He grinned. “I doubt that.”
“Doubt that I’ll be fine?”
“Doubt that you’ll rest soon.” He shook his head. “I’ve got my doubts that you’ll rest at all.”
Faith couldn’t help but chuckle. “You think you know me pretty well, don’t you? Well, I’ll have you know that there are more than one or two secrets I have that you’ll most likely never know.”
His dark eyes captured her gaze. Faith sobered and swallowed the lump in her throat. She’d always been glad to keep her secrets, but at this very moment she felt almost compelled to tell Andrew everything.
“We’ve all got our secrets, Faith,” he finally said before turning to go.
CHAPTER13
As the end of January concluded and the days moved into February, tales of the storm were told far and wide. People greeted each other with the question, “Where were you when the big storm hit?” It made for interesting conversation, even among total strangers, as everyone worked to clean up the town.
At the boardinghouse, Mimi and Faith both healed, and Nancy was soon back on her feet with limited duties. Upon learning of Nancy’s delicate condition, the Clifton sisters had stepped up to take on various tasks in return for several months of reduced rent. This, in turn, allowed them to replenish their lost wardrobe and personal items. Seth was the one to approve the idea, making it clear to Nancy that she was to take it easy until after the baby was born. Faith agreed with him, leaving Nancy little choice in the matter.
“It seems a woman ought to have a say in her own home,” Nancy declared.
Faith brought her a plumped pillow and smiled. “Why not enjoy the pampering? Read a book, make something special for the baby.”
“I suppose I could.” Nancy glanced around the front room. “I don’t intend to just sit about.”
“No one is demanding you do. Just that you take it easy and let some of us take over your heavier tasks.” Faith put the pillow behind Nancy as she sat in front of the fireplace. “It’s rare enough for women to get any kind of special treatment when they’re with child. Most must go on running their households and caring for other children. I’m just suggesting you enjoy the time. You’ve only a few months, and then you’ll be holding that baby in your arms, and your schedule will never be the same.”
“I suppose you’re right. I should be thankful that God sent Bedelia and Cornelia back to us.”
“You should.” Faith leaned down to whisper, glancing all the while over Nancy’s shoulder. “They are just as you described. I think Bedelia would have made a great physician. She’s got a keen eye for detail and lets nothing escape her notice. I hope that won’t extend to Alma—at least not until we can figure out how to bring them together.”
“I know. We should probably just do it and let them decide if they can live with it or not. I hate to see Alma having to hide in her bedding box.”
Faith straightened. “Me too. Now, is there anything else I can get you before I head back to my studies?”
“She’ll be just fine,” Bedelia declared, coming into the room. She held a glass bell in her hand. “I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve taken the liberty of bringing you this bell. Just ring it should you need anything. Cornelia and I will be cleaning the rooms downstairs this morning, so we shouldn’t have any trouble hearing you.”
Nancy took the bell and smiled. “Thank you so much. I’m very glad you’ve returned to us.”
Bedelia looked as if she might allow a smile to touch her lips, but then she turned away. If she did smile, Faith and Nancy would never know.
“I’m impressed with the new bathing room you installed downstairs,” Bedelia said. “It’s spacious and very nice not to have to run upstairs when in need.”
“I agree, especially since my room is downstairs.” Faith smiled at Nancy and motioned as if she were ringing a bell. “Don’t forget, we’re here for you.”
By the middle of February, Portland had been cleaned up enough that most businesses could operate. There was still plenty to do, but life had to move forward. Word trickled in and then came like a flood that all up and down the coast, the effects of the storm had been severe. As far north as Seattle they had received several feet of snow on top of a record twenty-four inches that had been dumped on them the week before. It was unusual for Seattle to have that amount of snow, and it brought transportation to a halt and shut down the city, leaving many people without proper heat or food. To the south, the storm had brought Salem and Eugene several inches of snow and strong winds, while in Coos Bay the winds had driven a schooner ashore. But it was the damage to trees that seemed most readily noted throughout Oregon. It was rumored that for every ten feet of distance, one tree had fallen. Thousands of trees had been destroyed in the storm along the coast and as far inland as The Dalles. Beaverton alone claimed six hundred trees had fallen across the train tracks, rendering the railroad inoperable.
Nancy’s brother Gabe had come to town purportedly to oversee their sawmill interests but perhaps even more to check on thewell-being of his sister and fiancée. Meanwhile, the newspaper noted that hundreds of workers had been brought in from California in order to continue the cleanup. Gabe hoped to employ a good number of them for the sawmill. What was clearly an ordeal for the city looked to be a boon for the logging industry.
There had also been a small article in the paper that Faith noticed and brought to Seth’s attention.
“It says the army captured several crates of rifles that appeared to be bound for Grand Ronde reservation. What do you know about that?”
Seth shrugged. “Someone tipped off the army as to where they could find the rifles. I talked to Major Wells from Fort Vancouver. He said it was much too orderly to suit him. It almost seemed like the entire thing had been staged, which raises the question—why?”
Faith frowned. Why indeed? From what little she knew about Berkshire and Lakewood, neither man struck her as the kind who would allow something like that to happen by chance, and if it were staged, what were they hoping to gain? Faith gathered her breakfast dishes and headed for the kitchen with that question on her mind.
“Will you be going to classes today?” Bedelia asked.
Classes at the college had been cancelled until all provision could be made to ensure safety. Faith had been glad for the extra time to work on her thesis and rest. It was apparent to her that her head wound was much worse than she’d allowed herself to believe at first. Little by little, the dizziness and pain left, and she found herself able to study again without having to stop due to her injury.
