Talented Miss Farwell

An original story about a small town girl who grows up to led a double life. Becky's story begins as a grammar school math wiz who takes charge of the financial aspect of her father's dying farm equipment business. After high school she hired on as the sole bookkeeper for the town and grew that position into CFO and town comptroller, all before turning 40. Almost by accident she finds herself enchanted by original art and becomes obsessed with the possession of it. Over the course of years she studies art, the market, auctions, art people and acquires more and more, “borrowing” the money from the town of Pierson. She establishes a dummy account for herself and funnels money in there. So while she is befriended and mentored by an art entrepreneur in Chicago and traveling there (and beyond) looking for all the world like a fashionista (who is known as Reba), she maintains her small town life in small town clothes, working to keep the town going. The art of her (mis)management of funds and her inability to stop her con makes for great reading.