Wanted: Bookkeeper (Silverpines Series Book 14)

by Sophie Dawson

  “I could help with that, if you want me to,” she said, her pencil tapping on the blotter.

  “I think I can handle it, my dear. You can finish that sum.” Joel’s wink had Tilde pressing her lips together to keep from replying.

  The opening of the three savings accounts was soon complete and Joel saw the men to the bank door. “Thank you,” he said, shaking each man’s hand. “Good luck with the sawmill. I’m glad it’s running again.”

  “We are too. Glad we could all get jobs there. Our ma wanted us to stick together.” Peter tipped his hat and jumped down the steps following his brothers into the street.

  Joel closed the door and went behind the counter and leaned his hip on Tilde’s desk. “You get that column to balance yet?” When she growled, he grinned. “Think about adding machines. We got them for Cottonwood Bank and it really helped with all the addition and subtraction.”

  Tilde just ignored him, tapping her pencil by each number in the column until she reached the bottom. She threw the pencil across the room. “That’s it. I’m done for the day. I’ve fought this stupid ledger page for two days. I’m setting it aside until Monday.”

  Joel stroked his mustache to hide his grin. He’d leave the topic alone and let her come to her own conclusion as to the benefits of the adding machines.

  “It’s nearly noon anyway,” he said. “Let’s begin counting the cash and closing the safe. Your mother said she would hold dinner for us. I don’t want to delay it and get on her bad side on the day we move in.”

  “Only you are moving in. I’ve lived there all my life.” Tilde got up and went to pull the cash drawer from her teller window.

  “That’s true. I still don’t want to be late.” Joel went to his office and brought back the cash the Bunyan brothers had deposited. He waited until Tilde was finished balancing her drawer then they put the cash in the safe and closed it. He now knew the combination, so he could open it if Tilde wasn’t there.

  He helped her with her mantle and slipped his coat on. The weather was cool for late September. He hoped that didn’t mean the winter would be colder than normal. Although cold nights would be welcome if Tilde snuggled close to him in bed.

  ~~~~~

  Mabel Lasek was standing on the front porch as they walked up the steps. Though she was smiling, Tilde saw that it didn’t reach her eyes. Her heart sank. It was evident her mother still wasn’t happy about her marriage. All she could hope was that as she got to know Joel he would work his way into her heart. He certainly had to her own.

  It wasn’t love. It was too soon for that. Tilde had talked to Millie Cutler about marrying a stranger. Millie had done so to save the mercantile she owned. Also to have a father to her four children. What she got was the husband and five more children. That had been a shock when they stepped off the train.

  Millie’s advice was to do everything she could to make the marriage work. To support her new husband and get to know him, not presupposing she knew what he was thinking. So far that had been easy. Joel was a laid-back man, seeming to be content in his circumstances. Well, he was pushing for those adding machines. She’d think about it but wasn’t convinced the new technology would be better than adding the numbers herself. But after the last two days, her frustration was mounting with her math skills.

  “Hello, Mother. Thank you for meeting us.”

  “I wanted to welcome you back and your husband to his new home. Your trunks and bags were brought this morning. They are in your room, Tilde.” Mabel turned to Joel. “Since we will be living together, I believe it would be appropriate to dispense with formal address. I will call you Joel, and you may call me Mother.”

  “Mother, he may not want to call you that. He has a mother.”

  “It’s fine, Tilde. I call mine Mama. Sometimes Katie Mama. I’m pleased to call you Mother, Mrs. Lasek.”

  Joel slipped an arm around Tilde’s waist. She leaned slightly into his side, not so much that her mother would notice. That would be most improper, for sure.

  “Come,” Mabel said. “Let’s not keep Dara waiting. She’s made pumpkin soup and apple pie.” Mabel preceded them into the house and through to the dining room. She stepped aside and waved Tilde and Joel before her. “I relinquish my spot at the head of the table to you, Joel. Tilde, you may sit at the foot.”

  “Thank you, Mother,” Joel said. “I accept the honor of the head of the table. However, when we are just family at the table, I would prefer you both sit on either side of me. I like that we would be closer, making conversation easier.”

  Tilde was surprised and grateful that her mother acknowledged her husband as the head of the house. Abdicating her place as the mistress had to be difficult. She remembered the first time they ate in the dining room after the disaster. Her mother had sat down in her father’s chair and they’d both wept at the change. Each evening since, Tilde sat in the middle on her mother’s left looking across the table to the vacant place her brother used to occupy.

  Tilde glanced sideways at her mother, wanting to see her reaction to Joel’s suggestion of a closer arrangement of the place settings. Again, she was surprised. The softening of her face and the slight smile, that did reach her eyes, told Tilde her mother hadn’t been eager to sit in Tilde’s regular place.

  “I think that is a wonderful suggestion.” Tilde squeezed his hand. “With just us we can surely be less formal.”

  “I agree,” Mother said. “If we have guests we will need to sit in our proper places, however.”

  “Of course.” Joel held the chair for Mother and then went around to seat Tilde. When he was seated they sat in silence for a few moments. Mother cleared her throat and pointed to the crystal bell beside his place. “Oh, yes. Of course.” Tilde could see a slight blush stain his neck as he lifted the bell and set it jingling.

  It occurred to her that this would be the first time he was master of a house and head of the table. She glanced at her mother to see her reaction. An indulgent smile was on her lips. It gave Tilde hope that her mother would accept Joel as her husband and part of the family.

  ~~~~~

  Joel was standing in the bedroom, Tilde’s bedroom, his open trunk sat beside the wall behind the door. He knew it was a good spot for it while he unpacked. The real issue was there was no place to put his clothing, let alone his other things. Tilde’s dresser was filled with her things as were the drawers in the wash stand.

  He’d been able to squeeze his suits into the wardrobe beside Tilde’s garments. Now he needed to unpack his other clothing items. He had no place for his shirts and socks, let alone his underwear.

  Frustration came out in a sigh and pursed lips. He placed his hands on his hips. Where was Tilde, anyway? Shouldn’t she be helping him? Maybe clearing a few drawers from her dresser so he had somewhere to put his things? He was sure there were items in both the dresser and wardrobe she never wore. His sisters certainly had plenty.

  Rather than stand here, alone, wondering where his wife was and getting nothing done, he left the room. The second floor had several bedrooms. Tilde had pointed out her mother’s room the first day when they packed a bag to take to the inn. There were at least two more bedrooms. Tilde’s was across the front of the house.

  The door to another room was open. He moved to it and looked in. Tilde sat next to her mother on the bed. His wife’s arm was around her shoulders.

  “It’s just so difficult,” Mother was saying. “I lose your father and brother. Now you are leaving me.”

  “I’m not, Mother. We are living here. I’m not going anywhere.”

  “I know, I’m just afraid you will. I’ll be left all alone in this house with only empty rooms and memories.” Mother wiped her eyes with her handkerchief. “I know your husband needs this dresser. He could probably use some of Terrance’s things. I haven’t done anything with his or your father’s. I simply haven’t been able to deal with it. Not been able to sort through them or pack them away in trunks.”

  Joel saw Tilde pat
her mother on the back. “I know it’s hard. I miss them so terribly too. I’ll help you, if you want. With Joel here I should be able to take some time off like I did before.”

  Mother turned to her. Joel stepped back out of sight range. “You would do that?”

  “Of course, I love you and we are both grieving. It would be a way we can help each other heal. I’ll speak to him about taking Monday morning off.” She nudged her mother’s shoulder. “That way he can add up that stupid column I’ve been fighting for two days.”

  Joel stifled his laugh and stepped back into the doorway. “Excuse me. Am I interrupting?”

  Tilde held out her hand to him. “No, of course not. We are emptying this dresser for your things. Once it’s empty, you can move it into our room.”

  “Me? All by myself?” He grinned at Tilde, placing his hand on his chest as if affronted.

  She picked up on his teasing. “You’re the big strong man of the house. You should be able to do it without help from little ole me.”

  Joel puffed out his chest. “That’s right, ma’am. I’m sure it won’t be too much for me to handle.”

  Mother gave a small chuckle. “I’m sure that’s correct. It is on wheels, after all.”

  Joel did an exaggerated deflation of his chest. “You wound my pride, madam.”

  “Most men need their pride wounded at times. I’ll be happy to do so for you.” She was smiling now. A true smile. It made her look more like Tilde.

  Joel needed to remember that her world had been torn asunder not that long ago. She was grieving and Tilde had been so busy at the bank she hadn’t been able to stay with her mother. They both needed time to grieve. Tilde had broken open her grief the day he arrived. Mabel probably hadn’t succumbed to hers yet. Joel would do what he could so Tilde could spend time with her mother so they could grieve and heal together.

  CHAPTER NINE

  “Good morning, Miss. I’d like to speak to someone about opening an account.”

  Joel didn’t recognize the man’s voice but that wasn’t too unusual. He hadn’t been in Silverpines that long. This man must be new, however, since he wanted to open an account. Joel stepped out of his office. “I’ll be able to help you with that, Mr…”

  “Jeremiah Henderson,” Tilde squealed. She ran around the counter and hugged the man. “When did you get back to Silverpines? How long has it been? Let me think. Fourteen years.”

  “Yesterday. I’m looking into reopening Pike’s Silver Mine.” Jeremiah winked at Tilde, making Joel grit his teeth. He squashed the feeling of jealousy. She was just meeting an old friend. Jeremiah’s next words eased away all concern.

  “I’m also going to be marrying Maude.”

  “So you’ve got that hundred dollars, do you? I’m so happy for you. She mourned for so long after you moved.” Tilde hugged him again. “Jeremiah, I’d like you to meet my husband, Joel Richards. Joel, this is a friend from my childhood, Jeremiah Henderson.”

  “Pleased to meet you, Mr. Henderson.”

  “Come around here and Joel can show you into his office.” Tilde held the gate open allowing him to come through.

  Once they were settled in the office, Joel drew the paperwork and bank book from a drawer. “Welcome to Silverpines, Mr. Henderson. These papers need to be filled out and signed. How much are you depositing?”

  “Five hundred thousand dollars will be arriving on the next train by armed courier.”

  Joel was speechless. The entire bank wasn’t worth that much, at least not since the disaster. Mortgages hadn’t been paid upon and some had been turned back to the bank. Businesses were just beginning to get back into regular operation.

  Mr. Henderson laughed. “Surprised me, too. I didn’t know about it until yesterday when my boss told me I owned part of Pike Silver Mine Consortium as well as another mine in New Mexico.

  “We arrived yesterday to see if the mine is viable to reopen. I’m a mining engineer and I hope Mrs. Sewell will hire me to oversee its opening.” Jeremiah began filling out the forms.

  “I see,” Joel said. He opened the bank book and filled in the name. “What’s your address, or do you even have one yet?”

  “No, I don’t. I need to find a house as I’ll be marrying soon. Do you know who I should talk to about that?”

  Joel smiled. “You came to the right place. The bank now owns several houses as the families either died in the earthquakes, or had a loved one die and they left town, turning the house back to the bank. I can show you several.”

  It didn’t take long to set up the account, with Jeremiah depositing a much lesser amount than would be coming in a few days.

  “Let’s talk with my wife about which houses would be best for you and your fiancé.”

  ~~~~~

  The bank door opened causing Tilde and Joel to look up. They’d been going over some papers at her desk with Joel leaning over while she sat.

  “I just heard there’s a no ‘count little boy running the bank here in town.”

  Tilde glanced up and saw a smile broaden on Joel’s face. He straightened and hurried around the counter. The man he hugged was tall and muscular. He wore a Stetson that had seen better days and lightly worn work clothes.

  “Nathan Ryder, someone I never figured would be in the town of Silverpines. What brings you here? Come on back and meet my wife. Are Grace, Cindy, and the twins with you?”

  “No, I’m here dealing with the silver mine. I seem to own some stock in it. You met Jeremiah Henderson this morning, he tells me.”

  “Yes, I did. He opened an account and bought a house. Seems he came from here and is marrying a friend of Tilde’s. Nathan, this is my lovely wife, Tilde Richards. Tilde, this is an old friend, and I stress the old, Nathan Ryder, otherwise known as The Preacher.”

  Tilde gasped. She’d heard of The Preacher. He was a legend. A minister who not only carried a gun but wasn’t afraid to use it. He was also a U.S. Marshal with a reputation of being the fastest gun anyone knew.

  “Wel… Welcome to Silverpines, Mr. Ryder.”

  “Nathan, did you know Clay Cutler and his family are living here now?”

  “Found out this morning. Seems Clay helped this little lady not get captured when the bank was nearly robbed.”

  “Sheriff Sewell told me about that. Sounds like Ryder is beginning to have Callings too.”

  The men went on discussing the connections between the newer citizens of Silverpines and Nathan Ryder. How could so many men from so many places being related to or knowing him end up marrying women in Silverpines, Tilde wondered? She counted. Sheriff Sewell came from Ryder Mountain in Kentucky. Jeremiah Henderson just came back to town after working for Nathan. Clay Cutler and his children were second cousins. And Joel knew him from who knows where? She certainly didn’t. That’s four grown men and five children. To top that off, Nathan owned part of the mine. No one could write this even in a dime novel.

  “You’ll have to come for supper some evening. Maybe we could get everyone together at Lasek House. Imagine the tales we all could tell. Especially about Nugget Nate and Penny.”

  Nathan laughed. “That would be a hoot. We’ll have to do that, but not yet. There are things afoot that need to be resolved first.”

  “You have a Calling?” Joel asked, now serious.

  “Yes, that’s why I’m here. Soon as it’s resolved we’ll plan that hoedown, as Nate would say. Now, I’m wanting a short-term deposit made. Don’t like leaving that amount of money in the railcar safe. I’m also wanting to take a look at the Pike Silver Mine Consortium books. We’re thinking there may be some fraud going on.”

  “Certainly, come on into my office and I’ll get you all set up.”

  Tilde opened and closed her mouth several times as she watched them head away. Would wonders never cease? Nathan Ryder, U.S. Marshal and The Preacher here in her bank.

  ~~~~~

  “I’m going to get this stupid ledger balanced if it kills me,” Tilde grumbled. “But first I’m putting
more coal in the boiler. Who would have thought it would get so cold in October? I hope it’s just a day or two.” She stood, throwing her pencil onto the offending ledger.

  It seemed that ever since Joel had come to Silverpines her mathematic skills had regressed to first grade level. It seemed as if each ledger had a mind of its own and changed the numbers every time she tried to add the column.

  To top it off, Joel had stopped mentioning the adding machines. Instead, he just raised his eyebrow whenever he heard her complaining. That eyebrow and the tiny grin made her want to throw the ledger at him. Every time. Her mother’s strict teachings on propriety were all that kept her from injuring her husband.

  Tilde stomped down the stairs into the basement. Last winter her father had installed a boiler and radiator system to heat the bank. Someone had to come down periodically during the day to add more coal. They banked the coals at night so they were still hot in the morning. Tilde didn’t like shoveling the dirty black rocks into the firebox, but Joel was out of the bank at the moment, so the job fell to her. Or she could be cold waiting for him to return.

  When she spilled coal dust on her skirt it was all she could do not to swear like a logger. She was able to finish stoking without any more temptations, but she grumbled again as she climbed back to the main floor. Just as she closed the basement door behind her, the bank door opened and Millie Cutler came in. Three little girls followed her in. One had a magnifying glass in front of her eye making it appear quite large.

  “Good morning, Tilde. Whatever have you been doing? You’re covered in black dust.”

  “Stoking the boiler downstairs. Joel is gone at the moment or he would have done it. I was too cold to wait.” Tilde excused herself and went into the small retiring room and washed her hands. A quick look in the mirror showed that she did have coal dust on her white shirtwaist as well as her blue and white striped skirt. There was a smudge on her face which was removed with a quick swipe of a wet washcloth.