by Caryl McAdoo
She tried to bring up the world map her mother had made her study, but couldn’t remember the exact location of Japan. She cut a small bite. Oh, it was heavenly. It didn’t matter where the island country was, they certainly knew how to grow some serious cow. The next course and the one after that were fun, nothing compared to the beef.
Most likely what she’d really come for wouldn’t be presented until dessert. The fabulous meal and great tasting wine? Enjoyable, except for the nasty squid, but she wanted her surprise.
In spite of what she’d told herself, Edward poured her goblet half full for the third time. But it was a night to celebrate.
However, the evening was dragging on, and she had hungry babies to get back to. Babies! She pushed her wine away. Besides, after that last time with the brandy… She had slept great that night, but both her babies were so fussy the next day.
“You’re being so quiet, Mary. What’s on your mind?”
She smiled. “I was just thinking about the babies.”
“How is little Susannah? She’s how old now?”
“Oh, she’s wonderful, the best baby in the world. Coming up on six months and growing like a morning glory.”
“Babies are so cute.”
How wonderful. She’d worried about his attitude toward her daughter and not really discussed it before. Good, he liked babies. And Susannah was so young, she’d never know he wasn’t her real father.
Maybe she’d let Edward adopt her. She would never need to know what a…
“This, my love, is for you.” He held out a small rectangular cloth-covered box, one like jewelers used.
Before dessert! Oh, thank You, Lord.
Taking it, she pried open the lid. Intertwined gold chains created a bracelet with dozens of little gold nuggets dangling all the way around. Her heart fell to the pit of her stomach. She couldn’t believe it.
No diamond ring. Forget the diamond, no ring! Her face warmed. How could he?
Say something she told herself. “It’s exquisite.”
“Here, let me.”
She gave it back. He draped it over her wrist then closed its clasp. She lifted her hand, and the lamplight danced over it.
“There’s a nugget from each mine.” He grinned. “We have over twenty now, counting the one I just bought.”
She leaned back. No ring. No proposal. What was.…
“Hopefully, that will be a little salve for you, my darling. I hate to tell you, but I must leave again for New Orleans.”
“When? Why?”
“I sail in the morning. Business. I’m meeting my father there, and....” He leaned in. “I was hoping you could stay here tonight. I had Winnie book a room under your name.”
“Is Winnie your man?” Her cheeks burned. They must be flaming red. Tears wet her eyes, but she blinked them back.
Oh, God, don’t let them fall.
He nodded. “Winston Blackhall. He’s been with my family for years.”
She swallowed. No scene, no scene. Not right here in the Union Hotel. “Please, Edward, call Winnie and have him see me home.”
He reached out. “Mary.”
She shook her head. “Never mind. I’ll find my own way.” She stood. He jumped to his feet and hurried to her side.
“Please, dear, forget I said anything. Stay. The night’s young, and we haven’t even had dessert. I’d planned for us to go to the theater.”
“No.” She filled her lungs. “Thank you for the evening, Edward. It’s been enlightening.” She headed for the exit. He walked beside her as though nothing had happened.
Somehow, it could only have been the grace of the Lord, she held it together until Winnie closed the door behind her. Once the carriage cleared downtown’s plaza, the tear gates opened. Sobs wracked her.
He didn’t love her at all. Only wanted…. She couldn’t even form the words. Why had she thought he loved her? He only wanted.… Oh, God…. Finally, she found some control. She couldn’t go home bawling like a baby. They’d all know.
Oh, Lord, what have I done?
Sure surprised Jethro when the carriage stopped in front of the Mercantile in a cloud of dust at only eight twenty-two, pleased him though. Hopefully, her royal shortness had waited up also.
Bless Francy’s heart; he loved her compulsion to share and hoped she pried loose lots of good information on the evening.
The next morning, he decided the hour late enough and moseyed on over. Inside, all appeared normal. He maybe detected a bit of red around Mary’s eyes, but she kept her head down, seemingly absorbed in her logbook.
Was it on purpose that she never looked directly at him? He couldn’t be sure. “Good morning. Where’s Francy?”
“Helping Mattie with the babies.” She still didn’t look up.
Though he fully intended to, he could not keep his mouth shut and wait on the little girl’s report. “Have a good time last night?”
She shook her head slightly. “No.”
“Something wrong?”
She faced him glaring. She’d definitely been crying—a lot. “Yes, Mister Risen. If you must know, everything is wrong. You standing there wasting my time is wrong. I’ve got two boys now to keep busy instead of just one. And a little girl who’s a bed hog to sleep with.”
“I –”
“Not to mention Edward just got here, and now he’s leaving again for New Orleans. He won’t be back for two months, and that’s just wrong.” She snarled at him. “For the wrong icing to top off the wrong cake, I’m coming down with something, not feeling well at all, but there’s work to do! Otherwise? I’m just peachy keen.” She sighed and returned to her cyphering.
“I’m sorry. Big fight last night?”
Glaring, she looked back at him. That might have been steam coming out her ears. “Sir, is there something you need? Perhaps you’d possibly get the grand idea to.… Leave. Me. Alone. ”
“Yes, I do need something. I am sorry to be a bother, but I’m going to Sacramento.”
“Good. Take Amos with you.”
“You sure? He’s not helping?”
“Of course he is. He’s a good worker. Take him! Leave him! I. Don’t. Care.”
“Best he stay I guess. For Francy’s sake.”
She turned her bloodshot eyes on him and stared hard. “Please, Mister Risen, just go. Amos and Francy are fine. Go to Sacramento—or the moon—or wherever! I don’t care. Leave me alone. Please.”
He backed to the door and offered a smile, but she missed it completely. He turned around and walked out. Him and his big mouth. She hated him now more than ever. At least Clinton was going to be gone two months. That was great news.
Oh, Lord, make a way. Soften that woman’s heart, and give me the desires of mine.
Chapter Twenty
The little girl leaned against the loading dock’s wall and snugged in against his leg. “I don’t want to you to go.”
“I know.” Jethro hated it that he shot his mouth off about Sacramento. Now instead of a quick trip to the mine, he had to go to the capital. “I’ll be back in a few weeks.”
Francy toed his boot with her new shoes that already needed a scrubbing. “Why can’t I go with you?”
“You need to stay here. Help Miss Mary and Miss Lanelle with the babies.”
She beamed. “We could take them.”
“What about Miss Mary feeding them?
“We can wait until Mister Moses buys a cow, and…” She pursed her lips. “Do you know how to milk a cow?”
“No, do you?”
Smiling what he could only call a sneaky one, she tilted her head. “Maybe Miss Mary could go.”
“No, she has to run the store.”
“Hank can do it, him and Amos and Mister Virgil and Miss Mattie. That’s plenty.” She held out her hands as if it was all settled, made perfect sense. Except it was the beautiful widow he needed to get away from.
“We best leave it like it is, little lady. Maybe you can go next time.”
&
nbsp; “Is that a promise?”
“No, and don’t you dare say it is.”
“Yes, sir.”
The boys finished loading and went to tying the tarp over the goods. He knelt down. “You be good now, hear.”
“Yes sir.”
“If you need anything, ask Mister Moses. He’s a soft touch.”
She nodded, kissed his cheek, then ran inside. Poor baby girl, as though she could not possibly stand watching him ride off. Little thing had been through too much already, and here he was running off. Shame Mary wasn’t out there begging him not to go.
A man walked by leading a Clydesdale. Mary leaned forward from her desk. Moses Jones? What in the world would he be doing with a draft horse? Risen and Jones were legally her partners, no matter how distasteful and grating.
But she ran the Mercantile, made the rules at her store, and bought the stock. No one else has the authority to buy or order.
Totally against any breathing stock—not that she didn’t love animals—she might just mosey over to the front window. No partnership would keep her from going to see for herself the goings on.
If she chose at some part to get into livestock, goats would be much more desirable than any overgrown horses, no matter how much she admired the beautiful beasts.
She stood. The front door’s bell tinkled.
“Good morning, ma’am.” The man smiled, while his name eluded her. He’d been in a time or two; maybe Virgil knew. She used to be so good with names.
“Yes, it certainly is. Good to see you again. Is there something I can help you find?”
Was that a lie? On one side, the nausea from that dreadful squid had subsided.
And Risen was leaving town. But she hated it that Edward–
“Looking to buy me a couple pair of those new trousers if you got any. Uh, no, they’re more like… Made out of a blue tent canvas or something like that. Everyone that’s got a pair sure swears by them.”
“No, sir, I haven’t heard about them. Do you know who manufactures them? I can certainly order some for you. Be happy to.”
“No, ma’am, don’t rightly know. Wish I could remember what they’re calling them.” He tipped his hat. “Thanks anyway.” Then didn’t let the door him on the way out.
New blue trousers, huh? She best find out about them.
Menswear had proved to be one of her best sellers. She strolled to the back of the store and made a quick check. No one had snuck in on her.
She stepped into the storeroom. Empty; she eased out to the loading dock. Amos and Hank stood in the alleyway, waving toward the street.
“Hank.”
Both boys spun around. The older one threw her a nod. “Yes, ma’am?”
“Come inside and watch the store. You, too, Amos. Don’t let anyone sneak in on you.”
The boys hurried toward her. She extended her hand and stopped Amos. He grinned. “Ma’am?”
“Where’s Francy?”
“Miss Mattie’s got her sitting the corner.”
“What’d she do?”
The boy unbuttoned his shirt, revealing an angry red spot. “Slugged me. Miss Mattie saw it and put her in the bad girl chair. Said she had to stay there until she apologized. I ain’t expecting that anytime soon. That girl is powerful stubborn.”
“Why’d she hit you?”
“Told her to stop being a baby just ’cause Mister Jethro was leaving out.”
She nodded toward the front. “Well, go help Hank. And keep an eye peeled.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She hopped off the dock, held her skirt up a few inches out of the dirt, and walked out to the street. Risen and Jones were nowhere to be seen. Had Moses gone with him? She walked across the thoroughfare, dodging traffic, then climbed the stairs to the boardwalk and tapped on the old barbershop’s front door. She went on in, not like the men were in there.
Rather sparse inside. How long had her cousin-by-marriage lived there now? Could it be two months?
Shamed her some that she hadn’t been across the street to visit, see how Lanelle was living. But she stayed so busy between the store and the babies.
A folding screen hid all but the foot of a single bed. An old desk sat dead center of the room with four chairs. The old barber chair still sat in front of a big mirror, as though waiting for the next customer.
Not exactly Spartan, but a person would think the man would have acquired a few more creature comforts.
“Mary?”
A bit startled, she looked up. Lanelle stood in the back doorway. “There you are.”
“Well this is a first. What are you doing over here?”
“Being nosey, mostly.” She gave her a big smile though and hoped it fooled her only kin in the whole of California. It definitely hadn’t come from her heart. “Saw Moses with a monster horse, but a customer came in. I missed getting to ask him about it. Figured you’d know.”
Her cousin smiled. “Oh, he’s headed up to the mine, bought the horse to ride. Said it was the first animal he ever felt comfortable climbing up on. He’s wanting to have Elijah and the boys work on our cabin some, get it ready for the baby before we go back home.”
“Oh, really? I didn’t know you were thinking of leaving anytime soon. He found a cow then?”
“Not yet. But that’s another reason he wanted to go. Someone told him about a farmer who keeps goats. He wanted to see if he had any freshened. He’ll be back in three or four days.” She stepped back. “Got time for a sit down? I’ve got coffee on.”
The no turned into a why not. She should be neighborly. Once settled in the good-sized kitchen—Lanelle had made it so homey—such a contrast from Risen’s quarters.
“Where’s Francy? Haven’t seen her this morning.”
“Mattie’s making her sit in the corner. She hauled off and slugged her brother right in front of the old dear.”
“Oh no, what was that all about?”
She told her the story then shook her head. “Apparently, little miss has decided she wants Risen to be her daddy.”
“She could do worse. So could you.”
“Don’t start that. I’ve got trouble enough with him telling me what to do, and we’re only partners. Edward’s off again. To New Orleans this time. Says he’ll be gone at least two months.”
“I’m sorry. I know you’ll surely be glad when he doesn’t have to travel so much. Why is he going?”
“Meeting his father for some business deal. Actually, I didn’t ask much after that, I got so mad with him for leaving again. Well, that wasn’t the only thing that upset me.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out the bracelet. “Look what he gave me.”
Lanelle’s eyes widened, obviously impressed. Her mouth formed a circle. “Oh, my! Let me see that.”
Mary dropped it into her palm. “There’s a nugget from each of his mines. Says he has over twenty now.”
“It’s so pretty. And unusual. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like it.”
“I haven’t either. I was hoping…” A wad of cotton in her throat suddenly stopped her, and her eyes popped full of tears. She lowered her gaze, no need to wish. She still wasn’t even sure herself if she loved the man or he loved her.
He wrote it on his note, but had only said it once. And that was at his house while…
Lanelle handed the bracelet back. “What were you hoping?”
“I don’t know. Men. They all need to be taken out and shot.”
Lanelle giggled then hiked her eyebrows up and down. “Not my Moses, he’s a keeper.” She got up and headed for the coffee pot then topped off both cups. “I’ve never known you to lie though. I believe you do know what you were hoping for.”
“Thank you, cousin. So I take it your dear husband’s all healed up?”
“Oh, yes.” She bit her bottom lip and wagged her head. “That man…”
Mary didn’t want to hear any more, didn’t want to be jealous of Lanelle. She’d already fought that battle. She’d dod
ged admitting she expected an engagement, and searched for another direction.
Her belly rolled, she swallowed until the sweet turned sour. “Would you do me a huge favor?”
“Sure, if I can.”
“Show Hank where Miss Ling lives.”
“Of course, why?”
“Oh, I’ve picked up something. Probably that nasty squid I ate before I knew what it was, but I’ve been feeling sick, and I hate throwing up.” She closed her eyes, and for a split second relived those horrible five days on the Philadelphia. “Miss Ling makes a tea that really helps. But I do not want to take a chance on seeing her daughter.”
“That’s understandable.”
“I was thinking if you and Hank drove by and you pointed it out, then we could send him there whenever.”
“I can do that, but I don’t mind going myself, anytime you need something.”
“Really?”
“Not at all.” Lanelle took a sip of her coffee. “I hate throwing up, too. I mean I’ll do about anything to keep from it. Bless the Lord, I didn’t…uh...never mind, sorry. Uh.…”
“What? What are you talking about?”
“I forgot. That’s the trouble with lies. You have to remember how things weren’t, what you’ve claimed was that wasn’t.”
“Now you’re talking riddles.” She laughed. “Spit it out. What’d you forget?”
Her face reddened, and she stared at her cup. “It was nothing.”
“Who’s lying? What lie?”
“On the Philadelphia, Mary. I wasn’t seasick.”
“Oh.” Realization dawned bright, and she gagged.
“You need a bowl?”
“Oh God, I hope not.” She covered her mouth until the wretched wave subsided. “That man was such a…”
“Yes, he was.”
Though she knew she shouldn’t, a part of her wanted to know the truth. The whole truth. Besides, what could it hurt now? Wasn’t like she didn’t have to look at Caleb and Lanelle’s little indiscretion every time she held Joshua to her breast. “Is that when it started?”
Shaking her head slightly, Lanelle studied her coffee cup.
Mary’s heart bled a tear. “When then?”
Lanelle leaned back, her mouth drawn up into a pained grimace. “You really want to know it all? Isn’t it best to leave it be?”
