Angela's Hope (Wildflowers) (10 page)

Amber was downstairs and visiting often enough that Clive moved a rocking chair downstairs and set it next to the counter so at least Amber would sit while visiting with her newest friend. 

Since she wanted as much face-to-face time with customers,, she spent as much time as she could downstairs. She figured it would give her more chances to ask about Old Willie and her brother.

They showed her around the store then the back storage room and even the loading dock in the back. She was told about the two other warehouses they had for large goods that Clive shipped off to his other stores. Angela was impressed with the grandness of the enterprise. There was more to running a store than she ever thought.

She caught on to running the counter quickly. It would take time to be able to answer customer questions but for now she could use the cash register easily. Clive left for a few hours and Amber stayed with Angela at the counter and they talked shop for a while. They had an easy camaraderie and worked well together. Gabe joined the girls again after dealing with a large order at the loading dock.

Clive bounded through the door and the small bell jingled with purpose.

“I purchased some land at the auction.” Clive announced and held some paperwork in his hands. “Been wanting to make this store bigger and build it in brick.”

Angie was sitting on a barrel during a slow moment. She had been listening to Gabe tell her all about how the political scene was in town. He thought statehood was going to be granted soon, especially now with the gold rush population reaching huge numbers. It was only going to get more and more populated as people keep arriving every week.

“That is a grand plan. Where you get the land? Near a wharf?” Amber asked, she was a good partner for Gabe and knew the business as well as her husband did.

“Yes’m, the new pier, and with plans for another just a few blocks south is planned. Getting away from the rowdy town square makes me feel safer. Sin and thievery in the streets and the politics is getting everyone stirred up.” Clive said to his attentive audience.

Angela put canned goods on a shelf and listened as they plotted out the next few weeks.

“I have been wanting to build in brick for quite some time. I was talking to the town council and they have fears of the massive growth of this place. Fire and sickness is so easily spread when people get careless.” Gabe said and Angela saw Clive nodding in agreement.

“We got the supplies, we can get started on a plan, just got to get some laborers and pay them well. Gold fever is hard to compete with, though when people get hungry they will have to come back to town to work. I cannot believe the gold is as easy to find as they say.” Clive scratched his chin stubble and then flipped a small notepad open, grabbed a pencil stub out and did some figuring.

“I will come by tonight and we can do some thinking together. I have some loads coming in and the warehouse needs to be managed. I will come by for supper iffen that’s alright with you Mrs. Quackenbush.” Clive looked to Amber who laughed and nodded. He did a bow then with a spry move he pounced over to Angela and planted a quick kiss on the top of her head.

“Looking mighty pretty, Red.” He squeezed her shoulders with a little shake that made her head bobble as she grinned.

Clive bounded out the door with his usual vim and vigor.

* * * * *

The night was a windy one and the sounds of men outside kept Angie up for part of the night. Someone earlier in the day had found a few big nuggets and was shouting around town about his big find, there were cheers and jeers from the early morning crowd. It became a ritual for men to crow over their luck in the gold fields. They would go to the government building set up to test the quality and value of the gold then be given money to spend or take to the bank.

Word around town always spread quickly about the ones who spent their gold earnings in days with saloons and brothels charging extraordinary prices. A bathhouse visit, a meal at a hotel, and a night stay would cost a small fortune. Angela quickly grew to dislike the environment of this quickly growing city. It was a dark and dangerous place for a man, for a woman it felt lethal.

* * * * *

The sound of booms and voices was the first thing Angie heard that morning while preparing the coffee. Amber was still suffering with morning sickness and the smell of coffee and flapjacks cooking did bad things to her. Angela quickly volunteered to do the breakfast cooking. After many protests from both Gabe and Amber, Angie put her foot down and insisted. Amber would get some extra sleep and avoided feeling ill and everyone got to eat before work. Angie found the chores soothing and the feeling of being helpful without being forced into servitude a pleasant new feeling.

Gabe went to his room for his jacket and then joined the women in discussion before he was going to go to work down stairs in the store.

“It does indeed sound like our new neighbors have arrived.” Gabe’s hair was dark brown and cropped short to his head. He had large brown eyes that were honest and he was medium tall with a strong build. He had a few features he shared with his father and grandfather but he tended to be more serious and stocky. He still could be a tease when he was in the mood for it, though.

“I was hopin’ to make a welcome gift for them.” Angie said, thinking through her favorite recipes in her head. Marie has taught her some new things while she stayed at Corinne’s. 

“Amber was too, perhaps this afternoon I can take over the counter duties and let you ladies make a mess in the kitchen together.” Gabe gave her a friendly wink and Angie laughed at his jest.

“That sounds wonderful.” Angie stated shyly.

That afternoon Amber and Angie had some lovely time together making a few pies from the fresh shipment of apples they just received. They were a little dry from the journey but a little soaking and some sugar perked up the flavor. Then with a secret smile, Amber added a shot full of rum to the apples mixture and let it sit a while to soak up the flavor. Angie gasped in pretend astonishment.

“My Gram was always saying a shot of whiskey makes all baked goods better.” Amber said with a wink.

“I was just reading my mother’s journal and my Great- Grandfather’s famous Irish sipping whiskey recipe is in there. I wonder if I am the last of the family to know it.” Angie mused and smiled over the thought with her new friend. Soon they began rolling out the dough and cutting the strips for the top lattice the of the apple mixture. It gave her an idea but she set it aside to focus on her baking.

“I miss eggs so dearly. It would finish the crust so nicely to have an egg wash. I only know of a dozen or so live chickens in the area. So many have died due to neglect. I haven’t seen an egg in months.” Amber finished with the last pie and then held her back with her hand in a gesture of discomfort. Angie saw her discomfort and gave her a massage of her lower back muscles. Amber accepted the rub gratefully. She was so thankful for the helpful hands of a new friend.

“I have a memory of there being chickens somewhere on the manor house property. I just remember my brother Sean teasing a rooster once, just a fleeting memory. I was young when we left Ireland.” Angie felt Amber’s muscles relaxing under her hands. She hoped to be a blessing and a help more than anything else while she was here.

“I did ask my husband to build me a coop. I know Clive can get us some live chickens from Oregon. Gabe agreed but when I got pregnant he put the idea off. He doesn’t want me having any more work to do.” Amber made a face and sat back down in her rocking chair. Angie got both pies in the oven and set down in the chair next to her. They listened to the bells from the ships ringing on the harbor.

“Maybe your husband will let me get the chicken house started. I can get it built, I have seen several examples in the magazines downstairs, and I read through them when there are no customers. If Clive can get me some chickens to get started perhaps this town can have eggs again.”

“Yes, but if you do the work I want you to make the profit. If you decide to move then we will buy the chicken house back from you; just like a proper business.” Amber stated firmly.

“That sounds great. I will ask your husband to rent me some space in the yard.”

“I will probably just ask for a three eggs per day as rent. That sounds fair and the rest you can sell for profit. No rental needed. Our new back yard has a nice high fence and nothing else. It is empty, flat and barren. Some chickens will liven up the place.” Amber decided.

“I sure hope Gabe agrees to it.”
Angela thought.

* * * * *

The pies were finished and cooling next to the second story open windows near the kitchen. Amber and Angie separated and put on their “
going visiting”
clothes. Then they took turns fussing with each other’s hair until they both felt pretty. 

They left a pie behind for dinner and headed down the stairs to pass by Gabe talking to customers. A few whistles for the ladies or the fresh baked pies were heard. Gabe gave his wife a quick kiss before both the women headed next door to meet the new neighbors.

The place was dusty but the family was already working hard on the cleanup. They looked to be a large family, with two grown sons and a daughter near Angie’s age.

“Welcome neighbors.” Amber said first. Angie felt a bit shy and stepped behind Amber for a brief moment, suddenly feeling anxious about meeting new people.

“I am Amber Quackenbush, My husband Gabe runs the Hudson Bay store next door.”

“Hello.” Several said simultaneously and they were welcomed into the door fully.

“I am Franny Henderson, my two boys Bradley and George, and my daughter Sheila.” Angie looked around and saw them all smile and wave. “My husband Oscar is around somewhere, searching for my big pots last I heard.” Franny said with a welcoming grin.

“You have a crew working hard for you I see. This is Angie, a friend of the family. She is helping us handle the store while I get slower and rounder.” Amber laughed and held her belly.

“Looks like a healthy one already.” Franny gave Amber a gentle handshake after she wiped the dust from her hands. She accepted the pies and said several thank yous to both Amber and Angie.

“I see you wearing a cross around your neck.” Franny pointed to the small silver cross Amber was wearing as a necklace.

“Yes, my mothers.” Amber’s voice was small for a moment.

“Just letting you know there is a minister settling nearby. He was on the ship with us and plans to minister to the miners and families of San Francisco. His wife plays the violin well. They do enjoy singing spirituals if you like that sort of thing.”

Amber smiled and gave a little clap. “That sounds wonderful, I miss having Sunday service. I do hope they stay and not get pulled away to the gold fields... So many do.” Amber shared, knowing that having a new neighbor was a blessing. A Christian one was better than she had hoped.

“We are here to feed the miners and hoping to make some roots here. We heard people talking about this being the place for a fresh start. It was so difficult to keep a restaurant in New York.  The gangs had control of all the goods coming in and out of our street. If you did not bribe the right person you did not get your goods. We decided when the Gold Rush was announced we would all start over. We get gold by feeding the miners.” Franny settled herself down into a chair after she spoke and welcomed Amber and Angie to join her in the chairs that one of the young men cleaned off and brought over to them.

“Here you go, miss.” A tall boy with a simple grin sat a chair next to Angie and gave her a wink. She blushed a little but tried to be only a little friendly, no need to encourage him. Even with his tall handsome looks Angie was not even interested in the slightest. Sometimes someone just doesn’t strike your fancy.

“Bradley, go find your father. Tell him to come meet the neighbors.”

The family got a makeshift table pulled together and everyone sat a little while for a friendly visit. They all shared where they were from and simple peasantries over the snacks Angie and Amber had brought. It seemed a good impression was made and the good neighbor feeling was shared. There was a comfortable start to good relations.

Chapter 12

The moment the ship was docked Ted Greaves grabbed his luggage and his father’s trunk and headed in a separate direction from the only person he knew in this part of the world. He never wanted to see the man’s face again, kin or not. His anger had been days at a boiling point and just being off the ship with that man was beginning to work within him to calm him. He was not the type of young man that would hurt anyone, intentionally, but the last few days had pushed him further into anger than he had ever been in his young life.

The young man awkwardly pulled the trunk along the way with his carpetbag settled on top. The mud was going to be a problem soon but he wanted away from the foul ship and the vision of his father being buried at sea just two days ago. His Uncle would be coming off the ship any minute and he wanted to be as far away from him as possible. That bridge was already burned and he wanted nothing to do with the man responsible for his father’s death.

Ted looked down at his father’s boots, now on his feet. Wondering how he was going to tell his mother and sisters.
How do you write that letter?
He asked himself.

‘I arrived safe and sound, Ma. But dad died of scurvy. Yea Uncle Hank is fine too. Yep, he went ashore to get food and supplies and came back with the entire fruit ration gone. Ate it all himself and let Papa just die. His excuse was that Dad was just ‘too far gone. Gotta feed the survivors he said.’

Ted had never felt such anger in his life, even when Hank convinced his dad months ago, that he was not a real man if he wasn’t brave enough to make the trip to California territory.  Hank laughed at Ted’s mother when she called it a silly dream, Hank never did listen to women ever. That was probably why his wife actually divorced him.  

“That and his philandering ways,”
Ted thought bitterly.

His uncle had finally pushed his very religious wife, Ted’s Aunt Olivia, to go against everything she believed in and she divorced him. She moved into the old shanty on a friend’s property and did not visit anyone but her sister. She wasn’t allowed back at church because of the divorce. Somehow they let that cheating, no good snake back in every week, but not the woman brave enough to leave the philandering, abusive man.

The complication was that Hank and his Pa had married sisters. It was probably because of Hank’s deep-seeded need to always be competitive. Pa was courting the prettiest girl in town. Hank soon swooped in on the equally pretty and younger sister.

Ted had so much venom in his heart this day he felt like he might just choke on it. He hailed a wagon and offered money to the guy for a lift to the nearest hotel. The guy laughed but took his money and loaded up the trunk into the wagon box.

“You will not find a good hotel, but we can drop you off where there are some tents they rent out.” The man in the wagon had shared.

“Only a tent?” Ted grimaced but said nothing else.

Ted got into town and got a tent rental. There were 300 men on board the ship he was on and a few families and even a minister’s family. Ted wanted to find out if the minister would be holding a service in town. Ted’s mother was instrumental in teaching his sisters and himself how to live, and going to Sunday meetings was a big part of his upbringing. If there were no meetings they made one at their house. His ma was good at teaching them to be kind to everyone and to never judge others.

With his trunk and bags settled in a flimsy tent he set himself off to find any kind of vittles and see what he could do for work. He had no interest in digging for gold. Actually he was dead-set against it. He asked where he could get a few supplies and got directions to the local mercantile.

It was that moment he saw her. She was not just a beautiful girl; cause there were plenty of them back home in upstate New York. She was an angel, long red hair flowing down her back. A face that was sweet with compassion behind her eyes, a fair complexion. She was so near the image of his favorite departed sister. She had passed away years ago, but Ted always felt she was still with him. She died of a fever at four years old but they were kindred souls. His heart had been broken but now suddenly he felt just seeing this young fair maiden was like a visitation from her. Like the Lord above granted for a moment a vision of her as she would be now from heaven. As he saw her walking into the mercantile he was more than certain that he was destined to meet this girl.

The door of the store had a jingling bell and as he walked in the scent of pipe tobacco and fresh coffee combined nicely. It has been months since he had tasted coffee. The stocks of food aboard the ship had been poor. That trip had been the biggest mistake. Ted’s head hurt just thinking about it.

“Greetings.” A male voice said. Ted smiled and walked up to the counter. He gave a once over to the guy at the counter. He seemed friendly and genuine.

“Hello, just off the boat needin’ a few things, also looking for some honest labor. Know of any places lookin’?” Ted gave a handshake when offered and was glad to have met someone friendly. The man renting out the tents had been mean and irritable.

“Gabe Quackenbush, have yourself a look around, as fer work, you can throw a rock and find it. Everyone left everything to go pick up gold from the ground. So many ships abandoned and work left undone. People are desperate for a pair of strong arms. You will have your pick of jobs. I could probably keep you busy a few day myself.” Gabe said with a laugh.

“That is good news, I was hornswoggled to get out here and now that I am here I would rather do anything but get caught up in the gold fever I have heard of non-stop since we left port in New York more than five months ago.” Ted grabbed a few items, a clean shirt, and a few canned goods. He nearly choked on some of the prices but realized out here there was not much for supply lines. “You know of a Sunday meeting in town at all?” Ted asked.

“Until today we haven’t had a minister in town for several months. The last one ran off to find gold. But I heard there was a new one just off the boat today that is intending to stay in town and save the miners as they come in for supplies. I just spoke with him a bit ago, named Gideon. A proper name fer a minister.” Gabe chuckled at his own humor, “Will have a tent set up in the square up the road.”

“Well that’s a relief. I was raised to count a good Sunday meeting as important as meat and potatoes.” Ted stated with no nonsense about him.

Ted looked young just then and vulnerable to Gabe’s eye. He saw a good young man in front of him. Old enough to be a man but still lost in the world a bit. Gabe wondered at how he got here. This was not a place for a good young man alone. It’s too easy to get lost in the wilds of liquor, gambling, and loose women.

“Where you stayin’ lad?” Gabe gave him an eye.

“In a dreadful tent across the street yonder.” Ted pointed behind him in the direction of the tents he’d just left.

“Well fer a dollar a week I got me a place two doors down above the abandoned laundry. There are steps up to the place. The rent is affordable if you are willing to keep an eye on the place and clean up the place downstairs. They left in a hurry and with my wife expecting, I haven’t felt a rush to clean it up. Sound good to you?” Gabe saw potential in this young lad.

“I will certainly be accepting such an offer. You can count on me, sir.” Ted’s eyes were wide and he wondered at how his luck could have changed so quickly. God was indeed looking out for him.

“Thank you Lord
,” Ted prayed in his head.

“I expect no gambling or bringing women up to your place unless it be your own mother or a wife.” Gabe said with a serious look. He was practicing his parenting voice.

“Absolutely sir. Would you be needin’ a deposit?” Ted ran a hand through his blond hair in need of a trim.

“No son, but I would be needing to know your full name to put in my papers.” Gabe got out his notebook from his pocket.

“Ted, ugh… Thaddeus Greaves, sir.”

“Good to meet ya Ted. I will ask around for some good work for ya. I know plenty who will be glad to get you more than enough work for any able-bodied man. Now get yourself your bags and whatever is yours before it gets stolen from your tent. I will get you set up when you get back.”

Gabe watched the young man bound out the door with a grin feeling like he’d been part of something good. You never knew when you would meet someone that you might have that chance to be a blessing just in time to change their life. He had that feeling that this young man needed a guardian angel just now. Just a passing fancy really, but it stuck with Gabe all that day.

“You sure got a sweet smile just now husband o’ mine.” Amber stepped slowly down to the bottom step of the staircase. Her body moving a little slower everyday but still the glowing, sweet beauty he loved so dearly.

“Yes, just helping a fresh young lad straight off the boat. He wants nothing of gold mining and just had a feelin’ about him. Gonna rent him the place over the laundry. He has agreed to clean up the place for the lower rent. Just somethin’ about him. Was ponderin’ how God can put people in yer life for a moment and it’s our job to be a blessing.” Gabe kissed his wife after he spoke.

“I love that you notice these things, Gabriel. The reason I married you, outside your good looks, was your big heart.” Amber teased but stood to her tiptoes to plant a kiss on his cheek.