by Zina Abbott
“For baby,” Gus declared, gesturing toward the rocker. Then he pulled back the curtain and pulled the chair into his space, turning it around so the back faced the kitchen. “When baby you feed, here chair move. Close blanket this side, other side open. For baby not so hot.”
After Gus had demonstrated what he had in mind for the rocker, he pulled the chair back into the kitchen, closed the curtain to his nook, and once again settled the rocker in the corner.
“Sit. Rock Sophie Ann.”
Louisa stared at Gus open-mouthed, stunned at the thought he would buy a rocking chair for her to sit on with her baby. She and Beth glanced at each other before she turned her attention back to Gus who had walked up to her. He reached up to tickle Sophie Ann’s chin before his eyes locked on Louisa’s. Unable to turn away, Louisa studied the light blue irises of his eyes. She collected her thoughts enough offer him a smile. He nodded and turned to walk out the back door to work at his stove.
Louisa followed Gus and stood in the open doorway leading outside.
“Gus?” Louisa’s throat tightened, scratchy with emotion. She cleared it so she could speak. She waited until he turned to face her. “Danke, Gus. Thank you.”
CHAPTER 10
LUNDY, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 21, 1884
Filled with a sense of satisfaction, Beth pulled at one of the two boards that had formed storage shelves in the kitchen area of the house she bought up on the slope southeast of Lundy. The two room structure contained a combined kitchen and living area and a small bedroom that shared the wall where the wood stove had been placed. There was also a back door that opened onto a long, narrow stoop behind the wall of the bedroom. It might take several months, but Beth planned to eventually build another bedroom behind the first, a separate kitchen next to the existing main room and a new back porch off of that. But, for now, she felt elated to have the start of a home that would be big enough for her and her little sister to live in until she could build on later.
Two of the three windows remained intact. She needed to replace the glass in the third. But, the frames were in good shape, not warped, same as with the two doors and jambs. Beth already declared she would hold the two windows with the unbroken panes of glass on her lap all the way to Robinson Creek, if that was what it took to get them there in one piece.
The stove that served for both heating and cooking was not what a cook like Beth considered ideal. With only two burner openings and the oven built into the pipe, it would only bake one loaf of bread or one pie at a time. But, it was serviceable until she could buy a better stove for her new kitchen once it was built. Already, the men had dismantled and stored the stove and pipe behind the Arcade for a later trip down to the house.
Beth turned to spot Val and Luther pulling down the boards on the east wall, and stacking them in the back of their freight wagon. That morning, Josh rode up with them to help carry smaller items. He had already agreed, though, that once they returned to Gus’s at dinnertime, he would stay to help Gus and Louisa so Beth could continue to work on dismantling her home.
Hank had come up driving another wagon rented from the livery in Bridgeport. He focused on taking off the doors and taking apart the doorjambs. The taller support beams would also go in his wagon.
This was all taking place later in the year than Beth had originally hoped. It was August twenty-first, the end of the third week in the month. Val had put her off several weeks, explaining that the ranchers in the valley needed to get their hay in before the heavy fall rains began. Beth had already figured out that a person had to enjoy winter weather if they planned to live in the Eastern Sierra. She had been warned that the region could move from summer heat to snow flurries within a matter of days.
If all went as planned, they would have the makings of her house loaded in the wagons ready to haul down to her land by that night. In the morning, she and the Caldwell crew would leave to transport it. She expected Val to drop her off at the Caldwell ranch while the rest of them took the wagons up to her land. In their absence she would cook for the men, plus she would start her baking. She would actually have a chance to attend church for the first time in nine months. The next Monday would be the house-raising.
Beth looked over at Val carrying an armload of wood siding to the wagon and offered him a smile that lit her entire face and set her wide hazel eyes to sparkling. The work was hard, but how could she not be happy? Five days from now, she was going to have her own house on her own land.
Fortunately, Mary Ford had grown close to Louisa within the months since the last time Beth had left Lundy to file the land claim. Mary often invited Louisa and Sophie Ann to join her in the kitchen in the late evening for a cup of tea just before they all went to bed. Just like the last time Beth traveled, Louisa would stay and bake for Gus using Mrs. Ford’s kitchen, and their landlady would act as chaperone, walking Louisa back and forth to the chop shop in the middle of the day so Louisa could help Gus in the kitchen.
Because of her excitement, Beth shoved her current worries to the back of her mind.
First, she had written three letters to her sister since she found out Jim Dodd had up and died leaving her a widow. She had received one letter in response the previous spring when Eddie Hector had finally gotten the mail through after the heavier than usual winter snow had all but isolated Lundy for almost two months. Since she had not received a reply to her letters since then, she sent a telegram saying the estate was settled, she was building them a home and would come back to get her in November. Beth figured by then the mining season would start to slow down and she and Louisa would be able to leave Gus to manage by himself. If Gus needed help with biscuits, Beth felt certain Mrs. Ford might bake for him.
That led to her second concern. She originally planned on Gus being busy well into autumn. However, here it was coming up on the fourth week in August and already business had gradually slowed down over the previous month. When she had sought out Charles McLean’s advice on available homes to buy, he had once again confided in her that the May Lundy mine had stopped paying their miners in early July. They allowed them credit at the company boarding house, store and restaurants. But, if the men wanted to purchase something from the stores in the main part of Lundy, they had to find places that would extend credit until they got their pay. The Lundy merchants were now starting to feel the pinch.
Gus did not sell on credit. He had no desire to keep track of what people owed for meals. Even when the May Lundy miners came in and explained their predicament, he, along with Fritz and Leonard who ran The Arcade Saloon, refused to extend credit. As a result, fewer miners came in for meals.
Beth also refused to sell her baked goods on credit. Especially after Judge McLean’s warnings about the problems the local stores were having getting paid by the May Lundy mine, she did not dare take a chance.
But, more importantly, she worried that with the drop in Gus’s sales, which were closer to what they had been during the slow winter months, he would soon not make enough to justify paying a second cook. He might not earn enough to afford to keep Beth on.
What would happen if Gus told Louisa he didn’t need her anymore? Beth still counted on the income she planned to earn before November in order to have enough to add on to her house and pay for the train tickets to go back to get her sister.
Beth decided to not borrow trouble before it arrived. She forced herself to focus on preparing for her house-raising party.
****
Beth sat next to Val on the one wagon holding the two windows on his lap. Luther and Hank followed behind with the second wagon on their way to Charley Hector’s Lundy and Bodie Stagecoach Livery where they would keep the wagons and the men would bed down for the night. Traveling down Main Street and not yet knowing what had happened up at the mine, Beth felt apprehension build in her as she watched the disgruntled clusters of men wildly gesturing with their arms as they aired their complaints about some issue. While the Caldwell men unhitched the horses and mules and took c
are of them for the night, it was Eddie Hector, Charley’s younger brother, who filled them in on what had taken place earlier that day.
As much as it was a tragedy for the miners employed by the May Lundy Mine, it also proved to be a hardship for the merchants of Lundy.
Early that morning, Undersheriff Wilcox arrived from Bridgeport and attached the May Lundy Mine and personal property to satisfy a debt of over $12,000 owed to Rosenwald, Coblentz & Company, owners of the Pioneer Cash Store. Word quickly spread, and other merchants jumped to attach the mine and the mill. By the time Beth and the others rolled back in town, the mine, with almost $20,000 in claims against it, had shut down, putting over 100 men out of work. The May Lundy Mill, scheduled to close that night, would add to the number. The undersheriff put a keeper at both the mine and the mill.
Knowing that the chances of them being paid their back wages owed since early July was almost non-existent, and knowing the other mines in the district had already hired most of the men they needed, many of the displaced miners left the blocks close to the May Lundy businesses where they would no longer be extended credit by the company stores and boarding house. They had until the end of the week to get out.
As much as the closing of the May Lundy Mine and Mill would affect the men who lost their jobs that day, Beth couldn’t push aside the premonition that this event would also alter her own plans.
CHAPTER 11
Beth entered the outdoor kitchen area of Gus’s place to find her boss standing stiffly and grim-faced at his stove.
“You in the back room stay, Frau Dodd. Only biscuits and bread make.”
Beth ducked as a stone sailed through the opening between the makeshift wooden wall and the roof providing shade.
“I know you’re there, Dutchman, because I can smell steaks cooking. Time to start giving credit. How else do you expect a man to eat when he ain’t been paid for six weeks?”
The lines around Gus’s eyes tightened and he jerked his head, signaling Beth to hurry inside the building. The enclosed room held more of the summer heat, but offered more protection.
Beth entered to find a wide-eyed Louisa in the back corner of the room kneading bread dough. She had pulled the table close to the wall where they kept the stove and stacked firewood in the cooler months. In the corner behind the table and next to her feet, Sophie Ann lay on her back on top of one of Gus’s folded blankets covered by the quilt Beth had made. She chewed on a small dishrag tied in knots to help her with her teething. The baby smiled and chortled at the sight of Beth, not yet having picked up on the apprehension of the adults around her.
An angry voice called for service.
“Don’t go out there, Beth.” Louisa shook her head in warning. The men are in an ugly mood. They somehow have enough money for drinks, because you know those German barkeeps don’t extend credit any more than Gus does. But, they seem to think that Gus should let them eat for free. I guess the company boarding house fed a late dinner to the men who were ordered out of the mine at noon, but that was the their last meal. They were told there was only enough food left for the men still working at the mill who won’t finish up until tonight. The May Lundy miners have had nothing for supper since the stores won’t give them credit any longer.”
Beth walked over to the doorway long enough to shout out to the men waiting behind the counter in front of the door that separated the kitchen from the saloon. “Be right there.” Turning back to face Louisa, she said, “I’d of figured we’d still have payin’ customers from the other mines.”
“You would think so. But, I’ve seen this kind of thing before when I…Miss Flora used to say it was kind of like a sympathy reaction. Even for those miners that didn’t lose their jobs, they still are out there drinking and making demands to support the men down on their luck. Many of them won’t sit down and eat in front of those who lost their jobs.”
Gus entered the room, his frying pan in hand. Without looking at or speaking to either woman, he quickly strode toward the seating area in the saloon. He was followed by Josh.
“Gus says I can help serve tonight.” Beth opened her mouth but immediately clamped it shut as Josh continued. “I came in to wash up good with lye soap like you always tell me, Mrs. Dodd.”
“You’re doin’ mighty fine, Josh.”
Val, Luther and Hank stepped through the same door and lined the wall across from Beth and Louisa.
All heads turned in the direction of the door to the saloon at the sound of Gus’s irritated voice. “Nein! No credit. For food you pay first. Only cash.”
“We’ll take what you have for supper, Gus, as soon as you can get to it,” Val told Gus once he stepped back into the kitchen with them. “But, I think we’ll eat it standing back here where we can keep an eye on the ladies. I don’t think those miners will welcome a bunch of cowboys in their midst right now. We don’t need trouble.”
“And maybe when we’re done, you might want to think on closing up early, Gus.” The remark came from Hank. “I figure it’s going to get rowdier out there before those men settle down for the night.”
“Ya, early ve close.”
Beth decided Gus must have already figured out the same thing for him to agree to another man’s suggestion.
Gus turned to face Beth. “Make buns, not bread rounds, Frau Dodd. We bake and to miners behind kitchen we give.” Gus hurried back outside to prepare the final meals for the night.
Later Gus told Fritz who was tending the bar to spread the word that he had left for the day. The Caldwell men helped Gus carry everything except the hot stove from the outdoor kitchen to the inside. For the first time since she had starting working for Gus, he closed the door that separated the kitchen from the saloon and locked it. Meat cleaver in hand, Gus motioned to Josh.
“Vit us you valk, ya?”
Overjoyed to be included in the group to help protect the women during the current unrest, Josh took his place behind Gus and Louisa as they left the building and started toward the corner of Second and Main Street. They all paused to study the men still roaming the streets, many obviously inebriated, the tension in the air thick enough to cut with a knife.
Val and Hank volunteered to carry the tow sacks full of fresh buns which they passed out to the miners. A couple grumbled over only being allowed one roll each, but none of them dared argue with the well-armed cowboys. Others along Main Street, seeing food being passed out, rushed over to claim a bun. Before the group reached the corner of Second and Main, the food was gone.
Hank motioned west toward the livery located in the opposite direction from the Pioneer Lodging House. “You want us to come with you, boss, or should we head back to keep an eye on the livestock?”
“I’ll be fine.” Val patted the holster on his hip that held his pistol. “Let me walk Beth home and then I’ll join you.”
The group split, with Luther and Hank walking toward the livery. Gus and Louisa, followed by Josh, started in the direction of the boarding house. Val and Beth, in an effort to have some private time together, trailed several yards behind.
Nervous about Sophie Ann’s safety, Louisa walked close enough to Gus to occasionally bump into him. She clutched her child tightly to her chest, loosening her grip only when the baby squeaked out a protest. She kept her head down in an effort to not draw attention.
As they approached First Street, Louisa glanced up to see a group of angry men marching toward them. The men were already crossing the street and she guessed the two groups would pass in front of the corner building. She sensed more than saw Gus heft the cleaver in his hand to get a better grip on the weapon.
When the men were about fifteen feet away, Louisa allowed her eyes to flicker up. She raised her head in alarm. A miner she remembered from her days at the Blue Feather, had his left hand raised, his finger pointed at her. His other hand rested on a small pocket pistol prominently tucked into the front of his belt.
Belligerently, he screamed at Louisa. “You! You take up with that ugly f
oreigner who’s so busy fawning over the likes of you he can’t think of nothing else. He won’t even give credit so a working man can eat.”
Shocked, her mouth hanging open, Louisa froze in her steps. Gus stepped forward. Crouched in a fighting stance, he raised his meat cleaver.
Through the fear that had paralyzed her, Louisa watched the man, his eyes focused on her, reach for the gun in his belt. Instinctively, she backed away from the attacker and started to turn to shield Sophie Ann with her body. Next, she heard the thud of metal falling on the boardwalk as Gus spun around, and wrapped his arms around her. He pushed her back against the wall of the corner building, bumping into Josh who couldn’t get out of their way fast enough. The momentum knocked Josh off balance. A part of Louisa’s brain registered the sound of his crutch clattering to the wooden planks and his body falling.
Using his hand, Gus buried her face into the crook of his neck so that his head protected hers from the gunman’s aim. He pulled her body tight against his, sandwiching Sophie Ann between them.
“Stop right there!” The voice sounded like Val’s. The clatter of running boots moved in her direction, but Gus’s arm blocked her view.
Louisa’s body involuntarily jerked as the shot rang out. She heard Gus grunt as his chest and shoulders slumped even tighter against her, pinning her even more snugly to the wall. A second shot sounded, along with men yelling to one another. She thought she heard someone help Josh to his feet, and an unfamiliar voice call out to send for the doctor. Another voice ordered a bystander to get the constable.
But to Louisa, all this took place in the background of her consciousness as she worried about Gus.
Is Gus hurt?
Her awareness centered on his weight pressing against her as it pulled the two of them toward the ground. Still, he clutched her tightly as his forehead dropped to rest on her shoulder and his deep gasps, occasionally punctuated by soft grunts, breathed against her neck. She prayed her shirtwaist and corset would protect her from the splinters in the wooden wall of the building as she slid until she sat on the walk.