Page 48 of In These Hills

Dodge lowered his head, clarity coming. “Kathleen,” he said quietly. “You remember how folks talked about her behind her back? Even years after, and even after the kindness she’d showed them. I still see it sometimes when they look at Bethie.” He swallowed. “I want better for her.”

“And she’ll have it, my friend. From the people who matter.”

Dodge nodded. “That’s something Uncle Nearest would have said to me.”

“Did I mention I’m glad you’re staying?” George smiled, then took the path toward the barrel house.

Dodge returned his salute and headed for the office, wondering if the pull of Wyoming—and all he was determined to let go of—would ever let go of him.

19

JOSEPHINE PAUSED just shy of the distillery’s front porch to catch her breath. She’d helped clear the table after breakfast earlier, then washed the dishes and left them to dry before rushing out the door.

Though she and Miss Mary hadn’t formalized her duties at the boarding house yet—she figured that would come after confirming she had a job—she simply couldn’t leave all that to Calla. Not when she was enjoying all of Calla’s fine cooking, and not while knowing Miss Mary still hoped to hire a second cook to ease Calla’s load.

Ascending the stairs to the front porch of the white clapboard building, she heard the trickle of water again and looked toward the cave at the base of the rocky bluff a short distance away. Such a tranquil setting, and so opposite what she was feeling now.

She simply could not return to the boarding house without securing this—

The office door suddenly swung open.

“Well, good morning, Mrs. Dunham!” Jack Daniel’s wry smile said everything. “What might bring you to my door on this lovely March day? And so early? I’m barely into the office myself.”

Reading the playful sparkle in his eyes, she took a deep breath.

“I always find it difficult,” he continued before she could even start her readied speech, “to have to eat crow so early in the day. Just kind of chokes you a good one, right about here, don’t you think, ma’am?” He gripped his throat just above his bow tie and made a show of not being able to swallow. “Just doesn’t . . . want to . . . go down.”

Josephine laughed out loud. She couldn’t help it.

Mr. Daniel paused, his expression lighting. “Now that right there might be one of the prettiest sounds I’ve ever heard.” He looked at her with a steadiness that might have unnerved her had he not already told her she wasn’t his type. “Yes, ma’am, you should do that more often. And please, in my presence.”

Gaining her composure, she gave him a smart nod. “Allow me to clear my throat of said crow, sir, and perhaps I will.”

Laughing, he moved to one side. “Please, Mrs. Dunham, grant me the pleasure of your company in my office.”

Josephine stepped inside and started to take her seat in one of the two chairs facing his desk.

“Oh no, no.” He gently took hold of her elbow and led her around the desk. “This is where the distillery’s bookkeeper sits.”

He pulled out his office chair, but she didn’t sit. “Mr. Daniel, first, I must apologize to you for—”

“Mrs. Dunham, when your boot gained my porch a second ago, and I saw you standing there? You said everything to me that needed saying. I know how strongly you feel about distilleries and whiskey making. And yet here you are.” His tone softened. “Coming back today took courage, and likely gnawed a fairly good hole in your pride through the night. Which makes this reprisal even more meaningful. For us both.” He glanced at the desk. “Because when I closed my eyes last night, I wondered what on earth I was going to do with all this. So, please . . . Everything has been said between us. Agreed?”

She held his gaze, marveling at his kindness, and not at all certain she could carry out her still-forming plan to sabotage the distillery’s production. “Thank you, Mr. Daniel. And agreed.”

“Now, if you’ll sit, we can start reviewing all of this paperwork and—”

“Do we need, perhaps, to discuss again the various aspects of the position?” she asked carefully. “Have . . . any of the conditions changed?”

His brow furrowed, then understanding dawned. “Ah . . . You mean has the salary changed? Due to you dressing me down so squarely yesterday and giving me your honest opinion of what I’ve chosen to do with the whole of my life?”

Merriment lit his eyes, but she could not laugh.

“Ma’am, not many people have attempted to do that to me in recent decades. And certainly none have done it with such style and grace, and on my own turf, to boot. So again, you and me? We are more than fine. I admire a woman with grit and backbone. Someone who’ll speak her mind straight out. So, to answer your question . . . The salary I quoted stands firm. But I am thinking of taking back the offer of the free bottle of Jack every month. So if that’s a deal breaker then—”

Josephine claimed his office chair and began sorting papers. “Are you going to keep jabbering on, sir, or shall we get started?”

He chuckled and pulled up another chair beside hers.