“This is such a farce,” one man told another next to Luke. “They’ve scarcely got ten miles of solid ground on this route. Wait until spring when they have to deal with those floating islands. We’ll see just how great a railroad Mr. Cooke has then.”
Luke said nothing, but he knew the men were right. There had been nothing but conflict lately. It was going to be hard enough to finish the Lake Superior line. That should have been Mr. Cooke’s focus, since he was financing the drive north. What would it have hurt to delay until August, when that line was finished, before making a fuss over the Northern Pacific? Who could even tell if the plans would move ahead? Congress had no particular love for the northern line, as they’d expressed on more than one occasion.
Theodore caught Luke’s attention. His secretary stood huddled with several other men from Superior, Wisconsin. Luke knew this because they’d been introduced earlier, and Theodore had made it clear he didn’t know any of them. Now, however, they conversed and laughed as if they were all old friends. There was something about the way they interacted that suggested a closeness that Theodore had claimed didn’t exist.
“I hope you aren’t disappointed in the celebration,” Archie said, joining Luke. “It would seem everyone’s having a great time. Folks are always happy when there’s plenty of food and warmth and something exciting to celebrate.”
“Yes, but I’m not convinced we have something exciting to celebrate. There’s more problems with this line than I anticipated. Who knew we were going to have so much trouble with the ground?”
“Well, I did, for one, but no one was listening to me. I watched as the company bought four of those new Otis steam shovel scoops and only one pile driver. I told them over and over that we were going to be sinking a great many pilings if we wanted to create a solid roadbed, but that’s how they treated my recommendation.”
“Only one pile driver?” Luke shook his head. “How do they intend to strengthen the roadbed?”
“It’s probably not as much a problem that they’ve only got one. After all, I don’t think they’re going to be able to find solid ground in any case. We may need to bury a ton of trees before we can even begin to create a road. And even that may not work.”
“What are we going to do, Archie?”
Archie smiled. “I suppose we will raise a glass with the other fools and pretend that this railroad has every chance of success. Even if it will take a miracle to secure it in Minnesota.”
“And what about the Lake Superior line? Are we any closer to getting information on the changed route?”
“I’ve compared a couple of older section maps to the new map. The route has been altered on some and kept to the original on others. I’ve been unable to locate the detailed line map we had, but it would seem the bulk of the changes are between Fond du Lac and Moose Lake. We had enough trouble with that section to begin with. Hardly any decent solid ground to build on. We should have stuck to aligning the tracks with the old wagon road. I guess it’s too late now.”
“But why would someone change the route? Do you suppose they actually know a better way?” Luke asked.
“I’d like to think this was done for our benefit, but I’m more inclined to think it was to harm us. Those men from Superior have fought Duluth having this line every step of the way. And when we avoided them altogether by steering far off the wagon road, which would have put the railroad in their backyard, they’ve been looking for ways to make us fail. No,” he said, shaking his head, “I don’t think this was done for our benefit at all.”
Luke thought about the issues and problems with the line the entire journey back to Duluth. He was discouraged by the reality of what others had tried to hide. There were plenty of rumors that employees were sending back sunny reports and ignoring the major issues that came up on a daily, if not hourly, basis. People liked spending money and giving at least a pretense of progress. Luke wondered how he could possibly help Mr. Cooke see the truth.
The only thing that kept him from losing all hope was the thought of Gloriana. She always seemed to understand his frustrations, but even more important, she helped him forget about his work for a few precious hours. She would give him a sense of family and home, and they would talk about the days when his brother and her family had been alive. But what Luke really wanted to talk to her about was the future.
“She’s not ready for the future,” he murmured.
“Did you say something, sir?” Theodore Sedgwick asked.
Luke looked at him for a moment. He had a strange feeling about his secretary. There was just something that didn’t sit right. It never had. He couldn’t for the life of him figure out what it was, and no one who knew Sedgwick seemed to say anything negative about him. And why should they? Sedgwick had done nothing wrong. He was performing his duties well. He was never absent or sick, and he always had a working knowledge of what Luke needed.
So why did Luke feel so suspicious of him? Gloriana had mentioned that Sedgwick had lived in Pennsylvania, and Sedgwick himself had admitted to living in Philadelphia before the war and just before coming here. Maybe Sedgwick had done something illegal during that time and it had been written up in the newspaper. Maybe Sedgwick had wronged someone. He tried to remember any mention of Sedgwick’s name, but nothing came to mind.
He shook off the feeling. It probably had nothing to do with Theodore at all. It was this cursed railroad line and all the problems of the black muck and floating islands. Only recently had Luke learned that one of the smaller townships near Duluth was built entirely on this floating debris. There was no sense of security or promise that it would even be there the next day, and yet people had built a small village on it and called it Freemont.
He shook his head. He wanted permanency and a solid foundation. He wanted a future that would bear fruit and leave a legacy of truth behind. A legacy that would last for the ages. Why did everything suddenly feel so temporary?
He breathed a sigh of relief when the boat returned to Duluth. There had been a lot of ice, making the journey difficult, but the ship’s captain knew how to navigate the water and managed to get them back without issue.
Luke walked home without saying much to anyone. The officials and dignitaries were headed to the Clark House to celebrate, but Luke had no heart for it. He felt tired—weary from the entire façade. He couldn’t figure out what was wrong, but there was such a sense of disappointment that he was actually considering giving up his job with Jay Cooke.
He headed to his little cottage and then thought better of it and headed to the main house. He needed his family. He needed at least to pretend they were his. No. Pretense was not what he needed nor wanted. He wanted Gloriana and JT to be his family. He wanted Gloriana to marry him.
He knocked on the door and smiled when JT opened it with great gusto.
“Luke! You’ve come home early.” Jack started yipping. “See, even Jack is happy you’re home.”
Home. That word sounded so perfect. He was home. This was home.
“Did you have the celebration for the railroad? We talked about it at school today,” JT declared, helping pull Luke’s coat sleeve down.
Luke shed his coat and let JT hang it up.
JT scooped up the puppy. “Jack has learned to use the newspapers if I don’t get him outside in time. Isn’t that great?”
“It is,” Luke said, rubbing JT’s head and then Jack’s.
He glanced toward where Gloriana was heating a bottle for Sally. She looked so beautiful. Her blond curls were done up in that haphazard way that suggested she’d been working hard and hadn’t had time to worry over her looks. Luke found her lack of concern endearing. She was a beautiful woman, but she didn’t feel the need to flaunt it.
Their eyes met, and he smiled. “I hope I’m welcome this early.”
She laughed. “Of course you are. However, you should know that I have plans for our evening. We’re going to have a very serious conversation.”
Luke was torn. She looke
d happy and even sounded as though she were teasing, and yet there was something very significant in her eyes.
“All right. I’m all yours,” he said.
“We shall see.” She turned back to the stove and tested the bottle.
“How was school today?” Luke asked JT.
“Well, we talked about the railroad a lot. Mr. Nelson said that the railroad was critical to the civil-zation—”
“Civilization,” Luke corrected.
“Yes. Civil-la-zation of our country. He said that countries don’t get settled until people civilize them. So with the railroad, we can have an easier time moving to those parts of the country where there aren’t very many towns yet.”
“And would you like to move away from the lake?”
JT shrugged. “I don’t know. The lake is hard to live by. It’s hard on the families because people get killed. I don’t know if I want us to stay here.”
Gloriana said nothing, but Luke could tell she’d heard his comments. “Well, I believe God has a place for everyone. If He calls someone to move somewhere special, He’ll make sure they know. Like when He told Abraham to get out of his country. Abraham got his family together and moved far away.”
“Or like when the angel told Joseph to take Mary and baby Jesus and go to Egypt,” JT said, nodding.
“Exactly. Sometimes God calls us to leave a place and go.”
“And sometimes He calls us to stay,” Gloriana finally said. She held up the bottle. “I’m going to feed Sally. She’s been extra crabby today, and I’m hoping to get her to bed early. If you’re too hungry to wait for supper, there are cookies and buttermilk.”
Luke watched her go, wondering what she wanted to speak to him about. JT was already heading for the cookie jar, bouncing Jack in his arms.
“I don’t want any buttermilk, but I always want cookies.” JT put the puppy on the floor, then reached into the cookie jar.
“Just get one for you and one for me,” Luke instructed. “We don’t want to ruin our appetites. Your sister has worked much too hard on our supper, and we don’t want to disappoint her.”
“What about Jack?”
“No, I don’t think cookies are good for Jack. Let’s stick with giving Jack leftover meat and bread.”
JT frowned but didn’t argue. He brought Luke a sugar cookie. “So was the celebration a good one?” Jack danced at his feet.
“A lot of people came to see us start the new railroad,” Luke admitted. “But I don’t know if it was a good celebration. There are a lot of problems that we have to find answers for, and I don’t know where those answers are going to come from.”
“Did you pray?”
Luke smiled. “I should have, huh?”
“Yup.” JT shoved most of the cookie in his mouth and spoke around it. “That’s the only way to be sure you get the right answer.” He let a piece of cookie drop to the floor, and Jack quickly scooped it up. Luke pretended not to notice as JT continued. “Mama always said prayer should be our first resort, not our last.”
Out of the mouth of babes. Luke ruffled JT’s hair and handed him half of his uneaten cookie. “Here. You deserve this for pointing me back in the right direction.”
JT smiled. “Thanks, Luke.” He gave Luke a hug before dashing off down the hall. The puppy followed him like a shadow.
Luke sat thinking about the simplicity of JT’s suggestion.
He’s right, Lord. I’ve been way too caught up in trying to do things in my own power. My fears and concerns over the railroad and the baby and this family have caused me to lose focus on You. I am sorry for that. I know You will provide my answers. You will give me direction—if I let You—if I listen. Forgive me for trying to wrestle with this in my own strength.
Gloriana thought about what she intended to say. She needed Luke to understand that she had worked through her anger at God and that, while she still felt overwhelmed by the loss in her life, she was ready to move forward. She was in love with him, and she knew he cared for her as well. She felt he had made certain implied suggestions for their future, and she wanted them both to be frank with each other about what that future should be.
After supper she asked JT to play in his room so she could have time alone to talk to Luke. She put Sally to bed for the night and stopped a moment to pray.
“Father, I am sorry for the way I’ve acted, just as I told You earlier,” she whispered as she stood watching over Sally. “I want to change. I want my heart to be yielded to You in every way, but I need Your help. I know I’m willful and easily given to my own emotions. Help me, please. Help me tonight to say the right things. Let Luke understand. Amen.”
She drew a deep breath. It was now or never.
Luke was waiting for her by the fire. To her surprise, he’d already washed up the dishes and cleaned the kitchen.
“What a pleasant surprise.”
“You work much too hard,” he said, smiling. “I just wanted to offer what I could.”
She took a seat in her mother’s chair and relished the fire’s warmth. “I hope I haven’t made you uncomfortable with my request to talk.”
He pulled up the rocker and sat down. “Not at all. I enjoy our talks, so please begin.”
“First I want to thank you for your patience with me. You’ve never quite had my best. When you arrived, I was already steeped in sorrow and anger over Papa and Scott. I felt God had forsaken us, and it made me so bitter. Upon reflection and with the passing of time, my heart has come to an understanding that my grief does not equate to God’s absence. Mrs. Sedgwick and I had a long discussion about that today, and I feel I am ready to release my bitterness and rage at the Almighty. Better still, I know that I have His forgiveness.”
“I’m so glad, Gloriana. I’ve been praying for you. I know your pain has been acute.”
“It has.” She met his gaze. “And I knew you were praying. You’ve been so kind. So caring, so patient. I honestly do not know what I would have done without you, and I want you to know that I’ve come to care for you more deeply than I thought possible.”
“What exactly are you saying?”
She struggled for the right words. “I . . . I have . . .” She sighed. “I have never felt like you were a stranger. From the moment I found you in the cottage, it seemed I knew you. We have so easily become friends—family, of a sort—and I cannot imagine the future without you in it.” She drew in a deep breath. “Nor do I want to.”
“Nor do I.” He moved from the chair to kneel in front of her. “So, will you marry me?”
Gloriana smiled. She didn’t feel surprised by his words—just pleased. “Of course I will.”
Chapter 19
When the harbor opened again in April and welcomed the first ships of spring, the cities of Superior and Duluth celebrated. They put aside their differences and instead focused on the joy of having the harbor once again open to commerce and badly needed supplies. Railroad work had already started up again, and there were some new ideas about how to build up the roadway for the railroad. A combination of gravel and woodchips was being experimented with, as well as drainage systems suggested by some Dutch experts. Perhaps they would get this railroad built on time after all.
The two major railroads that would tie Duluth to the rest of the United States required more workers than ever, and with this in mind, Jay Cooke had sent word to hire immigrants. They were grateful for work, wouldn’t argue about the wages, and many had special skills related to the railroad. He told Luke in a very detailed letter to start plans for immigrant railroad housing. He wanted the housing in place by the next year and suggested using some of the excess land near the depot and railyards.
Every day, Luke could see the progress being made and wondered at the future of this growing city. When he’d first heard of Duluth, there couldn’t have been more than a few hundred people living there—if that. Now there were nearly three thousand. Housing was difficult to find, and because of that, Luke had purchased additional tracts
of land for himself and hired builders to put together simple one-story houses. He knew he’d have no trouble renting out the places once they were complete in the summer. He felt that Duluth was rapidly advancing and proving itself to be worth the investment, and now he had his future with Gloriana and the children to consider.
“That’s the last of it,” Archie said as he checked through a stack of papers. “Everything we expected with this first order is here. I’ll get the men to move it out onto the line.”
Luke nodded. “Thanks, Archie. I know this isn’t your job, but given Ray is so sick, I appreciate you stepping in to help me.” Ray Willis, the supply manager, had taken on a bad pneumonia and was even now abed, fighting for recovery.
Believing his duties complete at the docks, Luke made the trek back to his office. The day had turned out sunny and brilliant but still quite chilly, and he was grateful for the warmth of the offices when he returned.
“You have a visitor waiting,” Theodore announced. He got to his feet to help Luke with his hat and coat as he did every time Luke came or went. “If you don’t need me, I have some paperwork to deliver to Mr. Rowland.”
“That’s fine. Who is my visitor?”
“I am.”
Luke knew the voice immediately. He turned and met his father’s stern expression. He finished handing his gloves to Theodore before forcing a smile. “Father. It’s good to see you.”
“More like a surprise, I would warrant.”
“That too.” Luke looked at Theodore. “Feel free to get those papers to Archie. He plans to oversee the supply delivery.”
“Very good, sir.” Theodore took up his own hat and coat. “I shouldn’t be gone long.”
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