Page 59 of Inventions of the Heart

CHAPTER

NINETEEN

LAURA ARRIVED AT CALIFORNIA IRONWORKSto find she was early for a board meeting. She had no idea they met today and had come to talk with Eric Barritt, the company president, about the new power structure of Stiles Lumber.

She, Caleb, and Mama were ushered into Mr. Barritt’s office. He listened to Laura explain about taking control of all aspects of Stiles Lumber. About Edgar’s no longer having any say in any company business, including no longer having a seat on the board here.

He asked a lot of questions, and Laura did most of the talking. She didn’t know Mr. Barritt well, but she knew Papa and Mama considered him an honest man who led a dependable company. When they were done, it was time for the board meeting, so he led the way to the boardroom.

Laura walked beside Mama. Caleb was just a pace behind with his hand resting firmly on her back.

He could probably feel Laura shaking, but she hoped everyone else was fooled. She was afraid she’d gotten sogood at pretending she wanted to be in charge of an industry that everyone believed her completely.

Only Caleb knew how much she dreaded it. Had always dreaded it. And how right it felt to serve God at Caleb’s side.

She searched the room, relieved to notice that Edgar wasn’t there. Had he not come, knowing he might face humiliation? Or had he tried to get in and been stopped? Laura hadn’t seen Mr. Barritt give such an order, but the man was nothing if not subtle and completely in charge.

Laura heard a quiet grunt of disdain from Mama. Laura quickly scanned the table. Horace Benteen sat straight across from where Laura had entered. She’d only seen him a few times. Then her eyes went to two other men among the dozen or so there. Royce Carlisle sat on Benteen’s right. Small and bald with wet-looking blue eyes, he was known to own one of the largest banks in California. He’d been chosen to marry Jilly. And Myron Gibbons to Benteen’s left—the man Edgar chose for Laura. A fat man, tall with beefy hands and thick, slack lips. He wore gold wire-rimmed glasses, but they didn’t disguise the blaze of hunger in them when they locked on Laura.

“My daughters have married.” Mama spoke softly, but there was steel in her well-modulated tone, and no one in the room could fail to hear it. “As married women, according to my husband Liam Stiles’s will, they are now owners of Stiles Lumber and all the investments contained under that company’s banner. That includes a seat on the board of California Ironworks.”

Mama, with every man in the room listening to her every word, gestured softly toward Laura. “My daughter Laura is here to sit in the board meeting with proxy voting authority.I accompanied her. As you know, I used to sit on this board before Edgar stepped in. Now Laura has that honor. Her husband, Parson Caleb Tillman, and I are here merely to listen. Please proceed with the meeting.”

The last she said to Mr. Barritt.

Laura wondered if Mama and Caleb would be kicked out. But Mr. Barritt had an amused gleam in his eye and didn’t demand they leave.

He gave a formal little welcome speech to Laura, then they got on with the business. Business Laura knew nothing about and had no interest in learning.

Until she knew better, she’d follow Mr. Barritt, and if there was a vote, she’d wait until he indicated how he’d vote, then she’d join with him.

If that was wrong, Mama had better intervene firmly.

MICHELLE WAS SHAKENby Kelton’s attempted theft. They piled in the wagon Josh had rented and set out for the Wells Fargo bank. It had a supposedly uncrackable vault. They bragged about it, lured in customers with it. Michelle certainly hoped it was true.

“What do you think made Loyal Kelton steal from us?” Beth Ellen had a cold look in her eyes. Michelle was sorry life had taught her to be this chilly.

Shaking his head, Zane said, “I can’t imagine. That satchel wouldn’t touch the wealth he already has.”

“He must have seen us when we approached the train,” Beth Ellen said. “He must have known the bags were too heavy.”

Zane looked around them. In the bustle of the city, there seemed to be a threat everywhere. “I suppose a banker would have experience with such things as that.”

“I’m going to ask Mr. Tevis about it at the Wells Fargo bank.” Michelle never let her eyes rest on one spot. She scanned the crowd constantly for trouble. “I’ll ask if he’s heard of any rumors about the Keltons.”

Their gold, once converted to bills and deposited, would be safe. Then Michelle was determined not to lay it up on earth. She was going to use the money to make life better for her husband, his men, and, if her inventions proved out, the whole world.

She prayed to keep her heart in the right place. She didn’t covet this money. And she knew she’d lived a life of comfort few people did. Until Edgar of course.

And that was the biggest reminder of all.

Money had failed them. No amount of it had protected them from being unwise.

As they rode along, eyes wide open for another attempted theft, Michelle whispered to Zane, “‘How much better is it to get wisdom than gold, and to get understanding to be chosen rather than silver!’”

“Proverbs.” Zane looked sideways at her from where he sat in the back of the wagon with her.

Michelle leaned against him. “God always says what most needs saying before we even think to need it.”

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