Chapter Three

 

Jake spent four hours preparing the contract that he and Justin planned out in hopes of helping Sue’s family. He hoped that they could go over the board members’ vote by discussing the situation rationally with Conrad who would be in his office on Monday. He and Justin waited in the lobby of the bank a little before nine for Sue’s arrival.

Justin chuckled next to him.

“What’s so funny?” he asked. He didn’t see what was so comical about a business meeting.

“Did you hear what Miss Lewis did to Mr. Wilkins?”

He shook his head.

“On Saturday, she went over to Mr. Wilkins’ house and threatened to lasso his buggy and hang it by the barn rafters unless he paid her father the money he rightfully owed him. When he refused to listen to her, she lassoed the front wheel and used a horse she borrowed to pull it to his barn. He realized she was serious, so he made the proper restitution. Then she thanked him as if nothing was wrong and went her way.”

Jake stared at him. “Did she really do that?”

He nodded. “Now whenever Mr. Wilkins sees her, he makes the sign of the cross and runs the other way. His wife apologized to her and gave her a little more money for the injustice her husband did to her father. What’s even funnier is that his wife now adores her because he doesn’t get away with lying to anyone anymore.”

He laughed and shook his head. Good for her. “Apparently, she’s a force to be reckoned with.”

“My wife and kids adore her. They attend the library children’s story hour that she’s in charge of. Personally, I’d hate to get on her bad side. There’s no telling what she’d do.”

“Well, George is anxious about today. I just hope Conrad will veto the board vote.”

Sue walked into the bank. He hid his disappointment at the sight of her. She had her hair pulled back into that obnoxious bun again. After seeing her with her hair down, he wanted to pull those pins out so her hair would fall softly over her shoulders again. She was beautiful but seemed determined not to show it. He forced his observation aside and followed Justin and her into Conrad’s office. He couldn’t help but note the gentle sway of her hips. The green dress was old and faded with time, but it didn’t hide her figure.

She sat in the chair across from Conrad and properly greeted him. George stood to the side of the room so he could hear the presentation. Her posture remained rigid. He didn’t realize she was so tense. She’s scared.

Justin sat in the chair next to her while Jake stood and presented the contract to Conrad, outlining the plan for getting her father’s debt reduced to an amount that could get his finances back on track.

“We can teach him what we know about handling finances so he won’t fall into more debt, and once he is out of debt, he won’t go back into it,” Jake concluded.

He waited for Conrad to speak. Surely, his boss would show her the compassion she needed. To his horror, Conrad turned to his son.

“What do you think, George?” his father asked.

“I oppose it. It’s too risky,” George argued. “There’s no guarantee her father will follow the contract to the letter. He’s already breaking the ones he signed. We’ll make more money if we foreclose and sell his property to someone else.”

Jake cringed at Sue’s gasp. “Sir,” he told his boss, “let’s think this through. Money is important, I grant you that, but it isn’t the only thing to consider here. We are talking about people who live in this house and farm this land. There are children still living there.”

Conrad took a deep breath. “I can’t run this bank forever. It is time I hand over the hard decisions to my son. We will go with George’s plan.”

“I would advise against that. People in the community will see how you treat the Lewis family, and I guarantee you that they will not like it. Sometimes it is best to do what will bring in more clients.”

“We are the only bank in this city,” George protested.

“Perhaps, but people can go to the next city if they want. This is the perfect opportunity to keep them here.”

“This is just one family. It won’t make a difference with our wealthy customers.”

“But it will make a difference to our consciences. We can’t afford to throw people out of their homes.”

“That’s enough, Jake,” Conrad barked. “I already made my decision. George is old enough to take over the bank. As of next month, I will be retiring.”

“I will say one thing, Mr. Leroy,” Sue spoke up.

Jake recognized the anger bubbling beneath the surface of her cool exterior.

“People will find out about this,” she continued. “I work at the library, and I have access to many of the citizens of the city. They will know what you decided today.” She stood up and stiffly walked out of the office.

Jake ran after her. “Sue, we might be able to figure out something else.”

She stopped and looked at him. “I appreciate what you and Mr. Monroe did today. You are not cold hearted, but I do see how your hands are tied. I will make it clear that you and Mr. Monroe did your best to help. I know what my option is at this point, and I will accept it.”

He knew she meant that she would marry someone old enough to be her grandfather in order to save her family’s property. “There has to be another way.”

She shook her head. “Thanks anyway.”

He watched her as she left.

Justin walked over to him. “I hope you do open your own bank. I don’t care to work here anymore either.”

***

Jake packed his suitcase as he scrambled to get his things ready for the three day trip to Michigan. There was no love lost between him and his father ever since his father walked out on him and his mother. Though he was ten at the time, the memory still stung. During the divorce, his mother managed to obtain half of his father’s wealth which she left to him when she died when he turned twenty-three. He vowed that he would not let her heartache go in vain, so he carefully invested the money until it quadrupled. Now he could live the rest of his life in comfort, but since he had no wife or children, he focused all of his energy into his work. Upon his father’s death, a lawyer notified him of his father’s will, which mentioned him as the sole beneficiary. He almost refused to attend the reading of the will but decided it was his due after growing up without a father. How a man could leave his wife and child, he would never understand.

He took the first train he could out of town and went to Michigan. The ride wasn’t so bad since he brought a couple of books he had been meaning to read. He particularly enjoyed Shakespeare and could read those over and over. He considered going to New York City and checking out a Shakespearean play soon. It had been a long time since he went to the theater. It would be a much needed break after the stress at the bank.

He shook his head as he thought of Sue Lewis’ situation. For a beautiful woman to have to live a life confined to a grouchy old husband who would most likely only pay attention to her when he wanted her body made his stomach turn. She wasn’t as bad as he originally thought. After talking with her at the dance, he learned that there was more to her than her abrasive mannerisms. He considered the possibility that she presented herself to the world as being a woman who was so strong she didn’t need a man so that people wouldn’t feel sorry for her since she was a spinster. He knew he was lucky. A man could remain unmarried his entire life and not suffer public disapproval because of it.

He forced aside his thoughts and picked up The Merchant of Venice. He always enjoyed this comedy the most. The women in Shakespeare’s plays were just as bold and endearing as Sue. He shook his head again. What was he doing? He made it a point to help people as much as he could, but if there wasn’t anything else he could do, he let the matter go. Why couldn’t he do that with her?

He put the book in his briefcase and took out the Bible instead. He wasn’t sure what to do about George. That young man didn’t have good business sense. What am I to do about him? He turned to the book of Proverbs because it contained a great deal of wisdom. He used it on a regular basis as a guide for his life. Not that he didn’t read other books of the Bible, but this particular book had the most influence in his business dealings. He credited it with his success. He read the entire book during the next half hour. It wasn’t a long book and it was easy to read. He also stumbled upon the answer to his question. It came from Proverbs 23:9.

Do not speak in the hearing of a fool,

For he will despise the wisdom of your words.

 

Jake set the Bible down and realized it was pointless to argue with any other stupid ideas George came up with. If Conrad was determined to run his business into the ground by handing over crucial business decisions to someone who put money before people, then he was going to reap the results of that foolish choice. Talking to Conrad or George would only be a waste of his time.

Lord, there must be something I can do for Sue Lewis. What can it possibly be?

***

The next day, Jake sat in the lawyer’s office. He deliberately skipped the funeral to show how little he thought of his father. To his surprise, no one else attended the funeral either. It was hard to feel sorry for his father, though it did make him wonder who would bother to come to his funeral. He pushed aside the funny sensation in the back of his mind as the lawyer entered the office.

“Jake Mitchell, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” Mr. Barnett said as he shook his hand.

“I wish I could say the same but I would rather be doing something else.”

“Your father wasn’t an easy man to deal with.”

“I’m sorry, Mr. Barnett. It’s hard to think of him without getting upset. I’m sure you are a decent man.”

“I try to be.” He smiled to show that he took no offense to Jake’s earlier bland greeting.

They sat across from each other.

“Your father had no other children besides you. At least, there were no children that we are aware of, and he didn’t marry any women after the divorce so there’s no heir but you. I think once you see the amount of money he was worth, you’ll be glad you made the trip.”

He handed Jake a piece of paper that revealed his father’s total assets. Jake’s eyes widened in surprise. He could easily triple his net worth with his father’s money.

“There is one stipulation before you can receive this money,” Mr. Barnett slowly stated.

Jake’s eyes narrowed. Leave it to that man to make me miserable from the grave. “Alright,” Jake said. “I’m a businessman. What are his terms?”

“You must marry a woman and stay married for six months. He always regretted leaving your mother and didn’t want his example to turn you off from marriage. He used to say that leaving her was when his life went downhill. It wasn’t until two weeks ago that he came to Christ and got saved. I guess it gave him lots to consider as he laid in the hospital bed waiting to die.”

“Why six months? Why not one year? Or two?”

“He fell in love with your mother in six months.”

He rolled his eyes. “And left her eleven years later.”

“He thought the grass was greener on the other side. But after having a heart attack, he quickly learned it wasn’t. So this brings me to the qualifications that this woman you are to marry must possess. She must be a virgin, for sexual purity became a big thing for him. She must be a Christian who pursues honorable work, if she is out of her parents’ home. Also, she has to be close with her family so she knows the importance of being with loved ones.”

“This woman is the total opposite of who he was,” he noted.

“Yes. I notice that too.”

“Tell me, did he give me her name? It seems that he has everything else planned out for me.”

“I know his method for giving you this money is unorthodox, but it is legally binding. He heard you were still single and didn’t want you to miss out on the joy of marriage to a wonderful woman.”

“Who can control me and make my life incredibly dull. I know what women are like. I have married friends who are stuck at home, helping with the kids and unable to do anything fun because if they were able to have fun, it would mean they would get their manhood back which is what every woman hopes to eliminate.”

“You have an unexpectedly morbid view of marriage.”

“Well, isn’t that why he left my mother?”

“It wasn’t her fault. She did everything she could to keep him happy. He just refused to see her value until he was ready to die.”

My mother was an honorable woman. She didn’t deserve what he did to her.

“Anyway, this is the will, so you can read everything for yourself,” Mr. Barnett said as he handed Jake the document. “If you decide to follow through with your father’s wishes, I will need to be at the wedding to verify your marriage and I must stay with you for one week, unannounced, to make sure you two are living in the same house. Then at the six month mark, I will stop by to give you the money. Actually, I can give you half of it at the wedding. The other half will be due at six months. What do you say?”

Jake carefully read every word of the will, his jaw clenching more and more as he read each paragraph. Only his father could control his life after death. He almost rejected the money when a thought occurred to him. Half of this money will not only pay off the Lewis debt, but it will be enough to cover their farming expenses for the next year and it will provide Sue with a comfortable living for the rest of her life. Then after six months, she can go her way and I can go mine and I will live very well off the remaining half of the money. What if God was answering his prayer this way? Sure, it wasn’t the way he expected his prayer to be answered, but sometimes God used unconventional means to solve a problem. After all, Jonah lived to tell of his experience after he was swallowed by a whale.

Jake looked at Mr. Barnett. “I’ll do it.”

***

Jake wasn’t able to return home until Friday afternoon, which made him rush through a quick dinner before he bathed and dressed. He would be going to the dance but the business he usually tended to at these dances would focus on one person. Sue would most likely be there, ready to say yes to a marriage with any available bachelor who offered it. As much as he hated the idea of being married, he knew any woman who settled for an old man just to bail her father out of debt would be more miserable than he would be for the next six months. It would be better for her too, if she only had to confine herself to marriage for six months to him instead of a lifetime to an old man who only valued her for her body.

I’ll give Miss Lewis credit for being selfless. Had it been him, he would let his father go bankrupt.

He arrived at the dance at his usual time and tipped Henry.

“I’ll be waiting for you when you come out,” Henry promised.

“Thank you,” he said. He liked the fact that Henry always waited for him whenever he went anywhere. He didn’t have to worry about finding another driver. “I appreciate you taking me on such short notice. I wasn’t originally planning to come tonight, but I discovered a business opportunity too good to pass up and if I don’t act on it tonight, I’ll probably lose the account.”

“My wife and children are so grateful to you that they said to take you anywhere you want to go whenever you want to go,” he confided. “You’re steady employment for me.”

He smiled. “If things go well, then I’ll most likely bring a guest to take to her home.”

“I thought you said you had a business venture here tonight.”

“Part business, part pleasure. I’ll explain later if she agrees to it.”

He nodded.

Jake entered the building, adjusting his dark blue tie with thin white diagonal stripes on it. It matched his dark blue suit. He wasn’t superstitious by nature but more often than not, when he wore this particular suit in the past, he succeeded in all of his business transactions.

“Good evening, Mr. Mitchell,” Thomas Evans greeted. “May I take your coat and hat, sir?”

“Yes, you may, Mr. Evans,” he replied. He slipped off his black coat and hat and handed it to the doorman. “Have you seen Miss Lewis?”

“The new blond who is wearing the same blue dress she wore last week?”

He grimaced. He wondered why she would do something as tacky as wear the same dress to two dances in a row but reminded himself that she probably used all the money she had to buy that dress and didn’t have any others. “That’s the woman.” He tried not to let his distaste show. Thank goodness Mr. Evans warned him before he saw her and reacted poorly at the sight of her. It wouldn’t be a good way to start his proposal.

“She is on the dance floor,” he said.

“Thank you.” He slipped him a tip for hanging his coat and hat.

“Anytime. I’ll keep a close eye on your things.”

He nodded and walked further into the building. He knew that Mr. Evans took better care of coats and hats than the other doorman did, so he made it a point to enter the building when Mr. Evans was at the door.

As he walked into the ballroom, he saw Jennifer Gordon laughing and whispering to one her friends who was just as gossipy and giggly as she was. He sighed when he realized the two girls were making fun of Sue who was dancing with the seventy year old man who had his eyes glued to her last time. He didn’t know what was worse. Watching old man York staring at her bosom or the fact that Jennifer and a few others in the room believed Sue was making a public spectacle of herself.

Two things are for sure: one, I’m not going to let York ogle her for the rest of the night and two, I’m buying her a new wardrobe as soon as she agrees to my plan.

Just as he was about to walk onto the dance floor, Chad Walker stopped him. Chad Walker was one of the wealthiest clients at the bank, so he had to talk to him. At least York wouldn’t grope her in public.

“Mr. Walker, how are you this fine December evening? Are you looking forward to Christmas?” he warmly greeted.

“With Christmas being two weeks away, my wife is out doing her usual yuletide shopping. I’m almost scared to see the bill every time she comes home.” He grinned. “But she is a sensible woman and only purchases things we need so I don’t complain too much.”

“Will you be going to Richmond this year?”

“I had thought about it. Her relatives live there. We spent Thanksgiving with my side of the family, so it’ll be their turn. What will you be doing for Christmas?”

“With any luck, I’ll be welcoming my bride home.”

He raised his eyebrows in interest. “A confirmed bachelor like you has decided to settle down?”

“It’s a long story but yes.”

“You’re not going to ask Jennifer Gordon, are you? I know she’s pretty but she’s shallow. She won’t amuse you beyond the honeymoon.”

“No. Miss Gordon is definitely not on the list. I’m considering Miss Sue Lewis.”

He looked impressed. “She’s rough on the outside but she’s got a heart of gold. My wife owns the library and thinks well of her. Actually, she is part of the reason I wished to speak with you tonight while things are friendly.”

Jake stood at attention, aware that the conversation was going to be serious. “What is it?”

“Miss Lewis has been telling everyone at the library about George Leroy’s decision to veto your and Mr. Monroe’s plan to help her family. Now, under ordinary circumstances, I would not allow such a thing to influence my business dealings. However, my wife is very fond of Miss Lewis and has insisted that I withdraw my accounts from the bank on Monday. I will be transferring all of my accounts to the bank in the next town.”

He sighed. “I can’t say I’m surprised. I warned George and his father that this would happen.”

“When are you going to open your own bank? You have often discussed the possibility with me.”

“I have to wait for one of my investments to mature before I have enough funds to buy the building across the street from the dress shop. I should have it open shortly after New Year’s Day.”

“Hmm...In that case, I can probably keep my accounts there until then. I will want to transfer my funds to your bank. My wife will be relieved. We really didn’t want to go to the next town but saw little choice.”

“Mr. Walker, if you don’t mind, would you not tell anyone my plan? I don’t wish for George or Conrad to learn of this. With George’s ethics, it’s hard to tell what he will do.”

He nodded. “I understand.”

He was relieved.

“I’ll let you rescue Miss Lewis.”

Jake was surprised by the protective urge that came over him when he saw the old man “accidently” touch her bottom. This is going to stop and it’s going to stop now. “It was good talking with you,” he politely told Mr. Walker.

Chad walked back to his wife who was talking with her good friends.

Jake tried his best to not scowl at Mr. York who was bragging to Sue about his coin collection. “Good evening, Mr. York, Miss Lewis,” he interrupted.

They stopped dancing.

She looked relieved when Mr. York released his hold on her.

“Mr. Mitchell, just the man I wanted to see.” Mr. York smiled and shook his hand.

Jake returned his smile though it wasn’t easy considering how greasy his palms were. “Mr. York, it is always a pleasure to see you.”

“Yes. Well, I heard what you did for Miss Lewis and her family. I hadn’t realized that Mr. Leroy’s son was at the age where he’s ready to take over the bank. I must admit that I’m disappointed in the decision he made.”

“Yes, it is quite distressing.” Just how many people know? He didn’t know one woman could have such a profound impact on people. He didn’t know whether to be alarmed or impressed. “Actually, I had a question for Miss Lewis and wondered if she would be willing to dance with me so I could ask it?”

“Oh, I don’t know. We’re having a great time together,” he argued. He winked at her.

She smiled but it seemed forced. “Of course, we are.”

“And I am very grateful she has been able to be in your company since you kept her away from men who would take advantage of her while I was away,” Jake pleasantly stated. “I had asked her if she would marry me last week, but she said I had to wait until tonight for her answer. So after I returned from Michigan today, I came right by here to see what her answer is. I hope you don’t mind that I got her first.”

“You didn’t tell me about this.” He frowned at her.

She looked flustered as she tried to think of something to say.

“I asked her to keep it a secret,” Jake quickly inserted. “I know she thinks you’re a very attractive man. Did you know she thought you were fifty?”

“Did she now?” He smiled, obviously pleased.

“She did. She wanted to dance with you last week, but I got jealous and insisted she spend her affections on me. I am sure you can understand my reason. I hope you didn’t steal her from me.”

“Oh, well now, Mr. Mitchell. You are a fine man. I couldn’t take something that belongs to you.” He turned to her. “Sue, you are very precious and I’m flattered you would consider leaving Mr. Mitchell for me, but he is a good friend of my son’s, and I must keep my loyalties to my boy. I don’t wish to upset him, and if you break Mr. Mitchell’s heart, my son would be sore with me. I hope you can move on and not dwell on what might have been with me.”

“I...I don’t know what to say,” she stammered.

“I fear I did some damage, Mr. Mitchell,” he said. “Mr. Mitchell may not be as charming or attractive as I am, but he’s a good man and he’ll treat you well. You go on with him.” He softly pushed her to Jake and quietly walked away.

Jake expected her to express her relief over being saved from a marriage with an old man, but instead of gratitude, she was upset.

“You have a lot of nerve,” she quietly hissed.

“Excuse me?” he asked.

“I had him exactly where I wanted him and you ruined it for me. He was just offering to pay off my family’s debt.”

“So am I.” Now he was getting upset. “I just asked you to marry me. Weren’t you listening?”

She rolled her eyes. “The only reason you did that was to ‘save me’ from him.”

“No. Though it was a nice benefit. He’s like a dog in heat. You can do better than that.”

“I figure he doesn’t have much longer to live and he will pay my father’s debts off.”

“I can pay that off just as easily as he can. And you only have to spend six months married to me instead of years married to him. I offer the better deal.”

She gasped. “Is that the way you see marriage? As a business deal?”

“This one is. I will explain everything if you’ll dance with me.”

She crossed her arms and remained still.

“I warned you not to do that.”

She quickly put her arms back down. “I know. I forgot, alright?”

“I don’t understand you. I’m a much better choice than York is any day of the week.”

“If you were desperate to save your family, you would go to great lengths too.”

“I wouldn’t know that kind of loyalty seeing that I have no family. And quite frankly, if that’s what family loyalty will get me, then count me out.” He took a deep breath to calm down. If anyone could get him riled up, it was Sue Lewis. “May I have this dance so I can talk to you? We can even pretend to be friends while we do it.”

“You’re ruining all my chances for me.”

“I’m giving you the best chance of all.”

“Alright. But I’m not going to enjoy myself.”

“Fair enough.” This is why I hate marriage for myself. Women are difficult to manage when it comes to romance. He ignored the way his body responded with pleasure as he took her in his arms. “Before I go into detail, I need to ask you a question. The answer is probably yes but I need to cover all my bases. Are you a virgin?”

Her jaw dropped and she stopped dancing. “I beg your pardon?”

“I’ll take your horrified look as a yes. Only a virgin would respond like that.” He led her in a common dance step so that she would move again.

“Since we’re discussing personal matters, are you one?”

He grinned at her sarcasm. “Yes. And our marriage won’t change that.”

“You are speaking in riddles.”

“Not really. Here’s the situation. My father died recently and left a will. I am his sole heir and am entitled to everything he owned on one condition. I have to get married to a woman who is a Christian who does honorable work, provided she doesn’t live with her parents, and is a virgin. She must also be close to her family. I only have to be married for six months. Then I can get an annulment. Here’s the good part. My father was rich.” He told her how much money he would receive on the wedding day.

Her eyes grew wide. “He had that much?”

“That’s only half. I will give you that amount as a wedding gift to you. I will receive my part of the money after six months is up.”

“I can see why you’re tempted to do this,” she admitted. “That’s a lot of money.”

“So, you can see that this isn’t really a marriage. It’s a business transaction.”

She frowned. “I don’t know. Isn’t it sacrilegious to make a marriage into a business deal?”

“I think it’s better than what you were trying to do with Mr. York, don’t you? If you help me get money, then I can help you get money so you can save your family’s property. What better cause can a person have than to help others?”

“You would really give me all of the money you will get on the wedding day?”

“Yes. I’ll even draw up a contract which you can read over to make sure it’s all legitimate.”

“And I won’t have to have sex with you?”

“Correct. You will be as pure as you are today.”

“Then we’ll get an annulment and go our separate ways?”

“Yes. No one gets hurt. It’s a win-win situation.”

“I want to take the contract to a lawyer and have him look at it.”

“Of course,” he agreed. “I wouldn’t expect you to do anything less.”

“Should I stop by the bank on Monday to pick up the contract?”

“As long as you come before noon. I have to attend meetings for the rest of the day.”

“If this is legitimate, you have yourself a deal.”

He smiled. “And who knows? Maybe we’ll even become friends instead of pretending to get along at these dances.”