Dennell's Dilemmas: To Be Or Not To Be Wealthy, That Is The Problem

By Denisa Claris Cooke

This book continues the story of Dennell Richards and Gareth Phillips who eventually get married in book one. Dennell receives several inheritances, the largest being from an uncle that she didn't know existed. This uncle has several unusual stipulations in his will for Dennell to complete so she might qualify for the inheritance. She has a difficult time deciding if she wants to complete these stipulations to inherit, or if they are just too outrageous and would compromise her faith. In book two, she and Gareth are required to live in Colorado on her uncle's ranch for a year, but without electricity in their ranch home. They agree, but then she becomes pregnant, and other events take place with her family in Miami. Gareth decides to pursue a rather complicated method to further his singing career. They have many adventures while trying to decide what to do about the inheritances and their careers.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Nov 23, 2013
• ISBN: 9781483511641

Denisa Claris Cooke

Denisa Claris Cooke began writing religious fiction books at the age of seventy-eight as a hobby, which became an interesting second career. She is a retired teacher, mom, grandmother, and great-grandmother, who lives in Colorado on the Western Slope. Denisa wants the message to get out there that a person is never too old or disabled (within reason) to begin new adventures and learn new things. She believes that even if you must get old in body, your mind can stay young and productive. Denisa has written seven books, published five, and plans to keep going as long as possible.

Book preview

effort.

Chapter 1

Dennell and Gareth, arms linked, swept through the large double doors of the ranch house a few miles outside of Montrose, Colorado, and stopped in amazement.

What is this? What’s going on here? inquired Gareth of Mr. Sean Jones.

Yes, Mr. Jones, is this some kind of a joke? From the outside, this place looks like a lovely modern and deluxe ranch home, but this? I don’t get it, added Dennell.

As he closed the door and removed his snow covered boots and coat, Mr. Jones answered, "As we have discussed previously, Dennell, your Uncle James was a rather odd individual. As his lawyer I have been exposed to his uniqueness for the past twenty years and you have had his peculiar personality and his sense of humor revealed to you during the past two years as you have gone through the processes and uncertainty of qualifying for his inheritance, only to find out that most of the stipulations in his will were but a test – to see if you were the kind of person he wanted to have his vast wealth and to test you and Gareth to seek your worthiness. You have passed these tests wonderfully and I am delighted about that.

This house of his is but another test. His tests of people, or practical jokes, whatever you want to call them, seemed to link him with youth and added to his fascinations with people. He loved you, Dennell and your parents, but he couldn’t put it definitely into words. He has spoken rather through his inheritance to you. He has spoken of his love, too, through the stipulations, making them learning tools as if through them you would come to know the knowledge for which he was positive that you needed to learn."

But, it looks like we stepped back in time at least one hundred years or more. I still don’t get it?

Yeah, Gareth added, I’m with Dennell; I don’t get it. I know we agreed to live here for at least a year and we thought the place might be a bit rustic since it is located in the Colorado Mountains, but we at least expected to have electricity. It doesn’t look to me like this place does, otherwise, why all the lanterns?

Well, it does and it doesn’t, replied Mr. Jones. The house is wired for electricity and the kitchen, bathrooms, and the office all have it. You will find the office very modern and up to date with computers, large screen T.V., fax machines, etc. The rest of the house has been disconnected from the electricity for now. There are plenty of lanterns and I’m sure you will soon learn to use them. The out buildings on the ranch such as the barn, garages and quarters for the ranch hands are all still equipped with electricity and modern ranching equipment."

Why? Why did James do this – disconnect the electricity for most of the house? questioned Gareth.

Mr. Jones informed them, Well, see, he is willing you to understand yourself. He wanted to see how you would handle the situation – if you would still keep to your agreement and stay the year.

Willing me to understand myself? I don’t think I like that or conceive what he wants me to grasp about my thinking and my beliefs.

Why don’t you, Dennell? Don’t you want to comprehend more about yourself and strengthen your faith in God?

Dennell’s voice showed her dismay, I guess so, but I would rather do it my way and in my own time. I don’t like to be forced.

Mr. Jones smiled, As do any of us, but James is trying to reveal something to you through his mechanisms. He isn’t trying to punish you, but to get you to reach your full potential of thinking and understanding.

She did not answer for a time, but stood close to Gareth, then ask, Did you think it would be like this?

No, but at least it is warm in here. That’s a beautiful fireplace and the crackling fire makes the place seem cozy. It is so cold and snowy outside.

It must seem so to you two, being from Miami, but for January in Colorado, it really isn’t all that bad. At least you had the sense to dress warm. Jeans and sweatshirts or sweaters are about the best uniform to wear around here. So what do you think of the house?

Did my Uncle James live here with the house like this? inquired Dennell.

Nope, sure didn’t. In his private papers to me, he instructed me to have it all changed if and when you agreed to live here. It was a modern ranch home with beautiful leather furnishings and very comfy with all the most modern appliances and equipment. He liked his comfort, did James, but he fancied it was a mite too comfy for you and not much of a sacrifice. He sort of wanted the two of you to be a bit inconvenienced. See, he wanted to see just how far you would go and how much you would sacrifice in order to inherit a quarter of a billion dollars. That is why all the weird stipulations in his will, you know, Dennell, about you getting married by your 30th birthday, living clean and agreeing to live here for a year. You have done all of that, but I’m glad to say that you didn’t get married just for the inheritance. James wouldn’t really have wanted that – he just wanted to know if you would or not. See, he figured that anyone who was greedy enough to actually get married just to inherit would not be the kind of person he would want to entrust his wealth. He did put you through a rather rugged time there for a while, though, didn’t he? Now, I’ll give you a while to look around while I go check on the ranching with the foreman. Then you can let me know if you intend to stay.

Gareth, what are we going to do? Do you want to stay here with it like this?

I don’t know, Dennell, let’s see if we can get accustomed to being here. Let’s check out that office first. If that is fully equipped and large enough, we can spend a lot of our time there.

Okay, but this is so strange. I just never know what to think of my uncle – whether to take him seriously or not. Also, I’m a tiny bit tired of his so called tests all the time. I know I’ve lead rather a cloistered life – I’ve tried to live my faith but I don’t get what Uncle James wants of me. I don’t apprehend what he wants me – us to realize.

Gareth caught up her hand in his and they went to the office. Yeah, I know what you mean, but – wow! Look at this office. Okay, this makes up for the rest of it. But I don’t trust the old goat, so let’s make sure it really is hooked to electricity.

They tried out the T.V. and the computers and found that all was as it should be. I think, Dennell, with this room, we can do okay here. Jones said the bathrooms and kitchen are modern, so we will just kind of live in this room and the kitchen. We can mostly ignore the rest of it, you think?

There was a subtle change in her voice, Well, we can function aequately when we are here by ourselves, but what about when our families come to visit? How will we handle that?

I guess they can sleep in bedrooms without electricity, and do as we do the rest of the time. It might be an amusing experience for them. At least it sure would be different. So, what do you think? Want to try it for a year?

I guess so, if that is okay with you. I must say, my Uncle James was certainly full of surprises. If living here gets to be a big problem for us, then I’m for heading back to Miami. As I’ve said previously, the inheritance could be well used for charities, but I’m not willing to be overly stressed or to compromise my values just to get it. I also don’t quite agree with Mr. Jones about Uncle James loving me. He didn’t care enough to let me know of his existence and to let us know him.

No, but he did care enough to make you his heir. For now, let’s just concentrate on the present and make the most of it. The rest will come to us as God wills it.

Okay, agreed. When Mr. Jones comes back inside, we’ll tell him we have decided to stay. I think we need someone to show us how to light those lanterns, though. This whole experience might be enjoyable – it will be like living in the past and the present all at the same time. Now, let’s go find a bedroom for us and get our things unloaded.

They went up the large curving stairway with the beautiful carved oak railing and found several large bedrooms, but decided on the one with the huge four-poster bed. Gareth, would you look at that thing? It’s enormous and I love the canopy and the hanging. Oh, this is lovely. We’re going to have a blast in here. This is definitely the bedroom for us.

You got it, babe. This is one fantastic, crazy room. I wonder where James got all of this antique furniture and stuff. Must have cost him a fortune and for what? Just to see if we would live with it like this. Well, if he is up in heaven and looking down, I hope he thinks his money was well spent.

Hmmm, but you have to admit, it is beautiful and rather amazing. Look at the view of the mountains from this bay window! Dennell rubbed her hands up and down her arms, "gee, I’m freezing, does it seem cold in here to you, or is it just me? Do you think the house is heated up here?

Oh, good grief, I didn’t even think of that. It is cold, but look, there is a fireplace over there. You suppose that is what we use in here for heat. That’s romantic and all, but will be a heck of a lot of work.

I don’t know, Gareth, I think we have a lot of questions for Mr. Jones. Let’s go find him and bring in our things.

As they descended the stairway, Mr. Jones was coming in the front door, stomping the snow off of his boots. Okay, folks, the ranch operations out there look good and Mr. Henderson, the foreman will be in to talk with you this evening. He will fill you in on how the operations of the ranch are maintained and what your part in all of it will be. Have you made your decision yet?

Yes, we have, Mr. Jones, we have decided to stay and see how it goes. We do need a bit of instruction on a few things, however, and to ask a few questions, replied Gareth.

Sorry about that, folks, but I promised my little Mrs. that I would get home before dark, so I need to be traveling, and how about we drop the formal Mr. thing. We’ve known each other for two years now and you pretty much seem like a daughter to me, so I think Sean and Betsy will work just fine. Make us seem more like family.

Ah, well, okay, but that just doesn’t seem quite right somehow. Could we use the Uncle and Aunt titles? questioned Dennell.

Sure, I kind of like Uncle Sean and I’m sure Betsy wouldn’t mind, ‘Aunt Betsy’. Now about the questions you have, I’m sure that Rhea Shannon will be able to answer any questions you might have. She’s the housekeeper here. Guess I forgot to mention that you have a few people working here. I believe I had told you about the foreman and the financial manager. The foreman is Sam Henderson, and the financial guy is Eric Raegan. Then there is Rhea, and the cook, Edna Walters. Also, there are several ranch hands that keep things going. Let’s see – there’s Dane – he’s the mechanic and keeps up all the equipment, trucks and cars, etc. Sam can tell you about the others. By-the-way, there are a couple cars for your use in the garage and you can fill them up at the garage that Dane runs. Now, I really have to get going. You have my numbers so keep me informed. Good luck and I hope you’re happy here.

I hope we will be; it’s rather like being lost in a beautiful forest, strange and scary and yet enticing, replied Dennell. Thanks again for picking us up at the airport and bringing us here. We’ll let you know how we get along. Tell Aunt Betsy hello for us. Bye for now.

Bye folks, and don’t get too upset with James. He liked his little jokes.

As Mr. Jones drove away, Dennell and Gareth turned back to the house and went to seek Rhea, the housekeeper. They definitely had questions for her. They located her in the kitchen talking with Edna, the cook.

As they entered the kitchen, Dennell greeted them. Hi, I guess you must be Rhea and Edna. I’m Dennell, James Conner’s niece and this is my husband, Gareth Phillips. We have just arrived as you probably are aware, from Miami. I don’t know if Mr. Jones has explained to you that I might be inheriting Uncle James’ ranch and – things.

Rhea Shannon looked to be in her mid-fifties and was rather tall with graying hair and bright blue eyes. She came to Dennell and shook her hand, then Gareth’s, with Edna right behind her doing the same. Edna was rather the opposite of Rhea with short dark hair just starting to gray, a very well rounded figure and obviously was partly of Latin heritage. She wasn’t very tall, had light brown skin, and looked to be also in her fifties.

It is so good to meet you at last, Dennell and Gareth. We have heard so much about you both from Mr. Jones. I’m Rhea, the housekeeper, and this is Edna, who does all the cooking. Welcome, and we hope you like it here, and yes, Mr. Jones had informed us of Mr. Conner’s will and some of the stipulations that went along with it. He told us about you and your relationship to Mr. Conner. She placed chairs for them and they all sat down.

Yes, and it is good to have you here, finally, and if you have any special diet requests, please let me know, voiced Edna, right now, how about a cup of coffee or tea?

Thanks you so much, replied Dennell, that would be great. I’ll have tea, but Gareth prefers coffee. At present we are rather overwhelmed by this place – by the electricity not being available for much of the house. Do you not have it in your rooms, either?"

Edna spoke up, No we don’t. We agreed, for an extra year’s salary, to do without it just as you will. As you see, we do have electricity in the kitchen. Mr. Conner didn’t want to punish us, just wanted to make life a – well, a little more interesting for you two.

I see, Gareth replied, but was he always this way – pulling these little jokes and testing people?

Well, yes, I believe he was. Don’t you think so, Edna? Don’t you remember the times he ordered the most outrageous food for you to have to find and cook?

Oh yes, I well remember, Rhea. He just wanted to see if I could do it. Then when I did, he didn’t even want to eat it. He was quite a character, but he was shrewd and a good man.

I have gathered that, but still, my uncle has been rather unpredictable. Rhea, we really need some information about this place, so if you aren’t really busy, could we impose on you to help us out here?

Gareth interrupted, Dennell and I have never learned to use oil lamps, and as we will need to use them in the living room, dining-room, and bedrooms, we should at least know how to light them. Also, there is the question about the heat. How do we heat the bedrooms? Since there is no electricity, I would assume that the central heating system is not functioning.

You assume correctly, Gareth. You heat the bedrooms with the wood burning fireplaces. You will need to chop wood, if there isn’t any already chopped, bring it in, lug it up the stairs, and build fires. We bribe Kory or Lane, a couple of the ranch hands to do all that for us, but as I understand it from Mr. Jones, you are expected to handle that for yourselves. Now, if you will come with me I will show you about the lanterns. Rhea led the way into the dining room. Just a hint, but you might want to take most of your meals in the kitchen since it is heated and the other rooms are not.

That would be great, don’t you agree, Gareth?

I certainly do. That would be one less fire to build and save you the trouble of lugging food into the dining room. Looks like I will develop some muscles during this next year. I think our soft way of living is over for the next few months. However, since we came from Miami, we aren’t accustomed to building fires, so do you think one of the men could give me a few pointers?

Sure, I’ll ring out to the barn and see if someone is available just as soon as I show you about these lanterns.

After they had their lessons instructing them how to live as pioneers, they went to their bedroom to unpack and get settled. Gareth went after wood and found quite a stack already chopped for which he thanked God. With not too much trial and error, he had a good fire blazing in the fireplace. As they unpacked and placed their belongings and pictures about the room, it began to feel cozy and almost like home. Dennell went into the bathroom to freshen up and received another unpleasant surprise.

Gareth, I don’t think there is any hot water in here. I left it running for ages, but it didn’t even begin to get warm. Do you suppose we are expected to actually take cold showers in the winter? We’ll freeze. Also, there isn’t any heat in here, so we will need to leave the bathroom door open when we shower or bathe. I’ve never tried to live where it was quite – like this.

Gareth turned the water on in the tub/shower and left it running but as Dennell had said, it didn’t get even warm. I guess that’s another thing we will need to find out. I mean, doing without electricity is one thing, but cold showers in the winter? How many more surprises do you suppose we have in store for us?

I don’t know but a few more like this one and I’m ready to chuck the whole thing and go home. Are you sorry we came here?

No, not really, Dennell, sweetheart, we are home, at least for the next year. We can’t give up this soon. We are made of sterner stuff than that. What we need about now is prayer. Let’s ask God to help us adjust to all of this and to give us the strength and courage we need, plus the ability to survive here, okay?

Good idea, Gareth, let’s do have a prayer and then go find Rhea once again and inquire about the hot water thing. But first, I need to dig a sweater out. It’s going to take me a while to get accustomed to this cold, especially with no central heating system. Do you remember a few short months ago when we were married on the ship, we were so happy with all the family there that I was a bit frightened – as if it couldn’t last. Yet I knew that we would last as a married couple, but I wasn’t sure the happiness would. I’m still as happy as possible with you, Gareth, as my husband, but I don’t feel so happy with being here.

I wondered when you would discover the hot water problem, Rhea told them. What you have to do is come down here and heat a bucket of water on the stove, then haul it up to your bathroom and pour it into the tub. Then run a little cold water in to get to the water temperature that you want. Probably take a couple buckets for each bath if you don’t use too much water. I’m afraid your showering days are over for now unless you enjoy cold ones. The hot water tanks are electric, so no hot water anywhere in the house. Edna and I have to heat our water also, and Edna has to heat it for cooking and dishes. She can’t use the dishwasher any longer. The thing is since our bedrooms are next to the kitchen, it isn’t too hard for us to heat and lug the water to our bathroom. As you said, Gareth, you will surely develop some good solid muscles rather quickly, if you don’t ruin your back first.

Dennell and Gareth just looked at Rhea, stunned. You really are serious about this, aren’t you, Rhea? asked Dennell.

Sure am, and what Edna and I do is stock a big supply of baby diaper wipes. They work really well to wash up with in front of the fireplace. You actually can get quite clean with them. We only do the bath thing every Saturday evening. After you have hauled water up those stairs a few times, I’m thinking you will be quite content to use baby wipes.

Gareth finally found his voice, I think you are probably right. Rhea, I’m wondering if there are any more rather astonishing surprises awaiting us?

Oh, I don’t think many. You might want to know that the electricity in the office is shut down at 8:00 p.m. each night, so what you need to do in there, you do before that time. It is on an automatic timer but I doubt that you will find it. I hope you two like to read by lamplight. You will find a large library next to the office.

Oh no, there goes our T.V. watching. Well, at least we can charge up our Kindles during the day and use them in the evenings. Also, I guess we can keep our laptops charged and watch movies on them and the Kindles. I’m glad we thought to bring them. Gareth, you did get them out of the car before Mr. Jones, uh, Uncle Sean left, didn’t you?

Yes, fortunately, I did. But, you know, I think I might check out that library. I’ve never had much time to read, so maybe now is the time. Now, Rhea, could you tell us when the meals are served? I don’t want to inconvenience Edna any more than she already is.

"Well, now, you can actually have your meals whenever you wish, but Edna and I have our breakfast around 7:30 after she has cooked and