by Mona Ingram
The child’s attention was quickly diverted to a horse and buggy which had become stuck in the mud. If the man’s elegant clothes and highly polished boots were anything to go by, he hadn’t been in San Francisco long. Their wagon driver snorted with derision as he manoeuvred around the stricken buggy. Sarah was reminded that she had a lot to learn.
They pulled up in front of Sarah’s new home and Anna’s mouth formed a perfect circle. “You own this?” she gasped. “How did you ever manage?”
Sarah wasn’t sure if Anna was aware of her own financial situation, and didn’t want to discuss money matters. “Lucy’s husband Charlie knew about it. Otherwise I’m not sure what I would have done.” She offered a hand. “Here, let me help you down. You, too, Missy.”
They walked past the tent in the front yard and looked up to see Lucy at the front door.
“Lucy!” Melissa launched herself into the older woman’s arms. “You’re here.”
“Yes, my pet. I’ve brought you some soup for supper.”
Lucy enveloped Anna in a hug. “I’m so sorry, love.” Lucy was struggling to hold back tears. “We’re your family now.”
“Thank you, Lucy.” Anna gave her a feeble smile, and continued to look around. “It’s amazing,” she said, looking into the room overlooking the street. A sideboard holding two basic but serviceable glass candlesticks dominated the wall backing onto the kitchen, and a round, pot-bellied stove sat proudly in the corner; Sarah had already imagined sitting around it when the weather got colder. The only other furniture was a long dining table, flanked by eight chairs. The room made it evident that the young couple had planned to focus on the boarding house and selling food before creature comforts. Although Sarah admired their single-minded drive, she made a mental note to re-arrange the furniture and buy several comfortable chairs.
Anna wandered into the kitchen and Sarah and Lucy followed. Her eyes widened, and she turned to the two women. “It’s a complete kitchen. How did you manage all this?”
Sarah glanced at Lucy, suddenly uncomfortable. But knowing that Anna would find out sooner or later, she told her the story.
Tears began to fall from Anna’s eyes and she sat down heavily at the small table in the corner of the kitchen. “What’s the matter with me?” she cried. “I can weep for someone else’s misfortune, but I can’t cry for myself.” She lowered her head and contrary to her words, hoarse, rasping sobs were torn from her body.
Lucy went to her side and rubbed her back with comforting strokes. “Cry all you want, my dear. It’s not healthy to keep it bottled up, no matter what you may have heard.”
Melissa’s hand crept into Sarah’s as she watched her mother cry. After a few minutes, Anna’s tears turned into hiccups, and she bent over, clutching her stomach.
Sarah released Melissa’s hand and went to her side. “Anna?”
The pregnant woman looked up.
“It’s started, hasn’t it?”
Anna nodded.
Sarah was surprised that she felt so calm. Her gaze darted around the kitchen, taking in the gently steaming kettle and the tea towels hanging on a rack beside the stove. “Lucy,” she asked, “did you see a linen closet by any chance?”
“There are sheets and towels over there.” Lucy pointed to a narrow door that Sarah hadn’t noticed.
“Let’s get them out, and into the back room.” She wished she’d had more of a chance to take inventory. “What about candles... in case this goes into the night?”
“I’ll check,” said the older woman. “Come on, Missy. Let’s hunt around for candles.”
Anna moaned, and Sarah waited for the contraction to pass. Perspiration dotted her brow, and she brushed it away, then rose and walked slowly to the back bedroom. “I don’t think we need to worry about candles... at least not on my account.” She gave a thin smile. “Melissa was born very quickly, and I think this one is trying to break her record.” In spite of her confident words, her eyes were suddenly very large in her head. “Do you have any experience...” Her question was cut short by another contraction. She sat on the edge of the bed, waiting for the pain to pass, then started to remove her clothes.
“I’ve been present at several births,” said Sarah, “but nothing complicated.”
Anna lay back, and Sarah covered her with a sheet. “This is only my second child, but everything has seemed normal so far.” Her fingers dug into the thin mattress. “Let’s hope it goes quickly.”
* * *
Anna got her wish. Four hours later, Sarah placed a squirming baby boy on Anna’s chest.
“My boy,” said Anna, drinking in the sight of her son through eyes luminous with tears. She touched the fine wisp of hair at the crown of the child’s head and kissed him on the forehead. “We’ll call him Walter, after his father,” she said, looking beyond Sarah to where Lucy and Melissa were standing in the doorway. “That’s fitting, don’t you think?”
Lucy nodded, unable to speak through her tears.
“Walter,” whispered Melissa, offering her finger to the baby, who gripped it and held on tight. “My baby brother.”
* * *
Lucy was still in the kitchen when Sarah wandered back in. Melissa had climbed up on the foot of the bed with her mother, and the family of three were sleeping soundly.
“You didn’t need to stay,” she said, sinking down onto the chair opposite her friend. “But I’m glad you did. Thank you for taking care of Missy. Did you get her to eat anything?”
“A little.” She motioned to the stove. “Help yourself to the soup, and some of Levi’s bread.”
Sarah looked around. “They brought the supplies? I didn’t hear anyone.”
Lucy grinned. “You were rather busy. The captain sent Anna’s trunk; I had them put it outside her door.” Her eyes danced. “They also delivered the captain’s gift for you. Wait until you see what it is.”
Sarah’s exhaustion fell away. “Where is it?”
“I asked them leave it in the dining room.” She led the way, and pointed to a small pile of bags and canned goods. “I think it’s a hint.”
Sarah examined the captain’s gifts with growing delight. “Flour,” she said, touching the bags. “And beans and molasses. Salt, lard, and canned meat.” She opened one of the smaller bags and raised it to her nose. “And some of Levi’s precious seasonings.” She looked at Lucy, her eyes shining. “He couldn’t have sent a better gift.”
Lucy nodded. “And on top of that, I noticed what appeared to be plenty of beef for sale at the market today. And I picked up some bacon and coffee for your breakfast. As for the produce, onions and carrots are fairly plentiful. I decided to inquire about availability, and at this time of year it’s local produce, brought down from Sonoma, and Mission Dolores.” She made a face. “Still no potatoes to speak of, but I suspect that will change with time. Oh, and there seems to be plenty of fruit if you decide to make fruit pies, or fruit pasties. You’re all set.”
Sarah went back over the pile of foodstuffs, touching each container and already planning what she would do with the contents.
Chapter Eleven
“Sarah.”
Sarah opened her eyes, and for a moment she didn’t know where she was. Pale light streamed through a small window, and she could just make out Melissa’s face.
“Mama’s crying,” the child said. Anna must have wakened some time during the night and found the trunk with their belongings; the child stood shivering, dressed only in her night shift.
Sarah forced herself to sit up. After Lucy left last night, she’d closed up the house and surveyed the pile of foodstuffs to be put away. But the day had been too long, the events too emotional, and she’d dragged herself upstairs and claimed the first sleeping cubicle at the top of the stairs.
She pulled the child onto her lap and stroked her hair. “It’s normal for your mother to cry, Melissa. She’s sad about your father.” She wrapped her arms around the girl and rocked her back and forth. “After a while, she�
��ll stop crying, but she’ll never forget him, and neither will you.”
“Mommy says he’s gone to heaven, but I can’t go to visit him.” She pulled back and looked into Sarah’s eyes. “Why not?”
Sarah’s heart twisted. “Because that’s the way it is. Besides, your mother needs you here to help take care of little Walter.”
Missy leaned her head against Sarah’s shoulder and closed her eyes. “Sleepy,” she murmured.
“Would you like to sleep in my bed for a while?” Sarah eased the child off her lap. “I’ll be downstairs when you wake up.”
“Okay.” The child was already asleep by the time Sarah pulled up the blankets. She had a lot to do this morning, and it would be better without the youngster underfoot. She pulled on her clothes, ran lightly down the stairs, and stopped to look around. Was this really her house? At the moment, she couldn’t remember where she’d put the papers, but yes, it was hers.
She wandered into the dining room and stood at the front window, looking out at the portion of San Francisco that was visible beyond the tent. Wisps of fog danced down the street, but as she watched, the sun gained strength, and she felt a sense of relief that this morning at least, the rain would be held at bay. Then she turned and got to work.
* * *
“You’ve been busy.” Anna’s voice startled Sarah, who was sitting at the dining table in the main room, staring out over the street.
“You startled me.” Sarah rose. “I just finished a cup of coffee. Would you like some? I can offer sugar, if you take it.”
“That would be wonderful.” Cradling Walter in her arms, Anna moved slowly to the table and sat down kitty-corner from where Sarah had been sitting.
“There you go.” Sarah placed a steaming cup, sugar and a spoon in front of Anna. “How are you feeling?”
Anna made an effort to smile. “Fine, actually.”
“And Walter?”
She looked down at her child. “He’s asleep. Where is Melissa?”
“She fell asleep in my bed. I hope you don’t mind, but that seemed to be a good place for her while I unpacked this morning.”
Anna nodded listlessly and stared out the window. “It isn’t what I thought, you know.”
Sarah frowned. “What?”
“San Francisco. I thought it would be more settled somehow. More like Boston, perhaps.”
Sarah looked out at what she could see of the city. “I know what you mean, but it makes up for that in other ways. It’s exciting... it’s alive.” She gave a short laugh. “It’s hard to explain.”
Anna took a sip of coffee, then placed her cup on the table with a trembling hand. “I don’t have any money, Sarah.” She fidgeted with her wedding ring. “I know the last thing you need is a widow and a couple of children, but if you would let me stay here, I can help you any way you like. I can cook, I can bake, I can clean up...” Her eyes filled with tears. “My family was dead set against Walter and I coming out here. They made it clear that if we got into trouble, we weren’t to ask them for help. And Walter has no family left...” Her voice trailed off.
Sarah had heard similar stories back in Boston. There was no in between when it came to people’s opinions on the California Gold Rush. They either thought it to be a great adventure, or they reacted like Anna’s family had.
Sarah opened her mouth to speak, and then closed it.
Anna leaned forward. “What were you going to say?”
“I was going to say it doesn’t matter that you don’t have any money, but of course it does... to you, at least. As far as I’m concerned, you can stay here as long as you like.” Her gaze rested on the sleeping child. “The children will keep things normal, and I just know you’ll be a great help when it comes time to start the food business.”
Anna seemed to relax. She took another sip of coffee and looked around the room. “It’s not very inviting, is it?”
“That’s exactly what I was just thinking.” Sarah rose and lifted the red cotton fabric that was draped over the table. She’d only been in San Francisco for two days, but she didn’t think she’d ever seen so much red calico.
“This is actually two tables shoved together,” she said. “I think we should separate them and make two tables of four. That will make the room appear more inviting, and it will leave some room in the corner by the fireplace for some comfortable chairs. A rocking chair perhaps, where you can sit with the baby. And one or two comfortable plush chairs.” She smiled at Anna. “I have no idea where we’ll find furniture like that, but we might as well set our sights high. Besides, I have a feeling we’ll be working hard, and we need a place to be comfortable in the evenings.”
Anna’s face brightened. “That sounds wonderful. When do you think you’ll start?”
Sarah thought for a moment. “I’ll need to experiment with the stoves for a few days, but I was thinking of starting small in a week or so. Let’s make sure we’re comfortable and settled first.” Walter’s little fists clenched as he stretched in his sleep. “Besides, you need to spend time with this little guy.” She stood, and her stomach growled. “In the meantime, I’m going to fry up some bacon and bread for our breakfast.”
* * *
“Good morning young fellow.” Charlie looked up as Jamie strode into his office. He indicated the other man sitting in the chair facing his desk. “Have you met Angus McKellern? Angus is a reporter for Alta California.”
“Angus.” Jamie extended a hand. “Jamie Thompson.”
Angus rose. “From the new merchant bank?”
“That’s right.” Jamie assessed the other man. “Just arrived.”
“So I heard. I was hoping to interview you about the minting machine you brought.”
“I’d be grateful for the exposure. Seems to me that our services will be welcome.” He glanced at Charlie. “Actually, I came here to ask Charlie for the address of a mutual friend. I know it’s on Sacramento Street, but I wanted to be sure.”
Charlie looked through some papers on his desk. “You’re looking for Sarah, right? Are you going there now?”
“Yes, I thought I would.”
“Great. Would you mind taking this photograph?” He showed it briefly to Angus, then handed it to Jamie. “Angus is the one who gave it to me yesterday. Sarah and Lucy identified Anna from it.”
Jamie looked briefly at the happy family in the photograph. “Where did you get this?”
“I was up the American, checking on the various fluming operations, and someone gave it to me. The chap who drowned had it in his jacket. There were a few other things as well. A pocket watch, a knife, some letters. Not much else.”
“I could take those things with me, I suppose, if you don’t mind me stopping by your office first.”
“Certainly not. We’re finished here for the time being.” He shook hands with Angus. “I wasn’t exactly looking forward to doing it, anyway.”
Jamie got Sarah’s address from Charlie, and then followed Angus out the door. Jamie shot a curious glance at the other man. “What can you tell me about these fluming companies?”
“What would you like to know?”
“I was wondering if there’s any chance of Anna getting some of her money back.”
Angus shook his head. “That’s highly unlikely. Those are expensive operations to mount.” He gave his head a quick shake. “As far as I know, not one of them has made a profit, and yet people continue to invest.”
“Why do they do it?”
Angus acknowledged a greeting from a passing businessman, and then continued. “Blind faith. Greed. The fear of returning home a failure. Any number of reasons.” He pointed to a door. “Here’s the office. I’ll just pop in and get those items.”
In the short time Jamie waited, he heard Chinese, Spanish and French spoken, plus the unmistakable speech of the American south. Men greeted each other, but he noticed that none seemed to linger, limiting their exchange to a few quick words. Time was money here in San Francisco. He watched wi
th a faint smile on his face, and wondered if he would ever fit in... or if he wanted to.
“Here you are.” Angus handed him a small package wrapped in a piece of what appeared to be canvas. “I wish there was more.”
“It was good of you to bring it,” said Jamie, accepting the bundle. “I’ll make sure she gets it.”
Angus nodded. “Will it be all right if I call at your place of business for an interview?”
Jamie thought for a moment. “We should have the minting machine up and running by the end of the week. Perhaps it would make for a more interesting story if you see it in operation. Stop by then.”
“Excellent.” The men shook hands, and Jamie picked his way through the mud, headed toward Sacramento Street.
* * *
“Sarah!” Missy came running into the kitchen. “Someone is at the door.”
Sarah took a quick glance in the small mirror she’d discovered on the back of a door. Her hair hung loosely around her shoulders, and her cheeks were flushed from working over the stove, but the woman who looked back at her was more alive than she’d been for years.
“Coming!” she called, and opened the door to see Jamie standing there, grinning in the morning sunlight. He looked more handsome than ever, and she blurted out the first words that came to mind.
“I was just thinking about you.” She was too happy to see him to worry about how her words sounded. “I’ve missed you.”
“Same here.” He brushed her cheek with his lips and she breathed in the smell of him. He’d become achingly familiar to her over the four months of their voyage.
He picked up a stand of her hair and rubbed it between his fingers. “I wondered what this would feel like,” he said, his voice suddenly husky. Realizing what he had done, he abruptly dropped the hair. “You look good.”
Sarah took his hand and pulled him inside. “Come in. We were just about to have some bacon sandwiches for breakfast. Would you like a cup of coffee?”
