A Blessed Song for Their Love by Olivia Haywood
Chapter Nineteen
Arthur Stratton brought the horses to a halt in front of the mercantile store and carefully lowered himself off the buckboard seat.
“Afternoon Arthur,” Sheriff Gideon greeted cheerfully as he strode across the road with a tall bespectacled man at his side. "Just the man I was looking for. I have someone here you should meet.”
The man was dressed in a scarlet waistcoat and ironed grey pants. His black shoes were shiny despite the dust being kicked up by walking on the dirt road.
“I may have found a solution to your problems,” Ezrah beamed as they came to a stop in front of Arthur next to the buckboard.
Arthur hesitantly shook the man's hand.
“How do you do sir? My name is Elroy Higgs.” His eyes were warm and friendly.
Arthur liked the cut of his jib, yet there was something about him that made him slightly uneasy. “Arthur Stratton,” he cautiously greeted the newcomer.
“Elroy is looking to expand his horse breeding endeavors and is looking for someone down this way to help him get started. He was looking to make some connections in town and bumped into me,” Ezrah said enthusiastically. “How do you like that for a coincidence?” His voice boomed. “I've got some business to see to, I'll leave you to it then.” He strode away.
Elroy Higgs smiled. “The sheriff got a bit ahead of me there. I was hoping we could talk, possibly have a drink and discuss business? I hear that you own a ranch in these parts?”
Arthur hesitated. “You hear correctly.” He couldn't shake the feeling that something was slightly off about the man's behavior. His inner voice was telling him to use caution, but then again they were in such a financial pickle, this may just be the answer he'd been praying for. “I suppose I could spare the time.”
“Wonderful!” The man beamed and gestured for Arthur to take the lead.
They walked side by side down the street as the man asked trivial questions about the town and all the businesses. He paused as they reached the doors of the Three-Guns Saloon and gestured once again for Arthur to go on ahead through the doors.
He liked Elroy Higgs's politeness and respect.
Arthur nodded uncomfortably to a barmaid as he pulled out a chair and sat. Even in his younger days, he had never been much of a drinker. The saloon was not a place that made him feel at home. He wondered what solace his son could ever have found in a cold place such as this. He silently thanked God that Thomas no longer frequented this place. All thanks to Rosaline, he thought, before the man interrupted his thoughts.
“Can I interest you in a drink?” he asked.
“I don't drink, thank you,” Arthur answered politely.
“Very well,” Elroy waved the barmaid away. “As the sheriff mentioned before, I'm looking to expand my business in these parts. I have a profitable horse breeding business and I'm looking for a partner that can handle the breeding and selling. There will of course be a sizeable share in the profits.”
Arthur nervously shifted in his chair as men began to pour into the saloon. It was close to five and all the farmhands were just coming from their day's work, chattering away as they joked and shoved one another. “I must be honest with you, Mr. Higgs.”
“Please, call me Elroy,” he smiled.
“Very well. I must tell you, Elroy, our family has fallen on hard times. I don't think we would be able to afford to take on an expansion of this nature and size.”
Elroy quickly waved off the notion. “Forgive me for not saying so before Arthur.” He stopped and asked politely. “If you don't mind me calling you Arthur?”
“Not at all,” Arthur conceded.
“This venture will of course include a startup sum of money to cover any running costs to get the business off the ground.”
Arthur ran his stroked his grey beard as he considered for a moment. “I'm afraid that I can't accept your generous offer Mr. Higg...” He stopped to correct himself. “Elroy. My family has accumulated a considerable amount of debt. I wouldn't be able to accept your offer in good faith, knowing that I could sink your new business venture. I must therefore decline and bid you good luck with your business.” He stood to leave as Elroy gripped his arm.
“Wait!” Elroy said a little too quickly and made Arthur frown. He removed his hand and straightened his waistcoat. “I mean to say, please sit down. I am a man of great wealth Arthur. I don't say this to be boastful,” he smiled reassuringly. “We can talk this through, after all. Is God not the God who always makes a way where there seems to be no way?”
Arthur sat back down. “Are you a man of God, Elroy?”
“Oh yes, church every Sunday, just like my mama taught me.” He lifted his head in pride.
“What is that you have in mind?”
Elroy nodded approvingly. “I knew when I saw you that you were an honest man of God, Arthur. I must admit to being thoroughly impressed with your honesty. We will get along just fine. Please go ahead and tell me about all your debts and we can lay out a plan between the two of us.”
“I would have to consult my son before making any final decisions. He helps me run the ranch, and I can't make any solid business decisions without him. The ranch is his inheritance after I pass.”
“Of course, of course,” Elroy agreed. “We can discuss the broader spectrum of things between us and include him all our decisions before we dot all the I's and cross all the T's, so to speak.”
“So this will be a written contract?”
“I always think it's best to have security in these matters, for both parties,” he said reassuringly.
***
Arthur smiled to himself as he pulled the buckboard into the yard and dismounted with an extra spring in his step. His conversation with Elroy Higgs in the bar had ended with them agreeing upon a plan to bring Thomas into the loop and hopefully, if everything went well, sign a contract.
Elroy had listened intently to everything Arthur had said about all the debts Thomas had accumulated. He had made notes in a small pocketbook throughout their conversation.
Arthur liked a main who paid meticulous attention to detail. He smiled to himself as he walked to the back door. He could hear happy voices flowing from the kitchen. Rosaline had made a real impact on their family, he thought, as he entered the kitchen.
Thomas was sitting beside Rosaline on the floor, his shoulder touching hers as they played with Robbie.
“Look, it's Grandpa!” Rosaline said happily as she turned Robbie around in her lap.
Robbie gurgled happily as Arthur came over and pinched his cheek.
“Did you get everything you needed in town?” Thomas asked cheerfully.
It warmed Arthur's heart to see his son smiling again. “I didn't actually get into the store.”
Thomas frowned. “Did something happen?”
“Oh no, nothing bad,” Arthur said reassuringly. “There's something I'd like to talk to you about,” he pulled out a chair and sat at the kitchen table.
“I'll just take Robbie to the nursery,” Rosaline said as she began to stand.
“No please stay, lass. You are part of this family now. There isn't anything you can't hear about.”
Rosaline looked up at Thomas as he pushed himself up off the ground.
He nodded reassuringly and held out his hand to help her up.
She blushed slightly as she took his hand and allowed herself to be pulled up with Robbie on her hip.
Arthur's heart grew with pride as he watched his son interact with his new daughter-in-law. The two clearly had feelings for one another, everyone could see it. The only two people who still needed to see it were Thomas and Rosaline themselves, but that was a matter for another day. There were bigger issues at the moment.
“I think we may have found a way out of our financial difficulties,” Arthur began as the two took their seats across from him. “I met a man in town who is looking to expand his profitable horse breeding business.”
Thomas bit his lower lip and frowned as his father continued.
“We would still run the ranch as we do now, with the addition of having prized stallions and mares for breeding in some of our pens. We would then raise the foals and get a cut of the profit when they are ready to be sold.”
Thomas shook his head. “We can't afford to feed and raise more livestock. Even if it will be profitable in the long run, we can't kick it off.”
“That's the thing,” Arthur added excitedly. “I spoke to Mr. Higgs extensively about our difficulties, and he's willing to pay off all of our debts, provided we sign a contract that we will be getting a smaller percentage of the profits at the start until the debt has been worked off. He's willing to front the necessary running costs.”
Thomas looked at Rosaline as she sat in silence. “Is something the matter? Do you not think this is a good idea?”
“No it's not that, it sounds like it could be the answer to our prayers,” She looked at Arthur. “Did you say his name was Higgs?”
“Yes, Elroy Higgs.”
“Do you know him?” Thomas asked with concern.
“I'm not sure.” She frowned as she searched her memory while bouncing Robbie on her hip. “Probably just sounds similar to someone else.” She smiled at Thomas. “I think you should meet Mr. Higgs and see for yourself.”
Thomas turned to his father. “Alright, we can meet this Mr. Higgs in the morning.
***
Arthur followed his son into the Three-Guns saloon as the doors swung shut behind them. Elroy Higgs was already sitting at a table in the corner with a pint of beer in front of him as they picked their way through the tables and pulled out their chairs.
Elroy stood and offered his hand to Thomas. “Elroy Higgs, pleased to meet you, Mr. Stratton.”
“Please call me Thomas,” he said as he shook the man's hand.
“I'm glad you feel comfortable enough to dispense with formalities.” Elroy smiled and gestured for the men to sit. “I presume your father has brought you up to speed with everything we discussed last night?”
“He has informed me of your discussions, I just have a few questions of my own if you don't mind, Mr. Higgs.”
“Elroy, please, and of course not. I would doubt your capabilities if you didn't have any questions for me. A wise man always makes sure of what he's getting himself into.”
“Firstly I would like to know how you came to know about our ranch? My father tells me that it was a coincidence?”
Elroy smiled. “Call it divine providence if you will. I was looking to expand my business in these parts, and at first, I didn't think I would have any luck, but then the darndest thing happened. I came across your sheriff, and as we got to talking, he mentioned that he knew of someone that may be able to point me in the right direction. And the rest, as you know, is history. Quite fortuitous wouldn't you say? As if somebody wanted us to meet.”
Thomas stroked his circle beard. “Quite fortuitous, yes. And you are apprised of our financial difficulties?”
“Oh yes,” Elroy nodded vigorously. “I have already worked the terms of repayment into the contract.” He leant under the table and retrieved a brown leather bag. Flicking the metal clasps open, he retrieved a stack of papers.
“That was awfully fast.” Thomas raised a brow and looked at the man.
Elroy cleared his throat. “It was quite fortunate that there is a typist in the next town. I asked around and was eventually pointed in the right direction,” he explained and held the papers out to Thomas.
Arthur watched as he hesitated but eventually took the papers and skimmed through the pages.
“Will you allow me a few days to carefully read through everything and decide?”
Arthur held his breath as he saw the veil that fell over Elroy's face.
“Well you see I have other offers in the next town,” Elroy's body stiffened. “I'm in a hurry to get back to my own ranch, so if you aren't sure I think I had better take these to the other man.” He reached for the papers.
Thomas pulled them out of his reach and stared down at the papers.
Arthur wrung his hands under the table as he waited for Thomas to decide.
Thomas bit his lower lip as he looked at Elroy Higgs. “Do you have a pen?”
Elroy smiled as his posture loosened. “You are a wise man indeed Thomas,” he smiled, and handed Thomas a pen from inside his bag.
Arthur swore that he noticed a smirk on the man's face as Thomas signed the papers, but shrugged it off as the pen and papers were handed over to him.
“Wise men indeed,” Elroy Higgs smiled as the pen scratched across the paper.