by Joyce Magnin
“Um, it certainly is.”
The girl sipped the soda she had carried with her.
Harriet reached her hand across the table. “My name is Harriet Beamer.”
“Nice to meet you,” Lily said, shaking Harriet’s hand. She sucked the last of her soda through the straw.
“Can I buy you another soda or pop or whatever you call them out here?”
The girl dug around in the ice at the bottom of her glass with the straw. “Sure. Thanks.”
Harriet raised her hand to get the waitress’s attention. Usually a good judge of character, Harriet decided to give Lily the benefit of the doubt, and the café was kind of crowded. She felt safe enough.
“How old are you, dear?” Harriet asked.
“I’m seventeen.”
“I thought you might have been younger.”
Lily shook her head. “Folks are always saying that. But my birthday is next June, and I’ll be eighteen then.”
Harriet looked into Lily’s eyes, which were the color of the Mediterranean Sea—at least, the sea on brochures. There was a hint of sadness and maybe even fatigue. But why would a teenager be fatigued unless she wasn’t sleeping well? And why wasn’t she at school?
“So, Lily,” Harriet said, “I’m curious. Why did you come over here?”
Lily looked away from Harriet. “You were staring at me. I thought I’d give you a close-up.”
Harriet clicked her tongue. “Now, now, no need for sarcasm. I explained to you why I was looking.”
Lily let go a nervous laugh.
“Shouldn’t you be in school?” Harriet asked.
Lily looked away again, only this time she took a deep breath and blew it out her nose. “I don’t go to school—not anymore. I’m just waiting here for my dad. He’s down at the assay office in Nevada City. He’ll be by soon to take me home. He always leaves me here when he goes to the assay office.”
“Assay?”
“Yeah, you know, gold. He’s getting some rocks checked out.”
Harriet felt her heart begin to quicken. “You mean your father works in a gold mine?” She could hardly believe her ears. After all she had learned about gold yesterday with Florence, she was immediately smitten by Lily’s remark and the sheer uncannyness of the situation.
“No, no, he’s just panning for it now. He’d like to lease a mine but … well, since Mama died we’ve just been scraping by. Dad got real depressed and lost his job, and now we just do what we can.”
“Goodness, no wonder you are so skinny. Does it cost a lot to lease a mine? Can you make money?”
The waitress came by.
“Changed your seat I see, Lily,” she said. Then she looked at Harriet. “Is she bothering you?”
“No, of course not. We were having a nice talk.”
Harriet glanced at Lily, who cracked a generous smile.
“Please bring Lily here a grilled cheese, some fries, and a Coke.”
“Okay,” the waitress whose nametag read Cindy said. “It’s none of my business.”
Harriet tried to establish eye contact with Lily again, but Lily kept looking away.
“What was that all about?” Harriet asked. “Should I be worried?”
Lily played with a straw wrapper. “No, she just doesn’t like Dad and me. Says we’re freeloaders, always looking for handouts. But that ain’t true. My dad will work, and so will I.”
Harriet reached across the table and patted Lily’s hand. “It’s okay. Some people can be so mean-spirited.”
Lily smiled, exposing two perfect dimples. “We ain’t freeloaders. It’s just since … since Mama …”
Harriet patted her hand a little harder. “Now, now. Don’t you be embarrassed; I completely understand. Now, what were you saying? Does it cost a lot of money to lease a, you know, to lease a mine? More importantly, can you make money?”
“Yeah, I’ll say,” Lily said. “You can get rich. You don’t think all those folks during the gold rush got all the gold out of them mountains, do you? No siree, they didn’t. My dad says there’s tons of gold just ripe for the pickin’, as he says. Plenty.”
“That’s just what the tour guide at the Empire Gold Mine said.”
“Yep,” said Lily. “You been there?”
“Yesterday. I went with a new friend, Florence. I guess you don’t know her, but even she talked about a type of mine called a … a place—”
“Placer,” Lily said.
“Does your dad know much about the placer mines they’ve got around here?”
“Oh sure, my dad knows all about every kind of mine.”
The waitress retuned with Lily’s sandwich, fries, and Coke. “Thank you,” Lily said. And then she turned to Harriet. “Thank you.”
“My pleasure, dear,” Harriet said. “Enjoy.”
“Thank you,” Lily repeated. “Yeah, and my pop knows this guy who has a big mine. He leases off sections of it to regular folks like us. ‘Course, whoever leases the land has to afford all the equipment to get the gold out of the ground.” Lily turned the ketchup upside down to put some on her plate and then munched a fry soaked with it.
Harriet’s curiosity grew. “Really? And your pop is sure about this?”
“Yep, he’s some rich dude, named Crickets. They call him Old Man Crickets.” She laughed lightly.
Harriet nibbled one of her own fries. “Really? It’s for real?”
Lily nodded as she chewed. “Dad’s seen it, the mine. Up in the hills. The thing is, Old Man Crickets is getting too old and wants to just lease it to folks, a small plot at a time to get at the gold hiding up there. Pop says it’ll take some machines and manpower.”
“Oh. Sounds expensive.”
Harriet might not have known anything about what kinds of machinery were necessary to get at the gold, but she figured it might cost a pretty penny. Otherwise everybody and their Aunt Fanny would be digging for gold.
“Well, it costs a little. But Pop knows some fellows who’ll give him a good deal. He just needs a backer. You know, a silent partner. Someone to sit back, write the checks, and wait for the money to roll in. That’s what Pop says anyway.”
Harriet grew quiet. Her stomach did a little flip-flop, and she felt a check in her spirit but chalked it up to caffeine. Maybe people were just more hospitable and friendly than back east. This was almost too uncanny to be really happening. Her first thought was to jump right in, but maybe she should talk to Henry and Prudence first. And she should get proof that the mine even existed. But Harriet had money. She could invest.
Harriet watched Lily consume the food like she hadn’t eaten in days. She really did seem much younger than seventeen—fourteen or fifteen.
“It’s always been Pop’s dream to strike it rich,” Lily said. A dab of ketchup sat like a red pimple on her cheek.
“Well, it sounds intriguing, Lily. I might be interested in something like that, but I would need to discuss it with—”
That was when Lily’s phone rang. “Excuse me. It’s Dad.”
“Hi, Dad,” she said into the phone. “Really? That much? Sounds like we get to eat burgers tonight.”
Harriet smiled and ate another fry.
Lily seemed to be listening for a long minute until she finally said, “Oh no, well, we have to find a backer soon, real soon.”
Lily listened another few seconds.
“Look, Dad, I’m with a new friend. I’ll call you right back.” She tapped off her phone and set it on the table.
“That was Dad. He got $102 for the gold he panned this morning. But he says Old Man Crickets is about to lease the mine to some fat cat corporation unless Pop can get a backer real soon to go in on it with him. He’s on his way here right now.”
Harriet swallowed and glanced around the café. Her eyes darted everywhere but to Lily. She needed to think fast. She thought again about her visit to the Empire Gold Mine and what the tour guide said about gold in the mountains. Maybe she could take it slow. Maybe she could work out a
deal that even Prudence and Henry would think was a good one.
“I really hope Dad can find a partner. Old Man Crickets really likes him; he was career army and was my dad’s superior when he was in Afghanistan.”
Harriet swallowed. She had always had a soft spot for vets.
Chapter Nine
HENRY SAT AT HIS DESK, TRYING TO WRITE THE NEXT sentence, but his thoughts kept leapfrogging from the baby to his mother, who was out in town with his car. He didn’t know which thoughts were more frightening. Actually, he did know. His heart sank like a lead balloon as he remembered how hard it was when Prudence lost the first two babies. Once was hard enough, twice was almost unbearable, but the thought of a third time was impossible. “I don’t ever want to go through that loss again,” he told Humphrey.
Humphrey looked at him under his wiry eyebrows, through forever bloodshot eyes that were always sad even when the dog was not. Henry patted his head. “Not this time, old man. This time God is going to give us a baby—to hold.”
Humphrey relaxed and settled back down on the floor.
Henry turned back to his story. Another Turtle Creek saga. His fans had fallen in love with Cash and Polly. His author wheels turned as he read over the words he had written earlier. “Maybe, Humphrey, maybe it’s time for Cash to become a daddy.”
And then with a burst of what Henry called amazing grace, he began typing. But he had only written a paragraph when his cell chimed.
“Drat,” he said as he picked it up. “It’s Mom. Oh dear, she crashed the car. I knew it. She needs to stick to the Vespa.”
He tapped Answer on his phone.
“Mom? What’s wrong?”
“Oh, Henry dear, why do you always think something is the matter?” Harriet glanced across the table at Lily. “I’m fine, the Beamer is fine. I … well, I’m at a most darling little café downtown, and I met a most charming gal. Her name is Lily and she—”
“Mom,” Henry said, “can this wait? I’m in the middle of writing, and I’ve told you how hard it is to be disturbed.”
“Oh, well, I wouldn’t want to disturb you, dear. I can make my own decisions. It is my money, after all.”
“That’s nice, Mom. You buy whatever you want.” Henry continued typing. “I’m sure it will look just fine in the Grammy Suite. Oh, did you deposit that money?”
“Yes, dear, I deposited the money this morning.”
Harriet glanced at Lily and watched her eyes grow big.
“Terrific. Thank you again, Mom. We really appreciate it. Now, you just buy whatever you want.”
“Okay,” Harriet said. “I’ll buy whatever I want.”
Henry tapped off his phone and continued typing. Humphrey scrambled to his feet and nudged Henry’s leg.
“Oh, not you too. Do you need to go out?”
But Humphrey only folded back down and closed his eyes.
“Good boy. I’m sure whatever Mom is buying will be okay. And yes, I’m sure she’s bringing donuts home.”
Harriet tapped off her phone. “Well, I doubt we can fit a gold mine in the Grammy Suite.” Then she smiled at Lily, who had just eaten the last bite of her sandwich. “Finish your fries,” Harriet said.
Lily shoved three fries into her mouth and chewed before saying, “They say gold is a great investment for, and I don’t mean no disrespect, but for older people. Women especially.”
“They do?” Harriet said. Having finished her own, she snagged one of Lily’s fries before Lily could actually finish them. “I guess it couldn’t hurt to talk to your dad.” Harriet took a deep breath. She couldn’t believe she just said that. “How much would you need? Can I see the mine?”
“Dad will tell you all the figures. And of course we can visit the mine. Can’t go all the way up the mountain to the source, but we can get close.”
Harriet’s heart raced. “Do you think I’ll see some gold?”
Lily smiled. “I’m sure of it. I’m sure you’ll see some gold—probably just specks, you know. The big stuff has to be separated from the gravel and sand.”
“Oh, I know that,” Harriet said. “I remember that from my visit to the Empire Gold Mine.”
Lily turned her head as the café door swung open.
“Dad,” she called. “That’s my Dad,” she told Harriet.
Harriet looked at the man walking toward them. He was tall and burly and wore a cowboy hat and boots, rugged jeans, and a light plaid shirt. His hair was blond, like Lily’s probably was in reality.
“Howdy,” he said, tipping his hat.
“Daddy,” Lily said. “This here is Harriet Beamer. I was telling her about the gold mine lease and Old Man Crickets.”
“Oh, okay,” he said. He grabbed a chair from a nearby table and sat down. “Nice ta meet ya, ma’am. My name is Winslow G. Jump. But call me Win. Ha! All my friends do because knowing me is a Win for you.”
Harriet watched Lily turn away like any embarrassed teenager would.
Harriet extended her hand. “Nice to meet you, Win.” She thought he sounded like a politician.
The waitress came by and asked Win if he wanted anything. “Go on,” Harriet said. “Order whatever you want. My treat.”
Win leaned back in his chair and patted his belly, which was kind of round and jolly. He wasn’t exactly starving. “No, no, nothing for me, pretty lady. But my little girl and me are gonna eat good tonight.”
“You really got all that money from the assay office today, Dad?” Lily asked.
“Sure did, little filly, enough for hamburgers and dessert, a big slice of that red velvet cake you love so much.”
Lily smiled wide. “I’m proud of you, Dad.” She turned to Harriet. “He had to work hard for that. Panning is not so easy.”
“No, no, sure ain’t,” Win said. “Not like it would be if we could just get into Brunner’s Run. The machines do most of the work. We just have to dig and keep the water flowing.”
“So, Dad,” Lily said, “is the mine lease still available or did Crickets sign it off to someone else already?”
“No, no, he didn’t lease it yet. But he’s close. I don’t think he has a choice. He’s ready to retire and get out of the gold game, and he’ll lease Brunner’s Run to someone else unless I can find me a backer and take over.”
Harriet took a breath. She felt another stronger check in her spirit but thought it was the fries coming back. “Maybe I can help.”
She watched Win’s eyes grow wide. “Really, ma’am? Are you sure? You’d only need to make a piddly little investment at first. Just to secure the lease and then—”
Lily interrupted. “We can talk about all that later. If you really want to help, maybe we should get to the bank so Daddy can get back to Crickets before it’s too late.”
Harriet watched Win smile at Lily. “Easy to tell who has the brains in this family. But patience now, gal. I don’t want to rush Mrs. Beamer into anything.”
Harriet chuckled. “I don’t know anything about the gold mining business, but from what Lily’s been telling me you seem to know an awful lot about gold and gold mines.”
“I sure do. I’ve been studying on it for quite some time. Just looking for the right opportunity, and I’m pretty confident that Brunner’s Run is it.”
Harriet felt her heart skip a beat and touched her fingertips to her sternum. “My son just told me to buy whatever I want, but I just wonder if I know enough to be an investor. What will I have to do?”
“Oh, that’s not a problem,” Win said. “We’ll take care of all the details. All you got to do is sit back and watch the money roll in—after you sign the agreement, of course. And naturally, I’ll get a percentage of all the gold we find.”
“Of course,” Harriet said. A small investment wouldn’t hurt too much. She would talk it over with the kids later.
“Okay. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but where do I sign?” Harriet said.
“I got the papers right here in my pocket. Not much to it really.” He re
ached into his breast pocket and produced two pages that looked very official to Harriet. “My goodness, but look at all that small writing,” she said.
“Oh, just a bunch of legal mumbo jumbo. Basically, all it is saying is that you now have the right to mine for gold on a section of land known as Brunner’s Run. Up there in Downieville.”
“Downieville?” Harriet said. “I thought it was here, in Grass Valley.”
“Oh, all the best placer mines are in Downieville,” Lily said. “Everybody knows that. And it’s not far. Just a few miles up route 45 North—the Golden Chain Highway.”
Golden Chain Highway. Harriet liked the sound of that.
“I guess going to the bank would be the right thing,” Harriet said. “But I would like to see the mine.”
She tried to sound knowledgeable and in charge. After all, she was an investor now.
“No problem,” Win said.
Lily coughed and said, “I already told her that we couldn’t climb all the way up the mountain, Dad. Maybe just stop down below, at the bottom of the stream. You know, where we saw all that gold that time.”
“Hot diggety dog,” Win said. “You are absolutely right. We can’t expect you to climb a mountain, now can we, Harriet? But we can show you the run, the small place where the gold has a tendency to pool sometimes. But don’t you worry. We’ll get that gold too.”
“Okay,” Harriet said. “I can’t wait.”
The waitress set the check on the table. Harriet took it and left a generous tip. The three new friends headed for the door. On her way out, Harriet passed the woman sitting on the spinner stool, the woman who, though it was only now registering for Harriet, had seemed terribly interested in what was happening at their table. The woman dropped a book she seemed to be reading and smiled at Harriet as she retrieved it.
Harriet crossed the narrow street with Lily and Win. But with each step her anxiety seemed to grow until finally it grew to a point where Harriet felt too nervous to get into Win’s truck with them. She remembered what happened in Reno when that sad, suicidal man kidnapped her. Now, there was a risk she took, and it turned out okay.
“Would you mind if I followed in my car?” she asked. “It’s parked just over there.”