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Show Page 56 each other very well. So it is safe to assume Ann was likely motivated more by practical reasons and by a degree of revenge than by any notion of romance. She acquired a husband and a valuable cattleman to help her in her cattle operations-and Ora Haley lost his right-hand man. This move did more to hurt Haley than "jerking" his cattle had ever done. Where affairs of the heart were concerned, Ann had already proven she could be coldly practical. Less than a month after Rash's death, when she was supposedly still mourning the loss of her beloved, Ann had filed a petition with the court. In the petition Ann stated Matt Rash had made a will leaving her, his "betrothed wife," all his personal property, which at his death included his ranch and about six hundred cattle. Ann claimed various people could confirm this fact, but, unfortunately, she could not find the will. Whether or not such a will really existed is not known. Ann may have decided to take a gamble in the hope her claim would go unchallenged. But Rash's father and brother arrived to claim his body and argue against Ann's petition. The case was headed to court, where a final decision would be reached. Shortly beforehand, however, Ann agreed to withdraw her peition-for $250 in cash. Realizing her lack of proof and the willingness of the Rash family to fight her claim would make it impossible for her to win, Ann abandoned her plan and grabbed what money she could. |