A Dream to Call My Own by Tracie Peterson

Author:Tracie Peterson [Peterson, Tracie]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: FIC042030
ISBN: 9781441204226
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2009-08-31T23:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

“I’m afraid there’s little I can do about it,” Hank declared to the people of the Denver wagon train. Despite a night of rest, the entire group looked trail weary and worn from their experience. And now Hank had only more bad news to convey.

“The fact is, my land has already been promised to a local rancher, and the hotel and store properties are being sold to the saloon owner, Rafe Reynolds.” He pointed in Rafe’s direction. “That’s him over there.”

Rafe stood and nodded to the people. “That’s right. I’m buying these businesses to expand my own.”

The men and women murmured comments to one another, but Hank hushed them quickly. He’d called this meeting at Gallatin House not only to show the newcomers that he sympathized with their situation but to suggest they might want to join him and some of the others in considering a fresh start elsewhere. He had hopes of telling them about the property available up north, where even now he had arranged to have the new Gallatin Hotel built.

Jefferson Mulholland was also in attendance, and Hank frowned as he whispered something to Rafe. Those two always seemed to be planning something. Ignoring them, however, Hank began again.

“I think you should know that the railroad has no intention of building a line through this area. I spoke personally with the men in charge. It was in our best interests to know if the railroad would come to Gallatin Crossing, after all.”

“But gold’s been found in the area,” one of the men asserted. “That will make the railroad take another look.”

“Only if a very large find can be had. So far, there has been only a trickle of color,” Hank countered. “Nothing at all to constitute a rush.”

“But you do have a rush,” the same man replied. “We’ve seen the men lined up panning the river.”

“Yes, but what you haven’t seen are any large claims to prove the gold speculation is valid,” Hank told him. “However, that’s not what I wanted to talk to you about. The fact is that the railroad is going in to the north. I have worked out an arrangement to purchase land from the railroad to start a new town. I want to suggest that you folks consider doing the same. I can take you there tomorrow, if you like, and you can see exactly how the situation is set up. Those of you who want to start new businesses could easily do so there.”

“But we already bought land here,” a tall man said as he stood. He rubbed a scraggly beard. “We sold our acreage and business in Denver and used all the money to buy the land and get up here. I can’t be buying another piece of property to start over.”

“Me either” came the cry of most of the men in the room.

“We were assured that the land was ready for us, mister,” a tall bearded man announced. “We have lots designated, and the town has already been plotted out.

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