The Railroad Bride

By Rita Hestand

Sam Logan wasn't selling his ranch! He'd already made up his mind about that. The railroad company, the B & M Railroad wasn't going to cheat him out of his inherited property no matter what they said or did. He'd seen a lot of range wars in his time, even been in one or two, but this would be a hard one, the Railroad was bigger than him or his ranch. But William Montgomery III had other ideas how to persuade the big ranchers in the area to sell. He was using something no one would expect. His daughter was to win them over. Sam liked Cassie Montgomery, even if she didn't know one end of a cow from the other. Still, he didn't know who she really was, and she wasn't about to tell him. Knowing the kind of tactics her father and his Partner were capable of using, she would do anything to not see Sam and his neighbors dead.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rita Hestand
• Release date: Aug 15, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463195611

Rita Hestand

Hi friendsI'd like to ask a favor, not just for me but for all writers. PLease when we offer a free book, it would be wonderful if you'd take the time to rate the book. This doesn't take much time out of your day and authors really apreciate your time to do this. I know not everyone wants to sit down and write a review, but rating the book will help as well. And a big thanks to all who do this. You never know how much an author appreciates you taking the time to do this.I finally finished The Car Stalker. Hope you'll check it out. This is the second book in the stalker series. Like I said mystery is much different from romance all though there are elements in romance in my stalker books too. Today I finished an another book in my series of Vets coming home, Better Every Day. This book takes the angle of when family interrupts your plans. When a one-night stand is much more. I love this story as it hits home. So two new books out now and more coming.I'm taking the time to write while confined at home. But lack of seeing people outside, and living alone all the time is not new to me. I've got lots of stories to tell so be on the lookout for my newest releases. You might check out my Searchin g for You Indian romance on Amazon too.There are several new free books for you enjoyment, since your stuck at home. Home you enjoy them.As for a bio, suffice it to say, I'm a Texan tried and true. I have grown children and grandchildren and already some great-grandchildren. I've done multi jobs in my lifetime giving me a variety of experiences to write and talk about. I've done many different kinds of work from Texas Instruments, to City of Garland, to working for the Wylie Independent School District. I've worked for a hat factory, filing insurance claims, secretarial work, to waitress work. My writing reflects my varied background. Another note I've had a in home day care for twenty years too. So when I write about something I have a general knowledge of it too, which is a real bonus for me. Just like my public work, my writing varies too from contemporary to historical, I write romance, thrillers, children's. A lot of people might say gee, that's a lot of different jobs, and it is, but, I've learned from them all, and I use that experience in my writing.I want to thank all the readers over a length of time that have tried some of my books. I hope I've enlightened and entertained you. I hope I've shared some love in this world. Sharing love can't be bad, it's God given.God bless.Other places to see my bookshttps://www.fantasticfiction.com/h/rita-hestand/https://itunes.apple.com/us/author/rita-hestand/id365799219?mt=11www.scriptsforschools.com/rita-hestandhttps://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/search?query=rita%20hestand&fcsearchfield=author

Book preview

The Railroad Bride

(Brides of the West Series Book Twenty-One)

Rita Hestand

Copyright© 2020 by Rita Hestand

All Rights Reserved

ISBN # 9780463195611

Cover Design: Sheri McGathy

License Note

This book, The Railroad Bride is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. It may not be copied or reproduced in any manner without express written permission of the author. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy or copies. If you did not purchase this book or it was not purchased for your use, please go to Smashwords.com to purchase your personal copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

The Railroad Bride is a work of fiction. Though some of the cities and towns actually exist they are used in a fictitious manner for purposes of this work. All characters are works of fiction and any names or characteristics similar to any person past, present or future are coincidental.

Dedication:

To all young lovers who start off with a lie, only to find that the truth is the only way to true love. God bless you.

Rita Hestand

Brides of the West Series

Heart of a Family

Delivering the Bride

Heart of a Woman

Wanted Bride

This Side of Forever

Shotgun Bride

A Love as Big as Texas

Heart of a Captive

Wherever My Heart Roams

In the Arms of an Angel

Bride from Shenandoah

Falling for the Bride

An Unexpected Welcome

A Desperado's Bride

The Filly & the Gambler

The Lady Train

Comes a Hero

An Unescorted Lady

And Here I'll Stay

The Drifter's Promise

The Railroad Bride

Table of Contents

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

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

About the Author

Rita's Other Books

1876

Just below the panhandle of Texas

Chapter One

Sam Logan saw the bar was full of ranchers this morning. Shifting his weight to one foot he ordered a beer and turned to look at his friends. He knew everyone in the bar. He knew people would question what he intended doing about the railroad coming through. It was the biggest problem in the valley right now. He'd been avoiding the conversation for days as he had no valid answers to the problem.

Everyone here knew it was coming, everyone dreaded it too. A small handful might actually be looking forward to it.

So how did it go, Sam? his long-time neighbor and friend Bill Morrow asked.

About like I figured it would. I talked, they listened, we got nowhere.

You still determined not to sell out?

My answer hasn't changed Bill. Sam turned to take a swig of his beer. When he turned back to the crowd of ranchers who were staring at him, he gave a slight smile. I guess your all curious, so I might as well tell you right now. My grandfather settled here years ago, as you all well know. He bought and paid for this land, he cultivated it, made a profit, and raised his family here. My father did the same. I'm not about to change that history. And the railroad itself isn't the enemy, it's the men with big money behind it that are the enemy and you should all realize that. Get ready, because they'll promise the moon, and give very little. They won't give you what your land is worth, they can't, it would be too costly. So, you'll have to settle if you sell. It would mean starting over for some, and that's fact. If we don't sell, there will be others coming at us, and not so nicely either. You all know what that means too, you've seen it happen before. The railroad always wins. We know that.

Hired killers? someone shouted from the back.

Exactly.

Harley Martin joined Sam at the bar. Harley was Sam's foreman on the ranch. They'd known each other for years. If there was any man Sam trusted it was Harley.

They are pushing hard Sam. Joe Billings told him.

Harley scratched the back of his head, pushing his hat forward, his expression grim. And they'll push harder.

Sam took a swallow of whiskey, setting the small glass down on the bar so it made a noise. He looked around at all who had gathered here today. Look, we all know that. Everyone here is going to have to take a stand, one way or another. Selling out is the easiest route, I can tell you that. And maybe for some it would be best. But what are you going to do after you sell, start all over? Sell to them and move to another place and let someone else move you out again. The way I see this, is we must take a stand one way or another and stick with it. I will say this, he glanced around the room for a moment. His eyes landing on a friend or two. Sticking together on this is better than dividing and running away. But I know that not everyone will agree, and that's a problem too. We have big ranchers and little ranchers and it will be impossible to all vote the same way on this. So, here's how I see it. The ones that want to sell out, do it, and do it quick. The rest of us need to get together at my place and discuss other options.

My place ain't very big, Sam. Hutch Nelson shouted. Hutch was a very slim man. A man that had worked hard every day of his life and it showed on his face in a pile of wrinkles that gave him more character than most in the room.

No, I guess it isn't Hutch, but it's yours. You just paid that place off, I understand. Not many can say that. You sweat tears, and we all got together and helped bring in your harvest the year you nearly went under. You had your babies on that land, they are half grown. It's your land, Hutch, are you ready to just walk away for some money now? What are you gonna do, start all over? You are getting up in age now Hutch, can you start over? It's totally up to you, but I’m weighing the options for you, so you can make a better decision.

"My boys are grown up now, one's going to college back in Philadelphia, the other helps me run the place. But you gotta admit its blood, sweat, and tears to keep it going every year. You’re a rancher, I'm a sodbuster. If a drought comes, there's a possibility I can go busted again."

That's true enough. But what are you gonna do, move somewhere else and start all over, with the same odds? With the place paid for you can't afford to lose it to the railroad Hutch. At least here you have friends that will help out, friends that know you and will stand behind you. Sam stared into Hutch's eyes. There could be an alternative for some. Sell your place to the bank, you'd get a better deal, no doubt about it. That would leave the bank to settle with the railroad.

Several nodded in agreement, others seemed to discuss it.

Hutch bowed his head, almost as though he was ashamed for saying what he had. Sam knew he wasn't a talker, and he knew the man was being pressured highly because his small strip of land would be the first to go. You make some good points Sam. I'll admit that. And you've all helped me a time a two, that's for sure. I can't find the words to thank you all for what you've done for me. But I'm not sure I can farm and fight the railroad coming in too. Is it all gonna be for nothing, Sam? I just don't know the answer. I feel like I don't really have any choice. At my age, I've considered moving to town and clerking a store.

Sam nodded. You gotta do, what you see fit, Hutch. Just pointing out a few of the good things to remember. And I want everyone to know now, that no matter what your decision is, I won't hold a grudge no matter which way you go. We're adults here, and it's our decision which way we go. We know all the pitfalls and problems this is causing. I also know I don't want some big showdown fight with the railroad as we'll lose. They are just too big.

I appreciate it. It isn't an easy decision one way or another. Hutch admitted. And I might check with the bank and see what kind of deal they would offer me. But I can't see them giving me what it is worth either, since they know the railroad is coming.

Al the bartender butted in, The railroad would mean a lot of business coming in, prosperity for our town. But I do understand they want everyone's land. And that's probably pretty hard to give up. Al was drying some glasses and stacking them behind the bar as he spoke. He was a rather rotund man with a tall stature.

That's what railroads do, push people off their land, someone hollered from the back of the bar.

Look, the railroad has money, and it can put pressure on all of us to sell. And it probably will. They'll start off nice and entice you all they can. We are all here because we haven't totally made up our minds, at least some of us haven't. But you need to think long and hard on what it will mean to you in your future. Sam explained. And if it gets ugly, and it will get very ugly before it is over, and you can bet on that too. Some of us could lose more than just our land, our very lives. I've heard of that happening. The railroad is not an if question, but a when. They'll give you time to change your mind, might even offer more money, not enough of course, but more. But the end result is, the railroad is coming through and there isn't much we can do about it. They are talking about a piece of land, and the rights to it. We might have a bargaining point on the big ranches of selling them a piece of the land that they could cross over. Small ranchers won't have that option. And I certainly understand anyone wanting to sell. We are talking our homes. That's the difference folks, that's the difference. But I've seen in other places how ugly this can get. It could also mean lives. When it gets down to it, that is what you have to look at. The railroad will push They have deadlines and a job to do. So do we. But the end result could be that some will try to hold out and the railroad will push harder. It's like the biggest range war you ever saw, and I don't want to see that happen. If it gets ugly, then that's when things really change. So we gotta think on this and consider our losses. Loss of life is the biggest loss of all. I've seen it happen. So right now, we gotta keep our eyes open for the railroad bullies who won't consider our answers as final. Right now, I want all of us to be aware of this and keep vigilant about strangers coming to town. I don't want to scare everyone, just make you aware. Because once they come in, we won't have a lot of choices.

You think it will come to that, Sam? Bill hollered with a frown.

It usually does.

You've got one of the biggest ranches around, we can understand your reluctance to let go of it, but I've seen this happen in other places and it can get pretty nasty. Just like Sam said. Ben Myers told them all. Ben was a rancher and a businessman. He had a lot of knowledge about the law and just how far the railroad could push. I've seen neighbors turn against each other. I've seen men give up their life's work and go broke in a year or two trying to make it somewhere else, too.

It can, and it probably will get dirty before it's over. Sam agreed. And you are all right. Right now, we are talking individually selling or staying. But when it gets down to brass tacks, it will mean some will and some won't. They'll only negotiate so far. There is only so much they will pay, so you've got to expect that. Then comes the bullies who will insist we sell or else. That's how they operate. That's what happens. Until it gets to that point things might go smoothly. But you gotta see the big picture here. They got a railroad to build. They already have surveyors out mapping out the routes. A few might actually get out of this without doing anything, but when we draw the final lines of who will and won't sell, then it's going to get nasty as Ben just said. Sam took another sip of beer then added. It'll be like a range war. The difference here is that the longer we can hold out, not selling, the stronger we are. The minute someone decides to sell, the railroad will push harder to get the whole community to agree. And I want to say this now. I think having a railroad here would be very beneficial to this area, as it would allow selling of cattle an easier task, moving them would eliminate the long, and very tedious trail drives we have. It will bring added business to the town, that's for sure. But this is one of those times in history when you gotta make up your own mind how you stand and what this will all mean to you. I can't tell you men what to do. I know you all, we are all friends when it comes to our homes here. But before it's over, some of us might not be friends. Some of us might not even be alive.

There was a general agreement to that, as everyone began talking among themselves.

Are you saying we should just go ahead and sell out now then?

No, I'm saying think about what it could mean, in both directions. You gotta have a plan figured out if you do sell out. Because not knowing what you'll do, will be a disaster no matter what you decide. You got a place to go to, another place to buy, family. What are you gonna do?

And older gentleman came up to him and smiled, it was Frank Harrison, he'd been here all his life. You're saying that they will win in the end.

Sam took another drink then nodded, Yeah Frank, that's what I'm saying.

But you're not giving in, are you?

Sam looked at Frank in the eye, As of right now, no.

The bartender, Al Manning cleared his throat once more and everyone glanced at him. Gentleman, how about a round of free drinks for everyone and you all go home and think about it? Al suggested.

Everyone moved toward the bar with a smile.

Al poured the drinks and the whole saloon lit up with conversation.

Sam and Harley went to take a table. Sam was tired of talking railroad, he'd been doing it all morning and he just wanted to go home and relax. Railroad business was harder than punching cows to him.

Harley put one leg over his knee and reared back in his chair to stare at his boss. This ain't gonna be easy, is it?

Nope, you got that right. Sam shot him a worried kind of look. Lots of people want the railroad here, especially the town itself. It will mean all kinds of benefits. And to tell the truth, I don't blame them. But to us, the landowners, it means entirely something else. The problem is we are fighting something too big. They will win in the end. But it's almost like when we came over to this country. We could let the British or the French drive us off and make us yield, or we could push further west and find a new home, still we'll have them breathing down our necks. We could fight a war and kill them, driving them back, or we could find compromises. But those compromises should mean that both sides give in a little. That's what we need here, but it will be a long struggle to find that compromise.

Lots of your folks are buried on that land, I can understand you not wanting to sell. Harley told him.

Ma and Jessica are pretty upset about that. But you know as well as I that it's nothing more than emotions talking.

Jessie still gonna marry Pete Jenkins? Harley asked, swallowing his beer in almost one gulp.

Yeah, next month in fact. Sam smiled. It's a good thing too, she's got that boy in knots.

Harley laughed. Your Ma still against it?

Yeah, she thinks they are too young. Sam almost winced at that question. She's lost all but me and Jessie and she can't stand to see her move off. Said Pete is too young, and they don't have much money between them.

Most young folks start off that way, but Pete does have a good head on his shoulders. He's got his father's land too. In fact, his land isn't in the way of the railroad, so they might make it fine. Sam defended. Then he stared intently at Harley. How about you and Ma. When you gonna get around to asking her?

You know about that huh?

I'm not blind Harley, and I’m all for it. It would take years off Ma, I'm sure of that. Sam smiled mischievously at his friend.

I love her, I guess you know that. But I'm just a foreman Sam. How would that look?

Looks be damned, if you love her, ask her. Sam chuckled. "You know, this railroad kind of wakes everyone up a bit. We all get too used to things