A Sensible Arrangement Read Online Free

bachelors.” He smiled and cast a quick glance at Keystone. “I think we can all remember our wilder days without good women in our lives to keep us on the straight and narrow.” Keystone laughed, but Jake only nodded. He couldn’t agree with the men.
    Josephine caused me more trouble than good. The straight and narrow wasn ’t a path she was at all familiar with, nor did she want it for me .
    â€œSo I will tell the board that you have arranged to marry by the middle of the month. Sunday you may tell Mrs. Morgan the same. I know she’ll want to throw you a party.”
    â€œThat isn’t necessary,” Jake protested. “I would never expect someone of your social standing to even give us a second thought.”
    â€œNonsense. I believe you will make something of yourself in no time at all,” Morgan stated, getting to his feet. “I have confidence in you, and I’m not one to be ashamed of small beginnings . . . just small endings.” He gave Jake a nod. “I believe there are great things ahead for you, my boy. If I thought otherwise, you wouldn’t be in my hire.”
    â€œThank you for your confidence in me.”
    Morgan nodded. “We will see you Sunday, then. Good day.” The men exited the room as quickly as they’d entered.
    Jake sat back down and considered the bank owner’s words. Great things for this man would no doubt be associated with banking, and that wasn’t what Jake wanted for his future.Ranching was in his blood, and it was the same that called out to him on a daily basis. He longed to return to the land—to the hard work. He enjoyed fending for himself, sleeping out under the starry skies. He didn’t even mind long hours in the saddle. It was office chairs that made his back ache. He’d only taken on this career in order to set aside enough money to purchase his own ranch. Unfortunately, it was taking a lot longer than he’d planned on.
    â€œSir?” Arnold peeked in through the open office door. “It’s closing time. Will you be staying on this evening?”
    Jake glanced at the ledgers and shook his head. “Lock these records up for the holidays. I’ll get back to them when we return on the second of January.”
    â€œVery good, sir.”
    Jake paid little attention as Arnold scurried around to do his bidding. The younger man was small and pale and didn’t appear to resent the business attire that threatened to strangle the life out of Jake. Neckties and stiff collars were akin to torture devices, as far as Jake was concerned.
    How he longed for the days of a well-worn shirt, riveted pants, and a sturdy pair of boots. Jake gazed out the window for a moment and sighed. Would he ever see Texas again?

    Sunday afternoon, Jake found himself seated in the grand salon of the Morgans’ palatial home. Located near Sixteenth Avenue and Grant Street, the large Queen Anne was only one of many gems set in Denver’s Capitol Hill crown. Most of Denver’s high society held court on “The Hill.” The opulent homes were graced by equally fashionable people who seldom left the confines of their wealthy estates except to visit otherpeople of equal means. Jake thought it all rather nonsensical. In Texas, his father had been one of the wealthier ranchers before the drought. That didn’t mean isolation, however. If anything, it sent people his way on a daily basis. He had good breeder cows and strong bulls. He grazed some of the finest beeves in the South and had made a small fortune during the postwar years.
    â€œMr. Wythe, I was just telling Mr. Morgan how happy I was to hear about your upcoming nuptials,” Mrs. Morgan said, interjecting herself into Jake’s memories.
    An immaculately dressed servant offered Jake a cup and saucer. “Would you care for cream or sugar?” the woman asked.
    Jake shook his head. He was no great lover of tea to begin with,