Sagehen Mesa - Season 4, Episode 8 - A Windfall for Tony

 My life is about to change and quickly! Hi, I'm Tony Whiting, soon to be husband of Sondra Mahon.

I summoned up the courage, despite my mother looking over my shoulder, to ask Sondra to marry me.

Now I have the overwhelming task of providing a place for us to live. I know it's tradition for the bride to plan the wedding, but Sondra asked that I approach the new caterer who moved to town because I had already met her the other day. She also wanted me to go to the City Hall and get the marriage license.

I also had an interview at the hospital for an entry level job, and I've got to get going on bringing in some money if I'm going to manage to provide a home. I just don't see Sondra and me living in my childhood bedroom. Mom is helping out by giving me the proceeds of the crafted jewelry and other items she has been making recently. 

And Dad said he was contributing the stud fees from Eclipse to help out. He's not much of a cowboy, but he does love that horse. He spends a lot of time in the barn keeping old Eclipse company. 

Nick says I can have the income from any fish he catches this week and Lara has vowed to create and sell a painting and give me whatever she can get for it. I've got a great family. We don't have much, but we have each other. 

I got the job at the hospital, thankfully. And I ran into Teri Greenberg, the caterer while I was there, so I told her the news. 

She said she would be happy to cater the event.

We discussed the menu. I told her I would really like to see some vegetarian lobster thermidor on the menu if she thought she could swing it. She said she will study up on the recipe and let me know. She's also going to bake our wedding cake. 

She suggested adding a pie in case guests didn't like cake. 

As I was leaving, I ran into Ms. Josie, and she asked how my family was doing. 

I updated her on what everyone was doing and announced my engagement to Sondra.

She was very happy for me.

"Sondra is such a nice girl. I was always concerned that she'd have trouble finding a husband as I couldn't imagine who would have the gumption to take on Cliff as a father-in-law. Bless you, and good luck."

"Thanks, I'll need it. Money's gonna be tight and we've nowhere to live at this point, so the wedding might not be for awhile. I've got a new job at the hospital, so I'm hoping that will help."

"Well I see you are a practical young man. I admire that in you. I hope I live to see you and Sondra tie the knot. I'm no spring chicken as you know. I'm not sure why the good Lord hasn't taken me home yet."

We said our goodbyes and I headed for home.  When I got home my brother Nick announced that he had signed a lease for the Culpepper's house by the fishing hole. He offered the spare bedroom to me and Sondra if we wanted to split rent with him, but I think I can accumulate more money if I just live at home and save everything I bring in from my job. 

A few days later, I was surprised when Ms. Josie showed up at our house asking to see me. 

"I've given this some thought, Tony. I have way more resources that I need as I prefer to live a simple life. I figure wealth is like manure. It's here to be spread around to help young things grow. I wanted you to have this as an early wedding gift.

"Thank you Ms. Josie!" I opened the package and it was a spiral cut tiberium, and a large one at that! "Oh, Ms. Josie, this is too much! This could pay for a whole house! You might need this for yourself."

"Ah, shucks. It's no hardship on me. I've got another one just like it."

"What about your own family? Wouldn't you rather they had this?"

"Lucile and Hanna, and the rest of them live in that big ol' house on the coast. Fancy Pants Estate I always called it. They want for nothin'. I would rather share my resources with the next generation in town to make their lives better. I insist you take it. And this bag of money too!"

"Wow! Ms. Josie. Thank you! I'll never forget this, and I promise to pay it forward when I get the chance."

What a windfall! Wait until Sondra hears about this!