Sew in Love

by Debby Lee

  “I’ll sell my shop with the back-side living quarters for the second half of what is needed,” she offered.

  George Galloway stopped pulling away rocks to look at her. “My family and I would be interested. But are you sure that’s what you want to do?”

  She’d spent everything she’d earned over the last two months to fix up the shack her cousin had left her and turn it into a real home, but Maggie swallowed hard and nodded, her gaze upon the collapsed cave. “Ben’s in there, and I can’t lose him!”

  She’d been surprised that George Galloway had so much cash in his possession. But not as surprised as Hugh Kendrick when she returned with a sack full of money.

  Hands on hips, she demanded, “Now will you help?”

  Chapter 10

  Ben dipped one of the cloth bandages into the water on the floor of the cave and placed it over Domingo’s forehead. The Spaniard had developed a fever, even though the rest of his body was shivering. Ben shivered too. He’d managed to pull himself and the others up onto the dryer half of the cave, filled with a layer of fresh rubble from the slide. But the air was still damp and the temperature chilly.

  A few hours into the new day, Maggie had called down to him, “Don’t you dare give up! The good Lord is going to get ye through this. I know He will.”

  Ben had to smile. Her positive attitude was something else he loved about her. Maggie was always believing, trusting, persevering, even when things didn’t turn out as she’d hoped. She always said one should count their blessings, but instead of appreciating the fact that God had given him everything he needed, Ben had kept thinking it wasn’t enough. He’d wanted more. Because he didn’t trust God to provide. He’d trusted in gold. Yet love and his relationships with others were so much more important than gold. If he ever got out of here, he’d be sure to try to set things right.

  Ben chuckled to himself. Maybe because he was losing air, and with it—his mind. Or perhaps because being trapped in a cave and faced with an uncertain future could put everything into perspective, make him realize what really mattered. Who really mattered.

  If only he’d had the wisdom to see it all before.

  “Lord,” he murmured, striving to pull in a breath. “I need You. I know I’ve been trying to make my own way, do things myself, but I need You.”

  Maggie thought Hugh looked disappointed she had chosen to pay him instead of accepting his offer of marriage. However, he kept his word, and when he and his team joined the rescue efforts, the extra help appeared to make a difference. They were now making significant headway.

  She lowered a set of Esther’s fresh, stick-thin breadsticks through the rock opening into the cave, realizing she hadn’t herself eaten anything since noon the day before. The others had rested and eaten in shifts, but she had declined. She was exhausted, and her stomach growled, but being there for Ben and the other men was more important.

  A tug on the cord let her know when they’d taken the food off the line and she could pull it back up.

  “Maggie, I’m thankful for you,” Ben said, his voice sounding a little sluggish.

  “I’m thankful for you too, Ben. How are you doing down there?”

  “Oh. You know. Just sitting here staring up at a vein of gold and thinking of you.”

  He sounded delirious. If she didn’t know better, she’d think he was drunk. Better to keep him talking. “You said you see a vein of gold?”

  “I do.” He chuckled softly. “The biggest vein of gold you ever did see. Hugh would be jealous.”

  Was he now seeing things?

  “Even with the nugget that was stolen, I only needed about two hundred dollars more to buy the land for the horse ranch,” he said, his voice oddly bemused. “Now here it is right in front of me.”

  She thought he must be imagining things and was certain all four men were going to need medical care. Dr. Harrington would be kept busy. Her mother too as she assisted.

  “Phillip is here,” she told him. “He wants to speak to you.”

  The young boy drew close to the hole. “Uncle Ben?”

  “Yeah, Phillip?”

  “I’m not going to run away again. I promise. I’m sorry I took the postmaster’s horse without asking. I’ll go with you wherever you want to go.”

  “We aren’t leaving. You’re going to stay here … with Maggie.”

  “Great!” Phillip lifted his head, looked at her, and grinned. “I can’t wait to tell Arthur! Maybe I can teach him to ride a horse.”

  As Phillip ran off toward his new friend, Maggie bit her lip, conscious of the fact that Ben had told the boy “you’re going to stay,” not “we.”

  “Maggie, are you still there?” His voice sounded almost panicked.

  “Yes, Ben, I’m here.”

  “Maggie, will you marry me?”

  She’d received numerous proposals over the last two months, but none had ever sounded so sweet. “Yes, Ben,” she replied, tears filling her eyes. “I’ll marry you.”

  She thought she heard him sigh. “We would have been happy.”

  “Ben?”

  He didn’t respond. George Galloway came over to give her instructions, and she leaned back over the hole.

  “Ben, do you hear me? I need you to get the other men away from the left side wall. Can you do that? They’re going to break through.”

  Again, there was no answer, and as she scrambled down the embankment, over the rocks, her heart hammered in her chest as she prayed.

  Hopefully, they were not too late.

  The tinkling sound of pickaxes and murmurs of outside voices drew closer as Ben helped Samuel drag Willis and Domingo to the opposite side of the cave.

  “Looks like we’ll be getting out of here after all!” Ben exclaimed. “You first, Domingo.”

  The Spaniard hadn’t roused but was still breathing.

  A few rocks fell from the ceiling close to the wall where the rescue party was working. Then the tip of a pickax poked through and more of the wall crumbled. The sudden breeze of fresh air that streamed in when the pickax was removed reinvigorated all of Ben’s senses.

  He could smell the sweet, earthy scent of the trees, hear the soft rippling of the river, and taste the remnants of Esther’s bread on his lips now that there was hope for more. His head cleared so that he no longer felt dizzy. And the sight of Phillip and Maggie hovering behind the rescuers hauling Domingo out through the new, man-sized opening made his chest ache in a way he never before thought possible.

  When the rescuers reached their arms inside the cave again, Ben and Samuel helped transport Willis through the opening. Willis moaned and groaned the whole time, but Ben thought it was in a good way, as all their spirits had been lifted.

  Samuel went next, the sling on his arm torn and battered and sprinkled with stones and debris, although thankfully he hadn’t suffered any new injuries, just a few bumps and bruises.

  When they’d gotten every other man out, Ben limped toward the opening last, and at least a dozen hands grabbed hold of his upper arms as he crawled through and stood up on the other side. Cheers rose into the air, along with laughter, and a flurry of excited chatter as everyone began talking at once.

  Then he spotted her. His dear, sweet Maggie. Ignoring the pain in his ankle, he took several quick strides toward her, drew her into his arms, and captured her mouth in a kiss. A hungry, lingering kiss that was warm and sweet, yet filled with the intensity of renewed hope and second chances.

  Afterward, as they drew apart, Phillip ran toward him and flung his arms around his middle. “Uncle Ben, I was so scared.”

  “I was scared too,” he admitted. “Scared I’d never see you again. Or Maggie.”

  Ben lifted his gaze to hers, and she whispered, “God is good.”

  “He is indeed,” Ben said with a nod. He had a lot to be thankful for.

  “Glad my men and I could come to your rescue,” Hugh Kendrick said with a smirk. “If we hadn’t come along when we did, I fear you wouldn’t hav
e made it.”

  Upon hearing Kendrick’s voice, Ben turned around, clenched his fist, looked the large, arrogant beast of a man in the eye, and punched him in the face.

  “If it weren’t for you,” Ben spat, narrowing his gaze. “We never would have been trapped.”

  “That’s right,” Obadiah Brewster agreed. “I saw Hugh bring the dynamite toward the mouth of the cave with my own eyes. He knew those men were in there, and he lit off the explosives on purpose.”

  “I saw it too,” Charles Henshaw declared.

  “So did I,” George Galloway said, slapping a handcuff onto one of Hugh’s wrists. “Hubert Kendrick, I’m placing you under arrest for attempted murder.”

  Hugh’s eyes widened. “What gives you the right—”

  “County Deputy.” George held up a shiny gold badge for everyone to see. Then he pointed at Quincy and Rufus Vaughn, two of Hugh’s men. “Think you can give me a hand hauling this guy over to my new office?”

  Ben frowned and looked back at Maggie. “He has a new office?”

  She nodded and bit her lip. “My shop. I had to trade it to get the money to pay Hugh so he and his men would help get you out.”

  Ben’s disgust with the man increased tenfold now that he knew the full extent of what Hugh had done. “That money won’t do him much good if he’s sitting in jail.”

  “I know.” Maggie took Ben’s arm and smiled. “Yet for me, it was worth every cent to see you safe.”

  Maggie and Ben followed along behind as the other men carried Willis and Domingo back to the camp infirmary on makeshift stretchers. Dr. Harrington examined Domingo first, and after he waved a packet of pungent smelling salts beneath his nose, the Spaniard awoke, although he was still groggy. Willis had broken some bones but would heal in time.

  Her mother took fresh bandages and helped bind the men’s wounds while Maggie placed a supportive wrap around Ben’s ankle. The gash on his cheekbone also required some of Dr. Harrington’s medicated salve.

  “He will heal fast,” her mother assured her. “And will look no less handsome.”

  Maggie blushed, thinking of Ben’s kiss and wondering if they were truly engaged, or if the proposal in the cave had been uttered out of delusion.

  Before she had time to dwell on the matter further, Eben Nash stepped into the infirmary clutching his chest. Maggie rushed to him. “Eben, what’s wrong? Your heart?”

  The tailor nodded as she helped him into a chair. “Racing just a little fast. Thought I might have the doc take a listen as soon as he’s finished with the others.”

  “Thank you for your help with the rescue,” she said softly. “Especially with the risk to your own health.”

  He dismissed her concern with a wave of his hand. “I’d never want to see harm come to another. I’m not like Hugh, nor was I ever in cahoots with him and his malicious schemes. When he came to me and asked if I’d help break into your shop, I refused, which is why I think he tried to set me up. You have to believe me.”

  Maggie nodded. “I believe you. Perhaps we can work out a way for our two sewing businesses to work together?”

  Eben winced and patted the left side of his chest. “I’m thinking I might head back east to see some family. Enjoy life while I still can.”

  “Let me know if you change your mind,” Maggie offered before stepping aside so Dr. Harrington could attend to him.

  She glanced back toward Ben and saw Phillip had drawn closer to him and laid his head on Ben’s shoulder. Her breath caught as she took in the sight, and for a moment she couldn’t move, reluctant to interrupt.

  Then Phillip lifted his head and said, “Maggie, where will you live? Uncle Ben said you sold your shop.”

  Having already made peace with it, Maggie laughed. “Once again, it appears I am homeless. Now that the Galloways will be leaving the hotel, I suppose I could ask Esther if I could have my old room back. I can still sew and perhaps sell some of my designs, so I will not be as poor as when I first arrived here in Gold Bar. As for the rest, I’ll just trust God to work it out.”

  “You also have us,” Ben reminded her. Standing, and then grinning as he had to hobble on his good foot toward her, he took her hand. “I may not have wealth, but if you keep your promise to marry me, I will do my best to give you a life rich with love.”

  Maggie’s heart soared as she held his gaze, and she was so overcome with emotion that she could hardly speak. “’Tis all I’ve ever wanted.”

  Ben’s grin broadened as he leaned down to kiss her. “I love you, Maggie.”

  “I love you too,” she whispered, then glanced over at Phillip, who looked up at her earnestly. “And you.”

  Phillip had just returned her smile when Samuel shouted, “Ben! There’s something I need to show you!” He held out his sling as he made his way toward them. “Gold! There’s a whole heap of tiny gold pieces here trapped in my sling!”

  Ben gave him a nod. “Congratulations.”

  “It means you found gold too, partner. Your share of just this little bit is at least a couple hundred dollars. There’s a lot more in that vein we found.” Samuel held up a small nugget. “Before we went into that cave, we agreed to split all the profits.”

  “Is it real?” Phillip asked Ben.

  “We’ll have to test it to make sure, but, yeah, it looks real.” Ben handed the rock to Maggie and gave her an encouraging look. “Now you can build a new sewing shop.”

  “No,” she said, and smiled. “Now we can build a horse ranch … and a happy life together.”

  Ben grinned. “As long as we’re together, I’ll be happy.”

  “Me too,” she agreed.

  Phillip wrapped an arm around each of them, his eyes shining. “Me three.”

  Maggie laughed again, giddy with joy as she thought how blessed she was at this moment and how much she would have missed if she had not come to California. God did have a plan for her all along. A plan for a life rich with the fullness of family, friendship, and love.

  With her heart overflowing with gratitude, she sent up a prayer of thanks. Then she walked outside with Ben and Phillip and, joining hands, they took the first step together toward a beautiful future.

  Darlene Panzera is a multipublished author, speaker, and writing coach of both sweet contemporary and Christian inspirational romance. Her career launched with “The Bet,” a novella included in bestselling author Debbie Macomber’s Family Affair, which led her to publish twelve more titles including The Cupcake Diaries, Montana Hearts, and novellas in Barbour’s Underground Railroad Brides, Runaway Brides, and Sew in Love collections. Darlene is also a member of RWA, the Oregon Christian Writers, and the Northwest Christian Writers Association. When not writing, she loves spending time with her husband and three kids, teaching at conferences, and feeding her horse carrots. Learn more about Darlene at her website www.darlenepanzera.com.

  Dedication

  To my thoughtful husband who understands my need for quiet writing days.

  Acknowledgments

  A warm mahalo to:

  Debby Lee, who invited me to write a novella for this collection.

  Darlene Panzera for holding my hand from proposal to novella completion.

  Jeri Stockdale for critiquing every chapter.

  Frank Eaton for editing my final draft.

  Kristin Wolfgang, who has been my writing partner for more years than I can count.

  Joanne Jaytanie, who serves as my personal cheerleader.

  My gems—Marilyn, Marla, and Libby for their encouragement and helping me celebrate each milestone no matter how small.

  Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

  ROMANS 15:13

  Chapter 1

  New York City, 1911

  Fire!” A firm hand dragged Millie Pulnik across the eighth floor of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory as she shrieked her mother’s name and fought to free herself from the grasp of th
e steward. He shoved her into the overloaded elevator with several other young women, edged in beside her, and turned the key to close the door.

  Millie lunged for the opening. The steward grabbed her around the waist and held her as she clawed at the door and pleaded with him to wait for her mother.

  The elevator lurched and moved. The smell of smoke and terror filled her nostrils, and the sound of desperate screams from the trapped workers echoed in her ears. Mother. Where was Mother? And Father? Had he escaped from the ninth floor?

  Please, God. Let them be safe.

  At ground level, she covered her ears and fled across Greene Street with the others before turning to look back. Flames shot out of windows on the eighth and ninth floors.

  And then something else. Millie pushed her palms over her eyes.

  Workers leapt from the windows to their deaths.

  Millie gathered her siblings by their beloved mother’s simple pine coffin and cursed a God that let this happen. How would she keep her family together without Mother’s wise counsel? With eyes squeezed shut, she whispered her goodbyes. Barely five years old, twins Paul and Celia clung to her skirt while fourteen-year-old Rose held on to Babi, their maternal grandmother. Millie wished her arms were long enough to encircle all her family members at the same time, but all she could offer were words of comfort.

  Her forced smile conflicted with the tumbling of her stomach. Why had God spared her from the same fire that claimed her mother’s life and damaged her father’s legs? Was her new purpose to assume guardianship of her family?

  A nervous glance over her shoulder confirmed her betrothed was nearby. With Nathan’s support, her family wouldn’t be destitute.

  After they lowered the coffin into the earth, Millie turned her attention to those who had come to honor Mother. She thanked their pastor, who walked not twenty yards to perform the next graveside service for another fire victim. Parishioners offered their condolences and a few pressed coins into her palms. Millie pushed the money deep into her pockets, the weight of it a reminder of her loss.