New Beginnings (New Beginnings Series) (26 page)

Still standing before the fire, Sam started to tell her what all the mystery was about. “If I hadn’t come here in the summer of ’72 I probably wouldn’t have known what that man was up to. There is a fellow here, Saul Davis, who owns much of the business on The Front. He is quite under-handed at getting money out of unsuspecting visitors. Did you notice the driver looked back at the other hacks?” Sara nodded as he continued, “He looked to be worried one of the other drivers may report him to Davis. He would be out the extra commission he receives for depositing guests at the Table Rock Hotel. These drivers pay for the right to this commission, sometimes as much as five thousand a year. Pretty steep, but considering what a man can make in a day just for delivering a passenger from one sight to another, he can still make a good profit. There has been talk for a long time of cleaning up the falls of all the crime. I have a strong feeling it hasn’t happened yet.”

“Are we safe here?” Sara was quite alarmed.

“If you stay close to me we won’t have any trouble,” Sam answered, putting his arm around her back and pulling her tighter to him.

“I have no worries because there is no place in this world I would rather be than by your side.”

The kiss they shared started as a gentle exchange, but quickly turned to a moment of excitement. The sound of their hostess clearing her throat, for the second time, pulled them apart. As usual Sara’s face showed the blush of her embarrassment, but the lady of the house seemed to show little concern and the slightest bit of amusement crossed her face. “I can show you to your room,” she gestured to the hall entrance with the motion of her arm.

As she led them up the stairway she said, “My name is Edith Day. My husband, Robert, is in Toronto until Christmas for a winter job.”

“Sam and Sara Fielding,” he responded as the three shook hands at the top of the staircase. “We have travelled from Manitoba.”

“Oh, the untamed west,” Edith said with a surprised expression, “What brings you to the east?”

“We were married only a short time ago and have stopped at the famed honeymooners’ site on our travels.” Sam answered. “I worked here back in the early 70’s and thought Sara might like to see the falls for herself.”

“Ah, so that is why you knew to find a boarding house rather than let the cabbie take you to Davis’ hotel. I shake my head when I think of what that man has done to this beautiful place.” By this time they arrived at the closed door to their room for the next night or two.

Sara protested when she stepped inside, “But this is your room. We really can’t take you out of your bedroom.” The few paintings on the wall and dainty doilies on the dresser and side tables displayed a personal flavour, unusual in regular rooms for boarding.

“Oh, it’s all right, really. With Robert away I often sleep in the children’s room down the hall. Besides, I remember my honeymoon seven years ago and I want you to have more comfort than what the other rooms provide. Business is slow in the winter months and it is nice to have people like you here.”

As they went inside, Edith took leave to check on the children, but turned before Sam closed the door, “Have you eaten yet? Would you like a meal before you turn in for the night?”

“A light lunch would be nice,” Sara answered with a smile.

“Come down to the kitchen in about half an hour and I will have something ready for you.” Edith pulled the door closed and her footsteps could be heard continuing down the hardwood floor of the hallway.

The bedroom was large and filled the entire front of the house. A four-poster bed sat in the centre against the outside wall with a window and night table on each side. Sara opened a door to the balcony over the veranda. Although the air was cool when she went outside she saw the deck was cleaned of all snow. Sam stepped out beside her and together they could hear a resonating sound, like a continuous thunder in the distance. It was dark that night, as the cloud settled in during the day and a falling of large snowflakes gently fell, bringing a blanket of peace over them. Sam placed his arms around his wife and held her against himself. “We best get ready for supper,” he whispered in Sara’s ear, trying not to interrupt the feeling of serenity.

They stepped back inside, removed their outdoor clothing and hung the lot on the hooks on the wall behind the door. They also took off their footwear and Sara stretched out her toes and sighed after taking off the confining shoes. She proceeded to undress, stopping when she stood in her corset and underclothing.

Sam placed their lone suitcase on the bed, opening it and removing the garments needing to be cleaned. The process left only one more change of clothing for each, Sara’s lovely blue dress and his dress suit.

“Remember what I said about bringing more clothes with us,” Sara said as she pulled out her favourite dress.

“It would mean another suitcase and I need my other hand to carry the one we are going to buy and fill with new things for you. Besides you will look lovely dining with me tonight in your blue dress.” By this time Sam stood in front of the washstand holding the porcelain washbasin set and poured a small amount of warm water from the pitcher into the bowl. He took off his shirt and proceeded to wash and dry his upper body before taking his shaving mug and brush and stirring up a good lather. Quickly he spread the soap over the day-and-a-half shadow covering his face.

“When are you going to learn I really don’t need you to buy me new clothes?” Sara playfully wrapped her arms around him as she stood behind him and watched their reflection.

He paused for a moment, watching her in the mirror, “When are you going to learn I go deaf when you say such things? You are my wife. If I want to buy you a new dress I will buy you a new dress … case closed.”

Sara let out a sigh, but proceeded to caress his shoulders slowly, with gentle kisses.

Sam raised the straight razor to his chin and immediately a tinge of red showed as he nicked the skin. Pulling the blade away he added, “As much as I like what you are doing, you are going to have to stop before I cut my throat.”

“Well, we can’t have that now, can we?” Sara placed one last touch of her lips to his back before she sat back on the bed and watched her husband shave.

Quickly Sam ran the razor over his chin and down his neck. With each stoke he flicked the lather from the blade in to the washbasin. As he finished he wiped away the remaining soap with the washcloth. Pouring the water into a decorative bucket beside the stand he refilled the bowl with water for his wife, and continued to get ready for the evening.

They walked into the dining room, down the hallway from the bottom of the stairs. Sam and Sara found the room to be dark, with candles directing their way to a small table, elegantly decorated with more candles and a dainty lace covering. Two plates were already served with creamed chicken on toast. Two wine glasses sat at the head of each plate.

An unusual sound, like a large watch being wound, came from the darkened sitting room, adjoining the dining area. The sound changed to someone possibly running a steel brush over metal, but quickly changed into the music of a large orchestra. Edith came out of the darkness and moved her hand to direct the couple to their meal.

Sam pulled the chair away from the table for his wife, but with a child-like curiosity Sara looked at their hostess. “Where is the music coming from? Surely you don’t have a whole musical ensemble in your sitting room.”

Edith’s face brightened and she was obviously pleased with her surprise. She took a candle from the sideboard and asked them to follow her. The music continued to play. Before them was an unusual apparatus with a large megaphone horn standing up from it. A cylinder rotated on the machine with a needle touching it, held with metal following all the way to the horn. The needle followed the grooves on the tinfoil covering the roll and as long as the drum turned, the music continued to the end of the furrow.

Sara stood back, speechless.

Edith gave the handle on the side of the wooden box the machine sat on, several turns and once again the music started to play. “This is called a phonograph,” their hostess answered the silence. “We really couldn’t afford one, but Robert’s employer gave us this. He wanted my husband to spend the winters in Toronto, as he said Robert’s craftsmanship in carpentry is extraordinary and he makes the wooden cabinets. So far we only have one recording. They are also rather expensive as each one has to be made at the performance.” Again the music came to a stop and Edith pulled the needle from the tube.

“But come, you best sit down to dinner as it will be getting cold.” Again she directed them to the chairs at the table and Sam helped to push Sara’s chair under her as she sat down. Edith excused herself, explaining she thought newly-married folks should have the opportunity to enjoy their meal together in private.

“Edith,” Sara spoke, “You have made this evening very special for us and I thank you.”

As she went up the stairs, their new acquaintance smiled back at them.

They enjoyed their lovely dinner and glass of wine. Edith said to leave the dishes in the sink, but instead Sara washed them, using water from the kettle on the stove. Sam found the tea towel and started to dry them.

“Edith seems to be very nice,” Sam said as they stood together.

“We were really lucky to find a place like this to stay. It is much nicer than staying at a hotel.”

“I’m glad you are happy,” Sam placed his arms around her and held her as she finished wiping the basin clean and the water ran down the drain into a pail beneath the sink.

As they finished tidying up, Sam went to each candle and blew them out, one by one. The light from the street lamp outside lit their way through the house as they went up the stairs to their temporary lodging.

They were later getting up in the morning than usual, partly because of the change in time. They also enjoyed the feeling of sleeping next to each other again, skin against skin.

Edith knocked on the door. Without opening it she mentioned if they had any laundry to be done they could bring it downstairs. She would be taking some next door to the washerwoman. She continued to explain it should be ready by the evening and the noon-hour meal would be on the table shortly.

Sara set aside all of the clothing she felt should be washed and had only her blue dress to wear for the day. Sam also was dressed in his better clothing as he carried the laundry down the stairs to the kitchen.

Three small boys milled around the pair and their mother sent them away with a light swat on the bottom of the last one as they all ran into a tiny playroom. It was just off of the kitchen and the top half of the room doubled as a pantry. A bassinet sat in the corner not far from the warmth of the stove and a small baby lay in it kicking and cooing.

“I should have warned you earlier, the bed you slept in seems to have either a blessing or a curse placed upon it,” Edith was setting the kitchen table for the children’s and her own lunch.

Sam’s eyes sparkled at the idea, but he carefully changed the subject when he saw the look of concern on Sara’s face. Immediately he knew this was real cause for her alarm, although as they discussed before she was quite certain it would be too soon to have to worry. “Here is the laundry for the washerwoman,” he said as Edith reached and took the bundle from him and placed it in a clean flour bag with her own items.

As she looked back to her guests she frowned. “You’re not going out to tour the falls in those fancy duds, are you?”

They both looked back at her, rather puzzled at the comment. Sam’s face began to lighten as he glanced at his wife. “I guess we would be easy prey for Davis and his men if we go out looking like these are our everyday clothes.”

Sara still looked rather bewildered as she answered, “But this is all we have that is clean to wear.”

“I think I can find some things for you. I think Sam and Robert are about the same size and I am a little bigger than you, Sara, so that shouldn’t be a problem. After we eat we’ll see what we can do.”

Edith called the children for lunch and eagerly they all ran into the room and climbed up into their chairs. The smallest reached up for his high chair and Sam quickly picked him up and put him in it. A large beam from the child could only be returned with an equally large grin from the man.

Edith prepared an aromatic stew for the family and guests of the boarding house. She explained to the visitors the regular dinner meal would include the three people who lived on the third floor of the house on a year-round basis. They would meet them then. She set the dining table for the Fieldings’ lunch, but Sara insisted they would be comfortable dining with the family in the kitchen.

“It is really hard to believe you two come from the class of people who wear those fancy clothes. I’ve never had anyone here before you folks sit down with me and the children for lunch before.”

“I used to be one of those snooty folks until I met Sara here,” Sam was quick to tell their hostess. “She cast a spell on me changing my life for the better.”

After helping to clear the table, Sam urged the children to show him what they were playing with in the small room. They were quick to grab his hands and pull him with them.

“He will make a good father,” Edith commented as she poured water from the kettle into the sink, “I don’t imagine you two will be waiting long.”

Sara gave a nod of her head but stayed turned away as she placed the dishes in the sink and ran the bar of soap over the dishcloth to start the washing.