Embers of Love by Tracie Peterson Page A

script.”
    “Yes, that’s always been our agreement. As for the amount of wood, I think we can do that, so long as we get in a good crew of workers,” Uncle Arjan told her.
    “And you’ll have a few months to get them trained,” Mr. Perkins added. “Once I get my loan, I intend to see the work completed by Christmas at the latest. That will give you a full five months to hire and train your men.”
    “I’m comfortable with that,” Uncle Arjan declared.
    Deborah worked some figures on paper for a moment. “So eventually you will need to provide something like between twenty-seven and thirty-five trees a day by the time the mill is doubled. Is that correct?”
    Uncle Arjan laughed. “I told you she was the smart one in the family.”
    “What about these figures on what you’ll pay Vandermark Logging?” Deborah asked Mr. Perkins. “Shouldn’t there be an allowance for escalation, should the price of lumber go up?”
    “She is the smart one,” Mr. Perkins agreed. “I’m sorry I didn’t think of that myself. Shows that my mind was purely on my own gain, and for that, I apologize. Why don’t we figure a percentage that will be acceptable to both of us?”
    “A figure based on increases of more than five percent in finished lumber prices could trigger the escalation clause. If the prices bottom out, we would revert to the original base price. That base price, however, could not be allowed to drop – at least not without new negotiations. If we have to pledge to provide a specific amount of board feet and take penalties if we fail to meet our quota, then you must, in turn, pledge to pay for the wood even if the market suffers. There should also be a clause that allows for acts of God – fire, hurricanes, and such.”
    “That’s only fair,” Mr. Perkins granted. “Write that in. I’ll sign off on it.”
    They haggled over figures for another few minutes before Deborah was finally satisfied. Mr. Perkins reached out to shake her hand. “Your family will benefit greatly from you handling their affairs.” He turned to Uncle Arjan. “Don’t let her get away from you.”
    “I don’t intend to,” her uncle agreed.
    She felt a mixture of emotions at his words. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to benefit her family, but with each passing day, Deborah had the distinct feeling that she had backed herself into a corner. She remembered one of her professors once saying, “Be careful of making yourself irreplaceable and indispensable, lest you find that you are.”
    “You’ll be providing half my supply.” Mr. Perkins patted her shoulder. “Your pa sure would have been proud.”
    Deborah nodded. “He would have been.” She finished adjusting the terms of the document on one set of papers and handed the paper to her uncle. Dipping her pen in the ink, she passed that to him, as well. “You should both initial where each of the changes are listed and sign on the last page.”
    Uncle Arjan took the pen and did just that. He let Deborah blot the signature then handed the contract back to Mr. Perkins. “Looks like I’d better hire me some men.”
    Mr. Perkins initialed and signed while Deborah adjusted the second copy of the contract. Once all of the signatures were in place, Zed Perkins handed Arjan his copy. “I’ll be in touch as soon as I get back from Houston. I don’t think we’re going to have any problem now. I have four other small operations agreeing to provide wood, so the bankers can easily see that I’ll have the wherewithal to furnish what I say I can. It was good to do business with you, Miss Deborah.”
    She smiled. “Likewise.”
    Uncle Arjan left momentarily to walk Mr. Perkins to the door, then returned to the office. Deborah looked up and smiled. “Guess you have your work cut out for you now.”
    “Well, my first order of business is to assign you a salary. You earned your keep today.”
    She shook her head. “I didn’t take on this job expecting to be paid. Father wanted me