Page 122 of In These Hills

“I’ve looked everywhere for you!” she yelled when she got closer, near breathless. “Someone finally told me they’d seen you head up here. Something came for you. It’s from . . . the Department of Agriculture. But instead of addressing it to Lynchburg, Tennessee—” She drew in more air. “They mistakenly addressed it to Lynchburg, Virginia. So it took longer to get here.”

Dodge tore open the envelope. A single sheet of letterhead with two pages of instructions complete with drawings behind it. “Dear Sirs,” he read aloud. “It has come to our attention that the cattle farm at Jack Daniel Distillery is currently experiencing . . .” He skipped ahead. “While there is currently no oral medication proven effective in combating Texas fever in cattle, the US Department of Agriculture is overseeing a cooperative effort with state governments to eradicate cattle ticks.”

He skimmed some more.

“To this end, in coordination with the Bureau of Animal Husbandry, we hereby extend an invitation to your farm to conduct a field test that would consist of tank systems and an experimental dipping solution. Instructions for the dipping stations are included and outlined in detail. Understanding that no guarantee can be offered for its success or against the potential loss of more cattle, limited trials conducted indicate this could be an effective solution in ridding the animals of ticks.”

“Could be?” Doubt tinged her voice. “Still, it’s more than we have right now.”

Appreciating her use of “we,” he continued reading. “Should you agree to participate, your cooperation in reporting your findings would be mandatory . . .” He skipped on down. “Sincerely, etc . . . Then they give the details for the dipping solution.”

“Which are?” she asked, peering over the top of the letterhead.

He held the letter where she could read it, too.

Her brow rose. “A mixture of soda, pine tar, and . . . white arsenic? Dodge, that’s poison. Is that even safe?”

“I don’t know. The government claims it is, in regimented doses. But what alternative do we have? We’ve already lost almost half the herd, and stand to lose the rest if we don’t do anything. We already have pine tar on hand. And soda, I can get from one of the dry goods stores here in town.”

“What about white arsenic?”

“I’ll try an apothecary in Tullahoma. I doubt he’ll have enough on hand, but even if he doesn’t, I’ll need to wire for more from there anyway. Does Uncle Jack know we heard back from them yet?”

“No, I came to you first.”

“He’ll be encouraged. At least this gives us some hope.”

She hesitated, glancing in the direction of the distillery. “Do you know if Mr. Prince has reviewed the entries in the gauger’s book yet?”

“He hadn’t when I left them earlier. But the ledger’s ready to go. I double-checked everything myself.”

“I know. I was just—” An odd look came over her face. “Do you know where they are right now?”

“My guess would be the barrel house. But . . . why?”

She seemed intent on not looking at him, the discomfort in her demeanor growing with each passing second.

“I think I’ll go check in with them,” she continued. “See if there’s anything they need.” She turned to go.

“Josephine . . .”

She paused. But again, would not meet his gaze.

“Whatever’s bothering you, you best say it outright before it burns a hole straight through you.”

Jaw tightening, she grimaced. “Oh Dodge . . . I’ve made a terrible mistake. I—” She placed a hand on her midsection as though about to be ill. “I altered four of the entries in the gauger’s book yesterday morning.”

He stared. “You did what?”

“I made the changes while you and Mr. Daniel were gone to the stillhouse.”

“But why? Why would you do such a thing?”

Dread clouded her features. “I did it with the intention of giving Mr. Prince cause to temporarily shut down production here.”

He searched her expression, having difficulty believing what he’d just heard, much less reconciling it to the woman he thought he knew. Yet the gravity—and regret—in her eyes said she was telling the truth.

“Dodge, I’m so sorry. I couldn’t sleep last night and—”