Elizabeth did not immediately recognize her own terror. She was driven to protect and comfort Levi from the horror around them. She again held him close in genuine relief at his safety and she wept with him. “I’m so glad you’re alive, Levi. I worried so much about you. You’re safe now, dear. You’re safe.” She kissed Levi on the top of his head.
Levi felt safe, completely safe, probably for the first time in his life. For the moment he had forgotten the trauma of Paulo’s death and was absorbed with a strange mixture of relief, satisfaction and an immature, not completely understood, sense of justice. Thorn, who had been so cruel to him, who had intended horrendous things for him, who had caused him to live in fear for months, was dead. Levi thought he should feel the horror of his mother’s and Paulo’s deaths but he could not. It seemed to him that the ‘Indian’ was right. People like Thorn needed dyin’.
But just or not, it was death and he had seen too much of it. He began to sob and he trembled violently, so violently that he almost caused Elizabeth to fall. The men from the office had come out. James was able to steady Elizabeth, and Morris Bruner, another of the company attorneys, picked up Levi, cuddled him in his arms and with words and caresses attempted to calm the boy.
Elizabeth, when she no longer had Levi to comfort, seemed to realize what had almost happened. She was terrified but she would not allow herself to become hysterical. She did, however, embrace James tightly and say over and over, “Thank God! Thank God!”
When they moved inside out of the rain, Miss Fetherington, one of the secretaries, brought a bottle of brandy. Elizabeth took a small glass and within minutes she was much relaxed. The experience would haunt her dreams for some time to come but she would never let it consume her.
After some discussion it was decided to give Levi a very small amount of brandy. The boy still trembled in Morris’s arms, and when James moved near him with the brandy, Levi gave indication that he wanted James to hold him. For several weeks, James had been his imaginary father. He had craved the hugs he had seen given to Jamie and Lucinda. When he was in James’s arms, the trembling slowed and he began to control his sobbing. He did take a sip of the brandy but he did not like the taste and would not take more. It was the security of James’s arms and Elizabeth’s comforting words that finally allowed the boy to get hold of himself. He looked at James, still with large tears in his eyes and said, “Paulo’s dead. The boat crushed him.”
He sobbed again. Now not from horror, but from grief. Levi didn’t know how long he wept, but through his grief at the loss of his friend, he was aware that everyone in that office cared deeply about him and wept with him, or spoke comfort and caressed him. He did not stop grieving for Paulo but he became consumed by the love that was surrounding him. He was soon composed enough to tell them about Paulo.
The atmosphere of sadness and mourning in Giuseppe Russo’s home was interrupted by a touch of wonder and excitement. Paulo’s body had been found and was laid out in a plain wooden box in the parlor. Only the boy’s head was exposed for view. The crushed chest would have added too much to the grief.
The house was full of those whose lives Paulo had touched. He had, in a sense, become the son of the entire Italian community and most of that community would have come and gone before the two o’clock funeral mass at Saint Bonaventure Church. Some simply mourned the tragic death of one so young, so full of life and adventure. Some were plagued with guilt that they had not taken him in after his parents died. The Russo family and Giuseppe’s crew members were simply in a state of shock.
Everyone in San Francisco knew the Berlin-style carriage of Mr. James Forrest. There were many fine carriages in San Francisco but Mr. Forrest had his imported directly from Germany, much to Luke’s displeasure. Luke despised the ostentatious. James had told his father that if he wanted to show off, he would have bought the Coronation carriage from England. He bought the Berlin Carriage because it was comfortable and large enough to accommodate his family. Regardless of James’s motive, the carriage had the effect of the ostentatious. Everyone in San Francisco recognized it and now those in the Russo home wondered what it was doing in front of their house and why the great man and a small boy were now walking from it to their door.
His own father would not have recognized Levi. After the boy had regained his composure and told the details of the reason for his grief, both James and Elizabeth knew that Levi would have to go to the Russo home, painful as that might be for the boy, if he were to find any solace at all in this situation. It was obvious to them that Levi loved Paulo and he must say a proper goodbye to the boy, both at the wake and the funeral.
From the office, Levi had been taken to James’s home. James’s younger children, when told Levi’s story, were welcoming and solicitous. Even Jack, the family German Shepherd, with wildly wagging tail, gave Levi a friendly nuzzle, which amazed Jamie. His dog usually barked and snarled at strangers. Levi patted the dog fondly on the head.
Now, bathed, hair cut neatly, and finely dressed in Jamie’s knickerbockers suit, with knee stockings, high button shoes and even a necktie, he clung tightly to James’s hand as they approached the Russo door. James knew without being told that the boy saw in him a surrogate father and he willingly accepted the role. Even the usually self-centered Jamie had offered his favorite dress-up suit and shoes when it was observed that the boys were almost exactly the same size.
Levi, as he had so often in San Francisco, was wrestling with new feelings. When his mother was killed he felt horror but no grief. Horror he could handle by just being tougher and angrier, but grief hurt and it made him feel tender and empty and alone. He knew that without the love and comfort of the teacher and his imaginary family, he could not face this. He clung more tightly to James’s hand and moved closer to him as James knocked on the door.
Giuseppe greeted them with proper respect for such an important community leader and his son, but that was not his son. Only when he was able to look closely did Giuseppe recognize Levi. In the demonstrative manner of the Italians, Giuseppe held out his arms to Levi and the boy fell into them. Together they wept, and together, hand in hand, they walked to where Paulo lay. Levi also grasped James’s hand. He needed his ‘father’ at his side at a time like this.
Levi had known of children who had died, but he had not loved one before. Even in death there was a touch of mischief in Paulo’s face and in spite of Levi’s muffled sobs (it seemed to Levi inappropriate to sob loudly in this place) he felt a smile inside him.
Again, Levi wrestled with mixed-up feelings. He felt sadness and deep, deep grief, but he also felt a joy that he had known the boy and a sense of amusement at what he remembered the boy to have been. Levi had not wanted to come here but he knew now why the teacher and James had insisted he come. He had come for Paulo but now he understood that he had also come for himself. Now he could remember all of Paulo, not just his horrifying death.
It would be at least two weeks before Elizabeth could return to Carson City. She asked Levi if he wanted to return before that time. She could easily arrange for one of the company’s employees to escort the boy home.
Levi’s answer surprised Elizabeth. He told her that he didn’t think he ever wanted to go back to Carson City. He said that he knew that he couldn’t live with James’s family but he had been getting along just fine on the street and now that Thorn was gone, he would really have no problems. He told her that he had a good job and, maybe, James would let him come and visit once in a while.
Levi, on the verge of tears, fell into a silence of melancholy. He had not wanted to say what he had said but he still felt that he could not love his family as he did now if he were to live with them. He stood quietly for only a moment and then pulled himself out of his despondency and said with feigned cheerfulness, “I got to go to work.”
Elizabeth was not going to allow this child, now that he was found, to place himself in the danger that was always present for an unprotected child on the San Francisco streets. “Levi, you know the streets better than I do, so you know that even with Thorn dead, there is still danger out there. We have worried so long about you. I really want you to stay here, Dear, please.”
“But, Teacher, Mr. Manning is dependin’ on me. He said I could have just one day off and I already took two. I got to have that job or I ain’t gonna…”
Levi stopped and looked sheepishly at Elizabeth. “I got some bad talkin’ habits on the street, Teacher.”
“That’s all right, Dear. I’ll go with you to Mr. Manning and explain. You need to take a few days off anyway. You’ve been through a lot and you and Jamie seem to get along fine. I wish you’d just be a boy for a while. I’m sure Mr. Manning will understand.”
Levi thought a moment and teared up just a little. He had been through a lot and thinking of it had little to do with Thorn but much to do with Paulo. Elizabeth and James’s wife, Dorothy, had made special effort to keep the boy occupied, and even Jamie seemed to realize that Levi should not have too much time to think. Despite Jamie’s mildly spoiled demeanor, he was the only boy in the family; he could be a loving and caring child, and he was funny. After they had been put to bed, Jamie had Levi giggling in a very short time. Dorothy had to make several trips into their room before they finally quieted down. After they woke in the morning, they lay in bed, again giggling and eventually wrestling and roughhousing to the point that Fran, the upstairs maid, complained loudly to Dorothy about the mess in the boys’ room and the fact that they had completely stripped the bed. Dorothy cajoled the angry girl into understanding that Levi had to be indulged for the time being.
Elizabeth, since he had first come to her, had wondered at the change in the Levi. Was this calm, mannerly, sensible boy just the product of his recent trauma? She had expected and warned James and Dorothy of the volatile, foul-mouthed, filthy child she had known Levi to be. She had always seen intelligence in him, and knowing of Pick’s change of lifestyle, thought that this ‘new’ child could possibly be real.
With James at the office, Levi came several times during the morning to Elizabeth for some reassuring affection. During one of those embraces she had said, “I can’t tell you how relieved I am to know you’re alive and safe. But sometimes I’m not sure I have the right boy. You’ve changed, Levi.”
“You learn a lot on the streets, Teacher. I’m not how I acted in Carson City. I never really was. I just didn’t know any other way to act. Bein’ mad almost got me killed a whole lot of times. On the street if you’re gonna stay alive, you can’t be mad. You got to think and you don’t think well when you’re mad. And you know what? It feels better not bein’ mad all the time.” Levi beamed up at Elizabeth. He knew he had said that well. He had not used any of his ‘bad talkin’ habits’.
Yes, he was a new boy, and Elizabeth was sure that, with time, Levi would explain his reticence to go back to Carson City.
The Mr. Manning problem was also solved. The cook had quietly told James that she was sure that Levi was the boy who delivered groceries for Manning’s General Store. James had verified that by stopping by that morning and talking to Manning. Mr. Manning had heard of Paulo’s death and had really not expected Levi that morning but he was worried about the boy. Where was he? He needed some comfort and love, which Mr. Manning wanted to give. He was much relieved when James told him Levi’s story and that the boy was safe at the Forrest home.
Mr. Manning had concluded that Levi would not be back but he did want to see him again so he delivered the Forrest order himself that morning. He also brought with him a gift for Levi, the boy’s much loved military-style jacket and cap. “I’m glad you found your folks, boy. You did a real good job for me and I want you to have these to remember me by after you’ve gone home.”
“I ain’t goin’ home.” Levi put his hand to his mouth and again looked sheepishly at Elizabeth.
Manning gave Elizabeth a puzzled look. She gave her head a slight shake, letting Mr. Manning know not to pursue the subject. Manning stood silent for a moment then said, “Well, you keep the jacket and cap. I want you to take some time off. Mr. Forrest says that you and his boy get on just fine. I want you to just play for a while. If you decide to come back, there’ll be a job for you.
“But a smart boy like you ought to think about getting more schooling. I don’t think there’s much you can’t do but you’ll need schooling to keep your chances open.”
Levi teared up again. He was very fond of Mr. Manning, but he had not realized how much respect the man had for him. It was people like Mr. Manning and James that made him not want to go home. Levi knew if he talked, he’d cry so he just ran to Mr. Manning and hugged him tightly.
It was a ritual for Jamie and Lucinda to line up at the door as soon as they heard James’s carriage arrive home in the evening. They waited there for their daddy’s hugs. As soon as Levi saw what was happening, he ran and got in line himself. He got an extra long hug, and then, slightly teary, went to Elizabeth and said, “My pa don’t do that.”
“Levi, your daddy’s done a lot of changing just as you have.”
Levi took on a look of almost defiant exasperation. “He always did that. He’d beat us then get a little drunk and go to cryin’ and tellin’ us how sorry he was but ’fore long, he was beatin’ on us again. I ain’t gonna live like that no more, Teacher.”
Elizabeth knew now the reason Levi did not want to go home. She also saw that he would not believe her if she told him what Pick now was. She simply said, “You’ve changed, Levi Dear. You think about it. If you can change, can’t your daddy?”
James was followed into the house by Jose, the carriage man. He was carrying several packages. “These are for you, Levi,” James said almost matter-of-factly. Levi opened packages of overalls, shirts, stockings, shoes, a fancy suit just like the one Jamie let him wear to Giuseppe’s, and some of those funny little pants and shirts that Jamie wore under his other clothes.
To everyone’s surprise Levi ran out of the house calling Jamie to follow him. He ran to the thicket and crawled inside. Jamie followed in some confusion. What was Levi up to? Levi began to dig with his hands in the dirt. Soon he had uncovered a cloth sack. As Levi shook the dirt off it, Jamie heard the clank of coins. Again, without a word, Levi ran into the house and gave the sack to James. “I’m not sure there’s enough to pay for all of these clothes but I’ll pay the rest of it when I go back to work.”
James hugged the boy again. “These are a gift, Levi. Where did you get that money?”
“I been savin’ it ’case I changed my mind and decided to go back to Carson City.” Then in an awed whisper, “You’re givin’ me all these?”
“Levi, I’ve worried about you just like Elizabeth has. You handled your troubles very well. I’m proud of you and I would like to give you a gift. Will you take it?”
Levi was so moved he could hardly speak. In the same awed whisper he said, “Yes. Thank you!”
Jamie could not hold his curiosity any longer. “What was that money doing in those bushes?”
Now Levi was embarrassed and a little frightened. “That’s where I been sleepin’. You mad at me?”
Elizabeth almost shouted. “I saw you! I saw you one morning running from the bushes.” She embraced the boy again. “Oh, honey, to think you were that close and we didn’t know it.”
Jamie recalled Jack’s peculiar behavior some time ago and when Levi was first brought to the house and asked, “Did Jack ever bark at you?”
“Yes. You come and looked in the thicket. I thought I was a goner. I still can’t think why you didn’t see me. Me and Jack got to be good friends. He even come and slept with me some nights.”
Levi had nine dollars and sixty-one cents. Even Jamie was impressed. He’d never been able to control his free spending and put together that much money at one time. Levi was surprised that he had enough money to impress a rich kid. It kind of worried him. He asked James to take care of it for him.
When he was in bed that evening, after Jamie and he had been warned for the fourth time and were finally quiet, it occurred to Levi where he really was. Jamie was a rich kid and the Forrests were a rich family and he was sleeping in that rich family’s house. He was being treated like one of them. James was very kind to him. He treated Levi almost the same as he treated Jamie. He had talked sternly to them, mostly to Jamie because when Jamie gets to actin’ silly, it’s hard to stop him, but he had also just kissed them both goodnight.
Levi had been so consumed by the horror that he thought only of his need for the comfort and security the family had given. Now it occurred to him to wonder why. Levi could understand Elizabeth’s worry about him. She knew him; she had been his teacher. But why would James worry about him? Why would James buy him clothes and say he was proud of him? These people really liked him. They even knew who he was. He was a Fillion. They knew that, but they liked him and treated him just like he was one of them. Levi had always thought that he was different from rich people, not as good, but these people obviously didn’t think that. Levi went to sleep trying to figure that out.
When Matt returned to San Francisco, Josh and Luke were with him. All the brothers had agreed to the draft proposal except Dodd. Josh was not angry with Dodd but he was frustrated. He still could not understand Dodd’s insistence that young boys not be employed by the mine. Dodd wanted no child under sixteen years old in the mine. Josh insisted that they were not hurting children and that many families could not survive without the money brought in by the children. He repeated his argument that children worked on farms and in the mills of the east.
Matt was more directly involved with the operation of the California mines than James and he, too, was confused by Dodd’s position. “I know children ought to be in school but they won’t be even if we don’t hire them. Most folks don’t see that much need for schooling. Dodd’s too idealistic. He can’t change the world by himself. I know he loves Pete. We all do, but Dodd ought to know that we would never treat a child the way Pete was treated.”
“Boys, the Forrests have been very fortunate. We’re rich. We don’t need to make profits from the sweat and health of little children. I agree with Dodd, except I’d be willing to hire any boy that’s finished the eighth grade.”
The three boys listened to their father in openmouthed amazement.
“But, Dad, they’ll just go to the competition and with so many boys out of work, it will drive down the wage. We won’t be helping them. We’ll be hurting them.” Josh’s tone was both pleading and exasperated.
“We’re paying the boys fifty cents a day. We’re paying the men a dollar a day. We’ll offer that extra fifty cents to any father who keeps his children in school through the eighth grade.”
“That’s not fair to the men who have no sons. They’ll be doing the same work for less money.”
“They’ll be making the same money they would have made. I’m not trying to be fair. I’m trying to help folks understand the importance of schooling, and just maybe protecting the health of some little children. Dodd says he sees too many young ’uns sickly from being in the damp or dusty mines. I’m with Dodd on this one, boys, and I reckon I still own the mines. That’s the way it’s going to be.”
In a strange sort of way, Josh was relieved. He’d had a nagging sense of guilt since his first discussion with Dodd on the subject. Elizabeth tried not to show it but she was elated. She agreed with Dodd and she knew the decision would please him. Dodd was so concerned about the problem of child labor that he had started writing to state and national congressmen, planting the seed of thought that he hoped would one day grow into laws preventing what he considered to be the exploitation of children. Dodd had no problem with children doing reasonable work, such as helping around the farm, or age- and strength-appropriate work in markets and stores—anything that would not put the child in danger. He was strongly opposed to dangerous and unhealthy work or any jobs that would deprive them of at least an eighth grade education.
“Boys, this silver is not going to last forever. It might be next year or it might be fifty years from now, but it’s going to run out. Our folks can’t always depend on there being mine work for them. If their children have schooling, they will have a better chance. I’m not doing this only because it’s what Dodd wants. I’m doing it because I strongly believe that it’s the right thing to do.”
The boys stood silent, acclimating themselves to this new way of doing business. Matt finally broke the silence. “You know, this can have some business advantages. If we do as Dad says, no question, we’ll get the best men. We’ll get better production and probably will see no drop in profits.”
Luke laughed. “What kind of tycoons have I created here? Every one of you is worth close to a million already. It’s time for us to stop worrying about profits and start thinking about how to help Nevada and California grow. You mark my word. Now it’s a strong back that makes a man valuable. In not too many years it’s going to be a strong mind that sells. Before you boys are dead, you’ll need those strong minds to keep the business successful. Each of you already has more money than you and your children can spend, and because we have invested in other enterprises, you’ll have good incomes even after the silver runs out. But don’t forget, we became rich because of the hard work of our help. We paid them a fair wage, but it’s only right that we do what we can to see to their future and their children’s futures, just as we’ve seen to ours.”
As he always had, by the time Luke was finished talking, he had convinced them all, even Josh, that this was not only the right moral thing to do, but that it was also a good business decision. The final draft was prepared in just a few days. Elizabeth asked to be allowed to take Dodd’s copy to him. She was delighted with the document and wanted to share Dodd’s elation when he first read it.
Josh had been told about Levi Fillion as soon as he had arrived in San Francisco. He had also been advised of Levi’s reticence to go home. Although Luke and Josh were staying at Matt’s home, Josh had gone to see Levi as soon as he was told. He took the boy in his arms and shed tears of joy and relief as he told the boy of that joy and relief in a voice filled with emotion. On Elizabeth’s advice, he said nothing of Pick.
Levi, although he still pondered the kindness and acceptance of James’s family, had come to see them as just regular people who were very kind to him. He had no way of knowing the esteem and respect in which James was held in San Francisco. Josh was a different matter. Everybody in Carson City knew he was the richest, most respected man in the area. And this man who owned the mine and the bank—a man Levi would never have tried to talk to in Carson City because a Fillion didn’t talk to fancy folks—was hugging and shedding tears of joy at having learned that Levi was safe. Levi, of course, knew nothing of the plot on Dodd’s life, and did not know that the Forrests held themselves responsible for his disappearance. Had he known that, however, it would have made no difference. Levi didn’t sense relief or expiation of guilt. He sensed genuine affection. They liked him and they respected him, and a fragment of thought began to make its way into the boy’s consciousness. Maybe he could go home and use the respect the Forrests had for him to show his father what clean, anger-free living could do for a person. Maybe as the teacher had said, Pick could change. Maybe he didn’t have to be far away from his family to love them. Maybe, but Levi was still doubtful. The clean house and his clean body, the fresh-smelling feather bed he shared with Jamie, the good food, still made what he remembered from Carson City repulsive to him. He wasn’t even sure anymore that he could not stay in the Forrest home forever. He knew they would not let him live on the street anymore and he had become so much a part of them. They had never said he could stay but they had never said he couldn’t, either.
One thing that made Levi think he might be able to stay was the way Dorothy treated him. She treated him just like she did Jamie and Lucinda. She gave him chores to do and if he acted up she corrected him, but she was also very generous with the hugs and kisses. Levi had the feeling that she more than liked him. He was sure she loved him, and he was right. Dorothy knew that she would have to let the boy go but she had become very fond of Levi. He wasn’t a perfect child but he had had a very positive effect on Jamie.
Jamie had almost completely stopped his sassing. The first time he sassed his mother since Levi had arrived, Levi said with some anger, and even threat in his voice, “Don’t you talk to her that way. You don’t know what you got. I had a mama who pretty much stayed drunk and cussed and beat me all the time. If I had a mama like you got, I’d know I had somethin’ and be good to her.”
All of the Forrests had discussed the Levi situation. They knew the boy would be happy at his own home but they wanted him to go back with an open mind. If he were forced to go, even with Pick being a changed man, Levi might never give the man a chance to prove his change. They had not told Pick and that bothered Josh. Josh knew the deep pain Pick felt and he wanted to relieve that. But Josh, like Dodd, loved the exhilaration of a happy surprise. He wanted to be there when Pick first knew his boy was alive and safe and was back with his family.
Levi was scared. James and Josh called him into James’s den and said they wanted to talk to him. Levi was sure he was going to be told that he had stayed long enough and would have to leave. He knew the teacher was going back to Carson City the next day, and he supposed that Josh was too. He thought they’d let him stay as long as the teacher was there but now he’d have to go.
The streets had lost their allure for Levi, but he was still afraid to go back to Carson City. He just didn’t want to live like that anymore. Living with a family that really liked him had taken the adventure out of the streets and made him yearn for family life. He knew the teacher would take him back with her but…
Josh sat down and motioned Levi to him. The boy walked hesitantly toward the dreaded news. He stopped several feet from Josh, his head down.
“Come on over here, Levi. Sit on my lap.”
At least he would get one last caress. “You gonna make me leave, ain’t you?”
James answered. “Is that what you think? Levi, I thought you’d know that we’d never put you on the street again.”
“But I ain’t nobody. I ain’t no Forrest.”
“You’re not a Forrest but you are somebody. Everyone in this family would love to have you stay, but you have a family, Levi. I know you are afraid to go back, but Josh has a deal for you.”
Josh hugged Levi. “A lot of folks were very worried about you. A lot of prayers were said for you and you need to go back to Carson City just so folks can see for themselves that you are all right.”
“But…”
“Just a minute, Levi. I’d not finished. I want you to give your family a chance for a week. If you’re not happy there, James and Dorothy will be glad to have you come and live with them. Will you do that?”
Levi started to cry. He desperately wanted to see his family but he did not want to lose the love he felt for them. He did not want to live in filth and he did not want to be made to feel angry all the time again. “I can’t live like that no more. When I ain’t by him, I can love my pa but I know how he is. If I’m by him, I won’t love him and I’ll be mad all the time. I ain’t that way and I don’t like actin’ that way. I’ll go back on the street.”
James was quick to answer. “You’re not going on the street. Levi, what can you lose? One week. You owe that to yourself. What if you find you can be with your daddy and love him like you do when you’re away from him? If you don’t try, you’ll wonder about it all your life.”
“But they stink.”
Josh knew that he could not convince the boy otherwise. “I’ll tell you what, Levi. If you can’t live in your pa’s house, you can stay at my house, but I really think you ought to at least try. Don’t cheat yourself, Levi. Try, and if you don’t like what you find, I’ll bring you back to San Francisco myself.”
“I can come back?”
“If you’ve really tried to give your family a chance and you want to come back, yes. We’ll be glad to have you.”
Levi walked to James, hugged him and cried. “I love you.”
James, also shedding tears, hugged back. He knew from what Josh had told him of Pick’s new life that the boy would not come back. He would miss Levi and he was not being untrue when he said, “I love you, too.”
Dorothy tried very hard to hold back her tears but could not. When she began to cry, all of the children, including the older girls were sobbing at various levels of volume. Jamie sobbed the loudest and his embrace set Levi to crying. Josh, Elizabeth and Levi were halfway across the bay before the boy was in complete control of himself again.
The train ride was exciting. His first thought was how excited Jamie would be when he told him but then he remembered there would be no Jamie to tell. Levi also realized that being on the Forrest private car would have been nothing new to Jamie. Even so, when he thought about not having Jamie, he felt sad and empty. The fact that the car was one of the fanciest things he’d ever seen did not particularly impress him. He had kind of gotten used to fancy things but he didn’t think he’d ever get used to not having Jamie. Levi had never had friends and now he’d lost both Paulo and Jamie.
He moved closer to Elizabeth and she put her arm around him. He laid his head on her shoulder but only for a moment. He loved her caress but there were things to see. They were headed into the mountains. The last time he had been in the mountains had been a time of fear and cruelty, but he had never forgotten the beauty and that feeling of wanting to be part of them. He peered out the window with awe and exclaimed with glee as he pointed out some peak or waterfall to a very attentive Josh and Elizabeth. When it became dark, Levi was put to bed. He felt lonely. This was the bed that Jamie slept in when riding the train and it was the first time in weeks that he had not slept with Jamie. He cried a little but he hid it so Uncle Josh and Aunt Elizabeth would not see.
They reached Virginia City about nine o’clock in the morning. There was a man from the mine with Uncle Josh’s fancy rig waiting for them at the train station. It was about fourteen miles to Carson City and they were there before noon.
The town hadn’t changed much. Levi saw a man he never saw before wearing the sheriff’s badge and he had an immediate impulse to run and hide. He didn’t, of course, and he had to smile to himself. He had been on the street too long. It would probably take him a while to get used to not having to hide from the police. Anyway, Levi was sure he didn’t have to worry about this sheriff. He’d be back in San Francisco in a week.
It did not seem unusual to Levi that Josh would want to stop at his office. It was still the middle of the morning. The boy did wonder, however, why they didn’t take Elizabeth home. Josh had only been gone for a few days but Elizabeth had been gone for almost two months. Seemed to Levi that she’d want to see her family, or at least go to see Doc Forrest.
Levi had been at the mine entrance many times but he had never been in the office building. It was real pretty. It didn’t look like a place where you’d work. It looked like a place where fancy folks lived. He had thought there could be nothing prettier than James’s house but now he wasn’t sure. This office was awful pretty.
It looked like they had planned to go to the office first. Doc Forrest was there waiting for them and Elizabeth ran to his arms. Their greeting was affectionate but their attention seemed to be on Levi. They looked at him and at a door he was standing near. Levi got the feeling that he was supposed to look at that door. When he did he wasn’t sure he could believe his eyes. On the frosted glass were painted the words, ’Levi S. (Pick) Fillion, Administrative Assistant’.
Josh nudged Levi toward the door. “Go ahead, boy. Knock.”
Levi looked confused. He hesitated and looked again at Josh. “Go on.”
Levi knocked.
“Yes? Come in.”
Levi recognized the voice and for just a moment wanted to run but he slowly opened the door. He knew the man sitting at the desk but he didn’t know Levi. He was dressed in a suit like Josh and Doc Forrest wore. He was clean and his beard was trimmed neatly and there was no anger in his voice or booze in his eyes. Those eyes stared intently at the boy and slowly widened in recognition. The shout was the same but the content entirely different. “THANK GOD! Oh, THANK GOD!” and then Levi was squeezed tightly in his father’s arms, his face soaked in his father’s tears and covered with his father’s kisses.
Copyright © 2003 Gordon L. Klopfenstein