Peaches

In the late 1870s and 1880s, the British Empire ruled one-quarter of the world. The highly developed and – at least at the top, very wealthy – society was highly structured. Some offspring of the wealthy and titled profited mightily by virtue of primogeniture and their titular seats. The others took holy orders and then if there were more sons they went into the military. All were expected to make suitable marriages. But for a few, life as an eminent Victorian was unendurable. A sub-group of these were given an "allowance" and called "remittance men." Many of them came to America to be cowboys, or to invest, or to do whatever, but basically to stay out of England. They were not to bother the Grand English Family. A remarkable few thought for themselves.

Buck’s grandfather, Percival, was born into the highest levels of English Society. He was the descendant of dukes and peers galore, rendering him an heir of the first order. He stood to inherit his seat, great houses, and entire villages. But despite all his titles and fortune, he planned to leave England. He simply rejected the vapid society, the endless house parties, the shooting parties, the hunts, the "Season," and the painful parade of damsels declared marriageable.

Percival, officially Duke of Landsmount and called Lord Landsmount by some, was usually called Percy, even by the Great Queen (the royal family always had nicknames and were often emulated by their subjects). Percy was humble, generous, friendly, and very good-natured. His many close friends understood his wish to depart, and the members of his club volunteered assistance if the need arose. Percy was by no means another remittance man. His parents had died, and he arranged with his solicitors and bankers for the transfer of a great deal of property. He managed to dispose of enough inherited assets to assure a steady flow of funds to sustain his American Adventure. The bank had arranged for funds to be transferred to permit major investments. He left adequate pensions for his few servants. Some friends were somewhat envious of what was perceived as great courage at that time.

Thusly, at age 30, Percy, Lord Somerset, 7th Duke of Landsmount, Earl of Gladestring, and Viscount Liedering sailed for America. He carried little baggage, one manservant, drafts for great sums of money, extreme handsomeness, and an impeccable British accent. He was popular on board ship and was invited to all the first cabin games. His lack of servants was overlooked. The Americans did joke about his innumerable names, and he vowed to change all that on arrival in America. He made discreet inquiries of shipboard officers regarding customs and the procedure for name changes. Given the correct information, he subsequently became transmogrified into David Summers.

Once the ship arrived in America, David rearranged banking under his new name, corresponded with the many relatives on the sceptered isle, and took a train west. He disembarked in a town in Montana, where he knew a fellow English adventurer resided who was willing to explain America. Here he learned that the gold rush had extended into Arizona. The advice David received was perfect, and he prospered. Men liked him, finding him "ruddy good fun," and he was given more good advice about what was thought to be a worthless part of North Arizona. There, David struck gold, successfully ran a cattle ranch, and, ever on the lookout for opportunities, made good investments. In the process, he inadvertently founded a town, which he was allowed to name: New Royallton, called "NR" by all. It was a clean, well-run town, and David’s status was evident in the fact that everyone, even non-Latinos, called him "Patrone." After building a substantial but not overwhelming home, he decided he should have a wife and family.