He nodded. “Well, let us be about it then. There’s nothing here for me.”
CHAPTER
7
It’s amazing,” Caleb said as he drove Judith in the wagon to find her grandmother’s lawyer. “Many men are setting up offices in the middle of their destroyed buildings so that people know where to find them. I doubt that will last once the reconstruction begins, but it does offer some semblance of normalcy. Not to mention that the restrictions are easing up and people are able to move around the city a little more.”
“Is it safe?”
Caleb looked at Judith. “I would never put you in danger, so that should answer your question.”
“I know you wouldn’t.” Judith gazed around them. “I’ve just heard such horrible stories.”
“There have been some very bad situations, to be sure, but also some exaggeration. I promise we’ll be just fine. We needn’t even worry about being forced into the cleanup because we have papers to show we are busy with other ways of lending aid. But if you find yourself frightened, you can always scoot closer to me.”
Judith noted a group of men handing pieces of concrete down the line until the last man was able to toss the rubble into the bed of a wagon. “I have to admit, they’ve done a good job getting the streets cleared. Even if they’ve only managed to open a few. It’s still progress.”
“Now that things are calmer, we should see more and more progress. Mayor Schmitz is determined to put this city back together before the end of summer. That doesn’t mean everything will be rebuilt, but he believes the debris will be cleared. They’re dumping it into the bay to create the foundation for additional acreage. Of course, it won’t make for a solid foundation, and everyone knows very well how that would be, should another big earthquake hit.”
“Then why do it? It seems foolhardy.”
“It is, just as the Bible warns about building your house on sand. But these are men of industry and commerce, and they are used to gambling on the future. Some are even confident that there will never be another earthquake like the one of April eighteenth.”
“How can they suppose that?” Judith considered that kind of thinking very naïve.
“Some people say events like this come only once every one hundred years. However, others are confident that it could happen again tomorrow. It has to do with the earth having a lot going on under the surface that we can’t begin to comprehend. Scientists are working to better understand earthquakes, but they have no way to predict them.”
Caleb drew the horse to a stop in front of a small open tent that had been erected outside the building that once housed the Whitleys’ law firm. The sign outside read,Pettyjohn, Bridgestone, and Davis.
“This looks to be it,” Caleb said. “I’ll go speak to the clerk.”
Judith folded her gloved hands and whispered a prayer. She hoped it wouldn’t be difficult to get information regarding her cousin. She watched as Caleb and the clerk spoke. She couldn’t hear what was being said, but the clerk pointed off behind where she sat. It wasn’t long before Caleb climbed back up into the wagon and took the reins. He didn’t look happy.
“Well there’s good news and bad. Obviously, the building was burned completely, but there was also a loss of life. Mr. Pettyjohn was killed in the earthquake.”
“How awful. I’m sorry to hear that.”
“As was I.” Caleb put the wagon in motion. “However, the good news is that the clerks and other lawyers were able to move the office records to Mr. Bridgestone’s residence ahead of the fire. They have set up business there temporarily. He gave me directions, so if you’re up to it, we might as well make our way there now.”
“I’m perfectly fine. All of my cooking duties have been given over to the other ladies, and I have the rest of the day completely free of responsibilities.”
He chuckled. “Perhaps I should take you out for dinner and a concert.”
“If such things still existed, I would let you.”
“Oh, but they do. There’s a band concert at Golden Gate Park tonight, and if you haven’t noticed, there are a multitude of tent restaurants all over this area. We can sit on wooden kegs at plankboard tables and enjoy sandwiches and coffee for outrageous prices.”
“I think I’d prefer our little warehouse. Maybe we could take a walk later.” She offered him a sweet smile. “I might even be persuaded to share a kiss.”
Caleb raised a brow. “Are you flirting with me, Miss Whitley?”
“Trying to. I suppose I’m very bad at it. I haven’t had much experience.”
He chuckled. “Well, with practice you’ll become quite good, and I believe I’ll take you up on your offer.”
They drove in contented silence for several blocks. Both seemed too occupied by the destruction around them to do more than take it all in. On one street, Judith saw an entire row of houses all tilted to the right. They looked like dominos about to be knocked over. On the opposite side of the street, most of the houses looked to have collapsed, one floor on top of the other. Had people been inside them when it happened? Since the earthquake had taken place just after five in the morning, Judith imagined many had been crushed to death.
“I don’t see how it can ever be made right,” she murmured. “There’s so much to do.”
