The Devil Behind Us

by S. C. Wilson

  Jesse looked from Abby to Ulayla. “We just wanted to help—”

  “I don’t needs no help. Jus’ lemme do what I hired to do. I don’t want no troubles.”

  Abby knew Ulayla wasn’t being rude. She understood how things worked. “We’re sorry. If you haven’t noticed already, we aren’t the kind of people who feel comfortable with being waited on. I’m sure Sam wouldn’t have an issue with us helping around here.”

  Ulayla shook her head. She tossed the dishtowel on the counter, speechless.

  Jesse said, “We meant no harm.”

  “We’ll try our best to not ruffle any more feathers around here,” Abby said. “It’s been a long day. Thank you for a lovely meal. I think we’ll all turn in for the night. Goodnight, Ulayla.”

  Ulayla turned and faced them. “Night y’all.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Abby’s eyelids fluttered open. She rolled over and sighed, content as her gaze fell on Jesse. She lay sleeping on the feather pillow, her tanned face stark against the white fabric. Abby leaned up on an elbow, trailing the backs of her fingers along the curve of Jesse’s jawline. She couldn’t help herself. Her skin called out to be touched.

  The soft caress roused Jesse from sleep, and she raised a hand to scratch away the tickle Abby’s fingers left on her cheek. “It’s morning already?” Jesse asked, voice raspy. She yawned into her cupped hand.

  “I know. It feels like we just got to sleep,” Abby said, laying her head on Jesse’s chest. “This bed’s like sleeping on a cloud, isn’t it?”

  Jesse ran her hand over the soft sheets. “I could get used to this. How ‘bout you?” She slipped an arm around her. “Did you sleep well?”

  “Mmm-hmm.”

  The comfort of the bed was almost too luxurious and Abby found her eyelids growing heavy again. Before the nest of expensive linens and warm glow of intimacy could lull her back to sleep, the soft coos from Jim’s crib escalated. Her silent request for another minute, maybe two, was met with an ear-piercing cry. “I’ll get him,” she said, slipping from beneath Jesse’s arm. She plucked Jim from the crib and sat on the edge of the bed. She hummed quietly to soothe her hungry son as she hurried to undo the buttons on her nightgown. Chest bare, she guided him to her breast, her face twisting in pain the moment he latched on.

  “They aren’t getting any better?”

  “No,” Abby said, meeting her gaze. “Actually, they’re getting worse.”

  “I can’t imagine feeding one, let alone two.”

  Abby looked down at her nursing son. “I think we’re going to have to wean them soon.”

  “Well, stop feeding him,” Jesse said, throwing off the quilt. “Let’s see if we can get him to fill up on solid food this morning. Same with her,” she said, titling her head toward Gwen’s crib.

  Jim screamed when Jesse took him from his mother. His small fists beat the air as she fought to change his diaper. Gwen, upset by the noise, added her own cries to those of her brother’s.

  The siblings were red-faced but at least clean and dressed by the time they all went downstairs. Toby and Aponi were already seated at the table in the dining room. Jesse took a seat and used her finger to wipe away the tears streaming down her daughter’s cheeks.

  Ulayla jostled into the room. She set her tray on the sideboard and served plates piled high with scrambled eggs, slabs of fried ham, and thick pieces of toasted bread slathered in butter. After they thanked her, Ulayla nodded and returned to the kitchen without saying a word.

  Jesse scooped some scrambled eggs onto her spoon and blew off the heat. She fed Gwen while Abby did the same for Jim.

  Toby only managed a few bites before he stood and said, “I’m g-going to lay down. Not feeling—” He stopped speaking when Andrew entered the room.

  “Good morning, everyone,” Andrew said. “When you’re finished, Cuffy is waiting for you outside. Much to see today.”

  Toby looked at the gathering around the table. “You guys go on without me.”

  Jesse held her spoon still, a tiny mouthful of fluffy eggs hovering over her plate. “You sure?” Gwen craned her neck, her mouth wide as she tried to reach the food just out of her reach.

  Toby nodded.

  Aponi said, “I’ll be up in a minute.”

  Toby gave her a strained smile. “You do-don’t have to rush.” He turned and headed for the stairs.

  “We’re finished, but I need a few minutes,” Abby told Andrew. “Jesse, can you help me in the bedroom?”

  Jesse stood and reached for her plate. Then, she remembered the incident the night before with Ulayla. Even though she felt uneasy about leaving her dirty dishes lay on the table, she knew it was probably for the best.

  Upstairs, Abby sat on the rocking chair and unbuttoned her dress. She wanted to make sure the twins had their fill. Relief came quickly when each refused to nurse. As she refastened the buttons there was a knock at the door.

  “Just a minute,” Jesse called out, waiting for Abby to finish. Once she was decent, Jesse opened the door.

  “I’m going to stay here with Toby,” Aponi said as she entered their room. “I’ll watch ‘em for you.”

  Abby asked, “You don’t want to come with us?”

  “Maybe another time. I think something he ate didn’t agree with him and I want to stay here in case he needs me,” she said, reaching to take Gwen. “Besides, he’ll probably sleep most of the day, so I’d rather have something to do.”

  Abby released Gwen to her. “All right. Thank you.”

  Abby lingered as she fretted over leaving her babies. Jesse, with the saddlebag draped across her shoulder, shifted her weight from one foot to the other as she waited. “C’mon. They’ll be fine,” she finally said, placing Abby’s shawl around her shoulders. After kissing the twins goodbye, they made their way to the waiting carriage.

  Cuffy hurried to open the door, offering his gloved hand to help Abby navigate the step. He waited until Jesse was seated before closing the door.

  The scent of new leather was almost overpowering as Jesse admired the fine craftsmanship of the interior. “I’ve never been in one of these before. They’re quite nice,” she said, wriggling on the seat.

  “I think you’re going to like this. You just sit back and enjoy the scenery for once.” Abby placed her hand on Jesse’s leg.

  The door to the carriage opened and Andrew stuck his head inside. “If you’d like, I can come with you and point things out.”

  Jesse and Abby nodded in unison.

  Andrew took the seat across from them, tapping his fist on the glass behind him, signaling Cuffy to get the carriage moving.

  Jesse looked out the window at the construction all around them as the carriage rolled through the streets. A few smaller houses were being demolished, and she assumed it was to make room for future mansions—like Sam Bowman was doing. The rivalry of the wealthy, this contest to build and own the biggest mansion no matter how impractical, seemed like such a senseless, wasteful competition.

  The tree-lined streets soon gave way to multi-story buildings wedged next to even bigger ones. Everything was compacted tightly together, block after block of structures built practically on top of one another.

  “That’s Mr. Bowman’s establishment,” Andrew said, pointing out the window. “The Bay Water. Would you like to stop and go inside?”

  Abby and Jesse exchanged looks. They had both spent more than enough time in saloons. “Maybe some other time,” Abby said.

  A little further down, on the same block, the carriage came to a stop in front of a large building with a stone facade. “Here is the bank you asked about,” Andrew said.

  “We’ll be right back,” Jesse said, grabbing her saddlebag. The door opened as soon she reached for the handle, courtesy of Cuffy. She stepped from the carriage and turned to help Abby, but once again, he beat her to it.

  The noise of the street fell away as soon as they entered through the door of the bank. A man wearing wire-framed glass
es, his gray suit neatly pressed, approached them. “I’m Mr. Chapman,” he said, offering his hand to Jesse. “How can I help you?”

  Jesse shook his hand. “I read an article in the newspaper a while back,” she said. “It mentioned you offer a place in your vault for safe keeping of valuables?”

  “Ah, yes. You’re interested in renting one of our safe-deposit boxes.”

  “Yes. How much are they?”

  “Three dollars a month,” he said, adjusting his spectacles, “and we require a two-month deposit up front.”

  Abby asked, “Can you show us one of those boxes before we decide?”

  He looked at her over the rim of his glasses, but didn’t answer. Instead, he turned his attention back to Jesse. “Sir, follow me.” He led them down a carpeted hallway toward the rear of the bank. “I’ll need you to wait here a moment.”

  Mr. Chapman disappeared around a corner. A heavy ratcheting sound could be heard as he turned a large wheel: once, twice, three times. This was followed by a loud clack and the creak of metal door hinges. He returned to his waiting customers. “Come along,” he said as he escorted them inside the vault.

  Several rows of metal boxes lined one of the walls and he walked over to it and pulled one from its slot. He placed the box numbered 32 on the metal table in the center of the room and opened the hinged lid.

  Jesse knew as soon as she saw it that it was too small. “Can I rent two?” she asked.

  “Yes, sir. That won’t be a problem.” He pulled box 33 from its slot and placed it next to the other. “You go ahead and put in what you want. Close them when you’re finished,” he said before stepping from the vault.

  Jesse set her saddlebag on the table and opened the flap. She and Abby made quick work of divvying up the gold. They closed the lids and called out to Mr. Chapman. He returned, spun the small dials on the front of each box, and placed them back in their assigned slots.

  “Come with me,” he said. “I have some paperwork for you to fill out. And I’ll need your payment.”

  Jesse left the bank feeling relieved the gold was in a safe place. She’d no longer have to worry about it constantly.

  Abby, however, was irritated. Mr. Chapman had treated her like a second-class citizen. On the way to the carriage, it dawned on her. That jackass still dealt with a woman and he didn’t even know it. She couldn’t help but chuckle at the thought.

  They continued on their sightseeing tour, Andrew pointing things out along the way. They soon came to an area where the homes were of a more modest size. Jesse felt her shoulders relax. She hadn’t realized how tense she was until the dense city streets fell away behind them. Although she couldn’t smell the scent coming off of the tall trees dotting the landscape, she knew the familiar fragrance in her mind. She liked this neighborhood and could see herself living there. It was neat and tidy, and it was obvious the homeowners took pride in their properties. This was exactly the kind of place where she could raise her family.

  They next traveled through an area Jesse wasn’t expecting to see in such a prosperous city. Lining the street, built with a hodgepodge of materials—anything available it seemed—were rows of homes which were nothing more than shanties. She looked at Abby with sadness in her eyes. Buck’s old shelter was better than this. Thin and poorly clothed, the people loitering around the small shacks appeared to have little, if anything, to their names. The gaunt faces looking in their direction told Jesse that finding food must have been a daily struggle.

  Abby pointed at a building, her voice somber when she asked, “What’s that place?”

  Andrew peered out the window. “Oh, that’s the Orphan Asylum.”

  Jesse pulled her attention from the hovels and noticed the large, medieval building up ahead. Although it was warm inside the carriage, a chill passed over her as she stared at the structure.

  Set back from the road, it loomed over the dreary area. No grass grew around the perimeter of the home as if worn away by the feet of all of the children confined in such a small area. Yet, not one child could be seen anywhere.

  Jesse shuddered as she recalled being orphaned at a young age. She couldn’t imagine what it would be like to grow up in such a place. Youth spent trapped between the cold stones, no streams to fish, no woods to hunt, and nothing but the walls closing in around her day after day. Reflexively, she reached out to take Abby’s hand.

  They rode in silence until the carriage came to a stop near the edge of a cliff. Out the window, they saw water as far as the eye could see. A million diamonds glittered on its surface. Abby smiled as she observed the awe on Jesse’s face.

  “This place is world-famous,” Andrew said. “Come on. Let’s stretch our legs.”

  Standing near the edge, Jesse looked down and saw something on the rocks far below. She had never seen animals like them. Their wet, glistening fur reminded her of beaver pelts, but their flat limbs were more like that of fish. They flopped about clumsily on the rocks but seemed to swim and dive as naturally as any creature born of the sea.

  She was further taken aback when one cried out a series of sharp barks from its whiskered face. Its calls mixed with the sounds of breaking waves, crashing against the rock face beneath them. “What are those?” she asked Andrew.

  “Sea lions. They like to come ashore and sunbathe. People come from all over to see them.”

  The view was spectacular. It was the first time Jesse had seen the Pacific Ocean or any ocean. She breathed deep of the salty air and was momentarily lost in the world around her as the crashing waves thundered in her ears. In the distance, huge ships seemed to glide across the open water. Overhead, seagulls cried to one another.

  “More to see. We should get going,” Andrew said.

  The carriage continued until it came to a strip of risqué businesses flanking the road. “Welcome to Barbary Coast,” Andrew said with either a grin or a grimace. Jesse wasn’t sure which.

  Dance halls, saloons, and brothels stretched endlessly. Packed streets held more people than Jesse’s mind could take in: foreigners, drunks, prostitutes, miners, and sailors all mingled, hungry for lewd entertainment.

  Jesse’s mouth was agape as she took in the activity around her. Then, something—someone made her suck in a breath. She hit her forehead on the carriage glass as she tried to get a better look at what—who she was seeing.

  Andrew leaned forward and looked out the window. “Oh, I heard about him,” he said. “They’ve been advertising about him in the paper lately. He’s the new addition to Mr. Myer’s Marvels.”

  “Who?” Abby asked.

  Jesse, face still close to the glass, steamed up the window as she spoke. “I’ve never seen anyone like him.”

  In a flash, the man disappeared into one of the buildings. Jesse turned toward Andrew. “How is that possible?”

  “What are you two talking about?” Abby asked. She was leaning over Jesse now in an attempt to see out the window for herself.

  “They call him Fred ‘n Ed. He’s a Siamese twin.”

  “A Siamese twin. What is that?” Abby asked.

  “He was born with one body, two heads. For ten dollars you can reserve a table and eat a steak supper with him. Can you imagine?” he asked, shaking his head in disbelief.

  Neither could.

  “You’ll want to stay clear of this area,” he said as the carriage continued moving along. “It’s nothing but lawlessness. People get killed here almost every night.”

  Jesse watched the faces staring back at them. She saw nothing but desperation. Several women, assuming a wealthy person must be on board, called out for them to stop. She couldn’t help but think of Sarah at The Drake.

  “I only brought you here to let you see what it’s like,” Andrew said. “To warn you both to stay far away from this place. Nothing here but thieving pickpockets, robbers, and murderers. And if you are ever foolish enough to come back, never, and I mean never, have a drink.”

  “And why’s that?” Abby asked.

&nbs
p; His normally mild expression took on a serious tone as he answered. “Have you ever heard the term, ‘being shanghaied’?”

  Abby nodded. “I have, but don’t know the meaning behind it.”

  “I’ve never heard it before. What’s it mean?” Jesse asked.

  “Those sweet and innocent looking women back there…well, pfft, they aren’t what they seem. When you’re not looking, they’ll slip a drug into your drink. It’ll knock you out and you’ll wake up only to realize it’s too late. You’ll be on a ship heading for God knows where. And when you finally make landfall, you’ll be sold to the highest bidder.”

  It was an easy decision for Jesse. She had no desire to ever set foot in Barbary Coast again. The place terrified her.

  The carriage soon rolled into a neighborhood known as Chinatown. Jesse’s eyes, though still wide, couldn’t take in everything going on outside the window. Of all the men gathered along the storefronts, one in particular caught her attention. She fixated on the piece of red silk tied in his long pigtail, braided and hanging almost to his heels, until Andrew spoke again.

  “It’s like another world here, isn’t it? Oh, that’s a joss house,” he said, pointing.

  “Joss house?” Jesse asked.

  “Yes. It’s where they worship. It’s their church.” He pointed to another building close by. “That’s an opium den. Ever heard of one?”

  Abby shook her head. “No. What is it?”

  “I don’t know much about it myself as I’ve never had the fancy to partake. It’s something you smoke. I’ve heard it will put you in some sort of trance. A lot of people come here just to experience mind-altering drugs. Some say it takes them to paradise. I do recommend if you want to explore Chinatown further, you hire yourself a guide. There are some less than savory establishments nestled in here.”

  Abby said, “I don’t think we’d—”

  “That place,” Andrew said, pointing into the shadows of a dark alleyway, “is the worst—” He stopped speaking when he remembered he was in the company of a lady. He looked at Abby and shook his head. “My apologies.”