It was the first day of a new month and the first day of the rest of her life. She dusted the skirt of her deep green traveling
suit with her gloved hands and clouds of dirt surrounded her. What a wonderful way to meet her new employer. Exhausted and filthy. She glanced down at her once-white gloves that were now a dingy brown and rechecked her reticule. The drawstring bag was just as dirty. Could she be more of a mess?
“Excuse me, miss.” The stage driver climbed back up the stage to unload the bags and trunks.
Lillian turned. Two other passengers still waited inside the stage, hats in hand. At least they were gentlemen, but oh, goodness, she hadn’t realized she’d stood in everyone’s way as she’d worried over her appearance. What a horrible impression she must have made. She felt the flush rise up her neck. “My apologies.” She moved away, hoping the red in her cheeks would subside before she had to meet Mr. Colton.
Glancing around, Lillian couldn’t spot anyone waiting for her. The others who’d shared the stage with her had already left. As people bustled along the street, she realized that she waited alone.
“Need anything else, miss?” The driver stood in front of her, holding out the smallest of her bags.
“Oh, um . . . no. Thank you.” Lillian took the bag and tightened her grip. “Wait, sir?”
He turned back around. “Yes?”
“Are we early?”
“No, miss. Quite late in fact. I best be going.”
Lillian watched the stage pull away and then glanced at her pile of trunks and bag sitting in the dirt in front of the general store. Maybe she should make inquiries around town. It wouldn’t hurt to get to know her surroundings in the little town of Angels Camp. She looked beyond the main road with all its buildings. Rolling hills encircled the town, and everything was
lush and green. She hadn’t been able to see much from the stage, but now she could survey it all.
“Welcome to Angels, miss. Can I help you?” A burly man in a sharp white shirt and black vest with a white apron tied around his waist awaited her answer.
“It appears my ride isn’t here yet. Is it all right to leave my things in front of the store for now?”
“Of course, of course. Why don’t you come on in and have a cup of coffee?”
“That sounds lovely, thank you.” Lillian took up the smallest of her bags and headed up the steps. At least she’d have a chance to freshen up. Maybe she should pick up a few items while she was here. She hadn’t inquired of Mr. Colton about how often they made it back to town from the farm.
The man held the door for her as she entered. “Name’s Clark. Herman Clark. And this here is my store. We’ve got a room in the back for ladies to fix themselves after the long journey. There’s a basin in there, too.” His chest puffed out just a little. “My wife and I wanted the very best here for our travelers.”
“Why, thank you, Mr. Clark. My name is Miss Porter.” She walked up to the gleaming wood counter. “It’s a lovely establishment.”
The bell jangled over the door. Mr. Clark pointed toward the rear of the store. “Just head on back if you’d like. There’s pink curtains. You can’t miss it. When you return I’ll have that coffee for you.”
“Could you make it water?”
He slapped his forehead. “I plumb wasn’t thinkin’. Of course, you’d want something cool to drink. You just go on ahead, and I’ll have it ready for you when you get back.”
Lillian headed toward the back. She heard the chattering
of women as she looked for the special ladies’ room. If the storekeeper thought she needed cleaning up, then she must be quite a sight. What she wouldn’t give for a long, hot bath right now. The voices behind her motivated her to move a bit quicker. She had no intention of meeting anyone else in the sad condition she found herself. She took off her hat and assessed the situation. First she’d wash her face and repin her hair; then, if there was time, she’d try to brush some of the dust from her skirt.
The pleasant little room wasn’t hard to find. Nothing like the elaborate rooms back east, but it was very suitable and clean. Removing her gloves, she took a deep breath. She could do this. This was her dream, and she was here! In California. All on her own. The cool water from the basin felt glorious on her skin, and she scrubbed her hands and face, forgetting for the moment about all the dust residing in her traveling clothes. But when she looked in the glass hanging on the wall, she realized the once deep and beautiful green of her suit had turned an ugly greenish gray from all the filth.
Lillian dug at once into her bag and found the brush. It would take a while, but she was determined to look clean and presentable to her new employer.
A good bit later, after seeing to herself and cleaning up the mess she’d made, Lillian decided she could face the world. She felt at least partially put back together and walked out to the store, hoping she’d find Mr. Colton waiting for her.
“I thought maybe you got lost in there.” Mr. Clark chuckled. He extended a glass of water.
“Oh my. I do apologize for the delay.” Lillian glanced at the clock. Had a half hour passed already? She looked around the store. “Has anyone come for me?” She placed her bag on
the floor and took the offered glass. “Thank you.” She immediately drank it down in a most unladylike fashion.
“Nobody’s come askin’ for you. Not a soul.” The bell jangled again, and he moved to help his customers.
Placing a hand on her waist, Lillian worked to ease the discomfort growing in her stomach. What if Mr. Colton had decided not to hire her after all? What if something happened to little Jimmy and her services were no longer needed? What if—
“Miss?”
She looked up. “Hm?” There, she did it again. Her imagination had taken off without her. She put the glass on the counter and gave him a smile.
“You all right? You look awfully pale.” Mr. Clark headed toward her with three young women following him like sheep.
Lillian breathed deep. “Goodness, I do apologize. I’m fine. Just a little tired from all the travel.” She’d come this far. Certainly she could find accommodations for the night if Mr. Colton didn’t arrive. In the morning, she would be sure to hear something.
“Where did you come from?” The youngest of the three ladies poked her head through the others’ shoulders.
“Ginny, let’s not pester the poor woman. It’s none of our business.” The taller girl with dark hair lifted her nose a smidge.
“It’s quite all right, I don’t mind. Today I came in from Copperopolis. But originally, I came from Indiana.” She watched the smallest of the trio’s eyes go wide.
“Indiana!” The young girl gasped and bounced on her toes. “That’s got to be thousands of miles from here.”
“I’m not sure how far it is in miles, but it did take many days to arrive in California.” Lillian worked to stifle a giggle.
“Girls, girls, I think we should leave Miss Porter alone. I’m
sure she’s got lots on her mind.” Mr. Clark tried to shoo the girls away, but it didn’t work.
“I’ve always wanted to go to Chicago or New York.” The dark-haired girl leaned in and sighed.
“Well, I’m from Indianapolis.” Lillian smiled.
Ooh
s and
aah
s emanated from the trio.
She picked up her bag and began to peruse the store. It fascinated her, since she’d never had to buy anything for herself. Grandmother had seen to everything when she was alive, and once she passed on to glory, Grandfather had all the staff attend to any needs, including arranging for dressmakers to visit Lillian at the house. He made it very clear that he thought it inappropriate for Lillian to go shopping and didn’t like her to leave the mansion except on Sundays. She shook her head. What rubbish. She’d have to learn how to do so many things now. How awful to feel so unprepared for the world.
As she rounded the corner of an aisle, the school items caught her eye. Hmm, maybe a slate and some chalk would be a good idea to help the boy with his lessons. Footsteps followed her down the long row of amenities and she realized she had a following. The bell jangled again. My, but the store was busy.
“So why are you out here?” the smallest girl chimed in again after greeting the newcomers.
“I’m going to be a nanny.”
“A nanny?”
“A nanny?”
All the other girls and Mr. Clark responded at once.
Lillian nodded.
“Who would need a nanny out here?” The youngest one turned up her nose. “You don’t look like a nanny, either. You look like one of the wealthy tourists.”
“Ginny, that’s not polite,” the dark-haired, older girl scolded. She turned to Lillian. “I apologize for my sister’s behavior, Miss Porter.”
Lillian smiled at the girls. “It’s quite all right. I’ve been known to be curious myself.”
Just then the bell over the door jangled yet again.
“Girls!” A tall and severe-looking woman entered. “Girls, it’s time to go. Did you get your ribbons?”
Amidst gasps and murmurs, the girls scurried to gather their things.
The woman walked up to Lillian. “Good evening. I don’t believe we’ve met.”
Lillian thrust out her hand. “Good evening. I’m Lillian Porter. I’ve just arrived from Indianapolis.”
“Nice to make your acquaintance, Miss Porter. I’m Mrs. Sabotini, the mother of these girls. And what brings you to these beautiful parts?” One pristine eyebrow on the woman’s face rose.
The middle girl, who hadn’t spoken yet, jumped into the conversation. “She’s going to be a nanny.”
“My, my.” The mother clucked. “A nanny. You don’t look like a . . . umm . . . nanny. In fact, you hardly look old enough to be away from home.”
Lillian smiled. “This is actually my first position.” The woman had been sizing her up ever since she entered the building. Eyeing her clothes and her bag. No wonder the girls were inquisitive. They received that trait honestly from their mother. Lillian tried not to giggle.
“Ah, and what fine family of ours will have the privilege of your services?” Curious indeed.
“Mr. Woodward Colton.” As soon as the words left her lips,
she could have heard a pin drop. Everyone in the store turned and stared. In silence.
Then the frowns came amidst a few gasps. Whispers followed.
After a few awkward moments, Mrs. Sabotini found her tongue. The severity of the woman increased with her wrinkled brow. “Miss Porter, is it?”
Lillian nodded.
“Begging your pardon, but you look as though you’ve come from a good family, and I would hate for them to lose you.” The older lady grabbed Lillian’s elbow and pulled her toward the counter. “It’s best you buy a return ticket this instant.”
“Lose me?” Lillian was tired, but not so tired to abandon common sense. “What on earth are you speaking of?” She brushed the front of her skirt again and tried to recompose her thoughts around the niggle of fear building in the back of her mind.
Another lady joined them at the counter and tapped it with her index finger. “You’d best be listening to sound advice, miss, and get yourself out of town before he finds out you’re here.”
“Before
who
finds out?” Had they all gone mad? “I most certainly will not be leaving. Good gracious, I just arrived, and I’ve made a commitment to work for Mr. Colton.”
The once-congenial storekeeper leaned over the counter, his face red and his scowl meaner than any she’d ever seen. “You will
not
honor that commitment, Miss Porter. You need to go home.” He smacked the counter with his hand.
Everyone started talking at once, and Lillian couldn’t understand one word of it. These people were out of their minds. The fight with her grandfather came crashing down around her. People had been telling her what to do far too long. Besides that, she had no home to return to. Ever. Which meant she had
no place to go other than the job she’d committed to. And to make matters worse, after all those days on the train and then the stage, she was dirty, tired, and felt like she’d been run over by a team of horses.
“Would somebody
please
tell me what’s going on?” She hadn’t meant to yell, but the last of her nerves had frayed into oblivion.
A new hush covered the room.
Mrs. Sabotini moved forward with her hands on her hips, her eyes narrow slits. “What’s going
on
, Miss Porter, is that these good people here are trying to save you.”
“I don’t understand. What is it you feel you must save me from?”
The woman’s fiery gaze intensified. “Woodward Colton. You don’t know him, but we do, and it is our duty to intercede. We can’t in good conscience allow you to be misled. You simply cannot work for that murderer!”
C
HAPTER
F
IVE
D
arwin brought his horse to a stop in the middle of the road as he recognized the two incoming riders. He leaned over the horn and rested his elbow. “Well, well, well . . . if it ain’t Uncle John and Cousin David.”
“Shut up, Darwin.” Uncle John sat a little straighter in the saddle, but it couldn’t hide the large paunch the man carried. “You’re drunk.”
“Yeah, maybe I am. But that’s where you two are headed, ain’t it?” Darwin spat on the ground and wiped his mouth with his sleeve. “So don’t tell me to shut up.”
“Get out of the way, Darwin.” Uncle John pulled his pistol. “I’m in no mood to mess with you. But I won’t mind shootin’ ya.”
David laughed behind Uncle John. “Yeah.” He sneered. “I wouldn’t mind shootin’ ya, either.”
If Darwin got himself shot while he was drunk, he might not feel it, but he wouldn’t be able to go find his gold. That thought was enough to keep him from beating them both senseless for talking to him that way. His no-good family wasn’t worth it. “Be
my guest.” Darwin moved his horse to the side and waved them on with his arm. At least he’d had a chance to get something to drink. He’d needed it after the last week.
Uncle John stared at him as he rode by. “Go sleep it off, Darwin. Then the stalls need to be mucked.”
“Yeah, muck the stalls.” David spat tobacco and it hit Darwin’s boot. “That’s the perfect job for you.”
Just once, Darwin wanted to slide his hands around his sniveling cousin’s throat and squeeze. He sneered at them but held his temper in check. Right now, he needed to focus on finding his gold. Dealing with his idiot family could come later.