Business Meeting

Richie with Ben Wade and Dan Evans

by Atonia & Layne

Miss Peeg had been on the job now for four days, the office looked a little different. One of the first things she insisted upon was a petty cash account for office expenses. She was very particular how she spent the money. A nice coffee and tea service was purchased, there would be no paper cups from the boarding house in her office.

She had her own set of keys because she was promptly in her desk at 8:00. Richie wandered in when he was ready. This morning he was also in at 8:00.

"Miss Peeg, I have an appointment this morning I believe," said Richie settling in his chair, his mail had been sorted and stacked in neat piles, junk mail closest to the trash can.

"Yes sir Mr. Roberts 9:00 a Mr. Wade and Mr. Evans, Mr. Wade you have met I believe and Mr. Evans is his business manager."

"Correct," he looked up and smiled. After bumping into each other a few times, they had found their place.

Promptly at 9:00 the door to the office opened and two handsome men were met by Miss Peeg.

"Good morning gentlemen. I believe he is expecting you go right in." Judging them to be coffee drinkers she set about making a fresh pot.

Ben Wade and Dan Evans entered Richie's office at Miss Peeg's invitation.

"Mornin', ma'am." Ben took off his hat and nodded charmingly to Miss Peeg. Charming women had always been his habit, no matter where he was or what the circumstances. Dan was quiet, giving only a polite nod.

As they moved into the inner office where Richie worked, Ben silently approved of the surroundings. Ordered, businesslike. This Roberts appeared to be a man who didn't need a lot of decoration. Usually pointed to a man who was serious about his work. Ben liked that.

"Mornin' Roberts." Ben greeted Richie with a smile and a handshake. The man had been a cop, but in Ben's book that made him a better prospect as an attorney. The more experience with the law the better. And besides, Ben got the impression that Richie was a man who was straight with you.

"This is Dan Evans, my business manager." He introduced Dan with a smile. "Figured you'd wanna meet him, since he handles so much for me. Dan's a good man. Been with me for seven years now."

"Good morning yourself Wade, Dan nice to meet you have a seat. Seven years huh? A man learns a lot in seven years." After hand shakes were exchanged they found their seats. Richie looked Dan over without being obvious about it and smiled.

"He sure does." Dan glanced over at Ben as he spoke.

"Oh, I reckon Dan knows everythin' about me there is to know," Ben said with a smile. He returned Dan's look with one of his own. "A damn good thing we're friends."

Richie caught the look that was exchanged. Friends yes, equals no. He pulled out a legal pad and a pen, "What is it ah, oh Miss Peeg thank you...coffee has arrived. Help you self."

Miss Peeg quietly and efficiently brought in a tray with good men sized mugs and a pot of coffee. It was evidently to be self serve so she quietly let herself out of Richie's office and pulled the door behind her.

"So..if I remember correctly you're a part time resident out here?" he asked of Dan.

"That's right," Dan answered slowly. "I'll probably be spending a lot of time here until the ranch is off the ground and things settle down. Wade here has a lot of irons in the fire."

Richie picked up the pen again and sat back in his chair, bouncing it off the pad in front of him. "So what is it I can do for you?" Once again his gut told him those 'irons' may have dubious beginnings. He looked over at Wade.

"Well, we talked about gettin' the deed to the land in my name at dinner the other night," Ben started out. "Guess that needs to be taken care of first. Dan here's got all the paperwork with Liana's signature." Evans passed an envelope over the desk to Richie.

"As far as everythin' else, one thing I wanna make sure of is that we're within the law in Australia as far as the permits and licenses we've got for the ranch and for breedin' the horses."

Dan Evans spoke up here. "I checked out everything with the help of a solicitor in Sydney before they started the building, but it couldn't hurt to have Ben's own lawyer double check things."

"Always pays to keep to the law," Ben added, with a somewhat sarcastic smile.

Richie looked up. "Yeah well you don't have to worry about 'keeping to the law'. I've been doin' a lot of land transfers and deeds." He opened the envelope and unfolded the papers, skimming over them until he came to the last page. "I thought you were going to add your signature to the deed. She's turned the whole thing over to you. You're aware of that?"

"Yeah, well, we talked it over and that's what she wanted to do," Ben said quietly. "Dan here talked to her about it too."

"I explained to her what she was doing," Dan said, somewhat regretfully. "But she insisted that she wanted the whole thing in Ben's name."

"That's one helluva woman I got there, Roberts. I hope your new wife feels the same about you, trusts you the way Liana trusts me." There was a note of pride in Ben's voice.

"You know, Dan, that Roberts here has a brand new wife and a honeymoon comin' up?" Ben looked over at Dan and back at Richie with a smile.

"You know, that's somethin' Liana and I didn't get to have--a honeymoon," Ben said, with a wink at Richie. "We got married kinda sudden-like. Reckon we oughta remedy that soon. I told her we'd have a real weddin' once we were settled here."

Richie stared across his desk at one then the other, the whole thing rattled him. Whatever between Liana and Ben was their business and surely none of his. He hoped she wasn't being as naive as it appeared. He and Toni shared equally this situation was a little one sided. He wondered if their sudden wedding was indeed legal.

"Trust...yeah I'd say that's pretty important. You have a very special Lady Ben and of course so do I." He sat back in his chair again, "Well I'll file these papers for you and make sure everything is done legally. So you're going to get married again...damn Wade.  I believe I'd skip all that and go straight for the honeymoon and that's coming from a recent groom."

"Oh, I'd go for that," Ben drawled. "But you know women. They set a big store in wearin' a pretty dress an' havin' a lotta flowers an' fancy stuff. Just ask Dan here. He's been married before. Got a coupla fine-lookin' sons too."

Dan Evans' smile was somewhat forced. He didn't like talking about his family and his ex-wife.

"Besides," Ben went on. "I figure Liana deserves it. She's been a helluva wife so far. Yeah, married life is agreein' with me just fine.

Dan sipped from his coffee cup as though he were trying to keep from breaking in on the conversation. Dan himself had doubts about Ben and Liana's marriage. He knew Wade's powers of persuasion. Had fallen victim to them himself a few times. And where women were concerned- Well, he was afraid that Ben had swept Liana off her feet a little too suddenly. But he knew better than to speak about it in front of anyone else.

Richie smiled at Ben. No doubt about it, life anyway was agreeing with him whether he was actually married or not. He shifted his gaze to Dan, "I have a son too from a former marriage. In fact I got a letter from him today which I haven't opened yet," he eyed it under the stack of papers, bright yellow envelope, "Oh...one other detail I noticed, might not be a problem but better to be safe; the original deed to the property was in Liana's maiden name. In order for Liana Wade to transfer it to you, I'll need a copy of the marriage license to prove she is in fact now Liana Wade." He sat forward in his chair, elbows on the desk.

"I assumed that." It was Dan Evans who spoke. "Got it right here. He took the State of Georgia marriage license out of a folder he was carrying and passed it across to Richie, although he did it reluctantly.

"How old's your son?" he asked Richie. "Mine are sixteen and twelve now. They grow up way too fast."

Richie looked over the license front and back, fingering the paper as he got up and walked over to his copier. "I'll just make a copy, that should do it. Yeah kids grow fast, Michael is thirteen now. We're hoping to get him over for a visit if his mom will let him come. I figure she might be more inclined now that I'm actually married. Here you go and I'll put the copy with these papers."

"Just seems like yesterday my two were babies." Dan smiled, warming up to Richie Roberts.

"Well, you two got started early." Ben was smiling as they talked about kids. "Guess I got work to do to catch up. Wouldn't mind havin' at least a couple myself."

"Oh, Roberts. I meant to tell you. Liana couldn't come with us this time, but she said to tell you if there's anythin' else to be done, anything else she needs to sign-just let her know. She can stop by the office an' take care of it."

"Right, well if I come across anything for her I'll call.  Dan it's been a pleasure and Ben...always a pleasure. If we get any thing back while I"m gone Miss Peeg will contact you. Ben, Toni wants you to know she hasn't forgotten we owe you a dinner," he rolled his eyes, "If we ever get this honeymoon over."

Dan shook Richie's hand again. "Hope to be seeing you again, Mr. Roberts. And congratulations."

Ben was laughing heartily. "You're the first man I ever heard was anxious to get his honeymoon over with. Most men are just anxious to get 'em started! As for dinner, tell your new missus any time's fine. And Liana said for her to call when life settles down a little for you two. Maybe you'd like to come over and ride sometime."

Richie smiled, "You don't know Ben you just don't know I ain't been on a horse since I was a kid and you know what? Toni has booked us on an outback trip...on horseback!. Dan I'll be seein' you." he walked out with them.

"That went very well Mr. Roberts," said Miss Peeg as she got up from her desk and went to retrieve the coffee service.

Richie turned from the door and looked at her questioningly.