Steadfast Heart (14 page)

Her image flooded his mind. It was really quite uncalled for. They didn't know each other at all, and yet Kolbein found himself longing for her as if they'd spent a lifetime together. He ached for her return. How could it be that he could have lost his heart to a woman he didn't even know? Worse yet, how could he put aside his true mission of finding Greta and allow Lenore to consume his time?

Abrianna had been good to tell him of Lenore's interests and even something of her past. Apparently the two had been longtime friends. Lenore, Abrianna had told him, was determined to make a proper lady out of her. He'd laughingly asked Abrianna what she did for Lenore in return.

“I doubt I do much for
her at all, unless it's to encourage her to
seek the Lord. Of course, I also encourage her to
sneak out with me from time to time, which might
suggest that my endeavors where the Lord are concerned are
less than sincere.”

Kolbein smiled and returned to his desk. He gathered his papers together and locked them in his desk. It was nearly five and he had no desire to give legal matters another thought. He had been invited to partake of supper with the Madison Bridal School residents, and that was what he intended to do. At least in being there, he could hear any news of Lenore. There might even be some talk of his sister—after all, Abrianna had friends searching the city for her.

He grabbed his hat and headed for the stairs with the trio of women vying for attention in his mind. He was most determined where each woman was concerned. He would find his sister. There was no other possibility. He would get Abrianna to relate all she knew about Lenore. And he would get Lenore to fall as deeply in love with him as he had done with her.

P
riam Welby looked over the packages of brownish bricks. The opium now processed in morphine-based bricks would bring him a small fortune in cash. The country was hungry for the substance, and he was more than happy to act as its supplier. His attention to discretion and quality brought him a growing number of men who would otherwise not wish to be known for such use. The elite were no different from the poor in their desire to escape the burdens of the world. However, they didn't want anyone else to know that—especially their friends. Welby smiled. Their friends were buying just as much opium as the rest.

“This looks to be a very good quality,” Welby said, handing the package back to one of his men. “Load it in the warehouse with the rest of the stuff.” He dusted his hands and checked his pocket watch. It was nearly seven, and he was supposed to attend a play tonight with men who were soon to be business associates. They didn't realize that, of course, but they would eagerly join him once Priam told them what would happen to them if they didn't accept his proposal.

Turning to leave, Priam instructed his man, Carl Neely, as
to how he wanted the morphine bricks distributed. He had made contacts all through the North and even into Canada. The money he'd made so far had surpassed the import of Chinese pottery and art.

“You need to make certain the shipments go out immediately,” he told the twenty-five-year-old. “Package them in the false-bottom wagons, as usual, lest anyone be tempted to rob us.”

“I'll take care of it, Mr. Welby,” the man assured. “You want me to get the other stuff sorted out?”

Welby nodded. “You might as well. It would be foolish to wait until morning and have to rush the job.”

“That's fine. I have men to help me,” Carl replied.

“Then go to it. I'm supposed to be attending a play tonight.” He gave a yawn. “I don't know how I'll manage to stay awake, but the company I'm keeping is very important.”

“Mr. Welby!” a voice called out from the wharf as Priam made his way to the awaiting carriage. “Mr. Welby, I have another matter to discuss.”

Turning back, Priam waited until the ship's captain caught up with him. Priam had long worked with the man, and Welby knew he could trust him. “What seems to be wrong?”

The man shook his head. “Nothing is wrong. It's about that other matter we discussed several months back.” He stopped and looked at Carl. “Perhaps we should talk in private.”

“My man knows all about my dealings,” Priam replied. “He can be trusted. What matter are you talking about?”

“The one that would involve bringing in . . . young women.”

“Ah yes, the virgins.” He looked to Carl. “You weren't there the day the captain and I discussed this venture. There are a great many clients of mine who would pay outrageous sums for virgins—particularly for Orientals. Some men have a fetish for
such things and will pay any price. Afterwards they sell them to work in the brothels. For me, it poses a simple way to make easy money.”

The captain motioned for one of his men to come forward. The man did so, keeping a tight hold on a cloaked figure at his side. When they reached Welby, the captain gave a quick look around and then yanked off the cloak.

A beautiful Oriental girl stood before them. Priam couldn't see her as well as he would have liked because the lighting was minimal, but he could see enough to offer the captain praise.

“Good job. How difficult will it be to get others?”

“I have a dozen,” the captain told him. “Most of them were sold to me by their own families. Females aren't as valuable as males, and most of the families are too poor to buy food. They aren't all as pretty as this one, but they are young and are virgins.” He gave a lecherous smile and added, “But it wasn't easy to keep 'em that way. My boys were more than a little desirous to make their acquaintance.”

Priam scowled. “I'm sure. A dozen, you say? What will I have to pay for them?”

The captain smiled. “Twenty apiece. That way I'll make some money, too.”

Welby didn't tell the man that he would have paid four times as much. He had buyers who were ready to pay almost any amount he asked. Reaching out to touch the girl, Priam wasn't surprised when she tried to back away.

“Does she speak English?” Priam asked, stroking the girl's soft cheek.

“Not a word. None of 'em do. I don't know if that makes things better or worse, but at least they won't be telling anyone what we're up to.”

“That's very good. I'd hate for my reputation to be compromised,” Welby said. “I have way too many irons in the fire to have to deal with that kind of trouble. Just bringing Chinese into the country creates an uproar. Every city seems to have its own law regarding the matter. I don't need folks questioning my loyalties.”

The captain nodded. “Well, what do you say? I can certainly get some girls on each trip. I put word out among the farm families and poorer folk that I would be willing to buy the girls and take them for a good life in America. I figure they'll be lining up by the time I dock again.” His eagerness was clear. “Can we strike a deal?”

Welby thought for a moment. The man's eagerness was clear, and his ability to purchase the girls and transport them was apparent. “We can, although I'm not sure where to put them. I had hoped to acquire a downtown building by this time, but that hasn't come through. Can they remain in the hold of your ship until morning? By then I should be able to find a small place to house them in secret.”

“Most of the crew is on leave seeing to their needs, so I should be able to keep them safe.” He gave his man a nod. “Cover her up and take her back to the ship.”

The girl's eyes widened in fear as the cloak was repositioned on her shoulders. Welby held up his hand. “I think I'd like to better inspect this one. Carl, take her to my place and stay with her until I return tonight.” His man smiled and stepped forward most eagerly, causing Priam to add, “And don't touch her. Understand?”

Carl nodded and took hold of the girl's arm while the captain's man pulled up the cloak's hood. “I'll keep her safe. How do you want me to get her there?”

“Take my carriage,” Welby said. “I'll find my own way to the theatre and home. Make certain no one sees her. Take her in by the back way.”

Pulling the girl to follow him, Carl seemed taken aback when the girl wrenched away from him and tried to run. The captain's man easily caught up to her, but the girl began yelling at him in such a way that none of them needed to know Chinese to understand the girl's anger.

“Shut her up,” the captain told his man. The big man quickly clamped a hand over her mouth.

“She's a feisty one,” Priam said, shaking his head. “Better make sure you have a better hold on her, Carl. And keep her quiet. You know how. I don't want any marks on her. I already have a customer in mind, and he won't want her banged up.”

This time Carl gave the girl a withering stare. “I know exactly what to do if she gives me any more trouble.”

The girl went silent, but her eyes never left Welby's. If she could have caused his death with a glare, Priam knew he'd be headed to the morgue. But it was of no matter. Right now he was late for his appointment at the theatre. “Captain, I'll see you in the morning and bring your money.”

“Always a pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Welby.”

From some distance, Wade watched the strange confrontation with the small figure and larger man. The smaller one took off running and the larger one quickly followed. The men who stood awaiting the return of the two seemed unconcerned with the situation. With the girl screaming unintelligibly, Wade wasn't at all sure what was going on as one of the men led the girl to an awaiting carriage. He thought to approach the men and see if
they were taking advantage of the girl, but just then a policeman happened by. The officer chatted with the man for a moment and then took his leave. Apparently nothing was amiss, but still Wade didn't feel comfortable about the situation.

He recognized the man who'd talked to the officer as Priam Welby. At least he was pretty sure it was Welby. With only the glow of a few dock lights, it was impossible to tell for sure. It might just be that Welby was on his mind a lot and his mind had conjured up the image, but somehow Wade had a feeling his hunch was correct. The man had a certain bearing and a particular style of hat that he always seemed to wear.

Wade frowned at the scene he'd just witnessed. Even after the carriage drove away, he was tempted to confront Welby about what had just happened. He didn't like the man—not one bit. Wade had learned from Mrs. Madison that the man wanted to court Abrianna. He had to be nearly twice her age, and Wade had suggested the man was much too old for their ward. He didn't think the ladies would force Abrianna into courtship, much less marriage, but he did feel it important to share his opinion. He'd watched over Abrianna since they were children, and worrying about her well-being just came naturally.

Welby had first come to Wade to buy wagons with false bottoms. He had told Wade that it was for the purpose of protecting valuable imports, but that explanation never rang true. Wade had heard far too many stories to the contrary. The man was known to be seen with the socially elite and politically minded, but those on a lower rung spoke of him as a man without a conscience—a man who would do anything to make a dollar. He was definitely not the kind of man Wade wanted for Abrianna.

He saw Welby head up the street toward the better parts of
town.
What are you up to, and why must
you involve the people I care about?
he wondered.

Wade squinted against the dark as the man disappeared into the night. The other men had gone, as well, and the police officer was nowhere in sight. Making his way home, Wade thought perhaps he should share what he'd seen with the ladies. Maybe Mrs. Madison would be less inclined to trust the man if she knew he was up to no good. Had he been up to no good? Perhaps the young woman was a runaway and Welby was only trying to see her returned to her parents. There was room for legitimate explanations, and Wade didn't want to falsely judge the man.

“I don't really know what he's doing,” Wade reminded himself. “And appearances can be very deceiving.” It might be that the girl had stolen from the men or had done something even worse. Perhaps Welby was seeing this person delivered to the authorities, though he doubted it. If that were the case, the officer would have taken her into custody.

Unlocking the door to his shop, Wade thought about all the trouble of late. The city's crimes were on the rise, and people were quite ruthless with one another. He had taken to locking his shop and even now felt for the revolver he'd begun to carry for his nighttime work. It gave him a bit of assurance that he could handle whatever came his way. An assailant would toy with him only once.

He was about to close the door behind him when someone called out his name. Wade jumped a foot in the air and then had to laugh at himself. No attacker was going to call him by name. He opened the door to find Thane grinning and holding up a sack. “I come bearing gifts.”

“Oh really? Smells more like food—maybe Mr. Appleton's meat loaf.”

Thane chuckled. “Meat loaf can be a gift. Appleton was just closing his restaurant as I happened by. He made me a good deal if I'd take it off his hands. I thought maybe we could eat and play some chess. Are you up for that?”

“I am. Come on. I've got some fresh bread from the Madison School and a pie. I'll gift you with that and you gift me with meat loaf.”

“And pickles,” Thane added. “I have also brought pickles.”

Wade laughed. “By the way, what do you know about Priam Welby?” Since Thane worked around the docks as well as volunteered as a fireman, Wade figured he might know quite a bit. Talk ran rampant among the working men of the city. Sometimes they were worse than women with their gossip.