The Golden Bride

by Kimberley Woodhouse

  With new determination, Olivia swiped at the tears on her face again. She hadn’t been living life here. Not really. Instead, every day it was like she put on a costume and played a role. Taking men’s food orders, listening to their marriage proposals and dreams of finding gold, and waiting on them … all day, every day. Falling into bed exhausted every night.

  But each time Daniel wanted to really talk, she shut him down because she was afraid to be real. Afraid that if he found out the truth, he would hate her. It was easier to be the no-nonsense waitress in the restaurant.

  Maybe she just needed to pray for courage like Mary Elizabeth. That she would be brave enough to step out of her comfort zone. Maybe then she could feel alive again.

  One of those sparks could have set the entire city of San Francisco on fire. The time to act is now.” Joseph had been laying out the case for the need of a fire-fighting enterprise to the council for the past ten minutes. What appalled him the most was that many of the members seemed surprised to even hear of the blaze in the first place. Didn’t they read the paper?

  “Gentlemen, gentlemen …” George Banister took his time getting to his feet, a smug smile on his round face. “We all know that fire safety is an issue. But Joseph, you just told us that the fires started by sparks from the Philadelphia were extinguished by the good folks of our town. If everyone continues to be vigilant and do their part, I don’t see a need for us to waste precious funds on a fire-fighting endeavor when we have so many other substantial needs before us.”

  Joseph raised his brows. “And what substantial needs could be more important than the safety and lives of everyone in this city?” He hated to sound so defensive, but George had become the bane of his existence. The man shifted the conversation at every turn and always dodged the question at hand, tabling any discussion that didn’t fit his own agenda. And of course, everything was on behalf of his “esteemed employer,” the man who refused to come to any meetings but touted himself as the richest man in San Francisco and the man who just so happened to fund the council in the first place. It made Joseph angrier the longer he thought about it. He should write a letter to General Riley and get his advice on the matter.

  “And the roads need to be widened for the significant growth in population that has occurred. We can’t have people getting trampled in the streets.” George continued listing everything he deemed more important than fire safety. “Then we have the issue of the filth and trash in the city, which could cause disease and death. And shouldn’t we consider the fact that if our buildings were built in a better manner, we wouldn’t need to worry about fires coming through and burning down tents and shacks? And what of the crime in this city? We must address the fact that we will be needing some form of police in the very near future.”

  Discussion rounded the table at that point. Only two other men seemed to be concerned about the threat of fire in the city, while the others all joined into discussion with George about what they should implement next. Each time one of the other men brought the topic back to the table, it was quickly tossed aside for the next meeting. Joseph watched in shock over the next hour as a vote was taken in favor of widening the existing streets and further planning into expansion of other roads around the city.

  George started to close out the meeting when Joseph took that opportunity to stand once again. “Gentlemen—”

  “I believe we’ve heard your opinion, Mr. Sawyer, but the vote has been taken and you will kindly hold all of your remarks for our next meeting. This meeting is adjourned until our next session.” George Banister tapped his gloves on the table and then promptly left the room.

  Shock rolled over Joseph as he watched several of the other council members leave without another thought to their city going up in flames. Had they not heard a word of what he said?

  Silas Abernathy walked up to Joseph. “I’m glad to see you trying to help with this, Sawyer, but I don’t know what we can do to get everyone else on board.”

  Joseph looked around the room for a moment and then back at Silas. “As much as everyone on this council wants to see California become a state and many want to be elected government officials, I say we bring the voice of the people to the council. That’s what a democracy does.”

  “What do you have in mind?”

  “A very smart friend of mine had an idea, and I think we should put it into action.”

  “I’m all ears.”

  Joseph made his way home and realized he would be late for his weekly meeting with Dewei. He hoped the man would have good news from the mine. His foreman was a Chinese man whose work ethic surpassed anything Joseph had ever seen. It was no wonder his name meant highly principled. And Joseph trusted him with his life.

  “Good evening, Mr. Sawyer.” Dewei greeted him at the door in practiced English.

  “Good evening to you, Dewei. How are you tonight?”

  “Very good.” The man bowed.

  “I’m sorry for my tardiness. The council meeting went late.”

  “Understand.” Dewei sat at the table and opened his ledger. He was a man of few words and never wasted time. “The mine doing very good. Workers doubled profit this week.”

  Joseph raised his brows. “That’s great news. Let’s give them all a bonus for their hard work.”

  “Very good.” The man nodded and scribbled in the ledger. “No one quit. They like having good boss.”

  It made Joseph smile. The men who worked for him didn’t know his name but continued to work for him because it was steady pay with bonuses every time the profit increased. Dewei had taught him that taking care of the hard workers was essential.

  Dewei closed the ledger. “Request I have for you, Mr. Sawyer.”

  Joseph nodded at him. “Of course. What can I do?”

  “I have brothers coming soon. They look for work.”

  “If they are anything like you, you know I will hire them. Especially if the profits continue to rise, I will need more workers.”

  Dewei nodded continuously. “Gold is plentiful. More profit. More workers make even more profit.”

  “You let me know when they arrive, and I will gladly hire them and arrange housing for them.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Sawyer, sir.” Dewei stood and bowed.

  “You’re welcome.” Joseph stood and bowed as well. “Thank you for all you do.”

  “Very good.” The man bowed again, took his ledger, and left the house.

  Joseph watched his foreman walk away. The man amazed him at every turn. When he’d first met him, Dewei didn’t know any English, but he had been a quick study. Once the man set his mind to something, he accomplished it. And he was honest about everything, a trait that was hard to find in any man, much less an employee. There was no doubt in Joseph’s mind that his profits would continue to grow under Dewei’s supervision as long as the mine had gold.

  Now if he could just be as successful at convincing the council to take fire control seriously. He walked to his bedroom and removed his coat and necktie. Loosening his high collar, he let out a long breath. Tomorrow he would talk to Olivia about her petition idea. She’d seemed a bit defeated the other night when Daniel had said it wouldn’t help much for this month’s meeting. But the more thought he’d put into it, the more he realized she’d landed on a brilliant idea. If they could get hundreds, possibly even a thousand or more signatures, the city council would have to take the wishes of the people into consideration.

  For a moment, he felt a bit guilty. Was he trying to get the council to revisit this issue because it was truly that important or because he wanted to beat George at whatever game he played? Joseph sat on the edge of his bed and pondered the question. As much as he disliked George Banister, he knew that preparing the city for a disaster such as fire was of utmost importance.

  But another great need had been brought up by George in the meeting as well. The need for police. Crime had skyrocketed. Maybe the way to get everyone’s attention was to work for both. Perhaps then they c
ould see some real change in their city.

  “You just keep doing what you’re doing, George.” The man looked at his employee.

  “I don’t know who this Sawyer fellow is, but I feel like he’s going to be a problem.” His assistant lifted his chin and played with his collar.

  “Everyone knows that you’re in charge of the council for now. As soon as California becomes a state, everyone will be clamoring for a position in the government. Our job is to make sure that I have the men in place who will do the best for me when that time comes. Let Sawyer have an opinion, but make sure you let him know who’s in control.” He walked behind his desk and sat down. “If that’s too much for you to handle, I’m sure I can find a replacement.” Sometimes he really detested George.

  Banister stiffened and walked closer to the desk. “No, that’s not necessary. I can handle it, I assure you.”

  “That’s what I was hoping you’d say.” Dipping his pen in the inkwell, he went back to his ledger. “I didn’t give you this position for you to whine and complain about everything that happens. Hold off on voting for police and fire safety for as long as is reasonable; that way we can smuggle in the rest of our workers this summer without too many people looking over our shoulders. Then handle the issues with grace and compassion so that the people of the community know how much you care for their well-being. No one will be the wiser. Too many people are coming into the city every day, creating too much chaos for anyone to take notice of you stalling. You know your job; now go do it.” He looked up over the rim of his glasses.

  “Yes, sir.” George straightened his coat. “It’s a privilege to work for you.”

  He let a smile form on his lips. “I’m glad to hear you say that. Keep up the good work, and there will be something extra for you this month.”

  The man simpered and oozed his appreciation on the way out of the office.

  Loyalty could be bought after all.

  The morning had gone better than any she’d had so far. Perhaps it was the congeniality of the customers or the lack of quite as many troublemakers. The fact that Olivia had gotten a lot less sleep because she stayed up too late finishing Mary Elizabeth’s journal had her worried that she’d be grumpy with people all day. But surprisingly, she’d felt boosted by reading her ancestor’s thoughts about loss, grief, change, and insurmountable trials. It made her eager to read the one belonging to her great-grandmother.

  Carrying plates to Daniel’s table, she saw Joseph joining him for a late lunch. It was a good thing she had two plates in her hands. Never mind that one was hers.

  Joseph stood up when he saw her approach. “How are you today, Olivia?” His smile made dimples in his cheeks appear. Had she noticed that before? Or just his fascinating eyes?

  “I’m quite well, thank you.” She set a plate in front of Daniel and one in front of Joseph.

  “No, I’m not going to take your plate.” Joseph put it back in front of her and pulled out a chair for her as he flagged down one of the other waiters. “Daniel told me you were joining him for lunch.”

  Words left her as she eyed her brother. She’d just assumed she would go back for another plate. It wasn’t any big deal. But the gentleman beside her took care of things before she even had a chance to say anything.

  Daniel gave her a little smile. “You have to allow us to treat you like a lady, Olivia. Just because most of the men in San Francisco don’t have any manners doesn’t mean that there still aren’t a few gentlemen left.” He flicked his napkin into his lap. “I used to eat lunch with Joseph every day before he left to take my supplies to Sacramento, and as you’ve noticed, we’ve been so busy that you and I have had to move our lunch later and later so that we can take a break. I told Joseph about that so we could all eat together. Is that all right with you?”

  “Of course.” How could she deny her brother the conversation with his friend that he’d obviously enjoyed for a long time before she ever came along. And it wouldn’t hurt for her to have another friend in the city. She gave Joseph a smile and picked up her napkin just as another waiter brought out a plate for him.

  She waited until Daniel had said the blessing before she picked up her fork. “Would you mind walking me to the mercantile later? Before the supper rush?”

  Her brother chewed the bite he had in his mouth and made a grimace. “I don’t think there’s any way I can get away today. A new shipment just arrived this morning, and I haven’t had a chance to even look at it. It’s the new stoves for the kitchen, and my cook has been giving me the eye all morning, waiting for me to get them set up and installed. With the number of people we feed every day increasing, I might just have to order two more.” He looked over to his friend. “Would you be available to accompany her? I advised her not to go anywhere in the city on her own.”

  Joseph nodded. “I heartily agree. This is no place for a woman to be alone.” He turned his attention to her. “I’d be happy to walk you over there. What time would you like to go?”

  She’d watched the men volley their thoughts back and forth but wasn’t about to put anyone else out. “Don’t worry about it. I’m sure you are much too busy, and I can wait for another day.”

  “Nonsense. I’d be honored to be your companion to the mercantile.” There were those dimples again.

  Daniel reached over and put his hand on top of hers. “Livvy, I’m sorry that I can’t go with you, but Joseph will take good care of you and make sure you’re safe.”

  While she was hesitant to accept, it seemed rude not to. “Thank you.” All the time she’d been in San Francisco the past month, she’d gone up and down the stairs from the restaurant to their living quarters and had walked with her brother down the block to the church. That was it. It wasn’t like she was feeling adventurous and wanted to see the city—she saw plenty of the city’s citizens and wasn’t all that impressed. But it would be nice to visit the more reputable stores and get to know her way around.

  Daniel pointed his fork at her before scooping up another huge bite. “I forgot to tell you that I asked Joseph to take care of selling your extra supplies.”

  She raised her eyebrows and looked at Joseph. “Thank you for handling that. I’m sure that was quite a chore.”

  “Not one bit. It was my pleasure. I have an envelope for you, so perhaps when we go to the mercantile, I can also take you to the bank.”

  “Oh, that isn’t necessary. I don’t have a bank account.”

  “But this is quite a sum. I don’t think you want to keep it hidden away. It would be safer at the bank.” Every time he smiled, she got distracted by his dimples. “I can assist you in opening an account if you need it.”

  A little thrill of excitement bubbled up inside her. She’d never had an account at a bank. “Did you truly get that substantial of an amount from those few supplies?”

  Joseph leaned over and whispered into her ear. “Two hundred fifty dollars.”

  She gasped and put her hand over her mouth. Looking at Daniel, she saw his big grin. “You knew?”

  “He told me this morning.” He tilted his coffee cup up and swallowed the rest of its contents. Wiping his mouth with his napkin, he held up a finger. “I told you those supplies would go for a pretty penny here. It makes me feel better knowing that you have some money of your own. I’m sure paying off Dad’s mortgages left you little to deal with.”

  If he only knew the truth. “Wait … you knew about the mortgages?”

  Daniel nodded. “Yes, that’s why I was so worried about you having to sell the farm on your own. Mom and Dad didn’t have a lot because they gave most of it away to help people.”

  A fresh wave of grief hit her. That was true. They had always given away most everything they had.

  “I’m sorry we didn’t really get to talk about anything, but I need to get back to the kitchen and those stoves.” Her brother stood and leaned down to kiss her on the cheek. “I’ll let the others know that you’ll be back in time for the supper crowd.” And with that
he was gone.

  Olivia looked down at her plate that she’d barely touched. Did she really have two hundred fifty dollars? The thought was too much to believe. And she still had the wagon and her horses. All of a sudden, she felt quite rich.

  “I can see you’re a bit overwhelmed.” Joseph’s voice interrupted her thoughts.

  Glancing up at him, she gave a brief nod. “I am, but I appreciate your offer to help me today. Thank you.”

  He finished his food. “I’m hoping we can become good friends, Olivia. Your brother is the closest thing I’ve ever had to family, and I would do anything for him.”

  She tilted her head and watched his face. Something in how he said that statement made her think that he’d been through a lot of heartache in his life. Not knowing how to respond, she took a bite of her food.

  He leaned back in his chair and crossed his ankle over his knee. “I’ve been thinking a lot about the idea that you had. The one for the petition?”

  She’d forgotten completely about that. “Oh?”

  “Would you help me put one together? I think you were right—you could garner a lot of signatures just by talking to people here at the restaurant. As many men that come through these doors every day, I think we could have plenty of signatures by the next council meeting.”

  “Of course I’ll help.” Something inside warmed at the knowledge that he liked her idea. “I can get started right away. What do we want on the petition?”

  His brow furrowed as he thought. “I think we need to address the concerns about crime, violence, and safety. Not only do we need fire safety measures in place, but we need police to clean up the town. Things have gotten way out of hand.”

  Olivia didn’t have any trouble cleaning her plate while discussing with Joseph how they would handle their petition. It felt good to be working toward helping their city rather than spending time in grief, worry, and skepticism, as she had for the past few months. She found that he was really easy to talk to. No wonder Daniel thought so highly of him.