don't care."
"You'll care when they quit doing business with us."
She hesitated. “You're exaggerating."
"Am I? Most folks, even Yankees, find it scandalous to conduct business with a woman, and unthinkable with one of questionable virtue.” He pressed the point. “Most of our customers are married men. Do you think their wives will want them dealing with you?"
"This is ridiculous!” Olivia shot out of her chair, furious, and crossed the room to stare out the window. “I haven't done anything wrong! How dare anyone make such presumptions about me?"
"As long as you're keeping that child, everyone will think you're out to marry him. By any means necessary.” He paused. “Is that what you're doing?"
"No!” She whirled to face him, shaken by the conversation. “I resent your questions. My personal life is none of your concern."
"But this business is,” he stated. “Olivia, I've worked here since I was fifteen years old, and I don't intend to stand meekly by while you throw it all away."
"I don't care what your intentions are. The business is mine and I'll run it as I see fit."
"Even it that means running it into the ground? I'm certain Ryan thought you'd be married by now and have a husband to oversee things for you."
"Well, I'm not.” She deeply resented Rodger speaking so casually about her brother. God knows, she'd prefer to be penniless rather than lose her brother. “Ryan's will mentioned nothing about my being married or needing anyone to run my affairs. Least of all you."
The last phrase was deliberately mean-spirited, but Olivia didn't care.
"You're right, of course, Olivia.” Rodger turned toward the door, pausing only long enough to add, “I'm sure Ryan had no doubt you'd end up alone."
* * * *
She swore not to pay Rodger any mind, but Olivia did have to consider her reputation. Her standing in the community might actually be in jeopardy, and sometimes that meant more than wealth. People might not like her, but they would respect her.
For her own sake, she had to end the situation. She couldn't afford to become any more attached to Sarah, and the risk of her feelings for Matthew posed the greatest danger. She couldn't delude herself that they could pick up where they left off just because of a little honest conversation, but pride wouldn't allow her to invite another woman into his life.
She had to think of something that would allow him to manage the farm and care for Sarah. Even as she was leaving for home, the issue plagued her.
Crossing the lot behind the gin, where her buggy was waiting, she caught sight of Sam, the mill foreman, and smiled as he tipped his hat.
"Afternoon, Miz Chandler."
"Hello, Sam. How are things going?"
"Work's never done,” he stated. “Can't finish one order without two more waiting."
"That's good,” she reminded him. “You and I will never be without work."
They paused while more lumber was loaded into a wagon, and Sam ordered the men to tie the load. She thought again of Matthew's situation and realized that Sam might just hold the solution.
"Sam, forgive me if I'm prying, but did I hear you say that your sister's family was living with you?"
"My wife's sister,” he corrected her, his voice thick with resentment. “Her and her husband and five young'uns."
"My goodness, what a brood.” She hesitated. “What are their plans?"
"Hell, who knows? Beg your pardon, Miz Chandler, but having a passel of young'uns tries a man's nerves."
"I can understand that."
"They came down from Memphis two months ago for a visit. My wife was thrilled to see her sister, and I didn't mind them coming for a visit. When she and the missus started making Christmas plans, I knew they weren't going anywhere anytime soon.” He ran his hand along his jaw. “They lost everything in the war ... their land, the house. Everything."
"What will they do?” He shrugged, and she suggested, “Have you thought of giving him a job here?"
"No!” He was emphatic “He'd never take
"You'll care when they quit doing business with us."
She hesitated. “You're exaggerating."
"Am I? Most folks, even Yankees, find it scandalous to conduct business with a woman, and unthinkable with one of questionable virtue.” He pressed the point. “Most of our customers are married men. Do you think their wives will want them dealing with you?"
"This is ridiculous!” Olivia shot out of her chair, furious, and crossed the room to stare out the window. “I haven't done anything wrong! How dare anyone make such presumptions about me?"
"As long as you're keeping that child, everyone will think you're out to marry him. By any means necessary.” He paused. “Is that what you're doing?"
"No!” She whirled to face him, shaken by the conversation. “I resent your questions. My personal life is none of your concern."
"But this business is,” he stated. “Olivia, I've worked here since I was fifteen years old, and I don't intend to stand meekly by while you throw it all away."
"I don't care what your intentions are. The business is mine and I'll run it as I see fit."
"Even it that means running it into the ground? I'm certain Ryan thought you'd be married by now and have a husband to oversee things for you."
"Well, I'm not.” She deeply resented Rodger speaking so casually about her brother. God knows, she'd prefer to be penniless rather than lose her brother. “Ryan's will mentioned nothing about my being married or needing anyone to run my affairs. Least of all you."
The last phrase was deliberately mean-spirited, but Olivia didn't care.
"You're right, of course, Olivia.” Rodger turned toward the door, pausing only long enough to add, “I'm sure Ryan had no doubt you'd end up alone."
* * * *
She swore not to pay Rodger any mind, but Olivia did have to consider her reputation. Her standing in the community might actually be in jeopardy, and sometimes that meant more than wealth. People might not like her, but they would respect her.
For her own sake, she had to end the situation. She couldn't afford to become any more attached to Sarah, and the risk of her feelings for Matthew posed the greatest danger. She couldn't delude herself that they could pick up where they left off just because of a little honest conversation, but pride wouldn't allow her to invite another woman into his life.
She had to think of something that would allow him to manage the farm and care for Sarah. Even as she was leaving for home, the issue plagued her.
Crossing the lot behind the gin, where her buggy was waiting, she caught sight of Sam, the mill foreman, and smiled as he tipped his hat.
"Afternoon, Miz Chandler."
"Hello, Sam. How are things going?"
"Work's never done,” he stated. “Can't finish one order without two more waiting."
"That's good,” she reminded him. “You and I will never be without work."
They paused while more lumber was loaded into a wagon, and Sam ordered the men to tie the load. She thought again of Matthew's situation and realized that Sam might just hold the solution.
"Sam, forgive me if I'm prying, but did I hear you say that your sister's family was living with you?"
"My wife's sister,” he corrected her, his voice thick with resentment. “Her and her husband and five young'uns."
"My goodness, what a brood.” She hesitated. “What are their plans?"
"Hell, who knows? Beg your pardon, Miz Chandler, but having a passel of young'uns tries a man's nerves."
"I can understand that."
"They came down from Memphis two months ago for a visit. My wife was thrilled to see her sister, and I didn't mind them coming for a visit. When she and the missus started making Christmas plans, I knew they weren't going anywhere anytime soon.” He ran his hand along his jaw. “They lost everything in the war ... their land, the house. Everything."
"What will they do?” He shrugged, and she suggested, “Have you thought of giving him a job here?"
"No!” He was emphatic “He'd never take
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