CHAPTER 19
The two of them worked hard together on the books the next morning. Liz showed him how Hannagen’s payments trailed the billing but not by much more than could be expected at that distance. He still owed them twenty thousand dollars.
“I think he will pay that. It is near the final amount before we start building stage stops,” she said.
“I have no idea how much mail contracts pay the contract holder, but men like him don’t invest in such things that don’t pay. And after all of Hall’s efforts to stop us, I decided that it must pay very well.”
“Probably does. I think Tanner at the bank told you the government had slipped to longer terms on your scrip for the cattle they hold, and Tanner cashes them when they are available.”
“Nothing we can do about that. It is how the government does business.”
“In Mexico if the government owes you money, you are unlikely to ever get it paid back.”
Chet laughed. “We won’t do business with them, then.”
Things were still working. Robert’s log hauling made a substantial profit. The Diablo Ranch showed sales of cattle. JD promised him that they would expand such sales and while they didn’t cover all the expenses, which were in development, things were beginning to gain. The Hackberry Ranch worked well with more cattle coming from sales of the Navajo deal. Tom had made some great cattle sales now that he finally had two- and three-year-old steers to sell. The home ranch and Hampt’s place looked successful. The saddle shop was selling new saddles, so that worked. The Force even showed a small profit, so despite the stock market’s bouncing ball in New York and economic failures—their whole operation functioned well.
The outlaws were in jail.
That evening after supper, Jesus and Anita sat on the living room couch in private conversation. Anita originally came from Mexico as Liz’s maid. She worked in the house for Monica and helped Liz too. That evening she’d fixed Shirley’s hair. The other new girl, Lisa, was sewing a dress—all part of his extended family.
He thought of it all as “the women’s dormitory,” but he kept that to himself and went out to rock on the porch swing in the cooling night. Liz joined him and they talked about the small things in their life. Did he have any plans to go see about anything?
“Nothing that sounds pressing, but since you are in the family way I want you to ride in a buckboard when we go out anywhere.”
“Fine, I am like you . . . I don’t want anything to spoil it.”
“Good. I was afraid to tell you since you like to horseback ride so much.”
“I like most of all being with you. Horseback riding is my second love.”
“The wedding plans are going well?”
“Shawn is bringing Lucy down here by a slow train in a buckboard. They will soon be here. They can honeymoon at the Oak Creek Ranch. Her youngest sister, Hannah, has her baby girl, Carla, and will keep her all week.
“Sounds planned out to me.”
“You would expect that . . . we are pros at these things.”
He slumped down in the swing. “I never worry about the celebrations we have. The ranch women get all excited and do tons of work with the rest of you. It is a real fandango for everyone.”
“We have invited all the people you know, and Shawn’s kinfolks will be here too.”
“Great job. Maybe you and I should go upstairs and celebrate ourselves?”
She kissed him. “Sounds wonderful.”
They went off to bed. While he undressed he wondered where Hall was staying at that night and what he planned to try to do next.