Glittering Promises by Lisa T. Bergren Read Free Book Online

mean?
    I looked to Will with a question in my eyes.
    “How can you say no?” he asked quietly. “He’s offering you what you wanted—your share of a fortune. A controlling interest in a fortune. You’re not only wealthy in your own right, Cora. You’re in charge of that wealth.”
    I had to remind myself to breathe. I’d considered it but thought the opportunity was a long way off. Thought I’d have to battle my father for every cent, every portion. And now here he was, freely offering it to me. My eyes narrowed as I looked back to him. Wallace Kensington never offered anything freely. “You understand I don’t know the first thing about running a mine.”
    “Yes. I will assist you if you wish, when you wish. But ownership involves steep responsibilities. Labor. Finances. Strategic, wise decisions. All of which I believe you can manage in time, with training. After all, you were first in your class in mathematics, science, history. In high school as well as Normal School, passing up every one of your male competitors.”
    I started, and then my eyes narrowed. How did he know that?
    He smiled, catlike. “Ah, yes, it’s long been clear to me that you have intellect that would be wasted in some country school on the plains of Montana. It simply took me some time to realize that my independent, smart daughter might very well run the Dunnigan enterprise better than I might myself.” He shook his head, his eyes partially cold calculation and partially warm with admiration. “And it is not only book sense you have, daughter. You have people sense. It was you who helped me and Morgan evade the potential strike in Billings.” He tilted his head. “That would’ve cost us thousands. Instead, all your predictions came true. With a small investment, our miners are more content than ever. We have no shortage of workers, and in turn, they have upped production, to the benefit of our bottom line.”
    “How much?” I asked evenly.
    He shrugged one shoulder even as he smiled over my question. “See there? That’s a businessman’s response. And to answer, eighteen or nineteen percent. A sound investment. An investment I can track directly back to you .”
    I stared at him.
    He huffed a laugh. “Why do you hesitate? Is this not exactly what you wanted?”
    “I wanted a portion of the profits. I never anticipated…never thought…” I gathered myself and lifted my chin. “I never once thought you’d consider giving over charge of the entire mine .”
    “You were born on that soil. Your folks raised you right, there. And I shall teach you what you need to know to run the mine.”
    “I’m hardly a prospector,” I said, lifting one brow.
    “Aren’t you? You ventured here with us. A bit of a gambler in you, I suspect.”
    “Not that I had much of a choice.”
    “Do you regret it?” His eyes slid to Will and back.
    I studied him. He knew what I’d meant. But he was right. Even after our rough start, would I have honestly returned to a summer on the ranch as opposed to what I’d experienced, what I’d gained, the people I’d come to know? It was my turn to eye Will. He met my gaze with concern, clearly wrestling with the decision as I was. The banker and attorney simply watched us banter back and forth, waiting for Will to translate anything they needed to know.
    Wallace Kensington rose and leaned over the table toward me. “Cora, it is uncommon for a woman to be in such a position. But you are a Kensington. I know you have what will be required. Or I shall help you discover it within you.”
    So there, at last, was what bothered me. He knew I’d have to turn to him in order to learn how to manage such a business. “I am a Diehl, too,” I said, trying to buy time to think.
    “That is why the Dunnigan mine will be known as the Kensington-Diehl Mine,” he said, sliding a stack of papers in my direction. I looked down to the first page, and in the midst of all the verbiage, our names jumped out in capital