“We wouldn’t want to put you out,” she said, smiling again.
“No trouble at all,” he said and left the room, closing the door behind him.
“I think you scared the bejesus out of him,” she said to Luke.
“That’s all right, he didn’t even come to Clara’s funeral.”
“When you sell the cattle, how are you paid?” she asked.
“The Army pays in cash. I hold some out for operating money, and give the rest to Sibley.”
“And what do you do with the receipts?” she asked.
“They’re at the ranch someplace,” he said.
“That’s what these smaller amounts are in the fall and spring. Do you realize the mines pay you a lot more money than ranching?” she asked.
“They’re not as much fun,” he said.
“Well, it’s no wonder he’s nervous, over one third of the bank’s reserves are yours. Assuming Jed’s is close to the same, if both of you removed your money, it would ruin the bank. You could own the bank if you wanted. Luke, you’re wealthy, you know.”
“That’s what Henry says. I never see it, so it isn’t there as far as I’m concerned.”
“Well, I’m concerned and you have to be also. You have two sons and a daughter to be concerned about. You owe it to them,” she said.
“You keep saying “your money. It’s our money now. The day we got married, I took an oath that said “all my earthly possessions, I thee endow.” It’s we, Martha, not me.”
“You’re the man of the house.”
“That doesn’t matter. We’re equal partners. Without you, I’m a cowboy. With you, the world is ours for the taking.”
“I’m glad you feel that way. I’m willing to look after this end of our ranch and mines, as you put it, but you have to participate,” she concluded.
He clapped his hand to his forehead, and said, “Dear God, what kind of woman have I married.”
“The best kind. Now, let’s get Sibley back in here. We won’t dump the whole thing on him until we get accounts opened in Cheyenne, but he needs to know we’re making some changes,” she said.
Sibley came back into his office. Visibly nervous. “Is there anything wrong?” he asked.
“No, nothing like that. We do need a letter of credit for $10,000,” Luke said.
“Mr Hastings, you’re not planning to remove your funds from the bank are you?” he asked. “It would cause a run on the bank if it got out.”
“Mr Sibley, we hold all of our dealings with you confidential, and expect that you do the same. Whatever our plans, no one will know about them unless you tell them yourself. We would be quite upset if that were to happen,” Martha said. “I am going to be keeping the books at the ranch.” “Once a month, I would like to meet with you to compare notes, if you will. Would you arrange that,” Martha asked.
“Yes, of course. When would you want to start?” he asked.
“We started today, Mr Sibley,” she said.
As they left, she said, “I would like to go by the general store and get some ledgers, and pens, if you don’t mind.”
“Whatever you want, honey. You know that,” he said.
“Luke, this is serious,” she said.
“We always got along before, just trusting people to do what’s right.”
“There’s an old saying: “Trust but verify.” I want to start verifying.”
“Does Sarah know all of this?” he asked.
“I doubt it. She was the musician in the family. I knew numbers. Papa always said, I could have been a banker, if they had let women in the business.”
After they finished in the store, Luke noted that Martha had asked for a receipt.
As they rode home, Martha said, “I need a nap.”
“So do I,” Luke said.
“Is that all you think of?” she asked with a smile.
“Yep”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” she said, and gave his arm a squeeze.
He clucked to the horses and flicked the reins. Their family was waiting for them.
EPILOGUE
Martha and Luke had a happy marriage, born out of a deep love and respect for each other. Susanah would grow into a black haired beauty with a head for numbers the same as her mother. She would graduate from the University of Wyoming, continue to Harvard, where she obtained both her Masters degree in business, and a law degree. She would be the first female member of the Wyoming Bar Association.
The second child, Daniel Lucas, graduated from Laramie High School and then the University of Wyoming, where he took a degree in agriculture. He entered the US Army as a second lieutenant, rising to captain, and served in France, Belgium and Germany during the first world war. Following the war, he returned to the Twin Bar H, eventually taking over operations.
Luke fulfilled another of Martha’s dreams and one of his own, when he suggested they tour England, as well as the European countries.
The income from the copper mining operation dwindled to almost nothing; however, the silver operations replaced it as a major income producer. Luke and Martha entered into an agreement with the Standard Oil Company for oil exploration. After oil was found in the second exploration well, Standard Oil successfully brought in several other wells. The oil revenues dwarfed those that had come from copper. Luke and Daniel continued to run cattle with them grazing the range, in the middle of the oil fields.
Lucas bought his first automobile in 1900. It made for easier trips to Laramie. When Daniel and Susanah attended the University of Wyoming, they traveled to and from school in their motor cars. Indeed, so many of the citizens of Laramie and surrounding communities bought motor cars, the city officials imposed a speed limit… of 12 miles per hour. The same year, they began requiring all motorcars to be licensed.
The Hastings lived a long and happy life. Their lives were considerably brightened when they became grandparent as both Daniel and Susanah’s marriages produced children.
I hope you enjoyed Not Quite A Mail Order Bride. Writing in this genre continues to be both educational and interesting and I have really learned a lot about Wyoming and the old west. I will continue to write in this genre as long as the ideas keep coming.
Thank you for your support.
About Susan Leigh Carlton
Susan lives in a gated community just outside Tomball, Texas with her husband, two toy poodles and Lissie the cat..
Not Quite A Mail Order Bride is her latest book to be published by Amazon. She says, “This is my favorite of all the books I have written. It’s the same with all of them. The latest is the favorite. I tend to be a friend of my characters, talking to them and listening to them. I also tend to be emotional and found myself becoming choked up while I was writing the scene where Martha hugged her new sons immediately after the wedding ceremony.
She also monitors all of the reviews and comments. She says “I revise my writing process and style accordingly. This is a learning process for me and I love every bit of it.”
The names of all her books are on the pages following this one.
She says, “My thanks to you readers. I appreciate your taking the time to read them. As an avid reader myself, I will read several books during the time I am writing. Our kids love to read as does my husband. He takes his iPad with him everywhere and reads during waits for the doctor.
Thanks again. Now I can begin research on my next effort. If you have suggestions for additional books, I would love to hear them. Email them to me or enter them as comments on the website.”
Susan
[email protected]
http://susanleighcarlton.com
Susan’s Other Books
Tainted Mail Order Bride ***Amazon Best Seller Book***
Jedadiah's Mail Order Bride ***Amazon Best Seller Book***
A Reluctant Mail Order Bride
She Found Her Love In Washingron
The Lonely Cowboy
Cake and Pie Recipes From MaMaw's Kitchen
Love On The Brazos
Loving A Firefighter
Loving An Airborne Ranger
Diabetes: You Can Live With It Or Die From It
Bobby and Charlie's Great Adventure
Diabetes: You Can Live With It Or Die From It
Pies From MaMaw's Kitchen
Cakes From MaMaw's Kitchen
Cakes and Pies From MaMaw's Kitchen
Visit Susan’s Website
Visit The Lonely Cowboy Saga Website
Not Quite A Mail Order Bride (Mail Order Brides) Page 12
