Forbidden

  She realized she hadn’t seen Zeke, and as if she’d conjured him up, he appeared at her side.

  “Brought you some punch.”

  “Thank you,” she said, taking the cup from his hand.

  “Quite a crowd you have here, Eddy.”

  “It is impressive, isn’t it?”

  “Almost as impressive as the lady who put this together.”

  “You are such a charmer, Zeke Reynolds.”

  He sipped and grinned.

  “So are you finally going to tell me what your mystery item is?” she asked.

  “When it’s time to bid, I’ll announce it.”

  She really wanted him to reveal the contents beforehand so people could be prepared, but he seemed set on keeping it a secret so there was nothing she could do but swallow her slight pique and wait.

  Barber Edgar Carter, sporting his freshly trimmed muttonchops and shiny bald head, would be the auctioneer. When Eddy and Mary determined it was time to get under way, he stepped to the table set up at the front of the room.

  It was a fun evening. Bids flew fast and furious for the offered items: Jim Dade’s angel food cake went to Mrs. Rossetti, Janet Foster’s hairdressing service went to Lady Ruby, whose eggs were won by Jim Dade. Sylvia had put up a full course meal for bid. It hadn’t come up yet but Eddy was anxious to see who’d win it. She glanced over at Rhine and found his eyes waiting. He gave her a nearly imperceptible salute with his punch cup and she smoothly looked away. In light of their conversation on Monday, she hoped he wouldn’t make a bid on the dinner, but knew there was no guarantee.

  Zeke’s secret turned out to be a window, of all things. He explained, “The folks up in Reno who ordered it changed their minds.” Windows were expensive, especially the size of the one he had up for bid. He promised to install it for whoever got the winning bid. Edgar opened the bidding, and after a few rounds of back and forth between Whitman Brown and Janet, Whitman won.

  “Going to use it for the new church once we get it built,” he announced, and the applause filled the room.

  “Next up,” Edgar said. “A bottle of champagne donated by the Union Saloon.”

  A buzz went up and Eddy stilled. Rhine hadn’t said anything to her about what his contribution would be. She turned and gave him a quizzical look. He simply smiled and inclined his head.

  Edgar said, “Now who wants to give the first bid?”

  Eddy was astounded to hear Rhine’s voice ring out.

  Beside her, Zeke asked critically, “What’s he up to now?”

  Eddy had no idea.

  Because Rhine had more money than anyone in the room, he of course proposed a bid no one could match, let alone best.

  “Sold to Mr. Fontaine,” Edgar declared.

  While everyone watched with confusion and curiosity, Rhine walked to Edgar, took the bottle and then handed it back to him. “My gift to you and Aretha for your anniversary.”

  Edgar’s eyes widened. Aretha’s hand flew to her mouth, and with tears in her eyes she rushed to Rhine and gave him a hug and a peck on his cheek. Edgar shook his hand excitedly and the crowd applauded wildly.

  It was one of the sweetest gestures Eddy had ever seen. “How thoughtful,” she said.

  “Yes it was,” Zeke replied grudgingly.

  She heard the edge in his voice but paid it no mind.

  By the end of the hour most of the items were gone. Sylvia won Mr. Rossetti’s wringer, and Eddy knew housekeeper Maria Valdez would be pleased when laundry day came around.

  The last item on the docket was Sylvia’s full course dinner. To Eddy’s relief, Rhine didn’t bid, but Amos Granger did, along with Whitman Brown and Zeke, but it was Doc Randolph who won the day with a bid so high it rivaled Rhine’s offer for the champagne.

  Doc walked to the table and told the crowd, “I’m giving this money to Sister Mary and the children under one condition.”

  Everyone waited.

  “Sylvia has to be my dinner partner.”

  Eddy’s jaw dropped.

  Sylvia looked stunned. Her support of the orphanage was well known, and Eddy hoped she wouldn’t cost Mary the large sum of money by turning him down. She didn’t. In a voice as chilly as her eyes, she replied, “You have a date.”

  Doc nodded approvingly and slapped the gold coins down on the table.

  The evening began breaking up and people were saying their good-­byes.

  Zeke said, “Sorry I didn’t get the bid for your dinner.”

  “So am I.”

  “Maybe we can have dinner together sometime soon. Not many places in town that’ll serve us but we’ll figure out something.”

  “That would be nice.” Eddy looked away for a moment to wave at Vera, who was heading to the door.

  He brought her attention back by asking, “Do we still have a date for the music concert on Friday?”

  “Yes and I’m looking forward to it.”

  “Good. I’ll see you then.”

  “Thanks again for contributing the window.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  He departed, and Eddy wondered if he was really the man for her, and if so why didn’t she feel the same challenging excitement that she felt with Rhine. Having no ready answer, she set the troubling question aside. For the next little while she made a point of speaking with everyone who remained, and they congratulated her on the successful auction. All the goodwill further solidified her feeling like a member of the community.

  She’d just said good-­bye to the Rossettis when Edgar Carter stopped her to ask, “How’d I do, Miss Eddy?”

  “You were a grand auctioneer, Mr. Carter. Just grand. Thank you.”

  “I had a good time, and what do you think about that Rhine Fontaine? When he gave me this champagne, you could’ve knocked me over with a feather.” He showed her the bottle in his hand.

  “It was a generous gesture.”

  “You think so?” Rhine asked from behind her.

  Smiling knowingly at his timing, she turned and looked up into his handsome face. “It was extremely generous.”

  “I’m glad you approved.”

  Ignorant of the undercurrents between them, Edgar said, “Thanks again, Rhine. I want you to give the first toast. You are invited, you know.”

  “I do and I’d be honored.”

  “Good, then. Let me go and find my wife so we can start for home. I had a wonderful time, Miss Eddy.”

  He left them then, and as they stood together, she felt the familiar pull of Rhine’s call.

  “So, am I endearing again?” Rhine asked.

  “I’ve always known you to be kind, Rhine.” She hoped those moving about the room thought they were simply having an innocent conversation about the event and nothing more.

  “I think I prefer endearing.”

  “You know we aren’t supposed to be doing this anymore,” she said. No matter how many times she put her foot down, the dance between them continued.

  “I do. Can’t seem to help myself. And what’s your excuse?”

  She laughed. “We’re back to incorrigible.”

  “I’ll answer to that.”

  The twins came over. “Excuse us. Mr. Rhine?” Christian said.

  “What can I do for you gentlemen?”

  “Can you come upstairs and listen to our prayers before we go to sleep.”

  Micah chimed in, “Miss Mary said it was okay.”

  Eddy stilled. His ties to the boys went deeper than she knew.

  “I’d love to.”

  Quietly moved by Rhine’s commitment to them, she said to him softly, “Endearing, again.”

  He shot her a wink and he and the twins departed.

  She spent another few minutes making sure the winners left with their goods in tow. Once the last person departed,
a tired but happy Eddy walked into the kitchen to help with the cleanup and found Willa Grace washing dishes and Sylvia drying. Eddy grabbed a towel and Sylvia promptly plucked it from her hand. “You’ve done your share. Find a place to sit until I’m done here.”

  “But—­”

  “You were up most of the night baking cookies, you prepared breakfast for the boarders, and spent the rest of the time setting things up here. Go and catch your breath. We’ll head home as soon as Willa Grace and I finish up.”

  Eddy realized this was a battle she was destined to lose. “Okay. I’ll be on the back porch.”

  When she stepped out into the darkness, the moon was up and there stood Rhine, gazing out into the night with his back to her. He was so still and seemed so deep in thought she felt like an intruder. “I didn’t mean to disturb you. I’ll go back inside.”

  “You aren’t disturbing me,” he countered in a voice as quiet as the night’s breeze. “How are things going inside?”

  “They’re cleaning up. Sylvie wouldn’t let me help. Says I’ve done enough for the day.” She wondered why he was out there alone. “Are the twins in bed?”

  “Yes, prayers said, and Mary and Willa Grace have survived to fight another day.”

  That made her smile. “Do you listen to their prayers often?”

  “No. Tonight was the first time. I was honored to be asked.”

  “You care about them very much, don’t you?”

  “I do.”

  Silence crept between them. “Are you okay, Rhine?”

  He looked back at her over his broad shoulder, and the moonlight showed his sadness before he turned away again. “Let’s just say I’ll survive, too.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  He didn’t respond at first, and as the silence lengthened she thought he wouldn’t. He finally said, “Mary may have found a home for the boys—­a couple from Sacramento.”

  “That’s wonderful.”

  “Yes, it is.”

  Yet there was something in his tone that seemed to match the sadness she’d glimpsed. She was confused by that at first until the pieces of the puzzle slowly fell into place. “You wanted to adopt them, didn’t you?”

  She saw him nod. “Yes. Mary even made some preliminary inquiries on my behalf, but I’m unmarried and the state preferred they be placed with someone of their own race.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be. It’s for the best.”

  The urge to wrap her arms around him and place her head against his tense back and offer solace rose with such strength she had to fight it to remain where she stood. “Have the boys been told?”

  “Not yet. She’ll speak with them about it in the morning.”

  Eddy didn’t know what else to say, but wanted to offer whatever she could to help him sort things through. “I’ve a shoulder to lend if you need one.”

  Sylvie called from inside, “Eddy, I’m ready.”

  Eddy felt torn.

  He turned and met her eyes in the moonlit darkness. “Go on home, little queen. I’ll be fine.”

  She nodded reluctantly and went inside.

  On the drive back to the saloon Rhine wasn’t fine by any definition of the word, but there was nothing he could do about it. Mary’s news had left him reeling even though he knew the day would come, but he hadn’t had enough games of marbles with the boys or flying kites or answering their endless questions, and selfishly he wanted more time. The young childless couple were members of the Sacramento church that had adopted the orphanage, and from what Mary learned from the wires she and the pastor had passed back and forth, they were fine upstanding people. They’d take the train down this weekend to visit, and if things went well, she would set the adoption process in motion. Even though he was glad they’d have a second chance, that chance wouldn’t be with him, and because it wouldn’t, sorrow rode him. Logically, he understood the state wanting them placed with people of their own race but his heart didn’t believe that should be the only measuring stick. What about caring and commitment? Admittedly, he knew next to nothing about child-­raising, but he and the twins could have learned along the way. Maybe sometime in the future similar situations would be measured differently, but today in 1870, he’d be losing his boys.

  His thoughts moved to Eddy. When she stepped out onto the porch, he’d wanted to ease her into his arms and hold her close in the hope it might salve his broken heart. During slavery, he’d been expected to absorb the daily slights and ill treatment as if he were made of wood, and he supposed he’d carried the mask he’d learned to hide his emotions behind to this day. But knowing the boys would be leaving his life forever made the mask slip, and he had no one to help him dull the pain—­no mother, wife, or lover. During his conversation with her on Monday morning, she’d spoken about being left behind with a broken heart when he moved on to someone more suitable. Now that Christian and Micah were leaving him behind, he truly understood her words. As he’d noted before, the decision to cross the color line had allowed him to reap many benefits, but it had cost him, too, and this time that decision would haunt him for the rest of his life.

  Chapter Fifteen

  On Friday evening Eddy got dressed and went downstairs to await Zeke’s arrival. This would be her first time stepping out with a man, and she was both excited and nervous. She was wearing the lace-­edged blouse Vera had made for her and was glad the seamstress had overridden her protests about not wanting something nice.

  Zeke arrived a short time later dressed in a worn but clean brown suit. He looked very handsome and the flowers he handed her touched her heart. “Thank you.” Having little to no experience with flowers, Eddy had no idea what kind they were, but they were lemon-­colored, fragrant, and beautiful. “Let me find a vase.”

  After finding one in the kitchen and putting the flowers inside, she rejoined him.

  “Ready?” he asked.

  “Yes.”

  He offered his arm. “I don’t have a buggy or wagon, so we’ll have to walk.”

  She took his arm. “I don’t mind.” Truthfully, she didn’t. A majority of the city’s residents walked to their destinations. Only the wealthy were able to afford buggies and carriages.

  As they set out, Eddy felt a bit self-­conscious, especially when they passed people they both knew and were given smiles and nods. Being together this way was a public declaration linking her with the handsome carpenter. “So tell me about the concert?”

  “The musicians are an all Colored band. Mostly horns and a drummer. They perform at the Union a few times a year.”

  “Will it be inside?”

  “Yes.”

  She hadn’t seen Rhine since the night he’d found out about the twins’ possible adoption. She’d felt his grief and since then had been wondering how he was doing.

  “Eddy?”

  She startled. “I’m sorry. I was wool gathering. What did you say?”

  “I asked if you liked music.”

  “I do, and you?”

  “I do.”

  Embarrassed to have been thinking about Rhine when her attention should’ve been on Zeke, she was determined not to do it again.

  But it was difficult at first. The moment she entered the crowded gaslit interior, her mind once again went back to being upstairs in the soft silence of his bedroom and how kind and caring he’d been. And then, seeing his ivory-­skinned face and jet black hair behind the bar made her remember all she’d learned and felt about him since then.

  “How about we sit over there?” Zeke asked.

  “That’s fine.” Determined once again to keep her attention where it belonged, she let Zeke lead her to the table and help her with her seat.

  He asked, “What would you like to drink?”

  “Lemonade would be fine.”

  “Be right back.”

&nbsp
; Instead of the tables being spread randomly throughout, as they’d been at the Lincoln Club meeting, they were now lined up in rows like in a school. At the front of the room was a long, flat, slightly raised platform she assumed would be the stage for the musicians. Unfortunately though, she was close enough to the bar for it to be in her peripheral vision and she only needed a slight turn of her head to see it. And when she did, she was instantly snared by a pair of intense green eyes that threatened to tow her under, so she looked away.

  Zeke returned with her glass of lemonade. “Thank you.”

  He sat. The place was filling up. People now familiar to Eddy nodded or came over to offer a personal greeting.

  “So,” Zeke said. “How did you meet Rhine Fontaine?”

  The abrupt question caught her off guard and she wondered where this was going. “I was robbed while crossing the desert. I was near death when he and Mr. Dade found me and took me to Sylvie. They saved my life.”

  “I see.”

  “And you asked me that why?”

  “Was just curious as to how long you’ve known him.”

  Eddy didn’t reply.

  “I’m sorry if I’m prying. A man just likes to know where he stands.”

  Any other questions he may have had were silenced by the musicians taking the stage. The three horn players, a piano player, and a drummer spent a few minutes tuning up. People who’d been chatting took their seats, as did people at the bar. She hazarded a glance in that direction. When Rhine’s gaze brushed hers and held, she again wondered how he was. She finally turned back, only to find Zeke staring her squarely in the face. She startled. He gave Rhine a long steady look before settling his gaze on her again. Radiating displeasure, he turned away and Eddy sighed silently.