Page 40 of Riches Beyond Measure (Golden State Treasure #3)

Things did eventually settle down. MacKenzie’s Treasure was now on display at the museum in Dorada Rio, with various pieces being loaned out here and there.

Michelle had finished translating the logbooks taken from the chests they’d found at the shipwreck, and she’d discovered a wealth of information about the ship and her crew of sailors and explorers. They now had a clearer idea of what had happened to those seamen so long ago.

Tilda’s father was busy curating the museum’s exhibits. They’d discovered he had a talent for it.

Ben finally showed up and seemed contrite to the point they were beginning to trust him again.

While he made his home in San Francisco, he became a frequent visitor to the ranch, occasionally bringing orphans with him to live there and study at the Two Harts School.

He also volunteered at the Child of God Mission and donated generously to the cause.

Even so, Josh still wouldn’t leave Tilda alone with her brother when the man came for a visit.

Ellie’s baby, a boy, was born right after Thanksgiving. They named the child Graham after Brody’s treasure-hunting grandfather.

True to his word, Thayne went off to college to study medicine.

Annie, Cord, and Caroline moved to the Westbrook Ranch.

Just as they’d hoped, they converted the huge house into an orphanage for girls.

All the girls from the Two Harts settled into the upper floors of the house, and Annie and Cord were sent more youngsters needing homes from places like San Francisco and Sacramento.

Cord’s mother and Grandma and Grandpa Rivers visited the new ranch and orphanage frequently, but they still made their homes on their own land. Annie hoped that the day would come when they’d decide it was time to cut back on their work and move to live at the Westbrook Ranch permanently.

Grandpa Westbrook had moved his Steinway piano from his mansion in Sacramento to the Westbrook house. Cord taught the piano, both there and at the Two Harts.

By Christmastime, Annie was excited to learn she had another baby on the way, and the whole family gathered for the holiday at the Westbrook Ranch.

With the orphan girls living there, it made for quite a crowd in the dining room, yet the table was massive enough for everyone to squeeze in around it.

The boys back at the Two Harts were also served a turkey dinner with all the trimmings.

“Let’s join hands,” Cord said from the head of the table, which nearly overflowed with food.

Ellie sat with her baby in her arms, Brody at her side. Thayne, home from college, sat beside his brother Lock. Caroline sat beside Annie at the foot of the table.

Cord prayed a simple but sincere prayer of thanksgiving. When he said amen, he looked up and smiled down the length of the table, straight into Annie’s eyes.

“For all our treasure hunting,” he said, “true riches come from God alone. He’s given generously to us in the way of family, food, and shelter, but what He’s given us most is His love.

The glorious gift of His Son, of eternal life.

No matter where life takes us, with Him we’ll always have riches beyond measure. ”