The Seekers

by F. M. Parker

  He knelt beside the woman. Her eyes were open and staring, her breathing shallow. Gently he rolled her from her side to her back.

  She was much thinner than he had first thought. The loosely fitting shirt and the open flaps of the vest had given her a fuller appearance. He grabbed the bloody shirt and ripped it open, popping the buttons.

  The woman’s breasts were tightly bound to her chest with a band of cloth. Immediately below that was a ragged wound where Dokken’s bullet had skittered across her ribs, tearing the flesh open in a long, deep groove. Blood flowed in a steady stream.

  The woman’s eyes, black pools of pain, shifted to Errin. She blinked, focusing. “Errin Scanlan?”

  “Yes.” He understood how she knew his name, for this was Celeste Beremendes.

  “I failed and he’s still alive,” Celeste said over the searing pain in her chest.

  “You shot too late. His bullet hit you and made you miss.”

  Celeste was quiet for a short moment, then her hand rose to weakly clasp Errin’s. “Please don’t let me die in here. Carry me outside.”

  “All right. But I don’t think you’ll die. Levi, get her pistol.” Errin tenderly gathered Celeste up in his arms.

  Celeste turned her head back to look at Dokken smiling a small, deadly smile at her. Then she groaned as a drum began to beat inside her temples, and it grew louder, the percussion beats jarring and thunderous. Images went out of focus. The world spun around her. Total darkness engulfed her.

  Errin cast one last look around the Miner’s Billiard Palace and then, followed by Levi, carried Celeste outside.

  “Senorita Beremendes! “ Ignacio cried, springing down from the buggy parked on the edge of the street. He hurried toward Errin. “Is she dead?” he fearfully asked.

  Errin recognized the man as being with the Beremendes woman at the auction. “No, but she’s badly wounded. Why in hell was she fighting Dokken? Where’s her menfolk?”

  “She has no men left in her family.”

  Errin looked down at Celeste. “Then I see why she tried to do it herself. Where’s the nearest doctor?”

  “There’s a medico a few blocks from here,” Ignacio replied, pointing up the street. “Lay her on the seat and I’ll drive her there.”

  “You drive, and I’ll hold her,” Errin said. He stepped up in the buggy and sat down. He cradled Celeste against his chest and bent to listen to her breathing. It was still shallow, but steady. He had helped her in the sale of her land, and now he had participated in the duel by offering his aid to prevent Dokken’s cohorts from taking up the fight. Now Errin felt responsible, no more than that, protective of the gravely wounded and unconscious young Mexican woman.

  Ignacio lashed the team of horses, and the buggy sped along the street. Four blocks fell away behind and he pulled the horse to a halt in front of a two-story house. “El Medico Carrington has his office here,” Ignacio said.

  Errin stepped down from the vehicle and carrying Celeste, followed Ignacio up the walk to the house. As the door of the doctor’s office opened, a bell tinkled somewhere deeper in the house. Half a minute later, a small, white-headed man came in the outer office.

  The doctor took one short glance at Celeste’s bloody body in Errin’s arms. “Follow me,” he directed, and led back through the door by which he had entered.

  “Place him there,” the doctor said, gesturing to an operating table. “We must stop the bleeding.”

  “He’s a she,” Errin said as he carefully lay Celeste down. He straightened her body and stepped back.

  “How long ago did this happen?” asked Dr. Carrington. He took hold of Celeste’s wrist and began to count her pulse.

  “Less than ten minutes,” Errin replied.

  “It’s good that you brought her straight here.” He began to probe at the wound on Celeste’s chest. “Why is her breast bound?” Without waiting for an answer, he continued to speak.

  “There’s no broken ribs, but some are chipped. I’ll take out the bone fragments and cleanse the wound. It’ll require several stitches to close it.”

  Carrington looked at Errin and Ignacio. “You two wait outside. You’re of no use to her, or to me.”

  “Will she be all right?” Errin asked.

  “She’s young and seems in remarkable physical condition. It’s a serious wound, but I believe she’ll be well in a few days. The flesh has been badly torn, and she’ll have a scar. But it’ll only show to her lover.”

  Chapter 21

  Celeste straggled mightily to pull herself from the cold pit of unconsciousness. Her head was full of a loud roaring and all was darkness around her except for a tiny glimmer of light faint and far away. The light beckoned, drawing her, and it radiated a frail but wonderful warmth. She strained, clawing her way in the direction of the only source of light in all the black universe.

  For a span of time that seemed immensely long, she made almost no progress. Then her ascent abruptly increased and she was hurled forward. She burst into the light, suddenly conscious and all her senses strumming with fear. Dokken stood on the far side of the room wherein she lay. He held a smoking pistol and smiled a deadly smile at her.

  Celeste’s hand jumped to her waist and grabbed for the pistol that should be in her belt. The sudden lifting of her arm wrenched at the bullet-torn muscles of the wound in her chest. She cried out at the piercing stab of pain.

  The pain swept Dokken from her vision. He was not there by the wall after all. The man had been conjured up from her memory of the last terrible sight she had before falling unconscious. She was alone and lying on her own feather-tick bed with her old and familiar belongings about her. Oh, how grand to be alive and safely home.

  Her servant Elosia hurried in through the open door of the bedroom. To Celeste’s surprise, Errin Scanlan came swiftly behind Elosia. She was astonished at the worry so evident on his face. Her heart lifted at his presence.

  “We are here, Celeste,” Elosia said reassuringly.

  “How do you feel?” Errin asked, his eyes intense and questioning.

  “I failed to kill Dokken,” Celeste said dejectedly and looking up at Errin. Her throat was dry and raspy. “I didn’t keep my promise to Ernesto.”

  “It’s not an easy thing to kill a man,” Errin said. “You hesitated a fraction of a second to shoot.”

  “And he shot me while I wasted time.” She touched the bandage on her chest. “My ribs ache. How badly am I injured?”

  “You will live,” Errin said with a glad voice. “But the doctor said you must take it easy for a few days.”

  He seems genuinely pleased that I’m not badly hurt, Celeste thought. She owed him for his offer in the billiard parlor to keep Dokken’s cohorts from helping him in the duel. After the shooting, she had passed out, and he must have carried her outside and then taken her to a doctor and following that brought her home.

  Celeste held out her hand. “May I properly introduce myself? I’m Celeste Beremendes.”

  Errin stepped close to the bed and clasped the extended hand. “And you know I’m Errin Scanlan.”

  Celeste gripped Errin’s hand. “Yes I know, and I’m very fortunate you were there when I foolishly challenged Dokken.”

  “It seems to me you had reason enough to try to shoot him. Elosia told me about your oath to your brother.”

  “Dokken killed him,” Celeste said, feeling the raw sense of loss.

  “I never had a brother,” Errin said. “But it must be awful to lose one.”

  He felt the fine bones of Celeste’s hand inside its covering of soft flesh and skin. Even with the serious wound she had received, her handshake was firm. That was not unexpected for he knew she was strong from the ease with which she had lifted her pistol in the duel. He sensed the instinct for survival she possessed, the will to do what must be done to face a dangerous world, one often ruled by uncaring fate. Though the fact that she had not killed greatly bothered her, that failure somehow pleased him.

  He con
tinued to hold Celeste’s hand and stare down marveling at her beauty. He saw a hint of a smile as if she had some secret and pleasant thought.

  Celeste make a slight tug to withdraw her hand from his. However he retained his hold on the warm hand. The pleasure of touching her was too great to surrender it so soon.

  Celeste relented and allowed her hand to remain in Errin’s. “How long have I been unconscious?” she asked.

  “Through the night and now it is almost noon.”

  The raspiness had left Celeste’s voice and the tone of her words was gentle, pleasant as little tinkling bells. He suppressed the sudden urge to grab her up and hug her to him. Never had he felt such a yearning for a woman. He saw Celeste’s full lips curve upward in a full smile. Had she read his thoughts? He hoped she had.

  Celeste studied the man who had appeared so unexpectedly in her life. He was an explosive man quick to anger and violence, that she knew. There was no violence in him now as he gazed down at her. There was only a man’s look at a woman so obvious in his gray eyes. His desire for her was evident in every fiber of him.

  “Who are you, Errin?”

  “An Englishman who has come a very long distance. Perhaps a man who has found what he has always wanted, but did not really know what that was until now.”

  “And what do you want?” Celeste asked. Surely it could not be what he implied; still it would be interesting to hear the answer.

  Errin smiled at Celeste’s direct question. He stared into the woman’s eyes, beautiful dark pools full of the promise of the pleasures she could give a man. “Some day I may tell you,” he said.

  Celeste laughed outright. “All right. But there’s something that can’t wait, and that’s my deepest thanks for bidding on my land at the auction. Those men surely intended to cheat me on the price. Then you helped me at the duel with Dokken. I might have died in that billiard parlor for I had no friends there. Except as it turned out, for you.”

  Errin looked at Celeste in a reflective way then added, “Our fates do seem to be tied together.”

  “Do you believe in fate?”

  “Any man who has been where I have been, and now lucky enough to be where I am now, can’t deny the fact that it plays a big part in every man’s life.” Surely my discovery of you must be fate.

  “You must tell me of the places you have been and of the things you have done.”

  Errin released Celeste’s hand and stepped back. She saw the wave of remembrance that threw a troubled shadow over his face. What horrible places had he been?

  “Who taught you how to use a pistol?” Errin asked.

  “The best pistolero in all California.” She knew he had deliberately changed the subject.

  Elosia spoke. “Senorita, are you hungry? I have food ready to serve.”

  “I’m more thirsty. Please, bring me a glass of water. I will eat in a little while.”

  “Yes, senorita, “ Elosia said and left.

  “I should be going,” Errin said. “But may I come again this evening? Maybe we could have dinner together at dark. That is if you feel well enough.”

  “Please do come. I’m feeling better every minute.” And I believe much of the reason is because of you. “Is there anything special you would like to eat? Elosia is an excellent cook.”

  “You choose for us. I like all kinds of food.”

  “Very well.”

  Errin looked steadily at Celeste for a moment feeling reluctant to leave, then he turned and walked from the room.

  He moved thoughtfully through the house with its pegged wooden floor. The house and furnishing were very old with everything about it solid and comfortable. Celeste had grown up here, Elosia had told him, and at a rancho on Mount Mocho. Her family must have been wealthy at one time, before the Americans conquered California.

  He opened the front door and stepped out onto the covered stoop of the house. A cold, drizzly rain fell, blowing in long, slanting streamers on a stiff wind. The huge trees and the shrubbery in the yard were wet and dripping, and the lane leading out to the street ran with water.

  Errin moved out from the protection of the stoop. The day was wet and dismal. Still he began to hum happily to himself as he contemplated the evening with the lovely Celeste. He walked through the rain in the direction of his office.

  Errin had crossed Sansome and Battery Streets and was within half a block of his office when he saw George Louden stop his buggy opposite the Scanlan and Coffin office. The man sat under the waterproof top of the vehicle and looked at the entry way for half a minute. Then he stepped down and hurried across the rainy sidewalk and into the building. Errin continued on along the street.

  Levi and Louden were seated and talking when Errin pushed open the door of the office and entered. Both turned to look at him.

  “Errin, you’re wet and the rain’s cold,” Levi said. “Why didn’t you catch a hackney?”

  “I felt like walking,” Errin replied as he shook his hat to remove part of the water it had soaked up. “And the rain’s not that cold.”

  He perched on the corner of Levi’s desk and faced the Wells Fargo man. “Hello, Mr. Louden,” he said.

  “Hello, Errin.”

  “What brings you out on a day like this?” Errin asked.

  Louden regarded Errin with a kindly air. “I consider you and Levi my friends. I was just about to tell Levi something the Pinkerton detectives that I hire discovered and reported to me.

  “Is it about our business?” Errin asked.

  “No, something entirely different. I believe you two fellows are in danger if what I’m thinking is correct.” He paused and looked from Errin to Levi. “My detectives heard that a Chinese girl escaped from her owners while she was being transported across town. This happened a few nights ago. Two young white men, one speaking with an English accent, helped her. The story goes that these two men beat the hell out of the men chasing her and took the girl off with them. From the description the men gave, it fits you two.” Louden ceased speaking and watched the faces of the two young men.

  “What’s so bad about helping a girl to escape from her captors?” Levi asked.

  “Levi’s not saying it was us,” Errin said quickly. “That description could fit any number of men.” Levi should not be so quick to talk. Not all men who said they were friends truly were, though he believed Louden was. Yet it was Levi’s openness and honesty that made him so likable, and so valuable as a partner.

  “Yes, it could be two other men.” Louden was satisfied Levi and Errin were the ones. “But whoever they are, they’re in danger. A reward of a thousand dollars has been posted by the owner of the girl for the identification of those two young men. And further, the girl was one of those brought from China for Scom Lip the leader of the Chee Kong Tong. He has posted a reward for her on several bulletin boards scattered around Chinatown. She’s marked for death and it is stated publicly. Professional assassins, both Americans and Chinese are searching for her to take her head. All the tongs want her killed as an example to the many hundreds, probably thousands, of other girls held in bondage in the city. Those poor creatures must be kept frightened nearly to death to prevent them from running away.”

  “It’s not right that young girls should be treated like that, bought and sold like pieces of furniture for a man’s use,” Levi said.

  “I couldn’t agree more. But whoever has her should know that a pretty Chinese girl can’t be hidden for long in this city with all its informants.”

  “Thanks for telling us about the girl and the rewards,” Errin said.

  “It’s an interesting event,” Louden said. “However unless one is directly involved with the Chinese girl’s escape, there are more important matters happening in our growing city. If you are to succeed in your new business, then you must know as much as possible about what is going on in the mayor’s office, the actions of the tongs, and the protective associations.”

  “How do we do that?” Levi asked.

  “We
find men within those camps who can be bought and pay them very well to keep us informed,” Errin answered. “And we make friends among the important men who really run the city, like Mr. Louden.”

  “Well I don’t know how important I am,” Louden said. The two fellows might make their business survive and grow. Levi was young and inexperienced. Errin, on the other hand, was quick to grasp the crux of a situation and to act. Louden judged Errin would be a dangerous enemy to anyone who threatened them.

  “Both of you heed what I’ve told you and be on your guard,” Louden said.

  “We will,” Levi replied.

  “So long,” Louden said and climbed to his feet.

  Errin shook Louden’s hand. “Thanks for taking an interest in us,” he said sincerely, his eyes meeting Louden’s with understanding.

  Errin waited for Louden to be well clear of the office and then spoke to Levi. “Chun can’t stay at our house now that our descriptions are out.”

  “I know. You warned me she would cause trouble for us.”

  “She could get you killed.”

  “I’ll not throw her out on the street, regardless of the danger to me. Really to both of us.”

  “I’m not saying you should, Levi. But you’ve only known her for a few days and she can’t mean that much to you.”

  “Well she does. Hasn’t any girl ever got to you in just a short time?”

  Errin thought of the lovely Celeste and his feeling for her and understood Levi’s emotions. “If you’re going to keep her, then find a safe place to hide her, or send her out of the city. For all our sakes, don’t let anyone see her. And start wearing a gun at all times.”

  “All right.” Levi felt the revulsion rise in him at the thought of fighting and killing. The specter of the battle at Boatswain Swamp came full blown to him. He could again see the faces of the charging men, and them falling into the muddy water of the swamp at the crack of his rifle. His lungs began to burn as if he was again breathing the acrid smoke of burnt gunpowder as he had those weeks ago during the battle.

  But he would fight and kill again if it became necessary to keep Chun safe.