Chapter 7

Mr. Monroe looked at Tack, he was grateful that Mr. Bolt had not been harmed but he needed to get that mine opened and working before the actual investors noticed that the mining corporation and the property, he was intending to purchase was only a scheme.

"Tack, thank you. I will see if we can't get Earl to get the young lady off the property before her time is up? I wonder if he would consider marrying her?"

"Well, I don't think that would be too far-fetched, I have seen him with her, he takes her on rides in the country and spends long hours 'helping' her with her packing. She does seem to like him, and she is all alone, maybe she will say yes?" said Tack who was looking at the map more closely.

"Mr. Monroe, do you realize that if she finds out that her parents really did have a deed and that the mine had actually had silver in it, she would be able to stop the sale?"

"I know that, that is why I sent a letter to her last November. I wanted to be sure she would not look into things. Besides if she had known this, she would have written a long time ago and gotten a lawyer to help her. But I think we are all right. I will get in touch with Earl and see what his plans are. I will see you later continue with 'surveying' and see if you can't get a couple of guys with you to really get the mine open!"

"Will do Mr. Monroe" Tack said as he walked out of the office. Monroe sat at his desk. He was contemplating finding out Were Earl Martin was when Eli walked in.

"Monroe, how are you today? Any closer to setting up business on that farm?" Eli said as he walked in and sat on the chair across from Monroe. He took a cigar out of the box on the desk and lit it.

"I would like to know if your son is available today? I need to speak to him about hurrying the young lady in her packing. I wondered if he wouldn't like to get engaged or married to her so she can leave the farm earlier?"

Eli looked at him, he knew his son was a womanizer but he did not see him as someone who would marry and leave a woman just because he only wanted money or something from her.
"I think…" said Eli, taking a puff from his cigar, "…that perhaps, my son may get her away from the farm more often, maybe invite her to stay at the hotel, until she was done packing, but, as far as marrying, he is a confirmed bachelor! At least that is what he has said to me, and he has never proposed marriage to any one!"

"Hmm!" said Monroe, "Well, the idea has come up, because as you know, we need access to that land without interruption." Eli and Monroe sat in the office thinking about that when Earl walked in.

"Well, hello there, I did not expect to see you dad!" Eli stood up and shook his son's hand and Monroe also. Then looking at them both Earl said:

"Wat have you been planning?"

"Well, I was wondering if it was possible if you could help her get out a little sooner than that? " said Mr. Monroe

"Why?" said Earl leaning against the wall, smoking a pipe, a habit he had picked up in his college days.

"Earl, if you can get her away from the farm even a week earlier that would be beneficial since we will be having more investors coming in sooner than when we thought."

Earl looked from his father to Mr. Monroe. He said to them:

"Technically if she leaves for more than a week, she has abandoned the property and we have it free and clear." He thought for a moment and then he said:

"In fact, I can help her pack her things this week, she does not have much and she is selling the furniture as well. I can convince her to leave for a while to take a break, maybe go to Seattle for a little rest…?" He said and trailed off thinking more about how to accomplish this task.

Eli then said:

"Earl is right, if she is gone for more than a week, we can set up and do what we need to do, after that week is up. Could you convince her to leave by the end of this week? Asked Eli Martin

Earl had already been thinking about the idea and said:
"I can, I will need a train ticket and a hotel ticket to Seattle, she can stay at the Fairmont, where I will wine and dine her and father, you can take care of her possessions and make sure that the furniture is sold, and she receives her money for the sale in due time."

They all thought that was a great idea. After shaking hands, they left, Monroe to send a few more telegrams and Eli to his office as a lawyer he needed to be ready to receive Miss Beason and have her sign a contract for selling her furniture. Earl went to the train station to get two tickets to Seattle and then telegraphed the Fairmont Hotel in Seattle to secure a room for him and a suite for her. He was going to enjoy her company, and still have his freedom!

Candy, Julie, and Abby were reading the deed and other important paper work when Jeremy and his brothers arrived at the hotel. They looked like they had been riding all day. So, they went upstairs to freshen up except for Jeremy who stopped by and gave Candy a kiss and hugged the baby.

"Jeremy, what happened, you look like you had a rough time, what did you do? Candy asked. Jeremy looked at Candy, Julie, and Abby and said:

"after we get cleaned up, we need to talk to you!"

"Why?" said Candy.

"I can't say right now but will you meet us in our room in about an hour. Also, Abby, you need to be there too. This concerns you as well. Abby looked shocked but said nothing. Jeremy went straight upstairs, while the ladies sat with their tea and continued their conversation.

"I wonder why they want you with us? Do you suppose they found out about something?" said Julie to Abby. Candy had just moved Annie from one side to another and said:

"I wonder what they found out. I know we are going to have to tell them about the deed and the other paperwork!" Abby said, "Maybe that is why they need me?"

"but you said no one knew of that? How would they have found out?" Candy said. Julie nodded in agreement.

"Ladies, I see that the baby is getting restless, how about we go and freshen up in my room. Abby you can come too." Said Julie. They all got up and went to Julie's room. As they were leaving a man came in, he looked rather dusty and like he needed a bath, the clerk was ready to tell him to go to the other hotel which was at the end of the town when the man opened his saddle bag and pulled out a small bag of coins. He placed that on the clerk's desk and signed the register. He had been listening to the lady's conversation and heard the information about the deed. He was not the only one, Tack had stood by the window listening to their conversation as well. He left and took this information to his boss. The other man, a cowboy from the looks of him headed upstairs to a room on the second floor.

Earl stepped out of the train office and decided to see if Miss Beason was available. He had noticed that she was visiting with some ladies, and he went over to the hotel to find out what rooms they were in. His plan of inviting her to a nice relaxing week in Seattle was fool proof.