Homecoming Girls

by Val Wood

  They decided they would get off the train and since in spite of the murky weather it wasn’t raining they were able to walk about the platform for some much-needed exercise and chat to the few other passengers, before eating a bowl of broth and a plate of sausages. An hour later they were on their way again.

  ‘The journey seems so long this time,’ Clara said and thought with a sinking heart of the journey from New York to Dreumel’s Creek and then back again before her voyage home. ‘I’ll spend a week at Dreumel,’ she told Jewel, ‘then ask Uncle Wilhelm to book a berth for me.’

  ‘Only a week?’ Jewel asked. ‘Oh, Clara, how I’ll miss you! Must you go so soon?’

  ‘You said that the valley becomes closed in because of the snow. I don’t want to be trapped until the spring.’ And Clara realized that now she had decided to go home, she didn’t want any delay.

  ‘But it won’t snow yet! What month are we in? I’ve quite lost track of the time.’

  ‘We left England in June, and we are almost at the end of October already!’ Clara said. ‘By the time I’m home I shall have been away for six months. Such a long time,’ she said pensively. ‘Oh, I’m not saying that it hasn’t been wonderful – it has; but now I’m ready to go home.’

  ‘Yes,’ Jewel replied, but she had a catch in her voice and wondered where home was for her.

  The journey had taken longer than anticipated, and when they descended from the train, stiff and weary, they were delighted to see Wilhelm waiting for them on the platform and wearing a huge smile of welcome. They were more than pleased to let him take charge of their luggage and hand them into the waiting chaise to be whisked off to the New York Marius, where tea and cake were waiting. When they had finished, a warm bath was run for them.

  ‘So nice to be independent,’ Clara remarked, as they changed for supper. ‘But lovely to be cosseted too.’

  Wilhelm assured Jewel that Georgiana was very well and looking forward to seeing her again. ‘It has been a long time without you,’ he said, and stroked her cheek. ‘We missed you.’

  His words comforted her, but also troubled her. How would they feel if she left again? They wouldn’t try to detain her, she knew that, but how would they feel if she left to live in San Francisco? Would they be so bound up with the new baby that they wouldn’t make any objections, and if that was the case how would she feel, when they had always been such a big part of her life?

  On the journey towards Dreumel’s Creek, Clara watched unobtrusively as Jewel nestled into Wilhelm’s shoulder. She is going to be so divided between longing for Lorenzo and her loyalty and love for Wilhelm and Aunt Gianna. She’ll want to be in two places at the same time. But she has to make a choice. Whereas I – she thought fleetingly of Federico, then lingered longer and with some tenderness over James Crawford, who with his ancient culture was so much more remarkable and enlightened, and gave a contented sigh – I have decided on my choice.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

  Georgiana was waiting on the porch of the Marius when they drove into Dreumel’s Creek. She was wrapped in shawls but they could see that she was plumper, and looked fit and happy.

  She gathered them both up in her arms and led them into the hotel lounge and vowed that she wanted to know everything about what they had been doing. ‘But not all at once, of course. You must take your time, and you must be very weary after your long journey.’

  ‘It was wonderful, Aunt Gianna,’ Clara declared. ‘This is such a wonderful, wonderful country. And I should be so happy to come back again some time.’

  Gianna raised her eyebrows. ‘Does that mean that you are leaving us soon?’

  ‘Yes,’ she said, and told her about Elizabeth.

  ‘Then of course you must go home; Elizabeth will want you there to share the joy, as will your mother. And what about you, my darling?’ Gianna asked Jewel. ‘Did you find what you were looking for?’

  ‘Yes, Mama, I did.’ Jewel smiled at her. ‘And I also discovered what I already had.’

  Gianna nodded. ‘Yes,’ she said softly. ‘That is so important. To be grateful for what we have. I discovered that many years ago when I was at a crossroads in my life.’

  ‘And now you are about to produce another life,’ Clara said softly, though boldly, knowing that many women never spoke of their impending confinement.

  But not Georgiana. She smiled and smiled. ‘I am so lucky,’ she said. ‘After so many years of thinking that we would never give birth, a miracle has happened. We have Jewel, of course’ – she took hold of Jewel’s hand and intertwined their fingers – ‘who has brought us such joy; but one day she’ll leave us for someone else, someone she loves, and have children of her own.’

  Jewel’s eyes filled with tears as she realized that she should have known that her parents would never hold her back. ‘Mama,’ she said. ‘I have already met someone. I’d like to tell you about him. And I want to tell you about my birth mother, Chang Tsui, and Soong Daiyu, my milk mother; about Chen and his sisters and also about Pinyin, who is at the heart of the story.’

  Clara had noticed that James Crawford had gone from the hotel and when they were alone asked Georgiana about him. ‘I liked him very much,’ she confessed. ‘He told me that he would return to his people one day.’

  ‘That is what he has done,’ Georgiana said. ‘He spoke of you, Clara, and wished you happiness in your life. He also said,’ she paused, ‘and I have not spoken of this to anyone else, that he would always remember you with great affection.’ She gazed into space, as if thinking of times past. ‘The Iroquois are very special people,’ she said softly. ‘We should be honoured to have their regard – and love,’ she added in a whisper.

  ‘Thank you, Aunt Gianna,’ Clara murmured. ‘I am. I feel it has been a special privilege to know him. He opened my eyes to know myself.’ She felt that Gianna too had experienced something remarkable, something secret and cherished in her life which she wasn’t prepared to share, but would keep locked in her heart for ever. As I will also.

  Georgiana went on to tell her that until they found someone else to run the hotel, Caitlin was acting as temporary manager. ‘She’s doing very well,’ she said, ‘but we don’t feel that she is quite ready to take on the responsibility completely. She’s fairly experienced, as she helps Kitty in their Yeller hotel, but they’re not busy just now, nor will they be for some time until the town is rebuilt, so they can spare her.’

  She gazed at Clara quizzically. ‘I haven’t yet told Jewel that Dan is working in Yeller. He’s teamed up with Jason, who needs someone with wood-working skills. How do you think Jewel will react to that?’

  Jewel had wandered down by the creek on her own, telling Clara that she would catch up with her later in the morning. She paused halfway down the Dreumel road to Yeller to gaze into the sparkling rushing water, and then lifted her eyes to the changing colours of the trees on the mountainside. Most were clad in a showy dappled mantle of colour now that autumn was in full swing: a rubicundity of scarlet, a tincture of blood red and the warmth of russet and creamy gold. The air was crisp and sharp, a complete contrast to San Francisco, where the days had been hot in the summer, but also dank and foggy sometimes when the rolling mist had obscured the bay.

  She heard a horse and waggon approaching from the direction of Yeller and idly looked up. The driver lifted his whip as he passed but then swiftly turned his head, reined in and jumped down.

  ‘Jewel! Great heavens! Is it really you?’

  ‘Dan!’ Strangely enough, she was pleased to see him and not anxious or embarrassed, as she had thought she would be. ‘Dan. How lovely to see you here!’

  He put his arms round her and gave her a smacking kiss on her cheek, which really did unnerve her. He wasn’t usually so demonstrative.

  ‘It’s really good to see you, Jewel.’ He grinned. ‘When did you arrive? I didn’t know you were coming, which is surprising considering the drumbeats we hear when anything’s happening round here.’

  ‘On
ly last night,’ she said, and listened. We? He sounded most proprietorial. Had he settled here? Was that why? Is he happier than he was? He seemed more relaxed, not as intense as he usually was in her presence. Can we at last be true friends, she thought, without any hindrance between us? For I would like that above all else.

  ‘Dan,’ she said, as he at the same instant said, ‘Jewel. There’s something I must tell you.’

  They were interrupted by a loud ‘Hello’ and a thud of hooves as a rider came fast towards them. Jewel saw Dan’s face light up in a grin. Caitlin, she realized, and knew at that instant why Dan had changed.

  Caitlin slid off the horse. ‘Jewel! I’ve only just heard you’ve arrived at last.’

  ‘Did you know she was coming?’ Dan asked querulously. ‘You never said.’

  ‘Didn’t I?’ Caitlin turned up her nose. ‘Well, since when did I have to tell you anything?’

  ‘Only because Jewel is one of my oldest friends!’ he retorted. ‘Of course I’d want to know when she was coming.’

  She shrugged. ‘You know now,’ she answered coolly, and tucking her arm through Jewel’s said, ‘I want to know about everything you and Clara have been doing whilst you’ve been in California,’ she said. ‘Everything, cos nothing happens here that’s worth talking about.’

  Jewel laughed, more at Dan’s expression of incredulity than anything. ‘You had a fire in Yeller before we left,’ she said. ‘I should have thought that was enough to last a long time. And then,’ she said mischievously, ‘you have English visitors.’

  ‘Have we?’ Caitlin said nonchalantly. ‘I hadn’t noticed.’

  Dan shook his head in exasperation and turned towards the waggon. ‘I’ll catch up with you later, Jewel,’ he said, raising his hand. ‘Maybe we can have a chat alone without fear of interruption.’

  Caitlin watched him go and Jewel saw that she pressed her lips together and frowned as if wishing she’d held her tongue.

  ‘Do you like him?’ Jewel asked her and watched in amusement as Caitlin assumed an expression of disinterest.

  ‘He’s all right,’ she said. ‘Don’t really know him.’

  Jewel smiled. ‘Don’t you? I would have thought that you knew each other very well.’

  Caitlin shook her red curls. ‘No. Not really. He’s working with Jason, you know. They’re building houses in Yeller.’

  ‘Are they?’ Jewel watched Dan’s retreating back. ‘So does that mean he’s staying?’

  Caitlin stroked her horse’s neck. ‘Guess he might be. He says he likes it here.’ She turned to Jewel and again she bit on her lip. ‘Has he ever kissed you, Jewel?’ She blushed as she spoke.

  Jewel took a breath. ‘No!’ she said, even though he just had, but she knew that Caitlin didn’t mean that kind of friendship kiss. ‘Dan would never do anything like that. Why do you ask?’

  Caitlin lifted her shoulders. ‘I just thought that you and he were . . . you know.’ She shrugged again.

  ‘Were what?’ Jewel said in mock indignation. ‘You’re not saying that Dan has – has romantic feelings towards me?’ She lifted her eyes to the sky and then closed them. ‘And I never guessed,’ she said softly. ‘What a fool I am.’

  Dan hitched up the horse and waggon and ran up the steps into the Marius. ‘Is Mrs Dreumel here?’ he asked the desk clerk, and was directed into the hotel lounge, where Georgiana was sitting with Clara.

  He welcomed Clara enthusiastically when she stood up to greet him. ‘I can’t believe we’re meeting here,’ she said. ‘So far from Hull! Is everyone all right at home – your ma and da?’

  ‘Yes.’ He laughed. ‘And Thomas is too, in case you were wondering, and so are your ma and pa, and I don’t know about Elizabeth, as I hadn’t seen her in months before I left, but I’d have heard if she wasn’t.’

  ‘Would you like to have coffee with us, Dan?’ Georgiana asked him. ‘You can hear of some of Clara’s and Jewel’s adventures.’

  ‘Oh, thank you but no, I’m on my way to ’wood yard. I’ve just seen Jewel and had a few words with her, but I’d like to talk to her, and you too, Clara, when you’ve settled back in.’

  He appeared to hesitate, and Georgiana asked, ‘Was there something else, Dan?’

  He nodded and fiddled with his shirt neck. ‘There was: I wanted some advice. But it’ll wait.’

  ‘Shall I leave? Did you want to speak privately to Aunt Gianna?’ Clara half rose from her chair.

  He licked his lips. ‘Erm, no. I shouldn’t be here really. I’ve a job to finish; but when I met Jewel, I came in on ’off chance of speaking to you, Mrs Dreumel.’

  ‘Then you’d better tell me. Get it off your chest, as they say,’ Georgiana said brightly, though there was a slight tenseness in her voice.

  ‘Will you stay, Clara? Please,’ Dan urged. ‘You know me as well as anybody, I’d say, and I’d value your opinion.’

  ‘If you’re sure.’ Clara too felt uneasy. Was he going to speak about his feelings for Jewel? Was he going to declare himself to Aunt Gianna? But if that was his intention, why would he want her there? And surely he’d want to speak to Wilhelm?

  ‘You’d think, wouldn’t you, that I could mek my own decisions.’ Dan began to pace about. ‘But I’m in another country and it seems to me that there’re not as many restrictions as there are back home when your ma and da want to know all ’ins and outs; well, not want to know exactly, but you feel obliged to tell them.’

  ‘What are you trying to say, Dan?’ Georgiana asked quietly. ‘And are you sure that it is a question you want us to hear?’

  ‘Oh yes.’ He stopped his pacing and stood in front of her. ‘I want to know if I’m likely to mek a fool of myself; although,’ he added, ‘I don’t really care if I do.’

  Georgiana felt a sinking feeling coursing through her. Poor fellow, she thought. He’s still carrying a torch for Jewel and she has told me that she cares for someone else.

  ‘It was just now when I saw Jewel again that decided me,’ he said in a rush. ‘Cos you both know how I’ve felt about her. But my head’s been in a whirl ever since I came here and – well, to be honest I’ve never felt like this before. I can’t sleep. I break out in a sweat when I think about her, even though I’ve not known her long; she drives me crazy with her temper but ’worst thing is that I don’t think she even likes me very much cos we’re allus at loggerheads whenever we meet, and she’s so offhand and scathing and hardly ever has owt pleasant to say to me.’

  Clara and Georgiana glanced at each other and both wore a puzzled frown. Then a small smile touched Georgiana’s lips.

  ‘Am I right in thinking that you’re speaking of Caitlin, Dan?’ she asked solemnly.

  ‘Why, aye,’ he said bluntly. ‘Who else is there that answers to that description, Mrs Dreumel? Thing is, I don’t know what to do about it.’

  ‘You should ask her to marry you, Dan.’ Jewel’s voice came from the doorway. Dan turned, open-mouthed in astonishment.

  He went towards her and took her hand. ‘You know how I’ve cared about you, Jewel,’ he said softly. ‘Since we were just bairns. How can I love someone else so soon? It’s as if a thunderbolt’s struck me, or I’ve been run over by a team of hosses.’

  ‘I do know,’ she answered in a whisper. ‘But it wasn’t grownup love you felt for me. You were attracted to me because I was different.’ She smiled. ‘And I can tell you that Caitlin is so jealous because she thinks that you care for me and not for her. Go and tell her,’ she urged, ‘and put her out of her misery.’

  He grinned and rushed out of the room. Clara and Jewel went to the window and watched him taking the hotel steps in one giant leap. He looked up and down the road and then as if shot from a spring ran down the road to where a rider was coming towards him. They both craned their necks and Jewel stood on tiptoe as they tried to see.

  Caitlin looked down at him, but tossed her head and rode past him as if coming towards the hotel; but Dan about-turned and grabbed the reins. They couldn’
t hear what was said, but saw Dan reach up to Caitlin and her lifting her hand as if to slap him. He wasn’t deterred and grabbed her with both hands and physically lifted her down.

  ‘What’s happening?’ Georgiana asked from her chair. ‘Is it resolved?’

  Jewel and Clara both glanced over their shoulders at her, smiling broadly, and then turned back to the window.

  ‘Yes,’ Clara said gleefully. ‘He’s swinging her round and kissing her.’

  Jewel took a breath. ‘And she’s kissing him back.’ She laughed. ‘And what’s more, there seems to be half of Dreumel’s Creek watching them and cheering!’

  CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

  ‘She’s too young,’ Ted objected when Dan, with Caitlin by his side clasping his fingers, asked for her hand in marriage.

  ‘I’m not, Pa,’ Caitlin argued.

  Her mother agreed. ‘She’s ’same age as I was when we wed,’ Kitty reminded him.

  ‘It’s not that I’ve any objections to you personally, Dan,’ Ted said. ‘But you’ve only just come to Yeller; we hardly know you. Besides which, Caitlin’s not met many young fellers and won’t know her own mind.’

  ‘Sure I do, Pa. There are all the young lads I was at school with. I’ve hung around with most of them.’ Caitlin linked her arm in Dan’s. ‘Kissed a few too,’ she added, blushing to her hair roots as Dan turned to look at her with his brows raised.

  ‘What!’ her father said, but Kitty only laughed.

  ‘Wish I’d done that before I met you!’

  ‘I’ll think on it,’ Ted said. ‘It’s not something I expected for a while. Caitlin’s still a bairn as far as I’m concerned.’

  ‘I’m almost nineteen, Pa.’ Caitlin left Dan’s side to stand by her father. ‘Jenny Mathews is married and expecting,’ she said, ‘and Katy Thompson’s getting wed in a fortnight. They’re both younger than me.’

  Ted grunted. ‘Like I say, I’ll think on it. We don’t know if Dan intends staying in Yeller.’