BooksBarbecue
Back Carved in Stone Save as PDF
Chapters (52)
  1. Half Title Page
  2. Books by Elizabeth Camden
  3. Title Page
  4. Copyright Page
  5. 1
  6. 2
  7. 3
  8. 4
  9. 5
  10. 6
  11. 7
  12. 8
  13. 9
  14. 10
  15. 11
  16. 12
  17. 13
  18. 14
  19. 15
  20. 16
  21. 17
  22. 18
  23. 19
  24. 20
  25. 21
  26. 22
  27. 23
  28. 24
  29. 25
  30. 26
  31. 27
  32. 28
  33. 29
  34. 30
  35. 31
  36. 32
  37. 33
  38. 34
  39. 35
  40. 36
  41. 37
  42. 38
  43. 39
  44. 40
  45. 41
  46. 42
  47. Historical Note
  48. Questions for Discussion
  49. Coming 2022
  50. About the Author
  51. Back Ads
  52. Back Cover

“You never vowed automatic loyalty to Frederick. Your motives aren’t selfish. You will be using your God-given intelligence to vote on behalf of what you believe is right. Let me haggle with Oscar to get you a seat on the board of U.S. Steel. Oscar doesn’t want you out on the streets, adding your name to the rabble-rousers picketing the new company, because he knows you can stoke up their anger more than anyone else in the world. He needs your cooperation. If we can pull this off, you will be helping direct the largest steel company ever created.”

Liam still looked a little overwhelmed, but he straightened his shoulders. “I never thought I’d say this, but I’m willing to shake on the deal with Mrs. Carnegie.”

34

ch-fig

They caught the ferry back to Cormorant Island the following day, and Gwen’s spirits were over the moon. Mrs. Carnegie had agreed to permanent funding for the college, meaning that her father’s dream was going to endure.

Today was the lobster bake, a time when everyone relaxed and enjoyed the beachside simplicity of the annual event, and hopefully Patrick could finally see her family at their best. Frederick hadn’t been on the terrace when Patrick and Liam were accused of theft, but his support of them would silence Poppy’s wagging tongue.

“The lobster bake is my favorite event of the year,” she told Patrick and Liam as they stood at the railing of the ferry. “In the morning, the men dig a trench on the beach, and I take the children to gather seaweed and driftwood for the firepit. We shuck corn, and Bertie brings down a big galvanized washtub that he carries over his head while he marches up and down the beach singing patriotic songs. The children think it’s hysterical.”

Liam remained sullen. He had wanted to stay in Manhattan rather than face Frederick’s wrath over his shocking about-face on the steel vote, and his anxiety spiraled higher as the ferry drew nearer to the boathouse.

“Please don’t bite your fingernails,” she said.

Liam jerked his hand away from his mouth. “I don’t know how to confess what I plan to do,” he said in a worried voice.

“Don’t say anything,” Patrick said. “The vote is still weeks away, and voting on behalf of the workers isn’t a sin.”