Patrick half dragged, half pushed Liling through the dance hall and out the front door. Thankfully, none of Daniels’ men guarded the entry. God had cleared their path.
“Come on, we need to hurry.”
Patrick pushed her down the walkway, mingling with the thinning crowd. He rounded the corner and pulled her with him. Only after they were several blocks away did Patrick slow his pace. Liling was panting for air, but said nothing.
“We’ve a ways to go. Can ye make it?”
“I’ll make it,” she assured him.
The rain was probably to their benefit, Patrick decided. The weather and flooding discouraged many people from noticing what looked like a man and a boy sneaking along the street.
The hilly city wasn’t easy for a healthy man to hurry through, much less a woman who’d been chained to a bed for who knew how long. Liling stumbled more than once, in part due to the oversized pants and boots, but Patrick knew that she wasn’t at all strong. Several times he thought of just carrying her, but that would only draw attention.
Feeling sorry for her, Patrick paused a moment. He pulled Liling into the arched doorway of a large building. The cold rain chilled him to the bone, and the entryway didn’t provide much relief from the deluge. He could see in the muted street light that Liling was shaking, but whether from fear or cold, he couldn’t say. No doubt both played a part.
He heard something. Was it the sound of someone running toward them? Patrick pressed back against the door and pushed Liling behind him. The footsteps grew louder, and he held his breath and tightened his fists. If Jude or one of the other ruffians had managed to follow him, Patrick would have to fight their way out.
The runner was nearly upon them, and Patrick whispered a prayer. He knew God had put him in the position of helping Daniels in order to free Liling and help those poor unconscious boys. Just as he knew God would give him the ability to defend himself now.
CHAPTER
29
Camri paced nervously. It was three in the morning, and still there had been no word from Patrick. They’d all agreed to stay up and keep her company, but even with the nearness of her brother and friends, Camri found it impossible to calm her fears.
She would have liked to talk to Caleb about the details of the plans, but he seemed to have his hands full just trying to keep the Wongs from fretting. He sat in the corner of the large sitting room, speaking to them. His voice was too low for her to hear what was being said, but she imagined he was assuring them of the simplicity of their plan and God’s faithfulness to provide.
God’s faithfulness wasn’t in doubt, but Camri knew that His plan didn’t always work out the way she thought it should. “What ifs” danced in her thoughts like rain on the roof.
“Judith, why don’t you play the piano?” Kenzie said, nudging the blonde.
With a yawn, Judith got to her feet. “I suppose I could.”
“I didn’t know you played,” Caleb said, standing. He moved toward Judith. “How marvelous. Do you play Chopin?”
Judith suddenly looked flummoxed. “I . . . ah . . . yes.” She looked toward the piano.
Caleb smiled and cupped her elbow. “Then play us a nocturne. How about in E-flat major?”
Judith seemed to forget herself. “Opus nine, number two?” She looked up at him as if for approval. “Andante.”
“Yes. One of my very favorites,” he replied.
Judith sat down at the piano while Caleb went to the bookshelf. He took down a wooden box and opened it. From the top, he picked up the sheet music for the nocturne. He turned to hand it to Judith, but she had already started to play without it. Camri listened to the melodious tones and marveled at the skill Judith displayed. The feeling she put into the music was almost tangible.
Camri began to relax a bit as the music wove a spell over the room. Her breathing slowed, and her thoughts went not to Patrick’s absence, but to God’s faithfulness.
Thank you, Lord. You are so good to hear my prayers even when I don’t know quite what to say. You’ve given me Patrick to love, and I feel your peace regarding the events of this night.
Exhausted, Camri sat for the first time in hours. Judith played on, and Caleb stood ever faithful at the piano, as if she might need something. For just a moment, Camri closed her eyes. She thought of all the plans she’d once had for her future. Father had even teased that perhaps Camrianne would be the first woman to win a seat in Congress. She had mused that thought, telling her father that she’d be content just to get the vote, but the idea had played around in her head. Now, however, her future was taking a very different road.
But everything has happened so fast, and I don’t even know much about Patrick’s likes and dislikes. We haven’t even had a real outing together—one just focused on the two of us getting to know each other. I don’t even know if he’ll attend church with me.
At the sound of the front door opening, Camri forgot about her concerns and jumped to her feet. Judith stopped playing, and all gazes looked toward the entryway hall. It was if everyone held their breath.
Patrick stepped into view, and Camri thought she might cry. He was drenched from the rain but looked no worse for the wear. He reached out and drew a young man to his side. Camri frowned. Where was Liling?
Caleb crossed the room as the young man took off his hat. Shiny black hair fell across his shoulders, and only then did Camri realize it wasn’t a young man at all. It was Liling.
“Mrs. Wong, Mr. Wong, come see.” Caleb motioned them from the corner, where they couldn’t see their daughter.
Mrs. Wong got up and started toward Caleb, then stopped. She reached for her husband’s hand. They walked together, seeming almost afraid, keeping their gaze to the floor.
“It’s all right,” Caleb assured them. “God has answered our prayers.”
Mrs. Wong looked up first and then Mr. Wong. Liling had stepped into the room. The clothes she wore were much too big for her, and her garish makeup was streaked and smeared from the rain. Even so, her expression was one of such happiness that Camri’s eyes filled with tears.
“Mama,” Liling whispered.
Mrs. Wong looked at her daughter with an expression of pure love and held out her arms. Liling hurried into her mother’s embrace, and both women began to sob.
Mr. Wong looked at Patrick and bowed. “God made you to answer our prayers.”
Camri could no longer stand the distance between them. She hurried to Patrick and threw her arms around him. He held her close for a moment, then pushed her away.
“I’m soakin’ wet.”
“I don’t care.” She looked up at him. “I’m so glad you’re back safe.”
“Ye should be in bed asleep. Ye have church tomorrow.”
“Today,” Caleb interjected. “Somehow, I don’t think any of us will be making it.”
The Wongs were whispering to each other in Chinese. Camri could see that Liling’s rebellion and subsequent fall into ruin no longer mattered. Her parents loved her, and just like the father of the prodigal son, they welcomed her home with open arms.
Mr. Wong looked at Caleb. “We go now, take care of our daughter.”
Caleb nodded. “Of course. Liling, we are so glad to have you here with us.”
The young woman looked up. Her tears continued to fall. “I am grateful to be here.” She glanced back at her mother. “So grateful.”
Mr. Wong took her arm and led her from the room. Mrs. Wong followed close behind, pausing only a moment to look at Patrick. She smiled and reached out to pat his arm.
“You always welcome in our family. We give you many thanks.”
“I was glad to help,” Patrick replied.
Mrs. Wong nodded and followed her family without another word.
Camri took hold of Patrick and drew him to the fire. “You warm up, and I’ll go get you a towel.”
“Better still,” Caleb said, “come upstairs and have a hot bath. I’ll get you some of my clothes to wear. You can s
tay the night with us.”
Camri nodded. “You may have my room, and I’ll share with Judith or Kenzie.”
“You can sleep with me,” Judith said, leaving the piano. “I have the bigger bed.”
Patrick looked as if he might protest, but then gave a nod. “Thank ye, I’m not of a mind to head back out into the rain.”
Camri longed for him to stay and talk, but she knew the wisdom in getting him warmed up and dry. She watched the two men walk away and gave a sigh. Everyone was back safe and sound, and she could rest easy.
“I’m heading to bed,” Kenzie said as she passed by Camri. She paused and gave Camri a weary smile. “I’m so glad everything worked out. I have to admit I despaired of us ever finding your brother alive. When he came home and told us his story, it renewed my faith. Then, seeing how God managed things this evening . . . well, it’s given me a great deal to think about. Even when things seem completely hopeless, I must remember that God is still able to deliver.”
Judith gave a nod. “Pastor Fisher said prayer changes everything. I can see now that it really does.”
Camri put her arms around both women. “It truly does. Thank you both for helping me through this very difficult time. I’m so blessed that God put us together.”
The threesome hugged, then Kenzie and Judith headed upstairs, leaving Camri alone.
As tired as she had been earlier, Camri now felt wide awake. She went to the fireplace and stretched out her hands. The front of her dress was still damp from embracing Patrick, but she didn’t care. He was here and he was safe. Nothing else mattered. All of her plans for the future could be reordered, so long as Patrick was a part of them.
The next day Camri awoke to find the sun shining. After days of heavy rain, it seemed the weather had cleared. She stretched and then remembered that she was sharing the bed with Judith. When she looked at the other side of the bed, however, she found that Judith had already risen.
“Goodness, what must the time be?”
Camri got up and looked at the clock. It was half past noon. She’d never slept so late in all her life. She dressed quickly and made her way downstairs, where she found the others gathered around the dining room table, eating.
“We were beginning to think you might never wake up,” Caleb said with a grin. “I thought perhaps I would have to send a handsome prince to awaken you with a kiss.”
“How scandalous of you,” Camri said, kissing Caleb atop his head. She looked at Patrick and smiled.
Mrs. Wong appeared with a pot of coffee. She poured Caleb a cup, then went around the table to check everyone else’s cup. “You need anything more?”
Caleb shook his head. “I think we have food enough for ten more people, Mrs. Wong. Thank you.”
She looked at Camri. “You want tea or coffee?”
“Tea is just fine, Mrs. Wong. Thank you.”
Camri took her seat and considered the variety of food. Mrs. Wong had made eggs, bacon, and fried potatoes, not to mention biscuits and gravy. There was also a large plate of fruit and another of cheese. Next to that were cold roast beef and ham, as well as a basket of sliced bread for sandwiches. It made for a lovely brunch.
“My goodness, Mrs. Wong, you really outdid yourself.” Camri reached for a biscuit as the housekeeper set a cup of tea beside her plate. “Thank you.”
“You very welcome,” Mrs. Wong bobbed her head twice then disappeared. For a woman who’d been up as late, if not later, than Camri, she was certainly full of energy.
“Judge Winters plans to pay us a visit after church,” Caleb said before Camri could even take a sip of her tea. “He called quite early to say he has news for us.”
She felt a sense of relief. “Good. I’d hate to have to wait much longer to hear what happened. I do hope there’s no chance of Daniels being set free.”
“I hope not either,” Caleb answered. He dug into his plateful of food. “However, if Ruef is connected to Daniels, as he implied to Patrick, there’s no telling.”
“But if Daniels is released from jail, he will try to find Liling and Patrick.” Camri couldn’t keep the worry from her voice.
“Aye, he might well send someone to look for me anyway,” Patrick said with a shrug. “He has plenty of friends who aren’t in jail.”
Camri put down her tea. “You say it so casually. This is terrible. I hadn’t thought of that possibility. What shall we do?”
Caleb chuckled. “We finish our meal.”
Eating seemed a perfectly logical way to pass the time, and despite her concerns, Camri soon found herself caught up in the conversation.
“So have you two set a date?” Caleb asked, looking at his sister and then Patrick.
“No. We’ve scarcely been able to talk about anything but finding Liling and seeing justice done.” Camri smeared butter on her biscuit. Her concerns about how little she and Patrick knew about each other came back to her.
“Well, with that behind us, I’m sure you’ll have plenty of time to make your plans,” Caleb said.
She cast a quick glance at Patrick, who seemed to be paying no attention to the conversation. “I’m sure we will.”
The doorbell sounded, and Mrs. Wong darted past the dining room and down the hall. When she returned, Judge Winters followed just behind.
“Judge Winters to see you,” she announced.
Caleb started to rise. “Come in, Judge. Would you like a cup of coffee?”
The older man waved Caleb off. “Stay in your seat, and no coffee for me. We are dining with my daughter and son-in-law, so I’ll make this brief.”
“Won’t you at least sit down?” Camri asked.
He smiled and shook his head. “Another time, perhaps. I just wanted to let you know that Daniels and the rest of his men from the dance hall are in jail. The place is closed down, and the young ladies have been cared for.”
“’Tis good to hear,” Patrick said before anyone else could speak. “And what of the sailors?”
The judge frowned. “Most of them will be just fine. Two died. The medication Daniels gave them apparently had an adverse reaction.”
Camri could see the grief in Patrick’s expression. His jaw clenched, and he looked away. No doubt he felt guilty about not being able to save them.
The judge seemed to sense this as well. “Son, you did all you could. You saved two dozen men from certain slavery and possible death. It is a sad shame that two should die, but that shame is on Daniels, not on you.”
“Aye,” Patrick whispered, “but I was hopin’ to see them all to safety.” He let out a heavy sigh.
“The judge is right,” Caleb said. “And while I share your grief over losing two men, I think we must look at the bigger picture. This is just the start of putting the practice of shanghaiing to rest, closing down the Barbary Coast, and seeing Ruef pay for his crimes.”
“That’s right,” Judge Winters interjected. “In the last couple of days, I’ve managed to speak to several men who haven’t yielded to Ruef’s demands. Men of power. They agree the time has come to put an end to Ruef and the mayor’s corruption.”
“We’ll have our work cut out for us,” Caleb said, looking to Patrick. “Are you still of a mind to help?”
Patrick nodded. “Aye. I’m more than ready to see the likes of them behind bars.”
Caleb got to his feet. “Judge, thank you for coming to let us know.”
“There is something else. Something I meant to mention before now.”
Caleb’s brow arched. “By all means, speak.”
“Henry Ambrewster arranged his will with me, as well as business papers that named you a full partner in the business.”
“Aye,” Patrick said, nodding. “I saw them m’self. He told me all about it.”
Caleb was stunned. “I . . . he never said anything about it.”
Judge Winters smiled. “He told me he thought you the finest young attorney he’d ever known.”
“I feared he thought me corrupted by the likes of Rue
f and his men.”
“Henry was a smart man and a good judge of character. He had his faults, to be sure, but he made a sound decision in this matter. Not only that, but he left you the bulk of his estate.”
“What?” Caleb shook his head. “But what of his family?”
“He had no children, and his wife died some time back. The rest of his family has more than their fair share. I think he hoped to give you a leg up. The amount is substantial.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“Well, for now it’s unimportant. I’ll come again sometime this week, and we can discuss where you want to go from here. We’ve a battle—nay, a war on our hands that won’t be easily won. Men all over this town have paid dearly at the hands of Abraham Ruef. It’s time we rallied our forces and figured out a strategy. For now, I bid you all a good day. I hope you have a chance to get out and enjoy the sun.”
Caleb excused himself to walk Judge Winters out while the others commented on the news.
Camri placed her napkin on the table. “I suppose I misjudged Henry Ambrewster.”
“As did I,” Patrick added.
“I can’t imagine inheriting money,” Judith said, shaking her head. “How wonderful for him.”
Kenzie scooted back in her chair, causing Patrick to jump to his feet to help her. Camri smiled at his gentlemanly conduct.
“If you’ll excuse me,” Kenzie said, giving Patrick a nod, “I believe I will take the judge’s advice and go for a walk in the sunshine.”
“Oh, do let me join you,” Judith said, jumping up. “It’s been forever since we had nice weather.”
The two left Patrick and Camri alone in the dining room. He helped her up and drew her into his arms. “And what about yourself, Miss Coulter? Would ye care to take a walk with an Irishman?”
“I would.” She smiled up at him. “I have a great many things to discuss with him.”
“I figured as much.” He gave a chuckle. “Since when don’t ye have plenty to say?”
She might have feigned insult and pushed him away, but now that his arms were around her, she had little desire to be rid of him.
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