Pemberley Ranch - Jack Caldwell [108]
“But I thought the bank foreclosed on all those places. Doesn’t all that land belong to Rosings Bank and Mrs. Burroughs?” Bennet asked.
Darcy grimaced. “She thinks so, but she’s been cheated. The deeds were all transferred to a land company for pennies on the dollar, and Cate believes she owns it. Apparently, she knows about the railroad. She thought she was smart, stealing from her own bank. But she’s wrong—Whitehead actually controls the company. Billy Collins, the bank manager, is in on it. He’s played Cate false. And since Whitehead is the recorder of deeds, he simply made them out in his name. Whitehead owns all the bottomland.”
Beth looked out of the window into the darkness. “All those homesteaders run off. That poor Washington family.” She turned back in anger. “All because of George’s greed! And Mrs. Burroughs’s, too! I suppose they had something to do with the lynching?”
Darcy reported what Lily had said.
Bennet sat in his chair. “So much evil in a small town! But, still, what does this have to do with me?”
“Thompson Crossing isn’t the only place the railroad has considered crossing the Long Branch. There’s another ford several miles downriver. If they build the bridge there, they would bypass the town and cross Pemberley land several miles south of my house. The company would prefer Thompson Crossing, as they planned to build a station in Rosings. Should they choose to cross at the other place, there wouldn’t be a stop for another twenty miles.” Darcy moved closer to the other man. “Knowing what you do now, would you still sell?”
Bennet rubbed his face. “I… I don’t rightly know. I hate the idea of putting money in the pocket of the man who has caused so much pain to my family.” He glanced at Darcy. “I suppose you would prefer I didn’t.”
Darcy shook his head. “You’re wrong, Mr. Bennet. Rosings needs that train stop. It means a stockyard for all the cattlemen. No more drives to Kansas City. New people, new goods, stores, schools—the town needs the railroad, sir.”
“That’s generous of you, Darcy, as the other route would mean the railroad would be paying you.”
“The company would still be buying Pemberley land on the other side of Thompson Crossing,” Darcy admitted, “and I’m an investor, so I’ll make money no matter what. This way, we get a station. Everyone benefits.”
“So, if I agree to sell, where’s the danger?”
“Whitehead doesn’t have your goodness. All he sees is that you could be a barrier to his plans. How much are you in for to Rosings Bank?”
Bennet held his head in his hands and told him, a figure that drew a gasp from his daughter. “Father! That’s more than half the value of the farm. How can we repay that?”
The man moaned. “I’ve been a damn fool, Beth, listening to Whitehead’s silver tongue. He said the improvements would increase the farm’s yields by fivefold. And now, I know it’s all been a lie!” He looked at her. “I did it all for you and your sisters, child. I wanted you all to have a better life.”
Darcy leaned on the desk, thinking. “I take it Whitehead’s ‘advice’ began around the New Year?”
“It did. So, I suppose he wants this place?”
“Perhaps. Perhaps he just wanted to be able to apply pressure on you to make sure you sold when the time came. Or maybe he’s just greedy and wants it all. It doesn’t matter now.” Darcy leaned in. “What I want to know, Bennet, is what are you going to do about it?”
Bennet was anguished. “What can I do? Whitehead and Rosings Bank hold the mortgage! They have all the cards!”
Darcy grinned. “Perhaps not. May I have pen and paper?” He was quickly supplied,