Wanted: Gravedigger

by Christine Sterling

  Wanted: Gravedigger

  Silverpines Series Book 16

  Christine Sterling

  Table of Contents

  Get Free Books

  A Note for my Readers

  Hattie's Ginger and Lemon Tea

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Leave a Review

  Sneak Peek

  Read more by Christine Sterling

  About Christine

  Get Free Books

  Join Christine’s Chat, Sip & Read newsletter to stay updated with new releases, get free books, access to exclusive bonus content, and more!

  Join Christine’s newsletter here.

  Tap here to see all of Christine’s books.

  Click here to join the Chat, Sip & Read Readers Community.

  She was feeling, thinking, trembling about everything; agitated, happy, miserable, infinitely obliged, absolutely angry.

  - Jane Austen, Mansfield Park

  A Note for my Readers

  I had to do quite a bit of research on laudanum addiction for this book. Addiction is a terrible disease. It surrounds itself in secrets, deceptions and sometimes even death.

  Laudanum was the drug of choice for doctors in the Victorian era. It wasn’t unheard of for the average household to have a bottle or two in their cupboard.

  It was administered by the drop as it was very powerful stuff. It had a bitter taste and was normally mixed into a wine or other spirit to mask the tastes. Although there are no known sources on how laudanum actually made a person feel, there are reports that that feelings could be anything and everything from expanded euphoria, depression, hallucinations, uncontrolled itching or scratching, agitation, constipation, respiratory failure and even death.

  It was such a popular and addictive drug that many people couldn't overcome their addiction and ultimately died from the resulting complications.

  Known as the poor man's nanny, laudanum was also administered to children to keep them quiet and subdued.

  As part of the opioid family of drugs (modern classification), the effects of opioid addiction are being felt nationwide in this century. We have resources nowadays to help in the fight of this terrible addiction. Minimal resources were available back in 1899 - 1900.

  This is the story of how Tess and Dawson deal with the addiction when it hits too close to home.

  This story picks up where The Coffin Maker leaves off.

  Hattie's Ginger and Lemon Tea

  More of an infusion, than a tea, this is a soothing drink for the warmest of winter days. The ginger provides a nice warmth and the lemon provides a bright citrus note.

  Makes 4 cups of tea:

  4 cups filtered water

  2- to 3- inch piece of ginger, sliced

  Juice of 1 large lemon (or more, to taste)

  Sweetener of choice (stevia, agave, raw honey, etc.) to taste, optional

  Slices of fresh lemon (from an additional lemon) for serving, optional

  Combine the water and ginger in a large saucepan and bring to a boil. Remove from heat. Add the lemon juice and let steep at least 20 minutes; 30 minutes is even better.

  If serving right away, you might want to reheat gently to your liking. Or, you can let steep even longer, letting the ginger flavor become more pronounced. Sweeten to taste with sweetener of choice.

  Serve with or without slices of the steeped ginger and slices of fresh lemon. You also let the infusion cool, and then chill for a cool drink.

  Chapter 1

  Late August 1899

  Tess and Dawson had been secretly married for just over two months when her momma came to break the news to her.

  It wasn’t that Tess meant to keep the marriage a secret. It was just with Hattie being shot, Tess helping watch Kijab, Hattie’s adopted son, while she recovered, and Dawson being away solving a case, there just wasn’t a time that seemed appropriate to share the news.

  Tess knew her momma would be very disappointed once she found out. Momma Charlotte Daniels had a very specific set of criteria for her only daughter: to marry someone that could care for her properly. Tess thought she had – she married for love. Charlotte thought differently, she wanted a man of fortune for Tess.

  So, they agreed not to discuss it anymore and a fragile pact was borne; yet, it still didn’t help Tess in her present situation of breaking the news to her mother.

  She was sitting in her father’s studio on a comfortable chair Dawson found and placed in the corner of the room. She had a jar of Hattie’s fresh mint tea and was sipping happily as she read The Mayor of Castlebridge when the door from the run-in opened and Mrs. Daniels came in shaking the road dust off her skirt.

  “I don’t know why you insist on staying here, Tess.” She sighed and looked around the workshop. “It is so dusty. All that sawdust,” she said, swiping her finger along the worktable and lifting her gloved hand to inspect the dirt on the fabric. “It is covering everything. It can’t be healthy being in here.”

  “I like it here,” Tess replied, shifting her position so that her legs were no longer draped over the side of the chair. “It reminds me of Poppa. I feel closer to him when I’m here.”

  “That is probably why I don’t come here as much. It hurts too much.” Her voice caught on a sob, as she looked down at her feet. Suddenly she lifted her head, as if remembering something.

  “Oh, I meant to tell you, I was down at Lily Jo’s and there is such a flurry of activity happening. You will hardly believe it.” Charlotte paused for emphasis.

  Tess rolled her eyes. Her Momma had a flair for the dramatic. She knew that Charlotte was waiting for her to respond appropriately before continuing. Tess put her book aside and leaned forward on her knees. “Oh goodness, Momma, you simply must tell me.”

  “Don’t be rude, Theresa. It is unbecoming.” Charlotte adjusted her skirt and lifted herself onto the stool next to the worktable.

  Tess gave her mother a moment more to complete her story. When it was apparent that Charlotte wasn’t going to continue, Tess picked up her book and opened to the page she marked with a ribbon.

  “Aren’t you listening to me?”

  Tess looked back up from her book, “You aren’t talking.”

  “Theresa …” her mother warned.

  “Okay, Momma, what is going on that is so important?”

  Charlotte leaned forward and looked around as if someone was there that might hear her juicy gossip. “I just learned that all those couples that were married by that Reverend aren’t married at all.”

  Tess dropped her book. “What?”

  Charlotte looked annoyed. “That Reverend was a fraud.” She sighed heavily and lifted her hand to her neck. “All those poor couples weren’t really married and now what are they going to do?”

  “Which Reverend?”

  “I don’t remember his name.”

  Tess stood and moved, towering over her mother. “Think very carefully. You must know his name. Reverend isn’t his only name. What was it? You heard the people at the café talking, you must have heard his name.”

  Charlotte scrunched her nose, as if thinking. “Skin-something.”

  “Skinner?”

  “Yes, that was it.”

  “Reverend Ambrose Skinner?”

  “Yes! Stop harrying me, Theresa. I just wanted to let you know.”

  Tess moved back to the chair to pick up her book. She placed it on the work bench. “I need to go talk to Hattie.”

  “Hattie? Why would you go talk to Hattie? I thought she w
as married by Pastor James.”

  “She was.”

  “I don’t understand why you need to go see her.”

  “Because I do, Momma. Please don’t ask me a hundred questions.” The blood roared in her ears, causing her voice to sound far away as she said the words.

  Her heart felt as if it was trying to escape her chest. Her hands started to shake, and she felt the tingling moving up her arms towards her throat. She couldn't speak, and her Momma appeared to disfigure in front of her. She took a deep breath but couldn't swallow. It felt as if her throat was closing and cutting off her airway. She tried to lift her hands to her throat, but they wouldn't move.

  She had to run. Get away. Her feet wouldn't move, they were planted to the floor.

  She heard the words coming from her momma's mouth, but she couldn't make them out. They sounded long and choppy. Her chest grew tighter as bile rose in her throat and then receded, burning as it went down.

  Why was Momma moving in slow motion?

  She was going to die.

  She couldn't calm her thoughts and her breath came out with a wheezing sound. She could taste a bitter taste at the back of her throat.

  She saw Charlotte reach out her arms, but Tess felt her eyes roll in the back of her head as the world went black.

  Tess opened her eyes and quickly shut them again. The light was so bright.

  “How are you feeling?”

  Hattie. Tess breathed a sigh of relief and slowly opened her eyes again. She looked around the room and she was still in the workshop. Her mother was nowhere to be seen.

  “What happened?”

  “You fainted. Your momma came to get me, and I ran over here immediately.” Hattie tugged on her friend’s arm and helped her into a seating position before gently checking her head. When Tess hissed, she removed her hands and reached for her bag. “You’re lucky. It doesn’t look like you cracked anything, but your head might be sore for a bit.”

  Tess reached up behind her head. She could feel a bump the size of a goose egg and hissed again. “I really did a job, didn’t I?”

  Hattie pulled out her stethoscope and put the ear pieces in her ears before blowing on the end piece and placing it against Tess’s chest.

  “Take a deep breath for me.”

  Tess complied and then Hattie placed the stethoscope further down on her belly. Tess watched as Hattie listened and moved her lips counting… something.

  She removed the stethoscope and placed it back in her bag. “What happened right before you fainted?”

  “Momma was telling me some gossip she… oh no,” Tess cried and put her head in her hands. “She was telling me that Reverend Skinner was a fraud. I felt so unusual…”

  “Like you were going to suffocate?”

  Tess looked at her friend. Hattie’s large brown eyes were looking at her with a mix of sympathy and concern. Tess nodded her head.

  Hattie rubbed her friend’s back as she placed her finger’s over Tess’s wrist. She closed her eyes and started to count again, before opening them to look at Tess.

  “What?”

  “I want to take you back to the apothecary. Are you alright to walk, or do you want me to have Marty fetch the buggy?”

  Tess shooed Hattie away and rolled to get up on her knees before standing up. “I’ll be alright. Is there something I should worry about?”

  “Let’s talk back at the apothecary.” Hattie picked up her doctoring bag and headed towards the run-in attached to the back of the studio. Tess silently followed her.

  The sunlight was blinding. Tess squinted her eyes, lifting her hand to block some of the brightness. She could make out the silhouettes of people but couldn’t recognize who they were. Finally, her momma came forward and gathered Tess in a hug.

  “My poor baby,” she cooed. “Are you alright? I honestly was so worried.”

  Tess extricated herself from her mother’s arms and looked at the woman before her. Charlotte Daniels was considered a woman with beauty beyond compare when they lived in Boston. The woman in front of her, looked… well, tired.

  Tess didn’t think of her mother as old; Charlotte was only in her late forties. Her hair, once dark brown was now sprinkled with silver and had lost its usual luster. Deep wrinkles were starting to appear around her eyes, and they were rimmed red from crying. Dark circles gave her eyes a sunken in appearance. Her skin, which was once flawless, now had a crepe-like appearance, and hung loosely from what were her plump cheeks. When did her momma become so … old?

  Tess patted her momma on the shoulder. “I’m fine. Hattie just wants to check me out. I’m sorry for giving you a fright.”

  “Is she going to be alright? She isn’t sick, is she?” Charlotte directed her question at Hattie.

  Hattie grabbed her friend’s arm and pulled her towards the apothecary. “Just a fainting spell. She needs something to eat and she’ll be right as rain. I’m just going to give her a quick once-over in someplace more private and make her some tea.”

  “Should I come?” Charlotte asked.

  “No!” Both Hattie and Tess replied in unison.

  “You go home now,” Hattie said to the elder woman. “I’ll have Marty fetch you when we are done.”

  Charlotte didn’t look convinced but eventually went on her way down the street.

  Tess followed Hattie into the apothecary. She noticed Hattie had done some remodeling since the earthquake. The window, which was cracked, had been replaced and had gold letters emblazoned on it. The door had been repainted a welcoming yellow color to match the interior walls. The waiting area, which before was just a few lone chairs, now boasted a sofa, ottoman and several other comfortable seats.

  The elongated cast iron stove that originally stood in the corner was replaced by a round one which blended into the wall. She could see that Hattie still had a kettle on at all times. It provided a source of humidity in the office as well as a way to make tea, which was the cornerstone of Hattie’s remedies.

  Even the front counter had been replaced and a smaller one moved towards the back. This allowed people a chance to explore the various herbal remedies and teas that Hattie sold in her shop.

  Even though they were in the apothecary, Hattie was much more than a healer. She was a medical doctor, but preferred herbal therapies over traditional medicines. She often asked why would she give someone an aspirin, which was unproven and new to the medicinal world, instead of a warming cup of willow bark tea which supposedly did the same thing?

  Hattie’s, husband, Dr. Robert Childs, however preferred the traditional route and they seemed to be a perfect match despite it. His clinic was right next door in the old town doctor’s building. He shared space with Dr. Chelsea Tory, a woman doctor that came all the way from Pennsylvania to help towards the end of the town’s recovery period from back to back disasters. Hattie had her hands full caring for the town, now it seemed she had plenty of hands. She needed them too, as the town was expanding, and new people were arriving in Silverpines almost every day.

  “Go have a seat,” Hattie told her, pointing to the side room where a desk and two chairs sat. This was Hattie’s office, not an examination room. Tess looked at her quizzically but went and took a seat in one of the chairs.

  Hattie returned a few minutes later carrying a tray with a plate containing a sandwich, a metal tea tin, two cups, a honeypot and a kettle of hot water. She placed it on the desk and handed the sandwich to Tess before taking the seat next to her.

  Tess took a bite of the sandwich – ham and butter on Lily Jo’s homemade oatmeal bread – and moaned because it tasted so good. Maybe Hattie was correct that it was just because she hadn’t eaten.

  “Feel better?” Hattie asked as she scooped a spoonful of dried flowers in the cups and covered them with hot water. Tess nodded and took another bite of her sandwich.

  “What’s that?”

  “Chamomile. It will help relax you.”

  “I thought I was coming over here so you could examine me
, not have tea.”

  “I brought you over so we could speak without Momma Daniels listening in,” Hattie said, passing a cup to her friend. “Honey?”

  Tess placed her plate on the desk and took the offered cup. She poured a little bit of honey in her tea and stirred the liquid, watching the flowers open and turn the water a light yellow. Hattie stirred her tea and continued, “Have you been feeling ill? Running to the privy more than usual?”

  “A bit. I normally have to rest before I can get out of bed.” Hattie nodded as she listened. “Is that what caused me to faint?” Hattie didn’t respond, so Tess pressed her further. “What happened to me, Hattie?” Tess demanded answers.

  “You had what I would call a fit of the vapors.”

  “Isn’t that what nervous people have?”

  Hattie took a sip of her tea and then added a bit more honey. “Yes, it can be. But when the body is under extreme stress it kicks in and all the blood rushes from your head, causing you to faint.”

  “That’s it?” Stress was an understatement, Tess thought. She hadn’t been sleeping since Dawson left her to go back to New Harbor. She had seen him thrice and cherished those sweet moments.

  Dawson Elliot was a Pinkerton Agent who had taken a leave of absence from the agency to track down his deceased wife’s killer. He cornered the gang in a game of faro and they were taken in without incident.

  He returned to Silverpines but was called away to work on another case. Tess hated to see him go, but there was a large bonus, which would allow them to build their own home just outside of town. The second time he returned he received another missive and was gone for a week before returning home. He had just left to head to New Harbor again, a few days prior.

  She couldn’t wait for him to return. They were counting their dollars so that they could purchase a piece of land Dawson found on the mountain side.

  So not having her husband was definitely a stressor. Then there was her Momma who had a habit of being in everyone’s business. She spent the days sleeping until early evening when she would get up to make her rounds. She was even known to wander the streets in the wee morning hours, but when she returned home she had no recollection of ever being out.