Beyond the Green

38

After a late supper that night I was just starting to sit down at the fire when I at last remembered the second letter I had never read. I mentioned it to Nolan, who paused, thinking.

"I put it here, I think," standing, he shuffled through a few things on the mantle before handing it to me, sitting down. Tearing the envelope open I settled into the rocker as I began to read aloud.

"Connolly Manor House

Highlands, Richmond Virginia

United States of America

My Dear Molly,

Sad to say, I am writing to tell you unfortunate news. Mister Hoskins, your late father's lawyer, died in his sleep last week. As you know, he was executer of your father's will. Sadly, the property was not yet settled to free your father from his creditors. This leaves you, dearest child, as the executor of the will, and you have complete financial control of the house etc. I am deeply sorry to bring up these bitter memories when you have settled so well into western life, but the collectors must be satisfied. I stay on at the house until these matters are closed, but I do not pretend to think the house will stay under your possession.

I do not presume to know your new financial circumstances, and far be it for me to pry, but perhaps you cannot afford to return to Virginia and settle things here? I want to be of service in any way possible, so please let me know what I can do as soon as you can. Perhaps you should consider awarding me legal control of your affairs then I can settle with the creditors and transfer the small sum left over at your convenience. I await your response.

Affectionately,

Conroy Snider

Poor Missus Hoskins. They were always so kind to me."

"He's uh...interested, in your pa's affairs." Nolan spoke slowly.

"Yes, I suppose he feels responsible. He talked Papa into some business scheme that fell through, and he lost a great deal of money. Papa lost everything and once Papa realized he had ruined us, he lost his will, like he died inside and was just waiting for his body to follow. He didn't last three months."

"I'm sorry, Molly." Reaching out, he took my hand, squeezing gently. I squeezed back.

"Thank you, but I've made my peace with that. So I am no longer the wealthy daughter of an Irish businessman, I am the happy and extremely contented wife of a horse rancher. Life happens, and you have to move with it, right?" Nolan frowned slightly at my words.

"How wealthy?"

"Oh. I am not sure of the exact amount, but Papa gave me a monthly expense account of three hundred dollars. I sometimes spent it, sometimes not. That was nothing compared to what Papa would spend when he got into one of his moods."

Nolan's eyes had popped slightly at the amount, his mouth open.

"Three hundred a month? Just for you. What did he do?"

"Papa was very smart, a very good businessman, but he had a heart of gold. His friends said that if Papa wasn't so rich, we would all be dirt poor. He worked with the railway company, and in the coal mines for a while but I am not sure what he did there. Anyway, that also made him a fortune." I smiled remembering those days. "Papa did not just sit on all that money though. He gave it back to the community, houses, schools, libraries, hospitals, he gave to everyone."

Nolan let out a low whistle and sat back in his chair, puffing silently on his pipe. I could see he was letting his mind wrap around the fortune that used to belong to my family. Not wanting him to think I resented losing the comforts of vast wealth to be with him I leaned toward him. He glanced at me and smiled.