He Leadeth Me
Love can be complicated
Thirteen years ago, Gage Wilhelm, his brother, and sisters lost their parents and moved away to his uncle’s ranch in Leavenworth, leaving the farm in Topeka. On his twenty-first birthday, Gage receives the deed to his father’s farm with his uncle’s blessing to go make it his own.
Once at the farm, Gage reconnects with his childhood friend, Danny and his family, including their newly adopted daughter, Laura. As he settles into life on the farm, he visits Danny and his family often, considering them a family away from his family.
A few months later, a mysterious man shows up, claiming Gage’s father owed a large sum of money that has accrued thirteen years of interest. Gage is confused and unsure of what to do and Danny convinces him to go to the ranch to talk to his uncle.
What will Gage do when he learns of his father’s past? Will he let God lead him no matter what happens?
A sequel novel to I Love Thee
In This Series...
Chapter 1
It was a bright and beautiful day. At least that’s how I would always see it. Surrounded by family, gifted with various items of varying usefulness, and eating a delicious meal. We sat in the parlor to open gifts after supper and before the cake.
“We’ve saved the best for last,” Uncle Cole said, handing me an envelope with one sheet of paper in it—if there was anything at all.
I raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure?”
He chuckled. “I’m sure.”
I looked around the room to see if my brother, sisters, cousins, or aunt would give me any hints of Uncle Cole’s honesty. Not that he was ever dishonest. I carefully broke the seal and pulled out a piece of official-looking paper.
It had the Kansas state seal on it and just a little bit of writing. My eyes teared up as I read it. “Is this real?”
Uncle Cole squeezed my shoulder. “Yes it is, Gage. I figured you were old enough to take over your father’s farm. I should’ve done it sooner, but couldn’t bring myself to do it.”
I jumped up and hugged him. “Thank you, Uncole. You are the best uncle a boy could have.”
Uncle Cole held me at arm’s length. “You are no longer a boy, but a man. Twenty-one is an important age. One in which you need to start making many choices for your life. The deed and farm are now legally yours to do with as you please.”
My grin couldn’t have been wiped off by a tornado even if it tried. “Thank you, Uncole. I know exactly what I want to do with Pa’s farm.”
“What’s that?” my brother, Garrett, asked.
“Make the farm prosperous and maybe raise a few horses just like Pa planned. I also want to find a young woman to marry and have a passel of kids. Pa had a whole mansion planned out for the passel he planned to have. I wanna try to make it happen.”
Cherry’s forehead wrinkled. “Pa wanted all that?”
Carla smiled. “Yes, he did. I remember him talking about it. I’d even sneak down the ladder to listen to Pa and Ma talk about it.”
“How far away is it?” Cherry—the younger of my sisters—asked.
Garrett grimaced. “A ways. Is it a half day’s ride?”
Uncole shook his head. “No. It’s a little less than a day.”
“So far away,” Cherry said.
I chuckled. “Not that far. We can still see each other often enough. You can go there or I can come here.”
Carla put a hand on my arm. “I’m glad you can go and build up the farm.”
“Thank you, Carla.” I stood and stretched. “We can plan another day, though. All this excitement has made me hungry again. Anyone else ready for cake?”
“Me!” Cherry exclaimed.
My cousin Colin jumped up. “Me, too.”
We all went into the kitchen to eat the carrot cake the older of my sisters, Carla, had made with our cousin Josephine helping.
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