“Are you all right, Livvy?” Daniel laid a hand on her shoulder.
“I don’t know.” She pulled a handkerchief from her pocket and wiped at her eyes. When she looked up, she turned to Joseph. “You know that man?”
“Unfortunately, yes.” His eyes remained on Dr. Morgan’s door.
“Did we do the right thing?” The thought choked her. How could she let that boy go into a stranger’s care, although she realized that she was just as much a stranger.
“I … I’m sorry. I need to go.” Without another word, Joseph ran back toward the restaurant.
It was so unlike him. Her heart picked up speed. Was the boy in danger? Olivia looked at her brother. “What do you think is going on?”
“I’m not sure, Livvy.” He watched his friend with a serious look on his face. “I’m sure he was going back to get his horse. And after that, perhaps he is looking into Mr. Banister and the child.” He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and turned her back to the restaurant. “But it’s best to let Joseph handle this. He knows what he’s doing.”
In her heart, she knew that Daniel was trying to keep her calm, but her mind screamed that Joseph and the boy were in danger, and there was nothing she could do about it.
Did the next shipment arrive?” The man looked at one of his other employees—Randy Jones—who he’d put in charge under George.
“Yes, sir. All the packages were delivered.” The man had proved his worth over the last few months.
While George Banister was the face of the upstanding, wealthy assistant and his right-hand man, Randy was more of a hands-on, do-the-dirty-work assistant. And that was good, especially if they needed someone to take the fall. Of course, he wouldn’t tell Randy that.
“As to the problems we were having with our Orient products, they’ve been moved, and the locations are secure.” Jones straightened his jacket, looking quite confident.
“Good, good.” With the election happening as they spoke, it was of utmost importance to keep things out of the prying eyes of any do-gooder citizens. “Did you also cover all the windows for now? I don’t want any other mishaps like before.”
“I did. Heavy curtains are hung, and the windows are all locked with chains. We shouldn’t have any issues, but we are outgrowing the space once again.”
“In light of how much business we are doing, it doesn’t surprise me. I’ll just have to get creative with our storage.”
“There’s also the discussion of food. I wouldn’t want to bring suspicious eyes around because of the quantity.”
The man was astute, which was good. “I’ve already instructed George to work with different suppliers. He changes things around quite regularly.”
Randy shifted his weight and nodded. “Well, sir, if you don’t need me for anything else, I’ll get back to work.”
“Very well.” He returned to his seat behind the large mahogany desk. Everything was falling into place nicely. He’d kept his name unknown while building a vast empire. Let the citizens of San Francisco believe he was just humble and wanted his privacy. That made him even more of an enigma to the curious. But word had spread for many months of the great benefactor who’d helped fund and establish a city council, a wealthy man who had donated food and clothing to the poor, and a businessman who wanted to see their city become the greatest port in all of America. While the majority of people in town wanted to do whatever they pleased without anyone telling them what they could and couldn’t do, many outspoken residents wanted to see change. If California were to become a state and a real government were to be brought in, he needed to have all his chess pieces in place.
There was nothing wrong with his giving people the picture they wanted to see while underneath it all he continued to grow the trade that had made him even wealthier. Dirty money could fund all the good things he planned to do, and no one would be the wiser even after he made his identity known at the opportune time, of course.
It was all about power. And he planned to have it.
Joseph hid in the crowd of spectators; he was dressed in raggedy garments with dirt and mud smudged all over his face. When the announcement had been made that John Geary had been elected the alcalde, his heart cheered along with the crowd. John was a good man. President Polk had sent him to San Francisco earlier this year to be the postmaster. Maybe now they could create some real change in their town.
Searching through the crowd, Joseph kept an eye out for George. The more he’d thought about it, the more he suspected the man. But of what he wasn’t sure. Something in his gut just told him that the man wasn’t the upstanding citizen that he portrayed. If only Joseph could prove it.
The clapping around him continued as John Geary took to the stage. Joseph continued to move through the people while listening to their newly elected official. The alcalde spoke with passion about the needs of San Francisco. “At this time we are without a dollar in the public treasury, and it is to be feared the city is greatly in debt. You have neither an office for your magistrate nor any other public edifice. You are without a single police officer or watchman and have not the means of confining a prisoner for an hour. Neither have you a place to shelter while living, sick and unfortunate strangers who may be cast upon our shores, or to bury them when dead. … ”
From what Joseph knew of the man, he was impressed. And Geary didn’t seem to be mincing words. The man was bringing up many of the things they’d talked about in the city council but hadn’t been able to bring to fruition yet.
Geary continued, “Public improvements are unknown in San Francisco. In short, you are without a single requisite necessary for the promotion of prosperity, for the protection of property, or for the maintenance of order.”
More applause ensued, and Joseph took part. It seemed like this was just the man they needed. But even as relief spread through him, he spotted George Banister’s familiar figure—heading away from the gathering.
The alcalde’s next words caught Joseph’s attention. Geary wanted the city council to help him select a captain of police. These words encouraged Joseph but made him wonder if Geary was prepared to handle George Banister. Or did they already know one another? The thought wasn’t a pleasant one as Joseph continued to follow George.
As he rounded the corner, he tried to stay hidden. Banister was a block or so ahead of him. Hopefully, the man wouldn’t notice he was being followed, but Joseph was new at this. How could he keep the man from knowing he was there? His only hope was that if George turned around, he wouldn’t recognize Joseph in his disguise.
As he wound his way into the heart of the worst part of the city, Joseph’s gut filled with dread. Why would George be headed this way, especially when he was the head of the city council and should by all intents and purposes be in attendance at the gathering at the public square. But that was probably why the man had slipped away. Attention was on the election.
It didn’t help Joseph feel any better that this was exactly where he’d run into George before. There wasn’t any chance that Banister could be delivering meals to the poor and needy today, because the man didn’t have anything with him. So what was he up to?
The long light of summer kept the streets lit for now, but Joseph knew that it wouldn’t be too long before the sun set. While it might be easier to sneak around in the dark, it was also a lot more dangerous.
George stopped at a building on Pacific Street and looked around him. Joseph leaned back behind the corner of a shack and hoped he hadn’t been seen. When he peeked back around the corner, George was pulling something out of his pocket. Light glinted off something metallic. A key. Banister opened the door, took another quick glance around, and then entered the building.
Just in case Banister checked outside again, Joseph decided to count to twenty before he got any closer. When he was done, he blew out a breath and tried to get across the street without being noticed. The building that George entered wasn’t a shack, but it wasn’t exactly a well-built mansion either. The stru
cture had a number of windows, but they all had their curtains drawn. There was nothing to see, and it was eerily quiet as well. The last time he’d ventured into this part of town, there had been a lot of noise … and wailing. Joseph would never forget the wailing.
Joseph narrowed his eyes and tried to think of what he should do next. This wasn’t like anything he’d done before. Should he wait for George to come back out? Should he look around the building?
“What are ya doin’?” A scratchy voice from behind him made him jump.
“Nothing.” Lord, forgive me for lying. “Just looking for food.” Joseph eyed the man. He wasn’t dressed in rags, but his hulking frame wasn’t exactly clean either.
“You new around here?”
Joseph nodded, afraid to answer too much and have to lie again and again.
“This ain’t the safest place especially after dark. I suggest you head back toward the public square. Someone might find pity on ya over there.” The man shoved his shoulder. “No one likes a snoop.” The look on his face said he meant business.
Did he suspect that Joseph was watching George? No. That couldn’t be, could it? The veiled threat in the man’s eyes wasn’t a joke. Joseph had better play the part. He put on his best look of fear and nodded. If he took off running, would he convince the man that he wasn’t a threat?
Putting his feet into motion, Joseph trotted away, keeping his shoulders hunched. Several blocks from Pacific Street, he finally slowed and then stopped. He put his hands on his hips to catch his breath and paced in a small circle in the quiet street. All the pieces of this crazy puzzle were not fitting together if they indeed were related. And just because his instinct said it was true didn’t make it so. The fact of the matter was that people were being held in slave labor, people who had been kidnapped, lied to, mistreated, and who knew how much worse. The weight of Dewei’s testimony seemed to grow heavier each day.
In his heart, Joseph wanted to do what was needed to fix it and to clean up this city. He couldn’t do it alone, though—he was just one man. He had to ask himself, How? How could they possibly find a solution? Would it take time to establish a police force? The thought of people chained up as slaves made his stomach turn. Were those the people who had been wailing? How much time did they have before it was too late?
The face of the young boy Olivia had rescued came to mind. He hadn’t spoken a word, and Joseph thought it was perhaps because the child was afraid. But of what? Or of whom? The man who’d beaten him? Or the man who’d come to take him “home”?
Too many unanswered questions rushed around in his brain. With a deep breath, he straightened his shoulders and walked back to Livingston’s Restaurant. It would still be open, and he needed to talk to Daniel … tonight.
When he was about a block away, Joseph realized what he was wearing. Daniel wouldn’t mind—and prayerfully, Olivia wouldn’t either—but he didn’t want to be seen associating with his friends when he was disguised. If someone recognized him and put two and two together, he could put Daniel and Olivia at risk, and he wasn’t willing to risk that.
Pushing himself back into a trot, Joseph ran home to get cleaned up. Daniel wouldn’t mind the late hour even if Joseph showed up after closing. When he reached his front door, a note was tacked to it. Joseph looked around and then yanked it down. He unfolded the paper and read: Watch your back, Sawyer.
The evening rush was over, and relief flooded Olivia. It seemed that every day they served more customers than they had the day before. Where were all these people coming from?
News of the newly elected alcalde had spread throughout the dining room as the evening progressed. When she’d run into Daniel and told him, he’d smiled. Postmaster John Geary’s reputation was good, so it seemed like they’d gotten an honorable man for the job. Maybe things could start changing.
She hoped they would begin with cleaning up the streets. After the incident in the alley, her senses had been on high alert. For one thing, she never wanted to see a child beaten like that ever again. And it would take a long time to rid herself of the feeling of a grimy hand choking her. That was something that shouldn’t happen to anyone ever, and she would do her best to make sure that it never did. She wasn’t sure how, but her passion had been stirred. Daniel and Joseph were doing so much to help their town, and she wanted to help as well. Never did she want to feel the regret and longing she’d felt as that man squeezed out her very breath. No more fear. No more guilt. No more second-guessing. It was freeing to let go of those shackles.
She removed her apron and headed up the stairs to their living quarters. When she’d first come here, she’d carried such guilt about Hezekiah’s death. The short six weeks of her marriage had been filled with her dissatisfaction and complaining. To be honest, she had been a mess in so many ways. But now? Even living in probably the most crime-infested town she could ever imagine, she was … content. Happy even. Filled with excitement about what she could do to help spread the Gospel, to help the less fortunate, and to live each day with joy. The change in her was real, and she hoped it never went away.
Daniel had played a large part in that. Having her brother close to encourage and love her had helped heal her heart. Then there was the special box from Mama. The journals had been to her like a lifeline to a drowning and weary soul. And she’d finally decided it was time to read her mother’s journal. Since she’d learned and gained so much from the other women, she longed to read her mother’s words and hoped that the sting of her absence would ease with time.
She flopped onto her back on her bed and let her back muscles relax and sink into the feather mattress, a luxury her brother had purchased for her. Her thoughts tumbled around with gratitude for all that had changed in her life since coming to San Francisco.
Then there was Joseph. Olivia had never known anyone like him. True, he was handsome, but Hezekiah had been good-looking as well. Looks didn’t make a man. It was Joseph’s substance and heart that really made her think. During their Bible study times and chats over lunch each day, she’d gotten to see what really made the man tick. He’d been quick to share that he hadn’t led a good life before finding the Lord. His past didn’t bother Olivia—honesty was the best policy in her book—but every once in a while, she’d remember that the man owned a gold mine, and she’d have her doubts again. Every time she doubted, though, she realized that he never actually talked about his business. He never talked to all the men about how exciting it was to find gold. He didn’t carry around nuggets to brag to everyone. It was almost like he didn’t own a prosperous gold mine at all.
Last, the horrific attack had taught her so much. She longed for a future, and deep down, she hoped it included a certain blond-haired, brown-eyed gentleman.
She sat up and started to unhook her boots. The enigma that was Joseph Sawyer fascinated her, even though he was a gold miner. She’d also vehemently declared to her brother that she would never marry again, yet her heart had changed. A giggle escaped her throat. Why had her thoughts gone to marriage all of a sudden? Goodness!
Joseph was a great man and her friend, but did he care for her in that way?
“Livvy?” Daniel’s voice came from the hall. His footsteps grew louder as he neared.
“I’m here. Just rubbing the day’s steps out of my feet.”
He peeked around the doorway. “Did you get some dinner?”
She nodded and gave him a smile. “I did, thank you.”
“May I come in?” He lifted his eyebrows and wiggled them.
One of the things she’d asked for when she moved in was privacy, and he’d promised to never enter her room without her permission. “Of course.” It made her chuckle. While she’d always felt close to her older brother, they hadn’t seen one another in years before she came. Now she couldn’t imagine being without him. He was her best friend.
“I’m thinking of expanding.” He sat on the chair by her desk and let out a long breath.
Every muscle that had just started
to relax tightened up in full attention. “Really? What does that mean?”
“I think I could build another restaurant and have it just as busy as this one. Plenty of people are looking for work, and we never run out of mouths to feed.” He shrugged. “Word is that San Francisco will double in size again in just a few months. Ships are on the way that are full of hundreds—possibly even thousands—of people. More ships arrive each day, and more leave ports around the world headed for our bay.”
“Is this something you think you can handle?” Hundreds of thoughts filled her mind and vied for attention. Her days were overwhelming enough. The thought of another restaurant filled with customers was a bit too much for her mind to take in.
“I do, as long as I can find trustworthy staff, which I think I can. It will take a while to build it anyway. During that time, I can hire the cooks and someone to manage the other location. I’ll just have to split my time between the two dining rooms, which means I’ll need a manager for this”—he pointed to the floor—”restaurant.” The look he gave her was probing, questioning.
He didn’t think …? No. She had no idea how to manage a restaurant. Olivia bit her lip and shook her head back and forth.
“I can raise your pay and give you all the training you will need. You already know the business—there are just some things I’ll need to teach you about keeping the books and managing the schedules. I’ll be here to help with that. I can’t be in two places at once, and the manager needs to be present. I can only oversee both.”
“I don’t know. … ” She was already worn out enough just taking orders and delivering food. “Wouldn’t being a manager mean more work than I have now?”
“Well … possibly. But you won’t have to continue what you’re doing and be the manager. We’ll hire someone to take your place, and then you just do what I do all day long. A lot of it is jumping in to help in the busiest times; a lot of it is delegating.”
The Golden Bride Page 14
