Loretta sat at the reinforced bench with her ledger open, comparing each statement against the meals actually served. Elias helped organize the pages by date, while Thomas copied the results onto separate sheets.
They worked carefully.
No one wanted to accuse the company based on a misunderstanding.
Some deductions had legitimate explanations.
A miner who ate extra breakfasts was charged accordingly.
Another had purchased tobacco through the company store.
But several charges couldn't be reconciled.
The men began talking quietly among themselves.
One older miner named Daniel Mercer shook his head after Loretta reviewed his account.
"I've been telling my wife there's no money left at the end of the month."
Loretta looked toward him.
He continued.
"Thought it was because I couldn't manage what I earned."
She shook her head.
"These records suggest you've been charged for meals you didn't receive."
Daniel stared at the figures.
Then looked toward Elias.
"What do we do?"
Elias didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he looked toward Loretta.
She felt a sudden nervousness.
Twelve miners were watching her.
For months, those same men had seen her only as the woman behind the griddle.
Now they were waiting for her to explain the accounts.
She took a breath.
"We need the original company records."
Daniel frowned.
"Pritchard won't show us."
Loretta nodded.
"Then we should make a formal request and keep copies of what we've found."
Thomas looked toward her.
"Will that help?"
She considered the question.
"I can't promise what it'll accomplish. But if we don't preserve the figures now, nobody will know where the differences began."
Elias smiled faintly.
He liked the way she spoke.
Calm.
Precise.
Without claiming more authority than she possessed.
Thomas nodded.
"I'll help."
Daniel looked toward the others.
"So will I."
For the first time, Loretta felt that she wasn't standing alone against the company.
The realization was encouraging.
And frightening.
Because she knew Bram Kincaid would eventually hear about the meetings.
He heard about them sooner than anyone expected.
That evening, Bram entered the Copper Pot accompanied by Mr. Edwin Pritchard, the mine company's chief clerk.
Pritchard was a narrow man in his early fifties with carefully combed hair, thin spectacles, and a spotless dark suit. He spoke politely when managers were present and contemptuously when dealing with workers who couldn't challenge him.
He carried a leather portfolio.
Bram stood beside him with his arms folded.
Several miners were still seated near the back.
Loretta looked up from her ledger.
Pritchard smiled without warmth.