“I had heard there was a pretty little redhead leading the rebuilding of this shack, and I could only imagine one woman.” He doffed his hat. “I see I was right.”
“We are opening a food house for the poor,” Abrianna said, crossing the room. “Perhaps you would like to contribute to the financial needs. We have food to buy, as well as additional plates and mugs. We also need dish towels and soap.”
He laughed, and to Militine’s surprise reached into his coat pocket and pulled out his wallet. “Of course I’ll contribute. I’m known for my generosity around the city.” He handed Abrianna two dollars.
She took the money. “I’d heard you were far more generous than this.”
Welby met her gaze, and his leering smile made Militine shudder. She wanted to warn Abrianna to take nothing from the man. He looked like a wolf about to consume his victim. Abrianna, however, didn’t seem to notice. She waited instead without blinking until Welby peeled off several larger bills and pressed them into her hand. He allowed his hand to linger on hers as he spoke.
“You are a determined and intelligent young woman, Miss Cunningham. I suppose that’s why I’ve always found myself drawn to you. When I’m near you, I seem to find myself weak in the knees and light-headed. Reason quite escapes me.”
Abrianna pulled her hand away from his and stuffed the money into her pocket. “Perhaps it’s the grippe,” she said, turning away. “Aunt Miriam said there’s a lot of it going around.”
Wade smiled but said nothing. Militine, however, continued to stare unabashed. She worried for Abrianna. The girl seemed to have no sense or understanding where men were concerned. There was something evil about Mr. Welby. A cold and calculating evil that she’d seen only once before . . . in her father.
Saturday night Thane took a seat beside one of his fellow volunteers. The man he knew only as Gabs offered Thane a nod before turning his attention back to the front of the room. Thane was exhausted from Abrianna’s round-the-clock endeavors to put the food house in order before the Sabbath but knew his attention here was expected. He only hoped he wouldn’t doze off.
Fire Chief Josiah Collins took to the podium and brought the meeting to order. “We have a great deal to address during our meeting, so if everyone would take a seat, we can proceed.” The men who’d been conversing at the back of the room found their places, and the room quieted.
“As you know, when I came into this position last May, fire stations around the town were sorely under-equipped. The city council was good to listen to my recommendation for new horses and hydrants, as well as a new hose carriage for the Belltown area and additional hose for several of our carriages elsewhere.
“I also petitioned them for a new fire alarm system, and while some of the money has been approved, we have not yet managed to obtain what is needed. That is one of our biggest needs, and we will address this in detail in a few minutes.” He took a drink of water and cleared his throat before continuing.
“For now I wish to address morale in the ranks. You will remember we were put to the test last May and failed when fire completely destroyed the home of Edward Reynolds at Fifth and Bell. The newspaper claimed we lacked organization. There were also troublemakers among our own people who suggested our volunteers were uninterested in attending to their duties due to a lack of paid positions. I do not believe you men are so petty that you would see families put out on the street because money had not exchanged hands on your behalf.
“Instead, I believe our problems lie with other issues. Perhaps organization can be made better. However, until our water mains are improved, we will continue to suffer. It is absolute nonsense to talk about fire protection until we have water available all over the city.”
Murmurs of approval rose from the volunteer firemen in the audience, as well as others who had joined to keep apprised of the city’s plans. A newspaper reporter from the Post-Intelligencer stood to one side of the audience quietly taking notes. Perhaps he’d been the one who’d written the harsh article about the fire department the previous summer.
Fire Chief Collins continued. “The present resources of the Spring Hill Water Company are overtaxed for all the areas requiring its water. I believe the remedy is for the city to own and control its own water supply and construct a system of new water mains and hydrants with fire protection in mind.”
The audience erupted in applause, but the fire chief waved his hands to quiet them once again. “Our volunteer numbers have fallen dramatically, due to the negative articles written by the press. I am hopeful that this demoralization will cease. Otherwise I fear for our city. We are reliant upon our volunteer firemen to pull our fire engines, since we have only six horses in our possession. We rely upon them to answer every fire call, which is quite tiresome, given there is no way of knowing for sure where the fire is or whether other stations have already responded to the alarm. If we could pay the volunteers what they were worth, there would not be enough gold in all of the continent.”
Again applause broke out, but this time Collins didn’t attempt to stop it. He smiled and nodded his approval. When the audience once again settled down, he addressed the matter of the fire alarm system.
“Our system is barely a system at all. The bells from the various fire stations are indistinguishable from one another. The steam whistles that most generally join in offer no indication of location or intensity. None of the alarms currently used can offer the fireman any idea of whether it’s his station’s responsibility or another’s. Men come running at breakneck speed and gather their equipment to face what they hope and pray will not be a major conflagration. Often this is to the detriment of all involved, as various engines converge on one area for perhaps nothing more than a trash fire that got out of control, while across town a house burns to the ground for lack of an available crew.
“A new notification system would eliminate this problem. A fire alarm telegraph is available, which would allow for each stationhouse to know the location of the fire and its intensity. There are all manner of helps out there to assist us in our endeavors, and I assure you that I am pressing the city council to see that these things are accessible.” He paused to fix his gaze on the young man from the Post-Intelligencer. “I hope our reporter from the newspaper will note this meeting accurately and without prejudice.”
Thane looked to the young man, who now stopped taking notes and raised his head. He appeared embarrassed by what seemed to be the suggestion he would do anything else.
“I hope they end this soon,” Gabs whispered. “I promised the missus I’d be home by seven-thirty.”
Thane nodded and silently wished there might have been someone waiting at home for him. The loneliness that had followed him for over fourteen years left a burning hole in his heart. He thought of the life he’d known back in Missouri. His youth had been fraught with episodes of violence, given his father’s short-fused temper. Usually it was other men who riled Samuel Patton, and generally it was over insignificant things like drink or cards. Too often, young Thane had witnessed the bloody altercations that more than once had ended in death. Death that came at the hands of his father.
Thane never breathed a word of this to anyone with the exception of Wade. Wade was a godly man who always seemed to accept Thane, in spite of his flaws. He was faithful to share a prayer or word of wisdom from the Good Book, but when Thane wearied of discussing the matter, Wade was also good to let it drop.
When the meeting concluded and the men separated to go their own ways, Thane tried not to think about the places they would go—the people who would be there for them. He had often imagined how comforting it might be to have a home with a hot meal waiting and children squealing in delight at his return.
But I could end up being just as bad a father as mine was to me.
Perhaps that was the reason that when these longings came upon him, he forced them into mental boxes and buried them deep in the graveyard of forgotten dreams. Memories were dangerous. He didn’t need the Bib
le to tell him that, although Wade had read him more than one Scripture that mentioned not dwelling on the past.
With the room nearly empty, Thane finally got to his feet and headed for the door. Outside, a cold blast of wind hit him and staggered him back a step. He thought of his tiny apartment and tried to maintain a positive outlook. At least he had a place to stay—a warm bed—and a stove in which to build a fire. And best of all, no one in Seattle knew he was the son of a murderer.
6
If everyone will make an orderly line, we can begin serving.” Abrianna looked at the growing group of raggedy men and silently prayed there would be enough food for everyone. On Sunday she’d put many of the street urchins to work spreading the word that there would be a free lunch served precisely at noon on Monday. Apparently they’d done a good job.
Militine stood behind a long table where Wade and Thane were just now depositing a large kettle of soup. This was the last thing to be done, as Abrianna had already seen to putting out bread. She glanced over her shoulder to make certain that all was ready and then turned back to the hungry men just as one of the harbor whistles blew the noon hour.
“All right, gentlemen, remember what I said. There is one piece of bread and one bowl of soup for each man. There is also coffee. Mr. Patton will be handling that at the far table. Please be careful with the cups and bowls. We must make them last for a good while. You will find spoons and napkins at each chair. Please use these. I know many of you are given to drinking from the bowl, but this is a civilized eating facility, and we will comport ourselves as such. Agreed?”
She knew they would agree to most anything if it meant being fed. “And before our meal, Mr. Ackerman will offer a prayer.” She looked back to Wade and waited until he came forward.
Those who had caps on their heads pulled them off in quick fashion as Wade bowed his head. “Father, we thank you for this day and for the provision you have given. We ask a blessing on each man here. May the food they receive nourish their bodies and the company encourage their souls. Amen.”
With the line neatly formed, Abrianna ushered them into the building. She took her place behind the soup table and helped Militine ladle soup. The men, most of whom she knew, were old sailors and loggers who’d lost their jobs because of injury or age. They shuffled along in an orderly manner, tipping their caps to Abrianna and Militine as they passed by.
“Yar an angel from heaven, Miss Abrianna.”
“Now get on with you, Jeb, you know that people aren’t angels. I’m just a Christian woman extending the love of God to those in need.”
“Well, yar one of the only Christians, male or female, what cares about us old salts.”
What he said was true. It seemed there was a sad lacking of offering even the basic comforts to those who had so little.
“She’s a saint,” Captain Jack said, coming to take his bowl of soup. “A perfect saint.”
She couldn’t help but smile at this. If only they knew the trial she was to Aunt Miriam and the others. Her aunts would never consider her to be anything but vexing. Saint wasn’t a word Aunt Miriam would ever choose to describe her ward. More likely her aunts would call her Trouble.
Convincing her aunts to allow her duties at the food house hadn’t come easily. Only when Wade assured them that he would watch over her did they acquiesce and allow Abrianna and Militine to spend each day from midmorning until two o’clock to manage the affairs of helping the hungry. Even so, it did not come without fussing and fretting, and there would no doubt be more to come.
Seeing the men settled at the linen-covered tables, Abrianna smiled. Tablecloths and napkins always helped to make a meal seem special. She wanted these men to know at least one place and one meal where they were treated like human beings rather than the scum of the earth.
“Hi, Abrianna,” several young boys greeted as they approached the serving table.
She smiled at them. “I hoped you would make it on time.”
Their self-appointed leader gave her a toothy grin. “Wouldn’t miss a hot meal. What’s on the menu?”
Abrianna handed him a bowl of soup. “It’s beef and vegetable soup, Toby. You each get one bowl and one piece of bread. I expect good manners.”
He turned to his companions. “You hear that? Miss Abrianna says we gotta act right. Now get your bread and soup and follow me.”
“There gonna be food tomorrow, too?” another orphan asked.
“Every day but Sunday, if the Lord wills it.”
“How come not on Sunday? Folks get hungry then, too,” the boy replied.
“I quite agree, and it seems to me that folks should be particularly generous on Sunday, given that it’s the Lord’s Day.” Abrianna handed the boy a bowl of soup. “However, the Bible speaks of it being a day of rest, and there are those who expect me to dedicate it to the Lord. Although, God knows I dedicate this work and every day to Him.
“It seems to me that people sometimes use the Sabbath as an excuse to just lie about and sip tea. I don’t think the Lord had that in mind when He told us to keep the Sabbath holy, but who am I to say?” She shrugged her shoulders. “All I know is that folks are hungry on Sunday as well as Monday.”
“Come on, you lot,” Toby declared. “Don’t be holdin’ up the line. There’s gonna be other hungry folks comin’.” He looked at Abrianna and smiled. “Thanks again, Miss Abrianna. You aren’t like some of those Christian folks who just talk about helping the poor.”
A few more men entered the building and made their way to the table. They seemed stunned that the news of a free meal was true but wasted no time in accepting the gift and heading to the few empty chairs left. Wade and Thane stood to one side eating, while Abrianna and Militine circulated around the room to see that everyone had what they needed.
“You make this soup, Miss Abrianna?” one of the men asked.
“I did. Of course I had help.” She leaned in to whisper. “I’m not all that good at cooking, but I figure this will give me a chance to practice. Hopefully you men won’t mind making this journey with me. If it tastes horrible, I’ll expect you to tell me.”
“Seems perfect to me, miss. I ain’t had anything so good in a long while.” This came from a scruffy-looking man Abrianna hadn’t yet met. “Last hot food I had was some watered-down oatmeal.”
“Well, I’m glad you are enjoying it. I’m just happy to offer it. You know, there are some very kind people in the city who were worried about you the same as I was. They gave me money to set this place up, so when you say your prayers tonight, you might want to thank God for their generosity.”
“To be sure,” he replied, and some of the others looked up from their bowls just long enough to nod.
Within an hour everyone was fed, and Abrianna knew she would have to ask them to leave the warmth of the building so that she and the others could clean and close up for the day. If she didn’t return home at the appointed time, Aunt Miriam might well put an end to her venture.
“Now, please take your bowls and spoons to the table up front for washing. Just leave the napkins on the tables. We’ll gather those after a while.” She wished she could allow them to stay, but time was already getting away from her. “I’m sorry to say that I will need everyone to leave for now, but be assured we will return tomorrow. Lunch will be served at noon, just as it was today. If you know others who are hungry, please let them know about this place.”
She wasn’t sure how the men would respond to being kicked out, but to her relief they all began to get up and do as she had asked. Making her way back behind the table, she and Wade received the bowls and silverware. Thane and Militine had readied the washtubs and already managed to clean the soup kettle and serving ladles. For their first day, Abrianna found the entire arrangement to be more than satisfactory.
“I hope it goes this well every day,” she told Wade.
“With you in charge, it wouldn’t dare go otherwise.”
She laughed. “You do sometimes say the si
lliest things, Wade Ackerman. I cannot control how the day might play out. That is solely in the hands of the Almighty.”
“Maybe so,” Wade said with a grin, “but sometimes I wonder if He doesn’t consult you first.”
“Wade Ackerman! That’s a blasphemous thing to say. I know you cannot possibly mean it, but it grieves me that you would even offer it in jest.” By now the building was empty, with the exception of her friends. “And here I thought the day would go by without you causing me difficulty.”
He laughed. “I’m not being difficult, just honest. I know He doesn’t get your approval on things, but I also know He has to make provision for you on a regular basis because you’re headstrong and determined to do whatever comes into that pretty little head of yours—good or bad.”
“You are . . .” She paused, trying to think of something to call him. Words didn’t usually escape her, but this time she found herself tongue-tied. She’d never really meant to give the impression that she was headstrong or unwilling to receive counsel. With a sigh she gave Wade a nod. “You are probably right. I’m sure God does make additional provision for me.”
She left his side to gather the napkins and check the condition of the tablecloths. Those that were clean enough she left in place, and gathered the others for laundering.
Wade followed her to the table. “I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.”
“You didn’t. As I said, you are most likely right. People who answer God’s call on their life often find that the world does not understand it. Especially when a woman is involved. Hence, I believe God does make additional provision, not only to protect me from the harm of those less-than-honorable folk, but also from those good Christians who judge me to be crazy.”
“I never said you were crazy, Abrianna. Just a little headstrong in a way that often puts you in danger. Your stubbornness might cost you your life, even if you are acting in the name of God. I just don’t want you to be foolish.”
Refining Fire Page 6
