Oil Patch Romance (Mail Order Bride Series)

by Susan Leigh Carlton

On January 10, 1901, a drill punched through a salt dome and into an oil reservoir. The well was a gusher; it was called Spindletop, and forever changed the image of Texas from a cattle state to an oil producer.

  A Beaumont newspaper account reads:

  “An Oil Geyser – Remarkable Phenomenon South of Beaumont – Gas Blows Pipe from Well and a Flow of Oil Equaled Nowhere Else on Earth.”

  Another description: "With a roar like a hundred express trains racing across the countryside, the well blew out, spewing oil in all directions. The derrick simply evaporated. Casings wilted like lettuce out of water, as heavy machinery writhed and twisted into grotesque shapes in the blazing inferno.

  Nine days later, and nearly half a million barrels of oil wasted, a shut off valve in the casing of the well was able to stop the flow. For years, the public’s image of an oil discovery was that of a gusher.

  * * *

  William Barnes called Jonathon into his office. Pointing to a beautiful blonde woman seated by his desk, Barnes said, “Jonathon, let me introduce you to Laura Ingram. She will be joining your team. She recently graduated from Harvard with honors and is coming back home to Texas. I would like for you to acquaint her with your project and get her up to speed with what we are doing here.”

  “Laura,” Barnes continued, “Jonathon is our top engineer and scientist. I would like for you to work closely with him. I believe you two can achieve great things together.”

  Laura extended a hand, which Jonathon ignored. After an awkward pause, she dropped the arm, and said, “I have heard a great deal about you, even back in school the things you have accomplished are frequently a subject of discussion. I consider working with you to be a big opportunity for me and for my career. I’m anxious to get started.”

  “Bill, I don’t really need an addition to my department. I don’t have time to spend training someone,” Jonathon said.

  “Then you will just have to make time,” Barnes said. “Our business is growing so fast, we need top talent, just to keep up. We were extremely fortunate to be able to convince Laura to join us. She brings a lot to our table, and I’m making it your responsibility to utilize the talent in the best way possible.”

  “Bill…” started Jonathon.

  “That’s it, Jonathon. Now get Laura set up with an office and anything else she will need.”

  Jonathan walked ahead of Laura as he made his way back to his office. He had one speed, fast, and Laura almost had to run to keep up. He sat behind his desk, leaving Laura standing in the middle of the room. She moved some papers from a chair and sat down. “May I call you Jonathan, or do you prefer Mr. Thomas?” she asked.

  “Jonathon is fine,” he grunted.

  “I’m ready to do whatever needs to be done,” she said. “I’m here to learn. I’m from this area, and my family is in the business. To my father, I’m the boy he never had.”

  Jonathon remained silent for a few seconds. Then, “Miss Ingram… Laura, I don’t need, nor do I want someone new. I prefer to work alone. If you will just stay out of my way and get my work done, then we will get along fine.”

  “Are you always this rude, Mr. Thomas, or is it because I’m a woman? I finished at the top of my class at Harvard, and I had to work harder than the men to prove myself. I’m prepared to do that here,” she said.

  “That’s all, Miss Ingram. We’re finished here,” he said.

  Her temper flared. “We’re not finished here. Mr. Barnes said you were to help me get set up and involved in your work. If I have to go back and get a clarification of that assignment, I will. It’s your choice.”

  He swept the papers from his desk. She was as bossy as his sisters. “I don’t need another woman telling me what to do, he said to himself. “It would be just like her to run back to Barnes and tell on me. I’ll have to go along with it until I can dump her off on another department.”

  The Thomas farm…

  The Thomas family was gathered on the farm to celebrate Sarah’s birthday. Cassie had managed to trade shifts on her rotation and get the weekend off. With train service now available to Marshall, it was easier for her to make the trip home.

  After passing the state bar exams, Rebecca was happily at work, progressing to a managerial position in the contracts department of one of the largest legal firms in Houston. Her specialty was developing, and negotiating lease acquisition agreements with the oil companies.

  As the baby of the family, and with his sisters progressing in their fields, Jonathon received much of the attention during family discussions.

  “Are you making any progress toward preventing another blowout like Spindletop?” Rebecca asked.

  “A lot of work is being done on a blowout preventer but we haven’t made any breakthroughs yet. It is a top priority for all of the oil companies,” he said.

  “How do you like what you’re doing?” Cassie asked. Are you still putting in more as many hours as I do?”

  “I put in a lot of time,” he said. Scowling, he went on, “Up until last week, I thought I was making progress until Barnes threw a roadblock at me.”

  Rebecca’s ears perked up. Johnny usually displayed very little emotion when talking about his work. “What happened?” she asked.

  “They just hired a new person fresh out of Harvard, and assigned her to my department. Bill said, getting her up to speed quickly is one of my top priorities. I don’t have time to waste on breaking in some female that will just get married and leave. It’s a waste of my time.” He put a lot of emotion into his words.

  “You sound just like the men I run into in the hospital,” Cassie said. “They don’t think I belong and go out of the way to make it difficult for me. Becky runs into the same type. Tell him how we respond, Beck.”

  “It riles me, and I work harder to prove them wrong. At least, it hasn’t gotten physical again, Rebecca said.

  Everyone’s ears perked at this last. She hadn’t told anyone except Cassie about her intruder.

  “Physical?” her father asked. “What do you mean?”

  “I came home from studying with Josh and found my apartment had been torn up, with things on the floor, drawers emptied and such. I walked in on him, and in his rush to get out, he hit me and knocked me down. He said, “We don’t need any women lawyers here.”

  “I screamed and Josh ran back in. We called the police, but they didn’t find anything. Josh spent the night on my couch and we changed the locks the next day. I didn’t see any need to worry you with it, so I didn’t say anything.”

  ‘I just don’t have the time to spend training someone,” said Johnny.

  “There is more to life than work, Johnny,” Cassie said.

  “Listen to who is talking,” Johnny said. “This is coming from someone working ninety hours a week. You’re not any better either, Becky. I’ve had females telling me what to do all of my life. I don’t need it now,” he said with a lot of emotion.

  “You sure seem riled up over having to work with a girl, don’t you think, Cass?” Rebecca said.

  “I do indeed,” Cassie said. “Is she pretty?”

  “What’s that have to do with anything,” Johnny asked.

  “She’s pretty,” Rebecca decided.

  Their mother weighed in. “You need something in your life besides work. I don’t think you have ever had a serious girlfriend. You need someone to share with.”

  “Pop, help me out here. I’m being bombarded by females.” A loud round of laughter came from around the table.

  “I’m with them, son. Your mother and I want some grandchildren. You need to get going, so you don’t let us down.”

  “Great, just great,” Johnny said. I don’t see you two doing much toward the grandchildren bit.”

  “I’m not ready for public disclosure yet. By the way, Johnny, I have some lease proposals to deliver and I will be in Beaumont next week,” Rebecca said.

  “Let me know what day and I’ll manage to be in the field that day,” he said, with a smile.
r />   “It’s not you I want to see,” she said. “It’s…

  CHAPTER 5: REBECCA VISITS BEAUMONT

  Wednesday morning…

  Bill Barnes looked up to see what he immediately deemed the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, walking through the door of the Beaumont office of the Texas Fuel company. Standing, he moved quickly around his desk and went to the reception area.

  “I’m Bill Barnes, how can I help you this morning?” he asked.

  “I’m Rebecca Hutchison from Edison and Larkin in Houston. I believe I have an appointment to review several oil leases with you. Is now a good time? If not, I’m going to be in Beaumont until tomorrow, if you need to reschedule. I do need to get them approved before I can get them signed and submitted for execution.”

  “Now is fine,” he said. “Come on back to my office and we can get started.” Leading the way to his office, he asked, “Is this your first time in Beaumont, Miss Hutchison?”

  “I’ve passed through once or twice, but I’ve never stopped over,” she said, and opened her briefcase and pulled several folders. “What I have here are leases our clients have negotiated with your agents. I need for you to review the terms and conditions and indicate your approval by initialing each. I am authorized to make any changes necessary.”

  “Aren’t these just the standard contracts,” he asked.

  “No, each is unique to the client based on their information. I think you will find them a bit tighter than the standard form. Your engineer provided the clients with an offer to lease, and I drew up the formal contract based on the offer made in the field,” she said. The offer made is in the folder also.”

  He looked at his watch. It’s close to lunch time. Would you like to discuss these over lunch?”

  “I’m sorry, that won’t be possible, I have another appointment,” she said.

  “Of course, you do,” he thought to himself. I should have known better than to think you weren’t otherwise engaged.

  “If I may, I’ll leave these with you and pick them up later this afternoon.” She said.

  “That will be fine. I should be able to get through them by four,” he said.

  Closing her briefcase, Rebecca stood and said, “Until then, Mr. Barnes. Thank you for your time.” She turned and left the office and headed to her next appointment.

  Promptly at four, Rebecca returned to the Texas Fuel offices. Barnes met her in the entry way and led her back to his office. “I have a few questions, but by and large, everything is ready to go.”

  For the next hour, they discussed each document in turn. Rebecca made some of the changes he requested and explained those she would not change. As he signed the papers he said,” Miss Hutchison… May I call you Rebecca? Since you’re a stranger in town, would you be my companion for dinner?”

  She smiled, and said, “Once again, I’m sorry. I’m staying with my brother while I’m here and we’ve made plans for dinner.”

  “I understand. I would have enjoyed the dinner. Perhaps the next time you’re in town?”

  “I don’t know when that might be,” she said, “but I will consider it.”

  “Your brother lives in Beaumont? What does he do?”

  “Why, he works here,” she said, smiling. “I believe he is in your department.”

  “Who is your brother?” he asked.

  “Jonathon Thomas. He should be here any minute,” she said.

  “Johnny is your brother? I apologize if I was out of line, Miss Hutchison, or is it Mrs.?”

  “It’s Miss. My father was killed in the war. My mother married his father when I was five.”

  “Extricating my foot from my mouth, it’s a relief. We think a lot of Jonathon around here. He’s going a long way in the business.”

  “Don’t tell him that. He’s hard enough to get along with already. You’re the Bill that assigned a woman to work with him, then?” she asked.

  “You know about that?”

  “He told me last week, when we were home to celebrate Mother’s birthday. I believe he said something to the effect was all he needed was another female around causing him grief. My sister, Cassie and I have always watched out for him. There was always a lively competition between us.”

  “What does your sister do?” he asked.

  “She’s a doctor, in New Orleans now, but soon she’s moving to Houston.” She looked up, “There’s Johnny. Is that the woman he’s working with?” she asked.

  “Yes, that’s Laura Ingram. She’s a recent graduate of Harvard. She wanted to work with the best, and that’s Johnny. He’s not happy about it, but he’ll do what he needs to do.”

  “I can see why she would distract him. She is absolutely beautiful,” Rebecca said.

  “Not as beautiful as you,” Bill told himself.

  She left Barnes and called out to Jonathon, “Johnny, over here.”

  Johnny looked up, smiled and said to no one in particular, “Why do I think my day just took a turn for the worst?”

  At his words, Laura turned, and said to herself, “Who is this gorgeous creature? No wonder he looks right through me.”

  Rebecca hugged him tightly and whispered, “I see why she upsets you so much. You had better grab her before someone else does.”

  Then in a normal voice, she said, “Aren’t you going to introduce me to your partner?”

  He stuttered, “Yes, I’m sorry. Laura, this pushy woman is my sister, Rebecca Thomas. Becky, Laura Ingram.”

  “It’s nice to meet the girl that has upset my baby brother so much,” Rebecca said.

  Laura flashed a smile, “Me upset him? You have it all backwards. He wishes I’d disappear, don’t you, Jonathon?”

  A flush flamed over Johnny’s cheek. “That’s not true. I uhhh… When did you get in, Becky?’

  “Don’t change the subject. Answer Laura’s question. You don’t really wish she would disappear, do you?”

  Laura laughed at his discomfort, her laugh soft and musical. “I’m glad to meet you, Rebecca. Maybe you can help me convince him I’m as serious about my work as he is about his.”

  In a soft aside to Johnny, Rebecca said, “Why don’t you invite them to dinner with us. It will be fun.”

  “Rebecca, she sees enough of me at work. I don’t think she would want to…”

  Quick on the uptake, Laura said, “How nice of you, I would love to. What time? And where?”

  Now invited, Bill Barnes called for a carriage and the four of them left for the only decent restaurant in Beaumont. He handled everything except for the seating in the carriage. He wound up sitting beside Johnathon when he really wanted to have Rebecca beside him,

  At the restaurant, most of the conversation was between Rebecca and Laura asked, “How can I get him to accept my work. Working with Jonathon is a plum assignment, but only if he will let me. He prefers to work by himself. We could get so much more done by working together.”

  Rebecca said, in a low voice,“The best advice I can give you is not to let him push you around. He will if he thinks he can get away with it. I love him, but he can be as stubborn as a mule sometimes. Just keep pushing and maybe he’ll realize you’re there for the long haul. I’m pulling for you because he needs to learn he can rely on others.”

  CHAPTER 6: JONATHON AND REBECCA

  Jonathon’s house…

  “I’m disappointed, Johnny,” Rebecca said. “Your attitude toward Laura is terrible, and you should be ashamed.”

  “What do you mean? I didn’t ask for her to be assigned to me. I don’t want the responsibility. I’m working on ways to prevent blowouts, and I don’t have time to be a nursemaid to someone that just wants to dabble. It wouldn’t matter whether it was male or female. When a well blows out, it is spewing money into the air. On top of that, there is a very high risk of a fire. A blowout preventer could save lives.”

  “When I was talking to her, I got the idea she was as serious about the work as you are, and she considers it an honor to be working with you.
You should give her a chance.”

  “Just leave it alone, Becky. It’s my job, and I’m going to do it my way,” he said.

  “Exasperated, she said, “You are an arrogant, ill mannered idiot. I can’t believe we came from the same parents.”

  “We didn’t, remember?”

  “Good night, Johnny. I don’t even know you anymore. I won’t bother you again.” I’m going to bed.”

  The next morning, Johnny came into the kitchen to find Rebecca dressed, her carpet bag and briefcase on the floor. “I didn’t think you were leaving until this afternoon,” he said.