Wanted: Gravedigger Read online

  Dawson thought for a moment. He knew he had to get her out of town. He was so close to cracking his latest case and Dawson couldn’t predict how the target would respond once he was found out.

  He didn’t want to do anything that would jeopardize Tess’s safety and that of his unborn baby. He should get her back to Silverpines, but he wondered if she would really be safer by his side where he could keep an eye on her.

  He placed his hand on her belly and imagined that he could feel the child growing inside her. It gave him a warmth he couldn’t describe.

  “I love you, Honeybee. Thank you for this wonderful gift you are giving me.” He wiped away the tears that were beginning to leak from her eyes. He gently kissed her forehead and then lifted her chin. “I’ll stop by the livery and send Marty home. He can take a message that you will be staying here for a bit. I need to go see Shippenbottom and that will take about an hour. I’ll bring the circuit judge back with me when I return, and we will rectify the marriage issue immediately. Sound good?”

  Tess nodded. “I’ll just sit here and read.” She picked up the book sitting on the table next to the chair and gave a little laugh.

  “Persuasion by Jane Austen,” she read out loud, stroking the spine with her finger.

  “You spoke of it the day I returned to the workshop to find you reading in the coffin. I figured I should read it, so we had something to discuss the next time I came home.”

  Tess nodded and sat in the chair, wiping a tear from her cheek. She looked up at Dawson and her voice came out in a croak and then a laugh. “I love you too. I’ll be here waiting when you return.”

  Dawson nodded and placed his cowboy hat back on top of his head before heading out the door to take care of business.

  Chapter 3

  October 1899

  Tess Elliott sat under the limited shade of a fruit tree that was growing in the garden area next to the apothecary. Hattie was holding a meeting and Tess was concerned about holding her lunch.

  She looked at the tree. It still had many of the leaves, although they were starting to turn yellow and fall to the ground. Apple, she was pretty sure it was an apple tree.

  The last of Hattie’s herbs, growing in pots around the garden space, gave off a sweet cloying smell that Tess was sure was the cause of her nausea.

  She had been sipping ginger and mint tea that Hattie prepared for her and half-listening to the conversation around her.

  She stayed in New Harbor for nearly a month before Dawson Elliot rode her into Silverpines on the back of Blackjack.

  His case was over, but Mr. Shippenbottom disappeared before Dawson could arrest him. Apparently, Mr. Shippenbottom, if that was even his real name, was running a scheme, swindling well-off widowed women out of their fortunes under the guise of investing the money where it would become profitable.

  It worked, however. Mr. Shippenbottom became very profitable. Unfortunately, the widows were now out of money.

  When she finally arrived back in Silverpines, the welcoming was not what she hoped for. Charlotte Daniels was completely distraught when she returned and demanded the wedding be annulled. When Tess refused, she was turned away from the Daniels’ home without another word.

  It had been over three weeks since she had talked to her momma. Even though the woman could irritate her more than anything, she still loved and missed her.

  Dawson put Tess up in a hotel room, but it was cutting into what precious money they had been saving for a house. She insisted that she could fix up the undertaker’s studio, but Dawson wasn’t moved. He wanted to know she had a proper place to stay and was surrounded by people.

  He left her one final time to head back to New Hope and then to Chicago to wrap up his affairs with the detective agency with the promise to return to Silverpines for good. He had been gone for a week and Tess knew he wouldn’t be home for at least another two.

  Despite it being chilly for early October, Tess thought she was going to melt from the heat. She could see snow on the mountaintops in the distance, but it did nothing to cool her down. Everyone around her was wearing cardigans or wraps, but here she was wanting to tear her clothes off. It was scandalous to be sure.

  Hattie told her the feeling of overheating would pass. She just needed to be patient. Hattie would know, she and her husband Richard were expecting as well. As was Betsy. And several others. It appeared that all of the Silverpines’ widows were now contributing to the population growth.

  Tess looked at her friend. She glowed; radiantly glowed. Her skin was perfect, her hair perfect, and even the small bulge at her belly was perfect.

  Tess felt so inferior – she had no control over her blonde locks, her skin was starting to splotch, and instead of a nice beautiful belly she had a soft one that looked like she indulged in too many cakes.

  She took another sip of tea when she heard Hattie call her name.

  “Tess, the ladies were wondering if you could take the lead on collecting supplies for when the mine reopens. You did an excellent job when we needed them for the makeshift hospital.”

  “Of course, Hattie. Whatever you need, just make me a list.” She looked around the garden at the women gathered there. Hattie called this meeting once the news went out that the mine was opening.

  Tess couldn’t believe that they were opening the mine. It had barely been six months since it collapsed during the earthquake, sealing hundreds of men in its depth. Tess thought it would be better undisturbed. However, the choice wasn’t hers to make.

  The ultimate decision belonged to Betsy Sewell, who now owned the mining company. Tess didn’t know the details, and she didn’t need to, but she understood that there was a bit of pressure to reopen the mine and bring an economy back to the town.

  The jobs created from reopening the silver mine would help right the town from near economic collapse. Mr. Henderson, Maude’s new husband was the engineer in charge of reopening the mine. He had crafted a plan to reopen the mine safely and quickly. The only concern, what to do with all the bodies that would be recovered.

  Which is why Tess was sitting in the back garden of the apothecary discussing this very issue with most of the ladies from the town. Most of the women had lost their husbands in the catastrophe and wanted to know what to expect. Many just wanted the dead to remain in the ground instead of going through all the trouble of excavating them out from the earth.

  Hattie was in charge of how the town would dispose of the recovered bodies. Hattie’s priority was to keep any diseases the decaying bodies may expose the townsfolks to from entering the town area.

  Tess’s father was the town undertaker when she and her parents first moved to Silverpines. She was just a young child, watching him work and caringly prepare the dead so the living could mourn them. Unfortunately, she and her momma had to prepare his body when he passed from what was deemed a terrible accident.

  After the earthquake, there wasn’t anyone to prepare the dead for burial. Folks had been dying at the makeshift hospital from their injuries. They were even stored in a shed, packed in salt until someone could bury them.

  That someone turned to be Dawson Elliot. He gave Tess an alias when he first came to town, but he pitched in and built coffins in the back of the undertaker’s office. Tess sat by his side and handed him tools or read to him from her small collection of books.

  That is where they fell in love.

  Tess shrugged off the memory and looked around the small garden. There were about 30 people in attendance, including Abby James who was offering words of comfort and prayers as the ladies tried to take in the shock of having their lives upended once more. Tess didn’t have any words. She was fortunate not to lose anyone in the disaster, but she felt its effects intimately in this small group.

  Hattie’s voice broke through her reverie again, calling her attention back to the matter at hand. “The best way to do this is to sew up the bodies into bags as they come out of the mine. Then we can stack them on the wagons and take them for bu
rial. We are going to need sheets. Lots of sheets. Tess, since you are heading the supplies, may I put you in charge of collecting the sheets and starting to sew them into bags?”

  Tess looked up as she heard Hattie call her name. She wasn’t sure what was asked, but she knew she could clarify it after the meeting, so she simply nodded.

  Hattie continued, “Ladies, I know you want your men buried individually, however, we are going to have to use a mass grave. It is the quickest way to ensure the bodies get in the ground and are covered to minimize the chance of disease.”

  Quiet sniffles went through the crowd.

  “Is there anything else you need, Hattie?” It was the voice of one of the women in the back. Tess missed who said it.

  “Yes. We need a gravedigger.”

  Tess waited for everyone to leave before approaching Hattie. She helped her friend gather up the cups and saucers and load them into a basket before hauling them upstairs to Hattie’s apartment.

  Tess loved Hattie’s home. It was warm and comfortable and well-lived in. Even though it was simple, everything about the apartment reflected the Childs.

  They walked into the kitchen area and placed the dishes in the tub. Kijab and Robert were sitting at the table looking at picture books.

  “Tessie!” the small boy cried, pointing to Tess. She wiped her hands on her skirt and gave the boy a quick hug and kiss on his forehead.

  “What are you doing, Kijab?”

  “Horse,” he said, pointing to the picture in the book.

  “Yes, and what is that?” Tess asked.

  “Chicken.”

  Tess laughed, “you are a clever boy.”

  “Will you stay for dinner, Tess?” Hattie asked, pumping water into the tub.

  “I would love to.” She walked over to the tub and took the rag that was sitting on the edge. “Let me do the dishes so you can get changed.”

  “That is an offer I won’t refuse.” Hattie gave her husband and son a quick peck each and left to change. Tess started washing the dishes, humming as she placed them in the drying rack.

  “Is Dawson coming back soon?” Robert asked.

  “He’s due back in a few weeks. I just got a telegram from New Hope that he was headed to Chicago. I am looking forward to him returning.”

  “Do you know what he will be doing once he gets back?”

  Tess stacked another cup in the rack before answering. “He thought about taking over Poppa’s business, but I’ve not had a chance to talk to Momma about it. He mentioned ranching outside of town, but all of our funds are going to the hotel. So as of right now, I don’t know.”

  “There is the mine that is opening, I bet he could find work there. If anyone knows how to get a job done, it is Dawson.”

  “Hattie mentioned about needing someone to oversee the burial of the bodies. I’ll mention it to him when he returns.”

  Robert looked at her as if deep in thought. “How about staying at Doc Hamilton’s apartment? It isn’t being used for anything but storage right now. It would be good to have someone staying there.”

  “I thought Dr. Tory was there?”

  “No, she just found a small cottage for rent on the far side of town. I think she didn’t want to be so close to the office that folks extended her hours just because she was here. Quite smart, I tell you. I keep telling Hattie we need to move, but she loves her garden too much.”

  “Tell me what?” Hattie asked, coming back into the kitchen. She had changed into a long calico skirt and a blue shirtwaist that wasn’t tucked in. “I am so much more comfortable. I hated the feel of all that fabric tucked in around my belly.”

  “Robert said he was trying to get you to move.”

  “Move? Why would I do that? My patients know where I am, and the medical clinic is right next door. Plus, it is good to be in the center of town. Kijab is more socialized this way.”

  “But wouldn’t it be nice to have your own place?” Tess prodded. “Away from the gossip and prying eyes of those same people.”

  “I hadn’t really thought about it, this is my home. Our home,” she corrected looking over at her husband. Robert took her hand and kissed the back of it.

  “I was just mentioning to Tess that she should take over Doc Hamilton’s apartment. It would allow her and Dawson to start saving for their home instead of paying for a hotel room every night.”

  “I think that is a splendid idea,” Hattie said, taking a pan and placing it on top of the stove. She opened the wood box and fed it a few sticks from the bucket next to the stove. “We should go over there after dinner and see what it needs. We could have you in there within a few days.”

  Tess wiped away the tears that were threatening to fall with the back of her hand. “I don’t know what to say. I’m overwhelmed.”

  Hattie gave her a quick side hug. “Just think, I’ll have my best friend right next door and our children can grow up together. Plus, what a surprise it will be for Dawson when he returns.”

  Tess nodded and finished up the dishes.

  She was very blessed. If only she could find a way to repair the relationship with her Momma.

  Chapter 4

  November 1899

  “I can provide for my own family, I don’t need help from anyone.”

  “Dawson, be reasonable. Hattie and Robert said we could stay here as long as we needed while you get settled in Silverpines.”

  He looked at his wife in the middle of the new apartment they were now living in. Tess and Hattie had done a wonderful job of sprucing the apartment up. There were personalized touches everywhere. A pillow Tess made, a woven throw on the back of the sofa, the carvings Dawson made for her while they were working together in the coffin maker’s workshop.

  He should have been happy, instead he was … annoyed. He wanted to take care of her, not have the two doctors offer their second apartment.

  He had returned from New Hope earlier that morning, heading out to Silverpines as soon as the train came in from Chicago.

  He was surprised to have Ella Grace tell him that Tess had moved out of the hotel the week prior and was now living above the medical clinic.

  He didn’t have time to send a telegraph letting her know when he was to arrive. He figured by the time a message got to her from New Hope that he would already be home.

  Tess sat on the sofa with her hands crossed in her lap. He could tell she had changed in the short time he was gone. Her face was a bit rounder, her hair a bit longer and he could see the slight swell of her belly underneath the jacket she wore.

  He thought she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, and he was so proud that he was married to her. He missed her every single moment they were apart, and he couldn’t wait to come home and hold her once more.

  Home. Silverpines was about to become his permanent home.

  He heard a sniffle and stopped his pacing. He sat next to her on the sofa and lifted her up, so she sat on his lap. Even with his child deep inside her belly, she was still a slip of a thing.

  His arms held her tight and he pressed a kiss to her salty cheek. “I’m sorry, Honeybee. You made a beautiful home for us and the baby and I need to be more grateful. Forgive me?”

  Tess looked up at him, her blue eyes appearing bigger through the tears. “Of course.” She threw her arms around his neck, “I just want us to really start out on the right foot now that we are living as a married couple.”

  “And we will. Everything will work out. Have you had a chance to talk to Charlotte yet?”

  Tess shifted off his lap and back onto the cushion. “Not yet. I’ve tried stopping by, but Milam said Momma wasn’t taking visitors. I wish I knew what she was thinking.”

  “She’s thinking that her ability to plan the future of her only daughter was taken away from her. But she is missing out on the bigger piece here. Not only is she missing her daughter, she is missing her future grandchild as well.”

  “Perhaps I’ll stop by again.” Tess looked at him with a smal
l smile. “What are your plans now that you are home?”

  Dawson leaned back against the cushions. “I ran into Robert on my way over here. He introduced me to a Jeremiah Henderson. It seems Mr. Henderson is about to open the mine and needs someone to oversee the burial of the bodies that will be recovered.”

  “Hattie and I have started sewing bags for just this very effort! It is my understanding they will start digging this week?”

  “As long as the ground isn’t frozen. I told him that I would give him a response by tomorrow.”

  “That is wonderful, isn’t it? You return home and you already have employment!”

  Dawson thought for a moment. He didn’t have the heart to tell her his news right now. If he did, it might take his mind off the task ahead of him.

  Tess knocked on the door of the Daniels’ home. It made her sad that she was being treated like a stranger. The door cracked open and Milam looked out. Her dark face was somber, and she wasn’t smiling as usual.

  “Is my mother here, Milam?”

  “Yes ‘um, but she ain’t taking no visitors. She has company.”

  “Company? Even if she had company she would still see who was at the door.”

  “No ‘um. She told me not to disturb her. She has a man visiting.” Milam looked around to make sure no one heard her.

  “A man?”

  “Yes ma’am. He’s brought some medicine for your momma to try to help with her night walking.”

  “That’s peculiar.” Tess bit her bottom lip. “You’ll tell me if there is something I need to know, won’t you?”

  “Yes ‘um. I’ll be sure to come by and see you.”

  Tess walked down the steps and then turned to tell Milam that she had moved, but the servant had already shut the door.

  Tess wondered what was going on with her Momma. It was something she would follow up with in a few days.

  “Mr. Henderson, I appreciate the opportunity.” Dawson shook the man’s hand. He was meeting with Jeremiah Henderson, the engineer that was opening the mine, and Nathan Ryder who was assisting. Also, present were Jeremiah’s crew chief Ian MacGregor; Marshal Alexzander Sewell, Paul Bunyan, who oversaw the logging operations and Brawny Winters.