Bridgeport Holiday Brides (Eastern Sierra Brides 1884 Book 5) Read online

  BRIDGEPORT HOLIDAY BRIDES

  Eastern Sierra Brides 1884 Book 5

  Zina Abbott

  Bridgeport Holiday Brides by Zina Abbott

  Copyright© 2016 Robyn Echols aka Zina Abbott

  Cover Design Livia Reasoner

  Prairie Rose Publications

  www.prairierosepublications.com

  All rights reserved.

  This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogues are products of the author's imagination and are not to be construed as real.

  No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  This is a work of fiction. However, among the minor characters in this work, the author did include the names and occupations of some real people who lived in Bridgeport, Bodie, and Lundy, California in the year 1884. These include in Bridgeport, J.C. Murphy, Attorney-at-law, originally from Ohio; W.O. Parker of Scotland, Attorney-at-law; and Dr. C. Sinclair, born in Canada. In Bodie, Dr. Walker. In Lundy, Frederick Gluntz and Leonard Haas, both from Germany, co-proprietors of the Arcade Saloon; Mrs. Mary A. Ford, originally from Ireland, owner of the Pioneer Lodging House; C.F. “Charley” Hector, owner of the Lundy and Bodie Stage Line and his livery and his brother, Eddie; Mrs. Gable who ran the Oakland House; Dr. Rafael Carlos Guirado; Charles Jardine and John “Tex” Wilson, local outlaws; Deputy Sheriff William Callahan; and Mr. W. P. Ney whose freighting service served Lundy in 1883-84.

  The manner in which these characters are portrayed in this novel is in no way intended to resemble the personalities or characteristics of those who actually lived in Mono County at that time.

  All other characters in Bridgeport Holiday Brides are strictly figments of the author’s imagination and any resemblance to real people, past or present, are purely coincidental.

  ROBINSON CREEK, CALIFORNIA—LATE OCTOBER 1884

  CHAPTER 1

  At the sound of approaching hoof beats, Beth Dodd stepped out of her front door onto the porch. The snow two days before had melted some, but the low temperature prevented it from burning off completely in spite of the bright sun. She wrapped her warmest wool shawl around her upper body and pulled it tight against her neck to keep out the chill wind. She smiled into the folds of the soft yarn as she immediately recognized her visitor—her fiancé, Val Caldwell.

  “Someone comin’, Bethie?” Beth’s younger sister, Hazel, who had arrived from Ohio only the week before called out the doorway. She stayed inside where it was warm.

  “It’s Val. Reckon him and Luther are back from Lundy.”

  Beth heard Hazel’s intake of breath. She turned as Hazel poked her head out the door.

  “Is Luther with him?”

  “No, he ain’t. It’s a mite airish out here, Hazel. Best stay inside. We’ll be in directly.”

  “Oh. All right.” Hazel didn’t try to hide her disappointment as she closed the door.

  Beth shook her head. Her sister was besotted with Luther Caldwell. Of all people, her future brother-in-law who irritated her no end with all his teasing and nonsense had captured Hazel’s heart on her first day in Bridgeport. The practical joke he thought up and then conspired with Hazel to pull on Beth when he brought Hazel to her Robinson Creek homestead still had Beth pursing her lips and shaking her head.

  Hidin’ her under her quilt so she could jump up and surprise me while I was hollerin’ at him, thinkin’ he took my quilt to cover his freight. She thought she was right smart.

  With a big grin on his face, Val touched the rim of his hat in greeting and dismounted. He slapped his gloved hand against his gelding’s neck. “Let me put him in your barn and get him out of the wind, Beth. Then I’ll see you inside.”

  As Beth closed the door behind her, her eyes were drawn to the dejected slump of Hazel’s shoulders as her sister bent over the pillowcase she was embroidering. Only after Beth slid into the chair across from her sister did she notice the tears forming in her eyes. “Don’t start bawlin’ now, Hazel. He ain’t forgot you. He’ll be by. Reckon he’s takin’ care of ranch business first.”

  Or pullin’ his antics with the ranch hands to get them to laughin’.

  At the sound of Val stomping mud and snow off his boots before he came inside, Beth turned toward the door. Hazel sucked in her breath and blinked her tears away.

  “Soon as you find me some rags, I best make you a doormat, Bethie. Keep some of that mud outside.”

  “Most of what rags I got I’m still wearin’. Reckon some rugs inside and out would be tolerable, though.”

  Val entered, took off his hat and gloves, which he shoved into his sheepskin jacket pocket, and hooked them on a peg inside Beth’s door. He grabbed a stool—the last available seating—and joined the two women at the table. He entwined his fingers with Beth’s and kissed the back of her hand. Then, he turned and greeted his future sister-in-law.

  “How do you like California so far, Hazel? It compare all right to Ohio?”

  “Still ain’t used to them high mountains cuttin’ off the sun afore the day’s over, but other than that, it’s right fine. Bethie’s place has got a wild feel to it, but I like it.”

  “Good. We have some refinement, but it’s still not as settled out here as back east. Oh, Luther said to tell you he hopes to get over here a bit later. One of us was needed to check on a problem in the west pasture, and he drew the short straw. But, I know he’s looking forward to seeing you again.”

  Val bit his tongue. Only a sense of loyalty to his brother kept him from blurting the truth—that Hazel was all Luther had talked about on the trip up and back from Lundy.

  Hazel immediately perked up and her face brightened into a big smile. “I’d be right pleased to see him. How long you reckon afore he gets here?” Then, glancing at the frown on Beth’s face, she looked down and said demurely, “Reckon I’d like to see him again, too.”

  Val burst out laughing. “Oh, he’ll be by, don’t you worry. I would have waited so we could ride together, but I have some news for Beth I figured she’d want to know right away.” Val turned to Beth and grew serious. “Beth, Gus asked if we could bring them down. Leonard and Fritz asked him to stay and cook through the end of the month, but Gus says he isn’t getting enough business for him to stay up there any longer. And, he’s right. There will still be some mining operations going on, but with the May Lundy mine and the mill still being shut down, the season is all but over. Most of the miners have already left Lundy so they can be somewhere else before the snow gets too deep.”

  Val turned to Hazel. “A lot of miners tend to do that. They either go back to their families in more established towns like Bodie or Bridgeport, or go where they may be able to pick up odd jobs to get them through the winter.”

  Beth smiled big. “Gus and Louisa are comin’ to the ranch house, then—goin’ to cook for you?”

  “Yes. I told them I’d come up and get them next week. Figured Luther and I’d leave out of here Monday, early. That will give us time to get the married foreman’s house on the property fixed up for them.”

  “Didn’t know you had no married foreman there. Why ain’t you payin’ his wife to cook for you?”

  “We haven’t had any married men working for us for years. That’s why the house is available for Gus’s family. But, it needs some work.”

  “Best I come over in the next day or two, make sure it’s cleaned right so it’s fittin’ for Louisa and baby Sophie Ann. And, I’ll be goin’ with you to Lundy.”

&nbs
p; Hazel sat up straight, immediately interested in the conversation. “We’re goin’ to that town you was livin’ in before? I’d be right pleased to see it.”

  Beth frowned. “Hazel, if it wasn’t for winter breathin’ down our necks I’d say yes. But, it’s bound to be a hard trip, especially this time of year. Besides, there won’t be no room to speak of comin’ back, what with Gus, Louisa and Sophie Ann ridin’ in the wagon with all their household. Ain’t you had enough travelin’ for a spell? If you’re set on goin’ up sometime, reckon we can go up next summer.”

  Val gently placed his other hand over the top of Beth’s. “Everything you say is true, Beth, which is why I’m not in favor of either of you going. I’d rather you two stay here where you can stay warm and dry. You can come over and welcome your former boss and Louisa when they get settled in their new place.”

  “I’m goin’, Val.”

  “Now, Bethie Rose…” Val cut her off in a tone that was half-warning, half-tease. Everyone knew that when Val called her Bethie Rose, it was his way of telling her she was starting to get too prickly about something. They also knew that if they valued their life, they themselves would never dare call her Bethie Rose. Only Val could get away with it.

  “Got me some business in Lundy needs took care of,” Beth grumbled in defiance. “I’m goin’.”

  “What business could you possibly have in Lundy, Beth?” Val asked, puzzled. “I’m telling you, the town is pretty much shutting down. Even the Blue Feather is packing up and heading for greener pastures in Sacramento.”

  “Val, ain’t no call you bringin’ up the Blue Feather.”

  Val didn’t miss the edge in Beth’s voice or the meaning behind her glance in Hazel’s direction.

  No, Hazel may be old enough to be courted by his brother, but she didn’t need to learn about the brothel Beth had gone to last January where she learned only a week earlier her first husband had been found dead behind that very same building. He’d spent two nights in the madam’s bedroom while battling pneumonia. Hazel didn’t need to know the madam, Miss Flora, had offered Beth a job there as a working girl, or that, even though Beth refused and chose instead to cook for Gus Herschel in his chop shop, she had called Beth back to the brothel to help one of her soiled doves give birth. Beth then helped rescue that same prostitute and her baby from the brothel. Although, how Beth was going to keep the story from her sister once Hazel met Louisa, Gus’s wife—the prostitute Beth had rescued—Val didn’t know.

  “So, what you plannin’ on, Bethie?” The panic in Hazel’s voice caught both their attention. “You plannin’ on leavin’ me behind here by myself to worry about your chickens and all, and not knowin’ a soul to call on for help? Ain’t got no notion where I’d go for help.”

  “Figured I’d call on someone to check on you while I’m gone. There’s a whole passel of chopped firewood and chicken feed, plus the pantry’s stocked for a month already.”

  “Who’s goin’ to check on me, Bethie? Other than Val and Luther and the Leavitts, I don’t know nary a soul around here. What if someone who comes turns out to be like Mr. Sweeney who brung me to Bridgeport? If it weren’t for Charlotte, ain’t no tellin’ what might of happened to me when I was at Leavitt’s inn. But, you ain’t got no friendly haint livin’ in your house to help me like the Leavitt’s do. Leastways, not that I can tell.”

  With her statement, Hazel revealed how deeply the betrayal by the man who had been hired to be her chaperone from Ohio to California still bothered her. The man was supposed to have protected Hazel on her journey. Instead, he had manipulated her into a compromising position, and had almost forced her into his bed. According to Hazel, the intervention of a ghost who lived in the same room in the Leavitt House where she had stayed had been all that saved her.

  Hazel had told Beth the entire story in detail, almost sorry for doing so once she witnessed Beth grow livid and scream her frustration over the meddling interference of Agnes Dodd, her late husband’s aunt, who had been persuaded by the promise of money into being their guardian. Beth stayed a year, but left the previous fall to search for the reprobate husband who had deserted her. Her fury had no end that Mrs. Dodd had first interfered with the mail sent between the two sisters, then sent her sister—who had stayed behind an extra year—out west with a man who proved to be despicable. However, when it came to the part of the story about Charlotte, the specter who saved Hazel from “a fate worse than death,” that Beth was not so willing to accept. Like both Luther and Val, when it came to ghosts, her thoughts were she would believe in them when she saw them—maybe.

  Because of her conviction a haint named Charlotte comforted Hazel and allowed her to get over her harrowing experience, Beth chose to not say anything disrespectful about Hazel’s belief in the White Lady, the name the locals gave the ghost.

  Val cleared his throat. “She’s got a point, Beth. I think both of you should stay behind. Luther and I can handle it. We’ll do everything we can to see Louisa and the baby stay as warm and comfortable as possible.”

  “I’m goin’, Val. Got me a stove to fetch and got someone in mind for a farm hand.”

  “A farm hand in Lundy?” Val shook his head in disbelief. “It’s a mining town, Beth. Most of those miners aren’t interested in helping you improve your place and care for your chickens. They’re used to miner’s pay. You can’t afford to pay someone that kind of wage…Oh.” Val smiled as it occurred to him who Beth planned to ask. “Are you sure Josh is up to it?’

  “He done right fine with my chickens when I was there, Val. He can help with firewood, haul water, and most of what else needs done around here, includin’ carin’ for the horse. Reckon he’s up to drivin’ the wagon to town and the ranch and back. Druther have him than others I know.”

  “What if he doesn’t want to leave Lundy?”

  “Won’t know unless I ask.” Beth leaned in closer to Val, her concern written on her face. “He’s like family, Val. I done left him behind when I lit out of Lundy ’cause with their baby, Gus and Louisa needed his help. But with them leavin’, he don’t have no one up there to care if he lives or dies. Druther give him the choice to stay or come here. Can’t pay much, but I’ll keep him in food and clothes. I’m fixin’ to put my stove he’s usin’ directly in his bunkhouse.”

  “Who’s Josh, Bethie?”

  Beth turned to her sister. “Reckon he’s a couple years younger than you. He come up to Lundy with his pa to work the mines. Only, a mine cave-in done his pa in and busted Josh up bad. He walks with a crutch ’cause his hip ain’t never healed up right. He thinks and talks a mite slow due to his head gettin’ bashed. Found him gettin’ by best he could, bein’ pushed aside by the able-bodied beggars in Lundy. I hired him on to tend my chickens Val brung me. He’s been plumb helpful ever since.”

  “There’s another reason I don’t want you to go up there, Beth. As it turned out, we sold our grain and hay to Mr. Ney for his freighting service because Charley Hector’s pulling up stakes and ending his stage service. He says he’s not making enough to pay his bills. But, I also heard rumors there might be a problem with the Chinese tongs going after him. Turns out, he let some road agents steal a Chinese woman on her way back to San Francisco. That may have been the final blow for him.”

  “Then, it’s best I get Josh out of there, Val. He don’t need to get caught up in nothin’ like that.”

  “All right, Beth,” Val sighed in resignation. “How about I take Hank along with us to help with the mules, and in case I need another strong back—not saying you aren’t strong and don’t pull your weight. We all know you do. But Hank can ride a horse most of the way so there will be plenty of room in the wagon for you ladies. I’ll talk Luther into staying behind to watch after Hazel and see chores around here get done.”

  Hazel noticeably brightened. “I favor that notion right fine.”

  Beth scowled. “Hazel alone with Luther? Your brother may be honorable and all, but he’s a healthy man who’s right sw
eet on my sister. Nary goin’ along with that, Val.”

  “Bethie…” Hazel pouted.

  “How about this, sweetheart,” Val interrupted with another idea. “I’ll hire a room at Leavitt House for Hazel while we’re gone. We can take her there before we leave. We’ll still leave Luther behind to tend your chickens. She will have a chance to meet a few people in town—maybe make some friends. And you know Mr. and Mrs. Leavitt will look after her as if she’s their own daughter.”

  “Ain’t no call you takin’ me, Beth. Luther can.”

  Beth snorted. “And you think Luther’d be takin’ care of my chickens out here with Hazel off to Bridgeport? He’d be spendin’ all his time in town.”

  “That might not be so bad, Beth. If they have a chance to spend some time getting to know each other away from us but with people who will see Hazel is well taken care of, it may be just what they need to decide if what they feel for each other is real or a passing fancy.”

  “Ain’t leavin’ her here, that’s certain. Someone went after my chickens last time I was to Bridgeport. I come home to find one of my hens missin’. Eggs were a mite short that day, too. Found six bits on the table, but don’t much care for the notion someone helpin' themselves in my coop.”

  “I’m sittin’ right here,” Hazel tapped the tabletop with one hand. “Don’t you reckon I should have a say in all you’re plannin’ for me?”

  “Sorry, Hazel.” Val grinned as he spoke his apology. “Considering your sister is going to insist on you being well-chaperoned, what do you think?”

  Hazel thought for a few seconds before she answered. “I like the notion of stayin’ at the Leavitt House right fine. Reckon I can talk to Mr. and Mrs. Leavitt, see if there ain’t somethin’ I can do there to pay my own way. Besides, I got me some business in Bridgeport. And, I’d like that right fine if Luther can take me.”