Not Quite A Mail Order Bride (Mail Order Brides) (12 page)

“Now,” she said.

* * *

“Now what,” he asked.

“It’s later.” She took his hand. “It’s time for you to take me to bed.”

“I like that,” he said and followed her down the hall.

“I thought you might,” she said, over her shoulder. “I like it too.”

Luke loved the way she was always ready for him and seemed to enjoy the love
making as much as he did. He also loved the way she was an active participant. In the bedroom, she asked, “Do I have to undress myself or would you like to?”

“I’ll do it. I like that part of it,” he said as he peeled her clothing off, layer by layer until she was totally nude, bathed in the light from the window. She stood in front of him, slowly turning in front of him, reveling in his admiring approval of her body.

This time, the lovemaking was slow and thoughtful, each doing the things they knew pleasured the other. It lasted longer than any of their previous sessions. It ended with a very pleasant climax, each enjoying the thrusts and pushes of the other.

Later, Martha thought this was the night she became pregnant.

A month later, she said, “Luke, I think you made my dream come true.”

“What do you mean. What did I do?” he asked.

“I think you gave me a baby,” she said.

“You mean… You’re…”

“I think I’m pregnant. I would like to see the doctor and confirm it, but I’m pretty sure.” She hopped up into his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist.

Holding her, he asked, “Damn, woman, is there no satisfying you?”

“Not where you’re concerned,” she said.

He tried, once more, achieving the goal at least temporarily.

* * *

On the way home, after seeing the doctor in Laramie, they stopped off at the J Bar H. When they went into the house, Sarah asked, “What brings you two over here today?”

“Two horses and a carriage,” replied Martha, then said, “I wanted to tell you something.”

“Tell me what?” Sarah asked.

“You’re going to be an aunt!” Martha said.

“Really?” Sarah asked.

“Really,” Martha said. “We just came from the doctor.”

“You old devil,” Sarah said to Luke. He just grinned. “That’s one more reason I owe you my gratitude. You don’t know how long and how much she’s wanted a baby. Will and Jimmy have helped a lot, but a baby of her own. That is just about every woman’s dream. Another dream coming true for you” She hugged her sister tightly.

Eight and one half month’s later, after an uneventful pregnancy, no morning sickness, no backaches, Martha gave birth to Susanah Marie Hastings, an eighteen inch long, seven and one half pounds of black haired, squalling human. She was perfect in every way. Both mother and baby came through the birthing process with flying colors.

Present for the birth of their third grandchild were Catherine and Jacob Harding. It was the first time they had been present for one of their daughter’s deliveries. Catherine hugged Luke and with tears in her eyes, she said, “Thank you, once again, Luke.”

Luke and Catherine had trouble getting Martha to take it easy after the birth of Susanah. But, that was Martha. A fire burned in her gut. As she put it, “There’s so much to learn, so little time.”

* * *

Luke thought
Martha’s ideas, putting together the successful robbery of the Laramie as well as other bank robberies by the Hole-In-The Wall gang in this same region he decided the distribution of his assets made sense. He shared his thoughts with Jed, who agreed with him and stated his intent to diversify his also.

Luke and Martha drove into Laramie, and stopped at his lawyer’s office. “Henry, I think you know my wife, Martha. Her father is in the banking business in New York. Martha has suggested we are running a large and unnecessary risk by having all of our assets in one bank.”

Henry Calhoun said, “I agree with her 100%. I use three separate institutions, two of which are in Cheyenne.”

“I’m embarrassed to say I have no idea what is there. That has to change. Martha is going to be involved in this now. I would like to copy what you have deposited from Halliday into my account to give us a starting point. I haven’t paid much attention when you’ve reviewed them in the past.”

“Of course. Hold on and I’ll get them. You’ll be interested in the dates, which would be monthly and the amounts, which vary from month to month depending on seasonal weather, etc.” He produced the information and provided Martha with pen and paper so she could make notes.”

As she copied the figures, Martha was staggered by the amounts. She had no idea they had been so large. When she had finished, they thanked Henry, who said, “If you decide to move some to Cheyenne, I’ll write a letter of introduction to take with you.” They thanked him again.

Next, they went to the bank and asked for the owner. After greeting Myron Sibley and introducing Martha, Luke said, “Mr Sibley, I would like to go over the books on my account, please.”

Martha was sure he paled by at least three shades. “Yes sir, Mr Hastings. Do you think there is some kind a problem with the account?”

“No, no, nothing like that. My wife’s father is in the banking business back east and she was telling me about the bank failures in 1893 and it bothered me. Then there have been several robberies in the area too.”

“We’ve had nothing like that here, Mr Hastings, except in that one case where…” Realizing he might be about to open an old wound, he stopped. “I’ll get the books.”

He returned and placed several ledgers in front of Luke, who handed them to Martha. . She said, “I want to start after the point when Will was killed.”

Sibley opened one of the books and pointed to the line of entries beginning with the death of Will. “Now what this means, Mis Hastings, is..”

“That’s all right, Mr Sibley. I understand the entries. I’m familiar with the bookkeeping practices,” she said sweetly and gave him one of her mind blowing smiles.

“Yes, well if you have any questions, just let me know,” he said.

“Mr Sibley, do you have some place we can go over these?” she asked.

“Why, just use my office,” he said.

“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.

Ma
rtha 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.