Wagon Train Sisters by Shirley Kennedy

Author:Shirley Kennedy
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2016-07-18T21:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

“Almost there.” Hiram flicked the reins over the oxen and glanced at Sarah, sitting beside him. “Hangtown, dead ahead.”

She could hardly sit still. “Just think, Hiram, we might soon be seeing Florrie.”

“Let’s hope this journey hasn’t been for nothing.”

It hadn’t been easy. Pa hadn’t yet sold the oxen and wagon, so they were able to travel in relative comfort. Still, they’d left Mokelumne City nearly a week ago. The road leading into the Sierra Nevada Mountains became rougher as they traveled through huge groves of pines and evergreens, past streams full of icy water that had recently been snow. As they approached the main street of town, she grew ever more anxious. “What if she’s really here? What will we say?”

A flash of humor crossed Hiram’s face. “We might want to ask what she was doing in Hangtown serving beer.”

“Be serious.” She gave her brother a friendly nudge. “If what Mr. Cartwright said is true, then she must have been kidnapped or forced in some way.”

“We’ll know soon enough, won’t we?”

Night was falling as they came to the main street of town. “Look how big it is, at least twice the size of Gold Creek,” Sarah remarked. Hiram drove the wagon slowly past stores of all descriptions lining both sides. A blacksmith’s shop, stable, butcher shop, two general stores, three banks, and countless hotels and saloons. As in Gold Creek, the street teemed with activity. Horses, buggies, and wagons jammed both lanes. Miners on foot crowded the wooden sidewalks. Men were everywhere, but like Gold Creek, women were scarce. As they drove, Sarah impatiently examined the sign on each saloon. El Dorado. Mansion House. The Oriental. And then—she clutched Hiram’s arm. “There on the left—The Gold Star Hotel & Saloon.”

“I see it.” Hiram tried to act his usual unruffled self, but the rasp of excitement in his voice gave him away. He pulled the wagon to a stop in an empty space not far from the wide-open double doors of the Gold Star. “You’re sure you want to do this right now? Maybe we should find a place to camp first, and then—”

“Now!” Sarah scrambled from the wagon and hastened across the muddy street, Hiram close behind. A piano tinkled as she walked through the doorway. She stopped to adjust her eyes to the dim, early evening light. The saloon was already more than half-full. Men sat at round, wooden tables playing poker, drinking their whiskey or beer. Across the room, a long, dark mahogany bar stretched from one wall to nearly the other. Two bartenders worked behind it. Could Florrie be working here today? Her gaze swept the room. Waiters were carrying huge trays of pitchers of beer to the tables. All men. Not a waitress among them.

They walked to the bar. “What’ll ya have?” asked the older of the bartenders, a heavyset man with a drooping mustache and a white apron covering his big belly.

“We don’t want a drink. We’re looking for someone.” Hiram pulled the tattered sketch of Florrie from his pocket and handed it to the bartender.

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