Sit down, shut up, don't touch anythin'
"No doubt that with the mines opening up, the lumber mill, which may well expand, and a host of other coming businesses opening, which Addy Chapple's freightline will service. Investors will be needed, as wagons, tack, and draft horses are not cheap by any means." Elinor pointed out.
"I got some means," Addy explained. She really was conservative with her money, and until Weedy was officially her responsibility, she'd been living in a room at the back of the barn, so there'd been no real expense, and there'd not been anything to really spend money on. "I started puttin' some away fer Weedy, but even with buyin' th' house, I got some I can use fer wagons an' horses."
She shrugged. "'Sides, I don't know nothin' 'bout havin' investors or whatnot."
Weedy brightened, now there was an idea! Stick around for the fun of the circus, then sneak away with them! Now it was a matter of convincing Wyatt and Jane to join him!
"Well, I do want to see the circus, especially if there's lions and elephants and fireworks!" There was nothing that would make him miss out on that!
"If I'm not mistaken," Jonah commented, "when they come to town, there's a big parade down Main Street, and then they erect the big tents, using the elephants to do the hard work. It's quite the spectacle! I'm really looking forward to it, it's the most excitement we've had for quite a while!"
"Maybe we can do something to help?" Weedy wasn't sure what kind of help they might need, maybe a runner or something, but it would be exciting, and give him a chance to investigate how he could sneak away with them when they left!
"I got some means," Addy explained. She really was conservative with her money, and until Weedy was officially her responsibility, she'd been living in a room at the back of the barn, so there'd been no real expense, and there'd not been anything to really spend money on. "I started puttin' some away fer Weedy, but even with buyin' th' house, I got some I can use fer wagons an' horses."
"That's good, real good. One of the things I learned early about money and my father, I'd better have some, so I began saving what I could, when I could." Leah explained.
She shrugged. "'Sides, I don't know nothin' 'bout havin' investors or whatnot."
"You remember Arlen Cole? He taught me how to invest, and if you like, I can teach you too." Leah stated confidently.
"And I can help with that, with many years of experience too. Many! You'd be in good hands with us, and it doesn't take a lot of money to get started!" Elinor assured the teamster, "Not at all."
"I also have stocks and bonds. It's not hard to get started," Angie assured the teamster.
"Help? With the circus? I'm sure they'll welcome the help." Josiah said, "That'd make you a roustabout! I helped out on a couple of circuses. A lot of hard work, but they paid me, let me in the circus, and all that. Was well worth it!"
Josiah Boone had done a number of jobs in his earlier days before marriage, the war, and then medical school,. He had already seen a good part of the country before the war tore it apart.. Two things a man needs: an education and a good look at the country around him. Maybe doing several jobs before he settles into the one he wants to follow."
It was what he had done, and he found his calling in the medical field. He could thank the war for that, as he had seen the worst of it.
Sit down, shut up, don't touch anythin'
Addy nodded, a bit overwhelmed by the generous offers from the other ladies, and still uncertain at accepting help. She'd always done for herself, but things were changing, she had Weedy to consider, was going into business on her own, no longer relying on the stage for her work, and she knew she didn't have the education or knowledge to do that.
"I'd be truly grateful fer any help," Addy declared, "maybe we can meet at th' Lickskillet fer pie an' coffee th' next couple'a days, after I figgure what I might need." And she had to check her bank account to be sure what she had there.
"Roustabout...I like the sound of that!" Jonah smiled and laughed. "I believe I might join you, Sir Weedy, in your quest to join the circus! I'd like getting close to lions and tigers, maybe even ride an elephant!" About every boy had those dreams when the circus came to town, and the little boy never truly left the man, right?
"We can give it a try!" Weedy declared, not minding the help. "I bet it's not so different handling elephants than horses, or tigers and cats, right?"
"Right you are!" Jonah laughed again, then looked at Josiah. "Do you suppose it's safe to go back in there? Certainly, the ladies have changed the topic from love by now?"
"I'd be truly grateful fer any help," Addy declared, "maybe we can meet at th' Lickskillet fer pie an' coffee th' next couple'a days, after I figgure what I might need." And she had to check her bank account to be sure what she had there.
"Yes, yes, that would be great. But you've already got a number of regular customers for freighting, and didn't you say that Speed has hired you on at the mine?" Leah asked, thinking there was a lot that was needed just for the mines, let alone a freight business. Wagons and livestock, a building with a barn and corral space. But all of that could be handled simply enough, with the right funding that didn't drown Addy in debt she could never pay back.
"I'd like to help with all of this," Elenor stated. "You know, what we are talking about here is money, and for some, that is no problem; for others, it can be insurmountable. That will not be the case here, I promise you that!" A strong statement. "We cannot count on your father, but, we'll get this done."
"I will help all that I can as I see this as a woman's project, and that is most important that we succeed!" Angie spoke up.
"Roustabout...I like the sound of that!" Jonah smiled and laughed. "I believe I might join you, Sir Weedy, in your quest to join the circus! I'd like getting close to lions and tigers, maybe even ride an elephant!" About every boy had those dreams when the circus came to town, and the little boy never truly left the man, right?
"Humpf, likely give you a heart attack, Jonah mumbled
"We can give it a try!" Weedy declared, not minding the help. "I bet it's not so different handling elephants than horses, or tigers and cats, right?"
The old practitioner smiled, standing pat on his prior statement.
"Right you are!" Jonah laughed again, then looked at Josiah. "Do you suppose it's safe to go back in there? Certainly, the ladies have changed the topic from love by now?"
"Oh, by now, heavens yes, they are well beyond love, and that means it could be anything fromcooking to politics to, oh, I don't know, how about changes at the hospital. Theres three of them in there,and they could be discussing just about anything under the sun. But I'd say it's about as safe as it will ever be for thike of us." Josiah said, tongue firmly planted in cheek.
Sit down, shut up, don't touch anythin'
"I will help all that I can as I see this as a woman's project, and that is most important that we succeed!" Angie spoke up.
Addy nodded slowly, mulling it over, then shrugged. "Not sure how that works? Ya give me some money an' then what?" She grinned. "Yer gonna want it back, right?" How that was accomplished, she didn't know.
"Oh, by now, heavens yes, they are well beyond love, and that means it could be anything from cooking to politics to, oh, I don't know, how about changes at the hospital. There's three of them in there,and they could be discussing just about anything under the sun. But I'd say it's about as safe as it will ever be for three of us." Josiah said, tongue firmly planted in cheek.
"See, now," Jonah chuckled, "you know all about the ladies, and know the right time to head back. Too soon, and they're still on awkward topics, too late and, well, they'll think we're avoiding them!"
Women certainly were a mystery, and had to be handled delicately lest they corner you into uncomfortable topics. Standing, he downed the last of his drink, then tugged on the hem of his coat.
"Shall we, gentlemen? I must admit, I won't mind seeing their lovely faces and hearing their opinions on life." He chuckled at Weedy's wrinkled up nose. "They have interesting views!"