Page 118 of In These Hills

Dodge picked up the gauger’s book. “It was a loose joint in one of the steam lines. We wrapped it with soaked burlap and wire. That’ll keep things until the blacksmith can reseal it properly.”

Mr. Daniel laughed. “Young Gilbert was afraid to take us inside, scared the whole place was about to go up.”

Dodge raised a brow. “Respect for the machinery is never a bad thing. Especially considering what’s in that stillhouse.”

“True enough.” Mr. Daniel nodded. “Let’s hope Mr. Prince doesn’t fine us for that leak. Speak of the devil . . .”

Josephine trailed Mr. Daniel’s gaze out the window and spotted Mr. Prince walking his bicycle up to the porch. Humorous a sight as it usually was, right now it emptied her lungs of air.

“Good afternoon, Distillery Folk!” Mr. Prince said as he walked in. “My apologies, Mr. Daniel, for having to reschedule our meeting from Monday to today. Some sort of illness cast a spell of malaise over my otherwise robust constitution. But I’m much recovered now and appreciate your understanding, as does the United States Department of the Treasury.”

Josephine felt Mr. Daniel looking at her, but didn’t dare return the attention.

“Well, Mr. Prince—” Dodge held out the ledger. “You might want to take a look at our production since the last revenuer visit, then we can start our walk-through and get as far as we can for today.”

Mr. Prince settled in the chair beside Mr. Daniel and opened the book. “Hmmm . . .” His gaze scanned down a page, then another, and another. His eyes narrowed. “Is this figure correct here, Mr. Coburn?”

Josephine’s stomach did a somersault.

Dodge leaned over. “Yes, sir. That’s correct. We added six more stills since your last visit. Hence, the increase in production on that date.”

“Impressive.”

“Unfortunately,” Dodge continued, “we discovered only this morning that one of the new stills has a loose joint in the steam line. I fixed it temporarily but we’ll need to get a blacksmith out to get it properly mended.”

Mr. Prince closed the book and stood. “I’d like to inspect the stills first, Mr. Coburn.” He returned the book to Dodge. “But bring that with you, if you would. Should questions arise.”

“You bet, sir.” Dodge gestured toward the door. “After you.”

“I’ll catch up with you two gentlemen shortly,” Mr. Daniel said. “And no sneaking any free samples on the job, Mr. Prince!”

Mr. Prince’s laughter carried through the open window, and Josephine watched them as they rounded the building.

“You’re not feeling poorly, are you, Mrs. Dunham?” Mr. Daniel asked. “You’re looking a mite pale.”

“No, sir. I’m fine.” Her gaze still following Dodge, she wondered what he would think, how he would react, if he learned what she’d done. Then again, he wouldn’t know it was her. They would simply assume an error had been made by GC, whoever that was, it would be corrected, and production would eventually resume. Dodge would be none the wiser.

“How was your visit with Mrs. Watson?”

Hearing the question as though from far away, she looked over at him. “What?”

“Your visit. With Mrs. Watson.”

“Oh, yes, sir . . . It was nice. She’s a very kind person.”

“She is that. You’ll remember that her husband, Daryl, works here at the distillery. He’s one of our mash men. Handles mashing the grain to begin the fermentation process.”

“I didn’t know what he did, but yes, of course, I remember seeing Mr. Watson for payroll.”

“That’s right, that’s right.” He rose, grimacing as he did. “You know I’ve been thinking . . . Perhaps we ought to keep a cash tin here in the office somewhere, just to cover incidentals. Things that come up from time to time. You’d be in charge of it, of course. No need to keep a ledger. The money could be used at your discretion. For whoever or whatever you see fit.”

Finally having her full attention, Josephine didn’t answer immediately. She simply stared until he looked back at her, two and two quickly making four. “Did Dodge tell you?”

“Tell me what?” The barest hint of a smile, not in his expression, but in his voice belied the seriousness of his features.

But she knew he knew. The question was how. “You saw the food in the storage room, didn’t you?”

“You’re keeping food back there in the storage room?”