Authors: Judith Miller
Mr. Wheeler, the only remaining decorator in the pottery, cleared his throat. “I do my best to create beautiful pieces, but I don’t think your idea is going to be successful unless you can offer more than what one man can produce, Mr. McKay.”
Ewan nodded his agreement and spoke of his desire to rehire some of the former decorators. “In addition, my sister is a talented designer who will work closely with the decorating shop. I think you’ll find her ideas original and inspiring.”
Robert drummed his fingers on the table. “How is it the pottery is making enough money to hire more decorators but not enough to pay better wages to the rest of us?”
Ewan sighed. “In truth, the pottery is not making enough to pay extra decorators, but I set aside a portion of money for this purpose when I purchased the business. You do not have to agree with my decision, Robert, but I must do what I believe will restore this pottery to a profitable company. I hope you and the rest of the workers will give me an opportunity to prove I’m a man of my word. I’ll be here working as hard as the rest of you.”
The other foremen watched Robert’s every move. There was little doubt he held sway over much that happened in the pottery and winning his allegiance could prove difficult.
“In addition, Rylan is going to be working with me to submit bids that will recapture some of the larger contracts that were once filled by this pottery.”
The jiggerman grunted and gave a slight nod before frowning in Rose’s direction. “What are the other big changes you’re planning to make—the ones that don’t include any money, Miss McKay?”
Rose rubbed her hands together, pleased Mr. Wilson had addressed her. After observing Ewan’s dour look, she was sure he wanted to call an end to the meeting, but she decided to press on. Once the men saw how her ideas would improve the quality of life for their family members, she was certain she’d garner their support.
After gracing the men with a sweeping smile, she removed a folded sheet of paper from her skirt pocket. She unfolded the paper and pressed it flat while the men strained forward for a glimpse of her notes.
They were silent as church mice while she set forth her idea to impose new regulations in regard to cleanliness, but they shifted in their chairs when she set forth her idea that any worker under the age of fourteen must attend school for a half day at least four days a week. Before she had time to explain the details, the men who employed children expelled a hue and cry that could be heard far beyond the doors of Ewan’s office.
Rose jumped to her feet and waved for the men to remain calm. “If you’ll give me a chance to explain, this shouldn’t be a problem for any of you, and it will provide the children with a better life as they grow older.” She frowned at the men. “For those of you who are fathers, I would think you’d be applauding my suggestion. For those of you who are not, I suggest you consider someone other than yourselves for a moment.”
Robert slapped his palm on the table. “I figured this would be the kind of thing we could expect with a woman helping to run things. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I like things just the way they are. We don’t need to use our work time cleaning the place, and we sure don’t want to be paying wages to kids who are sitting in a classroom.” He pushed away from the table. “I refuse to do any such thing.”
Rylan pointed a finger at Robert. “Careful with your tongue, Robert. You’re not in the workroom shoutin’ orders to your workers.”
The reprimand from Rylan had no effect, and Robert continued his tirade. Moments later, Rose glowered at him. If only he’d be quiet for a moment, she could explain that he wouldn’t be paying the children while they were in school. There was no way she could gain the men’s attention while Robert had the floor. Soon the other men were murmuring their agreement.
After a few more minutes passed, Rylan banged on the table. “That will be enough!” Silence reigned as the men gaped at him. “Nothing will be accomplished with all of this shouting and anger.”
“Rylan is correct.” Ewan pushed his chair back from the table. “The matter of schooling for the children can wait until a later date. The issue of cleanliness, however, will not wait. I have gone through the ledgers and I believe some of the absenteeism is due to illness that can be reduced if we maintain better sanitation. I expect you to abide by my sister’s instructions in this matter.”
Robert shook his head. “Shoulda known a woman coming in here would mean we’d be dealing with this kind of nonsense.” He stood up, his attention fixed on Ewan. “I’ll follow whatever rules you put in place, but it don’t mean I’ll like ’em or that I’ll not be looking for work elsewhere.”
Rose smiled at him. “Thank you for your comments, Mr. Wilson. I’ll be praying that we’ll soon have your cooperation. Our plans are for the good of every worker in this pottery, and that includes you.”
Murmurs buzzed among the men—all but Robert, who glowered at Rose. “It’s not prayers but good business decisions that will bring about my cooperation, Miss McKay.”
Ewan stood and dismissed everyone except Robert. “I’d like to speak with you alone.”
Robert jerked his shoulder toward Rose and Rylan as he returned to his chair. “Are the two of them going to be here while we talk?”
“No.” Turning toward his sister, Ewan pointed to his desk. “While I meet with Robert, why don’t you and Rylan gather the designs we discussed? Take them to the decorator shop and see if Mr. Wheeler has any suggestions for improvement.”
Rose gaped at her brother. “Improvement? I thought we’d agreed the designs were—”
“Aye.” Ewan narrowed his eyes and tightened his lips into a thin line. “Mr. Wheeler will be able to give you important details about the actual production of the pieces and whether they will be profitable.”
Upon hearing Ewan’s response, Robert looked at Rose and grinned like a Cheshire cat. She clenched her hands until her fingernails bit into the flesh of her palms. She’d seen that same look at school when the girls played their pranks and embarrassed her, but she hadn’t expected to see it in the pottery. Her stomach churned, and she longed to remain and address Robert’s smug smile, but Ewan’s tone had been enough to signal her that he was unhappy with her behavior during the meeting.
She collected the designs from atop Ewan’s desk and marched out of the office without further comment. The sound of Rylan’s steady footfalls thudding alongside her added to her annoyance. She didn’t need him at her side in order to talk to Mr. Wheeler.
“There’s a shorter route if you cut through—”
“I’m not interested in a shorter route. Right now, the longer walk will do me good.” She inhaled a deep breath. “Do you agree with Ewan? That I shouldn’t have brought up the subject of schooling the children?”
“Change is hard on these men.”
She blew out a huff of exasperation. “So you agree with him?”
“Most folks like to eat their food one bite at a time. You gave them a mouthful.”
“But they didn’t show me enough respect to let me explain.”
“Respect?” He chuckled. “With these men, you have to earn that, Miss McKay, and they don’t give it easily.”
Irritation burned deep beneath her skin, but there was no need to vent her frustration on Rylan. He hadn’t asked to escort her. No doubt, he would rather be doing something else. Probably anything else. “If you have other work, I can speak with Mr. Wheeler by myself.”
“Thank you, but I’d best do what your brother asked. Besides, I like Mr. Wheeler and enjoy talking to him.”
Rose gave a slight nod. “I hope he’s in a better mood than Mr. Wilson. I could not believe my ears when he voiced his objections to schooling the children. Even a man without children should understand the value of education.”
They turned to the right and circled around the slip house. The pungent smell of freshly turned dirt filled Rose’s nostrils as they continued on past one of the warehouses and the kilns. A crew of several men was loading saggers filled with dried ware into one of the kilns for the bisque firing. Rose stopped for a moment to observe their skill as one of the men climbed several steps and entered the large kiln with a loaded fireclay container on his head while he carried another in his arms. What strength it must take to accomplish such a feat. Several young boys were loading the saggers, and she wondered if they aspired to follow in the footsteps of these men or if they longed for a better life. One that could be gained through education.
She turned and voiced her thoughts to Rylan.
Rylan didn’t look at her. “Like I said, it takes some folks time to get used to the idea of change. Most of us aren’t keen on new ideas, and it sounds like you got a pocketful.”
Rose stopped short. “We all must change and adapt, or we’ll never improve. Why, we’d still be without Singer sewing machines or Pullman sleeping cars or the Morse code if there hadn’t been inventors who wanted to change our lives for the better.”
“I never had use for a sewing machine or a sleeping car, and that’s a fact. I do see the value of the Morse code for sending telegraphs, but what you want to do here at the pottery isn’t the same as men inventing newfangled machines. Forcing young’uns into a schoolroom or telling workers their shops are dirty ’twill not endear ya to anyone.”
A group of young boys raced by, their shirttails flying behind them. “Those children will never invent anything if they don’t have an opportunity to learn. Can’t you understand that?”
The muscles in Rylan’s jaw tightened. “Maybe not, but they’ll be helpin’ to put food on the table. For most of them, a bowl of stew is more important than learning how to do sums.”
Rose turned and continued toward the decorating shop. “They didn’t give me a chance to explain that they can do both. I can create a schedule so they’ll be able to continue working at their jobs. The children don’t work continuously during the day, so they can come to class when they’re not working.” When Rylan didn’t reply, she pushed for a response. “How can they object to something that will be good for the children?”
“I can’t speak for others, but I don’t think many will agree to the change.”
Rose sighed. Perhaps the men wouldn’t immediately consent, but she was sure the mothers would find in her favor. She’d begin with them. What woman didn’t want her child educated? She’d appeal to the women regarding the cleanliness, as well. Women didn’t want to work surrounded by layers of dust and dirt. Yes, that was her answer. She would win favor with the ladies, and the men would follow.
W
hile Rose had believed it would be easy to convince the women their children needed schooling, Rylan understood it would take far more effort than she anticipated. He advised Rose that the mothers wouldn’t be easily convinced, but she disagreed. He still wasn’t certain if she ignored him because she thought she was right, or if her efforts to win the women to her side had been exacted to prove him wrong. Though he took no pleasure in being right, his advice had been sound. Despite Rose’s impassioned pleas, the women refused the offer of schooling for their children unless the journeymen who hired them agreed.
Rylan admired her determination, even if her efforts at change chafed, so he’d met with the skilled workers who employed children as their helpers. Without Rose’s knowledge, he’d asked them to give the idea of school a try. If it didn’t work, they could always voice their complaints and have it shut down, but he suggested they cooperate with Miss McKay on this issue. He ended each talk with the same question. “We owe it to the young’uns to give them a better chance than we ever had, don’t we?”
Although they’d been less than enthusiastic, the men had agreed, except for Robert Wilson, who had been the lone holdout.
After a grueling day working on bids and preparing proposals for Ewan’s review, Rylan trekked through the pottery. All the other workers had departed, and in the quietude of the pottery, he recalled the look on Rose’s face the day the school had opened. She’d taken precious time away from decorating to welcome each of the children by name and promised them that education would open a world of possibilities for them. Though he still wasn’t sure Rose should get their hopes up, he had no doubt her intent was pure.
A light coming from beneath the door of the decorating room caught his eye. Concern creased his brow. Had someone not extinguished their lamp?
He paused at the door when he heard singing—a lone female voice. Though Ewan was still in the office, what was Rose doing here so late in the evening?
He nudged the door and, finding it unlatched, pushed it open until he could see her. She was seated on a high stool with a large vase in front of her. After a few minutes, she tucked the wooden end of the paintbrush between her lips and tilted the vase to the side and examined her work. She smiled and her dimples appeared.
He’d not seen them much lately. Probably because they’d not been able to see eye to eye on much of anything. Maybe this was the opportunity he’d been praying for to ease the tension between them.
He gave the door a soft knock.
She jumped and nearly toppled the vase. “Rylan, you almost caused me to ruin a half-day’s work!”
His gaze swept the shop and saw stacks of other bisque pieces waiting to be decorated. Had she truly spent half a day on this one piece?
“I apologize. I didn’t mean to startle you. I saw the lamp and feared someone forgot it.” He stepped close enough to get a good look at her vase. He sucked in his breath. What talent she had. A mass of autumn-colored roses trailed down its length and rested on the moss green base color. When this piece was fired, the glazes she’d chosen would make the flowers spring to life. “It’s beautiful, Rose.”
“Thank you, but it’s not quite done.” She closed her eyes, then added a swirl of amber.
“Do you see the completed design in your mind?”
“
Hmm
.” She tapped the end of the paintbrush against her lips. “I guess I do. Don’t you?”
He chuckled. “No. When it comes to decorating, I prefer working with the whiteware.”
“Why?”