Not Quite A Mail Order Bride (Mail Order Brides) Read online

  Luke had purchased a new trunk for her things, one for himself, and a separate one for Hetty and the boys. Martha had also gotten a pair of new dresses, but she and Luke were going shopping in San Francisco.

  The big day came. They would be gone for two weeks. Luke had made arrangements to stable the horses and put up the carriage while they were away and they walked back to the depot, having dropped the trunks off prior to going to the stable.

  The train came in, huffing and puffing clouds of black smoke. Sparks flew from under the big steel wheels as the engineer applied the brakes. It seemed like the engine let out a big sigh as a cloud of steam escaped from beneath the train. Watching closely, Luke ensured their trunks were loaded into the baggage car. He paid the attendant $5 to see to their well being.

  Luke had booked two drawing rooms for the trip. Each of the rooms had a small toilet, beds and a chair. There was a large window with shades that could be pulled when the passenger had no desire to see the outside. For now, the boys were crowded against the window so as not to miss anything, as was Hetty. It was her first train trip also. In the adjoining room, Luke and Martha were also looking out the window.

  Martha instructed Hetty about the room. “You don’t clean up. The porter will take care of all cleaning and the bedding would be changed daily. He does a very good job, the bathroom too.”

  “Miss Martha, where do we get the food?” Hetty asked.

  “There is a big dining car with kitchens and everything. It’s all prepared in there and it’s very good.”

  “Glory be!” Hetty said. “Two weeks without cooking. I’ll feel like the Queen of Sheba.”

  “Remember, your only chore is the boys. You are to enjoy yourself, Hetty. You’ve earned it,” Martha said.

  “Yes’m.”

  “Mama?” Will asked.

  “Yes, Honey, what is it.” she asked.

  “When you pee in the bathroom, where does it go?”

  “Why it goes through the little flap at the bottom and out onto the tracks under the train,” she said.

  “Even if I poop?” he asked.

  “Yes, even if you poop,” she said.

  He giggled and went off to tell Jimmy. Hetty had been listening. “Well, I never,” she said.

  Martha smiled and went off to tell her husband about the latest lesson his sons had learned.

  The trip was just over twenty four hours. Upon arrival, Luke engaged a carriage to take them to the palace Hotel where they would be staying. On the way to the hotel, Will exclaimed, “This is bigger than Cheyenne even.”

  Luke, who had never been out of Wyoming agreed. Martha had traveled through New York City and Chicago, smiled. The interior of the Palace Hotel was elegant, far surpassing anything any of them had ever seen. It had electricity as well as indoor plumbing.

  In the evening, they marveled at the combination of the gas lamps on the streets, along with electric lamps. Will and Jimmy amused themselves flipping the light switch on and off in their room until Luke found out and put a stop to it.

  The days were consumed with sightseeing trips, including one of the wharves where the giant ocean going ships tied up. The view of the Pacific, stretching before them until it disappeared over the horizon, boggled their mind.

  One of the highlights for them was a ride on the cable car, where Luke, who had read up on cable cars, described the giant cable that ran beneath the train and pulled it along its way. He explained, “The cable is always moving and when the conductor wants the car to move, he pulls a giant handle causing grips from the car to clamp onto the cable. To stop, he releases the grip.” Luke demonstrated by comparing his hand to the grips and Will’s arm to the cable. “Move your arm back and forth.” He clamped onto Will’s arm and his arm moved in a like manner. When he released his clamping, his arm stopped. “That is how it works.”

  Martha said, “Wouldn’t it be nice to tell our class about it when school starts back up.”

  “I’m going to do that,” vowed Will. “They won’t believe it.”

  Museums, libraries and shopping took up the rest of the time. All too soon their time was up and it was time to head back to Wyoming and home. Much wiser and more worldly than when they had left.

  On their last night, Luke took Martha to an elegant restaurant, where they enjoyed a seafood sampler plate. It was the best seafood dinner they had ever eaten. It included, shrimp, oysters, crab and lobster, and clams. They passed on the squid when they found out what it was. All of these were new foods for the couple.

  Back at the hotel, it was a night of lovemaking for the couple, more so than any night since their wedding night. Martha started the evening by coming into his arms and kissing him deeply. “Thank you for making my dream come true, ” she said.

  “It was my pleasure,” he said.

  “Now, for your added pleasure, as well as mine, undress me, take me to bed and make love to me,” she said. He did. Several times.

  The next morning the travel weary group boarded the train bound for Laramie and points east. And home.

  * * *

  After returning to the Twin Bar H from her San Francisco honeymoon, Martha immersed herself in getting to know her two step-sons, though she never thought of them as anything other than her sons. Will was a very bright little boy and a quick learner. His inquisitive mind was always at work.

  Through the Laramie School, she was able to order school supplies and books. Studying the materials available, she ordered science, math and history books, along with books for pleasure.

  She also began teaching Jimmy to read and write. She devoted three to four hours a day to her educational activities with them. Noticing that Will was spending most of his time with a book, she approached Luke. “I am concerned with Will spending so much of his time with his books. I think it would be good for him if you took him along with you. He should be learning things about the ranch, and the mines. I would like for them to know what you do and how hard you work. I wouldn’t want him to be a Mama’s boy.”

  “Honey, I appreciate you getting involved with the boys and their activities. I also appreciate the concern for Will. Do you think he’s old enough to be out on the range with me? It can be dangerous out there,” Luke said.

  “How old were you when you began riding and minding the cattle?” she asked.

  “I guess I was about Will’s age when Papa gave me a pony and I began to ride. I had to take care of it myself. It’s different now,” he said.”

  “How so? Some of the students ride their horses to school by themselves. Will is just as capable as they are if given the chance. Just because he doesn’t have to help doesn’t mean he shouldn’t,” she pointed out.

  “Okay, I take your point. He should have a pony and be responsible for taking care of it.”

  “I have another question. How do you know how many cattle are here?”

  He said, “We don’t really. Since we’re open range, the cattle roam over the spread. Wolves get a few, and maybe the coyotes do, but wolves are the worst in the winter. The Indians steal a few for food, but we don’t mind that as long as it’s reasonable. Twice a year, we have a roundup and cull out the brands other than ours and the owners gets those belonging to them and returns ours. Since we breed in the fall, the calves are born in the spring. At roundup, we brand them, and usually drive them to market in the fall. Occasionally, we will have a drive in the spring, depending on the Army’s needs.”

  Listening intently, her brow furrowed, “So someone could be stealing from you and if they kept the numbers down, you wouldn’t know it.”

  He said, “No, I guess not. I’ve always looked at it as one of the risks of the business. I’m glad you’re taking an interest in the operation. Now, before you ask, Henry Calhoun monitors the mining operations. He keeps close track of the ore processed by Halliday. He monitors the assay value with reports from the assayer’s office. All royalty payments go to his office and he deposits them, after his commission, in our account at the
bank. He does the same thing for Jed. Halliday would be downright stupid to try and cheat us since the contract calls for immediate termination and forfeiture of all equipment and buildings. It would be a major loss for them.”

  “Jed and I have talked about not renewing our leases, and taking over the entire operation ourselves, but I’m reluctant to do that. As it is now, Halliday is taking the risk and we get the benefit.”

  “You know, Papa is a banker, and I’m somewhat familiar with the banking procedures. Do you monitor your account? Do you have any idea how much is in it or how much should be there?”

  “Actually, again the answer is no. You’ve really been giving this some thought, haven’t you?” he asked.

  “Well,” she said, “It’s not as if I have a lot to do around here. I just want to share your life.”

  Wrapping his arms around her, he planted a big kiss on her lips. “I’m glad you take an interest. It’s just that I’ve never given any thought to the financial end of it. Will always took care of that end and I just went along with it. Since his death, I’ve sort of ignored it.”

  “You know I read a lot. All sorts of things. I remember reading about bank failures in Philadelphia in 1893 and Papa being worried about the bank where he worked. He was afraid he might lose his job. There were a lot of bank failures. I bet all of your assets are in the Bank of Laramie. It was held up once. What would happen if there was another holdup and the bank went under? All of your deposits would be lost.”

  “We would survive, because we would still have the herd and the mines,” he said.

  “And if the copper seam played out?”

  “Again, we’d survive because of the herd. You’re just full of dark thoughts, aren’t you?” he asked.

  “I’m just playing devil’s advocate here. You know, the “what if” game. My mind has always run to figures,” she said.

  He got a devilish grin on his face. “And mine runs to figures too. Yours.” He cupped her breast, and kissed her.

  “You stop that,” she said. “We can do that later.”

  “Promise?” he asked.

  “Yes, I promise.”

  “Okay, what do you think we should do?” he asked.

  “Let me think about it, “ she said. “I do think you should seriously consider splitting your bank account between banks. That way, if one has a problem, it won’t be catastrophic.”

  “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 lovemaking 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.