he said. “Then you must suspect as I do, as most of the town will when they all learn of Clinton Maddox’s passing, that Foster Maddox isn’t likely to keep the spur open. He won’t have an interest in the mine, so you see, that pretty much eliminates his motivation.”
Rachel felt her shoulders compress as she drew in on herself. “I can’t—that is, I don’t know if—” She shook her head, trying to clear it. “How did Mr. Maddox arrange for me to inherit his half share of the mine? I mean, is it in his will? Will I have to go to Sacramento?”
“You don’t have to leave Reidsville, which, if you noticed, he was particular about. His right to name an heir was settled when he entered into the partnership. The town’s share can never be reassigned, but he and the other shareholder retained the right to pass their portion along.”
“I thought you were the other shareholder.”
“I am. Now.”
“And you received it from your…” She paused, considering the likely candidates. “Your mother’s family?”
“From my father. Matthew Cooper. Do you know the name?”
“No. I never heard Mr. Maddox speak of him.”
“Probably just as well. He followed his own mind about most things and didn’t take kindly to reasoned debate. He was stubborn to a fault and prided himself on being ornery.” He held up one hand, palm out. “And before you say the apple doesn’t fall far, you should know I heard it so often growing up that I thought it was our family’s motto.” He caught the glimmer of her smile, slightly wobbly, but a good sign that she wasn’t digging in. If he could keep her listening, and more importantly, thinking, there was a chance she would come around.
“I still don’t understand how Mr. Maddox could have named me his heir to the mine. Those partnership papers must have been drawn up years ago, maybe even before I was born. It couldn’t have occurred to him then.”
“No, you’re right. Like my father, he named his son.”
“Benson.”
“Yes, but both of them understood that they might outlive their children. There was war talk even then. Neither of them knew what would happen. They wrote out a proviso that in the event of their heirs predeceasing them, they could name another at a later time. The intent was not to pass it to a third generation without forethought. Clinton Maddox named you six and one-half years ago.”
Rachel was properly astounded. “On my eighteenth birthday?”
“So it seems.”
“But I—”
“I can’t speak for the workings of that man’s mind, but that’s what he did. He made sure I knew about it right away. Of course, I didn’t know what was coming down the pike. I don’t think he did, either, though from where I’m sitting it’s hard to put anything past him.”
That had occurred to Rachel also. “Do you think Foster actually knows about the mine?”
“I don’t know what his grandfather would’ve told him. Probably very little.”
But Rachel didn’t want to talk about Foster Maddox, and she regretted asking the question. “It doesn’t matter,” she said, and quickly changed the subject. “Can I refuse to accept my share?”
“No. You can do whatever you like with it, but you can’t refuse to have it put in your name first.”
“And that’s not dependent on me marrying you?”
“No, not at all. But if we lose the spur, the mine won’t help the town much. We still need to bring machinery in and out, and the rails transport gold and silver. If you’re thinking someone else will step in to lay track, think again. There’s no other right-of-way as direct or safe.”
Rachel rolled her neck, then her shoulders. The beginning of a headache was forming behind her eyes. “I need time,” she said. “I can’t possibly think this through now.”
“I didn’t expect that you could.”
“Do you have the partnership papers?”
“Yes. They’re here, but Jake will have to get them for us.”
She shook her head. “No, I don’t want to see them now. But later…later I’d like to look them over.”
“Of course.”
Rachel lifted her head to look at him. He appeared damnably untroubled, but then she knew he’d had considerably longer to get used to the idea. “I haven’t asked if you’re prepared to do it,” she said.
“I think you know the answer to that. I wouldn’t have delivered the message, allowed you to see the contract, or made an attempt to explain how it all will work if I wasn’t willing.”
“It’s a lot of money,” she said softly. “I can hardly imagine it. Do you need a lot of money?”
“Not a lot. The mine takes investing in to keep it operational. What about you?”
“Mr. Maddox gave me more than enough to start out. You know I don’t owe anything on my home or the land. I’ve been careful with what I have, so I get by nicely. The women here, they like my dresses.” She frowned, regarding him with suspicion. “That’s not your doing, is it? Another way you’ve been looking out for me?”
“No. I swear that accomplishment’s your own. I just learned yesterday that you’ve been sewing for Miss LaRosa and her girls. She’s particular about her clothes, so if she’s patronizing you instead of the fancy dressmakers in Denver, I’d say you earned your success.”
She nodded slowly, still uncertain if she could believe him, but the turn in the conversation reminded her of her other commitment. She placed her palms firmly on the edge of the table, prepared to push herself up. “I have to go. I want to see Mrs. Longabach, and I’m already later than I meant to be. I don’t like showing up and interfering with her routine. She’ll be starting to prepare for dinner soon.”
Rachel narrowly avoided the restraining hand that Wyatt put out for her. “No, really. I have to go.” She stood and easily stepped around the chair, putting some distance between them. “You know I wasn’t going to make a decision now, so there’s no reason for me to stay.”
Wyatt leaned back in his chair and crossed his legs at the ankle under the table. He tapped the center of one palm with a corner of the envelope. “Very well. Go on. See Estella. You’ll have your work cut out for you if she wants her dress to outshine Miss LaRosa’s.”
That observation dampened some of Rachel’s enthusiasm, but she resolutely headed for the door. At the last moment, she turned. “I’ve never inquired before, but does Reidsville have a lawyer, or at least someone well versed enough to go over the contract and the partnership papers with me?”
“We have a lawyer. There’s not much for him to do these days as it regards contracts and such, but if you want him to look over the papers with you, I’d be happy to arrange it. I imagine he’ll be pleased to do it.”
“You don’t mind?”
