Far From Home by Valerie Wood Read Free Book Online Page A

anybody has gone to buy land in California. So that’s what I shall do.’
    ‘But won’t it be too late, sir? The gold rush was last year, in ’49.’
    ‘I’m not thinking of digging for gold,’ Newmarch said drily. ‘I’ll set up as a supplier. The diggers will need supplies. You know, food, shovels, picks.’
    ‘Won’t they be there already? The suppliers will have followed behind the miners.’
    ‘That’s what I’ve decided to do, Allen!’ Newmarch said stubbornly, brooking no discourse, though he conceded privately that perhaps his valet might be right. ‘I want to take a look. Besides, New York is just another city, bigger and grander probably then what we have at home, but nevertheless it is still a city. I want to see America in the raw, to find out what it has to offer.’
    Allen was disappointed. He’d wanted to visit New York and had planned to leave Newmarch’s employ. He was convinced that there would be opportunities there, men of business who would employ him until he was ready to set up for himself.
    ‘So where shall we head for, sir? If we got off in New York we could go overland to California.’
    He saw Newmarch’s cynical sneer. He had noticed that his employer had regained his confidence during the latter part of the voyage. He was no longer sunk in despair as he had been when they had embarked, and he had joined with other passengers as they’d set up card games.
    ‘Don’t be ridiculous, Allen! I’m not cut out for roughing it. I don’t want to join some damn waggon train. No thank you! I want to have a little comfort, even though it’s tedious on board ship. No, we’ll change vessesls and go on to New Orleans, stay there awhile and then on to California.’
    I could tell him I’m leaving, Allen contemplated as he waited in line in the galley for the ship’s cook to serve up the soup. Edward Newmarch had brought his own salted meat though he needn’t have done, as the price of the ticket included meat, soup, bread and vegetables.
    I don’t have my wages yet, he reasoned. And I might not get them in full if I leave. It would be just like Newmarch to take the ticket money out of what he owes me.
    ‘We’ll buy extra provisions when we arrive in New York.’ Newmarch took the soup bowl from him and dipped in a piece of dry bread to soften it. ‘We shall have plenty of time before we get the next ship.’
    ‘Very good, sir.’ Allen served the meat and potatoes onto a plate. If he gives me money to buy food I could disappear until the ship has sailed. But then he’s tight-fisted, he won’t give me much. He won’t know the cost of things anyway. His type never do.
    When they arrived in New York Edward Newmarch obtained passages on a boat sailing for New Orleans the next day, then booked in at an hotel near the waterfront. ‘Righto,’ he said to Allen. ‘Let’s buy what we need for the voyage. I’ll come with you.’
    He hired a hansom, which bowled along Broadway towards the nearest shopping plaza, and whilst Newmarch waited in the cab, Allen went to buy provisions.
    ‘You just off a ship, mister?’ A butcher wrapped a ham shank and a leg of mutton in a muslin cloth. Allen nodded. It would be obvious, he supposed. His trousers and coat were crumpled from lying on his bunk for there was no space for hanging clothes, and although he had washed his shirts along with those of his employer’s, there were no facilities for pressing or ironing on board.
    ‘Staying in New York?’
    ‘No. Going on to New Orleans.’
    The butcher laughed. ‘Then make sure you eat the meat before you get there, mister, or else them danged flies will have it.’ He had a round flat face and he grinned again. ‘Then the mosquitoes will eat you. If the crocs don’t get you first!’ He looked towards Newmarch waiting in the hansom outside. ‘That your boss?’
    Again Allen nodded and murmured that he was.
    ‘Quite a swell, ain’t he? He’ll do well in New Orleans with all them Creole