Cheyenne Mail Order Bride (Mail Order Brides Book 13) Read Online Free
Author: Susan Leigh Carlton
make this process fair and easy. Rather than dicker back and forth, I would like to have your bids on the number of head, with a minimum of 1,000, you would like to have. Each of you may submit one bid.”
“Aren’t you being rather arbitrary with you r rules?” asked one of the buyers.
“You know, when I came down for this meeting, I took a good look around, and I didn’t see one other herd available, nor have I heard of another on the trail. If you want to wait for one to materialize, then I thank you for stopping in this morning,” Cal finished.
“Might I have a word with you, sir?” an Army captain asked.
“Yes, what can I do for the Army?” Cal asked.
“Sir, the Army will need 1,500 head of your cattle,” the captain said.
“Submit your bid, and if you are the high bidder, you shall have them,” Cal replied.
“I don’t think you understood me, sir. The Army needs 1,500 of your cattle,” the captain said.
“Captain, are you telling me you will take my cattle by force? I don’t believe the Army has that authority. The se good people came here today because they also have need of beef. Now, you are welcome to participate in the bidding process. There will be one bid only.”
When Cal opened the bids, he found a range of $53 to $6 0 per head. The Army’s high bid of $60 carried the day, and Cal netted a goodly profit.
When the trail boss brought the herd in, the Army took their cattle, and the other high bidder took his, leaving Cal with 1,0 23 head to start his own herd.
The drovers and trail boss were paid, with most of the drover ’s money spent in the saloons and on fancy girls.
“Clay, I’m going to need a foreman. Are you interested in the job?” Cal said to the trail boss.
“I’ll be square with you, Mr. Pierce. I figure five more years of driving herds, and I’ll be able to get my own spread. I’m thinking I’m going to head back to Texas and bring another herd north next year.
“What would you do until spring when you start the drive?” Cal asked.
“I’ll catch on with one of the ranches until the time comes,” Clay said.
“Well, if you worked for me, the pay would be $60 per month and found. You would have this every month, and you might make your dream come true sooner. Think on it. I’ll hold it open for a few days:
Cal offered the drovers a job on the Circle CP ranch, and of the fifteen, seven accepted. The Circle CP now had a crew and a herd.
Cal rode with them when they drove the herd to the ranch. The bunkhouse was ready for occupancy and Cal saw they were settled. He had hired the cook from the trail drive and arranged for the purchase of the necessary goods to feed the crew.
Cal was in the café down the street from his hotel, si pping his coffee and waiting for his food, when Clay Terwilliger stopped at his table.
“Mr. Pierce, if the offer is still open, I’d like to take you up on it.”
“Have some breakfast, Clay and we’ll talk, “Cal said.
Clay sat down and gave the waitress his order. Cal asked him, “What made you change your mind?”
“Well, sir, I got to thinking on what you said about being paid every month, it sounds good, and the pay is good.
“ The trail is hard, and I ain’t getting no younger. I reckon it’s time I put down some roots. When do you want me to start?
“You have a job. Start whenever you’re ready. I hired seven men from the drive. You hire and fire as you see fit. I don’t know anything about ranching, but I’m a good bus iness man, and being that, I’m going to rely on you to keep us going in the right direction.”
chapter six
Jennie’s Ad
The front porch at Jennie Simpson’s farm…
I’ve been putting this off long enough. I’m going to find out about that Matrimonial News thing. With that thought, Jennie stopped the swing and went into the house looking for paper and a pencil.
She had not written a letter since she had applied for her widow’s pension. It took quite some time to find
“Aren’t you being rather arbitrary with you r rules?” asked one of the buyers.
“You know, when I came down for this meeting, I took a good look around, and I didn’t see one other herd available, nor have I heard of another on the trail. If you want to wait for one to materialize, then I thank you for stopping in this morning,” Cal finished.
“Might I have a word with you, sir?” an Army captain asked.
“Yes, what can I do for the Army?” Cal asked.
“Sir, the Army will need 1,500 head of your cattle,” the captain said.
“Submit your bid, and if you are the high bidder, you shall have them,” Cal replied.
“I don’t think you understood me, sir. The Army needs 1,500 of your cattle,” the captain said.
“Captain, are you telling me you will take my cattle by force? I don’t believe the Army has that authority. The se good people came here today because they also have need of beef. Now, you are welcome to participate in the bidding process. There will be one bid only.”
When Cal opened the bids, he found a range of $53 to $6 0 per head. The Army’s high bid of $60 carried the day, and Cal netted a goodly profit.
When the trail boss brought the herd in, the Army took their cattle, and the other high bidder took his, leaving Cal with 1,0 23 head to start his own herd.
The drovers and trail boss were paid, with most of the drover ’s money spent in the saloons and on fancy girls.
“Clay, I’m going to need a foreman. Are you interested in the job?” Cal said to the trail boss.
“I’ll be square with you, Mr. Pierce. I figure five more years of driving herds, and I’ll be able to get my own spread. I’m thinking I’m going to head back to Texas and bring another herd north next year.
“What would you do until spring when you start the drive?” Cal asked.
“I’ll catch on with one of the ranches until the time comes,” Clay said.
“Well, if you worked for me, the pay would be $60 per month and found. You would have this every month, and you might make your dream come true sooner. Think on it. I’ll hold it open for a few days:
Cal offered the drovers a job on the Circle CP ranch, and of the fifteen, seven accepted. The Circle CP now had a crew and a herd.
Cal rode with them when they drove the herd to the ranch. The bunkhouse was ready for occupancy and Cal saw they were settled. He had hired the cook from the trail drive and arranged for the purchase of the necessary goods to feed the crew.
Cal was in the café down the street from his hotel, si pping his coffee and waiting for his food, when Clay Terwilliger stopped at his table.
“Mr. Pierce, if the offer is still open, I’d like to take you up on it.”
“Have some breakfast, Clay and we’ll talk, “Cal said.
Clay sat down and gave the waitress his order. Cal asked him, “What made you change your mind?”
“Well, sir, I got to thinking on what you said about being paid every month, it sounds good, and the pay is good.
“ The trail is hard, and I ain’t getting no younger. I reckon it’s time I put down some roots. When do you want me to start?
“You have a job. Start whenever you’re ready. I hired seven men from the drive. You hire and fire as you see fit. I don’t know anything about ranching, but I’m a good bus iness man, and being that, I’m going to rely on you to keep us going in the right direction.”
chapter six
Jennie’s Ad
The front porch at Jennie Simpson’s farm…
I’ve been putting this off long enough. I’m going to find out about that Matrimonial News thing. With that thought, Jennie stopped the swing and went into the house looking for paper and a pencil.
She had not written a letter since she had applied for her widow’s pension. It took quite some time to find
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