The young man was ashen faced as he approached the door.
“Come on in and sit with me a moment.” Carter ushered the tall, skinny boy into his office.
“Did I do something wrong?” Bill’s voice was barely audible.
“No. Just the opposite. You’re doing a great job. Jack tells me you’ve been handling bagging the flour like you were born to it. He said we’ve never had a better worker on the machines.”
Bill straightened a bit. “Thank you, Mr. Brunswick.”
“I believe in rewarding folks for their good work. You’ve been working hard. You’re here early every morning and never hesitate to stay late if you’re asked. I appreciate a man who gives his job his all. It’s time I give you a raise.”
His eyes widened. “A raise? Truly? My family needs the money bad. My ma has a hard time making ends meet.” He pushed back his sandy hair. “I was afraid you were going to fire me.”
“No chance of that if you keep at it like you’ve been doing.” Carter picked up the note he’d written his mother. “I wonder if you would do a personal task for me?”
“Of course. Anything you need.” The boy looked almost as excited by the prospect as if it were his birthday.
Carter grinned. “I figured I could count on you. I need this note run out to my mother. You know where my parents’ farm is, don’t you?”
“Of course. Everyone does.”
“You can take my horse, Mercury. He’s over at the livery. Just deliver this note to my mother, and she’ll feed you. It’s one of her favorite things to do. Then I’d like you to take the rest of the day off. All I ask is that you return the horse before nightfall. Which gives you a few hours given our longer and longer days.”
The boy looked stunned. “You mean, I can just ride around if I want to?”
“Absolutely. Just don’t overdo it. Don’t go too far up into the mountains and wear Mercury out. I might have use of him tomorrow.”
“No, sir. I wouldn’t do that. I wouldn’t go that far.”
“Well, take care of the note and then you’ve earned a break.” He handed the paper to Bill.
“Should I tell your mother that you said for her to feed me?”
Carter chuckled. “You won’t have to tell her anything. She’ll insist. I promise.”
The boy tucked the letter into his shirt pocket. “Thanks, Mr. Brunswick. I ain’t never had an afternoon to myself.”
Carter stood and extended his hand. “Well, it will be just between us. No sense worrying your family about the details. You’re still on the clock as far as I’m concerned. Just doing something other than bagging flour.”
“Yes, sir!” Bill pumped Carter’s hand up and down. He turned and ran from the office, crashing into someone outside the open doorway as he exited. Carter heard his muffled apology, figuring he’d probably run into Jack. Instead, he heard the voice of none other than Miss Briggs.
Carter’s gaze snapped up and he straightened. There she was. With her big, beautiful blue eyes.
He shook off the shock and stood. “Well, hello, Ellie. Come on in.” He suppressed a smile as she stalked into his office.
“It’sEleanor,but for you, it’s Miss Briggs, if you don’t mind.”
Make that, big, beautiful,fieryblue eyes.
He chuckled. “But Idomind.Miss Briggsmakes it seem that we don’t know one another very well, and you and I have a history.”
“We’ve only just met.” Her eyes flashed, but if he wasn’t mistaken, there was a hint of a smile hidden there.
“Yes, but in that meeting we learned a great deal about one another.” This was too much fun. When had he become such an instigator?
She tipped her head to the side, eyebrows drawn together. “Is that so?”
“Absolutely.” He ticked his list off on his fingers. “I learned that you are the daughter of a famous conservationist named Stewart Briggs. You hail from back east and own a bicycle.”
