“This isn’t fair. You hate me because of the others. Mary has told you all sorts of stories about me, and that’s the only reason you’re threatening me now.”
“Do you not feel you owe Mr. Fisher a fair day’s work for a fair wage?”
“He pays mostly on commission, so if I choose not to sell cameras and make no commission, how is that any of your business? He’s not out anything, and I’m the one who takes the loss.” She got to her feet and placed her hands on her hips. “Now leave me alone.”
“You have until tomorrow at quitting time to prove that you’re going to do your job, Esther. If I don’t see vast improvement, I will be forced to dismiss you.”
Addie turned to go but stopped when Esther muttered something. “What did you say?”
Esther’s eyes narrowed. “I said you’re going to regret this.”
“I doubt it.” Addie walked away then, having no desire to listen to any more of Esther’s threats or excuses.
Heading back to the photography shop, she passed the young man Esther had been talking to. He was already caught up speaking with one of the theater girls who was wearing a sparkly costume that showed off a fair amount of flesh. It would seem Esther would need to find another young man.
Esther Danbury wasn’t used to anyone getting the best of her. Addie Bryant had been a thorn in her side since coming to work for Fisher Photography. Esther very nearly growled in her frustration and stormed off toward a less populated part of the fair to get her thoughts in order.
“Say there, miss, I wonder if I could have a word with you.”
Esther turned and found a large, well-muscled man. His dark brown hair was neatly trimmed, as was the mustache and beard he wore. His uniform was that of a grounds worker.
“What do you want?”
“I saw you talking to that woman a minute ago.”
“What of it?” Esther didn’t try to hide her irritation.
“Addie Bryant, wasn’t it?”
“Yes, what’s that to you?”
He laughed. “It looked to me like she was giving you a bad time of it. She’s good at that.”
Esther let out a sigh. “How would you know?”
“She’s my baby sister. We haven’t seen each other in seven years, and I’d like to surprise her. That’s where you can help me.”
“I have no desire to do anything that helps that woman or brings her joy.” Esther started to walk away.
“Me either,” the man replied. “I hate her nearly as much as I’ve ever hated anyone.”
Esther was completely drawn in by this. If Addie’s own brother hated her, then her feelings were more than justified. Addie deserved whatever she got.
“Why do you hate her?” Esther asked, making her voice more alluring. She turned on the charm and edged closer to him.
The big man grinned. “It’s a long story, but I see you have time to listen.”
“More than ample time. Let’s walk over to the park by the water,” Esther suggested. “I want to know everything you can tell me about that sister of yours.”
“Dr. Hanson, I must say you come highly recommended. Your references from Harvard, as well as those from your current employer, left us little doubt that you were the man we needed for the history department,” the current president of the university, Thomas Kane, announced.
Isaac so seldom told anyone of his PhD that the titledoctorseemed strange attached to his name. It was, however, one of the requisites for the job at the university.
“Thank you, sir.” Isaac shifted in the hard wooden chair. He’d been summoned that morning to meet with President Kane and was anxious to see what the man wanted.
Kane picked up a letter. “And you handled all of your studies in a reduced number of years, so it’s clear that your intelligence is above average.” He put the letter aside. “I asked you here today to discuss a project that we consider important. We are keen to expand the history department, and in doing so, I wonder if you might be prepared to create an agenda for a class that would focus on the history of the Pacific Northwest.”
Isaac smiled. That area was his favorite focus of study. “I’d be delighted. Would you like the studies to include Alaska?”
