A Sensible Arrangement Read Online Free Page B

bottle from her and held it up. “Gentlemen, may I interest you in a drink?”
    â€œOh, Mr. Morgan, must you?” his wife questioned.
    â€œMy dear, it is a holiday, and we are celebrating. I promise we will only imbibe in one small sampling.” He winked at the men and smiled, adding, “For now.” The woman rolled her eyes but said nothing more.
    Jake shook his head when Morgan looked his way. He held up his teacup. “I’m perfectly fine.” There was no need to explain that hard drink had once been his downfall. He had sworn off the stuff ever since making a fool of himself in front of Deborah Vandermark. Even Josephine’s nonsense had not caused him to forgo his promise to leave off all alcohol.
    â€œI had forgotten you were a teetotaler, Wythe,” Morgan said, as if he disapproved. The man seemed to just as easily put it aside, however, as he moved on to the next man.
    â€œWe have a responsibility to our country,” Brown declared, taking a glass from Morgan, “but more so to our own community and state. Silver is king in Colorado. We will see to it that Colorado stands strong. We have the resources here to back our financial institutions and must prevail in keeping order.”
    â€œWhat say you, Mr. Wythe?” Kountze asked. All gazes turned to Jake.
    For a moment Jake wasn’t sure what to say. He had no idea of his opinion mattering in the least. “I believe,” he said in slow, measured thought, “that taking preventive measures is always preferable to reflecting on hindsight and regrets of what should have been done.”
    â€œWell said, young man. Well said,” Moffat agreed. “I’ve been laying foundations for success since before I was your age. I went to work as a child in a nearby bank, and by the age of sixteen I was promoted to assistant teller. I have owned properties, created businesses, and now labor to see a railroad completed that will connect Denver to Salt Lake. This can only serve to benefit our fine city.”
    â€œGentlemen, I have no desire to sit and listen to a business discussion,” Mrs. Morgan interjected. “Today is a day ofrest and a celebration of the New Year. I would ask you to postpone your choice of topics to another day.”
    Mr. Morgan smiled and nodded, while the other men offered their apologies. Jake felt a sense of relief as the conversation turned first to the weather and then to some of the artistic touches that could be seen in the architecture of the house. Even the liquor seemed to be forgotten.
    â€œYes, yes, the windows were something I had to have,” Mrs. Morgan admitted. “After seeing your beautiful stained glass, Mr. Kountze, I could hardly do without.”
    Kountze chuckled. “I suppose it wouldn’t be fitting to let our ladies’ desires go unmet. I have learned in my lifetime that keeping the women of the house happy is almost certainly a guarantee of one’s personal contentment.”
    â€œAnd shortly Mr. Wythe is to learn that lesson for himself,” Mrs. Morgan said with a knowing smile. “He is to wed soon.”
    â€œCongratulations, Wythe,” Morgan’s associates offered nearly in unison.
    Kountze nodded in approval. “This is indeed a day of celebration. And might I inquire after your young lady? Tell us about her.”
    â€œShe’s a widow from Texas . . . my home state,” Jake added the latter as if it would matter to these men. “Her name is Mrs. Martha Olson.”
    â€œIs she of means?” Mr. Brown asked.
    Jake didn’t quite know what to say. He’d never really inquired as to Marty’s financial circumstances. At first he’d figured if she was answering an ad for a mail-order bride, she couldn’t be much to look at. Then she had sent her picture, and Jake knew that wasn’t a problem. He figured she wasn’tfinancially secure and needed to find a husband who