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Cole replied, “We didn’t, but we did find someone willing to sell us his newspaper, along with his presses and the shop he runs it out of.”
Surprise filled her face and voice. “Oh my goodness. That’s wonderful.”
“He’s elderly and wants to step away from the business. The price he quoted is a bit more than what Lenny and I can scrape together right now, but he’s willing to wait for the rest.”
Lenny added, “The fact that Cole and I have actually published a newspaper was in our favor. He’s had a few people interested in his operation, but none had ever put out a paper before.”
Cole continued, “He said the paper has subscribers all over California, and if that proves true, we should be able to turn a profit soon and to pay off what we still owe him.”
Val paused. “California?”
“I know that isn’t what we initially planned but we can’t pass up this opportunity.”
Val looked between them. Their excitement was evident, and she was pleased that they’d found such an excellent prospect. But California? “I was hoping to convince you to start a paper here in New Orleans.”
They stilled, and Cole scanned her features. “You like it here, I take it?”
“I do. Very much. The situation for people here is so dire, I’d like to stay and help. I know we agreed to marry, but I’m not sure about California, Cole.”
“Does Drake LeVeq figure into this, Val?”
Lenny said, “He looked like he wanted to toss us both into the nearest gutter.”
Ducking the question, she replied, “He’s descended from pirates. I’m hoping he can be cured.”
Cole chuckled.
She then told them how she and Drake met. At the end of the tale both men were angry.
“And none of the men were brought up on charges?”
“Not as far as I know.”
Cole said, “I’m glad he came to your rescue. But why would you want to stay here after that?”
Lenny expressed equal concern. “Even the Paris papers were filled with stories of the racial violence here, Val. This isn’t a safe place.”
“The country is full of racial violence. No matter where you go you can’t escape it. Remember the Draft Riots at home?”
Their faces said they did.
She cared for Cole, and she cared for Lenny because of their affection for each other. But was she willing to pack up and move across the country now that she’d lived here on her own? Being in New Orleans with its long history of ambitious women of color like Julianna had shown her that she didn’t need the societal stamp of a husband to achieve her goals. Having worked beside Sable, she knew how much work needed to be done and she wanted to do her part in hopes of making a difference. But could Cole and Lenny succeed without her being Cole’s wife?
“How long are you planning on staying in New Orleans?”
“We’d hoped to scoop you up and be on a train heading west in the morning,” Cole replied. “The two of us and the paper’s owner sailed home on the same ship. We told him we’d meet him in San Francisco. Travel could take a month or more.”
“Oh.”
“We have time to wait if you need a few days to think about things. And maybe we’ll learn what you see in this hot humid place.”
“The weather is truly horrid. I’m told it’ll be markedly worse as we get deeper into the summer months.” She eyed them for a few thoughtful moments. “Let me think about what I want to do, and I’ll let you know. I also promised Julianna I wouldn’t leave while she was away, so if I do decide to go west, it won’t be until after she and her husband return.”
“Fair enough,” Cole said. “If you decide not to join us, I’ll be sad about not having you bossing me around, but I’ll understand. Lenny and I will muddle through. Men like us have been doing so since the beginning of time.”
Cole had shared his attraction to men with her when they were adolescents, and she’d guarded his confession like a dragon did its horde. He and Lenny met during the war. Val didn’t claim to understand the hows and whys of their bond, but she cared for Cole enough that posing as his wife so the two men could be together while she sidestepped her father’s choice of a husband had been an easy decision. Now, everything was up in the air, and, yes, Drake entered into the equation as well.
Archer stepped into the room. “Excuse me for interrupting. I’m returning to the Quarter. Would either of you like to go with me? If not, Drake’s offered to drive you when you’re ready.”
