it, Mike?'
'Just about,' she agreed.
She was standing over him and thought she might be making him nervous, and so she pulled up a chair and sat down between
him and Theo.
'Did you do the surgery?' Theo asked Michelle.
'No, I didn't,' she answered.
'Dr. Mike sweet-talked a hand surgeon in New Orleans into fixing me up,' Daryl said.
'He did a good job too, didn't he, Daryl?' Cherry added.
'He sure did. Because of him, I'm going to keep all my fingers. I can already move them.'
'It's a miracle is what it is,' Cherry said.
'Jim Carson came to see me in the hospital. It wasn't a social call,' he added. 'He told me it was carelessness on my part
because I knew that machine wasn't working right, and I went ahead and used it. He called me a slacker and let me go.'
'Is there a union at this mill?'
'Oh, no, the Carson brothers would close the mill down before they'd let a union in there. They complain they don't make
enough money as it is to make ends meet and make payroll, and if they had to put up with employees trying to tell them what to
do, well then, they'd just fold up.'
'They're always threatening to retire and close the mill if anyone makes trouble for them,' Cherry said. She let go of her apron
and went to the sink to wet a cloth to wash her baby's face.
'Have you got a pen?' Theo asked Michelle. 'I want to make a couple of notes.'
She opened her medical bag and sorted through her instruments. The baby, Theo noticed, was watching Michelle with what
could only be described as a comically wary expression.
'Henry doesn't trust you,' Theo said, grinning. The baby turned to Theo and smiled. Drool dripped down his chin.
While his mother tried to wash the banana off his fingers, Michelle handed Theo a notepad and a pen. He put on his glasses
and began writing.
'What about worker's compensation?' Theo asked.
'Jim told me their insurance rates would go up if I put in a claim and that I didn't qualify anyway, since the accident was my fault.'
'Daryl's worrying about the other folks at the mill,' Cherry said. 'If Jim Carson shuts it down, everyone will be out of work.'
Theo nodded, then picked up the papers Daryl had collected and began to read. The conversation immediately stopped, and Daryl and Cherry waited expectantly. The only noise in the kitchen was the baby slurping on his fist.
It didn't take Theo long to finish. 'Did you sign any papers about your termination?' he asked.
'No,' Daryl answered.
'Don't forget to tell Theo about the lawyer,' Cherry reminded her husband.
'I was just getting to that,' Daryl said. 'Jim sent over Frank Tripp to talk to me.'
'Everyone calls him Maggot,' Cherry said. She had moved to the stove and was stirring the stew she'd prepared for supper.
'We call him Maggot to his face,' she added. 'We don't go behind his back. We want him to know what we think of him.'
'Now, calm down, Cherry, and let me tell it,' Daryl said softly. 'Frank's a lawyer over in St. Claire, and if I weren't sitting in my house, I'd have to spit after saying his name. He's a common thug is what he is, and so is his,partner, Bob Greene. They've got
a partnership together, and they work on a monthly… what's that word I'm searching for, Cherry honey?'
'Commission?'
'Retainer,' Theo said.
'Yes, that's the word. Anyway, like I was saying, they get a monthly retainer from the Carsons, and it's their job to take care of any problems that come around, problems like me.'
'That sounds like a sweet deal,' Michelle said softly.
'We were wondering…' Cherry began, and then nodded to Daryl. 'Speak up, honey. Tell him what's on your mind like Big Daddy told you to do.'
'All right. Cherry and I were wondering if there might be something you could do about this, since you happen to be a lawyer yourself. We'll pay you for your time, of course. We don't take charity.'
'But we don't want to get you into any trouble,' Cherry said.
'How would you be getting me into trouble?' Theo asked, thoroughly perplexed.
'Since you haven't officially resigned from the Justice Department yet and signed the coaching contract at the school,
Big Daddy explained you can't take money.'
'Because you get paid by the Justice Department,' Cherry said. 'Is that true? Or was Big Daddy just speculating?'
'If there is a fee, I need to know the amount so I can start figuring how I'm going to come up with the money,' Daryl said.
'There won't be any fee,' Theo said.
'Then what Big Daddy said was true?'
'Yes,' he lied.
'Is there anything you can do about the Carsons?' Cherry asked again. Her voice was hopeful, but her face showed her worry.
'Without making the Carsons mad enough to shut the mill down,' Daryl reminded him. 'Big Daddy spoke highly of your abilities…'
'He did, did he?' Theo wanted to laugh. He couldn't imagine what Jake could have said about him. Jake certainly didn't know what Theo's abilities were. Theo and the older man had discussed fishing and little else.
'Yes, sir, he did, and he thought you could have a little chat with Jim Carson on my behalf. You know, get him to be reasonable. They take so much out of our pay for medical each month, and then they don't let us use it in an emergency. That doesn't seem right to me.'
'It isn't right,' Theo agreed.
'Maybe you could talk to Jim's brother, Gary. He's older, and Jim does whatever Gary tells him to do. Gary runs the place,' Cherry said.
Theo nodded again. 'I'm not familiar with Louisiana law,' he began, and immediately noted that Daryl's expression went from hopeful to resigned. 'Which means I need to do some research, talk to some friends who can give me some advice,' he added,
and was pleased to see Daryl nodding and smiling again. 'So here's what I propose we do. I'll do the research, figure out a course of action, and then you and I will sit down together and I'll give you your options. In the meantime, I don't think it's a good idea to tell anyone about this conversation. I don't want the Carsons or their attorneys to know I'm looking into this. Agreed?'
'Yes,' Daryl said. 'I won't say a word to anybody.'
'What about Big Daddy Jake?' Cherry asked. 'He already knows we're talking to you.'
'He won't tell anyone,' Daryl said to his wife.
A child shouted for his mother, disrupting the conversation. 'Mama, Mr. Freeland's waiting on the porch. Can he come on in?'
