Noble's Way by Dusty Richards Page B

He read the letter Rivers had brought back.
    Dear Noble,
    Thank you for your order. It is always a pleasure doing business with your firm. While prices are higher now than they were this past winter, perhaps now the war is over, we shall see a more stable economy.
    A dependable freight company will deliver your goods in a week or two, depending on weather conditions.
    Hope to see you again in person.
    Sincerely yours,
    Cedric and Alex Patterson
    â€œWhat should we call our ‘firm’?” Fleta asked after Noble finished reading the letter to her.
    â€œWestern Kansas Mercantile?” he suggested, smiling down in her face.
    â€œNo, that will never do.” She steered him out of the store onto the porch. “Why not simply call it the Great Western Company?”
    â€œSounds kinda grand for a little cabin with a high wall around it.”
    â€œYou don’t see it do you?” she teased.
    â€œWhat?” he asked, frowning.
    â€œThe great business that will grow here?”
    Noble felt his face heat up. “You’re picking on me.”
    â€œNo, I’m not,” she said, her face sober. “I can see, Noble. You’re the dangdest builder I’ve ever known.”
    Noble just stood there and savored the kiss she planted on his cheek. She was right. He did intend to have a big business. Some day.
    The freighter arrived two weeks later in the form of a double set of wagons behind several span of oxen. The driver-owner wore knee high boots and spat a wad of tobacco as he stomped through the gate.
    â€œGawdamn, man,” the bull whacker swore with a look around the fort. “Why you got a regular place here. I thought this belonged to the Haskins Docking Company.”
    â€œThey abandoned it.”
    â€œWell, when they hear that you’re doing this kind of business, they’ll be out here to claim it.”
    Noble nodded. He must send a letter back with this man for the Pattersons. Surely they knew a lawyer who would settle his claim on the land. There had to be a way to prove his ownership.
    The man poked Noble with a thumb. “You let them redskins sleep in here?”
    â€œThey’re Osage.”
    â€œSavages. All the red bastards should be shot. Now the war’s over, we’ll get busy on that.”
    â€œIs it really over?” Noble asked, not satisfied with the rumors of the surrender.
    â€œDamn sure is.” The man punctuated his speech by spitting. “Lee hung up his sword. Give it to Grant at Apple something in Virginny.”
    â€œGood,” Noble said absently. He looked away, impatient to get away from the loud mouthed, irritating man.
    â€œHell, yes. Now I’ll have work. Them bluebellies are gonna raise hell with those red devils. Going to put up a bunch of forts so settlers won’t be molested by them. Maybe we’ll get us a president who’ll put a bounty on their red skins.” He spit contemptuously. “Hell, I’ll do it for free.”
    â€œWell, don’t plan on starting anything here,” Noble warned him with a cold glare. “These people are mine. Don’t even think about harming them.”
    â€œYou some kinda damn Injun lover?”
    Noble’s eyes glittered with cold rage as he stared down the man. “You’re damned right and don’t you forget it.” He turned on his heel, too furious to add anything else. He wanted to hurry and unload the supplies and get the damned Indian hater on his way as quickly as possible. A shudder of anger rippled through him as he stalked inside the store.
    Fleta noticed his face looked like a thundercloud. “Noble, what’s wrong?” she asked quietly.
    â€œNothing!.” Noble gritted his teeth to control his boiling wrath. He took a deep breath and stood rigid until he had his rage fully under control.
    â€œWhy are you so wrought up?”
    â€œIt’s nothing. That freighter just made me angry,” he said,