Jedadiah's Mail Order Bride Read Free

a mail order bride.  Jed had not thought of women since he left Lebanon.  He was not one to visit the fancy ladies that worked out of the saloon.  Besides, he couldn't think of a wife until he had a house.  He certainly couldn't ask one to sleep in the barn as he did.  A wife was something that would have to be put on his future lists.
     
    With the money he had saved from his store job and the selling of the gold dust from his prospecting days dwindling, Jed began worrying about how he was going to get by.  Luke had told him he could work on his ranch, but Jed thanked him and told Luke he would hold off on that.  In the meantime, with an abundance of rain, his garden flourished.  He found he had a talent for farming and took pleasure in his success.
     
    Jed was in the general store in Laramie to purchase some needed supplies when he overheard two women bemoaning the lack of fresh vegetables. He thought of the abundance beyond his needs back home on his place.  Since he now had a cabin and a barn, he had come to think of it as his ranch.  He mentioned this to the owner of the store.  "Why don't you sell them?" the grocer asked.  "I'll take all you have, anytime."
     
    Visiting John and Grace Carruthers in their home behind the church, he told them about what the storekeeper had said.  Grace said, "He doesn't have fresh vegetables very often since everyone around here is all cattle.  When he does have any, they are expensive."
     
    "You could sell them yourself, and probably get a higher price than he will offer you, but that would require you to be here selling them.  I think you should take him up on his offer."
     
    "I could certainly use the cash.  I would really like to buy some cattle now that I have the fencing up.  I believe I'll go back and talk to him again.  Thanks for the advice.  I appreciate it."
     
    Back at the store, he told the storekeeper what he had coming ripe in the immediate future.  The storekeeper's eyes lit up.  "You bring all you can spare and I'll give you a good price for them, and I'll still make money."
     
    "I'll do that.  I will be back with a wagon load in two days.  I have put up all I can and am sure I have enough for the winter.  I have quite a bit ready to harvest with more coming daily.  Maybe all the work I put in on the garden is going to pay off at last.  I'll see you in two days."  With that, he loaded his newly purchased supplies and headed back to his farm and ranch, whistling some nameless tune.  He felt better than he had in weeks... No, in months.
     
    * * *
     
    His small spring house was filled with vegetables.  He had been wondering what he was going to do with all of them.  Clara Hastings had her own garden and had no need for other vegetables.  Now he had a market.  He spent the next day, gathering all of the produce that was even close to being ready to harvest.  Early the next morning, he headed back to Laramie loaded down. 
     
    As he unloaded his wagon in front of the store, the town ladies were trying to buy vegetables right off the wagon.  Jed decided that wouldn't be right, "Ladies, I've promised all of these to Mr. Thompson.  You can purchase them from him."
     
    "Jed, I appreciate what you did out there.  You could have sold all of your vegetables yourself and never even brought them into the store.  I appreciate what you did."
     
    "Asa, we have a deal.  I promised all of my crops outside my needs to you, and anything else would be dishonest and I am an honest Christian man.  If you're ready to settle up, I am too."  Jed and Asa sat down by the pickle barrel and negotiated what both of them though was a good price for his vegetables.  He left town in high spirits and money in his pocket.
     
    By the end of the month, selling his vegetables as they began to ripen, he had as much money as when he came to Laramie.  He also had a cabin, a barn and fences.  Jedadiah Elias Barnette was ready to get into the cattle