She looked away, digesting the information. Had his mama's plan worked so well?
“I reckon you didn't matter as much to him as you thought.”
She blinked.
“Engaged to his cousin's friend from out near Nashville. High-end lady. Good money. And much more than you could ever give him.”
If Cole meant for his statements to sting, he'd find Kizzie's indifference highly disappointing. Whether Noah ever meant to care for her beyond friends or not, she'd learned what the heart of a good man truly looked like. And perhaps she didn't have to settle for anyone else.
Rising to her tallest height, which still wasn't impressive next to Cole Morgan, Kizzie pushed her brightest smile into place. “I wish him all the happiness in the world.” And to her own surprise, she meant it.
The news didn't hurt as much as she'd thought it would.
In fact, had she expected it all along? Despite his grand declarations of coming after her, of waiting for her, deep down she'd known she wasn't enough for his mother … or him.
And maybe she wouldn't have known that if she hadn't grown from her experience in The Hollows. Hadn't built her confidence and independence through work and service and seen what a real gentleman looked like in Noah.
The knowledge gave her an odd sense of freedom, not just from her past, but from whatever thread of connection her heart still held for Charles. He'd moved on.
And she was glad it wasn't with her.
Cole's smile fell. “Just like that.”
“Just like that. Charles has moved on, and so have I. I'm real glad he's found what he's been lookin’ for.” Kizzie raised her chin. “Are you looking to move this way, Cole, or are you just passing through? ’Cause I can't imagine Charles ever casting off his right-hand man.”
“Charles is looking for better places to sell his cotton. Sent me to check on some of the newer mills. Them or the dying ones.” He folded his arms across his chest, taking her little “compliment” with enough pride to loosen his tongue, she suspected. His grin returned. “Either they're too green to know when they're being swindled, or they're too desperate to care.”
So Charles had sent Cole to find people in The Hollows to cheat? That didn't seem like Charles, did it? He wouldn't try to swindle anyone, would he? He may have been selfish and weak, but greedy or desperate?
He wasn't those things. He already had status and money. And he didn't seem to need to show off his wealth to folks like George Lewis tended to do. Besides, Charles or George would have to prey on ignorant people. Or those who were distracted in some way, because most folks knew what a good deal was or not.
It'd be a shame for any employer to become so desperate or rotten to swindle vulnerable people.
And then she stopped on the notion, a strange recollection coming to mind from the books she'd been reconciling for Gayle. It was easy to take advantage of a despairing person.
Especially one who didn't know how to keep their records.
“Please send my regards to Charles and his lady.” Kizzie rounded him and only made it a few steps before she paused and turned. “And, Cole, I'm real sorry about your hand.”
With that, she nearly ran to Carters.
For the past receipts, she'd just been looking at numbers to see if they matched the bank. She hadn't been looking to see if anything was amiss or not. It hadn't occurred to her that something might be.
Of course, as she'd started taking over current purchases and inventory, she'd found ways to save money, barter prices, and look for inconsistencies. But some memory in the back of her mind hinted to a discrepancy that Cole's words resurrected.
She took out the ledgers from the first six months since Mr. Carter's death and skimmed through the numbers. First month, nothing unusual.
But the second month …
Prices for all inventory purchased from Lewis Mills increased.
Not an exorbitant amount per item, but in total, substantial.
An extra dollar to socks. An additional fifty cents to fabric. A quarter more on linens. She pulled out the receipts she'd saved from the time, matching them to the dates. And each signed by George Lewis.
He'd raised his prices on Gayle Carter in her grief because he must have known she wouldn't notice. But if he increased the prices to much higher amounts—which, as the owner he could do—why was the mill suffering from low funds?
Unless George Lewis skimmed off the top of the extra costs.
