by Karin, Anya
Father drew on his pipe and then pushed it to the other side of his mouth. “No,” he said. “I’ve wanted to leave it behind for longer than I care to admit. Watch your pan, there, gold miner.”
My entire box flooded while I’d stood there staring at the tiny eddies around my ankles. “Oh! I can’t believe I made such a mess of it!”
“Ha! Don’t worry about it. That’s one of the good things about this. You might have lost some nuggets in that river, but you know what? Scoop ‘em up again. They didn’t go anywhere. Nature – this place surrounding us – it makes me feel rather small.”
“Huh,” I grunted, considering his words as I bent and refilled my pan. “Small? That’s a good thing?”
Father stepped into the creek, not even wearing his waders. His trousers instantly sucked up the chill water, but it didn’t seem to bother him any at all. “Here,” he grabbed my pan and tossed it down on the ground a few feet from where we stood. “Don’t worry about it. There’s plenty more. Look up, Clara. Look at this. See that sun?”
Light trickled around me in droplets that bounced off the water. Amber pools filtered through the rustling leaves. It was all so gentle, all so slow. The warmth of the early afternoon moved through my skin, warming me to my very bones, to the core of my being. Even though I spent every night looking at the stars above with wonderment, this was probably the first time I’d done so in the daytime. I opened my mouth to say something, but when a breeze cooled my tongue gently, nothing came to mind.
“Exactly,” Father said. “Exactly. Why bother trying to put it to words? Three miles in that direction,” he pointed east with his pipe stem, “there’s a mine going up. Or down, I suppose. No one’s supposed to know about it, because George Hearst keeps things quiet.”
“But then how do you know about it?”
“Davis told me. Yesterday morning. Says the reason he always gets started late in the morning is because he takes a long ride around the whole place every day, making note of anything that changes.” He kicked a rock that bounced along the others before settling just this side of too far to see. “And I can see from your pinched up nose that you’re wondering what’s to be done about it.”
I pursed my lips. “That, and I’m sorry, but I forgot who Davis was. So many new names, new faces.”
He laughed, “Clark. Davis Clark, the miner down the way.”
I nodded, remembering the man’s friendly smile. “What is to be done then? A Hearst mine would be hard to compete against.”
“Nothing. Nothing’s to be done. George Hearst controls an empire that’s richer than anyone you or I have ever come across. Can’t change what he’s doing any more than we can change the way this river flows.” He sucked his pipe again and fell silent for a few moments. “But you know what else? Not even Hearst can change the way this river flows. That’s what Mr. Clark said.”
I took a long, slow, breath that filled my lungs and held it in. “I’m worried about Eli,” I finally admitted. “I’ve never,” I quieted and wrung my hands. “Never felt like this about anyone before.”
“I know,” Father said. “I can see it in your eyes. The way you look at him – and more than that, those half-dumb puppy dog eyes he gets when he looks at you. It reminds me of us. I mean, of me and your mother.” His eyes misted up and I had to look away, but he grabbed my hand and squeezed. “You asked if I missed New York. No, I don’t. Everything I need is right here with me.”
It was my turn to let my emotions overwhelm me. It all came out at once – Eli’s being arrested, being taken so far from home, the shock of all of this newness, whatever was wrong with the bank, and then when my thoughts turned to the mother I never knew, I didn’t have a chance. Without a word, father pulled me close and held me against his chest.
“What’s that?” My arm hit something that crinkled. I looked up at Father with red eyes. “I’ve been honest with you, have I not?”
He nodded. “It’s nothing, Clara, really – it’s nothing for you to worry about.”
“If you are worried about something then it isn’t nothing, father. It’s about the bank, isn’t it? Another telegram from Francis?”
Still holding me with one arm, he reached into his coat with the other and pulled out the folded paper. “I was going to tell you when I thought the time was right, because it does affect you, your inheritance, everything else.”
“I don’t care one whit for my inheritance,” I said, offended that the first thing he addressed was money, though I knew he didn’t mean it that way. “I care about my father and his well-being.”
He took his long-extinguished pipe and stuck it in his pocket, still holding the telegram between his fingers.
“Now, before you read this, I want you to know a few things. First, there is still plenty of time. Second, I meant what I said – everything that really matters to me is right here at hand.” He handed over the paper, though tentatively.
“Mr. James
My hands trembled uncontrollably, shaking the paper so violently that it rustled just like the leaves. “Father, this says the bank is going broke? I thought you said there was nothing to worry about?” I turned to face him and grabbed his lapel. “This isn’t nothing, father! Your whole life is wrapped up in that bank! It’s just going to vanish over a fraudulent investment.” It took me a moment to collect myself.
“I remember when I was four years old, and you came home from the bank. That clock, the one we used to have near the front door of the apartment, it said that it was seven minutes after ten. At night! Seven past ten at night. I heard you come in after having refused to go to bed. Do you remember?”
A slight smile crossed Father’s lips. “You wouldn’t let your nanny, Rossie, go to sleep. I never did know how you read the clock.”
“She told me the time because I’d been asking since just before seven that night when you were coming home and she kept saying she didn’t know.” Emotion was just pouring out of me, right alongside the tears. “Do you remember what you told me? I was crying and I asked you why you were gone all night because seven-past-ten is all night for a four year old.”
“No, I –”
“Of course not, because you weren’t four and treating every word your daddy said like the gospel. You told me everything was fine and that I shouldn’t ever have to worry about you or about anything else. Well, here I am, worried not just about you, but about a man who I didn’t know a month ago and seem to have fallen in love with!” I clapped my hands over my mouth as soon as I finished talking.
In the trees beyond the creek, I heard a twig snap and turned my head to the source of the sound, but too late to see anything. Then seconds later, father took my attention again.
He put his hands on my shoulders, physically forcing me to calm down. “Listen to me, Clara. The bank isn’t going anywhere, but I’m in no rush to get back because there’s nothing to worry about. Six months ago, hell, six weeks ago, I would be so panicked as to put myself into the hospital. The two of us, right now, are standing on a gold claim that’s just about to open up. I can feel it. We’ll take some of it – not all, just some – and invest in some other railroad company or foreign bank, and just like that, the bank’s back upright.”
I shook. I couldn’t do anything else. From my head to my feet I was trembling like one of those leaves off in the distance where the twig snapped. I squinted, but saw nothing. I loosened my grip on father’s lapel and took his hand again.
“I’m sorry for bursting at you like that, I didn’t mean to.”
“Nonsense, Clara. You’re damn right after all. And I am a stubborn old man. But I’m determined that this will work. Do you trust me?”
I nodded, still trying to see what it was that had caused the racket. “I do, yes.”
“Okay,” I held it in one hand and wiped tears with the other. “Okay. And about what I said in regards to Eli, I don’t know what came over me.”
“We can’t help how we feel or who we love, Clara. Now get down there and dig up some muck. I’ve got a meeting with Davis to talk about our flow-down or back-wash or some such thing I don’t understand. But I do understand that I care for you, and I’d do anything I could to make you happy.”
“Thank you, father,” I said, sniffing and bending to scoop up some rocks.
“Oh, and one other thing,” he called. “I think Eli would say the same.”
Ten
September 24, 1878
Deadwood Hills, Dakota Territory
“I think even if Eli had something to do with the raid, it was probably not entirely a wrong-headed thing to do.”
I sipped my coffee and took the last bite of my eggs. All the gold panning ended up being hard, hot, sweaty work, and eating out at the claim was difficult. Father and I had taken to having almost comically large meals at morning and night.
From the look on Father’s face, you’d think I personally shot someone. “I’m not sure I’d go airing opinions such as that. Though I’m also certain you’re not the only one who thinks that way. Mr. Star exhibited a similar idea last night when we met for a drink. He’s expressed interest in meeting with us today at the claim.” He chewed slowly then put down his fork. Almost immediately, he picked it back up and began tapping an urgent rhythm on the table. “We’re close, you know that, Clara.”
“You’ve been saying that for a while,” I responded.
“The gold is thickening. Nuggets are getting bigger the further up the creek we go. Mr. Star seems to think we’ve found the source. He says that nuggets of the size we’re pulling up can’t be from anything but an underground source, so we’re not just getting runoff from some other claim, this is right under our noses.”
He balled the tablecloth up in his hand, still tap-tap-tapping with the fork. Just watching him had me excited though I wasn’t quite sure why.
“Oh and he also says he has a note from you from someone you’ve been missing.”
“What?” I gagged myself on egg and threw into a coughing fit. “I’m sorry – what did you say? A letter? From Eli?”
“No, from James Polk. Yes, Eli, who else? His trial is in two weeks, in Yankton. Mr. Bullock has to take him. Federal Indian Affairs court or some such. That Rawls hasn’t the first clue what he’s done, I don’t believe.” He shook his head. “No ma’am. Messing with federal law is just about the worst thing you can do if you’re aiming to keep your head above water. But,” he pushed back from the table. “We’ve got a date to keep. Mr. Star will be waiting for us at the claim, or arriving shortly after. Not the common camp, either. He likes to avoid that for one reason or another. I have a feeling that reason’s name is plainly obvious to all present.”
His eyes had their twinkle back. And of course, just like he always did when he was feeling good, he started humming some old war-tune and slapped me on the back. “Got your waders?” He asked. I lifted my skirts slightly to show him. “Good, good. Let’s go, if things go well, we’ll start really digging by Friday. No time to waste!”
Father just about bounced out of the house. Every person we passed on the way into Deadwood proper, he waved to, greeted and complimented. It was quite a transition.
As we stood, waiting for the horses to be readied, someone spoke behind us.
“Mr. James? Clara? I’m glad to find you.”
“Mr. Star, is that you?” I spun around, hand outstretched, for some reason thinking that I was about to receive a letter from my beloved Eli, even though Mr. Star was probably halfway to the claim by then. Instead, my hand received a hard, rough hand around it.
“No, I’m afraid not,” He said, quirking an eyebrow.
“Mr. Swearengen?” father turned and shook the man’s hand. “What can we do for you? Have an errand needs to be attended?”
He looked rather out of his element when he wasn’t at the Gem. He ignored my father completely.
“Have you that book, Clara? The one you scribble in?”
“Yes sir, I do, is there –”
Mr. Swearengen nodded. His ebony eyes fixed on my face. “Good. Keep it ready. I’ve heard tell that you will have reason to put it to use. You should mind birds when you hear them tittering. They often have more to say than you – or they – think.”
And with that, he turned and left.
I looked at father, who looked back with an astonished expression. I’m sure mine was no different. “What an odd thing to say,” he said. My response was a nod.
Though, as soon as we were mounted and riding to the claim, I made sure I actually did have the book with me. I couldn’t shake the feeling that as cryptic as he tended to be, Mr. Swearengen, just like his ‘birds’ knew, and said, much more than he let on.
*
“And so I told him, Francis, if you’re going to invest in a shaving soap company, you should use some yourself! Shave those ludicrous sideburns!”
Father erupted into a riotous guffaw that startled me, and my horse both. As we rounded the last curve in the thin, dirt road leading through the hills to our claim, he took a pause to have a swig of water between telling embarrassing stories about his employees, when I heard something in the distance.
I raised my hand to quiet him and motioned to dismount our horses.
“What is it? What did you hear? A bear?” He asked in a whisper.
Shaking my head, I held my finger to my lips and pushed apart two branches to peer through into a clearing where two familiar men stood, facing away from the road and talking.
“No, no, we’re not spying, Clara. I won’t be party to this.” Father stood. I grabbed one of his suspenders and pulled him back down.
“They’d do the same to us. I have a feeling they did the same to us the last time I came with you. I think this is what Mr. Swearengen was talking about. He’s gotten some inkling that Goldtooth plans to make a move, though of what sort I can’t say. If they were snooping on us, then I can only assume it would have something to do with the claim, but –”
I snapped my mouth closed as the two men began to talk loudly.
“All we gotta do is talk those fool, jack-ass city slickers into selling the claim. Can’t be that hard. What could some half-simple dandy who wears a bowler know about claims?”
“See?” I said insistently as I pulled my notebook out and scribbled. The buckle on my handbag hitched and I yanked to free it.
“What was that?” That voice I didn’t recognize, though it had to be coming from Captain Ernie. “You hear anything?”
Eustace shook his head. “And listen, that girl’s despondent. With her cryin’ and bellyachin’ all the time, it ain’t gonna be long before pops has enough. Takes her back to New York, if nothing else just so he don’t have to listen to her.”
Father’s cheeks burned red. “I’d never do-” he snarled before I shushed him.
“I can’t believe Masterson put up such a fight.” Rawls trailed off in the instant before he was to admit his complicity in my Eli’s arrest. I just knew it. My pencil was trembling, scratching back and forth on my notebook. A second later, I was going to write down what everyone knew to be true then I’d run back to Sheriff Bullock and show him.
“Howdy there! Lose something in the bush? Let me help you find it.”
I clenched my eyes. Davis Clark. Then I remembered the two men we were spying on. “Oh, uh, yes sir, I seem to have dropped an earring.
“Does it match – oh, you must have lost both, as I see you don’t have either,” he said.
How much can one sweet, intelligent person do at one time to ruin a plan?
“Yes, yes sir, that’s right, silly me! I lost both of them. I’m so sorry father,” I said l
oudly enough that Rawls and the Captain certainly heard. “I know how much you paid for those diamonds. I’m such a foolish girl, of course I would lose them!”
“You didn’t lose –”
One of my elbows in his side straightened father’s story and made him grunt then rub his stomach.
“I can’t believe it! Those earrings were very sentimental? They were your mother’s!”
I snorted a laugh. “Okay,” I whispered, “I think that’s enough of a show.” Just as I thought they would, as soon as they realized they weren’t alone, Rawls and the Captain wandered off somewhere else, no doubt to continue their discussion under much more private circumstances.
“Oh, no, I’m horribly sorry.” It just occurred to Mr. Clark he interrupted. “They were talking about what they’d done and so you were snooping? Oh no, what a bungle.”
Father nodded, but clapped his friend on the arm. “Nothing you could have known about. They were discussing their nefarious plans to run us two idiotic city-folks out of town. Or rather, Rawls was. The other fellow, whose name I can never remember on account of not particularly caring to recall it, was doing a lot of nodding, though he added some color.”
“Are you serious?” Mr. Clark’s face went sheet white. “How could I have been such a fool?”
I shook my head. “It’s not your fault. But, I think they were – or at least the one of them – was about to admit he was complicit in Eli’s arrest.”
“Oh, yes, Mr. Masterson. I heard about that. Such a nasty business.” He looked down at his boots. “Well, begging your pardon for my mucking that up quite perfectly, Mr. Star came by my claim and had an eye out for you. And actually it’s not just him. He’s got a pair of rather strong looking Welshmen with him. They look rather like the handful of men I’ve got working in my little mine at present. We’re almost to the vein, I think.”
“I,” father hesitated, looking at me, then back to Mr. Clark. “I suppose you should know. Yes, my claim seems to be playing out. I wanted to keep it quiet, well, because you told me to.” He stifled a smile. “But I trust you, Davis.”