to Washington, D.C. for my job interview. I can hardly wait. Can you imagine me with the movers and shakers?”
“You’ll do well as long as you don’t talk them to death,” Daniel teased. “My dad says, ‘if you listen, you’ll know what you know and learn what the other person knows, but if you talk, you’ll not learn anything and everyone will know all you know’.”
“Could you repeat that?” Frasier asked with a straight face and a twinkle in his eye.
“I have great aspirations and hope to do well if I don’t disgrace myself as soon as I get there,” Ryan said.
Daniel placed a friendly hand on Ryan’s shoulder. “One good way to save face is to keep the lower-half shut.”
The three young men laughed and talked as they drove the twelve miles out of town to the Cortland Ranch. They had been delayed visiting with friends they hadn’t seen for a while.
Daniel turned on to a wide, gravel driveway and drove between two large wrought iron gates with a huge C in the center. On each side was a life-sized statue of a bronze horse rearing. Magnificent Shumard Red Oaks were placed along the long driveway with big beautiful banks of azaleas between the trees. At the end of the drive, on the left, was a raised circle of flowers about twenty feet in diameter with a fountain in the center. The drive had a horseshoe-shaped circle at the front of the house and a wide sweep around to the back. At the far right, between the mansion and workers’ houses, were beautiful Cherry Laurels. Far behind the house, near the Brazos River were stately Tupelo and Weeping Willows.
“Gosh, as many times as I’ve been here, I still think of Gone with the Wind, every time I see this place, and I’ve seen it many times,” Frasier sighed. “I do love it.”
“Holy cow! How many rooms are in this mansion?” Ryan took a deep breath in awe as he caught his first sight of the house. “Daniel, I knew you were well off, but I never imagined this.”
The white, two-story house, gleaming in the setting sun, presented white towering pillars supporting the second story balcony, and a twelve-foot-wide veranda wrapped around the house. Glider swings and rocking chairs were spaced on three sides of the veranda. Potted trees and flower boxes were strategically placed on the veranda and on both sides of the grand entrance.
The tall, doublewide white doors had etched glass.
“How many rooms? Well, let’s see,” Frasier answered. “There are eight bedrooms upstairs each with its own complete bath and walk-in closet. The master bedroom suite also has a sitting room and a home office, for Mr. Cortland. Downstairs are two half baths, a small family dining room and a large, formal dining room as well as a combination library and parlor with one of the most beautiful marble fireplaces you’ll ever see. Near the kitchen are four bedrooms, each two joined by a full bath for the live-in help. There’s a butler’s pantry and the kitchen could easily serve a small hotel. There are six well-equipped cottages on the property for other workers, and a large, luxurious guest house.”
“Did you ever get lost in there, Daniel?” Ryan hardly breathed, his eyes wide.
Daniel laughed, “No, I just loved and accepted it.” He continued, “At the back you’ll pass through a loggia to an outdoor swimming pool where there is a game room, two dressing rooms, and two full baths. I love my family and my home, but, as a child, I always enjoyed playing with the children of the workers and staying overnight with them. I was often at Frasier’s house more than my own.”
“Let’s go in so you can appreciate the interior,” Frasier said.
“It’s stupendous. Daniel, I used to envy you, but the more I’ve matured, the more I realize that money doesn’t buy happiness. Sure it’s good to know your bills are covered and there’s food on the table, but there’s really more to life than meeting these personal needs. The older I get the more I realize that often the poor people are much better off than wealthy people. The poor love and respect family and friends, but they will pull together and have the satisfaction of knowing they are accepted just because they’re nice people and not because someone is making up to them because of their wealth or social position.”
Daniel looked astonished and then chuckled, “Boy, that was some speech. That’s what I meant when I said I wish a girl would fall for me and not my money or the Cortland name. You’ve heard the song, I want a girl just like the girl that married dear ole Dad. I would count myself richly blessed if I found such a girl.”
“Good luck,” Ryan said sympathetically. “I have a strong feeling it’ll happen just as you wish. Why wouldn’t it? You’re one of the good guys.”
“This conversation is getting too serious for me,” Frasier shook his head. “Let’s go to bed.”
The next morning, after
