“Or what? Will you disinherit me as well?” At one time Luke and his brother would have shared everything, but now his father planned to leave it all to Luke. Little did he know that Luke intended to split the inheritance with his brother anyway. It was the very least he could do. He fixed his father with a stern look. “I will not have you hold it over my head. Either leave me an inheritance or don’t, but I will not give up my relationship with Scott.”

“I’ll hear nothing more of this. I regret that you must leave tomorrow for Duluth. I will look forward to your return.” Father refocused his attention on the food while Luke stared at him. How could he just forget Scott so easily?

“You should probably know that I have no idea when that might be,” Luke responded. “It could be years. Mr. Cooke wants someone in place who can keep his affairs in order and out of the hands of the people he considers the enemy.”

“Years? That’s ridiculous. He can hardly expect you to make a life there.”

“But he does, and frankly it seems to be an exciting time for Duluth. They have few people presently, but more are moving in daily, and Mr. Cooke has even advertised incentives for folks to relocate. It’s the way railroad investors do business. People are needed to ensure settlement and growth.”

Father shook his head. “There is plenty to invest in right here. I don’t know why he sees the need to send you off to the ends of the earth.”

Luke laughed and speared the last piece of his roast. “I have no doubt you would gladly advise him on where he should or shouldn’t invest, but for now, I’m off to Minnesota.”

Chapter 3

That evening, with a soft rain falling, Gloriana listened to the men talk about their day as the two families shared supper.

“I didn’t know for sure that we’d get that last pound net taken up, what with the storm moving in,” Papa declared. “I thought we might have to leave it for another day, but the worst of the weather went north, and while the water was rough, we managed it.”

“And the fish were plentiful,” Scott added.

Papa nodded. “They’re definitely starting to spawn.”

“I’m just glad you’re home safe,” Sally said, shaking her head. “I don’t think I’m cut out to be a fisherman’s wife.”