Page 48 of Inventions of the Heart

CHAPTER

SIXTEEN

YOU FOUND GOLD ON OUR RANCH?”Josh ran both hands deep into his hair. It was the same straw color as Beth Ellen’s but curlier, in a coarse way. Cut short as if the curl bothered him, or maybe it’d been long when he disembarked, and he’d gotten it cut when he came ashore.

Zane had waited until after breakfast this morning to tell him the last bit of family news. Josh’s eyes flashed, and Michelle watched him closely for signs of madness. The Hart family was prosperous. By many standards, they were flat-out wealthy.

Michelle remembered well those poor folks who’d lived in Purgatory. Lean until they looked like skeletons. People who had nothing.

By comparison, yes, the Hart family was rich. But that didn’t always make a difference when it came to gold.

“I want you to run the mining operation, Josh.” Zane lifted his coffee cup and took a long drink. Beth Ellen rose from the table to pour more for everyone.

The whole family was there. Annie was washing breakfast dishes. Jilly was trying to help. It took no great skill to usea towel, after all. And Michelle sat at the table bouncing Caroline on her knee and trying to keep her happy until her mother’s hands were free.

“Let’s go see it.” Josh shoved himself to his feet.

“Wait a minute.” Zane glanced around the room. “It’s not safe to go off and leave the women alone.”

Zane had explained most of what had gone on to Josh last night, saving the gold story for now. Michelle realized he’d wanted to talk it over with her first. It warmed her heart to think of it.

“Uh,” Josh looked at his sisters, then at the rest of the room. “Can we all go?”

“Bring Caroline.” Zane smiled at the little sweetie. “She can ride with me.”

Shad swung the back door open with a bang. “We got a cow down, Zane. Need help.”

Then Shad was gone, and Zane right after him, Josh hard on his heels.

Michelle looked at Jilly. “Maybe we can head out later, after the cow.”

Annie scrubbed a skillet and said with a patient sigh, “There’s always another cow.”

So Annie spent the day trying to teach Michelle how to peel potatoes. Beth Ellen insisted Jilly help with the laundry. Life on a ranch wasn’t as exciting as blowing up mountains.

“YOU REALLY KNOW THE GOVERNOR.”Caleb sounded wildly impressed as they walked away from the meeting they’d just sat through while Mama talked to Uncle Newt.

Nick had only gone in with them under threat of force. Mama had ended up latching onto his arm, and he’d’ve had to knock her down to escape. He’d been utterly silent before the mighty governor.

Laura gave Caleb a one-armed hug for the awestruck tone in his voice. She said, “Uncle Newt ran a wholesale grocery store before he became governor. A very successful one. Papa knew him quite well. Mama, too, well, all of us.”

“Uncle Newt?” Caleb sounded a little dazed.

“Yes, he came to the house for dinner now and then. Uncle ... um, that is, I need to learn to call him Governor Booth, is a bachelor, and I think he enjoyed the company.”

“Up to a point,” Margaret said. “I think he liked a woman and children around for the length of an evening and then was glad to go home. He was always an ambitious, hardworking man, highly educated and a lawyer ... but he loved running a business more than working at the law. He never took the time to marry. When his attention turned to politics, Liam supported him, and we were glad to speak up for his campaign. He is an honest and honorable man.”

“This is the fanciest building I’ve ever been in.” Nick hadn’t spoken since he was dragged into the governor’s beautiful office.

“It was built in the same style as the Capitol in Washington, DC.” Mama sounded like a tour guide.

“And the governor’s office is the fanciest room I’ve ever been in.”

Mama, with her arm through Nick’s, patted him. “It is beautiful. The building isn’t finished yet but very close. They’ve made something majestic here.”

Their voices echoed as they walked through the rotunda with the high overhead dome.

As they reached the exit doors, a tall, lean man wearing a sharp black suit with a shiny badge pinned on his left lapel stepped forward. He tugged on the front brim of his black Stetson. “You must be Mrs. Beaumont.”

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