Authors: Annie Jones
“
That deal was just a small slice of a big pie.
”
Riley
’
s voice rose but he maintained a controlled quality that suited the surroundings of the plush lawyer
’
s office. One thing he could not afford was to be thrown out of this place for appearing threatening and have it come back to haunt him in Wendy
’
s adoption.
“
The deal I discussed with your late client never involved partnerships, seats of power, or controlling interests in the gem of the empire. And it certainly did not include rescuing any incompetent maidens in distress.
”
“
Things have changed.
”
“
And not for the better.
”
Riley stood to leave.
“
Why on earth would I sink my hard-earned money into a company you
’
re leading me to believe is on a slippery downward slope?
”
“
Because you have to.
”
Riley couldn
’
t decide if the man was that desperate, that sure of his plan, or just completely out of his cotton-picking mind. Or could it be that he knew something about Riley
’
s personal predicament? That thought blindsided him with such force that he dropped back into his seat.
“
I
’
m listening. Why do you think I
have
to invest in Fulton
’
s Cartage?
”
Riley made a show of checking his watch.
“
And make it short. I don
’
t want to impose on your secretary to watch my daughter too much longer.
”
“
My secretary doesn
’
t mind, I assure you.
”
He patted his fingertips together.
“
I suspect that right about now they
’
ve finished their walk around the square and are settling in at the drugstore lunch counter for a soda.
”
“
Just hit the high points, bring me up to speed, then get to the part where I have to make this investment and why.
”
“
Fair enough.
”
He nodded.
“
In 1965 my father did the legal work that set Fulton
’
s Manufacturing up in business.
”
“
Too far back.
”
Riley shook his head and shuffled his feet like he was getting ready to go.
“
A few years later—
”
Greenhow spoke more quickly as if he hoped his speed could make up for the length of his backstroke.
“
A few years later, it became clear that using independent trucking companies to deliver the manufactured goods was not cost-effective. John Frederick
’
s money was tied up, so he could not fund a new venture. But his in-laws could.
”
Riley sat back in his chair and kicked his leg up so that one boot rested atop his knee.
“
I see.
”
“
So George R. Cunningham and his wife, Samantha Fulton Cunningham, opened the trucking company to service the needs of the furniture manufacturer. Years later, their son pitched in a part of his inheritance to open the outlet store. Three separate businesses, three separate but cooperative owners, one man in charge of them all.
”
“
You mean one
woman
in charge, don
’
t you?
”
“
Not if I can help it.
”
“
Beg your pardon?
”
Suddenly without even knowing this Dixie woman, Riley felt like standing up for her. Maybe it was because he had heard the raw power of fatherly love in John Frederick
’
s tone when he
’
d spoken of his concern for his only child. Maybe it was because Riley had formed an earnest admiration for the late Mr. Fulton-Leigh in their brief but intense conversations. Or maybe he just wanted to send a message to Howard Greenhow that he wasn
’
t impressed or influenced by the lawyer
’
s snide superiority.
“
If you have something to say, Mr. Greenhow...
”
Riley drew himself up, knowing that years of working at his own sawmill had given him an intimidating build. He
’
d long ago perfected a look so hard it could make burly men with chainsaws in their hands step back.
“
I suggest you say it outright and plain.
”
“
I can
’
t say it any plainer than I already have. Dixie cannot run all three operations.
”
He spun his chair around and thumped his fist repeatedly on the desk pad.
“
She lacks the training, the intuitive skills, the willingness to give 200 percent and then some to make it all work.
”
“
Excuse me for seeming dense here, but why does she have to? Why can
’
t the people who actually own the companies run them? Or why can
’
t someone be hired to run the businesses for them, if they either can
’
t or don
’
t want to do it themselves?
”
“
Ahh, yes! I knew you were a man with a good head on his shoulders, a man of action—
”
“
A man who is running out of patience.
”
Riley put his hand to the arm of the chair as if ready to push himself up and hit the door.
Greenhow leapt to his feet.
“
Someone
can
be brought in to run the trucking division, Mr. Walker.
”
The lawyer
’
s breathing grew quick and shallow and his eyes glittered like a predator moving in for the kill. He rounded the desk and planted himself between Riley and the only exit in the office.
“
The money is available for that kind of thing, and even more could be found by someone with the wisdom to use his resources creatively and the courage to make hardline decisions.
”
Riley felt like he should be humming some patriotic anthem to accompany Greenhow
’
s impassioned speech.
“
In fact, that very thing should have happened years ago, but one thing stopped it.
”
The lawyer paused, as if he actually expected Riley to play into his melodramatic presentation by asking
“
what?
”
When Riley simply sat and scowled, Greenhow leaned in close and whispered,
“
Pride.
”
Riley gave no reaction.
The ruddy-faced man straightened and whirled around, pacing as he surged on.
“
Despite the potential harm to their own net worth, the economy of this town, and the quality of life for their friends and neighbors, this one family has always been just too proud to let anyone else come in and help.
”
He stopped, pivoted, and pointed right at Riley.
“
Until you.
”
“
Me?
”
“
You are the first outsider John Frederick ever so much as considered bringing on board. It
’
s his vote of confidence that makes you the
only
option I can set before the Judge as a potential partner in Fulton
’
s Cartage.
”
“
Judge?
”
Riley sat up.
“
A judge has to rule on this business deal?
”
Greenhow blustered out a laugh.
“
No, no. The Judge is George R. Cunningham, the man who would become the minor partner in Fulton
’
s Cartage once you bought at least 51 percent.
”
A judge
? With this transaction Riley could suddenly become senior shareholder in the established and respected business of a revered old Mississippi family, partnered with nothing less than a judge. It did not get any sweeter than that for showing the world he was the best person to provide and care for the little girl he hoped to adopt as his own.
“
And he
’
d do it? Sell, that is?
”
“
To John Frederick
’
s handpicked predecessor he would, and I can guarantee you that. And I hold his power of attorney, due to his...advanced age. So you and I can make this deal right here, right now.
”
It took everything Riley had not to stick out his hand and agree to it on the spot. He had come with an open mind to talk about something he
’
d already concluded he would go ahead with before Mr. Fulton-Leigh died. The stakes had gone up a bit since then, but then his personal stakes had risen decidedly, too. Listening to Howard Greenhow—and taking into account his circumstances regarding Wendy
’
s adoption—Riley felt he
’
d be a fool not to forge ahead with buying the offered stocks.
Or was he a fool to listen to Howard Greenhow? He cleared his throat.
“
Mr. Fulton-Leigh quoted me a price per share when we spoke about this.
”
“
That won
’
t have changed, I assure you.
”
Riley grinned and shook his head.
“
Then it
’
s a no go, Mr. Greenhow, because the circumstances surrounding the company and the deal
have
changed—and as we
’
ve established, not for the better.
”
The round-faced lawyer broke out in what Riley couldn
’
t help thinking was his first genuine expression of emotion all during the whole meeting—he laughed.
“
I
knew
you were the man for
this job. Shrewd, fearless, and unwilling to throw good money after bad. I like that. Like it a lot, Walker. I can see why John Frederick picked you.
”
Riley snorted. He was under no pretenses that he and Howard Greenhow would ever form a mutual admiration society.
“
What if I say we can take John Frederick
’
s price down by 20 percent?
”
“
What if we say twenty-five? I am, after all, going to have to invest more time in this now than I was going to before. My time is worth money.
”
“
Does this mean you
’
re seriously interested? With the reduced rate?
”
“
I
’
d want to tour the place.
”
“
Of course.
”
“
And I want to meet the family.
”
“
Ahh, the family
”
The lawyer
’
s smile stretched outward, but not up—he looked positively pained.
“
Is there a problem with me meeting the family?
”
His mother
’
s warning about the Fulton descendant
’
s reputation for being
interesting
rang like a tin bell in his head.
“
No. No problem except that...
”
Greenhow reached into his jacket pocket and yanked free a handkerchief, which he dabbed back and forth over his forehead.
“
Before we take that step, let me ask you this, Mr. Walker: When you spoke to John Frederick did he strike you as a man who had his family
’
s best interest at heart?
”
“
Yes.
”
“
The kind of man you could personally trust?
”
“
Absolutely.
”
“
He felt the same way about you, I
’
m sure. He would never have sought you out otherwise. It
’
s important for you to understand that fact before you ever meet this family, before you make up your mind about them and the deal.
”