by Zina Abbott
The first time Louisa approached Mr. Rosenwald with her purchases, she held her breath. Before, when she had ventured out of the Blue Feather to go shopping locally, even though she always dressed conservatively in public, she was aware people in town knew what she was and where she worked. Mr. Rosenwald found reasons to busy himself in the back room and let one of his clerks wait on her. With Beth accompanying her to the store, Mr. Rosenwald, although coolly polite, did wait on her. It gave Louisa hope that once she moved away from the mining communities, she would be able to walk down the street and be seen as something other than a scarlet woman.
Now, over a month later, Louisa felt much more comfortable about her life. Unless Val was in town, she almost never left Beth’s side. In spite of small the kitchen area, after the scene her first day there, she made a point to work at the back end where she could not easily be seen through the doorway leading into the saloon and eating area. She only ventured out the back door long enough to use the necessary or take Sophie Ann to Josh’s lean-to for a diaper change. The area to which she confined herself sometimes felt like a prison. But, Louisa kept reminding herself, it was only temporary. Once she and Beth left Lundy, her world would expand. It was worth it.
One concern nagged at Louisa. What did Gus think about her? She could not figure him out. Why his opinion of her should matter, Louisa did not know. But, it did. She felt drawn to the man and his mannerisms that reminded her so much of her childhood home and maternal grandparents she visited when her mother had still been alive. Unfortunately, as much she desired for him to have a good opinion of her, she suspected that he barely tolerated her.
For one thing, Gus rarely spoke to her. Any discussion in the kitchen about what food to have ready or customers to serve took place between Gus and Beth. More than once, Louisa witnessed heated discussions between the two with Gus calling Beth a herrisch Witwe. Many times she watched him throw around his turning fork, slam his meat cleaver into the chopping block or storm out of the kitchen muttering under his breath. But, as much as he grumbled about the customers or argued and complained to Beth, who, Louisa noticed, took his outbursts in stride, he never once yelled at her. He never found fault with her work, but he never praised Louisa, either. The few times he did address her, he did so with extreme politeness.
Louisa pulled herself out of her reverie. Beth was running errands, trusting her to handle things in the kitchen. After making sure Sophie Ann was asleep in her basket, Louisa finely diced the vegetables Beth planned to later make into a stew for her turnovers. The pungent odor of chopped onions filled the air while Louisa worked on a head of cabbage. Gus entered to kitchen and abruptly stopped seeing only her and the baby in the room. Louisa froze in place as she stared at Gus. Gus clicked his heels together and offered a quick nod of his head. “Fraulein Parmley.”
A memory from her past echoed through Louisa’s mind.
He clicked his heels in a formal greeting. What does that mean?
Louisa offered a weak smile. “Herr Herschel. Gus. Guten Tag.” Good day.
Gus grabbed the pail he used to shovel ashes out of the stove and opened the door to the firebox. Instinctively, Louisa pulled the worktable away from the stove with one hand while she reached for a clean dishtowel with the other to throw over the cut vegetables. She had eaten plenty of meals seasoned with ash and dust while cooking for her father over an open fire on his mining claim. However, she supposed that Beth would not appreciate ash coating the vegetables intended for her turnovers.
Each of them turned to the basket on the floor as Sophie Ann squeaked out a protest at the sounds that disturbed her sleep. They watched as she squirmed and settled back into her nap. Then Louisa looked up until her eyes met Gus’s. Expressionless, he stared at her face.
Louisa immediately dropped her gaze to once again focus on the towel-covered table. She spread her fingers and pressed them against the table’s edge as she willed herself to not blush. She suppressed the surge of longing for him she felt course through her. Why was Gus staring at her? What did he see when he looked at her? And, why did it matter to her that he think well of her?
Where are you, Beth? Please come back.
“Sophie Ann gut, ya?”
Louisa jerked her head back up. To her recollection, this was the first time Gus called her daughter by her name. Louisa smiled in relief. She answered him in a voice so soft she wondered if he heard her. “Yes, she’s fine.” Then, a little louder, “She’ll continue to sleep. Go ahead and take care of your stove, Gus. These vegetables will wait.”
Each week when Gus paid her, he gave her about two thirds of what he paid Beth. Louisa felt that was more than fair since Sophie Ann required quite a bit of time and attention. Even if she was in the middle of a project and Beth took over caring for the baby, Louisa insisted that the pay come from her portion. When Josh held Sophie Ann for more than a few minutes, Louisa made a point to slip him a few coins so he had money to buy extras.
At first, Gus kept his distance from Sophie Ann. Both Beth and Josh loved to talk to the infant and bounce her around to keep her content. Gus, on the other hand, kept himself busy and away from the baby. Louisa worried he didn’t like babies and might eventually tell her she could no longer keep Sophie Ann with her if she wanted to work, especially once the baby grew old enough to creep around the floor. Fear of what he would say prompted Louisa to not involve him with her baby. She expected him to disapprove of her, but she prayed he didn’t take his dislike out on her innocent child.
Louisa had to admit that, on more than one occasion, she caught Gus standing off to the side with his arms folded while he watched the others play with Sophie Ann. Hopefully, over time, his attitude would soften toward Sophie Ann. That hope grew stronger the day she stood with her back to the stove as she held Sophie Ann and cooed in her ear. The baby, barely able to hold up her own head without support, listened with rapt attention.
Suddenly, she turned her attention from Louisa and, with a big smile on her face, squirmed with excitement at something she saw over her mother’s shoulder. Louisa spun around and barely caught the sight of Gus making a face and wiggling his fingers at Sophie Ann.
Once he saw Louisa turn, Gus immediately straightened to his full height, assumed a stern expression, and dropped his hands to his sides. He nodded his head and turned back to his stove.
Louisa once again turned her back to him. She buried her face in Sophie Ann’s neck to hide her smile. Gus had been playing with the baby, coaxing her to laugh. Louisa expressed her joy over this latest development by peppering the baby’s neck with soft kisses.
CHAPTER 8
Stepping out of the office Charles McLean used as justice of the peace, Beth unfolded the sheet of paper in her hand. She once again studied the figures of the final accounting for Jim Dodd’s estate. She thought back on Judge McLean’s words to the effect that she had ended up with more than he originally expected. Much of it was in mining stock, the rest of it some of Jim Dodd’s tools and some cash on hand left after the amount needed to pay her late husband’s debts and burial expenses. At her request, he agreed to hold her stock papers and other valuables in his safe at the butcher shop at the General Market.
McLean had commented that she was fortunate that most of the mining stock was in the Gorilla, the rest in some of the other smaller mines, but none in the May Lundy.
“Mrs. Dodd, I like you, so I’m going to confide some information to you and trust that you won’t discuss it with anyone. If word got around that I told you or anyone this, not only could it jeopardize my business, but it might get me recalled as a justice of the peace.”
“I ain’t goin’ to say nothin’, Mr. McLean.”
“You can sell those mining stocks and invest the cash elsewhere, or you can probably pick up a fairly nice house in town. If you have a mind to, you could probably buy out Mrs. Ford’s boarding house where you’re now living. She’s been offering it for sale for some time now. But, I advise you to steer clear of b
uying into the May Lundy mine. It’s producing well enough, but the owners are in the process of selling it to investors in Scotland and England. It is taking a long time to finalize the deal.”
“It ain’t the only mine bein’ sold, is it?”
“No. But, as you may know, not many miners from the May Lundy shop much in town except maybe on Sundays because the mine has its own company store up there where the employees can buy on credit until pay day. Problem is, the May Lundy Store buys a lot of their food and goods from other local merchants here in town. They buy from us on credit, but lately since they got these new buyers, they haven’t been very good about paying their bills. I know I’ve got a lot on my books, and I imagine some of the other stores in town do, too. I don’t know what the current mine owners are doing with the money the mine is earning, but they may not be all that financially stable.”
Surprised at his words, Beth had blurted out, “Gus don’t sell on credit.”
The Arcade Saloon operated on a cash only basis, too. If the occasion arose where Gus or the owners of the saloon considered starting a tab for the miners, she would warn them against it without betraying his confidence.
As Beth rethought Charles McLean’s words regarding a house for her and her sister, she wondered about Rosenwald’s Pioneer Cash Store. She wondered if Mr. Rosenwald also sold goods to the May Lundy store on credit.
Either way, Beth had no interest in selling her mining stocks just to buy new shares in another mining company. And, even if she could afford to buy Mrs. Ford’s Pioneer Lodging House or another nice home in Lundy, she had no interest in that, either. She wanted a farm.
Beth stared at the paper again without seeing the numbers in detail. Then, she raised her eyes to Mount Scowden that dominated the skyline west of Lundy. Numerous mines, including the May Lundy, riddled this behemoth. Her eyes scanned the valley slopes leading up the mountain. Many homes on the south side of the valley had been abandoned by their owners after the big avalanches of 1882 had destroyed the area and claimed lives. Remnants of houses still speckled the slope beyond the inhabited part of Lundy. Then there were the homes abandoned because of the fear of future snow slides.
Beth realized what she would do.
Val planned to be up within the week with beef on the hoof for the local butchers. He also promised to bring to her his recommendations regarding available homesteading land. But, in order to have a house ready by this coming fall, she would buy one of the abandoned houses west of Lundy, have Josh help her dismantle it, and hire Val and his brother to haul it to her property.
With a little bit of luck, she might find a house with the stove and some furnishings in place. That happened in the mining region. People left to earn a grubstake somewhere else, leaving many of their possessions behind in their house. They intended to return, but later changed their minds and decided to either sell or abandon the property.
If she could find an affordable place like that for sale, she’d buy it. With the boards already cut to size, and, with luck, an unbroken window or two set in the walls, it would take no time for her to get the house put back together on her homestead before she boarded the train for Ohio.
****
When Val, Luther and their drovers arrived in Lundy later that week, Louisa volunteered to finish the clean-up chores back in the kitchen so Beth could enjoy a few moments alone with the men after their meal. Val pulled out several sheets of paper and handed them to Beth.
“After looking around, I decided that the area around Robinson Creek would probably work best for you. I drew maps of three plots so you could think about it and decide if you’d like to see one. All of them have the creek running through the property, so you’ll have water even before you dig a well. This other one is further north. It’s along the Little Walker River and more remote.”
Beth took the papers from Val and spread them on the table. She ignored Luther, Hank and Frankie as much as possible, knowing they were familiar with the land and were probably anxious to share their opinions. But, she wanted to get her own first impressions based on the information Val brought her.
“This one here,” Val pointed to the one map, “has the most flat land. It would be the best for grazing a herd of either horses or cattle. Part of it would be good for growing hay. In addition, it’s next to our northern border. We would be close to help, plus you would have the option to sub-let part of it for some of our herd.”
“Sub-let?” Frankie snorted. “Shoot, Val, you and Beth are going to be married before you know it. Aren’t you going to run everything as all one spread? I just thought this was a smart way to add land to the ranch you already have.”
Beth stiffened her spine and pursed her lips. Before she could speak, Val jumped in.
“Now, don’t try to make something out of nothing, Bethie Rose. That’s not what I have in mind at all.”
The other men fought back knowing smirks. They had all caught on why Val sometimes called her “Bethie Rose.” They also knew that was his special nickname for her, and valued their lives too much to try to call her that themselves.
Val turned back to the men and shook his head. “No, Frankie, this will be Beth’s place. She’s already lost one husband. She’s looking out for her future in case something should happen to me.” He turned to Beth with a grin. “Now, Bethie Rose, don’t go getting upset with Frankie for saying that. That’s what a lot of women would agree to. I know you have something different in mind, and that’s fine with me. Let me show you the other three plots.”
Out of the corner of her eye, Beth watched Frankie turn to Hank and Luther with raised eyebrows. Luther sat back with a grin, as if he were waiting for the punch line to a joke. Beth focused on the next plot map.
“Don’t need no grazin’ land except for my chickens, and they don’t take much.”
Without missing a beat, Val continued, “This one here is a little further north and west, and part of it starts up into the mountains. You still have two-thirds or better in flat land with the creek and two good building sites. These little Xs represent Ponderosa and Jeffrey pines. There’s not as much land for growing hay, but you would have access to your own wood for lumber and firewood. Of course, if you want the wood cut into boards, you’d have to haul it to a mill. Hunewill still has his sawmill not far from there up along Buckeye Creek.”
Val handed her the next two maps. “This one has a little bit of hilly woodland. It’s further east and north of these other two. You’d have to build quite a long road to get back there. This last one is a lot further north near where the Little Walker crosses the turnoff to Sonora. It’s much more isolated.”
“What about row crops?”
Val sighed in resignation. “This isn’t good row crop country, Beth. You might be able to grow a decent garden with some grains for your chickens, especially if you collect your animal droppings for fertilizer. But, you’d be better off running livestock.”
“Just as long as you don’t run woolies,” snorted Luther. “You’ll be a Caldwell, and Caldwells aren’t sheepherders.”
“Don’t need no sheep, horses or cows, ’cept maybe a milk cow or two and a horse to pull a wagon. I ain’t plannin’ to raise nothin’ besides my chickens. Well, except maybe a hog or two for meat to smoke for winter and some left over to sell to Gus for his bratwurst. He ain’t one to share his recipe, but I can taste both beef and pork in his brats.”
“Now, I can go with that,” Hank spoke up. “Tell Gus, though, he has to make enough to sell to the Caldwell ranch. As much as I like beef, his brats make for a nice break.”
“Forget them brats,” Frankie chimed in. “I’ll take one of the hams Mrs. Dodd is talking about smoking. You need to raise more than two hogs, if you ask me.”
“Nobody’s asking you, Frankie,” Val said with a grin. “First we’ve got to get Beth set up on her own place. After that, she can decide what to grow.” Val turned to focus on Beth, studying her face for a clue to her thoughts. “What do you think, Bet
h? Do they look like something you’d like to take a look at? Or, do you want me to keep searching? Problem is, most of the land in the valley with water is taken. I’d have to search further up the creek in mountain country or further north which is a longer distance from both the Bridgeport and the Caldwell ranch. It would be hard for you to get up to your place once we’re married.”
“I ain’t livin’ at the Caldwell ranch most the time, Val. Way I done heard it, I got to live on my land at least six months of each year for five years afore I can lay claim to my title.”
Speechless, Val stared at Beth. Quiet reigned at the table until Luther broke out into hysterics and slapped his hand on the table. “Don’t that beat all. If she chooses land that’s close, then it looks like you’ll be sharing her cabin and me, the youngest brother, will be living in the big house by myself at least half the time. If she chooses far away, then you won’t be seeing her anymore than you do now, because we still have a ranch to run and you’ll be stuck at the house. Better you than me, Brother.”
“Reckon I best make it right handy for you, Luther, and look to homestead across the mountains in the San Joaquin,” Beth snapped. She still didn’t understand why Val’s brother grated on her nerves the way he did. “Reckon I can grow row crops right smart over the mountains.”
“No, Val would kill me if you ran off that far to get your land.” Luther shook his head. “But, to keep my brother happy, I know which plot I’d choose—this one here that’s close to our place and has a lot of flat land for grazing.”
“It’s her choice, Luther. What do you think, Beth?”
Beth stared at the four crude plot maps before her. Before she could speak, Hank shifted in the chair and spoke up.
“You know, Mrs. Dodd, I’ve heard-tell there’s stuff you can put in the soil to help it grow better. If all you’re talking about is a large garden and maybe an acre for animal feed, we could probably even haul dirt in from over the mountains if we have to. If the Caldwell boys can spare me and loan me their wagon and mules, I’d be happy to help you with that. Of course, you can’t do much about the length of the growing season.”