“What? That’s preposterous!” Of course the world she lived in was dominated by men, but the insult stung. Her drawings were better than any others she’d seen.
“Now hold on, he didn’t say that he wouldn’t allow it, just that he wasn’t sure. So he proposed that we have someone with expertise compare a few different examples from each of you so the most accurate sketch may be chosen for official publication.”
She swallowed. Dad believed that her drawings were the best, but what if they weren’t? “All right. What does he require?”
“Drawings from both you and Albert Oppenheim. Of the exact same fossil. The impartial party will come and examine the specimen and the sketches. He won’t know who has drawn which one and he will decide which is the most accurate.” Mr. Gilbert shrugged. “That’s the best I could do.”
What choice did she have? She tucked her hair behind her ear and looked down at the table. “All right, then. You’re sure it will be an expert in the field?”
“That’s what the judge promised.”
“Okay. How do we let the Oppenheims know?”
“I will go see them this afternoon.” He pulled a documentout of his briefcase. “You’ll need to sign this to indicate that you are in agreement with the terms. I think with that, the elder Mr. Oppenheim will be willing to sign the original contracts.”
She blew out her breath through her lips. “The sooner this is over, the better. I can’t allow someone to come in and trample all over my dad’s find for the simple reason that they have money.”
After signing the papers, she watched as Mr. Gilbert left. This wasn’t over. Was she strong enough to deal with a decision that wasn’t made in her favor?
“You okay?” Joshua put a hand on the small of her back.
“Sure. I’m fine.” She clenched her jaw. “You know, I think I’ll walk up the washout and see if there’s anything else interesting to sketch.”
“You’re aggravated by all of this, aren’t you?”
“How could you tell?” She didn’t mean for her words to come out snippy. They just ... did.
“Oh, I don’t know. The way you look like you want to strangle the next person you see?”
“Exactly.” She grabbed a sketchpad and some pencils. “I don’t mean to take it out on you. I want to fix all of this. Who knows, maybe I’ll find something else extraordinary to dig?” She faked a grin.
“All right. Well, don’t go too far. That way you can holler if you need me.”
Why was he always so sweet and encouraging?
Well, other than when he was infuriating her and arguing with her. Probably why they were such a good match. He could handle her temper and moods. “I’ll bring one of the rifles with me. Just in case of snakes.”
“Good.”
Rosemary Oppenheim was right. Shedidn’tdeserve him. But how could she let him go—especially after she just got him back?
Stomping her way up the mini-canyon, she worked through her thoughts. There was a good chance Albert Oppenheim was skilled at sketching. What if he was as good as she? She’d simply have to trust in her own skill and ability. Do her best.
But what if the expert decided against her? Would that mean an end to her work in paleontology?
Without her work with her father ... without Joshua...
She would be lost.
twenty-three
“I have been inspired to rise above these little mean things like jealousy and resentment. I hope it is my privilege to live in a higher atmosphere.”
~Earl Douglass
MONDAY, JULY15
The Oppenheims were back at the dig this morning. And Joshua hadn’t had a moment’s peace.
