In Times Gone by

by Tracie Peterson

  4

  Micah had never been happier. He knew by the way Kenzie had responded to his kiss that she had wanted it as much as he did. As he released her, he could see the confusion coursing through her. Her eyes—those incredible big blue eyes—were wide with wonder, and her lips were slightly parted as if she were about to speak but couldn’t find the words. He wanted very much to kiss her again but knew they’d do better to talk instead. However, Caleb and the others weren’t about to let that happen.

  “Micah, where have you been? We’ve been so worried,” Camri said first.

  He forced his gaze away from Kenzie and smiled. “Working. There was this earthquake and then a fire, and lots of people were caught up in it. Maybe you read about it in the paper?” He grinned as Camri rolled her eyes.

  “We knew you were working, but we hadn’t heard anything from you. We were worried, and I know your poor parents were half sick, wondering if you were still alive.” Her tone was more chastising now.

  Micah shrugged. “I couldn’t leave. There was too much to do. Even earlier today, they brought me a man who’d just been dug out of the rubble. People had to focus on putting out the fires, but there are so many places untouched by the fire that the earthquake put in ruins. Unfortunately, rescuers are still finding people who were trapped.”

  “Can they be saved after such a long time?” Judith asked.

  “Some, but it’s becoming less and less of a possibility.” Micah remembered the young man from that morning. “I’ve seen far too many die, however, and the camps are filled with injured people.” He glanced around the warehouse. “I see you’ve got things in order here. God certainly knew what He was doing in getting you to buy this place, Caleb.”

  “We’ve said as much ourselves,” Caleb agreed. “Although the army was quick to set up the relief camps and at least get folks the shelter of a tent and hot food.”

  Micah nodded. “They’re forcing people to work at gunpoint. I got stopped myself. The poor boy couldn’t have been much more than eighteen or nineteen. Pointed a rifle at me and told me to get to work. I tried to explain I’d just come from working an entire week with very little rest.”

  “What did you do?” Judith asked.

  “I wasn’t sure what I was going to do. I tried to show him my medical bag, but he wasn’t interested. But then one of his officers came and realized the situation. He sent me on my way, which was good, because I probably would have collapsed from fatigue had I not kept moving for home.”

  Caleb smiled and put a hand on Micah’s shoulder. “You saw your parents?”

  “Yes. I even managed to sleep a couple of hours and then stitched up a leg wound. Then I had to come here.” He grinned and looked back toward where Kenzie had been.

  But she was gone.

  “We heard many of the hospitals were destroyed. What are they doing to replace them?” Camri asked.

  Micah frowned. He wanted to know where Kenzie had gone. He wanted to speak with her and tell her how he felt. No doubt the kiss explained that in part, but he needed to tell her.

  “Micah?”

  He looked at Camri, who, by her expression, seemed to understand. “She slipped out the back door.”

  He nodded. “We can talk more about the hospitals, but first I need to speak with Kenzie.”

  Camri gave a slight huff. “I think you said plenty.”

  He grinned and looked at his best friend and then Patrick. “Gentlemen, I’m sure you understand.”

  “Of course they do,” Camri interjected. “We all do. Go find her.” She pointed the way.

  Micah didn’t need to be encouraged further. He headed out the back door of the warehouse and glanced around. The rain was no deterrent to a man in love. He went to one side of the warehouse, but she wasn’t there. He went quickly to the other side and saw her standing by one of two large kettles. It looked like she was stirring something.

  She was soaked. Her auburn hair had been braided and twisted together, but pieces had pulled loose and hung limp and wet around her face. Never had Micah thought her more beautiful.

  “Kenzie.” He said her name with a soft reverence. She didn’t seem to hear him.

  He stepped to her side and glanced down at the water in the kettle. It was empty. She kept stirring with her paddle even though there was nothing there to stir.

  “Kenzie.”

  She looked up, almost startled to find him there. He grinned as her expression again took on a look that suggested wonder—awe.

  “Don’t ever tell me again that you don’t have feelings for me.” He chuckled. “I think we both know now that it isn’t true.”

  Her eyes narrowed as she seemed to regain her wits. “I was . . . worried about you, just like the others. I’m glad you’re safe. That’s all.”

  “That’s all? You kissed me like that because you were glad I’m safe?” His right brow arched up.

  She bit her lower lip and looked back at the water. After a long pause, she said, “Yes.”

  He leaned closer. “Have you been kissing all of the survivors like that?”

  She dropped the paddle and moved away from the kettle. “I didn’t kiss you. You kissed me.”

  He laughed. “I may have initiated the kiss, but you, my dear, most assuredly returned it.”

  “It didn’t mean a thing.”

  He laughed even more and reached for her. “Shall I do it again and prove my point?”

  She whirled on her heel and put several steps between them before crossing her arms. “What do you want, Micah?”

  “You, of course. I want you to stop denying your feelings for me. I want you to admit you love me, because I love you. You do know that, don’t you?” He closed the distance between them. “I love you, Kenzie.”

  Her porcelain skin seemed to pale even more. “Don’t. Don’t love me. I don’t want you to love me, and I most certainly do not want to love you.”

  He felt almost sorry for her. There was fear in her eyes. “Kenzie, you don’t need to be afraid. I’m not Arthur Morgan. I would never treat you as he did.”

  “You can’t promise that.”

  “Yes, I can.” He reached for her again, but she quickly sidestepped him and put out her hand.

  “Don’t. Please.” Tears slid down her cheeks and mingled with the rain. “I can’t bear it.”

  Micah studied her for a moment. He wanted to punch Arthur Morgan square in the jaw for how he’d wounded this beautiful woman. “All right. I won’t touch you. Not right now, anyway. But I won’t stop trying to prove that you can trust me.”

  She shook her head and lowered her hand. “Please just go.”

  Micah didn’t want to upset her any further. She needed time to consider all that had happened. He could at least give her that. “All right. I’ll go. But I will be back. We will talk about all of this. I love you, Kenzie, and I want to marry you.” He started to leave, then stopped and gave her an enormous grin. “I rather like the idea of a triple wedding.”

  Kenzie shook from head to toe as she watched Micah walk away. She could hardly comprehend what had just happened. He had declared not only his love for her, but his desire that they marry. What in the world was she going to do?

  For a few minutes, she paced back and forth by the laundry kettles. The rain had stopped, and she knew it wouldn’t be long before someone showed up to feed the fires or start a load of wash. If she stayed here, she’d only have to answer a lot of questions. Questions she wasn’t at all sure she could answer for herself, much less anyone else.

  “I want you to admit you love me, because I love you.” Micah’s words rang over and over in her head.

  The feelings she had suspected he had for her were now openly declared. They couldn’t be taken back. Worse still, Micah had pried open the place where she kept her own feelings safely hidden away.

  “I want you to admit you love me. . . .”

  She stopped pacing and closed her eyes as if she could undo the last half hour. She tried her be
st to make an argument for why he was wrong.

  I’m only reacting to the trauma we’ve all been through. Difficult times make people do and say things they might otherwise never do. That’s all that happened. I kissed him back because I was relieved he was alive and well. Nothing more.

  She opened her eyes again and squared her shoulders. “I don’t love him. I don’t.”

  The earth began to shake under her feet. It was nothing more than a tremor, one of the many they’d had after the large destructive quake, but this time it seemed different. It was almost as if the earth were mocking her.

  When the shaking stopped a moment later, Kenzie glanced heavenward. “Lord, I don’t know what to do. Help me, please.”

  Caleb, Patrick, and Micah walked to Mayor Schmitz’s temporary office. Micah had plans for getting back to work, but Caleb couldn’t help teasing him about his encounter with Kenzie.

  “So, did you win her over at last?”

  Micah laughed. “I did my best. She’s not going to let herself love me easily. She’s much too stubborn.”

  “Well, for sure ye got her attention,” Patrick threw in.

  “I’ll say,” Caleb agreed. “She all but melted into the floor from that kiss. You were quite the brazen paramour. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything quite like that.”

  Micah sobered and shook his head. “She was all I could think about. All week long, when I thought exhaustion or discouragement would overtake me, Kenzie kept me going. Kenzie and thoughts of that kiss.”

  “I can see how that would keep a man going.” Caleb nodded as they reached their destination. “Here we are. Are you sure you won’t join us? This will be an important meeting. We’re supposed to get an update on the sewers and water pipes.”

  “I can give you the same information without sitting through hours of boring conversation,” Micah replied. “They’re busted all to pieces. At least that was the report I heard yesterday from one of the firefighters I worked on.”

  “I’m sure you’re right, but given we’re already looking at plans for rebuilding, things like pipes have to come first. They’d be smart if they redesigned the entire city, but water is the most important. I suppose we’ll hear from Phelan about his ideas for pulling water from the Tuolumne River. No matter how many times he proposes them, Schmitz and Ruef find ways to ignore him and promote their own belief that the Spring Valley Water Company can provide for all our needs. Never mind that they failed us miserably.”

  “Well, good luck accomplishing anything,” Micah answered. “Now that the shock is wearing off, business as usual will be everyone’s goal. Especially where Schmitz and Ruef are concerned.”

  “There are a great many men who intend to see it done otherwise.” Caleb slapped Micah’s back. “Don’t be a stranger, and try not to take on responsibility for all the injured and sick. They’ve brought in doctors from around the area, as well as shipped out a great many of the worst cases to Oakland. At least that’s what the mayor told us in the last meeting.”

  “It’s true, but they’re still finding people in the rubble, and there are still plenty who need my help.” Micah smiled. “But believe me, it won’t be long before I come visiting.”

  The meeting was already underway when Caleb and Patrick slipped into the back of the room. The men at the front of the room were arguing loudly.

  “Mayor, you know as well as the rest of us that Ruef did it so no one but his beloved Home Company would be able to bid. No one else even knew the bid was out for telephone service.”

  Another man jumped in. “Ruef posted that notice in the ruins of City Hall, demanding bids be received by three that afternoon. No one even knew where to bring the bids.”

  Caleb leaned over to Patrick. “It seems our hopes of being rid of Ruef were short-lived.”

  Patrick nodded and crossed his arms. No doubt he was worried about whether Ruef’s actions would also bring an end to Schmitz’s promised reinstatement of Patrick’s business. Caleb looked around the room but saw no sign of Ruef. He was probably too much of a coward to show his face. He had to know Schmitz would be dealing with an angry group of men.

  “I need everyone to calm down,” Schmitz said, motioning with his hands as if he were trying to stuff everyone’s rage into a box. “Right now we have a city to rebuild, and that cannot happen until we clear away the debris. United Railroads has agreed to put up a bunker at First and Mission. Wagons loaded with the rubble that is not reusable will be brought to the bunker. From there it will be hauled away and dumped into the bay. This will create additional acreage to build on. However, before that can happen, we will need every available man, woman, and child helping with the cleanup. We intend to salvage what we can.”

  An elderly man got to his feet. “The army shot my son-in-law.” The statement rendered everyone else silent. “He was doing nothing more than going through the rubble of our business. They didn’t even ask him who he was.” The old man’s eyes dampened. “My daughter is now a widow with five young ones to raise.”

  Schmitz ran a hand through his wavy hair. “That is unfortunate, sir. However, you must understand that looters and thieves are everywhere. The soldier responsible no doubt made a mistake, but you see the problem with our situation. People need to be obedient to the law officers.”

  “Which brings up a good point.” Another man stood. “Who’s in charge?”

  Caleb listened as the arguments began to build again. The army believed they were in charge and had probably kept crime down in the midst of the chaos. However, the National Guard felt they were equally in charge, as did the city law officials.

  “Folks,” the mayor said over the crowd, “you need to calm down. The army is only helping temporarily. They are maintaining order while your city officials coordinate relief and recovery.”

  A young clerk came up to Caleb and Patrick. “I wonder if you would both step outside with me.”

  Caleb frowned but nodded. He and Patrick followed the young man into the hall.

  “Right this way,” the clerk said, looking over his shoulder. He led them to an office down the long, dimly lit hall. Opening the door, the young man stepped back. “Mr. Ruef would like to speak with you.”

  Caleb stiffened, as did Patrick. A quick glance into the room revealed Ruef sitting at a desk, its surface cluttered with stacks of books and papers.

  “Yes, gentlemen, do come in.”

  “What do you want?” Caleb asked, moving to stand in front of the desk. He didn’t look back to see if Patrick had followed.

  Ruef craned his neck to look past Caleb. “Mr. Murdock, I want to speak to you as well. If you would allow for bygones to be bygones in the spirit of our sad city.”

  Caleb looked toward the door, where Patrick’s large frame filled the opening. He could see apprehension and anger in Patrick’s eyes. For a moment, Caleb feared Patrick would walk away, but finally the big Irishman came into the room.

  Patrick’s eyes narrowed. “And what would ye be wantin’ to speak to me about?”

  Ruef smoothed his mustache. “As I said, in the spirit of our sad city, we must put aside our past differences and make changes. Mayor Schmitz advised me to do whatever it took to see you were compensated and your business restored. I’m happy to say I have arranged everything.”

  Caleb could feel Patrick’s tension. He was like a cat ready to spring. He put his hand on Patrick’s shoulder, but he looked at Ruef. “That is good news. I hope it also means that Mr. Murdock’s family home will be returned as well.”

  “It does. I cannot vouch for how much damage it might have sustained from the quake, but it was not at risk from the fire.”

  “And what of his business inventory and all necessary licenses?” Caleb asked.

  Patrick remained silent, although Caleb knew it would take nothing more than a single snide comment or negative word from Ruef to throw him into action.

  “It’s all been arranged. I have vouchers here that will allow you to pull money from the
mint, as well as clearinghouse certificates established by the mayor’s office. Area merchants have all agreed to honor them. I’ve also had some of my men round up a large inventory of tools and supplies that you might have had prior to . . . well, that’s unimportant at this point in time.” Ruef gave a nervous smile. “Suffice it to say, we have been more than generous, hoping to go beyond the loss and compensate you for monies you might have made. Outside you’ll find a large freight wagon loaded with various tools of your trade, as well as a fine team of Belgians that are also yours to keep. What we haven’t been able to provide, you will be able to purchase with the vouchers.”

  He held out a sheet of paper, and Caleb took it.

  “As you will see in this letter, we took you at your word—that is, we agreed with the amount you listed on the ledgers you submitted from your previous business. The monies you claimed were taken from your bank accounts and business assets have been approved, and all that we have provided will compensate for that.”

  “But it won’t bring back my father.”

  Ruef looked at Patrick for a moment. Caleb hoped he wouldn’t foolishly suggest that Patrick’s father got what he deserved. Right now, Caleb wanted nothing more than to see Patrick secure what was rightfully his. Their battle with Ruef could wait for another day.

  Ruef cleared his throat. “No, I’m afraid it won’t. You have my utmost regret for that. However, I hope you will see that we are all doing our best to put aside the past in order to build for the future.”

  “So that’s the way it’s to be, then?” Patrick asked. The undercurrent of anger was clear in his voice. “In the spirit of rebuilding our broken city, we’ll just sweep aside the wrongs done in the past?” His Irish brogue was thickening with emotion.

  Ruef had the good sense not to react in anger. “We can hardly change what’s happened, but a good man looks to the future and how to make things better. Isn’t that true?”

  “And yer a good man, looking to the future?”

  Ruef shrugged. “I’m doing what I can, Mr. Murdock. Hundreds, nay, thousands are dead, and millions in damages have all but shut this city down. It seems the petty differences of old squabbles—even the major ordeals of our encounters—pale in comparison to seeing these poor folks get the relief they deserve. I believe even God himself would agree with that.”