Heart of Gold

Dale Rory arrives in Paddock in the heart of West Texas cattle country, in pursuit of his dream of coaching basketball and owning a cattle ranch, something his recently deceased and highly principled parents had encouraged. Believing his faithfulness to their teachings has led to past accomplishments, he is equally convinced that they are his compass to future success. Hired by the school, he buys a four-hundred-acre spread, but aware of his need for help, he seeks out his neighbors, Sybil and Marilyn Stone. Sybil, a widowed rancher seasoned by hardship, brusquely doles out advice, but Dale quickly recognizes the value of her guidance, as well as the beauty of her eighteen-year-old daughter. When it becomes clear that Dale has jumped in over his financial head, he gets the break of a lifetime. Having bought five lottery tickets on a whim, he wins the jackpot and banks twenty-five million. With no more money woes, he considers what he will do with his fortune. Having been taught that "To whom much is given, much is required," he must now decide if all those parental tenets are just words or his guide for life? BUD CAMPBELL, a Texan and graduate of Mount Vernon High School, was an all-state member of their1948 state-championship basketball team, and subsequently played for Texas Christian University. After ten years of leading basketball programs at various Texas schools and inspiring youngsters to develop a winning attitude, Bud spent twenty-seven years as a school principal, the majority at North Mesquite High in the Dallas area. With humor, wit, and an upbeat personality, Bud has inspired thousands with his motivational speeches at banquets, civic organizations, and staff development programs where he stresses that life's richest blessings are realized through giving freely. GLEN ONLEY is the author of "Coach Catfish Smith And His Boys," "Beyond Contentment," "Discovery Tree," and "Sunset," all available from Sunstone Press.