“These are too marvelous. I love them,” Luke declared. “They show who each person in your family was or even is now.”

“Luke had glass ornaments that had been made for the queen of England,” JT said in awe. “They were all different colors and cost a lot of money.”

“They did indeed,” Luke declared, “but not one represented the love that are in these.” His gaze met Gloriana’s, and her heart skipped a beat.

She smiled and nodded. “It was our last Christmas all together.” She felt the weight of her loss once again. “JT never did get his dog.”

Chapter 12

“We have to get them to change the line. There is still time,” a man Theodore knew as Mr. Gillette declared. “We can offer so much more. We have direct access to the lake, and we will see that the city agrees to build magnificent facilities at the docks.”

Theodore nodded and made notes. He knew the desperation of the city of Superior, Wisconsin. They had long held the focus of shipping in the area. The railroad was imperative.

“We’ve already got people working against Duluth’s notion of building a canal into Superior Bay. We won’t allow for it. It would spell our utter doom.”

“And would probably alter our shipping area as well. Who knows what a canal would do to the natural breakwater?” another man said.

Theodore didn’t believe the man was worried about the breakwater so much as his profit margins. The canal, while worrisome, wasn’t nearly the problem the railroad had become. The future was dependent upon the railroad. Farmers would bring their grain crops to ship across the lake to buyers back east. Ore and wood would be a huge commodity as well. There would no doubt still be plenty of shipping work for both ports, but greed was a powerful master.

“I will be speaking directly with those men from the railroad who support your cause,” Theodore assured them. “None of them were originally supportive of a Duluth terminus. I have their ear, as they believe me to be the closest thing they have to speaking to Lucas Carson in Duluth.” He chuckled. “And they aren’t wrong. I’ve made myself indispensable for your sakes.”

“And don’t think we don’t appreciate that,” another man named Collins announced. “We cannot allow that railroad to terminate in Duluth. It must be Superior. Let them have their northern route to the Pacific, but on Lake Superior, we must be the ones who control the shipping.”

Theodore smiled. These men knew what it took to sway others to their thinking. “You know that money is what will convince those here in St. Paul to make changes. If properly motivated, they will convince Jay Cooke for us, and our work will be minimal. We will come out looking like nothing more than helpful bystanders. The point is to make it worth their while.”