“That is a pity. I would love to hear you play,” Kurt said at Lauren’s elbow.
“What brings you to Texas, Miss Holbrook?” Parker Vandiver asked bluntly as they took seats.
Lauren was momentarily at a loss for words. The cold, incisive blue eyes seemed to challenge her.
“Lauren is the sister of one of Jared’s friends at Harvard. Jared had visited the Holbrooks on some of his holidays from school, and we wanted to repay their hospitality. Since her brother has married, we issued the invitation to Lauren. Ben brought her back with him on his way home from New York.”
Lauren stared incredulously as Olivia lied so glibly. The older woman smiled radiantly at the stunned girl as she continued, “She has been such a comfort to me since Ben passed away. I don’t know how I could have managed without her.”
Lauren’s astonishment turned to anger. How dare Olivia lie about her that way! She had nothing to be ashamed of or to apologize for!
“I don’t recall seeing her at the funeral,” Parker observed shrewdly.
“She was overcome with grief. She and Ben had become quite attached on their trip. I wouldn’t allow her to go through such a public ordeal,” Olivia said simply.
“That’s perfectly understandable. I felt that way when my mother died,” Kurt whispered as he reached out to pat Lauren’s hand. She pulled it back quickly.
Carson redirected the conversation. “Tell us about this power plant you envision, Parker.”
“It’s no vision, Carson. We intend to build it, one way or another. Of course, we would like to have the help of the Locketts.”
“What will happen to the electric company that’s already here?” inquired Olivia, all business now. She referred to a small power plant owned and operated by Orville Kendrick. Lauren had heard Olivia and Carson discussing it. The plant provided electric power to the citizens of Coronado each evening from six until ten. Oddly enough, the Lockett house was not yet wired for electric power.
“It will no doubt go out of business,” Parker answered Olivia’s question brusquely. “We will provide twenty-four-hour service. Kendrick won’t be able to survive the competition. One day soon, everything will be powered by electricity.”
Kurt leaned toward Lauren and asked, “What do you think of electric lighting, Miss Holbrook?”
All eyes turned to her, and she hesitated before timidly stating, “I think it’s ugly.” At their shocked expressions, she hastened to explain. “I see the need for it, and I agree with Mr. Vandiver that we’ll become more reliant on it, but I do think it’s ugly. I prefer the softness of gas lighting.”
“Spoken like a true romantic,” Kurt said, and nodded his approval.
“Hear, hear.”
The two caustic words fell like stones into the room. Everyone looked at Jared, who had resumed his slouching position in the chair. This was his first utterance since dinner.
“I’m interested in your opinions on all of this, Jared,” Parker broke the silence.
“My opinion,” Jared snarled, “is that we cut all the bull and get to the heart of the matter, Mr. Vandiver.” His voice was hard and quiet.
“And what do you perceive to be the ‘heart of the matter’?” Parker fired back.
Jared unfolded himself and stood up slowly, strolled to the sideboard, poured a full glass of whiskey, and only then turned to face Parker. Lauren noted the impeccable fit of the black wool suit on his trim frame. His white shirt collar was a startling contrast to his dark face, which had hardened into a sinister scowl.
“The heart of the matter is that you want to build a power plant that will destroy another man’s business. In order to generate that power plant, you must have water. The most accessible source of water is on Lockett land. Am I right so far?”
“Your assessment of the facts is somewhat distorted, but it conveys the gist of the plan.” Parker spoke calmly, though his face was flushed once again, and his fat fingers were furiously working with the gold watch fob stretched across his stomach.
“What happens to all of the people who depend on that water for their livelihood when you come along and dam it all up? The Locketts have prided themselves on being generous with their water. It’s a source of revenue, yes, but sometimes my father took a lamb or two as payment, sometimes as little as a basket of corn from a farmer who’d had a bad crop. Even before the land acts were effected several years ago, Ben allowed cattle or sheep ranchers with smaller herds to water their stock on our land. What will happen to those people when the water is no longer available?”
Lauren listened avidly. Jared’s speech was eloquent. The thick brows that reminded her so much of Ben were drawn together in determination. There was no insolence in his manner now.
“Mr. Lockett… Jared,” Parker said with condescending patience, “perhaps I understand the business world better than you do. After all, I’ve got about thirty years more experience. In every business venture, there are those who gain and those who lose. It’s a basic fact of economics.”
“I’m not an idiot, Vandiver, so you needn’t talk to me as if I were,” Jared cut in. “I have a business degree from Harvard of which my mother is very proud. Please continue. I think I can keep up with you.” Jared mocked the other man with a salute of his glass.
“Very well, I’ll be blunt,” Parker said. “You want something, and we want something. We make a trade. Your rail-road for our power plant. We both stand to profit tremendously.”
“Parker, I don’t think it’s necess—”