Not that her family had any pretensions among the rather snobbish upper class of Philadelphia, but she had an active social life and attended her fair share of balls, theater events, soirees, and other such activities.
But Megan had not yet found anyone with whom she wished to spend the rest of her life and Paul was concerned about her future. Their parents had been killed in a carriage accident several years earlier, while she was still attending the Philadelphia Ladies’ Seminary and Finishing School in which her parents had enrolled her at the age of seven, and Paul, an up-and-coming attorney, had taken good care of her and seen to her coming out.
Now he was courting seriously, and rather hoped to bring his bride to her own home, without his somewhat flighty sister to contend with. As much as he loved her, and he had to admit she did a quite tolerable job running the household, he had heard from friends about conflicts when more than one woman thought she was in charge. And besides, he wanted to see her happy in her own establishment with doting husband and children.
Ted and Paul had remained in correspondence over the years and Paul spoke with approbation about Ted's rising career with the railroads, any time he received a letter. Now Ted had been stationed at a new railroad junction out in the Arizona Territory. Ted was quite excited; this was rather an important location due to all the mining interests in the mountains to the south, where gold and silver had been found.
Then Ted had mentioned he was in need of a wife, decrying the lack of suitable candidates locally.
Really, Paul, it is shocking how few people of culture and class there are here. Most are ranchers or miners and the only entertainment seems to be at the local saloons. I despair of finding someone with whom I could conceive of entrusting my hope for an heir, for you know my family is counting on me to continue our name. I am seeking a woman of refinement.
Paul looked over the top of his letter at his sister, who was sitting quietly doing some needlework. Megan was certainly refined. And in need of a husband. He was actually quite fond of his sister and Ted was a good fellow. He stroked his jaw thoughtfully. He rather liked the idea of a brother-in-law in Railroads. Now to convince his sister.
“Megan, have you thought about setting up your own household?”
“Of course, silly! It is every woman’s dream to find her true love and settle down to rear a family.”
“And have you found such a gentleman?”
She looked down. There were several she had quite fancied, but they’d never quite seen her. Oh, she was popular enough and never lacked dance partners, but no one seemed to take her seriously as a potential wife.
“It’s alright, my dear sister! Besides I think I may be holding the key to your future happiness in my hand.”
She looked up at that, a bit bewildered.
“But isn’t that just a letter from your schoolmate, Ted?”
“Exactly! And he is in great need of a helpmeet to be his hostess and mother to his children. He has fine prospects but is, at present, not in the way of meeting eligible females. I rather think the two of you would suit remarkably. And I do know you both quite well.” Smugly, he felt quite proud of himself. He spoke naught but the truth, and he was sure Ted would cherish his sister as she should be.
“Would you be willing to correspond with him to learn if you have as much in common as I believe?”
What harm would a few letters do? She started to build a small fantasy in her head and then reined it in. No, she would be practical and see if Paul’s friend had any merit as a potential suitor.
~~~
Megan opened Ted's first letter to her.
Dear Miss Maddux,
Your brother has given me his permission to address you with the object of getting to know you a bit. I have been posted to Arizona Territory to manage a brand new Railroad Junction at a recently Incorporated Town called Benson. It has been established to handle the ores coming from the rich mines of Contention, Tombstone, and Bisbee, among others. The Ore Wagons are cumbersome things, each pulled by 20 teams of Mules and carrying huge weights.
The importance of this Junction to the Railroad is such that I have frequent Important Visitors and find myself in need of a hostess. When Paul suggested you might be amenable to such a venture, I made haste to put pen to paper to contact you and inquire whether such an arrangement would be suitable. My income is more than appropriate to establish a household for a wife. Of course the railroad has supplied me with an adequate lodging and staff. Unfortunately, most only speak Spanish but I am learning a few words. I now know that Way Bose means eggs.
She laughed aloud. They had studied languages at school and even read El Cid in Spanish. Most of the girls had thought it a bore but she’d quite enjoyed the singsong cadence and the words that were so similar and yet elusively different. Way Bose. Hmmm. Oh! Eggs! Huevos!
The weather here is quite, quite hot, but not so unpleasant as at home in summer, when the moisture in the air can make one feel he is wrapped in a wet blanket. And the scenery is most
