From Highlands to Homecoming by Margaret P.

(With thanks to my betas, Terri Derr and Anna Orr)

Chapter 26: Discovery (Words: 2,806)

"Gold! But why do you look so unhappy, mi amor? Isn't gold a good thing?" Maria could not understand Murdoch's attitude. Paul had saved the news about the discovery of gold in the American River until Murdoch had enjoyed a good night's sleep.

"I thought I'd let you settle in a bit first." Paul tightened the girth on his horse as Murdoch watched José and a crew of men ride out to the east mesa. Three other crews had already received their orders and ridden away. Paul would join the men clearing the creek on the south side once he had finished reporting to Murdoch.

"How many men have we lost?"

"Three drifters and Alberto and Ramón Hernandez so far. Young blood. Alberto and Ramón tried panning around here for a week or two, but didn't find anything so they headed north."

"Well, I'm pleased they didn't find any gold on Lancer land. I'm surprised Diego and Cip didn't go too."

"Diego is head of the household since his father's death. He will not leave his mother and sisters. Cip probably would have gone for a while if the news had come a week or two earlier, but he won't be going anywhere now—not until next year at any rate. Been strutting around like a rooster ever since Maria told him. Baby's due November, I think."

"Really? Well, I know how he feels. I'm going to be a father again in early December."

"You sure have been busy, Boss." Paul clapped Murdoch on the shoulder and grinned. "Congratulations. Well, I'm glad you and a few men who know how to handle cattle will be sticking around, because I've had a deuce of a job finding wranglers for the drive. I've persuaded some men to see out the season with us and try their luck in the fall. Might even join them for a while. Had to up the wages though. Sorry about that."

Murdoch thanked Paul for all his hard work and returned to the hacienda for breakfast. There was a lot to think about.

"It could be worse. At least we do have enough for the cattle drive, and hopefully there will be more demand for beef if we get an influx of miners." Murdoch mopped up his egg yolk with a fresh biscuit as Maria poured him more coffee.

"When will this cattle drive be?"

"Probably leave the end of next week." Murdoch took a last gulp of coffee and stood up to go.

"Next week! We've only just arrived and you are planning to abandon me already. I don't want you to go, Murdoch."

"I'm sorry, lass, but I've got to. You'll be fine. Estella and the others will look after you." Murdoch grabbed his hat and headed out the door.

The first few days back were incredibly busy, catching up on everything that had happened on the ranch and further afield in California. Most of his neighbours seemed happy about becoming part of the United States. Don Domingo Allende Rivera was not, but Don Frederigo Caldera Palmero was sanguine.

"Now we shall see if the American government does more for California than Mexico, my friend. Though, a gold rush may do more to change our fortunes than any politician."

"You do not think gold is a bad thing, Don Frederigo?" Maria smile at her host as he topped up her wine glass.

"No, my dear. It will cause us some problems certainly, and I'm glad gold has not been found on the Estancia Caldera, but gold will bring people and California needs more people to make it great. I look forward to being part of the transformation."

On the long drive home Murdoch asked how Maria had enjoyed dining with one of the first families of the area. He was surprised by her response.

"Don Frederigo is an agreeable man, but I do not like Doña Mercedes. She is the worst kind of Peninsulares—all airs and graces, looking down on me when I am now her equal."

"She and Catherine always got on. She was …"

"Well, of course if she got on with Catherine, she can do no wrong!"

"That's not what I meant. If you make a little effort to..."

Maria exploded. "Why should I be the one to make an effort?"

Murdoch tried to make peace, but nothing he said after that was right. They went to bed angry. Maria turned her back on him. When he cuddled up to her, she wriggled away. With a sigh, he rolled over and settled down to sleep, hoping for a change of mood in the morning. Sure enough, the first rays of sunlight found Maria full of affection once again, and he arrived late to a meeting with his foremen.

The cattle drive began the following day. Murdoch left with José Ramos, five wranglers, two gunhawks and old Miguel driving the chuck wagon. Men were in short supply. Cipriano's grandfather normally spent his days doing odd jobs and snoozing in the sun not feeding hungry vaqueros. In addition, two of the wranglers, Pablo Hernandez and Javier Ramos, were no more than boys.

"Beggars can't be chooses, José, but your lad is doing well. Both the young'uns are." Murdoch and his foreman watched as Javier drove a stray steer back to the herd, and then Murdoch rode ahead.

San Francisco in the summer of 1848 was not the San Francisco Murdoch visited late the previous year. Already the discovery of gold was making an difference. Murdoch estimated the population may have doubled, and while that would still put it at little more than one thousand, it was a noticeable increase. Once, the trading post had stood out on the hillside, a lone building overlooking the bay. Now it was surrounded by tents and hastily built cottages. There was more construction in progress. A pier was being built and a livery. Where one, perhaps two ships would have been at anchor at the height of the season, now there were four, as well as one smaller vessel pulled up on the mudflats clearly acting as some kind of dwelling. A clipper weighed anchor and sailed towards open seas as Murdoch made his way to the trading post.

"The Aphrodite was delayed eight days trying to find crew to replace those that jumped ship." New England Enterprises' agent Josiah Brown handed Murdoch a beer, and stood wiping his brow with a chequered handkerchief before taking his seat. "The Providence is suffering the same problem. You'd have missed us otherwise. I'll take two hundred head. That should fill the hull and keep the crew busy until another couple of seamen can be found. Moses Stein will likely take the rest. He's just come in with the Hanover."

"This is nothing." Richardson, the trading post owner, stuck his thumbs in his waistcoat and rocked happily on his heels gazing out over the bay as Murdoch went down the porch steps. "Once the vessels that have sailed in the past few months reach their destinations, the whole world will know there is gold in California. The ships and men will come in their droves. I'll do a roaring trade."

Daniel Johnson felt the same way. He came to the campsite in the evening when he heard the Lancer men were in town. He had travelled to San Francisco on business two days before, leaving Sarah to look after the shop. A substantial order for pick axes, shovels and other mining equipment was now on its way to Boston.

"Walker next door is keeping an eye on Sarah for me." Daniel accepted a mug of coffee and took a seat next to Murdoch by the fire. The day had been hot, but the sun had gone down and a cool breeze blew in off the bay. "Opportunities like this don't come along too often so I had to get my order dispatched. With luck my stock and my customers will arrive at the same time. I hear congratulations are in order."

"Likewise." Murdoch added some more wood to the fire and leaned back against his saddle. "When is Sarah due?"

"August, and the heat's getting to her already. You and that beautiful young wife best come to dinner before she gets too crotchety to entertain." Daniel helped himself to some stew. "The rumour mill says you're to become a father again in December?"

"News travels fast."

"The matriarchs of Green River have had you in their sights ever since Catherine died, Murdoch. You must know that. They've just been waiting for the two years of mourning to be up. They're none too happy with you now. Marrying before their daughters and sisters could lay their claims. I'm surprised at you man. Have you no sense of decency?" Daniel laughed at his own joke. Then he looked up at the night sky and spoke in a much quieter voice. "I should warn you, they've done the math."

"How does Sarah feel about it?"

"Sarah. My God, I won the prize when she answered my advertisement. Sarah loved Catherine, you know that, and I did wonder how she'd react, but she's happy for you."

"And …?"

"And she has already given Jemima Smith a lecture on Christian charity and casting stones. I wasn't supposed to hear their conversation so don't say anything, but my Sarah will give your new bride a fair shake, Murdoch. We'll expect you both for Sunday lunch."

Daniel accompanied Murdoch back to the San Joaquin. Half the men remained in San Francisco to cut the wolf loose after Murdoch paid them their wages. Time would tell whether any of them would return to the ranch or if they would equip themselves with the few tools Richardson and the new merchant, Samuel Brannan, still had for sale at extortionate prices and head for the goldfields to try their luck.

When Murdoch arrived home Maria threw her arms around his neck and kissed him soundly to whoops of approval from his men. She curtsied low to her audience and then led Murdoch by the hand into the house. She had been busy in his absence. The great room had taken on a much more Mexican feel.

"You've changed things." Murdoch looked about, slightly stunned.

"Si, do you like it? I've discarded those fussy doilies and replaced the curtains with ones more in keeping with the hacienda's Mexican style."

"Very nice." He spoke with more enthusiasm than he felt. His eyes travelled to the bookcase. "Where are the photographs and there was a wee bag with coal in it?"

"Estella explained about the coal. I've put that in your desk drawer. Do you like these candlesticks, mi amor. I discovered them in Morro Coyo. Aren't they beautiful?"

"The photographs—where are the photographs?" Murdoch could not disguise a mounting panic.

Maria's voice turned cold. "The photograph of your son is on your desk. I do not know where the rest are. Ask Estella. I told her to put them out of sight. I am Señora Lancer now."

"No one denies that, Maria, but you should have talked to me first." Although he was relieved that the photographs of Catherine were safe, Murdoch was confused and irritated. Tired from a long journey home, he had not expected anything like this. True he had not really thought about the photographs or what it would be like for Maria left alone at Lancer so soon after their arrival. He felt guilty about that, but he also felt annoyed. She had not thought about how her actions would affect him. She should have waited.

"You were not here to talk to, mi marido. When I discovered I was sharing my house with a ghost, I wanted her gone as soon as possible." Maria stood defiantly in front of him, but then she smiled and put out her hand to take his. Murdoch made a growling sound in his throat and a futile attempt to turn away. Maria caressed his face and kissed him. Her melting brown eyes drew him in. "Come, mi amor, let us not fight as soon as you come home. I am sorry, I did not wait, but your photographs are safe and you do understand my feelings. I am your wife now. It is not right to have your first wife on display. Come, Murdoch, let me prove to you that your thoughts should be on the living."

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Sunday lunch with the Johnson's was a success. Murdoch was relieved. In all honesty, he had not been sure how Maria and Sarah would get on. Sarah and Daniel Johnson welcomed Maria with genuine goodwill however, and she seemed to recognise that. Sarah's Spanish was still shaky, but Maria spoke English well. They obviously found no difficulty talking to each other; the living room was full of laughter when Murdoch and Daniel returned from smoking their cigars outside.

"I was telling Sarah how silly you looked in a sombrero." Maria snuggled into Murdoch as he drove their buggy home. "She has offered to help me with my wardrobe to appease the upright ladies of Green River. I shall visit her on Thursday and she will introduce me to a few of them."

"Hmm, that's nice." Murdoch was amazed that Maria had accepted any advice about the way she dressed. Sarah certainly was a diplomat beyond compare. Even so, he wished he felt more confident about the pleasantness of the pending introductions. He knew he should have made more effort himself to escort Maria around Green River. He had made a start with Morro Coyo, but he feared Daniel's assessment of the Green River ladies was all too close to the truth. He was relieved that Sarah had volunteered her services.

"From Sarah's description, I will not like many of them, but then as she says, at least I do not have to see them every day. I pity her tied to that shop, having to be polite to witches. I remember it was like that when I worked in the taberna, only it was mostly hombres groseros I had to deal with."

"I don't recall you being overly polite to them." Murdoch gave Maria a sly look. "I do hope you are more restrained with the good ladies of Green River."

"I will try, Murdoch. For your sake, I will try. I have warned Sarah to get me away quickly if my eyes start to flash."

Murdoch chuckled. He was pleased Maria could laugh at herself. He reined the buggy to a halt outside the hacienda and helped her down. "Aye bonnie lass, you can be fiery. But at least you know it, and you know how important it is to be on good terms with our neighbours. I'll trust you not to cause too much uproar then."

"Oh, I might need a little encouragement to be good." She placed her hands on his chest and peeped up at him. Her eyes reflected the light from the lantern over the portico.

Murdoch smiled. The siren he had fallen in love with was in residence.

Turning, Maria led him through the entrance hall to their bedroom. She discarded her travel wear and removed Murdoch's hat and jacket, placing them on the hooks by the door. Her hips swayed in the candlelight as she walked across the room and back again. Murdoch swallowed.

He watched her undo the hooks on her dress and ease the cloth over her shoulders. The garment slipped to the floor. He undid the laces to her corset. As the whale bone fell away, he swallowed again.

Maria stretched like a cat. She rested one hand lightly on her breast and the other on her midriff. Murdoch could see a small bulge through the fine cotton shift. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he breathed in her scent.

"It could take a lot of patience to withstand the ladies of Green River." Maria's words were soft but clear as she undid his tie. "Even with Sarah's help I'm not sure I will have the strength to stay calm." With butterfly kisses to his chest, she released his shirt buttons one by one.

Maria locked her eyes to his and released her hair from its comb. Long, black tresses cascaded down her back. Without dropping her gaze, she unbuckled his belt and trouser buttons. Then reaching up with one hand, her fingers stroked the nape of his neck while her other hand remained occupied below. Murdoch's body hardened and Maria smiled.

"Perhaps you should remind me what I would miss out on if I failed to control my temper— if I lost your affection." She moistened her lips and Murdoch shuddered under her touch. On tiptoes, Maria teased his ear with her tongue. "Show me now, mi amor."

Notes:

1. Gold was discovered in the American River at Sutter's Mill, New Helvetia, California on 24 January, 1848. In March San Francisco newspaper publisher and merchant Samuel Brannan announced the discovery publicly. The news reached New York by August and was officially acknowledged by President James Polk in Congress on 5 December.

2. 'hombres groseros' means 'boorish men'.