**** Chapter Twenty-two – Mara, Money and Michelle ****

I had planned to spend two days in Oklahoma City and my schedule did leave a little down time each day but I had to keep a tight schedule if I wanted that down time. So up I got at the crack of dawn to start the chores and get ready to head into town.

My first appointment of the day was to pick up my gold and silver, a delicate operation and security was a major concern. It’s not a wise idea to wander around a strange city with a several hundred ounces of gold and silver nuggets. Once the traders at the Whittling Wealth Management Company started fussing over the prices and hem hawing about the purchase I simply put down my foot and told them I wanted 200oz of gold and 400oz of silver. Now that is not even 40 pounds and wouldn’t be an effort to manage but prices pushed it to over five hundred thousand. I didn’t care, it was my money.

That was how I found myself in a secure garage in downtown Oklahoma City first thing in the morning. It was amusing to watch the high security antics when the armored truck pulled up next to me. Security guards were deployed around our vehicles on the alert, I greeted the guard making the transfer who required not only my ID, which he ran through a reader, but also a thumbprint on a scanner. My identity confirmed I was handed two lockbags and the keys, the guard watched as I inventoried the contents. The look of dismay on his face was priceless as I merely threw the bags into the back seat of my truck and drove away.

Subterfuge and armament would have been stupid for me at that point, if someone wanted to rob me my best bet would be to hand them the gold and buy some more later. There really is no point in dying over something you can easily replace.

Next order of business that day was to meet Mara who, if all things went as expected, would be my new mare.

The breeders ranch was not at all what I expected, most of the homestead was headed towards the run down. There were a few nicely tended flower beds around the house but the house itself needed a serious facelift and the majority of the front lawn looked like it had yet to be tended this year.

I had been instructed to pull around back to the stables so I followed the drive around back of the house and parked in front of a surprisingly immaculate horse barn. Spacious paddocks stretched out next to and behind it with well-maintained fencing and beautiful grass. Apparently the focus on this ranch was very singular.

A small flock of guinea hens announced my arrival and a couple of geese seconded that announcement, there was no need for doorbells here. As I exited my truck I was greeted by a smiling woman from the open bay doors of the horse barn, she was as perfectly kempt as the barn and wore a welcoming smile. She was actually quite striking. Her name was Michelle and she had Mara waiting to meet me.

We negotiated the appropriate small talk as she walked me down to Mara’s stall; I commented on the beauty of the horse barn and she responded that the ranch renovations had started with the barn and the rest was scheduled out. We brought Mara out of her stall for proper greetings and observation, she was a fine example of what I was looking for. We saddled Mara up and Michelle put her through her paces and then I took her for a ride. I was extremely happy with this mare, she moved well and had almost perfect manners.

It was time to talk business and I was offered coffee and lunch. I accepted if on nothing more than good manners; truth be told Michelle was interesting to talk to and a fine-looking woman, very easy on eyes if you will. Lunch was a delicious ham sandwich made with fresh bread, and vegetables from her garden; she even had some homemade potato salad to go with it. Much better fare than you’d get at most restaurants in the city. The conversation was fun and we ended up sitting there for almost two hours before we got around to actually signing documents.

We agreed that she would deliver after evening chores and I invited Michelle to join us for dinner. She agreed. Deal done I headed back to the camp site to hide my coins and prepare for Mara.

****

Hiding the gold wasn’t difficult and was actually kind of fun; a big chunk went in the safe, every bucket of dry food goods got a small pouch buried inside. A bag went into each of the four sandbags I carried in the bed of the truck, a couple were secreted in the electronics bay and each of the ladies got a bag to hide in the personal gear. The lockbox I kept in the camper got one also. Matilda had a few good ideas also, I let her run with them.

The safe and the lockbox were the “honey pots”, if someone decided to rob me they’d find those and hopefully stop searching. One thing I was certain of was that I didn’t want to keep it all in one spot, and when we got to the ranch I would disperse them even further afield. Sulky Sonya wasn’t even remotely interested, at that point I knew the next week or so with her was going to be rough.

****

Michelle turned up with Mara about an hour later; we unloaded Mara from the trailer and introductions were made all around. Well, we didn’t bother introducing the chickens, they didn’t care. We led her over to the paddock and put her in with Abigail, it was basically a non-event; we left the horses to get acquainted and went to give Michelle a tour of the rig while we waited for dinner.

Matilda put out quite an impressive spread and we had beer and wine to go with it. After dinner was over, Matilda and Sonya cleared up and I brought out the bourbon. Matilda disappeared to her tent and Sonya stayed in the camper, she was staring at her phone the last time I saw her. I brought out my laptop and cast some music, after that we simply talked and enjoyed the bourbon.

Michelle was in awe of the rig and for the first time I let out the secret of my sudden wealth, she just sat and stared. I told her about the trip and where I was going and we discussed my future plans, and she was suitably envious. We were starting to get bit tipsy and, when she briefly staggered as she got up to use the toilet, I knew she wouldn’t be driving home. I told her we had the furnished house at our disposal and suggested she crash in one of the bedrooms there; after a moment of internal debate, she conceded that it was probably the best idea.

Trying to lighten the mood back up I told her about my digital library plan, she thought that was cool but made a realistic comment about the cost. This brought us to giggles as I responded pompously, “My dear, I find that I have recently become stupid rich”. She moved her chair over next to me as I showed her how I was doing it, she took over and browsed our growing library, laughing at my history fetish and making a few comments on titles she’d recommend. I told her to start adding things, so she did and we had fun making sensible and whimsical picks of books, movies and internet videos.

When bedtime came I did the gentlemanly thing and walked her up to the house and showed her the bathroom and bedrooms; she chose the master bedroom. She turned down the covers and kicked off her boots.

She then promptly pulled me onto the bed with her.