Every Perfect Gift by Dorothy Love Page A

here. About everything.” He paused, his hand on the crystal doorknob. “I don’t agree with his every opinion, but he’s the boss. Caleb’s smart enough. He’s strong and willing to work. He’ll land on his feet one way or the other.”
    She clutched her reticule to her chest. “If that is your final word on the matter and you won’t help rectify a situation that was really my fault, I suppose I’ll have to do something about it myself.”
    “I’d advise you to be careful what you print in that newspaper of yours from now on.”
    “Is that a threat, Mr. Heyward?”
    He held up both hands, palms out. “Not at all. Just some friendly counsel.”
    They walked out into the brilliant May sunshine. Sophie climbed into her rig and turned it around in time to see Mr. Heyward raise one hand in farewell, the hint of a smile playing on his full lips.
    He was infuriating. And yet impossible to ignore.

SEVEN
    “Miss Caldwell?” Caleb Stanhope poked his head into the office and frowned. “Something’s wrong with the jobbing press again.”
    Sophie rolled a sheet of paper from her typewriting machine and set it in the wire basket on the corner of her desk. “I’ll be right there.”
    In the wake of Mr. Heyward’s refusal to give Caleb his job back, Sophie had hired him to work at the Gazette . True, she could afford him only two days a week, but it was better than nothing, and Caleb was a fast learner. In the three weeks since she’d hired him, he’d learned to mix ink and had mastered the operation of the rotary press. Today he was printing up a notice for the upcoming meeting of the Ladies Benevolent Society to discuss the establishment of Gillie’s infirmary. If the boy ever learned to spell, which seemed doubtful, she’d put him to work setting type.
    She joined Caleb in the back room and bent over the small jobbing press.
    “It’s not my fault.” Caleb jerked an ink-blackened thumb toward the press. “I didn’t break it or anything.”
    “I know you didn’t.” She lifted the handle and shoved a worn coupling pin back into place. “This machine is so old, it breaks down most every time. Usually it’s because this pin has slippedloose.” She sat down and worked the treadle, and a clean copy of Gillie’s flier slid into the tray. “There we are. Good as new.”
    Caleb grinned. “Thanks, Miss Caldwell.”
    “Caleb?” She smiled at the boy. “I’m not that much older than you. Could you please call me Sophie? ‘Miss Caldwell’ seems much too stuffy, and makes me feel older than dirt.”
    “Sure, Miss . . . Sophie. I’ve been meaning to thank you again for this job. I really like it, and my wages sure help out at home.”
    “I’m the one who got you fired. It was the least I could do.”
    He ducked his head. “Reckon I better finish this job before Miss Gilman gets here. She sure is all het up over that hospital idea of hers.”
    “The infirmary is a wonderful idea. I’m planning to run a series of articles about it as soon as we get the opening at Blue Smoke out of the way.”
    Caleb sat down at the press. “I heard you’re going to the big party Mr. Heyward is throwing tonight.”
    “That’s right. He’s expecting a writer from Harper’s magazine. A lot of other newspaper people will be there as well. I’m looking forward to meeting everyone.”
    Caleb cranked out a few more copies. “You going to the ball tomorrow too?”
    “I am. Just like Cinderella.”
    “Don’t lose your glass shoes.”
    She glanced at the clock on the wall. “It’s after five already, so I suppose I should get going. Mr. Heyward is calling for me at six.”
    Caleb nodded. “You go on and get yourself all prettified. I can lock up for you when I’m finished here.”
    She took her key from her desk drawer and handed it to him. “Leave it at the front desk at the Verandah if you don’t mind.”
    “No trouble. Have fun tonight.”
    She smiled. “I’m going there to work. I’ll be so busy taking