Mattie Ross contemplated her situation. One year after the deaths of her mother and father she had managed to keep her family together. With help from a certain one eyed sheriff.

Lawyer Daggett had left town only two months after Mattie had returned; his wife needed to go to the dryer climate of Arizona to prevent her incipient consumption with getting worse.

The ranch had been sold and all its livestock as well; Mattie was content with the deal. It had been more than sufficient to buy the General Store. Already under her management it was making a very good profit.

Her brother and sister were doing well in the new school; the teacher was actually quite good. A graduate of the University of Iowa. Not an eastern school but still decent.

Rooster was also doing well as the Town Marshall; with his reputation no one was going to make trouble.

But she was feeling some discontent; and decided to figure out why. It took some thinking but she was able to realize that running a General Store was just not enough for her. With that in mind she began to look at other possibilities.

Unfortunately they were few in this town. The only challenge that she could see would be the local bank. Unfortunately she did not have the financial ability to buy it. Still there was a possibility; right next to the store was a tavern that had gone out of business when the owner died. It was just empty; as far as she could find out he had no relatives. She was thinking on expanding the General store and that would fulfill that need nicely. She went to work on that.

Rooster looked up as Mattie came in the door. By now he knew when she was about to start something.

"Well Baby Sis going to make a run at the Bank?"

"If I had the financial resources I would. Unfortunately I do not. So I must think smaller. I wish to purchase the building next to the store and expand that way."

Rooster thought on that. "Makes sense. I sent out feelers on Old Man Johnson and managed to find out where he came from; originally Ohio, Columbus to be exact. From what the sheriff there said he had no family."

Mattie nodded. "That is good. I believe that I can petition the bank for ownership of it."

"More than likely; not like anyone else has shown interest."

Lawyer Thompson was young but competent; and it did not take long for the arrangements to be finalized. In one month the addition was open and doing a very good business. With more space more goods were on display and that worked to the advantage of the proprietor.

Mattie had gotten two letters so far from Ranger La Boef. Tall tales of course but interesting. She had written write back naturally.

La Boef smiled as he read the letter from Mattie Ross. No surprise she had landed on her feet. About to become the town tycoon; he had no doubt of that. He looked at the other letter. And sighed.

His father was in failing health; and his mother made it clear that his duty was to come home, quit the rangers, and run the family businesses.

He knew very well that he was unsuited to business; the little details that were so important bored him. But family was family and he did have a duty not only to his family but to all the employees of the various businesses. The Ranch of course; and the General store and Livery and the freight company. Over 100 people depended on those businesses for their livelihood.

What he needed was to find someone that was a good businessman and have him run the companies. However that would take time and frankly luck; finding someone not only honest but competent would not be easy.

Then a thought struck him; it was very much one that he should have shrugged off right away; but it nagged at him and made him actually think on it.

Mattie read the latest letter from La Boef with interest.

"My father is in failing health; my mother makes it clear that my duty is to come home, quit the Ranger Service and run the family businesses. But I know that I am not qualified to do so. So I must find someone to do it."

Mattie thought on this. He had described the various enterprises that the La Boef family owned. It was in Houston, one of the largest cities in Texas. It would require a good businessman to continue to run them at a profit considering the clear competition that would come in such a big city. Finding someone honest and able would not be easy.

Rooster sighed; he was getting bored. His reputation, especially after almost singlehandedly wiping out the Pepper Gang, had prevented anyone from seriously challenging him. And that was getting old. Outside of an occasional drunk and such he had nothing to do.

Mattie sighed. Even expanding the store was little more than extra work; no challenge at all. She looked down from her window at the Sheriff's office across the street. She knew that Rooster was getting bored; and soon that would lead to drinking and other problems.

La Boef sighed. So far his attempts to find someone to run the businesses had been an abject failure; no one suitable had appeared. He went back to his wild idea; more and more it looked like the only possibility. But how to write that letter?

Mattie read the letter for the third time and still could not believe it. She sat and thought for a long time; then headed out.

Rooster right away could see that something had really startled her. Which in itself was very rare.

"Baby Sis, I have a feeling you have been surprised."

"You are correct Rooster. I just got a letter from Ranger La Boef. Read it and see what you think." And handed him the letter.

Rooster pulled out his spectacles and sat back and read.

"Mattie. This is without a doubt the strangest and most difficult letter I have ever written. I have spent almost a week trying to find a way to do it right. In the end I realize that you prefer straightforward speech to any other and here it is.

I have been unable to find anyone that can run the family business; my father has probably less than a year to live; and some of that time he will be unable to do anything at all. So my time is short. I had a very unusual thought; I sat on it and tried to ignore it but as time went by I realized that I had to at least try.

Reading between the lines of your letters I sense that you find no challenge at all in running a small town general store. Which is no surprise to me at all.

Mattie Ross, I greatly admire you in many ways. Your courage and grit and intelligence; and your unwavering determination. So here is my offer.

Marry me and run the family businesses. I understand you are only 16 but I have no doubt that you can do it and do it well. It will be the challenge I believe you want. As my wife there will be no difficulty in you running the various businesses; before a month is out they will all be aware of how much you are better at it than I can ever be. Honestly better than father was.

I have no doubt you can do better as a husband than me. But I believe that you would have a good life here doing what you do best; become a tycoon.

My true Regards

Samuel Johnson La Boef

Rooster slowly took off his spectacles and shook his head. Now this was a shock. He looked at Mattie who had composed herself and was as usual calm and unreadable.

"Got to admit this has shocked me. But I can see his point. You would be the one to run those businesses."

Mattie nodded. "I agree. I want this challenge. But what worries me is that to be honest how good a wife will I be? Rooster, I am honest enough to know that few men would want to marry one such as me."

"Baby Sis, you are a good looking young woman with fire and smarts. A real man would not be scared away."

"No one has shown interest here."

"Well not like there is much to choose from."

"That is true."

Rooster grinned. "I can already see that you have made up your mind."

She sighed. She had to agree. She had indeed already decided to do it.

"There is much to do. Have to sell the Store and make arrangements to move."

"Not hard for you Baby Sis."

Mattie was worried about Rooster; in all ways that mattered he was family. She decided to bring that up in the letter that she was writing; matching La Boef she was straight and honest.

"Samuel. I believe it is time to be on a first name basis with the man who will be my husband. As I guess you are not surprised to know, it did not take me long to agree with your proposal. I liked that you were honest and straightforward. I do indeed look forward to the challenge.

On another matter, I believe you could also do better than I as regards a wife. I am not a simpering miss and my tolerance for the so called social skills is very low. But I promise you that I will do the best as I can as wife and partner to you.

My one concern is Rooster; he needs more of a challenge then becoming a town Marshall. I fear boredom will lead to him taking up the bottle again and the troubles that would follow that. He is family to me now; beyond being me and my brother and sisters legal guardian.

"Your Intended

Mattie Ross."

La Boef smiled as he read the letter; a great weight was lifted off of his shoulders. He thought about Rooster; in a stroke of good luck he had an idea that should keep him from getting bored.

Mattie read the letter with growing happiness. La Boef had clearly written right away upon receiving her acceptance of his proposal.

"My Intended.

Mattie I believe you are underestimating yourself as a wife and mother. But that is for the future to show. I look forward to our marriage and life together. As regards Rooster there is a proposal I think he would find interesting. The county that Houston is in is quite large; and the county Sheriff is only given a few deputies to watch over many hundreds of square miles. The Result is that there is very little law outside of the towns. Rustling and other problems abound. There has been put between the larger ranch owners and business owners to employ what would be called regulators; a private law and order company. I think Rooster would do that job quite well. It would not be of the same physical challenge as a Territorial Marshal, but would be varied and busy.

Looking Forward to the Day

Samuel"

One month later the Store had been sold at a good price and they were on their way.

The last letter that Mattie got before leaving was the first one that had anything that really concerned her.

"Mattie. My mother is not entirely in favor of all of this; she thinks you are too young. You will have some work to do there to get her to see the light. But I have confidence in you."

La Boef sighed. His mother was a very stubborn woman. She and Mattie would be well matched.

Mattie took a deep breath as the train stopped. They had gone to Kansas City and then from there south to Houston. Rooster was up and out and waiting to help her step down. Her brother and sister were right behind her; Rooster holding them back as he saw La Boef coming.

Mattie raised her chin and walked towards the man she would be marrying in a few days.

La Boef smiled at her.

Then pulled her forward and thoroughly kissed her. A somewhat dazed Mattie blinked at him. Then smiled. This would work.