Rescuing the Heiress (22 page)

“That didn't help the city hall.”

Michael disagreed. “It did as far as loss of life was concerned. The masonry fell but the dome is still standing. They were able to operate a temporary hospital in the basement, too, until the fire got too close and they had to move over here.”

Eyeing her father, Michael asked, “How is he doing, anyway? His cough sounds terrible.”

“So does yours,” Tess replied. “I think he's getting better, though, as long as he takes it easy. Running to get to me is what set him off this time.”

“How does he feel about your suffragette interest?”

Laughing, Tess gave Michael a hug as they paused and watched Gerald Clark usher his prisoner into the guardhouse and close the door behind them.

“He hates the whole idea,” she said. “The funniest thing is how Rose Dugan keeps trying to convince him he should change his mind and throw his support behind the movement. So does your mother, only she does it from a distance.”

Michael arched an eyebrow. “Are you saying what I think you're saying? Has Rose set her cap for him?”

“Sure looks like it to me. Time will tell. They're both lonely and homeless so that puts them on a more equal plane than ever before.” She giggled behind her fingertips. “You should see them together. It's really sweet.”

“
Sweet
will be when you and I are wed,” Michael reminded her. “I have no idea where we'll live or how
I'll support you and my mother both, but I'll manage somehow.”

“You'd better,” Tess gibed. “Not only am I stubborn, I can be very impatient.”

“Are there any more of your sterling qualities you think I should know about?”

“If there were, I doubt I'd tell you,” Tess said. She cuddled closer and Michael wrapped her in his embrace.

“Are you ready to give another laudable performance for the spectators?” he asked, speaking more quietly and using one hand to cradle her cheek and tilt her face up.

“I thought you'd never ask,” Tess said.

As Michael began to kiss her he was so happy, so sure that theirs was the right match he could barely keep from shouting for joy. Tess Clark was going to become his wife. The details of their life together would fall into place later, perhaps after the city was back on its feet. Whatever trials lay ahead he knew they could face and conquer them as long as they had each other.

He sensed Tess's willingness and deepened their kiss. Knowing that she was eager in spite of the fact that her father might open the guardhouse door and accost them at any moment gave Michael intense reassurance.

Truthfully he was glad his future bride was as hardheaded as she was or she might have listened to her father and married the wrong man just to please her family. Now, that would never happen.

Tess was his.

And he was most definitely all hers.

T
ess smiled wistfully as she stood next to the small paddock behind her modest new San Francisco home and watched her mare pace. The horse was clearly approaching the time when she would foal.

One of Tess's hands rested on the top rail of the fence, the other on her own expanded waistline. She briefly closed her eyes and tilted her face up. It felt wonderful to bask in the warmth of the early June sun after so many prior days of fog.

The mare snorted and stamped her feet, restless and demanding attention. Tess put out her hand to stroke the horse's velvety nose. She knew exactly how the poor thing felt, at least she thought she did.

Giving birth was going to be a new experience for them both and one that she, at least, was looking forward to, particularly since her experience helping care for the three darling orphans they'd rescued after the quake. Thankfully all of them had been adopted by their distant relatives just as she'd hoped, and Rachel had even written
a few times to tell Tess how happy she and David were with their new family.

Tess sensed rather than heard her husband's approach, looked over her shoulder and smiled. The moment Michael put his arms around her she leaned back, sighed with contentment and gladly let him help support her.

“How are you feeling today?” he asked tenderly.

Tess smiled. “Wonderful, if you like fat women.”

“I love this one,” he said, kissing her hair.

“I think the mare is close to foaling.”

“Are you two having a race?”

Laughing softly, Tess said, “Uh-huh. But I'm not sure who's going to win.”

“That's partly why I came home early. The chief was more than happy to switch a few schedules when I explained why I needed a little time off.”

He began to massage her shoulders the way he often had lately and she felt the tension easing.

“Did you tell him you were afraid I couldn't handle things by myself? Your mother's right there in the house, you know. I could always call her if I needed help.”

“Aye, but you probably wouldn't,” Michael said knowingly. “And the last thing we need is to have you trying to pull a foal when you should be resting.”

“I know. I just thought my being here would help the mare feel better. She and I have a lot in common.”

“I'm far more worried about you than I am about her,” Michael said.

Turning, Tess wrapped her arms around her husband's waist as best she could and laid her cheek on his chest.
“As your mother would say, ‘Don't you be worryin' now. The good Lord's watchin' over us.'”

“I know. I just love you so much I can't help it.”

“Good. See that you stay that way.” Her tone remained light but her thoughts had sobered. “And thank you again for agreeing to live up here. I know it wasn't easy for you to accept a loan from Papa.” She touched the badge pinned to his coat. “I'm so proud that you got your promotion. You deserved it. And now we'll be able to pay him back much faster, too.”

Michael nodded agreement. “If he'd insisted we build a mansion the likes of the one where you grew up, I don't think I could have ever gotten used to it. This size house is much more to my liking.” He chuckled. “I suspect I'd like it even better if it wasn't built right next door to your father's new place.”

“I know what you mean. I was worried about that to begin with, too, but Rose has been keeping him so well occupied he has little time to bother us.”

Lifting her face, Tess displayed a satisfied grin and arched her brows, pausing until she was sure Michael had noticed. “I told you they would eventually become a couple. Papa got to know Rose very well when we were all camping in the park. By the time the new houses were finished, there was no way he could have denied that they belonged together, even if he'd wanted to. And she makes a wonderful stepmother. Now Annie and I really
are
sisters.”

“I know, I know. That's one more time when you were right. I've already lost count. It sure surprised me
when your father and Rose were finally wed, though, especially since she's still so involved with giving women the vote.”

“So is Papa. Now. At least in a monetary way. I can't wait till Rose convinces him to march in the streets carrying an emancipation sign!”

“Neither can I.” A chuckle rose from deep in Michael's chest. “No doubt Gerald Clark's society friends are in a terrible tizzy over his marriage. And our wedding, too, although we've given everybody a year longer to get used to you being Mrs. Mahoney.”

“It still takes me by surprise occasionally,” Tess confessed. “Being your wife is such a blessing it's hard for me to believe all my dreams have come true.”

Her vision misted with contentment and joy as she caressed her husband's cheek, smiled and asked, “Are you going to kiss me right now, right here, Michael Mahoney, or do you want to go stand in the middle of Golden Gate Park again so we can draw a crowd?”

“Any place is fine with me, darlin',” he drawled, smiling and bending to begin to answer her request.

Tess thoroughly agreed. She closed her eyes. Right there, right now, she had never been happier.

Just then their unborn baby gave her a swift kick in the ribs, bringing a vivid reminder of the way life was finding new meaning since the devastation.

A bright promise awaited her family, her friends and the rebuilt city of San Francisco. She could hardly wait to see the future begin to unfold.

1. Does it seem strange to you to realize what a short time has actually passed since women had to fight for their rights? (In some places they couldn't even own property.)
   
2. Why was Annie so scared to go with Tess to the meetings? Could it have been because she'd been raised as a servant, or were affluent women just as unsure of themselves?
   
3. Was Tess an unusual mistress because she treated Annie as an equal? Would you be comfortable ordering someone else to do all the things you now do for yourself?
   
4. Have you ever experienced an earthquake firsthand? I have! What did you do? Was prayer your first response? Do you think Tess acted sensibly? How about Michael?
   
5. Did you know, before reading this story, that quakes can move in different directions and also change the type of shaking before they're done? Why was that so important in San Francisco in 1906? Is it still relevant?
   
6. Might you react in the same way Michael and Tess did if you were faced with the task of reaching out
   to fellow human beings? Even though they could do little to ease suffering, were their meager efforts valuable?
   
7. Is it logical for a disaster to bring out their affection for each other the way it eventually did, or do you think they were too influenced by the intensity of the events?
   
8. If Tess had not been so headstrong, would she have been safer, or did her self-reliance play a part in her survival?
   
9. Did you agonize with Michael when he knew he must not leave his post? Do you know that today's firemen sometimes face the same terrible dilemma? I can't imagine how that must hurt a man who is trying to save lives, can you?
   
10. If Tess had been trapped by the fire inside a building instead of in the yard, do you know what she should have done? (The air is always better near the floor.) Inside, if she had stood up, one breath of that superheated air would have killed her.
    
11. When Tess and the others are forced to camp in the park, why is there little complaining? Do you suppose it's because everyone is so thankful to be alive? Why should it take a catastrophe to make us aware of the gifts God has given us?
    
12. The marriage of Tess and Michael clearly went against society's norms. Was that a sign for the
    better? Think of how much more this country will have grown to accept differences by the time their children are adults!