In Dreams Forgotten

by Tracie Peterson

  “Goodness, but I’m a fright.” She looked for a brush amongst the objects on the floor. Not seeing one, she began to comb through the tangles with her fingers. She had barely started that, however, when the earth started to tremble again. She looked at Camri and Kenzie. Both women had grown wide-eyed and grabbed for the nearest thing to steady themselves.

  The quaking grew stronger. It was nearly as bad, but not as long, as the original quake. Judith fought back the urge to break into tears. The windows shattered as Kenzie and Camri fell to the floor. What was happening? Were they all doomed to die?

  She heard Caleb calling for them even before the quaking stopped. He and Patrick bounded into the room just as things seemed to settle once again.

  Without thought, she jumped up and threw herself into Caleb’s arms, sobbing. It was all too much. She couldn’t bear anything more.

  He held her tight, stroking her hair. “It’s all right, Judith. It’s all right. It was just an aftershock.”

  “Aye, but that one did us more harm than good,” Patrick said.

  Judith pulled back to see Patrick helping Camri and Kenzie from the floor. “What are we to do?” She knew her voice betrayed her fears.

  “Well, it’s obvious we can’t stay here,” Caleb said. “But I’m not exactly sure where we can go. Everyone around us is suffering the same.”

  “How far out would the quake cause damage?” Camri asked.

  Caleb shook his head. “It’s hard to say. We met with some soldiers on our way home. They said there are fires burning all over the city, but it sounds like the brunt of the damage is in this five-mile radius.”

  “Couldn’t we go to the warehouse?” Kenzie asked. “Camri, you were just telling me about all the goods delivered Monday and how much Patrick has accomplished there. Maybe the damage is minimal. After all, it’s just one story.”

  “She’s right. That might well be the place to go,” Camri said.

  Caleb nodded. “I agree.”

  “I have to find out about Grandmother.” Judith looked at the others. “I won’t be able to rest until I know if she’s dead or alive. If she’s alive, then I want her to be with me.”

  “I’ll try to call the hospital,” Caleb said. “Come on. Let’s get back downstairs before another aftershock hits.”

  Judith wasn’t sure she could bear another aftershock, but knowing she had no choice, she let Caleb take her downstairs to his office. She waited with the others while he did what he could to find out about her grandmother.

  “I think we should gather what we can,” Camri said, looking to the Wongs. “Pack up all the food that’s easily transported. Load it up in Caleb’s car. Liling, you get all the medical supplies we have—oh, and any liquor we have. You’d better pack your clothes as well.”

  “The streets are a mess, love,” Patrick said. “We won’t get far in the car.”

  “It doesn’t matter. We can carry things if need be, but it’s several miles to the warehouse, and we’ll need to get as far as possible with the car first.”

  “Aye, you’re right. And it might be that we can be drivin’ up on the sidewalks and such. Some of the streets are just fine, I’m sure.”

  Camri turned back to Kenzie. “Come with me, and we’ll get all the blankets and sheets and some of our clothes. Patrick, maybe you could scout us out a route—at least for the first few blocks.”

  He nodded. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

  He took off, as did Camri and Kenzie, leaving Judith sitting and staring while Caleb tried to make calls.

  He finally gave up. “The lines are down, and there’s no hope of getting through. I’ll get you all to the warehouse and then see about going to the hospital myself.”

  “But the fires and the damage.” Judith shook her head. “I don’t want you endangered.”

  He grinned. “I won’t take chances, but obviously we’re all in a bit of danger. Don’t fret.” He came back to where she sat and knelt beside her. “You’re beautiful . . . you know that?”

  She shook her head. “I don’t even have my hair pinned.”

  “I know. I like it down.” His grin widened. “In fact, I find I like most everything about you.”

  She looked at him for a moment, then gave a slow nod. “I like everything about you too.”

  Camri called out from the hall. “We’re going to pack stuff in the car.”

  Caleb stood and frowned. “What’s that all about?”

  “Camri felt we needed to take what we could with us and figured we should try to take the car as far as we were able. Patrick has gone to scout us out a route.”

  “Good thinking. I can always trust Camri to get things organized.” He helped Judith to her feet as another aftershock caused the floors to rattle and shake.

  Judith clung to him, looking into his eyes for reassurance. Caleb ran his hand down her cheek and cupped her chin. He said nothing and did nothing more, but Judith felt a calm wash over her like never before. She smiled.

  “Come on, let’s go help the others,” he said.

  Caleb had never thought they could load so much stuff in his car, but Camri had every inch of it packed to the hilt, including a suitcase with his clothes. The stacked cases and crates were so high that by the time she finished, it was necessary for the rest of them to walk beside the car and steady the load while Caleb slowly drove.

  It took the better part of two hours just to get the few miles down to the warehouse. While many of the roads were undamaged, others were in various states of disrepair, but added to this was the flood of people. Hysterical people. They swarmed the roads en masse, frightened, even angry. They made it difficult for Caleb to maneuver the car, and more than once Patrick had to clear the way.

  Word came that the dome of City Hall had crumbled and much of the building itself had collapsed. That was one building Caleb couldn’t blame on Ruef. Political boss Chris Buckley had built it for more than seven million dollars back in the 1890s. Everyone admired its classical beauty and marble columns, but from the sound of it, Caleb figured it had been just as poorly constructed as most of Ruef’s projects were. Worse still, the basement of City Hall housed the jail, as well as a hospital and an insane asylum. Who knew if those people were even still alive?

  When Camri inquired of some soldiers as to the direction of the fires, the man in charge told her they were in all directions and completely out of control. He believed that as many as two hundred structures were now aflame.

  The warehouse, well south of the city, yet conveniently located on the bay, looked to be relatively sound. Caleb and Patrick searched through the entire building, finding only minor damage here and there. Patrick’s construction work had added additional support to the frame, and except for some of the crates being tossed about and broken open, things seemed to be in fairly good order.

  They went to work immediately, setting up what they could. Caleb knew there would be many people in need of shelter before nightfall.

  “We’ve got this under control,” Camri told him. “I think you should do what you can to locate Micah and Judith’s grandmother.”

  “And maybe you could see if Cousin George is all right,” Kenzie said. “In fact, I could come with you, and you could leave me near the candy factory.”

  Caleb shook his head. “I would feel much better if you stayed here. I’ll do what I can to check on him. Do you think he would have been at the factory so early?”

  Kenzie nodded. “He is always there by five.”

  “All right. You stay here and help Camri get things set up.”

  “I’ll be comin’ with ye,” Patrick said, glancing between Caleb and Camri. “I don’t like the idea of leavin’ the lasses alone, but . . .”

  “Patrick should go with you,” Camri said, nodding. “We can manage here alone, but you may need him to help.”

  Caleb wasn’t sure it was the best idea. He feared that once things settled down, looters and good-for-nothings would be roaming the streets, looking
for what they could steal.

  As if reading his mind, Camri put her hand on his arm. “There’s nothing here that anyone would want to steal, and the place has been abandoned for so long that no one would even think to come here. The looting and other problems will be downtown at the stores.”

  He let out a heavy breath. “All right, but I’ll leave this with you.” He pulled a pistol from his coat pocket.

  “I don’t know anything about how to use a gun,” Camri said, shaking her head.

  “I do,” Judith spoke up. “I can handle a revolver, a shotgun, or even a rifle. I’m actually a good marksman.”

  Caleb let out a laugh. “I’ve no doubt you are.” He handed her the pistol, then drew out a small box. “Here’s more ammunition.”

  “Hopefully we won’t need any of it.” Judith put the revolver in one pocket of her work skirt and the ammunition in the other.

  Then, without thought as to what anyone might think, Caleb pulled her into his arms and kissed her. It was briefer than the kiss he’d given her earlier, but just as satisfying. When he let her go, he glanced around at the shocked looks of his sister and friends and gave a casual shrug.

  When they remained in their stunned silence, he laughed and slapped Patrick on the back. “I’d suggest you do the same for Camri and join me in the car.”

  Getting to the hospital took no small effort. At almost every turn, Caleb found the way either blocked by debris and torn-up streets, or by the army.

  When they were less than a block from the hospital, Caleb found it impossible to get any closer. “We’ll park here and go the rest of the way on foot.”

  Patrick nodded and jumped out of the car. “Hopefully no one will want to be stealin’ the car, what with it just sittin’ out here in the middle of everythin’.”

  “I hope not, but I don’t see as we have much choice.”

  They hiked the remaining distance, weaving in and out of the masses of people who had gathered. Some were being treated at makeshift stations outside, where nurses and orderlies were doing what they could.

  Caleb and Patrick made their way inside the hospital. Caleb knew from the directions Judith had given him where her grandmother’s room was located. The hospital had taken some structural damage, but for the most part looked to be in decent order. As one of the finer of several hospitals in the Bay area, Caleb figured its construction and maintenance were better managed than most. To be certain, it was better than the hospital in the basement of City Hall.

  The entire building was packed with people. Many were injured, and all were terrified. Caleb thought about stopping to pray with some of them, but felt his promise to Judith had to be kept first. With Patrick’s help, they finally made their way to the small room at the end of the hall. He pushed open the closed door and stepped inside to find Mrs. Whitley awake but alone.

  “Thank God you’ve come!” she gasped. “How is Judith . . . my family?”

  Caleb shook his head. “Judith is fine. She’s sent me to see how you are.”

  “I’m still . . . alive, but I’m . . . certain that won’t be the case . . . much longer. With each passing . . . moment, I feel a little of my strength . . . slip away.”

  Patrick stood watch at the door. He glanced over his shoulder. “There’s somethin’ goin’ on down at the nurses’ station with some soldiers. I’ll go see about it.”

  Caleb nodded, then turned back to Mrs. Whitley. “That’s my sister’s fiancé.”

  “An Irishman.” Mrs. Whitley nodded. “I’ve always . . . thought rather highly of the Irish.”

  “They’ve had it better in San Francisco than other places, but it’s still remarkable to hear someone of your social standing say as much.” Caleb pulled the bedside chair closer and sat. “Judith wants you to know that she’s all right. She’s safe with us.”

  “What of William and Bill?” She put her hand to her heart and drew a ragged breath. “What of my staff? Poor Ramsay.”

  “I saw Ramsay. I don’t know how many of the others made it. The house . . . is gone. The quake caused a lot of destruction, and then a fire started. All over town there are fires, and the gas mains have broken in many places.”

  “And my son?

  Caleb shook his head. “I didn’t see him. I . . . ” He didn’t know what to say or do regarding her family.

  Mrs. Whitley grasped his hand. “Are they gone?”

  Caleb nodded. “I . . . we can talk about it later.”

  She closed her eyes and shook her head. “It’s just as well. William . . . could never have survived without me. And Bill. . . .” She faded off, then opened her eyes and looked at Caleb with such intensity that he wanted to turn away. “The doctor told me . . . that Judith and I . . . had been poisoned.”

  Caleb nodded again. “Yes, that’s what they believe. When Dr. Fisher insisted on feeding Judith only the food he brought to her, she got better immediately.”

  “It was Bill.”

  Her comment surprised Caleb. “How do you know?”

  “He . . . was a hateful . . . spiteful child. He . . . wanted everything. I tried to change him . . . I tried.” She shook her head slowly.

  “He left Judith to burn in the house. She was trapped. I got her out, and then Bill showed up with a gun. Judith said he wanted her dead because he wanted the full inheritance. I never saw your son, but Bill said he was dead. I figure if the earthquake didn’t kill him, Bill did.”

  The stoic old woman nodded. “And now he’s dead, as well. I . . . never . . . wanted that . . . but it’s just as well. Now we’re all dead . . . all but Judith.”

  Patrick chose that moment to return. “The army is evacuating the hospital. The fires are taking over the city, and everybody is being evacuated.”

  Caleb nodded. “I’ll go speak with the officer in charge. We can take some of the patients, if they need. I’m sure we’ll have that warehouse full of people before it’s all said and done. Patrick, would you carry Mrs. Whitley to the car?”

  “I’d be happy to.” The broad-shouldered Irishman came to the side of the bed.

  Mrs. Whitley looked up at him and smiled. “I once had an Irish groom. He . . . fancied me. He was . . . quite the sweet talker.”

  Patrick laughed. “I could be seein’ his logic. You were no doubt a fine figure of a woman.”

  This actually made the old woman chuckle, but that sent her into a series of coughs.

  Caleb got to his feet. “I’ll meet you at the car as quickly as possible. Be sure to keep her wrapped up in the blankets.”

  He left the room and hurried down the hall. It took several attempts to locate the officer in charge, but when he finally did, the soldier wasn’t at all interested in Caleb’s offer.

  “We have our orders. The people are being moved to the Mechanics Pavilion.”

  The Mechanics Pavilion was the city’s largest auditorium. Caleb knew it would be big enough to hold the patients from several hospitals. He nodded.

  His next order of business was to report Mrs. Whitley’s removal to the nurse in charge of the floor.

  “You can’t just take her,” the nurse protested.

  Caleb smiled. “Her doctor has assured us there is nothing more we can do for her. She’s dying, as you probably already know.”

  The uniformed woman nodded. “I do.”

  “Well, then?” He shrugged. “Better she should die in the presence of family and those who care about her. Here’s the address where I’m taking her. If the doctor thinks I’m out of line, send someone to tell me, and I’ll take her straightaway to the Pavilion.”

  He jotted down the address and handed it to the nurse. She looked at it for a moment, then nodded.

  Caleb turned to leave, then snapped back around. “Is Dr. Fisher here in the hospital? I understood he was performing surgery this morning with another doctor.”

  “I wouldn’t know. You’ll have to go to the surgery and ask there.” She gave him directions, and Caleb hurried as best he could through the cro
wded corridors to the stairway that led him to the second floor.

  He found that floor to be even more chaotic, as the staff worked diligently to arrange their patients for transportation. Caleb spotted one doctor clad in a surgical gown, blood smeared across the front of him in no small amount.

  “Sir, I wonder if you know the whereabouts of Dr. Fisher? Dr. Micah Fisher?”

  The surgeon shook his head. “Not since he was asked to assist in an amputation. A man was trapped in rubble down on Market Street, and they thought they could free him if they separated him from his leg.”

  “If you see him, would you tell him Caleb Coulter said that everyone was safe at the warehouse? He’ll know what it means.”

  The doctor nodded. “I doubt I’ll remember, given this.” He looked out across the vast sea of people.

  Caleb knew he was asking for the impossible. Hopefully in time, Micah would try to get in touch with them, but for now Caleb knew his mind would be elsewhere.

  Caleb made a mad dash for the car. He knew if he paused for even a moment, someone would stop him for some reason. Some people were just begging for answers, and others were in need of things he had no way to provide. He’d never felt quite so helpless in all his life, but he could pray for them. Maybe he could even return once he got Mrs. Whitley safely to the warehouse.

  Lord, You know what’s happened here. You know what these people need, and I’m begging You to work out the details and provide for each one.

  He continued to pray as he ran back to the car, and it soothed his soul like nothing else could. When he reached the Winton, he found Patrick had just finished tucking Mrs. Whitley into the back seat.

  “Let’s see if we can get to George Lake.”

  They drove away from the hospital and headed farther into the most dangerous part of the city. Caleb only got a few blocks, however, before the army roadblock refused him passage.

  “We’ve got buildings still falling to pieces,” an army sergeant explained. “There’s too much danger from that and the spreading fires. Fact is, we’re ordering everyone to leave this section of town for their own safety.”