Westward the Dream (16 page)

18

Victoria thrived under Anna Judah's care. She found the woman to be amazingly like her own mother and realized with an aching in her heart just how much she missed her mother's company. It had been so very long since she'd seen any of her family, and even the letters she had come to count on as links to the home she'd left behind were no more in coming. The war had made a mess of things back east, and mail and information were always at a risk of confiscation by the enemy—whoever the enemy might be. In addition to that, Kiernan's and her frequent moving made it difficult, if not impossible, for mail to catch up with them.

Anna's ministerings were welcome in light of this loss. Victoria found her concern to be touching and her company to be the closest thing she could have to home.

“You look simply lovely,” Anna told her as Victoria entered the sitting room. “I think that rose color looks much better with your dark features than it ever looked on me.”

“You were very kind to have it made over for me,” Victoria said, absentmindedly smoothing down the lace-edged collar. “Kiernan said it's his favorite of all the dresses you so graciously gave me.”

Anna laughed. “They needed a home, so there was nothing gracious about it. Now come and tell me how you are feeling today. Every day your color looks better and better. Are you quite yourself again?”

“Very nearly so,” Victoria replied, taking a seat on the small sofa opposite Anna's chair. “I didn't know a person could be so sick.” It had been a month since she had fallen ill in the mountains. And though she still felt weak, she was determined to regain her strength.

“We get a lot of sick folk in the area. Maybe one day you can help me out. I do charity work with the Chinese immigrants. They seem particularly susceptible to our sicknesses. Probably because they've never had to deal with them in their own country.”

“I'd like to help you,” Victoria replied.

“Then perhaps when you are completely well,” Anna continued, “I shall introduce you to the ladies of the local aid society. But for now, we shall simply enjoy each other's company and get you well.”

Victoria nodded and thought how very fortunate they were to have made the acquaintance of Anna and Ted Judah. If they'd never gone to Dutch Flat, she might never have known the kindly woman. And that, Victoria decided, would have been a tremendous loss.

Just then Kiernan arrived home, unusually early according to the routine he'd established at Crocker's store. With him came a man Victoria was only now coming to know. Mark Hopkins, another member of the group of men who were quickly becoming known as the “big four” because of their influential involvement with the Central Pacific, was also a co-owner of a local hardware store. His partner, Collis Huntington, was even now in Washington with Ted Judah, and many others who represented the eastern railroad interest, to discuss a transcontinental railroad. The trip had come as a surprise to the Judahs, who hadn't anticipated Ted's return east so soon after his earlier summer journey. Victoria felt guilty that Anna had remained behind to continue overseeing her recovery, but Anna easily dismissed any of Victoria's worries.

“Ted can focus all his energy and attention on his Pacific Railroad bill without worrying about me,” Anna had told Victoria. “With the passage of this bill last July, the transcontinental railroad can now become reality. But only if the men involved keep the dream alive.”

“Mr. Hopkins, how nice of you to drop by,” Anna said, getting to her feet.

“Please don't feel you must rise on my account, madam,” Hopkins said, giving her a bow.

A much more serious fellow than any of the other men Victoria had met in connection with the railroad, Hopkins was nevertheless a complete gentleman.

Kiernan left his side and made his way to Victoria and, leaning down, whispered, “And how are ya feelin', me darlin'?”

“Much better,” Victoria assured him. “Stronger every day.”

“Ya were sleeping so peaceful-like this mornin', I couldn't go wakin' ya up to ask how ya were doin'.” He took a seat beside her and waited for Hopkins to join them.

“I had word from Mr. Huntington, and in turn he sent word from your husband,” Hopkins told Anna.

“How marvelous. How is the state of affairs in Washington these days?” she questioned, as though she were not in the least bit excited at the prospect of hearing news about her husband.

Victoria knew Anna had been pining away in Ted's absence. In spite of Anna's many assurances that the rest would do her good, Victoria and Kiernan were not convinced by her act. Victoria felt that had she not taken ill, Anna would have found a way, in spite of the war, to convince her husband to let her accompany him to Washington. She and Ted were very close—her love for him quite apparent. With Ted gone, Anna seemed to have lost an important part of herself. Most likely it was this reason that had put Kiernan's mind at ease over accepting charity by living at the Judah home. Victoria surmised this on more than one occasion when her husband had spoken of Anna's needs and felt that at least in this way he was serving an honorable purpose while working to put together enough money for them to start over.

“The state of affairs in Washington remains as always,” Hopkins said, his thin, bearded face seeming to take on an even more dour expression. “Too many men playing a game of politics, while the rest of the company sits in wait for some form of assistance. The war is accelerating and thus demanding more attention from the government.”

“And my husband?” Anna said.

Hopkins nodded. “He is well. Mr. Huntington and he seem to be at odds quite often, but there is certainly no news in that.”

“No, I imagine not,” Anna replied with a bit of a laugh. She looked at Victoria and smiled. “Ted and Collis do not always see eye to eye on matters of the Central Pacific.”

“Begging your pardon, Mrs. Judah, but your husband seldom sees eye to eye with anyone on the Central Pacific's board,” Hopkins interjected.

Anna turned her smile to the man. “Of course, there are times when my husband seems unreasonable, but you must admit, his background more than qualifies him for his opinions. After all, he was responsible for engineering the great Niagara Gorge Railroad in New York, a feat most said could not be accomplished. He was also the man to engineer the twenty-two-mile-long Sacramento Valley line, this state's very first railroad.”

“I do not doubt your husband's qualifications,” Hopkins replied. “Rather, I question his direction and vision for this line.”

At this, Anna again turned to explain to Victoria, who thought the entire matter somewhat confusing. “The board would like to see a freight line established as the Central Pacific continues to develop and survey its railroad. You remember the Donner Pass area, don't you?” Victoria nodded, and Anna continued. “They would bring freight in over the mountains to earn them money while building the CP. My Ted fears that attention will focus solely on profits from this freight road and a local railroad, and that the board will soon forget the dream of a transcontinental line. Is that not so, Mr. Hopkins?”

“Indeed it is true. But your husband need not fear. Just because our pacing is slow and our interests diversified, he needn't believe us to have tabled the matter of this new railroad. The project is one involving multimillions of dollars. It is too big a project to undertake without some formal backing of the United States government.”

“But with the government so focused on war,” Kiernan interjected, “are ya supposin' they'll have time to worry about a railroad?”

Hopkins shrugged. “That's why we have representatives there even now to help remind Congress and the president of our needs. This railroad cannot build itself on the backs of private citizens. We need the help of the Federal government. Between Judah's perseverance and Huntington's diplomacy and ingenuity, we are bound to see action before they return to California.”

“But will the politicians understand the need as they do?” Kiernan asked.

“Let us pray they will,” Hopkins replied. “There is already worry among many that if California is not assured of an end to her isolationism, she will find herself seized by the southern sympathizers of this region and declared a seceded state. There is further concern that if the North continues to irritate the British, we will find ourselves facing an even bigger opponent. Huntington says there is fear that the British navy positioned off the coast of California will attack San Francisco. Then surely the whole of California, Oregon, and Washington Territory will fall into their control.”

“And for sure we can't be lettin' that happen,” Kiernan declared.

Victoria watched her husband in silence. She felt proud that he could hold his own in such a conversation. She knew him to be an intelligent and driven man when the need presented itself. She'd seen that drive when she'd taught him to read so many years ago. She saw it return when she'd grown gravely ill and he'd feared for her life.

She loved him more than she could find words to admit, and she admired his desire to better himself and his family. Now if she could only help him find a way past the guilt and blame he'd heaped upon himself in regard to her illness and their living arrangements.

“I understand,” Anna was saying, “that our own representative Aaron Sargent has become our biggest proponent for the Central Pacific. On more than one occasion he has demanded the immediate construction of the transcontinental line so that another generation of Californians does not grow up separated from the eastern states by the vast western wilderness.”

“This is true,” Hopkins replied. “However, many are of the mind that we should get this Civil War behind us first—to pay off all expenditures incurred from these hostilities before even considering a transcontinental line.”

“Why, that would mean years, maybe even as many as twenty or thirty, before we would see some kind of work proceed toward a unifying railroad,” Anna protested.

“Exactly so, madam,” Hopkins agreed.

“Well, that certainly is something,” Anna replied, easing back in her chair. She allowed the silence to fill the room for several moments, almost as if in deference to her husband, before changing the subject. “Would you like to stay for tea, Mr. Hopkins?”

He shook his head and stood. “No, I'm expected home. Mr. O'Connor was making his way here and was good enough to allow me to accompany him. I only thought to bring you news of your husband. He is well and working hard to come back to California.”

Anna got to her feet, and as she did so, Kiernan and Victoria stood as well. “I appreciate your kindness, Mr. Hopkins,” she said, extending her hand. “Please do come again.”

Hopkins touched her hand lightly, then bid them all good day. It was only after Anna left to walk him to the door that Victoria felt she could ask her husband the reason for his early arrival home.

“Are you unwell?” she questioned.

“And why would ya be askin' that?” Kiernan questioned. “Am I lookin' green?”

Victoria laughed. “No, silly. It's just that you're never home this early. I found it a shock to see you walk through the door.”

“And so ya want an explanation,” he said, his tone teasing. “Well, then first ya must be givin' me a kiss o' welcome.”

Victoria felt overwhelmed with happiness. Kiernan was acting much the same as he had when they'd first married. He seemed lighthearted and jovial—something she'd greatly missed since their arrival in California. She looked through the open archway of the sitting room, torn between flying into her husband's arms and maintaining proper decorum. “But Anna will be coming back.”

Kiernan crossed his arms and raised his chin slightly into the air. “Then ya will not be hearin' a word from me lips.”

Victoria glanced back again to the open arch. “Oh, very well.” She came to Kiernan and melted against him as his arms opened wide. “But just one kiss.”