Wanted: Bookkeeper (Silverpines Series Book 14) Read online

  CONTENTS

  Title

  Description

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Wanted:

  Bookkeeper

  Sophie Dawson

  © 2018 Sophie Dawson

  Kindle Edition

  All rights reserved.

  ISBN: 978-1-63376-034-9

  ASIN: B07GZ2FCW8

  No part of this publication maybe reproduced or distributed in print or electronic form without prior permission of the author. Please respect the hard work of the author and do not participate in or encourage the piracy of copyrighted materials.

  This is a work of fiction. Most of the places within the story are fictitious but some are real. You will most likely recognize those which are. Those you don’t are made up by me. The people, unless you recognize the name of a real historical person, are not real. They, too, have been created by me or by my friend and author George McVey. This is true of Nugget Nate and Penny Ryder who may or may not show up in this book. Even if real historical people are mentioned their lives may or may not adhere strictly to documented historical reference. In other words, what they do or say has little bearing in fact and they probably didn’t do or say it. This is a fictional story after all.

  DEDICATION

  As odd as it seems, this book is dedicated to my cat, Snookers. He’s been my companion for 21 years sitting beside me, or on me, or near me all my years of professional quilting and writing. He’s showing his age and most likely won’t be around much longer. He’s a sweet cat who loves me as much as I do him.

  ~~~~~

  DESCRIPTION

  Tilde Lasek needs a husband. Running the family bank after the disaster that killed most of the men of Silverpines, Oregon, including her father and brother, is simply too hard. She doesn’t have enough banking knowledge to be successful. Against her mother’s wishes, Tilde places an advertisement in the Groom’s Gazette. She’s smart enough to know not to ask for a banker. Instead she asks for a bookkeeper.

  Joel Richards, dissatisfied living in his hometown after he’s betrayed by his fiancé, answers the advertisement and soon is heading west. He knows his banking experience will be helpful in whatever business he’ll be bookkeeper for. Besides, Tilde is beautiful. His new mother-in-law isn’t happy with the marriage. Then there are the changes Joel hopes to make at the bank. Tilde’s not happy with them.

  Can Joel convince Tilde to bring Silverpines bank into the 20th century? Will Tilde be able to be the wife he wants without letting him bring even more change to her life? Will Mabel Lasek ever accept her daughter’s marriage? Will there be a Happily Ever After with all three living in the same house?

  CHAPTER ONE

  Silverpines, Oregon

  July 7, 1899

  Flopping down in the middle of the parlor settee, Tilde Lasek spread her legs out straight in a quite unladylike manner. If her mother saw her position there would be a severe look and very possibly a critical comment. Right now Tilde didn’t care. She’d just gone through a traumatic event and was going to do something she knew her mother wouldn’t like, but Tilde decided it was necessary. It was what she’d wanted to do back in May when the other women placed their advertisements in the Groom’s Gazette, but her mother had fiercely objected.

  In April the town of Silverpines, Oregon had suffered two earthquakes which destroyed the silver mine and Timber Town logging camp. This resulted in the deaths of most of the men. Tilde’s father and brother had perished in the second quake trying to rescue those trapped in the mine. The mine collapsed on the miners as well as those attempting to save them.

  Without their husbands, fathers, brothers, and acceptable suitors the women were left running businesses and picking up the pieces of their lives. The struggle to learn how to run the businesses, as well as conmen and outlaws coming to town, brought the young women to Betsy Sewell who had advertised for her new husband, marrying him in March. Alexzander Sewell was now the town sheriff and they were expecting their first baby in February.

  Tilde and her mother had argued for nearly a week about placing an advertisement until Tilde let the matter drop. Today, however, made her determined to do so no matter what her mother said.

  Tilde closed her eyes and sighed, the events of the day replayed in her mind. She’d been working at the desk behind the teller windows. The bank door opened and three men with bandanas covering the bottom half of their faces ran in.

  “Well, what have we here?” The man with a red bandana asked, his eyes bright with evil intent. “I do believe it’s the lovely Tilde Lasek. You just open all the cash drawers and step right out here.” He waved a pistol in the direction of the gate to the counter. The other two pulled their six-shooters out too.

  Her hands trembling, she did as told. The two outlaws came and began taking cash, putting it in a grimy canvas bag. As soon as Tilde passed through the gate the man holding the gun on her grabbed her arm, pulling her to him. He holstered his six-gun and pulled down his bandana.

  “I’m gonna take me a little bit o’ sugar. If it tastes good, I just might take me more than the money.”

  Tilde struggled to keep his lips from pressing against hers.

  The door burst open, slamming against the wall.

  “Stop, you’re under arrest. Let go of Miss Lasek,” Marshal Sewell yelled as he ran in. With him were Clay Cutler, new husband to Millie Messer, owner of the mercantile, and Mason Dekum who had married Sarah Gillham, daughter of the gun shop owner who’d perished in the disaster.

  It was all over in a few minutes. They’d been the longest few minutes in Tilde’s life. It also cemented her conviction that she needed a husband to help run the bank. The outlaws were taken to jail and Tilde closed the bank for the day and was escorted home.

  “Tilde, what are you doing home this time of day? And please reposition yourself as a lady should sit.”

  Tilde opened one eye to see her mother standing in the arched doorway leading from the sitting room to the parlor. Pulling her feet back, she sat up. The glare didn’t leave her mother’s face.

  “Well?” Mabel Lasek tapped her foot impatiently. “Why are you not at the bank?”

  “I’m taking the rest of the day off. I don’t care that it’s closed. I don’t need masses of people coming in asking about what happened.” Tilde blew out a breath with a puff. Another unladylike action.

  “So, are you going to tell me what happened?” Now Mabel’s hands were fisted on her hips.

  “Three men came into the bank to rob it. They threatened to take me with them when they left. Sheriff Sewell, Clay Cutler, and Mason Dekum came in and stopped them. I haven’t a clue how they knew the bank was being robbed but I’m thankful they did.”

  Mabel’s hands flew to her mouth. She ran across the room, sitting down beside her daughter. “Are you all right? They didn’t hurt you, did they?” Her hands fluttered around Tilde as if checking for injury.

  “I’m fine. At least physically. It was a terrifying time. That’s why I closed the bank. There is no way I could keep working. It’s difficult enough on a regular day.” She raised a shaking hand and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. Who knew what her coiffure looked like
now.

  “Oh, my baby. What an awful thing to have happened.” Mabel put her arm around Tilde, pulling her against her. Tilde couldn’t hold the tears back any longer. They’d been threatening since the robbery attempt. Safe in her mother’s arms, she sobbed out her fear and relief while her back was lovingly rubbed.

  When the tears were spent, Mabel helped her now exhausted daughter up the stairs, into a nightgown, and tucked her into bed. Tilde lay there forming the advertisement in her mind until she fell asleep.

  ~~~~~

  August 1899

  Joel Richards leaned back in his desk chair. No one was in the Cottonwood State Bank at the moment and he was caught up with his work. Sure there were things he could do, but resting a few minutes from calculations would refresh his mind. The newspaper his boss, Eustace Taylor, put on his desk after he’d finished it tempted him. Knowing Eustace wouldn’t mind if he read it, Joel picked it up. As he opened it a flyer fell out onto the floor. The headline was ‘Groom’s Gazette.’ Joel grinned as he grabbed it from the floor. The flyer held advertisements for mail order brides for men out west. Though the peak of seeking women to move west was past, there were enough advertisements to keep the publication going.

  Joel scanned the notices. One man wanted a redhead with blue eyes to come to Colorado. Another didn’t care what she looked like as long as she could cook. He sat up when he saw one different from all the others.

  ‘Wanted: Bookkeeper to move to Silverpines, Oregon to marry a young woman needing help running a successful business.’

  There was a post office box in Maine as the address. If interested, the man would include the number contained in the advertisement when he answered it.

  Staring at the ad, Joel tried to push down the excitement filling him. Maybe this was what he needed. A total change of his life.

  The past year had been filled with highs and lows he hadn’t experienced since he was nearly three, when his mother died giving birth to his sister, Anne. She had nearly starved to death when she couldn’t take cow or goat milk. Another tragedy led Katie Reed to nurse Anne, take care of Joel, and run the house for his father, Sheriff Drew Richards. From that low came a marriage of convenience between them that became one of love. Four more children were born into the family.

  The high for Joel this year had been the ‘yes’ Constance Bishop gave him when he proposed. They were planning their June wedding when he found her kissing Clem Diller whose hands were touching places on Constance only her husband should. The betrothal was broken with many tears and promises from her, but Joel wasn’t interested in a woman who didn’t hold her promise to love only him.

  That low led to his present dissatisfaction with life. Joel knew he had much to be thankful for. His parents and siblings were happy and healthy. Anne was married to her high school sweetheart and expecting their first child. His other siblings were still in school busy with studies, activities, and the general horsing around of teenagers.

  His job as assistant manager of Cottonwood State Bank was not as lofty as it sounded. He did whatever Mr. Taylor didn’t want to do. Joel was getting a good overview of what running a bank entailed, but he didn’t think there was much of a possibility for advancement. Eustace was healthy and vigorous, not intending to retire any time soon. Even then, Joel doubted he’d advance to the president’s position or pay scale.

  Joel read the advertisement again.

  The bank’s door opened.

  “Eustace, Eustace, are you here? You’ll never believe what I just saw.” Mrs. Beulah Taylor’s loud shrill nearly made Joel wince. As much as he loved the banker’s wife as a surrogate grandmother, her voice and nosey attitude wearied him.

  He looked up and his eyes widened just a bit. One would think she’d get tired of wearing such a color combination. Fuchsia and chartreuse. All through his growing up years Grambo, as Cottonwood’s children called her, had at least one garment in those colors. Each new one became a topic of conversation.

  “Oh, hello, Mr. Richards. It always seems odd to call you that. I remember when you were just a small boy. We had our moments, for sure. You’ve grown into such a handsome man. I don’t know what Constance Bishop was thinking when she threw you over for that no ‘count Clem Diller. I’m sure you are better off without her.

  “Is my husband in his office?” She fluttered her hands, touching the fuchsia feather on her chartreuse hat. Joel had to admit she was still a good-looking woman. Too bad she didn’t know how to mind her own business.

  “I’m sorry, Mrs. Taylor, he went over to City Hall about half an hour ago. I’m not sure he’s coming back before the bank closes.”

  “Well, bother. I suppose I’ll have to wait until he comes home to tell him.” She struck a pose Joel knew was meant for him to comment on her outfit.

  “Mrs. Taylor, you look striking today, even more so than usual.” Her smile and fake humble expression told Joel his comment fulfilled her expectations.

  “Well, dear boy, I’ll leave you to your work. Don’t forget the set up for the Corn Boil and Catfish Fry. It’s this Friday.”

  Joel waved as she looked back, giving her parting instructions. He’d help set up but he most likely wouldn’t attend. Constance and Clem would be there. He didn’t need his nose rubbed into their affairs.

  Putting a sheet of paper in the typewriter, Joel set to work answering the advertisement in the Grooms Gazette.

  CHAPTER TWO

  September, 1899

  Joel turned from gazing out the window of the Pullman car down to the letter held in his hand. There was no need to read it because he knew it by heart. Her name was Tilde Lasek. She was twenty years old. Her father and brother were both killed in the disaster that happened to Silverpines in April. She lived with her mother and they owned a successful business. Tilde was running the business but needed help for it to continue prospering.

  Seems that a number of young women and widows had advertised for husbands earlier and they seemed to be making their marriages work. Tilde didn’t say why she hadn’t advertised before.

  She described herself as not overly tall but not short. A little skinnier than she’d like. Eyes too large for her face and ordinary light brown hair. Oh, her eyes were green.

  They had exchanged several letters before she wrote that, if he were willing, she was ready to throw caution to the wind and marry him.

  What struck Joel as odd is that she never said what the business was that her mother now owned. Mabel Lasek didn’t work there, so all the responsibility now fell on Tilde’s shoulders. He’d told her of his banking background and asked what his job would entail but her answer was that his qualifications were sufficient for him to do everything required.

  Well, he would find out soon. He’d sent a telegram earlier in the day at a stop to let her know he was arriving today and hopefully on time.

  Looking out the window again, Joel didn’t see the countryside passing. Instead he saw the shock then tears in the eyes of his family when he told them he was leaving Cottonwood, Iowa and heading west to Oregon.

  After his siblings were in bed, Joel told them of the advertisement and the letters he and Tilde had sent back and forth. He also told them of his difficulty in seeing Constance and Clem on the street, at church, and at every function held in town. He wanted a new start away from his disappointment in her, and also feeling that he was as high in his position at work as he would ever be.

  Though they hated that he was leaving home, his parents understood. They were concerned that by marrying as soon as he arrived, he was looking to be hurt again. Marriage was for life. It could either be wonderful or lead to years of heartache and misery.

  Joel’s goal was to make it wonderful. He planned to be as devoted a husband as his father was to Katie Mama. He smiled at the memory of the day she was so mad at Drew she’d left the house, leaving Joel and the infant Annie with him. She hadn’t even come home to nurse the baby. Pastor Lendrey came to take the baby to her, letting his pa know what he t
hought of how he’d treated her. As far as Joel knew, his pa never did something that stupid again.

  Katie was a wonderful mother, never treating Joel or Annie differently from the way she treated the children born later. Though he now didn’t remember the mother who gave him birth, he had sometimes wished he could.

  As a three-year-old, Joel was mourning his mother’s death. Katie had made a quilt from two of her dresses, adding some other fabrics including a few squares of pink, a color he’d loved at the time. He had forgotten to pack the quilt and bring with him. It was worn, patched in places, and he hated that he had left it behind. It represented two women who had loved him unconditionally.

  “Silverpines, next stop. Silverpines, Oregon in fifteen minutes,” the conductor called as he walked through the car.

  Joel tucked the letter into his inside coat pocket. He’d slept in the upper bunk and packed his satchel in the early morning. Now all he had to do was wait. He focused on the countryside again, wanting to know what the land near Silverpines was like.

  The conductor came through again, calling the five-minute warning. Joel stood, grabbed his satchel, and went to the car platform. From there he watched as the town of his future came into sight.

  ~~~~~

  Tilde locked the bank after placing the ‘back in thirty minutes’ sign in the window. She pulled the net veil of her hat down under her chin and smoothed her skirt as she walked to the train station. Her dress was not her best, as her mother would have questioned why she was wearing it to work in the bank. Still, it was one of her newer ones.

  The rust and tan plaid with green trim went well with her hair. At least she thought so. Tilde was glad the style of sleeves was narrower than it had been a few years back. She’d loved the huge puffed sleeves when they first came into fashion. Having to wear steel hoop sleeve supports dimmed her preference for the style. They also wouldn’t have been comfortable to work in at the bank.