The Way of Love

by Tracie Peterson

  Nancy’s brother Gabe had come to town purportedly to oversee their sawmill interests but perhaps even more to check on the well-being of his sister and fiancée. Meanwhile, the newspaper noted that hundreds of workers had been brought in from California in order to continue the cleanup. Gabe hoped to employ a good number of them for the sawmill. What was clearly an ordeal for the city looked to be a boon for the logging industry.

  There had also been a small article in the paper that Faith noticed and brought to Seth’s attention.

  “It says the army captured several crates of rifles that appeared to be bound for Grand Ronde reservation. What do you know about that?”

  Seth shrugged. “Someone tipped off the army as to where they could find the rifles. I talked to Major Wells from Fort Vancouver. He said it was much too orderly to suit him. It almost seemed like the entire thing had been staged, which raises the question—why?”

  Faith frowned. Why indeed? From what little she knew about Berkshire and Lakewood, neither man struck her as the kind who would allow something like that to happen by chance, and if it were staged, what were they hoping to gain? Faith gathered her breakfast dishes and headed for the kitchen with that question on her mind.

  “Will you be going to classes today?” Bedelia asked.

  Classes at the college had been cancelled until all provision could be made to ensure safety. Faith had been glad for the extra time to work on her thesis and rest. It was apparent to her that her head wound was much worse than she’d allowed herself to believe at first. Little by little, the dizziness and pain left, and she found herself able to study again without having to stop due to her injury.

  “Yes. We have a couple of lectures regarding the mortality rates of women and infants during and after childbirth. It’s quite fascinating. A doctor named Louis Pasteur believes he has narrowed the cause down to tiny microorganisms that you can’t see without the aid of a microscope. Years ago, another doctor realized that by washing in chlorinated lime solution between patients, the mortality rate dropped significantly. The two theories are likely connected.”

  “Any fool knows that cleanliness is vital.” Bedelia’s expression showed disgust. She turned away and began to fill the sink with hot water.

  Faith knew from Nancy that the elder Clifton was critical of modern thinking, and figured she probably didn’t approve of Faith’s interest in medicine. Yet she was a stickler for sanitation. Faith had hoped her comments might resonate with the old woman’s penchant for cleaning and open her mind to think more favorably of women in medicine. That didn’t appear to be the case.

  Faith gathered her books and papers and put what she could into her large satchel. There were so many times she wished she could just pull a small wagon around from one class to the other.

  “Are you heading off to school?” Mrs. Weaver asked.

  Faith smiled and nodded. “I have to be there by eight, so I figure I’d better get going.” She went to where Mrs. Weaver sat and leaned down. “I’ll bring you and Alma some candy tonight. They say Anderson’s Chocolate Store is back in business.”

  “Oh my. Let me fetch you some coins,” the woman said in delight.

  “No. This is my treat.” Faith pressed her hand on Mrs. Weaver’s shoulder. “Besides, I don’t even know if the rumors are true.”

  “Don’t forget, we shall be working on Clementine’s wedding ensemble tonight.”

  “Oh, that’s right.” Faith nodded. “Thank you for the reminder. I completely forgot. I’m supposed to pick up several spools of thread. It would have been a disaster if I’d forgotten.”

  “Well, I know I shall look forward to seeing what you are able to procure.” The older woman gave a conspiratorial wink.

  Faith laughed and went to get her coat. Once she was properly decked out for the cold January day, she picked up her large satchel. “I’ll be home later in the afternoon.”

  She opened the front door and felt the damp cold permeate to her bones. How she wished the cable cars were running in this neighborhood. It was said they would have things back to normal in another week or so, but that didn’t help her now. She would have to walk a good half mile to get to the nearest stop where she could catch a ride.

  As she walked, Faith tried not to think about the cold, but rather went over the details of a discussion she and some of the other students had had the day before. They were all excited to work with Faith’s aunt and uncle to gather medicine and other provisions for the Indian reservations. Faith had procured a list of items for each of the reservations and spoken at length on the need for medicines and cleaning supplies. She’d also relayed how she’d written to Helen Hunt Jackson and was anxious to receive a reply. Goodness, it was cold.

  To her left, an enclosed carriage pulled to the curb and the door opened. A man called out, “Miss Kenner, is that you?”

  She turned to find Samuel Lakewood. “It is. Good morning, Mr. Lakewood.”

  “It’s far too cold to be ambling down the sidewalk. Join me in my carriage. I’ll take you wherever you’re headed.”

  Faith didn’t even attempt to refuse as the driver climbed down to assist her. She hurried to the carriage and climbed inside. Lakewood might be involved in all sorts of evil deeds, but at that moment, Faith would have taken a ride from the Devil himself. “Thank you. My satchel is quite heavy.”

  “I’m happy to help. Are you headed to the college?”

  “I am. We have lectures today.”

  “You heard Miss Kenner,” he said to the driver. “Take us to Fourth Street between Yamhill and Morrison.”

  “Yes, sir,” the driver said, closing the door behind Faith.

  She was grateful when Mr. Lakewood handed her a blanket that had been warming his lap. She pulled it around her, not even bothering to worry about what he would do for extra warmth. It kept her teeth from chattering, and perhaps, if necessary, she could hand it back to him in a few minutes.

  Thankfully it didn’t come to that. Mr. Lakewood pulled another blanket from beneath his seat and draped it across his legs. “I suppose you’ve heard about all the damage up and down the coast and elsewhere. Oregon has suffered greatly from that massive cyclone.”

  “Is that what they’re calling it?”

  “It was a huge low pressure system, much like a hurricane. I was up at Fort Vancouver and spoke with some authorities on the weather. They’ve never recorded a storm quite like it. They’re calling it the Storm King.”

  “I can believe it. I’ve never seen anything like it in all my years.”

  He smiled. “You aren’t old enough to use that turn of phrase, but I am, and I agree.”

  “How are your wife and children? Nancy told me that you have ten children.”

  Lakewood chuckled. “I do. My wife, Deborah, is considerably younger than I am. When my previous wife died, I had four children, and they were all under the age of ten. Deborah was a family friend, and she came and helped me with them, and we fell in love. She’s given me another six children over the years. I’m delighted with them all. The oldest is now back east, attending Harvard.”

  “Why send him so far away?”

  “It’s what he wanted, and my brother is in Boston, so he has a ready home available to him. Although I imagine he spends more time at the college than with his uncle. He aspires to be a Supreme Court justice one day.”

  “That is a lofty aspiration. A very limited position too. I used to think being a female and wanting to become a certified surgeon was difficult. Your son desires a job that is one of only nine and assigned for life. What are the odds he will ever reach his dream?”

  Lakewood laughed. “It will depend on how badly he wants it. And who knows, they only set the number at nine justices a few years ago. Maybe folks will decide we need fifteen or more justices and increase the number by the time he’s qualified.”

  “Still, that’s a very limited prospect.”

  “Well, at twenty years of age, I fully expect his desires will change. He
’ll probably find some attractive young woman and fall in love. I’ve seen it happen to more than one driven young man.”

  “Perhaps he will, but perhaps she will share his dream.”

  The carriage slowed and then stopped. The driver soon opened the door. “We’ve reached the college.”

  Faith pushed the blanket to one side and allowed the driver to help her from the carriage. “Thank you so much for the ride, Mr. Lakewood.”

  She didn’t wait to hear his response but headed up the walkway to the building. The cold was encouragement enough to hasten her steps, but she also wanted to meet with her friends before the lecture. They were going to discuss the talk they were planning to stage on the following Friday, and she wanted to make certain all was in order.

  She spied Malcolm first and bid him good morning. “You look as cold as I feel,” she said, placing her satchel on the nearest table.

  “I walked all the way. The trolley is still unable to make it from my apartment.” He smiled. “But I’m glad classes are back in session. I’ve finished my paper. At least I believe I have. I’m having a meeting with Dr. Albright later today. We’ll see what he thinks.”

  Faith pulled her gloves off and stuffed them in her coat pocket. “I’ve nearly concluded mine. I keep thinking of things that I want to stress, however.” She took the pins from her hat and pulled it from her head. “There, that’s better.” She set the hat atop her satchel.

  “Just remember,” Violet said, coming up behind them, “make your statement in such a way that you only have to say it once.” She shook her index finger as they had seen one of the lecturers do. “Repetition leads to boredom.”

  Faith laughed. She would miss these people when their classes were concluded and they graduated from the college. She had enjoyed the friendship of likeminded friends, and once they all went their separate ways, she wondered if she would ever have such camaraderie again.

  “Shall we all still meet at the restaurant after the lectures?” Malcolm asked.

  “I think we must.” Faith looked at Violet, who nodded. “There’s still a lot of work to do before we hold our first lecture. We want to come out very strong. I’m going to write to my uncle and see if he can send his right-hand man to come speak. His name is Clint Singleton, and he’s an Indian Affairs Regulator. My uncle says, however, that he’s very compassionate about the needs of the reservation tribes. I believe he could offer great credibility.”

  “We can discuss it at the restaurant. I’ll see you there at four,” Malcolm said, gathering his things. “Right now, I have to speak with Dr. Hall before the lecture begins.”

  Violet looked to Faith. “Shall we make our way to the classroom?”

  Faith nodded. “I hope it’s warmer there than here.”

  “The students are doing what?” Samuel Lakewood asked.

  “They are planning a series of lectures designed to raise money for the reservation Indians for additional medical provisions, as well as cleaning supplies and other household needs.”

  “Who started this?” Samuel eyed the man across the desk with such intensity that he looked away.

  “I believe it was a cooperative arrangement with several of the students.”

  “Is Miss Kenner involved?”

  “I believe so.”

  “Parrish, this must not be allowed to go on. Especially on college grounds.”

  The president of the medical college, Josiah Parrish, seemed to regain his strength. “We are known for being open to progressive thinking, Samuel. There is nothing wrong with the students working together to better the reservations. God knows they need help.”

  Lakewood clenched his fists. “If you don’t put a stop to it, I will withdraw my support. It was crazy enough to allow this acceptance of women in the college.”

  Parrish raised a hand to stop him. “You know full well my wife, Jennie, graduated last year and is practicing medicine even now. She is highly regarded, so do not think to disparage women attending medical school.”

  Lakewood knew Parrish was more than happy with the arrangement and fully vocal about his support for women at the college. He wondered how supportive he’d be of allowing Faith Kenner to continue her studies if he knew the truth of her background. Perhaps it was an argument for another day, however. The clock on Parrish’s desk began to peal the hour, and Lakewood knew he was late for another appointment.

  “We’ll discuss this another time. I am already late.” He gathered his hat and coat. “I don’t want these lectures happening on school property. I doubt any of our other major donors will either. Give it a lot of thought, Josiah.”

  Faith knew if she didn’t hurry she would be late to the restaurant and the meeting with her classmates. Speaking with her advisor had taken much longer than she’d anticipated, and now she would have to run several blocks or hail a cab if she was to get there in time.

  “We meet again, Miss Kenner.” Samuel Lakewood tipped his hat as he held the door of the building open for Faith.

  “Good afternoon, Mr. Lakewood.” She frowned. “You seem to be a very busy man.”

  He nodded. “Indeed, I am. Are you headed home?”

  “No, actually I’m meeting up with some of my fellow students.”

  He smiled, and Faith thought him a very handsome older man. He always seemed so interested in benefitting others that she sometimes found it difficult to believe Nancy and Seth’s warnings that he was dangerous.

  “Might I drop you somewhere?” he asked.

  “We’re meeting at Brickerson’s little restaurant. Do you know it? The students like to patronize it because he has a son attending the university in Salem.”

  “How nice. I’m not familiar with it, but if you give me the address, I would be happy to drop you off.”

  “Thank you. I’m happy to accept.” Faith allowed Lakewood to hail his carriage driver before giving him the address.

  “That’s at least a mile away. Were you seriously going to walk in this cold?” he asked.

  Faith laughed and pulled her collar closer. “I do what I must, Mr. Lakewood. Besides, after a day of lectures, it would have given me time to clear my mind.”

  “Don’t you enjoy the lectures?”

  “Of course. They are wonderful. I have always loved learning, and now I’m in a position to compare and contrast things I’ve learned over the years. It’s amazing.”

  The carriage came to a halt in front of them, and the driver jumped down to open the door for his master.

  “After you,” Lakewood said, taking hold of Faith’s satchel. “Here, let me.”

  She gave him the satchel as the driver assisted her into the carriage. Lakewood climbed in after her and took his seat. He placed the satchel beside him and shook his head. “That is quite heavy.”

  “We have a lot of required reading and discussions that can take place at almost any time without warning.” She smiled and leaned back against the plush leather. “One must always be ready.”

  “Yes, that’s true, and in the spirit of that, I wanted to ask you about something I overheard.”

  Faith cocked her head, which made the back of her felt hat snag on the seat. She reached up to straighten it and smiled. “What is it?”

  “I heard something rather troubling about you and your friends—that you’re planning to hold a fundraiser of sorts to bring in money for the Indians.”

  “Why would that be troubling to you?”

  “I suppose it’s not so much troubling as distasteful. This college has always set itself above politics.”

  “Since when is doing good for our fellow man a political matter? I could have just as easily organized something at church.”

  “Yes, but you didn’t. You’ve made it a part of the college.”

  “Only because so many people there feel the same way.” She knew little of Lakewood’s true political feelings except for what Nancy had mentioned about his prejudices and support of Gerome Berkshire. “It seems to me that a great many peopl
e in town raise money to lobby for laws and arrangements to rid the state of people of color and even to cause them harm.”

  His gaze became icy. “Really, Miss Kenner, it isn’t your affair, and you would do well to stay out of it. There are usually consequences for putting your nose into someone else’s business.”

  Faith wasn’t about to be frightened. “If you’re hoping to intimidate me, Mr. Lakewood, I would think by now you would know me better. I have lived among the Indians and know how grave their situation can be. I know that men like you do not want to see them benefitted in any way and that you would just as soon they die off so you won’t be further troubled by them. You want the money the government gives them, you want their land, and you want their lives.”

  If Lakewood was surprised by her bold comment, he didn’t show it.

  Seeing he was going to remain unmoved, Faith continued. “There are other men who oppose your thinking, and thank God for them.”

  She reached up and hit the carriage top as she’d seen Lakewood do earlier. The carriage came to a stop.

  Faith held out her hands. “Now, if you’d please hand me my satchel, I will be going. I wouldn’t want to cause you further discomfort by continuing our association. Someone might see us and accuse you of supporting the Indians.”

  He handed her the satchel, but his gaze never left hers. “Just remember, Miss Kenner, powerful men can make powerful things happen. You need to drop this matter and find something else to amuse you and your friends.”