by Debby Lee
“Simply this,” she said, her smile widening again. “I will sew Phillip new trousers, a shirt, an entirely new outfit, and you too if you like, if you will only agree to help repair my cousin’s shack so my mother and I might move in and I can open my shop.”
Ben felt his face flush. “Your shop?”
“Yes,” Maggie said in a hushed voice so the other men wouldn’t hear. “My very own seamstress shop. I have money for building supplies but no one to help me. The men have all refused, saying they can’t take time away from the river.”
Ben nodded. “Everyone is vying to find the most gold.”
“Besides the clothing, I can also pay you for your time.” Maggie bit her lip and gave him a hopeful look. “I’ve always dreamed of owning my own sewing business, but back east I never thought it possible. No one there knows of the opportunities available to women out here in California. For me, opening this shop will be a dream come true.”
He knew all about having dreams. He’d almost given up, but since he’d met her and had begun teaching his nephew, his desire for a horse ranch had been rekindled, along with his desire for a family and a wife.
Ben was nodding even before his words of agreement left his lips. She had already inspired him and helped him in ways she couldn’t even imagine. And he knew in his heart that despite his resolve to remain uninvolved, there wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for her.
Three weeks later, Maggie scanned the interior of her new shop, her heart swelling with thanksgiving for the repairs Ben had made. The broken windows had been replaced, the roof and side walls repaired, the interior refurbished, and best of all—there were no rats.
She’d kept her end of the bargain also. Both Phillip and Ben sported new shirts and trousers she designed and stitched. Maggie had even ordered them new straw hats when Esther’s husband, Samuel, took a trip to San Francisco. When the other men saw her skill at stitching, they too wanted her, and not Eben Nash, to fashion them lighter summer clothes. Which, of course, soured his attitude toward her even more.
Picking up her most treasured possession, the decorative silver-plated thimble with the intricate scrollwork and tiny heart engraved on either side, she thought of her grandmother in Ireland who had given it to her on her twelfth birthday. Grandmother had said learning to sew could someday lead her to prosperity and freedom—and it had. In fact, Maggie was certain that she was now earning more money than a large portion of the men who were panning for gold.
And she no longer needed to marry out of necessity due to hardship, but could marry for love, if she so chose. Thank You, Lord, for all Your blessings. My heart is indeed grateful.
She was pinning a pattern of her own design onto a piece of fine muslin when the door to her shop opened and Eben Nash presented himself, hat in hand.
“Seems I may have overreacted when I saw you deliver new garments to Tom Green at the post office yesterday and said you wouldn’t succeed,” he stated, his expression contrite as he leaned on his cane. “But having slept on the matter, I think, considering we both have common interests at stake, that a partnership would be beneficial to us both.”
Maggie raised her brows. “You want to be my business partner?”
“Of course not,” the tailor said, shaking his head. “I am talking about marriage.”
“Marriage?” She supposed as his wife, any money she made he could confiscate as his own. “I am sorry to disappoint you, Mr. Nash, but I must decline.”
Mr. Nash scowled. “Is it because you fear my limp will prevent me from assuming my husbandly duties? For I assure you, that is not the case.”
“No,” Maggie said, forcing herself to remain calm, despite the indignation building inside her. “I am flattered by your offer, but I do not believe our temperaments are well suited.”
He narrowed his gaze. “Perhaps if I give you a weekly stipend?”
Give her a stipend? Maggie clenched her grandmother’s thimble tight in her hand. “My answer remains—no. Now I must kindly ask you to excuse me, Mr. Nash, for I have work to do. Good day.”
She pointed toward the open door, and with Mr. Nash’s scowl back in place upon his narrow, beady-eyed face, he hobbled through it, purposely knocking his cane against the new doorframe as he made his way out.
For one moment, his expression had reminded her of an old beau, the one who’d broken her heart when he’d said she was too ambitious then married someone else. Yet, she would not give up her dreams. And if she did marry, her husband would need to be supportive, not manipulative or controlling.
He’d have to be someone like … Benjamin Freethy, who had still not given her any indication he was interested in moving their acquaintance beyond friendship, much to her great disappointment.
Why was it that nearly every man in Gold Bar had asked for her hand in marriage except him? Didn’t he think they were well suited? Or that she’d make a good wife?
Did Ben see her new shop’s success and think she was too ambitious?
The June sun shone bright across the water, sending shimmering sparkles through each ripple in the streambed. Many a time Phillip had brought Ben a rock to examine, hoping he’d found gold, only to have it turn out to be fool’s gold. “Fool” was exactly how Ben was beginning to feel. He hadn’t found more than a few small pieces of genuine gold in the last few months, and his finances were dwindling.
Samuel, who sifted through a shovel full of rocky soil beside him, was also getting desperate. Esther’s birthday was in two weeks, and he wanted more than anything to buy her a new cookstove for her bakery.
Except more men were pouring into Gold Bar each day. Ever since President Polk had announced back in December 1848 that gold had indeed been found in the rivers of California, thousands of people had decided to head west to make their fortune. Ben heard rumors the population in San Francisco had practically doubled overnight. New buildings and businesses were expanding across the hillside, some using the hulls from the abandoned ships stacking up in the harbor. And the more people who came looking for gold, the less chance Ben would have of finding enough. Before long, he feared all the easy-picking gold would be gone.
He figured Hugh Kendrick must have the same fear, for he’d hired six new men to work for a share of the profits. Of course, Hugh always got the biggest share.
Frustrated, Ben plunged his shovel into the streambed where he, Phillip, and Samuel were working, a spot in front of the river cave Samuel had shown him. Ben’s muscles ached, sweat beaded on his brow, and as he hauled yet another pile of rocky soil up out of the water, he wondered how long he could keep doing this before he had to consider leaving to find other work.
He dumped the contents of his shovel onto the screen he used to sift the dirt away from the rocks and thought he saw something. Not wanting to get his hopes up, he poured some river water over the rocks on the screen to clean them so he could get a better look.
“Uncle Ben, is that—”
Phillip pointed, and Ben froze as he stared at one rock in particular.
Samuel too stopped what he was doing and looked over. “You find something?”
Ben picked up the spoon-sized rock to examine it further, his heart beating faster with each passing second. Could it be? A jolt of energy shot through his body, leaving him light-headed and excited and relieved all at the same time. He looked at Phillip, who stood wide-eyed, and nodded. “This is what a piece of real gold looks like.”
Samuel let out a loud resounding whoop and swept his hand down into the river to splash them with water. Ben splashed him back and chuckled. Phillip squealed and splashed the water around him with both hands.
“Does this give us enough money to buy the horse ranch?” Phillip asked, his high-pitched voice nearly breathless.
“Yes,” Ben said, and laughed. “I believe it does.”
He could buy the land in the valley he had his eye on for the horse ranch … and more.
Samuel gave him a broad grin. “Anyone else you want to tell
before the news spreads through town?”
Maggie. There was no one he wanted to share this news with more than her.
“C’mon, Phillip,” he said, unable to stop himself from grinning. “Let’s go show Maggie.”
Maggie had just finished sewing a new white silk neckcloth for one of her customers when Phillip burst through the doorway of her shop shouting, “Maggie! Maggie! Guess what we found?”
She set her work aside and lifted her gaze to the handsome dark-haired man behind him whose hazel eyes were shining just as bright as his nephew’s, and her mouth fell open. “Did you find gold?”
Ben nodded then came forward and showed it to her.
“You should have seen it just sitting there in the middle of the screen,” Phillip gushed. “It’s twice the size of the rock Mr. Kendrick found last week. And worth enough money to help us finally buy a horse ranch. I can’t wait to ride my own horse! How long before you think we can get one?”
Ben laughed, and Maggie didn’t think she’d ever seen either of them so happy.
“First things first,” she said, and handed Phillip a few coins from the pocket of her apron. “Why don’t you run over to the bakery and get a cake so we can celebrate?”
After the boy ran back out the door, Ben surprised her by taking her hand. “It’s easy to see why Phillip is enamored with you, and he’s not the only one.”
Maggie smiled. “Yes, there are the men who still line up for my mending.”
Ben lifted her hand to his lips, and the kiss he placed upon it tingled her skin.
“I wasn’t referring to the other men,” he said, holding her gaze.
Maggie stared at him, breathless, her heart thumping wildly in her chest. Had Benjamin Freethy just admitted that he was enamored with her as well?
“I think you and Phillip are pretty special too,” she said softly. “And it has nothing to do with the gold you just found.”
“That’s very kind of you,” he said, and laughed. “Although we do need to keep the gold in a safer place than my tent until I can take it to Sacramento and exchange it for cash. Do you think we could hide it here, in your shop?”
“Yes, of course, but where?” She looked around. “I could sew it into the hem of the window curtain. No one would ever know, except you and me.”
“Perfect,” Ben told her, then gave her another heartwarming grin. “I’d like to ask one more favor of you. Would you do me the honor of sitting beside me during the church service Pastor Obadiah Brewster is going to hold in the glen on Sunday?”
Maggie nodded, and her heart sang with glee.
Benjamin Freethy’s feelings toward her did extend beyond friendship after all.
Chapter 6
Ben left Phillip in Maggie’s care for a tutoring session, took the wagon and mule team to Sacramento, and arranged to meet with Lionel Riggs. The wealthy landowner had spoken to him twice before regarding the lower section of the valley outside Gold Bar. Eager to turn his dream of building a horse ranch into a reality, he hoped this time they would come to a firm agreement. Until then, Ben decided to keep his savings in the bank and the gold hidden at Maggie’s shop.
Riggs reminded him of Kendrick, always looking to make more money and flaunting it in everyone’s face. Ben had to remind himself to stay calm if he wanted this deal.
“I’ve had another offer from someone who can pay more,” Riggs told him as they sat across from each other at the eatery.
Ben looked him in the eye. “How much more?”
“Two hundred dollars above the original ten thousand.”
“That’s more than I have.”
Riggs sat back, his hands clasped around his giant belly, and twiddled his thumbs. “That’s too bad.”
“You said you wanted to sell to me,” Ben pressed.
“I do,” Riggs insisted. He expelled a long, drawn-out breath and leaned forward. “I tell you what. I’ll give you two weeks to come up with the extra money. After that I’m afraid I’m going to have to sell to the highest bidder. Deal?”
Riggs didn’t have to sell the land at all, but the old land tycoon was greedy. Always wanting more money. Never satisfied with what he had. However, Ben was not about to lose this land. If he couldn’t find more gold before the allotted deadline to make up the difference in cost, perhaps he could ask Samuel Watkins for a loan or barter services like Maggie had done to get Phillip horse-riding lessons.
Ben gave Riggs’s extended hand a solid shake. “I’ll see you within two weeks.”
By the time Ben returned to Gold Bar it was late afternoon. He’d hoped there would still be enough time to go down to the river to pan for gold. However, he had no sooner unhitched the mules from the wagon and put them back in the camp corral when Tom Green ran toward him with an anxious look on his face.
“Samuel’s hurt. Broke his arm. They took him to the infirmary just minutes ago.” The postmaster motioned for Ben to follow him toward Dr. Harrington’s building less than fifty yards away. “He also has a pretty good size gash on his scalp.”
Ben sucked in his breath. “What happened?”
“Samuel went into a river cave and part of the mouth fell down on him. I was standing nearby and saw it happen.”
“Oh no.” Ben’s stomach curled into a tight ball as the dangers of a cave collapse raced through his mind. “I told him not to go in there.”
Seconds later, they were through the infirmary door and greeted by Dr. Harrington, Esther, Maggie, her mother, and Phillip, who clustered around Samuel’s bedside.
“Ben!” Samuel exclaimed. Wrapped in bandages, his head bob-bled as he struggled to sit up. “I saw gold! Real gold!”
Esther pushed gently but firmly against her husband’s chest, making him lie back down on the bed. “You were seeing things, all right. Most likely due to that bump on your head. Now, rest up so the doctor can finish your bandaging.”
Dr. Harrington asked Mrs. McDermott to hand him a strip of cloth to bind Samuel’s arm, and Maggie met Ben’s intent gaze and explained, “My mother used to be a nurse.”
“I told her good nurses are hard to come by out here,” Dr. Harrington added with a smile. “I’m grateful to have her assistance.”
Samuel winced, then looked at Ben again, his eyes wide. “There’s something else I got to tell you.”
“Whatever it is, you can tell him later,” Esther insisted, trying to keep her husband from sitting up again.
Samuel took her hand and moved it aside. “I need to tell him now. Ben, you have to be careful. I heard Hugh talking. Him and the tailor. Those two are up to something. I heard them say your name then something about Maggie’s shop.”
Maggie gasped. “My shop?”
Ben looked at her and froze. The gold.
He didn’t have to say a word for Maggie to know what he was thinking. She simply excused herself and followed him outside.
“No one could possibly know where we hid it,” Maggie whispered.
Ben nodded. “I just need to make sure.”
Together, they hurried past the bakery and post office toward the small structure Maggie now lived in with her mother.
“I’ve been in the shop most of the day,” Maggie told him. “And I lock the door whenever I leave.”
He glanced at the doorway and hesitated midstep. “It’s open.”
Ben entered, half expecting to see Hugh Kendrick or Eben Nash rummaging through the material laid out on the center table, but there was no one there. No one except—
“Rats!” Maggie exclaimed, then shrieked. “They’re eating my clothes!”
Ben stared at the dozen or so rodents, the shreds of material littering the floor, and the overturned shelves he’d built for Maggie to store her sewing supplies. Lastly, his gaze focused in on the curtains that had been slashed from the window.
Maggie ran past him, past two of the rats that did not scurry away upon seeing them, and bent down to pick up one of the curtains off the floor.
Ben held his bre
ath. “Is the gold—”
Maggie looked up and met his gaze, her eyes wide. “Gone.”
Dear God, why did this happen? Maggie cleaned up the rest of the shredded, half-chewed garments from her sewing table, realizing it would cost her dearly to replace them. Yet she hadn’t lost as much as Ben.
He hadn’t said much as he helped chase those nasty, destructive, hairy rodents out the door of her shop with a broom. After all, what was there to say?
Someone had broken in, sprinkled sweet-smelling crumbs from what looked to be one of Esther’s vanilla spice cakes all over the various bolts of cloth, and set about a dozen rats on top to chew and tear and rip and ultimately take the blame. And in addition to stealing Ben’s gold, someone had also taken her grandmother’s silver-plated thimble. Yet how could they accuse Hugh or the tailor of these nefarious deeds without any proof? Nevertheless, Ben had decided to call for a camp council the following night to discuss the matter.
Until then, Maggie had nothing else to do but try to pick up the pieces and attend Pastor Brewster’s Sunday service with Phillip and Ben.
Except the following morning when she arrived in the shadowed glen where the service was to be held wearing her best green silk day dress and matching bonnet, Ben was nowhere to be found.
“He is at the river,” Phillip informed her.
“Panning on a Sunday?” Maggie asked, raising her brows.
Phillip shrugged. “He needs to find more gold, and quick, or we will not be able to buy the land for the horse ranch.”
“We were supposed to all sit together,” she said softly. Like a family.
Hugh Kendrick stepped toward her and grinned. “I’d be happy to sit with you, Miss McDermott.”
“No need to trouble yourself, Mr. Kendrick,” she assured the big fellow. “Phillip and I will be sitting with my mother.”
To her surprise, Dr. John Harrington also joined them.
“I’ve decided to go walking with Dr. Harrington after the service,” Maggie’s mother whispered into her ear.