Rainy Day Dreams: 2 (2 page)

I’m surprised he hasn’t placed an advertisement in the
Chronicle
offering a sizable dowry so he can be rid of me quickly.

The thought drew a bitter smile. What need had he in placing an advertisement when he could send her to Seattle and accomplish the same end with much less expense? She scanned the area, taking note of the people who scurried down the covered walkways or stomped through the wide, muddy avenue. Men, every one of them. Not a woman in sight, except her and the few female passengers who had accompanied her on the
Fair Lady.
The rumor circulating
among the patrons at the San Francisco Center for Fine Arts must be true. Imagine, one woman to every hundred men.

And several of them openly staring at her at this very moment. She returned the direct and curious gaze of a man standing in the doorway of an establishment halfway up the street, beneath a sign identifying the place as Hop Sing Washing Ironing. With a prim look in his direction, she turned her back.

“Excuse me, ma’am.” A nearby voice drew her attention to a wiry man with threadbare clothing and an eager expression. “Can I tote your bags for you?”

She hesitated only a moment. She couldn’t very well lug her own trunk through the mud, could she?

“Yes, I think so.” She cocked her head and fixed a narrow-eyed stare on him. “Do you know the Faulkner House?”

“I know the place.” His gaze became speculative and roved over her from head to toe. “You planning on working there, are you?”

With a hot flush, she thrust her nose into the air. Was the question a judgment on her apparel, as if she didn’t look wealthy enough to board there? “The proprietress, Mrs. Garritson, is my cousin.”

“You don’t say.” His lips pursed as he studied her a second more, and then his expression cleared. “Twenty-five cents. And I’ll treat your trunk like it was made of glass too.”

Obviously he’d overheard her exchange with the captain.

“Done.” She jerked a nod to seal the deal, and then went on with a concerned glance around the area. None of the buildings in the vicinity looked like proper hotels. “Is it far?”

“Just up the hill a ways.” The man grabbed a handle of her trunk, tested the weight, and then hefted it up onto his back as though the heavy case were packed with feather pillows. “Foller me, miss.”

Kathryn started out after him, her heels pounding soundly on the plank walkway. She’d gone no more than three steps when a deep voice from behind halted her progress.

“Pardon me, but did I hear you mention the Faulkner House?”

She turned to find the young man with whom the captain had been speaking standing at her elbow. He wore an expression of polite inquiry, his square jaw set. Something about his expression put Kathryn off. Perhaps it was the way he slanted his shoulders away from her, or the way his gaze darted in her direction and then away. His bearing shouted of arrogance while the inexpertly sewn patches on the sleeves of his suit coat denied the unspoken claim.

She tilted her chin upward. “That is correct.”

A smile emerged on the serious face, its charm lost when it faded just as quickly. “I am headed there myself, as chance would have it.” His gaze sought the lackey who was placing her trunk into the bed of a small wagon while a mournful mule hitched to the front turned its head to watch. “Have you room for my luggage as well?”

“If you have twenty-five cents, I have room.”

“That’s fine then. Shouldn’t be but a few minutes.” He awarded her a distracted nod and then turned to watch the crewmen unloading trunks and crates from the cargo hold. Then his eyebrows drew together and he lifted his voice toward the ship. “You there, take care with that!” With three long-legged strides he was up the gangway and onto the ship’s deck, his finger stabbing toward the crew.

The captain stepped up to the dock’s edge beside Kathryn, the lady with the valise at his side. “Miss Bergert, I expect you’ll have met Miss Everett?”

They had been formally introduced before the
Fair Lady
set sail in San Francisco and had shared a cabin, though the older woman kept to herself throughout the week-long voyage. Dark hair with a few streaks of silver had been pulled back from her face in a severe knot at the base of her skull, and she hid her expression beneath the deep brim of a plain and sensible travel bonnet. An air of sadness surrounded the woman, creating an invisible barrier that the other passengers had respected and not broached. Kathryn nodded a silent greeting, which she returned.

“Miss Everett has also booked lodging at the Faulkner House.”
He raised his voice. “Carter, you’ll take her along with Miss Bergert and Mr. Gates.”

Had the commanding tone been directed toward her, Kathryn would have bristled. The wagoner merely grinned and snapped to attention with an impudent salute. “Aye-aye, Cap’n.”

The captain paid him no attention but strode away, his boots connecting with the dock in a confident
thud-thud-thud.
Kathryn watched his retreat while pulling her cloak tighter around her throat with a gloved hand. A constant breeze blew across the water and brought with it a chill that had not been present in San Francisco. She glanced toward the sky. Somewhere behind that thick ceiling of gray the sun lay in hiding, its absence fitting on this day of what she could only think of as her exile.

Susan would not have accepted this fate meekly. She would have recruited Mama to her side and then pitched a fit until she got her way.

A sniffle threatened, but she straightened her shoulders against such a piteous gesture. Her sister’s very nature, so different from her own, would have prevented her being placed in such an undignified position to begin with. That’s why Susan ran away from home, to escape Papa’s attempts to manipulate her life. Her leaving had bought Kathryn almost five years of peace. After their initial shock at Susan’s farewell letter, her parents feared they might lose Kathryn too if they tried to force her into a life she did not choose. If Papa had spent a single moment considering the difference in his daughters’ personalities he would have known he had nothing to fear. She would never act in such a headstrong manner.

With a stomp of her heel against the wooden dock she pushed such thoughts to the back of her mind. Adventure had been thrust upon her by Papa, and she might as well make the most of it. Better that than become morose. Besides, she didn’t intend to stay in this primitive town one day longer than necessary.

The other passenger—Mr. Gates, the captain had called him—returned with a carpetbag slung over one shoulder and a leather
satchel in the other hand. A crewman followed, carrying a narrow wooden crate awkwardly before him.

“Load it there.” He pointed toward the mule cart. “And take care, if you please.”

When the luggage had been positioned in the wagon bed to everyone’s satisfaction, Carter approached the edge of the dock and, with a two-handed flourish, gestured toward the narrow bench. “This way, ladies.”

Miss Everett threw a startled glance toward Kathryn. The wooden platform ended a few inches above the dirt-packed shore, a matter of one shallow downward step. Recent rains had softened the soil into mud, and apparently they were expected to walk through it in complete disregard for their footwear. Though Kathryn cared little for fashion, she had no desire to ruin her shoes. Judging by the handful of rustic buildings within sight, she doubted if Seattle offered much in the way of ladies’ clothiers. Replacements would be hard to come by.

“Can you draw your mule nearer?” She drew aside her skirts to reveal the stylish boots Mama had insisted on purchasing before she left. “We’re hardly dressed for tromping through the mud.”

Carter eyed her feet and indulged in an impolite chortle. “I hope you packed something sturdier. Them dainties ain’t gonna last long here.”

Still, he obliged by grabbing the mule’s harness and angling the cart near enough to the wharf that a long step would see them safely aboard. When he made no move to offer assistance but stood holding the mule’s bit, apparently ready to watch them leap for the bench, Kathryn opened her mouth to deliver a sharp word. She shut it again when Mr. Gates stepped to Miss Everett’s side and extended a hand.

“Allow me.”

With a grateful smile, the older woman grasped his arm and climbed safely aboard. She scooted across to the opposite end of the
bench and began arranging her cloak around her while Mr. Gates turned to assist Kathryn.

“It’s nice to see that someone in Seattle has manners.” She spoke loud enough for Carter to hear. “Though obviously they’re not native to the locals.”

Rather than taking offense, Carter’s chortle returned with increased volume. “They’s some gentlemen here. A few anyway. We’re plain folk, mostly.”

Kathryn accepted Mr. Gates’s extended hand and climbed onto the wagon with one long step. He released her the moment she had her balance and hopped off the wharf. His boots hit the wet soil with a muddy splat. As she settled her skirts, a pair of sailors sauntered by and one of them let out an admiring whistle. She pretended to ignore them, though heat rose into her face.

Carter dropped the mule’s lead rope, hands clenched into fists, and fixed a glare on the passing soldiers. “You watch yourself, y’hear? These here are ladies.”

Kathryn exchanged a grin with Miss Everett. Carter may disregard the need for manners personally, but he clearly held others to a different standard. Or perhaps he simply disliked sailors. Her gaze slid to Elliott Bay, where a military ship lay in anchor. They had passed closely by her on their way to the pier. The name stenciled on the ship’s side read
U.S.S. Decatur.

“Mr. Carter, what is the purpose of that vessel?”

As she asked the question, the man urged the mule forward and the wagon lurched. She grasped the edge of the bench to keep her balance.

“Been here for months.” The answer was tossed over his shoulder. “Matter of fact, they hauled her out and cleaned her up not long ago. In a terrible state, so folks say.”

Kathryn glanced over her shoulder. The
Fair Lady
and the
Decatur
were the only ships in sight. “Seems an odd place to go for repairs. Doesn’t the Navy have shipyards or similar places?”

“Oh, she didn’t come here to be fixed up. She came a few months ago on account of the Injuns, and stuck around.”

Beside her, Miss Everett gave a little gasp and her wide eyes snapped to Kathryn’s face. “Is there trouble with the Indians?”

The mule stepped sideways when the wagon wheels slid and then tossed its head in an attempt to dislodge his handler’s hold. Kathryn tightened her grip on the bench. Carter became preoccupied in keeping the animal moving forward.

Mr. Gates, who had been walking beside the wagon, answered in his stead. “Captain Baker and I discussed the same thing. Apparently there was a scare some months ago, along with a few random attacks on lone travelers. But he assured me those were isolated events and nothing to worry about.”

Kathryn turned her head to address his profile. “Then why has the Navy not recalled its ship?”

“The former captain was relieved of command not long ago, and the new captain found the ship in a state of disrepair.” He shrugged, his tone matter-of-fact. “They decided to repair her here.”

Miss Everett leaned forward to see around Kathryn. “So there’s no conflict with the Indians?”

“Not according to Captain Baker. A few panicky settlers raised a fuss, but the authorities have investigated and found no cause for concern.”

A smile flickered onto his face, and his eyes warmed. For an instant he looked quite handsome, and Kathryn found herself smiling in response. Unfortunately, his features didn’t appear accustomed to the arrangement and returned to their serious state after mere moments.

“Hmph.” At the mule’s head, Carter’s stiff posture shouted disagreement as he tugged on his animal’s rope.

“You don’t agree, Mr. Carter?” Kathryn leaped on the question, eager to turn away from Mr. Gates.

“There’s good Injuns and bad ones, that’s all I’m sayin’.”

“That’s true of all men.” She went on in a teasing tone. “Some have manners, and some don’t.”

Instead of smiling at her good-natured jab, he jerked his head around and fixed her with a tight-lipped stare. “Jest so.”

The response stirred feelings of disquiet. She exchanged a troubled glance with Miss Everett, and then fell silent.

Buildings lined the wide avenue on either side and a covered walkway ran along in front of them. They met another wagon heading in the direction of the pier, this one pulled by a sturdy horse. The driver nodded at Carter as they passed and lifted an eager gaze toward Kathryn and Miss Everett, who both kept their gazes modestly averted. In fact, it was hard to find any place to look without encountering a staring man. They came out of the buildings to line the walkway and watch their progress. Some shouted greetings like, “Howdy, ladies,” and “Welcome to Seattle,” while others snatched caps off their heads and bobbed them eagerly. The weight of dozens of eyes pressed against her on both sides. They seemed starved for the sight of a woman. Some ladies of her acquaintance would revel in such attention, but these men’s expressions left her distinctly uncomfortable. Would it be safe to traverse the streets of Seattle without hiring a guard?