Best Interest At Heart
Stories similar to this that you might like too.
The ranch house had a large wraparound porch on the south side that wrapped around three sides. It looked very old and run down, but was still in good condition despite the many years of neglect.
The front door opened into an entry hall with two doors off the right side wall to either end: one led to what appeared to be the dining room, another led to a back hallway that ran to both ends of the long structure, and then another door was located at the end of the hall.
A small staircase in the middle of the hall led up to the second-floor landing where there were four rooms off the left side wall: a kitchen, parlor, library, and office.
“I’m guessing from this house,” he said, “that we are going to have guests.”
“Yes, we do entertain our business associates here,” she replied, her tone not showing much enthusiasm for their upcoming meetings. She glanced toward the stairs where he could hear the sound of voices.
“You should probably go up first so you can get your bearings before they come down looking for you. I’ll follow shortly.” He started out the door but turned back when he saw she hesitated.
“It’s just that I have a feeling that someone is coming down these stairs now,” she said.
“Then you’re correct because I’ve already seen someone in that room upstairs. You might want to wait outside while I greet him.” He walked away without waiting for a reply.
He found his visitor in what he assumed must have been a sitting room or study. The man who stood there wore the same suit as the day before but no hat and carried no briefcase. His hair was neatly combed and parted to the right side, his beard trimmed and styled.
The clothes looked brand new. But it was the manner in which this man moved that gave him a different impression than before. Where last night’s visitor was nervous and unsure of himself, today’s guest seemed confident and comfortable in his surroundings. This man had obviously visited this place several times before.
“Good morning, Mr. Harper,” he said. “What brings you back to the ranch after all this time?”
“We have an opportunity to make some money,” Harper answered.
“Well, I’m glad you came, sir, because it means we will be getting paid twice as fast,” Ben replied with a smile. “But I must say I would prefer it if you called me Ben.”
A faint smile crossed Ben’s lips when he heard the slight hesitation in the other’s reply. It told him the man hadn’t quite gotten used to having a boss, and it made him feel more powerful somehow.
“Fine by me,” he replied. Then he motioned for the other man to take a seat, and they sat opposite each other across a heavy oak table in the center of the room. “I assume that since you’ve been here before, you know the routine.”
“I’ve done all my due diligence on this deal,” Harper said. “There is nothing hidden about the operation, so there shouldn’t be any surprises.”
“Except maybe how profitable it will turn out to be,” Ben remarked.
Harper shrugged. “If there are any surprises, it won’t affect the outcome of the transaction.”
Ben studied Harper’s face for any sign that he didn’t believe the other’s statement. There was none, and he felt better knowing that the man had done his homework well. “So why did you bring us here today?” he asked.
“Because I wanted to meet you in person,” Harper replied. “And because I want to tell you that we are going to be doubling our money very soon.”
“That’s good news,” Ben said. “Are you ready for the next step? We could start working on the contract right now.”
“Actually, we can skip all that and move straight ahead.” Harper pulled a thick envelope out of his pocket and set it on the table between them. “This is everything you need to see the ranch through my eyes, including financial statements and reports from the previous owners that prove it is making a profit.”
“Why don’t we wait until we have a chance to look over the documents before we start talking about the purchase?” Ben suggested.
“We aren’t buying this ranch,” Harper replied. “I’m selling it to you.”
“But—”
“You are going to buy it from me.”
“For how much?” Ben asked, hoping against hope that he might be able to talk the man out of it.
“Half.”
“I’ll pass, but I think you’re crazy,” Ben replied. “The ranch has been losing money every year for twenty years. It would require more than half of what you offered to save the operation from going under.”
“I am willing to pay half because I want this ranch so badly that I would even put my own money on the line,” Harper responded. “But I would like to offer something else in return.”
Ben waited for the other man to explain why he needed to give away half of what he owned and what exactly he hoped to gain by doing so. But instead of answering either question, Harper rose to his feet and headed for the door.
“Where are you going?” Ben asked.
Harper turned around and smiled at Ben. “To get a hat and briefcase so you can sign the contract.”
***
When Harper returned, he was carrying two hats, both of which he placed on the edge of the table. “Which one will you wear for us to seal the deal?” he asked.
“Neither,” Ben said. “Let’s just do business here in front of everyone.” He paused and thought for a moment about how he should approach this meeting with Harper. After all, their relationship wasn’t quite like that between a rancher and his hired hand, where there were no secrets.
But Ben didn’t plan on keeping anything secret from this man; in fact, he intended to let Harper know everything he knew about the other man—except the real reason for his presence on the ranch. That couldn’t happen until Harper was on board. And since the man seemed determined to make it clear that he considered himself to be in charge, Ben decided to play along.
“Very well,” Harper said. “We shall do it your way, but I must warn you that I have a reputation to uphold among men. A man in my position cannot be seen wearing a hat without a suit jacket.”
“I understand,” Ben replied. “In that case, I suggest you wear the gray hat since it matches your suit.”
“As you wish,” Harper said, slipping into the other hat. “Do you have a pen and paper ready for me, Mr. Harper?”
“Of course,” Ben replied. He handed him the items he’d borrowed earlier from the desk clerk while Harper took his seat again. As he reached for the pen to sign the papers, Harper looked down at Ben’s hands. “May I ask why you’re not wearing gloves?”
“It doesn’t matter why,” Ben replied. “What matters is that I want you to sign these contracts as quickly as possible.”
He pulled the sheet containing the contract out of the folder and handed it to Harper. The man glanced briefly over it and then signed his name across the bottom. With nothing left to say, Harper slipped the document back into the folder and slid the briefcase across the table toward Ben.
“Now that we are finished with the preliminary business, can we talk about the terms of the sale?” Ben asked, pulling out the copy of the original contract that had been sent to him. “I presume you want it in writing so there won’t be any misunderstandings.”
“Of course,” Harper agreed, taking another glance over the paperwork and signing each page. After a final inspection, he pushed the briefcase back across the table toward Ben.
“So?” Ben asked, picking up the briefcase and opening it. “Did you find the answers to all our questions or did you forget something?”
“I believe we’re done,” Harper replied. “All that’s left now is to decide if I’ve met all your requirements and for us to shake hands.”
“And if I choose to walk away?” Ben asked.
“Then you lose everything and will be unable to buy a horse in town,” Harper replied. “You may be willing to give away half of what you own, but I can assure you I am not.”
“If that’s the way you feel,” Ben said, standing and reaching for his hat.
Harper rose as well and they shook hands before Ben led the way outside where he locked the door behind them.
“Why are you still on this ranch?” Harper asked after climbing into the buggy and settling himself in the seat. “Don’t tell me you’re here because of a bet. You wouldn’t have much of an excuse since you lost to me in the duel.”
Ben shrugged. “I’m here because someone paid me a substantial amount of money to take control of the ranch until he figures out what he wants to do with it.” He paused and then added, “And I intend to keep my word. If you think otherwise, then you are more foolish than I thought.”
“That’s good to hear,” Harper said, leaning toward him. “Because I don’t like being made a fool of.” He glanced at Ben and chuckled. “But then again, I never really liked you anyway.”
“I’m surprised,” Ben said, “that you could ever dislike me since we’re practically brothers.”
“Not even close,” Harper replied. “A brother would not have thrown that challenge in front of all those people. In fact, he would have taken a bullet rather than fight.”
“Are you so sure you want to sell this place?” Ben asked. “After all, it’s yours by right of inheritance.”
“Yes, it is,” Harper said, “but you must agree that it does not belong to you by blood. Your mother was adopted.”
“I know that,” Ben replied, lowering his voice. “The same way you were.”
They rode quietly for a few moments and then Harper spoke again. “How long will it take you to transfer ownership to your new company?”
“Four to six months,” Ben replied.
“And how many people will work here?” Harper continued. “I’m told some are quite skilled at working cattle. Perhaps you’d be interested in having them join your crew.”
“I’ll look into it,” Ben said. “Now that we are both here, perhaps you’d like to see your property for yourself. We could ride along and get an idea of what needs to be done.”
“No need,” Harper said. “I know exactly where I want to start with the improvements.” He turned his attention to the ranch house. “What sort of shape is it in? I’m hoping to fix it up and make it into a suitable home for myself and the children.”
“You might have to rent it out until you can afford the repairs,” Ben replied.
“Then I guess we’ll just stay on the ranch,” Harper replied. “It’s fine with me; I always intended to live here when I bought it. Besides, it would be better if we didn’t attract too much attention by going to town every day.”
***
With one last glance around the room, Ben locked it once more and headed upstairs to put on a fresh shirt before dinner. He was halfway down the stairs when Molly appeared in the foyer and called out to him.
“Mr. Harper has arrived,” she said. “He’s already gone to bed but I wanted to let you know that I saw him.”
“Thank you,” Ben replied. “I’ll be downstairs.”
Molly watched him leave and then hurried back to her room. She sat on the edge of the bed, thinking hard about what she should say to Ben after their conversation earlier today. She had been certain they would go to the saloon together and drink away what little they had left of the evening.
Instead, she found herself waiting alone at the table for Ben, wondering why he hadn’t returned yet. Was he still mad at her? It seemed almost impossible considering the way he’d looked at her during breakfast this morning.
As much as she wanted to believe that, Molly couldn’t help feeling nervous and apprehensive. What did Ben think of her now? Did he still love her as much as he once did? And more importantly, was it safe to show him how much he meant to her after he told her he had no intention of staying here for long?
Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door and she opened it, expecting to find Ben there. But instead, Harper stepped inside, wearing his hat and coat. He looked over at Molly.
“Hello,” he said, walking toward her. “Are you ready to see your place?”
She nodded and followed him down the stairs. The moment Harper opened the front door, Molly inhaled the crisp night air.
“Wow,” she exclaimed. “Look at the stars! They’re brilliant!”
“I’ve always loved looking at the stars,” Harper replied. “There’s nothing like watching them twinkle through the night sky.” He reached down and pulled open the carriage door for her. “Shall we?”
Harper held the door open for her and they exited onto the street and mounted their horses. He turned to look behind and then urged his horse forward.
They rode in silence, enjoying the quiet night breeze against their faces. As they traveled farther down the road, the lights from the saloon came into view. The building itself looked dark and abandoned, but the light coming from its windows made it look as though it were bustling with activity.
There were also several other buildings that gave off an eerie glow and Molly realized that all the lanterns in town must be lit tonight. It was probably because everyone expected trouble following Harper’s visit to the bank, she thought.
“Why did you come here tonight?” Harper asked suddenly, breaking the silence.
“I don’t know,” Molly replied. “Maybe because I needed to clear my head, or maybe I was curious. Whatever the reason, I’m glad I came.”
“So am I,” Harper said. “This is not a place for someone who wants peace and quiet to dwell.”
“I guess you’re right,” Molly replied.
“I’m guessing you never knew anyone who worked here before?” Harper asked.
“No,” she replied.
“Well, then you won’t mind if I tell you about my first few days here.”
“Sure.”
Harper took a deep breath and exhaled. “The day after I moved here, I went to the bank to collect money from our savings account. I found myself standing among men, armed and ready for battle, with no idea what I should do. When I asked to see the manager, he refused to point blank. Not wanting to cause any trouble, I backed away and decided to wait it out.”
“What happened?” Molly asked, leaning over slightly so that she could hear his answer.
“Nothing really,” Harper replied, shaking his head. “After a while, the men began whispering to one another. Soon, they stopped talking about business matters and started speaking about women. You wouldn’t believe some of the things they said about you… well, not exactly about you; but the way they described what they wanted to do with you and me, it made me want to throw up.”
Molly felt embarrassed hearing about these conversations. “It wasn’t true,” she quickly added. “I just got here and I’m sure you’ve told me enough times that I didn’t belong here.”
“That may be the case,” Harper replied. “But I don’t think those men would have taken kindly to having their words rebuked.”
Molly laughed. “You’re probably right about that.”
“And I suppose I would have been blamed for stirring the pot, even if I tried to stop them,” Harper continued. “I can only imagine the kind of trouble that would cause.”
Molly nodded, remembering the incident in the dining hall. No doubt, the townspeople would consider her a nuisance for making them look bad.
“Anyway,” Harper continued, “that’s why I decided to take a job guarding the saloon and I haven’t regretted it since. For one thing, it’s kept me busy; for another, it’s given me a reason to stay here and work through this mess. And now—”
He stopped abruptly. They had reached the end of the street, where they turned back toward the hotel and rode past several other businesses: a store, a general goods shop and a blacksmith’s shop. They rounded a corner and came upon the church. It was dark and quiet. “We’ll be stopping by here soon,” Harper said.
They continued on, leaving the church behind. After a short distance, they turned left onto a side street and arrived at Molly’s destination—the boarding house.
“Where are we going?” she asked when he turned their horses around and headed back down the street.
“My place,” he replied. “We’re staying there until this is all over.”
“All over?”
“Yes, ma’am, all over.” He dismounted from the horse and handed it to Molly before taking hold of his reins.
Molly climbed down and tied the horse’s reins to the hitching post outside. Harper led both horses inside the hotel and up to the office before returning to retrieve her. The front desk was empty, but a light still burned in the room where Molly had stayed before.
“This will be your room,” Harper told Molly. “It’s small, but the bed is comfortable.”
She glanced in the direction of the door and shook her head. “Do you mind if we use your bedroom?”
“Please do,” he replied. “And if you need anything, feel free to ring the bell beside the bed.”
Molly followed him up the stairs. As she passed by an open doorway, she saw the bedside clock read nine thirty-five. She looked at Harper. “Shouldn’t we get some rest?”
Harper paused in the narrow hallway before continuing toward the room. “There will be plenty of time to sleep once you finish telling me all about yourself.”
The End