Chapter 15

"Do you really think you'll be needing enough merchandise from my store for me to justify buying two more teams and wagons?" Silas asked, as we sat at the table again.

"Actually, I think you should buy three or four, but two more would probably be good to start with, just to see how things work out. Are you satisfied that it's cheaper for you to haul your own freight than hire it done?" I asked.

"I'm sure, and it makes delivery faster. I can see that more wagons and teams would help out right now, I'm just wondering how long you'll need the extra goods," he said, and it showed he knew more about running a business than I'd thought.

"If you're worried about my back pocket holding up under the strain you might want to quiz the Mayor a little more closely. I'd tell you the real deal, but you might think I was bragging.

"I'm willing to meet you more than halfway though, if it will ease your mind. I know the extra wagons and teams might seem like a gamble. I'll buy them, take care of the mules and any repairs, and rent them back to you for a dollar a month as you need 'em. I will expect you to furnish the drivers though," I said.

"I'd be a fool not to take you up on that," he said.

"Probably, and I'd look pretty dumb doing it if I didn't know they'd be needed. I haven't even mentioned all the things you'll need to get me for the new house I'm building."

"I thought you just bought the Christopher place," Silas said.

"I did, but I'm building a three bedroom house for Frank and Cara. He's my foreman," I said.

"Wasn't there a house for the foreman out there already?"

"There is one, of sorts, but I didn't think it was impressive enough for my foreman. He and Cara are living in it until the new one is finished, but I'm not even sure I'll leave it standing after that."

"I guess you'll be needing plenty of nails and hardware then," he said.

"Yes, and we'll also need complete supplies for indoor plumbing. I'll need a kitchen sink and a good kitchen range with ovens, and a complete bathroom setup with a tub, flush toilet, and a face bowl sink too. In fact, you should get me plenty of galvanized water pipes, fittings, and faucets.

"There's no big hurry on that stuff though, the Greens are just starting today."

"Let me know about anything you need, and if I'm not here Mary can write it down. I guess you just shot to the top of the list of my customers," he said, and grinned.

"I figured I had, and I intend to stay there. Let me know if I slide down in the rankings."

"That brings me to a thanking I owe you. The Mayor told me how you took care of that scum that came through here with Mrs Clancy and her twins that he'd kidnapped. He also told me how you saved Mary from him. I want you to know that I appreciate it."

"I was just glad I could help. We're going to have a nice town here in Lancaster and we don't need trash like that hangin' around," I said.

"I'll drink to that, how about you?"

"I think I can handle one more shot, at least," I said, and Silas poured us both one.

"Say, where are you gonna keep that wagon and team?"

"I was planning to park the wagon out back and see if Frank could hold the mules in one of his pens, but I'll have to study on another way if he's moved out to your place," he said.

"Don't worry about it. We'll just park the wagon in one of my barns and run your mules with the rest of my stock if it suits you. When you need 'em just let me know and I'll get the wagon hitched and brought into town for you."

"That will work fine if you're sure it's all right."

"Of course it is. I hope I can wear it out by needing stuff hauled in. Right now I'd better get back out to the place and see if anyone has a list that needs ordering."

I didn't think there was really anything I needed to tend to, but sitting there talking to Silas was giving me the creeps, kinda, and I didn't really know why. Maybe it had something to do with Mary being right in the same room. At any rate, Marjorie and Carolyn asked me to see about sending the carriage back for them.

Bob was able to fetch them back home before lunch was on the table, and Sarah had come with them. That tasty little treat didn't do a thing to dampen my appetite, in more ways than one. Still I minded my manners, especially since Maybel was distracting me with the excellent food. She had two apple pies for desert and I'm afraid I did serious damage to one of them.

After lunch I went to visit the Greens. They had their wagon here by now and had already found the lumber they knew about. They were working busily, but when I asked Josh, he produced a list for me. Of course Frank was my next stop.

He was in the smithy and talking to a younger man. From the odd angle his forearm took about halfway down I figured it must be Cooter Smith. When I walked in Frank introduced us.

"I sure appreciate you taking a chance on me Mr Jefferson," Cooter said.

"From what Bob and Frank told me I'm not taking any chance at all. I've told them I want to hire good men and they both said you were. I believe them.

"You gonna be all right living in the bunkhouse for a while?" I asked.

"It will be fine with me, and I'm even sure I can live over Bob's cooking," he said, and grinned.

"Frank tells me you'd have your own cook already if you weren't so stubborn," I said, and damned if he didn't blush.

"Did Frank tell you he was supposed to hire Jane Gramley too?" I asked.

"No sir, he didn't mention that little detail," Cooter said, giving Frank a look.

"Well, when I heard your sad tale I asked him to see about it. We can use the help in the house anyway. If you think I'm getting into your business, you're probably right, and I might not stop it.

"I ain't like some men. I like to have married men working for me, and if I can, I like for them to have a good home for their family. I'm not telling you that you have to marry Jane or anything like that, but I want you to know it's fine with me if you do," I said.

"I intend to marry her if she'll still have me, but I'd feel better about it if I could save up a little money first," he said.

"Do what you like. I think I'll have the Greens start on a new house for Bob too. I was planning on moving him into the house Frank is using, but now I think I'll just save that for you and Jane to get started in," I said, and poor Cooter didn't know what to say - Frank just laughed at him.