Lorrenda's father, a Civil War Veteran, and Benton's sole lawyer was shot dead while sitting in his office chair by a young illiterate member of an inbred wandering family.Befriended by Sheriff Bert Malcom, he became Lorrenda's life long confident who taught her shoot and care for modern firearms which she put to good use on diverse occasions and earned two notches on her pistol.Stepping into her father's business shoes Lorrenda was immediately faced with protecting Adams County citizens from a railroad land purchasing swindle. After winning the railroad owner's ear, she was given sub-rosa authority over the railroad's western expansion project. When a vital railroad bridge was sabotaged, Lorrenda was given the job of tracking down the man responsible for mass murders, destruction of property and sending a complete train to the bottom of a lake.Lorrenda was a non-conformist, visionary and a feminist long before the concept was invented. She was a recognized leader in promoting new office equipment and employment of women office staff. When offered the presidency of a small railroad company she refused, preferring to remain a kingmaker rather than becoming a queen.Turning over her businesses to women Lorrenda earlier trained, she became active in politics, served on the board of a telephone company and promoted the use of motor vehicles and airplanes.