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Short Story Fiction
The Wealth of Heaven
Scott A. Gese

Greed and murder was the incentive for revenge. The plan bore the unmistakable markings of his deceased father. They were two of a kind.

the wealth of heavenTomas Anun/Pexels

It was mid-summer on the high plateau. The days were long, and the heat was relentless. As the sun set, the heat disappeared, leaving the nights bitterly cold.

On this summer night, Matthew Condie sat close to the fire, lost in thought. The chill of the evening crept in, pulling him back to reality. Only a few glowing embers remained of the once-roaring flames. He stoked the fire and added a log to revive it.

He was contemplating whether to spend another night outside. One thin blanket on the hard ground offered little comfort to a man camped in the desert's night air. It was nothing like the soft bed and feather pillow to which he was accustomed.

Tonight was moonless. The sky above held a million silver stars, illuminating the heavens and more than compensating for the darkness. To Matthew, a star-filled night was a sight to behold, like a million shimmering diamonds scattered across a black satin cloth.

As a young boy, he had gazed upon these very stars with his father. He could still hear his father’s voice as they sat, transfixed by the beauty of the night.

“Matthew,” came the hushed sound of the big man’s voice. “Do you realize what we’re looking at? That, my boy, is the wealth of heaven. Since the very beginning of time, men have had the privilege of gazing upon its beauty from afar. But those who know the truth of God will someday partake in this wealth. Here’s the thing, Matthew: if you want to share in this wealth along with the one who created it, you must stake your heavenly claim while you’re still in this world.”

Matthew never embraced religion the way his father did.

He learned to read from the Good Book when he was younger and had a basic understanding of the concept of God. But it was his father who possessed a deeper knowledge of spiritual matters. Matthew found the book’s stories entertaining at best. He loved his father but didn’t share his spiritual convictions.

Tonight, as Matthew gazed at the heavenly display, things felt different. Alone on a cold, moonless night, he missed his father terribly.

Fighting back tears, Matthew regained his composure, took a deep breath, and scolded himself for his weakness.

“Okay, that’s it. I’ve been out here long enough. I’m tired of thinking about Pa. Yes, I miss him. I know I’ll never see him again, but I really need to get out of this desert and move on with my life. He’s gone, and it’s high time I got over it.”

By this time, it was too dark to head back. Reluctantly, he would spend the night crouched by the fire. In the morning, he would saddle up and return home.

***

Matthew’s father, Richard K. Condie, was known as a man larger than life. A cattleman from birth, he owned the largest ranch in Wyoming and kept a heavy finger on the pulse of local politics. Most recently, he had been instrumental in an ongoing effort to bring the Union Pacific railroad to the growing town he called home.

On the surface, it was easy to see how the commerce generated by the new railroad would impact the local economy. But a closer look revealed Richard Condie’s true motivations. The railroad would be crucial for the stockyard he was planning, significantly benefiting his cattle business and boosting the value of his real estate holdings. It was an ambitious plan that would greatly increase his already enormous wealth.

The unfortunate reality for Richard Condie was that, despite his wealth and power, and even when his actions benefited the people and the town of Landau, he was not respected by the honest, hard-working folks who lived there.

Richard Condie ran the town. Most residents of Landau recognized this and resented it. They disliked the notion of one man wielding so much power and influence over their lives.

The very power and wealth he had accumulated and used for the town's benefit were seen merely as tools of a man consumed by greed. They perceived him as someone who wanted to gain even more power and wealth. This was their view, plain and simple. Any good that happened to the town or its citizens was regarded only as a by-product of his ruthless dealings.

To Richard Condie, his life was not about good deeds, nor was it about power or money. Those were the end results of a much more complex game he played, one of accumulation through negotiation and manipulation.

Richard Condie was indeed a master at both. He thrived on it; it was what he lived for. Unfortunately for him, it was this very trait that ultimately led to his demise.

***

When Matthew heard about his father's death, he was devastated.

After the funeral, he rode to the high plateau, to the spot where he and his father would go to stargaze.

Matthew needed time alone to think. That was close to a week ago, and now, grieving time was over. He knew what he had to do. At first light, he saddled up and headed back to the ranch. It was now his. His father had left him everything.

***

Once back at the ranch, he called for Jack Martin, the ranch foreman.

As Jack entered Matthew’s office, he was met with a welcoming smile and a firm handshake. Matthew looked Jack square in the eye and let him know he was done grieving and ready to get to work.

Matthew needed answers, and Jack was the one who could provide them.

Jack was glad to see Matthew take control. He took his usual seat in the padded leather chair in front of Richard’s desk.

“What do you know about my father's death?” Matthew asked. “You were his closest and most trusted friend. What have you heard?”

“Well, first off, it’s good to have you back. I was beginning to wonder how long you were planning on letting this place run itself. Where the heck did you ride off to? You were starting to worry me.”

Matthew leaned against the edge of his father’s desk, right in front of Jack's chair. He was in charge now. He understood the business of running the ranch and was well aware of all the dealings his father had been involved in. At that moment, he wasn’t interested in idle chit-chat. Matthew gave Jack a direct answer.

“I needed to get away and think things through. I knew the ranch was in good hands. You didn’t answer my question. What have you heard?”

Jack sat tall in the chair as Matthew towered over him. He was beginning to grasp the reality of Matthew's new position. Matthew was no longer the son of his boss; he was now his boss. Jack understood Matthew meant business, so he dispensed with small talk and told him exactly what he knew.

“Mackie Littleton disrupted a deal your father was about to sign off on. A deal with the U.P. to run a spur onto the back section of the property.”

Matthew began to relax a bit. “I knew about the spur, but I didn’t know about Mackie. The idea of turning a portion of the ranch into a commercial stockyard and shipping cattle back East by rail was my father’s vision from the start. His whole purpose for bringing the railhead to town was to do this very thing.”

Matthew walked around the desk and sat down in his father’s chair. It felt comfortable.

“So what about Mackie?”

Jack felt a little more at ease with the desk now between him and Matthew.

“Mackie must have somehow gotten wind of what your father was up to. He tried to come in on the backside of the deal at the last minute, offering the U.P. something that made them reconsider your father's offer. This effectively stalled the negotiations, and when your father found out, he was furious.

“We rode over to Mackie's place one night. I kept my distance from the house while your father approached the porch, where Mackie and two of his hired men were sitting. Your father confronted him, and they ended up in a serious argument. I was too far away to hear exactly what was said, but I knew it wasn’t pleasant.

“Mackie unholstered his pistol, but his two men restrained him. I stepped out with my rifle visible. Mackie ordered us off the property before he changed his mind and shot both of us on the spot.

“As we rode back to the ranch, your father confided in me. He had warned Mackie not to interfere with this deal or he would ruin him for sure. You know how hard your father worked on this transaction. He had called in more than a few political favors to secure the railhead for the town. A spur onto the property was crucial for his plan. There was no way he was going to let that good-for-nothing Mackie Littleton snatch the pen right out of his hand.

The next day, I found your father down by the barn. Three bullets in a man’s chest is no accident, and the sheriff seems to be taking his sweet time investigating the matter.”

***

Unfortunately for Matthew, he had wasted precious time grieving. He only hoped it wasn’t too late to salvage this deal. If Mackie Littleton was responsible for his father's death, he wouldn’t hesitate to carry out his father's threat to ruin him. Mackie Littleton would be hung for murder, but not before he saw his life’s work reduced to nothing.

The following day, Matthew rode into town and wired Adam Walker, the U.P. representative handling the contract negotiations with Condie Enterprises. He explained his situation and expressed his desire to continue the negotiations he and his father had started. His response came back almost immediately.

“MATTHEW, SO SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT RICHARD. YOUR FATHER WAS A GOOD MAN. UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE RECENTLY COMPLETED NEGOTIATIONS WITH A CLOSE NEIGHBOR OF YOURS, MR. MACKIE LITTLETON. HE WILL BE ARRIVING IN TOWN TOMORROW TO FINALIZE THE AGREEMENT. BUT IN ALL FAIRNESS TO YOU AND YOUR FATHER, AND AS AN ACT OF GOOD FAITH, I WOULD BE WILLING TO CONSIDER ONE FINAL OFFER FROM YOU, IF YOU DESIRE. I’LL NEED TO HEAR BACK FROM YOU DIRECTLY.”

Matthew’s reply was straightforward.

“ADAM, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE WHERE MY FATHER LEFT OFF. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO KNOW THAT MR. LITTLETON IS A PRIME SUSPECT IN THE MURDER OF MY FATHER. DUE TO HIS SUDDEN DEPARTURE FROM TOWN, HE IS CURRENTLY BEYOND THE REACH OF THE LOCAL SHERIFF HANDLING THIS CASE. I WOULD BE EXTREMELY GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD CONSIDER DELAYING THE SIGNING OF YOUR CONTRACT WITH MR. LITTLETON UNTIL THIS MATTER CAN BE RESOLVED. IF MR. LITTLETON IS FOUND INNOCENT, I WILL NOT STAND IN THE WAY OF YOUR CONTRACT WITH HIM.”

The reply from Adam Walker was just one word.

“AGREED.”

Matthew had played his last card. He had better be right, or there would be hell to pay from Mackie Littleton.

Matthew knew Mackie would be back in two days, and without a doubt, he would be furious. He needed to work quickly. If Mackie was responsible for the murder of his father, he needed a way to expose him. Matthew needed to ensure Mackie was arrested the moment he stepped off the train. The best way to do that was through the two men who were with Mackie on the night his father and Jack confronted him.

Jack was familiar with these two men. They had worked together in the past, and he remembered them as fairly decent. Matthew instructed Jack to head over to the Littleton ranch and convince the two men to meet with him to discuss a business proposition.

***

The following day, Jack brought the two men into Matthew’s office.

“Have a seat, boys. Thanks for coming by. I'll get right to the point. Jack here tells me you two are among the best hands around. The Condie ranch is looking for good men like you, and I'm willing to pay top dollar if you come work for me. In fact, I’ll double your current wages if you say yes right now. I’ll treat you right and feed you well. In return, I expect an honest day's work from you, along with your loyalty.

“You’ll have to forgive me for the limited time I'm giving you to think this over, but I'm very short on time at the moment. I need an answer from you before your boss gets back, specifically before you leave here today.

“Your boss is due back in town tomorrow, and this is where your loyalty to the Condie brand comes into play. I need you boys to tell me what you know about Mackie’s involvement in my father's death.

“Jack here tells me the two of you stopped him from putting a bullet in my father on the night he confronted Mackie. I appreciate that. It shows me you are honest men, and even though you may know something about my father's death, I believe you had nothing to do with it.”

At this point, the older of the two men stood up and leaned over the desk toward Matthew. His reply revealed his anger. “Is that what this is all about? You want information? Do you really think we can be bought? You’re no different than your old man! He thought he could buy anybody or anything he wanted with his money. I’m afraid it’ll take more than your money to gain our loyalty. I think we’ve heard enough.”

They both got up to leave.

Matthew was a lot like his father in many ways, but this was not one of them. Richard Condie had little patience for those who disagreed with him and would likely have sent these two on their way. But Matthew was patient and willing to work things out.

“As a matter of fact, no, I don’t think I can buy your loyalty with money. I believe you’re both intelligent men who understand that loyalty must be earned. Sit back down, boys, and hear me out.

“I also believe the two of you want to do the right thing. I’m sure neither of you wants to rot in jail for another man’s crime. If you know Mackie Littleton the way I think you do, you need to realize that could very easily be how things turn out. So I’ll ask you again: Do you know anything about the death of my father? I suggest you come clean and tell me what I need to know. I guarantee it’ll be worth your while.”

The younger of the two men couldn’t remain silent any longer. The thought of going to jail at his young age was overwhelming.

“I have no desire to go to jail for something another man did. I’ll tell you what you want to know. Yes, Mackie did it. He shot your father. He wanted us to do it, but no man can pay me enough to kill another man. So here’s the deal: You need us to point the finger at Mackie Littleton. As God is my witness, neither of us will breathe a word of this until we know it’ll be worth our while.”

That was exactly what Matthew wanted to hear. He stood up from his chair and walked around his desk, laying out his offer.

“Fair enough,” he replied. “I’ll make this short and to the point. I know for a fact that Mackie owes a lot on his place. I also know he doesn’t trust anyone to run the day-to-day operations other than himself. This lack of trust is his weak point. If he’s out of the picture for more than a month, things will start to go bad for him. If he lands in jail, his operation will quickly come to a standstill.

“I’m sure you boys don’t want to be part of an outfit on the verge of collapse, do you? Because that’s exactly what will happen. If he’s out of the picture and not around to run the operation, the bills won’t get paid.”

“Now the creditors will still want their money. The first thing they’ll do is clean out his bank account. After that, they’ll sell off his cattle. I can tell you right now, whatever the price might be, those cattle will be sold to me. Mackie Littleton will know I bought them. With no cattle, there’s no income. With no money in the bank and no money coming in, the hired hands won’t get paid. Most won’t stick around; they’ll head out in search of other work. I’ll hire them, but at the same wages they currently receive. Remember my offer: if you boys come to work for me right now, you’ll be paid double what I end up paying them.

“With no money in the bank, no cattle, no income, and no help, the bank has no choice but to foreclose on him. His ranch will be put up for sale to pay off the creditors. I plan to buy it.

“So you see, everything that now belongs to Mackie Littleton will move over to my side of the fence. For your help in putting Mackie behind bars, I’ll not only double your current wages, but I’ll also give each of you your choice of a full section of his land. To top it off, I’ll give each of you ten percent of his cattle. You know this is a good deal. So what do you say?”

The two men discussed the offer among themselves and concluded that this was an opportunity they couldn’t pass up. The older of the two spoke up. “OK, for double our wages, a full section of land, and ten percent of Littleton’s cattle, we’ll do it. We’ll tell you and the sheriff exactly what you want to know about Mackie Littleton.”

***

The following day, Mackie Littleton stepped off the train and was promptly arrested for the murder of Richard Condie. The trial was short, and Mackie Littleton was sentenced to hang. Everything went just as Matthew Condie had predicted.

Everything Mackie Littleton owned became the property of Condie Enterprises. Matthew and the U.P. finalized their agreement, and the spur was built. Condie Enterprises began shipping cattle north into Canada and east of the mighty Mississippi. Cattle operations near and far drove their herds to the Condie stockyards, making it the largest cattle business in Wyoming. The town of Landau continued to grow, and Condie Enterprises made many men rich.

Mackie Littleton was eventually hanged, but not until after he witnessed his life’s work fall into the hands of Matthew Condie.

***

These days, every now and then, when the sun hangs low in the western sky, Matthew Condie makes his way up to the high plateau and watches the daylight slowly fade. As the sky darkens and the glory of a million shimmering stars appears, strewn across the heavens like diamonds on a black satin cloth, Matthew Condie sits upon his horse and gazes at the wonder of it all. He recalls the familiar stories his father used to tell about the "Wealth of Heaven." In those moments of quiet reflection, Matthew Condie has come to realize just how insightful his father truly was.

Even though he was a wealthy man, Richard K. Condie didn’t do what he did for the money. He knew where true wealth could be found. He could see it, but as long as he lived, it remained just beyond his grasp.

“Look up, son,” his father would say. “What do you see? Those aren’t just stars. That… that, my boy, is the wealth of heaven.”

In those still, silent moments on the high plateau, Matthew Condie finally understood what his father was trying to convey. It was during these quiet moments that he came to grasp the meaning of true wealth, where it could be found, and that he was more like his father than he had ever realized.

© Copyright 2023 by Scott A. Gese All Rights Reserved.

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