Texas OilMan's Bride (Mail Order Bride Series)

Texas OilMan's Bride (Mail Order Bride Series) Read Free Page B

Book: Texas OilMan's Bride (Mail Order Bride Series) Read Free
Author: Susan Leigh Carlton
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begun calling Sarah “Mom”.  “I do have to beat them, Mom.  Boys are supposed to beat the girls.”
     
    “I don’t know where you got that,” his mother said.  “You certainly didn’t hear it here.  Your father and I are equals and have always treated each others as such.”
     
    “I’m going to beat them.  You wait and see.”
     
    As he progressed through the school system, the specter of his sisters continued to haunt him.  Any time a test or report card slipped, he was reminded by his teachers, “This isn’t like you, Jonathon.  I’m disappointed, and I expect more from you than this,” his teacher told him after he turned in a less than perfect paper.
     
    “Mom, it isn’t fair.  My grades are the best in the class, but the teacher still got on me about it,” he told his mother.
     
    “It isn’t fair, Johnny.  They simply expect you to be the best.  Your sisters, unfortunately, set very high standards and they expect you to do the same.”
     
    “It still isn’t fair,” he replied.
     
    “Would you like for me to talk to your teacher?” she asked.
     
    “No ma’am.  I’ll just have to study more.”
     
    And he did.  All the way through school, his work hovered close to perfection.  Cassie had moved on from Marshall High School and was attending Bayor College For Women.  Two years later, Rebecca graduated and entered the University of Texas at Austin.  Jonathon was now the only child at home.
     
    His drive for success came at a price of social interaction.  He had few friends, and no girlfriends, even though he inherited the rugged, handsome appearance of his father and the beauty of his mother.  In this manner, he was much like Rebecca, shy and introspective.
     
    After Rebecca graduated and left home, Johnny remained driven to succeed.  He developed an interest in mining and in particular, oil exploration.  He decided he would like to attend the Texas Agricultural and Mechanical School, later called Texas A&M by its students.
     
    He delighted both his father and mother with his choice of A&M.  He was working with his father on the farm after school.  “I’m glad you picked A&M,” Clint told him.  He waved his arm to indicate the fields of cotton, “This is all going to be yours and you will be equipped to manage it and make it grow.  They are doing good things at College Station, and you can bring them back to the farm.  I’m proud of you son.  You’re a fine man.”
     
    “Well, I have a good man to model,” Johnny said.  “Nobody could ask for a better family than I have.”
     
    “It wasn’t always easy,” Clint said.  “There were times when it was hard, but after your mother and I married, we worked together and managed to survive.  Part of our hard work was to make sure you and your sisters had the best chance for success possible.  I think we’ve done that.  We’re going to be able to take it easy now, and relax knowing we’re going to leave it in good hands.”
     
    Johnny couldn’t bring himself to say, “I don’t want to be a farmer, Pop.  I want to be an engineer and create new things.  I want to be remembered.” 
     
    In the fall of 1890, Jonathon Thomas entered Texax A&M, a member of the Class of ’94.  Enrollment had declined following the opening of the University of Texas, but was rebounding under the administration of Sul Ross.  With the help of his advisor, Johnny selected a series of classes aiming at a mechanical engineering degree.  In the interest of the family business, he also took agricultural courses.
     
    In the tradition of the Corps of Cadets, Johnny entered the service of the US Army as a second lieutenant.  In 1898, he served as an officer in the unit known as the Rough riders in The Battle of San Juan Hill, led by Theodore Roosevelt. The war lasted only ten weeks, resulting in the defeat of the Spanish and in Cuban independence.
     
    Time to beard the lion…
     
    Johnny caught up with his father in

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