Returning to Biawacheeitchish Roots
“What’s your husband’s name Bea. I was finishing my economics degree when one Dwaine Johnson finished his studies in a different department. It would be a huge coincidence if he happened to be your husband now. I remember that party all the graduates celebrated together as we had massive headaches afterward.”
“Well, it so happens that huge coincidence happens to be the same person as my husband and he had that hangover when he picked me up on the freeway.”
William laughed at the coincidence then turned to the Johnson father and son warmly.
“What can I do for you sirs. I think we have a connection already through your son.”
“We need to know how much the Andrews ranch owes your bank before we proceed further.”
William turned to the computer terminal on the desk and entered his log in details searching for the Andrews account, stared at the screen for a while then returned to facing the three seated.
“Bit over a million the interest hasn’t been calculated for the rest of the month yet but approximately that.”
James had a quick conversation with his son and George pulled out his phone and searched through their accounting records online. He showed the accounts to his father who sat in thought for a while. He turned to William.
“This is just thinking out loud and not a settled intent until we look at the ranch. What if we gained title and paid you out. Could you hold on to the foreclosure while we look at the viability of taking over that ranch?”
“Have to talk with my father but it certainly would be in our interests as it would be a hassle to go through valuing that place to see if we’d be worse off in the long run so if you were willing to pay us out and accept all the legal hassles of ownership and reviving it we certainly would be willing to hold on the foreclosure is my thinking but dad is the final authority and I could talk with him.”
Bea spoke.
“What’s the deal with Rick in jail for misappropriating from the ranch? Who’s in charge if the other brother is on the run after murdering his eldest brother who had title after Earl died? What’s the legal position on ownership?”
“It’s worse than that Bea. It appears Rick in jail not only stole from the ranch but conspired with his younger brother to murder the owner when put in prison so Rick is an accessory to the murder crime and therefor will be sentenced to a very long time in jail when the trial is over so the ranch is without management and Rick technically would now have the title. Most of the workers have gone since there is no manager and who knows what cattle remain. The oil wells fires have been extinguished and as far as we know oil companies are harvesting the oil without authority as ownership remains in limbo.”
Bea spoke again.
“Are the same police still at the station we knew or has there been a turnover?”
“Senior officer management is the same you know. Would you like to meet them and learn more about what’s happening at the ranch?”
She nodded and William picked up his cell phone and dialled the station to be answered by a desk clerk.
“This is William Sorenson from the bank. Put me through to the chief.”
There was a familiar voice answering the line and William spoke.
“I have someone with me you haven’t seen for some time chief, and she’d like to meet you if you have time. I’m putting her on the line now.”
He handed the phone to Shirleyann.
“Hi chief, this is Bea and I wonder if I could see you?”
There was a happy conversation, and it was agreed she could come right over, and he’d reschedule his appointments to meet her. She mentioned she’d come in connection with the Andrews ranch and had people from Johnson ranch with her. He said to bring them. William sent them on their way to the police station and went to discuss the matter with his father on the understanding the Johnsons would spend the next day at Andrews ranch and return the following day for the bank’s answer.
They were received warmly by the old guard at the police station, and the chief ushered them into his office and seated them after hugging Bea and acknowledging the Johnson representatives. The situation at Andrews ranch was examined in detail and the chief assigned someone to accompany them on the planned visit to the ranch next day to investigate what was currently happening, who was managing the property and what the oil companies were doing with their unauthorized appropriation of the wells to see if any arrests were to be made. The Johnson’s booked into one of the town motels and slept soundly during the night getting ready for their visit to the ranch next day.
When they arrived at the ranch next day followed by a police car, they went to the ranch house which they found to be empty but still furnished and then went to the workers quarters looking for anyone remaining on the ranch. The old foreman had stayed with a small band of Crow Indians who welcomed Shirleyann like a long lost relative. They learned from the foreman the herd had been severely depleted, and they were surviving by hunting. The stables had been defended so horses were all there. They’d been discussing taking the horses and migrating to the Crow reservation but had remained in the hope someone would rescue them and the ranch. But no one had been paid for weeks. George took pity on the men who’d loyally stayed to try and protect what remained as assets. James asked for horses and accompanied by one of the Crow workers headed for a quick tour of the property which was as vast as the Johnson spread. Meanwhile the police had arrested squatters from the oil company harvesting crude oil illegally and called for a wagon to take them to lock up. The wells were capped before those men were taken away and those not arrested fled for their lives. On returning to town in the evening to rest in a motel Shirleyann knew in the business centre Bea phoned the chief to thank him for the intervention requesting permission to visit Rick Andrews in custody next day. The chief said he’d facilitate that when he understood the reason behind that visit was an attempt to rescue the Andrews property. A healthy ranch was an asset to the town as money was spent to help keep town businesses going.
Next day under the protective eye of a police officer Rick was bought into the visitor’s room under guard and burst into tears when he saw who was there to visit him. He apologized repeatedly for the cruelty the brothers had shown her when their father Earl had died. He confessed they were jealous of the attention Earl and Anne had given her as she grew up in the home and could now see he’d destroyed all the hard work his ancestors had put into that ranch now in ruins. He acknowledged he was going to spend a great part of his life in prison for theft and murder and asked if she could come back with a lawyer that afternoon as he wanted to rectify as best he could so the ranch could be placed into hands to carry on his father’s dream.
Rick had no money to pay for this but asked Shirleyann to pay for the lawyer and she’d be happy she did this last favour for his family. She agreed and returned to join her family at the bank. William arranged for a lawyer and set a time convenient to the jail and the lawyer so she could accompany the lawyer back to the jail to visit Rick. When they returned to the jail Rick asked if he could have a private talk with the lawyer and she waited outside until the lawyer finished his work then beckoned the guard to let her into the visiting room again. The documents drawn up in rough to be processed in the lawyers office and bought back for signature placed the Andrews ranch in Shirleyann’s name on the payment of one dollar and a promise from Shirleyann that when he was eventually released far into the future she’d allow him to occupy one of the workers quarters so he could end his life on the ancestral property.
She protested this was taking advantage of Rick’s predicament, and he insisted it was in his eventual interests he the one after the death of the elder brother to have the right of title was handing over that right for the promise of a place to live in his old age with keep. She said she should consult with her father-in-law and hoped she could agree to his request if allowed to do so. She and the lawyer left together with the agreement they’d meet next day to make a final decision and if permitted a signature from the parties to the agreement. George was amazed when he heard what had transpired at the jail. A one-dollar purchase of this vast property with the only proviso that an old man when eventually released from jail would be allowed a place of retirement on that Andrews property.
He urged her to agree to these terms and collect the title document handing her a dollar to seal the contract. All they had to do now was settle with the bank when title was in the Johnson name through Shirleyann and make plans to find suitable management and find workers for the ranch and restock it. The Johnsons were well able to do that. As for the wells George thought of finding an oil company to take over the wells and pay royalties which would certainly recover all the money they were prepared to put into the ranch many times over. He looked at his sister-in-law and on impulse reached over to hug her for her use of contacts there to benefit the Johnson family.
“You are an amazing woman, and we are so glad Dwaine found you on route 90 after his graduation. Now I wonder if you’d be able to convince your husband to take over responsibility for this property. I know he trained for a different life career but think he could do it and you’d be back where you had a much happier life with Earl and Anne Anderson so be repaying them for what they did for you. I will be working on my brother to accept the position, but it would be nice if you could support me on this. What do you say Bea or whatever name you are known by here?”
Shirleyann cried but it was in happiness, and she reached up while George was holding her and kissed him on both cheeks applauded by her father-in-law.
“I don’t want to push him George, but you know that would make me very happy indeed and also the little Johnson I just discovered I’m carrying inside me.”
The two men looked at each other in surprise and James joined the two of them in the hug.
“Does Dwaine know about this?”
“No even I didn’t know until I was violently ill this morning so please don’t tell Dwaine you know or even tell your wives until I’ve told him myself. Dwaine would be so hurt he’s not the first in the family to know.”
The next day all arrangements having been completed for the transfer of title they waited for confirmation of the government this had been recorded in government records. Then George contacted the bank when it was confirmed title had been officially transferred and arrangements made to settle the Andrews debt with the bank.
Dwaine was relieved to have his wife back but annoyed his brother had kept her away longer than agreed but impressed with the results of that visit and proud of his wife who’d been a key player in a successful takeover of Andrews ranch. The ranch in her name? He wondered about that. Dwaine had had a great time caring for the Johnson ranch in his brother’s absence and found he really liked ranch management. He was full of happiness learning his wife was expected to produce a child to him and looked forward to fatherhood so was in a good mood when George approached him after he shared the news with his family about an expected birth and they reacted with surprise and pleasure. He thought of the satisfying experience running the Johnson ranch in his brother’s absence and happy to learn he had an aptitude for ranch administration, so when George asked him to consider taking over the Andrews ranch now in his wife’s name. He didn’t refuse but said he’d talk it over with his wife and let him know. Secretly he was complimented his brother had thought of him for such a position. He thought with his talented wife’s help he could do it so after consulting with Shirleyann he said yes. George arranged for finance to stock the new ranch and invested in seed capital to be backup for contingency planning. For this investment new documents were drawn up making it into a private company with equal capital contributions. They were prepared to honour Rick Andrews request on his eventual release. The other brother was eventually located but took his own life as the officers were closing in to arrest him.
It was a happy day when Shirleyann made the triumphant re-entry into the Andrews ranch now renamed Johnson Corporate Holdings Ranch. She was heavily pregnant now but rejoicing with ranch workers who drifted back to the property now they’d learned their Biawacheeitchish was back with a husband. More drifted in from the Crow reservation and the tribal chief paid them a visit to pronounce his blessings on another Crow nation friendly ranch. White Cloud was there to preside over the delivery of her adopted daughter’s first child with Elizabeth and Biawacheeitchish glowed as she cradled her man child on her bosom after the birth. By common consent they named him James Earl Johnson after her two adopted fathers. The Crow workers had a big celebration to welcome the birth of this child and once again the former Andrews ranch regained its position of wealth and honour around the adjourning town and surrounding communities.
Conclusion.
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