Page 60 of Inventions of the Heart

“Well, seeing as how you’re so smart, I reckon you can count yourself as wise.”

Shaking her head, Michelle said, “Smart isn’t the same as wise. I think of Edgar and the way he tricked us all. I don’t think I have any great claim to wisdom.”

THE MEETING WENT WELL.Laura listened very carefully and never suggested a thing. Though she had to admit there was a point or two she might have spoken about, but she hesitated because she knew she didn’t have a full understanding of California Ironworks. Still, she did know quite a bit about machinery, and she thought there were areas the ironworks could be innovated a bit.

She’d think these ideas over and maybe talk them through with Mama before she got further involved.

And maybe by then the sister with the greatest understanding of machines, Michelle, could take over at least this one small part of the family industry.

Laura intended to slip out of this yoke and leave everything to Michelle and Jilly. But she had to pick her moment.

They reached the door to the street in the echoing entrance to the magnificent office building, and Caleb caught her arm. “Let me go out first, Mama Stiles.”

Mama, a pace ahead of them, turned and smiled at Caleb.

“Let me make sure no one’s waiting out there to cause trouble.” Caleb sounded worried and more than a little dangerous. His grim expression wiped the smile off Mama’s face, Laura’s too.

Caleb reached for the heavy door. It opened to a small entryway with a second door to the street. Caleb went to the second door, opened it, and stepped out. Laura let Mama go ahead of her.

As Mama stepped into the entrance, a vise closed over Laura’s upper arm and a hard hand came around from behind to cover her mouth. In a dizzying whirl, she was dragged sideways and inside an office. It all happened so quickly, Laura could barely register that she’d been grabbed. Sheheard a key turn in the lock. Then she was pushed back against the door they’d just come through with that hand still solid on her mouth. She looked straight into Edgar’s cruel eyes.

He spoke with utter determination. “One noise from you, and I’m going to kill your precious mama.”

The vicious promise in his voice told her this was a threat that he was willing to carry out. More than that, hewantedto. He was looking for an excuse. Her mouth still covered, she watched those cold eyes.

“I’ve got her.” Edgar spoke loudly.

A second door in the office opened, and three men emerged.

Horace Benteen, Myron Gibbons, and Royce Carlisle.

The four men arrayed before her struck her with terror so deep it was like a fist gripped her heart and froze her mind. All she knew was fear.

Though different in build, the dreadful men were exactly alike in how they reacted to having her in their power. Their polished clothing was like putting a gilt finish on filth. All four of them looked at her with hungry rage.

“We’ve already paid the bride price,” Carlisle said to Edgar in a voice that dripped with contempt.

Laura fought hard to find her usually sensible brain, but nothing was there for her to say. She knew any words would be useless. All she could do was trust that Caleb was already searching.

She prayed for him to find this room. But the front hall was lined with office doors. Even she wasn’t sure which one she’d been dragged into.

Edgar eased his hold on her mouth as if expecting an answer.

Her throat bone-dry, she swallowed hard. “Wh-whatever you paid is between you and Edgar.”

Her air ran out as the three studied her wolfishly. Like they refused to be denied one of the Stiles sisters now that they had their hands on her.

“We’ll see about that,” Carlisle said. “I consider this a breach of contract, and the three of us may well see you in court. We’ll settle this somehow.”

Caleb shouted her name in the hallway.

Edgar’s hand tightened once again on her mouth.

Carlisle’s tone made an icy chill run up Laura’s back.

“That is your husband seeking you.” Carlisle, the smallest and weakest looking, was doing all the talking for the group, and they seemed to accept that. “Not all men live long, healthy lives.”

Laura felt another chill, colder, more terrifying.

---