Engraved On My Heart

They were young when Hugh Preston said to Susan, “I’m going to marry you.” She didn’t have to think twice. Susan said, “Okay.” True to his word, Hugh claimed Susan’s hand and their love story began. Three children added to their world, two daughters, Caroline Dawn, Sophia Raine and Barkley, their son. Tilling the soil was often a mixed blessing, for they were not born with a silver spoon in their mouth and the weather often determined their success or failure. But through it all, character of the man was developing. Susan became the women’s leader for the small town of Alberson named after J.T.Alberson whose mood often set the feelings for the entire community. Hugh was asked to serve on the school board and to represent the community in various ways. Kane Alberson ran against Hugh for the school board seat, although he had no children in the school system. It was a small thing when Kane lost but mysteriously after the election a previous member resigned and Kane replaced the man. It was said J.T. owned them, lock stock and barrel but he didn’t own Hugh Preston.

J.T. called in his grandson. “You owe me, boy,” he said. “Now I have some work for you. Ruin this man. I don’t want to know how you do it and if you say I told you to I’ll deny it and think then what will happen?” So it went, through the years small innuendoes until the biggest reared its head and no one could deny there was damage to crops and the grapevine claimed Hugh Preston the culprit and someone must pay, after all it was their livelihood at stake. No one took time to investigate.