Restless Hearts (18 page)

“I can go get one.” The child scampered off.

Sarah stood quietly, looking into the night sky. Missy was probably having a hard time getting her mother to give her a candle and matches. She supposed she didn’t blame her but...

Her thoughts were interrupted by an odd sound. She cocked her head. It had sounded like a sneeze. Missy hadn’t been making up stories after all.

“Is someone there?” Surprisingly, she wasn’t afraid. She’d never thought of the Chinese as physically threatening – probably because most of them were slight – and they kept to themselves. But she knew that many of them carried knives, and were adept at using them.

“Please come out,” she urged, willing her eyes to adjust to the dark. “I can help you if you need medical attention.”

A dark form materialized out of the darkness. A face was barely discernible beneath a layer of dirt, and one of those ubiquitous Chinese hats. The tunic and pants were probably dark blue, but that was just a guess.

“Hello,” she said, bending at the waist. She felt ridiculous bowing to someone she didn’t know, but she wanted to appear friendly. “Can I help you?”

“Please.” The apparition uttered the one word and then collapsed at her feet.

Missy appeared, holding a candle, and looked at the bundle of rags at Sarah’s feet. Tears sprang to her eyes, and she lowered the candle. “Is he dead?”

“No, I don’t think so.” Sarah took the candle. “Go in and get Devon, would you sweetheart? Tell him I need him.”

Missy took one more wide-eyed look and then ran back toward the house. Sarah kneeled down, trying to find the man’s carotid artery, and was relieved to discover a faint but regular pulse. Delicate features combined with obvious malnutrition lent him an ethereal appearance and she wondered how long he’d been without food.

“What’s going on?” Devon appeared, closely followed by Angus and Missy. “Good Lord,” he said. “The man looks half starved.”

Sarah looked at Missy. “Is anyone sleeping in the back bedroom now?”

“No. Addie was going to put your things in there, but Mommy said we should wait and see what you wanted.”

Devon had been reaching for the man, but he straightened and turned to his sister. “Sarah, you’re not thinking of taking him into your home! Putting him in your bed!”

Angus laughed, and Devon rounded on him. “What’s so funny?”

“You are, lad. Your sister never turns anyone away. You might as well get used to it.”

Sarah adopted a conciliatory tone. “Please, Devon. Just pick him up, will you? Look at the poor soul. Does he look dangerous? Besides, we have you to protect our honor.” She lifted one of the man’s hands. His skin was so translucent she could almost see the bones beneath.

“All right.” He bent over and lifted the bundle into his arms. “But I hope you know what you’re getting into.”

A soft moan rose from the scarecrow as Devon straightened. Still angry with Sarah, he strode to the front door and was relieved to see that the remainder of the customers had left.

As he pushed through the front door, he became aware that the flesh he held in his arms may be cold, but it was also soft in all the right places. He looked down to ensure that Sarah’s newest rescue was still alive, and began to doubt that it was a man at all.

Looking up at him were the most beautiful eyes he’d ever seen. The creature squirmed in his arms, reconfirming what he’d already suspected: the ‘man’ was a woman. And she was terrified of him, if the expression on her face was anything to go by. She tried to break free of his grip, and his heart broke as he realized that she was afraid of him.

Exhausted by her struggles, the woman sighed, closed her eyes again, and fell back into his arms. Short, dark lashes fluttered against alabaster cheeks – or cheeks that would be alabaster when clean. The curve of her neck was exquisite, and his gaze trailed lower to where it ended abruptly under the collar of the soiled blue tunic. His arms tightened around her protectively as Angus and Missy came in, having cleared the last of the utensils from the tent. “What is it, lad?” He stepped around the form in Devon’s arms. “You look stunned.”

“Yes, Devon, what is it?” Sarah appeared.

Devon opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. He tried again. “It’s a woman,” he said, as though he’d never seen one before. What he didn’t say was that he’d fallen completely and irrevocably in love.

Devon sounded strange, but Sarah’s focus was on the new arrival. “You’re right,” she said, showing only a moment’s surprise. “Please be careful with her.”

Devon laid her on the bed and stood over her. The woman’s long hair had come loose and flowed across the pillow like black quicksilver. His fingers tensed at the thought of touching it.

“Thanks, Devon.” Sarah gave him an odd look and ushered him out of the room. “I’ll take care of her from here.”

Anna and Angus and Missy were in the dining room, enjoying the remaining heat from the fireplace. Last night, Devon had checked to make sure that it was properly vented, and had built a fire. Missy had enjoyed it so much he’d decided to make another one tonight. He checked to make sure it was drawing properly, then wandered back into the kitchen and leaned back against one of the cupboards, watching as Addie kneaded bread. Caroline and Lizzie had gone home for the night, but they’d be back tomorrow.

“Don’t you ever get tired of working?” he asked idly. “I’ve only been here a few days, but in that time, I don’t think I’ve seen you sit down.”

Addie set aside another tray of loaves to proof. “What’s bothering you, Devon? You didn’t come in here to admire my baking skills.” She grinned to soften her words. “Which aren’t bad, by the way.” She dusted the table and measured out another batch of dough.

“She’s a woman,” he said, a sense of wonder in his voice. “A beautiful woman.”

Addie lowered her head to hide her smile. “So I heard.”

“She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”

Addie’s hands stilled for a moment, then she continued. “Some Chinese women are very beautiful.”

“Do you think she speaks English?” He looked up hopefully.

“I don’t know, little brother. It’s possible.” She’d taken a liking to the young man the moment he entered the house, and he’d seemed pleased when she called him ‘little brother.’

“She’s afraid of me.” His dismay touched Addie’s heart.

“No, she’s not.”

His voice was barely audible when he spoke, almost to himself. “But she is. I saw it in her eyes.”

Addie stopped kneading, her hands resting against the work surface. “Think, Devon. She doesn’t know you, so it isn’t you she’s afraid of.” She hated to shatter any illusions he may be harboring, but it had to be said. “She’s probably been abused by a man, and her fear was nothing more than instinct.”

She couldn’t tell if he’d absorbed her words, but as she watched, he took in a deep breath and straightened his shoulders. She wanted to warn him off, to tell him that it was unlikely he would ever forge a relationship with the young Chinese woman, but she couldn’t. She’d been around men long enough to recognize the signs. Devon was besotted, and nothing she could say would make a difference.

She went back to work with a heavy heart. It was better to say nothing and hope for the best, but that knowledge didn’t make her feel any better.

* * *

Sarah stood quietly for a moment and studied the young woman on the bed. In spite of the dark smudges of exhaustion under her eyes, and dirty skin, her underlying beauty shone through. She suspected that the woman had smeared dirt on her own face as a distraction and she wondered what she could have been running from. Every day in San Francisco brought new revelations and it looked as though today was to be no exception.

The woman’s breathing was shallow but steady. Sarah wanted to examine her for injuries, but was reluctant to invade her privacy. As she considered her options, the woman whimpered, and tossed her head back and forth as though fighting against restraints. Sarah’s instincts told her that this woman’s injuries wouldn’t be revealed by a visual examination, that she had suffered trauma that went much deeper. The best thing for her at this point would be to clean her up and offer to feed her. If in time she wanted to talk, she and her friends would be there. In the meantime, she could offer sanctuary.

“How is she?” Addie looked up. She was cleaning the work surface, having just set the last tray of loaves to proof.

Sarah moved to the stove and lifted the lid on the ever-present pot of rich broth. “I don’t think she’s badly hurt.” She shot Addie a quick look. “At least not outwardly. But she’s exhausted, and dirty. I’ll take a basin of water and some soap into the room in case she wakes up. That and a cup of broth are about all I can do for her tonight.”

“Sarah.”

Sarah paused, ladle in hand. She knew that tone of Addie’s. She tipped the hot water into the basin, put down the ladle and turned.

“You should know.” Addie looked uncomfortable.

“What?”

“Devon thinks he’s in love with her.” She waved a hand in front of her face. “No. He doesn’t just
think
it, he’s completely, head over heels, in love.” Addie’s gaze was unwavering. “I’m worried about him, and this isn’t about her being Chinese, you know that.”

Sarah nodded. “I know.”

“That woman has been damaged. Intentionally or not, she’ll break his heart.”

Sarah closed her eyes and remembered Devon as a small boy. He’d always had a good heart, open and honest. As he grew older, almost every young woman in Boston flirted outrageously with him when he appeared at social functions. He’d never known what it was like to be attracted to someone who didn’t return his feelings. She sighed, knowing that he was about to experience his first heartbreak.

“There’s nothing we can do, is there?” She picked up the ladle with a sad smile.

“No,” said Addie, removing her apron and hanging it up. “Except to be here for him.”

Sarah slipped a bar of scented soap into her pocket, gathered a towel and face towel and carried the basin of heated water into the bedroom.

The woman was sitting on the edge of the bed when she entered. Sarah set down the basin and took the soap from her pocket, placing it on the corner of the bedside stand. The woman’s gaze took it in and for a moment her features softened.

Sarah didn’t know how to begin. “Do you speak English?” she said finally.

“Yes.” There was a hint of pride in the woman’s tone. A good sign, Sarah decided. At least she had some spirit.

“My name is Sarah Howard, and this is my house. I’d like you to know that you’re welcome to stay.”

“I have no money.”

“Oh, no. I didn’t mean it like that. You’re welcome to stay here for free.”

“Why?” The woman was obviously reluctant to trust. “Nothing is free.”

Sarah was getting tired. She’d had a long day and the woman’s attitude was starting to annoy her. She bit back an angry remark and tried again.

“What’s your name?”

“Lily.”

“Well, Lily. I came back from Sacramento today. I’m tired and maybe even a bit cranky, but when I say you can stay here for free, I mean it.”

Sarah caught a glimpse of tears in Lily’s eyes before she lowered them. “I’m sorry,” she said, her words directed toward the floor. “I don’t deserve your kindness.”

Sarah watched her for a moment and decided that Lily was a proud young woman who wasn’t accustomed to accepting favors from people. She could understand that.

“It’s a houseful of women, except for my brother who arrived while I was away. We all help each other here. Anna’s husband died while she was en route via ship. Since then she’s had a second child, and she and her daughter Melissa sell the meat and fruit pies that we make. Addie, who has taken over the kitchen, was beaten by a man when she refused to work for him as a prostitute.”

Lily’s head snapped up. “Hiram!”

Sarah pulled back. “How did you know?”

“He bought me,” she said, eyes flashing. “He threatened to beat me if I didn’t go to work in one of his bordellos.”

“Bought you?” Sarah didn’t doubt her, but it sounded incredulous.

Lily’s mouth twisted in a parody of a smile. “It’s not all that unusual, believe me, but he has the bill of sale to prove it.”

“Oh, I believe you.” Her chin came up a few degrees. “Then you really must stay here until we can figure out how to help you.” Her thoughts turned to more immediate matters. “You must be hungry, right?”

A faint smile flitted across Lily’s face. “I’m starved. I’ve been hiding for five days.”

“Then wash up if you like and I’ll get you some broth and bread.” She turned to go. “Would you like to come out and eat with the others?”

“No, thank you.” She was struggling to keep her eyes open. “Something to eat and a good sleep is what I need more than anything.” She looked down at her filthy outfit. “Maybe tomorrow I can wash my clothes.”

* * *

Sarah wandered into the dining room after taking food to Lily, and smiled at her friends clustered around the wood stove. Anna, Melissa and little Walter. Angus. Addie. They were more than friends; they were her new family. She looked over at the table in the window where she and Jamie had shared meals, and wondered what he was doing right now. Was he thinking of her? She’d been so busy since coming home that she hadn’t had a chance to think about how much she missed him.

She’d thought she could fill the empty hours away from Jamie with building her business. There was always work to be done, and decisions to be made, but those things didn’t fill the gaping hole in her life. She wandered back into the kitchen, where her gaze rested on the proofing loaves of bread. As she looked around, she noticed a new chalk board where someone had jotted the menus for the next few days. A list of ingredients occupied the area to the right of the menus, most of them checked off. She allowed herself to smile, and it occurred to her that Anna and Addie had quietly taken over running the food, and that they were doing an excellent job. Maybe she’d been trying to convince herself that she was needed, when clearly they could manage without her. She was too tired to consider the ramifications of that tonight, but it was definitely something to think about.

She joined the others and accepted a cup of tea from Addie. In the short while they’d been together, Addie had learned to read her moods. It was uncanny, but there were times it was good not to have to explain.

“How is she?” asked Anna, giving her daughter an affectionate hug. “I’m sorry I didn’t believe Missy earlier, but we were so busy...” Her voice trailed off.

“She’s exhausted.” Sarah stared into her tea for a moment, then raised her gaze to Angus. “She said Hiram bought her.” Addie took in a quick breath, but Sarah continued. “How can this be happening? We’re supposed to be a civilized society, but this...” she spread her hands in a hopeless gesture. “This is barbaric.”

“You’re right,” he said slowly, choosing his words with care. “And I believe there’s change in the air, but for now, especially here where there’s so little effort to keep the peace, there’s no effort made to stop people like Hiram.”

Weariness overtook Sarah and she struggled to her feet. “I’m going to go to sleep now.” She looked around. “Where’s Devon?”

“He went out. Said he needed to walk and think.” Angus glanced outside. “I’ll make sure he’s back before I leave.”

“Thanks, Angus.” Sarah understood how her brother was feeling. He wasn’t the only confused member of the Howard family. Maybe tomorrow, things would make more sense for both of them.

* * *

“How is she?” Devon was waiting for her when she came out of the back bedroom the next morning.

“She’s fine.” Sarah spoke kindly, but took her brother by the arm and led him to the dining room. “Stay here and I’ll bring some coffee for both of us.” She paused. “Would you like anything else?”

“I could eat a fruit pie if there are any left from yesterday, but I suppose that’s not likely.”