“It’s getting late,” Seth said. “Maybe we ought to be getting back.” They walked to the door and he looked back. “It looks quite homely, doesn’t it? I wish I had some toys for the children because all of theirs are gone. Maybe we can get some in Independence tomorrow.” He walked towards the horses and untied them. “There are a lot of people who have lost so much. They’ll all have to start again so we need to help them too.”
“Yes, we do,” Hannah said, swinging up onto her horse.
Seth looked up at the moon which was now totally full, the light making everything around them show up easily.
“There’s a farm about five miles south,” he said. “I was thinking of checking it to see if everyone is alright. Is it too late to check?”
“We should do that,” Hannah replied.
“I should have gone sooner, shouldn’t I, though I rather suspect that people will be checking their neighbours? As I said before, the Reverend said they were checking all the farms.”
“You’ve been busy today,” Hannah said. “We’ll go now.”
“Are you sure you don’t mind?”
“I want to go. It’s a good thing the moon is so bright.”
“Yes.” They galloped towards the property and the lights in the window were more than a relief for both of them. They had to be alright, Seth said, and the house looked intact. As they went to dismount a tall, burly man opened the door.
“I’m glad to see you,” he said. “We’ve been worried about our neighbours and have been checking people but we hadn’t got round to you. Did you hear what happened in Lone Pine?”
“We did,” Seth said.
“Come in and have a bite to eat.” The man led the way in to where a lady sat on a sofa sewing. “Enid. It’s Seth and his lady.”
The lady stood, a middle aged woman with what Hannah defined as a homely face, short where her husband was tall with hair which was beginning to go grey. She held out her hand.
“I’m pleased to meet you,” she said to Hannah. “Hello, Seth, and congratulations. It’s a pity your married life began this way.”
“Hannah has been amazing,” Seth said, looking at her proudly. “She has helped rescue people. She’s helped with the clearing up. She’s been a tower of strength. At the moment we have Wilfred, Monica and the children with us and it was Hannah who rescued them because I couldn’t get in the house. They’re insisting on going back to their farm tomorrow and say they’ll live in the barn until they can rebuild because their house is in ruins. Wilfred has broken his leg.”
“Seth reduced it,” Hannah said, looking at him equally as proudly. “And he’s made him a bath chair so Wilfred can wheel himself around.”
“Let me get you something to eat,” Enid said.
“We ate already,” Hannah replied. “But a drink would be nice.”
“How about hot chocolate? I bought some of that in Independence the other day. I also baked some cakes today so you must have a piece. How was your journey here, Hannah?”
“Very interesting. The earthquake occurred just as the stagecoach pulled in at Lower Pine. We then went to Middle Pine to help there.”
“That was a terrible welcome for you. Come and tell me about your journey while I make the chocolate.”
They were all so friendly, Hannah thought, and everyone seemed to know one another despite being a few miles distant. Enid made the chocolate drinks, cut the cake and it was a while before Seth and Hannah mounted their horses to return to Seth’s farm.
Hannah looked down at her dress when they arrived and wished for her trunk. There were plenty of garments in there but then Monica didn’t have a change of clothing either. When they went to Independence tomorrow they could buy some dresses.
Except that tomorrow she should go to Seth and this Seth needed to meet his bride. They walked into the barn and Seth bent to straighten their beds.
“I’ll wash your dress again,” he said. “Tomorrow we can go to Independence for new clothes for you.”
“I have lots of clothes in my trunk,” she said.
“Yes, but the road won’t be safe and the other one probably won’t be so good either. We could go to Independence first for you and Monica to shop and then we’ll take them to their farm and settle them, or else they can stay another night.”
“They need more furniture,” Hannah said.
“I’ll make them some, like I said, but it will take a while. We can use some of my money.”
“Monica said she brought their money and we’ll use mine too. They’ll need five beds and....”
“Four,” Seth said. “One will be a double one.”
“Four.” Hannah was glad of the dark to hide the sudden blush which rose to her cheeks. “They’ll also need clothes and food and some toys for the children.”
“A doll for Lucille and animals and carts for the boys.”
Hannah smiled. “No dolls for the boys and carts for Lucille?”
“Did you have horses and carts?” Seth asked.
“I was totally spoilt and had everything.”
“It can’t be so good for you now then.”
“It’s wonderful for me now and I’m really enjoying myself apart from the earthquake. I’m not bothered about being waited on and I’m becoming quite proficient at cooking. I haven’t poisoned anyone yet.”
“You’re wonderful at cooking,” Seth said.
“And you’re wonderful at catching fish.”
“It was a fluke. Usually it takes hours for a fish to come anywhere near me. I don’t think they like me. But I’m determined to get one for Wilfred and Monica tomorrow.”
Hannah giggled. “Perhaps they prefer swimming around to being eaten.”
“They probably do. Are you game for jumping the fence again?”
“More to the point, is Charlotte? Race you there?”
“Of course.”
They galloped towards the fence, went over it together and slowed to a trot as they came in sight of the barn. Once again they would sleep with animals nearby and Noah and his family had to do that, Seth said. They brushed the horses down, fed them and Seth insisted on washing Hannah’s dress again.
“What about washing your clothes?” she asked.
“I’ve got quite a few changes. I’ll do it in a couple of days.”
She would do it, she decided, that was, if she was still here which really she shouldn’t be. She wasn’t going to think of it and she wasn’t going to sleep when Seth read the Bible to her because she really enjoyed listening to him and was eager to get to know God better. He had been so good to them. He had protected them. He had given them the privilege of helping people. She was now His child and that was a wonderful thing.
But first she would find a piece of suitable wood to put the Bible verse on because that was very important. She stood, rolled the legs of his pajamas up her legs and tightened the cord which held them up. Was it indecent to wear them, she wondered, but became too involved in what she was doing to worry about it. She found a knife, began to carefully carve the words on the wood and looked at it critically.
Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. What a wonderful fact and He was with her now. But did He approve of her being here when she should really be in Lower Pine? Did He understand how she felt about it all?
“I’m sorry if it’s wrong,” she prayed quietly as she began to paint with the gold paint she had found. “Please forgive me and work it out.”
She did not realise Seth was standing in the doorway watching her, something he had been doing for an hour. She had lost track of time while she carved and now as she painted.
Eventually she stepped back to look at it. It wasn’t as good as Seth’s had been because she hadn’t cut very deeply but the gold showed up and now all she had to do was paint the background. He walked forward to stand next to her.
“It’s not very good,” she said. “I wanted to do it quickly so I didn’t really carve it deep at all. I suppose I didn’t carve it at a
ll. But the words show up. I could make you another one and take this.”
“I want this,” he said. “It’s beautiful.”
“I’ll paint the background tomorrow.” She put it up on a shelf and walked towards the washroom. “Will you read to me about Jesus and that couple?”
“Yes, of course I will.”
He got into bed, reached for his Bible and she took a few minutes. When she returned and slid under the cover he looked across at her.
“Shall I read it now?”
“Yes, please. You have such a lovely reading voice.”
He started to read, she closed her eyes and he smiled as he saw her relax. He would read it to her in the morning and it was understandable that she was tired. She had been working so hard all day and probably what she had been doing for the last couple of days was a far cry from what she did at home, whatever that was.
She was the bravest lady he had ever met, the most resilient, the most beautiful. On that thought he fell asleep himself.
Chapter 10
“I’m a bit worried about the animals,” Wilfred said the following morning over breakfast when Seth suggested going to Independence.
“We checked on them last night and milked the cows,” Seth replied. “And then we went to check on Alfred and Enid. They said people have been going round all the farms and everyone is accounted for. We put your milk and eggs in your cool room so they’ll be alright for you. We need to get furniture, beds and other things, also bedding and clothes.”
“We could sleep on the straw,” Wilfred said, bending his head over his food.
“No. We’ll make frames and we can buy mattresses. I can’t afford that but Hannah is rolling in money.”
Hannah raised her eyebrows. “I was left money by my great grandparents,” she said. “I want to spend some of it.”
“We can’t take charity,” Wilfred said.
“But you could take mattresses.” Wilfred looked at Hannah, she and Monica giggled and his expression relaxed.
“You are a fortunate man,” he said to Seth.
“I am. Independence then?”
“Independence but I’m not sure about taking the money.”
“You are my first real friends here,” Hannah said. “Please accept the mattresses. I’ll be offended if you don’t. One day you can make me something I need.”
“What do you need?” Monica asked.
“I’ll have to think about that.”
“We could give you a cow,” Wilfred said.
“You need your cows.”
“A cow for the mattresses. It would make me feel better.”
“Alright then, a cow for the mattresses, but we throw in bedding and furniture because a cow is worth a lot, also other things.” Which would be good for Seth, Hannah thought, because her Seth was definitely not having it.
But would they have mattresses and how badly was Independence affected by the earthquake? They had a leisurely breakfast which Hannah had once again prepared while Monica did the oatmeal, this time with cheese on bread after the oatmeal.
“Are there houses to check beyond Independence?” Hannah asked Seth from where she stood in front of a mirror in the barn putting up her hair while he stood watching her.
He walked over to stand behind her. “Would you like me to do your hair?” he asked. “It’s got some knots in it I could comb out.”
It hadn’t, she was almost sure, but yes, it would be helpful, she told him. He took the brush, started to brush slowly and reached for her ribbon. There were still no pins which meant Hannah had to just tie it back, nor did she have a hat. She should have one, she thought, because all ladies wore hats.
“Monica hasn’t got one either,” Seth said when she told him what she was thinking.
“I’d forgotten about that. Will people think we’re dreadful not having them?”
“Absolutely dreadful.” He smoothed the hair down, stood back and looked at his handiwork. “Is that alright?”
“You’ve added another talent to the ones you already have. You are very good husband material.”
“Is that what husbands do?”
“I’m not sure. Yes, I think it is because I’ve seen my father brush and comb my mother’s hair. Sometimes she does his.”
Well, Hannah couldn’t comb her Seth’s hair, Seth thought, because he hardly had any. Come to think of it, he was the ugliest person he had ever set eyes on. He resembled a gargoyle. He turned, began to kick the straw with some vehemence and Hannah walked over to stand next to him.
“I thought I saw a frog,” he said rather lamely. “I was just checking so I could put it outside.”
“Do you get frogs?” she asked. “I thought you needed water for that.”
“Sometimes they stray in. In France they eat frog’s legs. It’s considered a delicacy.”
“Do they just take the frogs’ legs off and give them crutches?” Hannah giggled.
“Yes. They take two because they know that the frogs are aware of the fact that humans just have two and are able to manage.”
“I don’t think I’ll go to France,” Hannah said.
“Seth could easily afford to take you. He’s got pots of money. I must seem a poor second best to you.”
“Second best?” She turned towards him and put her arms round him without thinking. “You are THE best.”
She pulled back abruptly as she realised what she had done and made for the barn door. “We’d better go or the family will be wondering where we are. I packed bread and cheese, also the pastry I made yesterday and the fish you caught before breakfast. I put everything in a basket I found. Do you use that for picnics?”
Seth did not move as he watched her walk away. “It is a picnic basket. My mother made it for me.”
She turned. “Are you alright?”
“Hannah!”
“Yes.” He walked towards her, opened his mouth to say more and Lucille ran into the barn with the boys close behind her.
“Are you ready?” she asked.
“We’re ready,” Hannah replied.
“I picked some fruit and put it in the basket, also the cake you made. Is that alright?”
“That sounds lovely,” Hannah said, looking at Seth briefly.
“Come on then. We’re all ready.”
“We’re coming, and thank you. You are all very helpful.”
“I am, not the boys.” Lucille giggled and ran ahead calling to her parents. They all made for Wilfred and Monica’s wagon and Hannah once again rode on the front with Seth.
“Could I hold the reins for a bit?” she asked.
“Yes, of course.”
She took them, shook them and the horses began to pull away. “I quite often sat up the front of our carriage,” she said. “Daddy said it’s unladylike but I like horses.”
“You’re a true professional,” Seth said.
“Does Seth employ someone for this sort of thing?”
“He has staff. I’m not sure. I don’t know him that well.”
Lazy oaf! He probably never does anything for himself. He dragged his mind off him, rather guilty at the thoughts that kept filling his mind, and when they arrived it was to a scene which was as bad as Lone and Middle Pine.
Most of the buildings in Camp Independence were made of adobe which, in the same way as elsewhere, had collapsed. The sentries had moved away from the buildings and pulled beds outside. A private and his wife had been injured but everyone else seemed alright.
But the surgeon’s house, guard house, mess hall, cook house, first sergeant’s house, storehouse, blacksmith’s shop and two laundress quarters were almost destroyed, they were told, all of which were built with adobe bricks. Other buildings which included the barracks, commissary, storehouse, Post hospital and remainder of the officers’ quarters received enough damage to be regarded as unsafe. They were going to use broken timbers to build temporary shelters for troops and laundresses, and for cooking and dining, they said, and canvas structures would
be erected for the officers and their families.
Nearby Independence was also badly affected, they found, and people were in as much need as Wilfred and Monica. He could not take anything from them, he said, and they would manage. Maybe they could salvage something from the house if it was as flat as Seth and Hannah said.
The drive back was a quiet one and Hannah wished the children had not been with them. They should have realised the place would be badly affected and it wasn’t good for the young people to see such things. If only she could get something nice for them but what? There was nowhere to go to get anything. When they reached Wilfred and Monica’s farm she spoke to Seth.
“We have to salvage as much as we can,” she said. “And we need to get supplies from somewhere. Is there anywhere not too far away where we could buy things?”
“The nearest big place is San Francisco,” he said. “And it would take ages to get there, well, at least three days and probably more.”
“Then let’s see what we can get from the wreckage and I need my trunks because I’ve got quite a lot in them.”
“I could go and get the trunks,” he said. He paused and felt he wanted to kick himself. He didn’t want to go to Lower Pine. If he did he would have to face things he desperately wanted to avoid. “That is, if I can get through,” he continued.
“It could be dangerous.” Hannah said. “What if the road is unsafe? You can’t go the way we came.”
“I know another way which doesn’t go through Middle Pine. If I can’t get through I’ll come back.”
“Do you promise? You won’t try doing something unnecessarily brave?”
“I’ll be very careful.” He couldn’t resist kissing her upturned face and immediately felt guilty. But Wilfred and Monica thought they were married and they must keep up the pretence. “For Wilfred and Monica,” he said and turned abruptly. He went over to them, told them where he was going and was soon on his way.
They needed to help people who were made homeless, he thought while he travelled along the road in the wagon. They needed to raise money to provide shelter and food. If they set up some sort of disaster fund maybe Wilfred wouldn’t be so unwilling to receive help. Hannah said she had money and he didn’t want any of that so, if she was willing, she could contribute towards the fund. Then he could support her because that was what a man did.
Lone Pine Bride (The Brides Of Lone Pine Book 1) Page 15
