Woodcutter's Revival by Jerry Slauter Page A

hauled so much gravel to fill the holes in the drive. Even at that, there was much less concentration of traffic on the farm, and enough space to go a little wider over fresh ground so as to avoid cutting deep ruts.
    The buildings had a dust which had been a combination of coal soot, fine wood ash, particles from digging, crushing and blasting. Except for the people and the afternoon sun backlighting the mountains, the town could be depressing. On these autumn days, as soon as the sun began to make shadows a cold chill began to set in. Raymond began to feel the loneliness he so often felt in Discovery. Sure, he liked the other miners, but as hard as he tried to avoid it, his managerial role placed a distance between him and the others.
    At work everybody felt the crunch to produce and the despair of working so hard, but never being able to get ahead of the bills. The only times he was able to forget his concerns were when he visited Victoria. That was only true if Mr. Thomas did not attempt to place heavy burdens of guilt on him. The guilt was for being too friendly with the miners, not being serious enough or not pushing them hard enough.
    As Raymond approached the Thomas house, a conversation had already begun, “Now Father, I don’t want you to talk shop today.”
    â€œWell, you know that was the main reason I agreed to invite him over today. I just have one more thing to bring up. Do you think he is totally committed yet?”
    â€œFather, he has taken a major risk to be foreman. He doesn’t seem like a risk-taker, but he has accepted a job with a lot of potential for disaster, not to mention that it stretches his personal comfort beyond complacency. ”
    â€œAnd a lot of potential for success!” interjected Mr. Thomas.
    â€œFather, you don’t have to sell me on the idea. You know I understand the potential for success in the mines. This can wait until tomorrow at the office. He does not leave until Saturday.”
    â€œI know, but I like to kill two birds with one stone. There is not much else to talk about today.”
    â€œYou could count your blessings.”
    â€œUm, we make our own blessings! I just don’t want to invest a lot of time and training into someone who can’t commit. I think being sent for training will bring him on full bore. I am reluctant to have an employee know about an aspect of mining with which I am unfamiliar. He could get too independent. If I had time I’d go, too.”
    â€œFather, you know your organization can only grow if you allow it to grow beyond your own abilities and power. You have to entrust real responsibilities to others.”
    â€œI tried that once with my brother. How did that turn out?”
    Ring. Ring.
    â€œWe can talk more about that later. That’s him! No shop talk!”
    After Raymond came in, hung his coat and greeted the Thomases, the talk was mostly awkward small talk. Raymond always attempted, especially in the presence of Mr. Thomas, to appear to be totally engaged in the conversation. He always attempted to convince himself and whoever was present that he was not totally interested in whatever Victoria was doing – that he was ever eager to catch a glimpse of her or listen intently when she talked. It became increasingly evident he was fighting a losing battle. He was less aware of his failed attempts than any other observer.
    The only thing Mr. Thomas intended to discuss regarding business was that he had heard good reports about Raymond. Raymond, for the most part, felt somewhat comfortable around Mr. Thomas, except when he was in one of his bothersome, cantankerous moods. Mr. Thomas was usually careful not to demonstrate these moods on holidays and weekends.
    Raymond liked to be around Victoria, but he, at times probably felt less comfortable around her than he did being around Mr. Thomas. She held his emotions captive. If she knew the power she had over him, she could have destroyed him at will