Page 17 of Inventions of the Heart

“Why wouldn’t Beaumont want the lumberjacks well fed and comfortable?” Caleb asked.

“All I can think is cutting corners gives him more money to spend. But I also think part of it is just pure contempt for laboring men. He doesn’t respect them, because they get dirt under their fingernails.”

Caleb shook his head, then shook it harder. “He won’t have any money if they all quit.”

“Nope, and when a man does quit, Beaumont hires a new one, but the new man isn’t here to work. He’s here to spy, bully, and report any disgruntled comments to Beaumont, at which time, Beaumont fires anyone who speaks poorly ofhim. The new men make better wages, too, so they’re not going to quit.”

“Can Laura wield enough clout as one-third owner to give the rest of the men raises?” Caleb looked toward Laura, sitting beside her ma on a little couch they called a love seat in front of the fireplace.

The love seat was upholstered in a rich gold fabric that complemented a pair of wingback chairs in gold and black fabric, one a bit smaller, as if made for a husband and wife, while three daughters took up the love seat.

Caleb studied the two women. Their delight at being reunited seemed to overflow. The two of them were talking quietly, intently, holding hands, heads together. Caleb guessed Laura was giving a full report on what she and her sisters had done while they were away.

Nick leaned back in the chair he sat in facing Caleb. They were across the room. When Nick picked these chairs, Caleb had thought they were giving Laura and her ma time and space. Now it was clear that Nick had his own story to tell.

“As I understand it,” Caleb said, “Laura owns a third of the company. But does she own a third of the inseparable whole? Or can she rip one-third away and run that part herself? Hire the lumberjacks, pay the wages, make the money? If her income is enough, maybe she can pay for better food for all who work for her—better food for everyone. Fix each and every leaky roof.”

“I think someone said two of the sisters needed to marry to own two-thirds and have controlling interest.” Nick’s two-colored eyes glinted with the new idea. He had one blue eye and one green. It was quite unusual, but they gleamed with honor and intelligence.

“But why couldn’t Laura take over a third? We’re so shorthanded most of the skilled lumberjacks could come to her third of the property. Work solely for her and for much better wages.”

Nodding, Nick said, “I think that would work.”

“How about you? Do you get paid?”

Nick snorted. “Not since I rode away from Zane. But I don’t need much, and the roof in here doesn’t leak.”

“With me here, the men taking turns watching over Mrs. Stiles can get back to work.” Caleb considered the situation.

“I can’t leave here. Iwon’tleave because I don’t have enough hours as it is to keep an eye on Mrs. Stiles. But now that you’re here, at least I can—” Nick glanced at the women, leaned close, and whispered—“run to the outhouse without worrying.”

“I thought there were some lumberjacks helping you?”

“There are, but it’s a mean situation. Beaumont threatens to fire them. He’s cut the wages to the bone of anyone who stands between him and his wife. He hasn’t fired them yet because he’s shorthanded. Most of those two-man cabins only have one man living in them. And Mrs. Stiles feeds them better here in the house than the cooks at the camp do, so we’ve been rocking along. But one of these days Beaumont will explode and fire them all. I think some of them still might stay. They care that much about her safety.”

Caleb heard a door open and saw Beaumont enter the room. “You might get that explosion sooner than you think.”

The women were between Caleb and Beaumont. He and Nick stood and walked to stand near the women before Beaumont could do something stupid that’d make the explosion come right here and now.

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