In Times Gone by

by Tracie Peterson

  Caleb wanted to ask Ruef what he knew about God but held his tongue. He pushed the letter Ruef had given him toward Patrick. “Are these figures agreeable?”

  Patrick did nothing but stare at Ruef for several seconds, then finally he glanced down at the paper. If he was as surprised as Caleb had been, he didn’t show it.

  “Here are all the papers you need to prove your business and home ownership. The previous tenants have already left the city, so the house and attached shop have been abandoned. You’ll be able to start business immediately, and I know that Mayor Schmitz is anxious for you to help with the downtown restoration. Your prior experience with commercial construction is invaluable to us at this time. There will be a meeting in three days with other contractors and business owners. All the details are in the folder. Plans need to be drawn up to decide what will be rebuilt and what will be abandoned. We’ll expect you to be there, Mr. Murdock.” Ruef held out a thick folder. “The vouchers are on top.”

  Patrick took the folder but didn’t bother to look inside. Ruef seemed about to say something else, then seemed to think better of it.

  “I’m sure Mr. Murdock will be available for the meeting,” Caleb said.

  “If you would be good enough to sign this, acknowledging receipt of compensation,” Ruef said, holding out another piece of paper.

  Caleb took it and looked at it. It was simple and to the point. He handed it to Patrick. “It’s safe to sign.”

  Patrick looked up from the letter. “I’ll be needin’ a pen.”

  “Of course.” Ruef quickly complied.

  Patrick signed the receipt and tossed it atop the mess on Ruef’s desk. He followed that with the pen. “Now, if that’s all . . .” He looked at Ruef as if challenging him.

  Ruef gave a cool smile. “It is. If you take the door to the left of my office, it will lead you downstairs and out into the alley. You’ll find the horses and freight wagon awaiting you there. My man is expecting you.”

  Patrick fixed Ruef with a hard gaze. “In the spirit of rebuildin’, I’ll keep my peace, but there is bad blood between us, and an Irishman can’t be easily settin’ that aside—even if he is a man of God.”

  He didn’t wait for Ruef to reply but strode from the room. Caleb looked back at Ruef and shook his head. He wanted Ruef to account for so much, but now wasn’t the time.

  “Good day, Mr. Ruef.”

  Walking away was the hardest thing Caleb had ever done, but he kept going. The day would come, he promised himself, when Ruef would account for all the wrong he’d committed. It might be a long way off, given the current situation, but it would come.

  CHAPTER

  5

  Twenty?” Micah looked at the tables set up for surgical procedures. “Twenty gunshot victims?” Most of the patients were conscious and in pain. The man nearest to Micah begged to be put out of his misery.

  “They were shot by soldiers,” the nurse told him. “Some of them more than once.” She sounded as disgusted as he felt.

  “It’s bad enough we have thousands of earthquake and fire injuries to contend with, but the army has to make it worse by sending us gunshot wounds as well?”

  “I’m afraid so.” Micah turned to find one of his associates, Dr. Nystrom. The older man shook his head. “And it’s not just the army. Any ninny who has declared himself a law official is out there abusing his power to shoot and kill.”

  “It’s out-and-out murder for those who die.”

  “And additional work for us if we want them to live,” Nystrom replied. “I’ll take this side, you take the other. Nurse, get me someone to assist.”

  She nodded and went to do just that.

  Nystrom motioned to Micah. “Come on, let’s get scrubbed up.”

  Micah could see there was nothing else to be done. He certainly wasn’t going to convince the army to stop shooting people. San Francisco was in a state of madness. He would have thought lives would be considered dearer after losing so many to the earthquake, but if anything, it had created an insanity that seemed to discount that precious commodity.

  “Have new supplies come in?” Micah asked, shedding his outer coat.

  “Yes, thankfully,” Nystrom said. “A ship came from Oakland, loaded with everything we needed. God bless those people and so many others across the country. From what I’ve heard, money and supplies are pouring in.”

  “That is definitely something to thank God for.” Micah rolled up his shirt sleeves.

  They washed and prepared for a day of surgery. As repulsed as Micah was by the army’s casual attitude toward life, he couldn’t keep his thoughts from drifting to Kenzie. He prayed God would show him how to win her. He knew he would have to move slowly, and that wouldn’t be easy. He loved her and wanted very much for her to be his wife, and he didn’t want to wait. Maybe it was the earthquake and seeing life easily lost on a day-to-day basis that made him feel so urgent, but he was desperate for her to see that they belonged together.

  By nightfall, another dozen patients had been brought in—all with gunshot wounds. Over the course of the day, Micah had repaired more than fifteen such injuries and assisted in two cranial surgeries. Neither of the latter two patients survived. They simply needed more than this facility could give.

  Rather than go home, Micah collapsed on a cot in a storage closet. The room was used exclusively by the doctors to catch up on rest. Dr. Nystrom had brought Micah here and commanded him to sleep, then given the nurse strict orders that Micah wasn’t to be disturbed for at least six hours. Given his state of exhaustion, Micah didn’t argue.

  He also didn’t bother to take off his shoes. He simply pulled a blanket across his body and closed his eyes. His last thoughts were of kissing Kenzie.

  “Patrick has done such a good job repairing things,” Caleb said, looking around his house. He went to the fireplace and knelt to look up inside. “He said everything, including the chimney, is in good working order, and we can move back in anytime.”

  Judith looked toward a long section of fresh plaster. “Camri will have to have the walls repapered.”

  “Or you can arrange it, since this will be our home, at least for a time.”

  Judith shook her head. “I’m no good at things like that. Your sister, on the other hand, has a wonderful way with it. I think the job should be hers, if it doesn’t add too much to her schedule.”

  “She won’t mind that. My sister is always happiest when she has a stack of projects requiring her attention.” Caleb stood. “Except for a few knickknacks breaking, we fared pretty well.”

  “We were very blessed.” Judith went to the piano. Something had fallen on it and gouged the beautiful wood. She ran her hand over the damage.

  Caleb came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her. His hand covered hers. “It will still sound beautiful. Why don’t you play us something?”

  Judith would have much rather remained there in Caleb’s arms, but she nodded and took her place at the keys. She began to play a Beethoven piece and glanced up with a smile. “You were right. It sounds perfect.”

  “Your playing always sounds perfect,” Caleb replied.

  “I didn’t mean it that way, and you know it.” She looked down.

  “Well, it’s not the most expensive piano in the city, and certainly not as fine as the one your grandmother owned.”

  “Perhaps not, but that piano was destroyed.” Judith let her fingers dance over the keys. She was never quite so happy as when she was playing the piano. “I’ll never forget the first time I played Grandmother’s piano, however. It was the finest instrument I’d ever touched. Even Cousin Victoria’s poor playing had a ring of beauty.” She stopped abruptly. “Victoria!” She looked at Caleb. “I never even thought to contact her. She must have heard about the earthquake by now. She must wonder about her family. Oh, I feel terrible.” She stood up and moved to Caleb’s side. “What can we do? We must get word to her and let her know about her father and brother. Grandmother too.”
/>   “Do you know the name of the finishing school she’s attending?”

  “No. Only that it’s in Switzerland.” Judith frowned. “I wish I’d paid closer attention, but I was terribly sick when she left.” She couldn’t help remembering that only a short time ago, she had nearly died from poison her cousin Bill had given her. He had resented her for claiming her rightful inheritance, and hated their grandmother for giving it to her.

  Caleb seemed to consider this a moment. “We could go to her fiancé. What was his name?”

  “Piedmont Rosedale. I heard Grandmother say his house was in a peculiar location for a man of his great wealth. Apparently, he built some monstrosity overlooking the ocean.”

  “I know exactly where it is. Rosedale’s oddities are known to one and all. I think we should pay him a call. Let him know about the other family members and see how we can go about contacting Victoria.”

  “Can we go now?” She touched his arm and looked up into his chocolate brown eyes. She had fallen in love with him at first sight, and being so near to him caused her breath to catch in her throat. “Please?”

  He touched her cheek. “Of course, my darling. For you, I would set San Francisco back to rights—turn back time—whatever it took to make you happy.”

  “You make me happy.” Judith smiled. “I’ve never been happier. I suppose that sounds strange, given all that’s happened, but I mean it. I don’t mind living at the warehouse and working in the kitchen. So long as you are there—or I know you soon will be—I find I can face anything.”

  He leaned over and kissed her gently on the mouth. Judith was still in awe of how such a simple action could send her heart racing. When he straightened, she smiled again.

  He grinned back, then took hold of her arm. “Come along, Miss Whitley. We have business to attend to, and I won’t have your flirtations distracting me. It’s scandalous enough that we’ve been in the house alone for at least fifteen minutes. What will the neighbors say?”

  She giggled and let him lead her out to the horse and wagon. His car had been confiscated by the army, but Judith didn’t mind. She’d always loved horses, and the wagon, albeit uncomfortable, was just a minor inconvenience. Besides, the horse could get them through areas that a car could never pass.

  They made their way out past Golden Gate Park, where thousands of tents had been erected in precise order. People were everywhere, and the army was clearly present. Judith saw long lines formed where various goods were being distributed. There were also lines of able-bodied men and women registering to work.

  “They’re keeping folks fed, clothed, and busy,” Caleb commented, snapping the reins lightly. The horse picked up its pace a bit. “That’s always key to keeping people happy. Without it, they’d have open rebellion, even riots on their hands.”

  The tents had been set up in military fashion with only a small amount of space between each one. People, however, were doing what they could to make their allotted space a home. One tent had a framed piece of embroidery hanging from the outside tent wall. It read, “God Bless Our Home.” On another, someone had pinned lacy curtain panels along the entry flap.

  People had also brought what possessions they could and arranged them to create some semblance of normalcy. Judith saw a man in a full suit and top hat sitting on a ladderback chair outside his tent. He was reading the newspaper as if nothing were amiss. Here and there children played, and mothers cooked over stoves of expedient design. One woman had even set up her treadle sewing machine and was busy making something.

  “They are trying their best to go on,” Judith murmured.

  “The alternative would be to give in to hopelessness,” Caleb countered.

  “Yes, and that would be worse by far.” Judith thought of all the money she’d been left by her grandmother. “Caleb, is there anything I can do? I mean, I have my inheritance.”

  He turned to her, his expression admiring. “You are such a generous soul. What we need to do is figure out what industries you now own. Perhaps with the shipping company, for instance, we can bring in supplies free of charge. I recall the Whitleys owned several lumber mills in Oregon. You could probably arrange to ship lumber down here for rebuilding.”

  She clapped her hands in excitement. “That would be wonderful! I never even thought of things like that. Oh, Caleb, I want to do whatever I can to help. I didn’t earn that money. It was given to me, and I want to give in return.”

  Caleb kissed her cheek. “That’s only a small part of why I love you.”

  They finally arrived at the Rosedale estate. The house looked like nothing Judith had ever seen. She gaped at it.

  “Rosedale is known for his eccentric taste,” Caleb said, amused at her reaction.

  “What a strange house!”

  The mansion was constructed of white marble in some places and brown stone in others. It had a sort of castle-like look to it with four corner turrets. But these were crowned with domes that gave the place a more exotic feel.

  “It would seem he’s mixed Romanesque with Italianate and Queen Anne,” Caleb said, chuckling. “In fact, he’s probably utilized every form of architecture to create this behemoth.”

  “I’m sure it must suit him. Grandmother said he was older than Victoria.”

  “Older is putting it mildly. He is at least as old as Victoria’s father.”

  “How awful for her.” Judith shuddered. “I can’t abide that Grandmother would force Victoria into a loveless marriage with an old man.”

  Caleb brought the horse to a halt. He tied off the reins and set the brake. “Not everyone is as fortunate as we are.”

  “No, I’m sure that’s true.” Judith waited for him to help her down from the wagon. He took her arm and led her up the stone walkway to the massive oak doors.

  It wasn’t but a moment before a butler appeared. He looked at Caleb and Judith as if they were stray animals.

  Caleb extended his card. “Would you please let Mr. Piedmont know that Miss Judith Whitley, cousin of his fiancé, Victoria Whitley, and Caleb Coulter have come to speak with him?”

  The butler hesitated, then took the card. He studied Judith for a moment, then stepped back to allow them to enter. Once they were inside, he closed the door. “Please wait here.”

  He left them in a strange circular foyer. The white marble floors were spotless and polished to perfection. The walls were papered in gold-patterned material, and overhead a large gold and crystal chandelier hung but offered no light.

  It wasn’t long before the butler reappeared. “Come this way, please.”

  He led them through a maze of rooms. Judith found it all dark yet rather fascinating. Paintings of stern-faced men and women dotted the brief corridors. It was as if they kept watch on anyone who passed by and judged whether or not they were worthy of being there. They seemed very disapproving.

  Finally, Judith and Caleb were shown into a library. This room was lighter and quite large. It was open to the third floor, with rows of books lining the walls from floor to ceiling on each level. There were two sets of stairs at either end of the room, and large windows let in light as well as gave a beautiful vista of the ocean.

  Judith looked around but saw nothing of Mr. Rosedale. She started to question the butler, but he had already gone and closed the door behind him.

  “This is quite the room,” Caleb said, moving to the windows that looked out over the water. “Come see.”

  Judith joined him. “It’s breathtaking.”

  “Maybe we should buy some coastal land and build our house there.” He looked at her and winked. “Maybe just not this big.”

  “Or this fashionable.” Judith couldn’t help but giggle. “I’m afraid I’d get lost in this house. I thought Grandmother’s was bad enough.”

  The door opened behind them, and Caleb and Judith turned to find themselves face-to-face with a rotund man. He had long sideburns whose purpose might have been to compensate for his balding head. He was perspiring, and it gave his rudd
y complexion a fiery glow.

  “Mr. Coulter. Miss Whitley. I must say, I had no idea of meeting either of you today.”

  “I realize that,” Caleb said, stepping forward to offer his hand, “but we felt, under the circumstances, that formalities could be set aside.”

  Rosedale’s eyes narrowed. He looked a moment at Caleb’s hand, then turned away, dabbing a handkerchief to his lips. “What circumstances?”

  Judith didn’t care for the way he’d snubbed Caleb. “You’re engaged to my cousin, Victoria.” She stepped past Caleb and went to stand in front of Rosedale, who had plopped his obese frame into a large overstuffed chair.

  “You are the woman who stole her inheritance,” the large man said matter-of-factly.

  Judith was surprised by his comment. “I did no such thing. I didn’t even know there was a fortune to be had. My grandmother arranged for my share to be given to me.”

  “Your share and everyone else’s. I have knowledgeable friends who assure me that you now hold the family purse strings.” He paused a moment and gave her a once-over. “You are without a husband, I believe?”

  “She’s engaged to marry me,” Caleb interjected. “However, her marital status isn’t the reason we’ve come. We wanted to know if you knew about the death of Victoria’s family. Obviously you do, so we’ll move on. Have you informed Victoria?”

  “Why should I? It’s hardly my job to be a messenger.”

  “I would think you’d want to offer her comfort in her time of loss.” Judith could hardly believe his callous attitude. “She no doubt has heard about the earthquake and fire and must long for news of her family.”

  “I seriously doubt Victoria has worried overmuch about anything of the sort. She’s not given to sentimentality. However, there is something I will address with you regarding that young woman. Since I have become aware that she has been left practically penniless, I find that I must reevaluate the nature of our relationship.”