Chapter 13 #3
“You might.” Excitement stirred to life inside my chest. “But I hope you don’t.”
“What about the children?”
“Father is doing much better, and with Paddy’s help . . .” I left the sentence hanging, hoping Sam would agree. “Perhaps we can move them to the new building, so they are safer.”
“It will take a few days to get everything ready. How much time do we have?”
“We have about three weeks before a man named Major William Downie will find one of the largest gold strikes on the Yuba River.”
“It will take us at least a week to get there.”
“And then we’ll have a week to gather as much as we can and a week to get back before Major Downie arrives.”
“Bess once told me that if a time-crosser knowingly changes history, they forfeit their path. Aren’t you worried about that?”
“I’m always worried about it.” I thought of Bess and Cole and the changes that I’d witnessed in the past few weeks.
“We won’t disturb the place where William Downie discovers the gold, and we won’t tell anyone about it, so I won’t be changing history.
He’ll still go there and still be credited with the find.
I don’t know who will go there after him, so I’m not knowingly changing that part. ”
“Are you sure?”
“It’s a risk I’m willing to take. We can be back here in three weeks with all the gold we’ll ever need, and you can finish your restaurant and hotel.”
Sam crossed his arms and became pensive as he considered what I was proposing. “What about your reputation? Aren’t you worried what people will think and say about you if they hear we went there alone?”
“I’ve thought about that,” I confessed. “We don’t need to use our real names. There are so many men coming and going, no one needs to know who we are.”
“There could be a few who recognize us.”
“We’ll take our chances.” I let out a sigh. “My family’s safety and well-being are more important to me than what others think.”
His brown eyes were both fierce and gentle as he held my gaze. “I’ll do it under one condition—you’ll promise to help me run my new hotel and restaurant when we get back.”
Butterflies filled my stomach for reasons I couldn’t begin to guess. Sam wanted more time with me. “I don’t know if I’ll stay here past my twenty-fifth birthday in November.”
He didn’t respond immediately. Disappointment lowered his shoulders. “Can you promise me you’ll stay at least until then?”
Hazel and Johnnie had finished getting their drink and started off again. Father was still walking toward us but was a long ways off.
“Yes.” It was all I said. All I needed to say.
“Maybe I’ll convince you to stay longer.”
The butterflies intensified as warmth filled my cheeks and I started to follow the children, trying not to let The Annals of San Francisco taunt me.
Sam’s chuckle met my ears a moment before he joined me, and his hand brushed mine.
“You’ve given me a reason to smile again, Ally Adams.” He shook his head. “I didn’t think that would ever happen.”
His words filled my heart with joy, but also trepidation.
If I wasn’t desperate to get the gold, I would never agree to go on a three-week journey with Sam Kendal. Alone. Not because I didn’t trust him, but because I didn’t trust my heart.
It took another ten minutes to get to the little canvas building with the wooden cross tacked to the gable. Hazel and Johnnie waited for us, Father still a couple blocks behind.
The church door was open, and several miners were entering.
Sam paused, and I was suddenly afraid the pastor would turn him out. I knew God never would, but humans were flawed creatures.
I led the way, and Sam and the children followed.
The inside of the building was long and narrow with wooden benches on either side of a central aisle. Just like Bess’s Place, the canvas shifted and waved as people moved about.
An older couple stood just inside the entrance, warm and welcoming smiles on their faces. Their countenances put my heart at ease as I approached them.
“Glory be,” the woman said with a wide smile as she opened her arms for a hug. “It’s another woman!”
Her husband laughed, his eyes twinkling with joy. “Maria has been praying for a friend for months,” he said. “And look what the good Lord has provided.”
Maria’s hug was just as warm as her smile, and when I pulled back, she rubbed my upper arms with enthusiasm. “I hope you didn’t mind that hug. I couldn’t help myself. It’s so good to have you here, my dear.”
“Thank you.”
“I’m Reverend Green,” the man said, “and this is my wife, Mrs. Green.”
“Maria,” she said with a playful wrinkle of her nose. “Call me Maria.”
“I’m Ally Adams,” I said and then motioned to Sam.
“And this must be Mr. Adams,” Reverend Green said, extending his hand.
Sam paused and glanced at me.
“This is Mr. Kendal,” I supplied, quickly, hoping to cover the blunder. “My employer.”
“Goodness.” The reverend chuckled. “Maria is always telling me I shouldn’t make assumptions. Pardon me, Miss Adams.” He continued to extend his hand.
“I’m from Sydney Town,” Sam said, not yet reaching for his hand. “I thought you should know in case you don’t welcome ex-convicts into your sanctuary, in which case, I should leave.”
Reverend Green’s eyebrows jumped high as he continued to chuckle.
“You just got here, son. The last thing I want you to do is leave.” His voice sobered as he took a step closer and presented his hand again.
“It doesn’t matter where we come from or where we start, as long as we end up with God. I’m happy you’re here.”
Sam cautiously accepted Reverend Green’s handshake, and my heart breathed a sigh of relief.