Chapter2

Abner and family landed in Cheyenne. They unloaded there, rented a room, and waited to see where fate would lead them. Abner inquired around about land for sale. Abner and Hannah kept watch for advertisements on jobs and businesses to buy. They were uncertain of what they wanted or where they wanted to go. Settling in Cheyenne was also anoption.

Anna was crushed. She had told all her friends they were moving to California. Anna wanted to see the ocean. She had heard of the variety of crops that grew there, and assumed that was where they were moving. Why would her father buy tickets toWyoming?

Cheyenne was a busy city. It had bragged of being the richest per capita city in the world due to the cattle industry. However, the tragic winter of 1886-87 cancelled that title. The Cheyenne area rebounded and money was flowing again. The oil and sheep businesses were now adding wealth to Cheyenne’s economy, along with the cattlefortunes.

Hannah could not keep the children in their rented room all the time, so they explored the city. The cattle barons’ houses were a sight to see. The horse drawn trolley was fascinating. Reading stories at the Carnegie Library was fun. The state capital building was not far from the library, and was a wonderment for Anna and Nathan. Nevertheless, what captured their imaginations were the activities generated by Fort Russell, on the edge of Cheyenne. Airplanes flew to the fort regularly, experimenting with the practicality of using airplanes to transport mail. Anna and Nathan seen the cavalry practice often. They pretended to flying airplanes and ride information.

The biggest news event that happened while Abner and family were staying in Cheyenne, was the fire at the Inter Ocean Hotel and Restaurant. Barney Ford, who was an ex-slave, had opened this establishment after his first hotel and restaurant burned in a city fire several years before. He built it into one of the finest hotels and restaurants in Cheyenne. His son was now managing the business. Fire was a severe danger in any city. All business owners took fire prevention to a paranoid level. Luckily, the Inter Ocean Hotel and Restaurant fire was controlled before real damage was done. T