Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

This book originated in a box three years ago, when my friend Chicha (the linguist I worked with to compile this book) and I were cleaning out an attic that hadn’t been touched since the late 1800s. In one of the boxes at the back, we found a treasure trove: two old diaries belonging to her great-grandfather’s sister Arada, a miner in the 1849 California Gold Rush and a Californio, and five belonging to another female miner, Overse, a Swedish immigrant. Arada rarely used her diary to record the day’s events, but Overse had faithfully recorded the events of almost every day and the medical needs of the camp. It seemed they’d both lived in a camp known as Preservation, which attracted primarily miners of color and immigrants, and that they had most likely had a romantic relationship with each other.

In two days, we’d read all seven of the diaries and started cross-referencing them against events of the period and other records. That allowed us to find documents from other miners in their unusual camp, most notably a cache of letters sent from laundress (and former slave) Ayda Mensah to her parents and a logbook belonging to a miner called Rin [1] (last name unknown; comments suggest Rin escaped from slavery circa 1851, coming to California in an attempt to get as far away as possible from the South).

The following book presents selected excerpts from their logs, diaries, and letters, intended to present a view of their daily lives as well as odd incidents. Most of the excerpts are from 1854, two years after the height of gold mining in California, though two are from earlier years and one is an excerpt from a travel book published in 1856. They are arranged chronologically, and when multiple sources cover the same time period, the date of the first entry takes precedence. Where necessary, translations have been provided. Many entries contain editor’s notes preceding the text, clarifying or expanding the text, denoted with [square brackets]. If text has been modified, [square brackets] are used to denote the modification. In-line editor’s notes are present in footnotes following each document.

{Out of universe author’s note: any out of universe notes are presented with curly braces like these.}

[1] Rin appears to have used it/its pronouns in reference to itself, and to have asked others to use the same pronouns in reference to it. As an enslaved person, it was undoubtably subject to being dehumanized, but in contrast with Ayda Mensah, who appears to have responded to efforts to dehumanize her by demonstrating her personhood at every possible opportunity, Rin seems to embrace the idea of not being human.

In one of Mensah’s letters from 1852, when Rin joined their camp, she recounts a conversation in which she refers to it using gendered pronouns and it corrects her because “it does not Feel it is a Human, though it agrees it may be a Person and it has a Human Shape”. This seems to have sparked an interesting discussion between the two of them about humanity, agency, personhood, and the way their experiences differed. However, this letter has not been included, as it was roughly twelve pages long and marked with a request to have the letter burned (which was clearly ignored) for reasons of privacy.

This book refers to Rin using it/its pronouns, in accordance with its clear preference and stated request. It is not to be taken as a commentary on American slavery as a whole, or as an attempt to dehumanize slaves in the modern record. It is simply respecting Rin’s chosen pronouns, just as we respect Mensah by using she/her pronouns in accordance with her wishes.

Chapter Text

The other miner stared at me, hefting a pickaxe in one hand. “Do you… need help?”

I shook my head. I didn’t trust most other gold miners. They tended to steal your claim as soon as you left the area long enough for them to have a reason. “I’m not leaving this claim. I’m fine. Go back to your own spot.”

“I’m not here to steal your claim, I’m here to help.” She extended a hand I didn’t take. “I’m not a miner. I own the laundry. The pickaxe is because Gurathin said he saw something shaking the bushes when he was panning in that stream” — she pointed to the stream next to me, a few minutes' walk from my camp and only a moment from the bush I was currently lying in — “this morning and I thought I’d better take precautions.”

“I don’t need help.” I didn’t need her sympathy.

“You’re bleeding out. And you look like you’re going to need some attention for that leg of yours soon. My friend [1] has some medical training, would you like her to help instead?”

“Isn’t that an unusual profession for a woman, being a doctor?”

“She’s not a doctor. I don’t know the whole story, but I believe she left medical school following the discovery that she was not, in fact, a man. Now, do you want me to get her or not?”

“Fine. I guess.” I didn’t need help, but I could use a bandage or five.

[1] Overse Ayaansdottir.

Chapter Text

“Look, I’m not going to tell you again. It was my part of the claim,” Pin-Lee said, and I could swear I heard her glaring at whoever she was talking to. So I rushed over.

Pin-Lee had a pickaxe in her hand and a railroad spike in the other, and looked annoyed, but thankfully it was just at Ratthi.

She often looked annoyed, and I understood why. There weren’t that many options for her here, and anyone trying to make there be even fewer options usually made her annoyed. (Everyone in the Preservation camp was like that. I don’t think any of us could actually vote, for instance, but I knew at least four of my campmates had tried.)

I came over and took the pickaxe and spike from Pin-Lee’s hand and put Ratthi’s water jug where he couldn’t do anything with it. “Calm down, you two.”

“He started it.”

“She started it.”

“Any more arguments and I’m getting Mensah and you get to listen to her yell at you about how individual claims don’t matter in the long run and how we have to work together.”

Pin-Lee sighed and looked at the ground. “I know. I’m sorry, Ratthi. You can go panning there if you want.”

“Rin’s right, it’s not that important. I’m sorry I pushed you into the water.”

“You were justified.” She stared anywhere but at us, and I didn’t press. “I got upset because… I got upset for no real reason.”

I had collected the mail from town this morning, and I had seen a letter addressed to her in the bag for our camp. The name was written in Chinese (which was how I knew it was hers), which meant it was from her family. I didn’t care about her feelings, but it did make keeping the peace around here harder when people were upset about something else. So I said, “Is this about your family?”

She leveled me with a look sharper than the pickaxe I’d confiscated. “I said, I got upset for no real reason.”

Okay, she wasn’t going to talk. Ratthi hugged her with one arm and waved me away with the other. I nodded. I didn’t really want to be around while he talked to her about whatever was going on with her family.

Chapter Text

June 19

Only time for a brief entry today. I am without time and in a rush, for the steamers have come in early. Arada does not know I arranged with Aunty Anna and Uncle Carl for new Ribbons for her. I must be the one to meet the steamers so she does not see the package.

June 20

Not much happened today. Arada is happily adding the new ribbons to her only good dress. Mensah bought caked Lye from the General Store and is making an awful stink about laundering the tents (in all senses of the word Stink).

June 21

Ratthi and I found one nugget of gold today in eight hours' work. Bharadwaj suspects less than an ounce. Mensah stepped on a Rock and needed bandages. She ought to get better boots when we next have the money.

June 22

Silver Lode mining camp will host a dance next week. When the date is announced Arada and I will find some excuse to go without the others.

June 23

Dance is Friday following and will be 5¢ each Admission or a dish for the Party following.

June 24

Gurathin and I walked to town this morning for Saturday services at the synagogue for him and the Mail for me. Very disappointed today. A letter for Volescu and naught else.

June 26

Missed writing yesterday because Ratthi had a fever. He seems more recovered but will need a few days of rest before I let him in the Mines again. Oh, God! How I wish I might have finished medical school and become a proper Doctor. I would then know what to give him better.

June 27

Pin-Lee returned from town this morning with news that the dance at Silver Lode is canceled because the new Pastor John caught word of it. Made Gurathin, Arada, and her very glad they aren’t Protestant. The others sighed and spoke of hosting our own dance, though I suspect we will wait till a Public Dance in town comes around again.

June 28

Boring day in the mines. Arada had a bad dream and began her monthlies.

June 29

Arada complained of headache and remained at camp today.

June 30

Rin is insufferable when it comes to staying abed. A twisted ankle and it still wants to go to the mines tomorrow.

July 1

My own monthly affliction began today. Gurathin returned from services late but brought good warm bread.

July 2

Rested for the sake of my abused Abdomen which hurt greatly. Arada attended the Catholic Mass this morning.

July 3

Rin complained of stomach pains at noon. It complains of being in Agony but I can do nothing for it. Besides, it needs learn a lesson about eating correctly.[1]

July 4

Independence Day for the Americans, quite boring for us. Forgot the General Store was closed and walked into town for nothing.

July 5

I do not wish the likes of Pin-Lee on anyone often, even as one abhorrent as can be, but today I wished she had not absented herself when the new Pastor came around. He is going to all the Camps in the Region (he pronounces it with the capitals very clear indeed) and exhorting the Mexicans and Irish and Germans and Chinese to convert and the others to come to town for services Sundays. I will not go, I think.

Gurathin grimly informed the good Pastor that he did in fact attend services, and of his unreserved recommendation for the Saturday services at B’nai Israel. Pastor John’s face nearly turned purple in Rage — and I was quite upset he failed to burst a vein — when he realized the makeup of our camp. We do make a pretty sight when traveling priests come.

Arada is Californio and a part of Saint Rose’s of Lima parish. I attend the occasional service at whichever of the Churches will have me. Mensah and Rin will go to the Methodist Church on a rare Sunday, she more than it. Bharadwaj and Ratthi do not have a Temple and worship in their own way when they see fit. Pin-Lee sees attending religious services as unnecessary and I cannot say I blame her at all. Volescu attends no Church but was married with the Presbyterians. And of course Gurathin attends B’nai Israel.

This is besides the point, though I have hardly any other point than that I am annoyed. Pastor John threatened to come again if we continued not to come to his Church and I was extremely pleased when Rin finally threw him out of camp.

July 6

Unseasonable Rain.

July 7

Mensah stayed the night with Farai and Tano. She thinks herself subtle when she visits them. She is as far from subtle as it is possible to be. We can always tell as she leaves and comes back with the happiest smile on her face. I plan to avoid mentioning that to her. We must all live and love in the ways that we can. (One can hope those Sodomy Laws which so vex our camp may one day be destroyed, and in the meantime one must find the Comforts one can with one’s friends.)

July 8

Called on a Physician Friend of mine today, Dr. Smith. He had nothing new to say about Ailments with regards to us of the mining persuasion and says he sees our problems only rarely. I inquired of his practice and he says it is booming. Somehow I doubt he rarely sees mining injuries. On the way home I stopped at Mr. Bithell’s bookshop to peruse the new offerings. Spent 75¢ on a used copy of The Blithedale Romance for Ratthi’s birthday.

[1] The reason for the stomach pains are unknown, but other sources suggest Rin either overate or was tricked into eating a rock by campmate Gurathin ben Samuel. [return]

Chapter Text

To Sabah and Noor Mensah, living in the house at 124 Bluestone Road in Cincinnati in Ohio [1]

From the Pen of Ayda Mensah Preservation Mining Camp, outside the Port of Sacramento in California July 10, 1854

My Dearest Parents,

I fear I am sending home grave news. Fear not, the Laundry is fine, all my comrades are fine, I am perfectly fine, but the Sentiment in town is that we are not entirely welcome. Since the new set of miserable Laws against miners of our sort were passed, there has been of course these same Sentiments so rudely expressed, but in the course of the last few weeks, the old Politicals in the taverns and saloons have become dangerously loud about the idea of raising the mining tax.

Pin-Lee has already told me if the tax is raised to the same level as four years ago she will have to leave mining and either join me in my Laundry or accept some dreadful Offer of Marriage. Arada is safe from the tax, being as she is a citizen from the Treaty that ended the War with Mexico, and Overse is a Free White, but the rest of us are decidedly at risk. And even Arada is not safe – the new Laws proposed include one which could charge her with Vagrancy for being a Greaser and a Mexican, even a Californio and a Citizen. Ratthi talks of returning home if the taxes are increased. Though I most worry for Rin – it is showing more signs of Concern lately and seems to be considering leaving for the Wilderness again.

Other than the worrying news, all is Well and we are healthy and hale. I spoke with Farai and Tano Friday last when I spent the night in town and they express their Deepest Love and the most Ardent Affections for you all. If Miri is well from her afflictions (it is, concerningly, possible Measles, though the doctor claims mumps) before the Springtime when the next steamship leaves, they plan to come visit you soon. In two years the new Schools District plans to begin a High School for those who would pass beyond the eighth grade, and Amena intends to apply. She will be a Good Bit younger than her classmates but I hope she will be allowed to enter. Anyways the other children are not in school till the mumps clear. According to Farai their teacher is concerned they mayn’t finish the year. She will write if this is so, I hope.

There is not much other News. The Americans celebrated Independence Day Tuesday last. Our camp did not celebrate, as the only Americans are Rin and Myself, and, neither wanting to particularly celebrate, we contented ourselves with burning a paper in the fire. It was generally considered an Excellent Waste of some cents and when Pin-Lee visits her Uncle in the San Francisco Port on Sunday next she has promised to find some gunpowder for Fun alongside the Quantity required for Mining. That is practically all that has happened since I last had Money for paper and postage.

With all my Love and my Whole Heart, I remain: Your Dearest Daughter, Ayda

[1] {out of universe note: This is the house in Beloved, chosen specifically so I didn’t have to think about a location. Please don’t read too much into it.} [return]

Chapter Text

Arada’s family had been in California a long time, long enough that several of her father’s relatives were big ranch owners (there was a fancy Spanish word for it that I didn’t care enough to know [1]) who had been in California since before the Americans came.

Arada had also been away from her family for a long time. I didn’t care enough to know why, but they didn’t get along. (At one point, I’d overheard Overse mentioning to Pin-Lee something about Arada and independent streaks and refusing to listen to her parents, and I’d immediately turned around and left the mine in favor of helping Mensah run the laundry for the day before I got pulled into a conversation about family.)

So it was a surprise to me, when Pin-Lee brought our mail back from town with her one day, that Arada’s parents had sent her a letter.

She swore when she saw the address and took it off to her tent to read in peace. Overse took off after her. The rest of us looked at each other. We were all worried. Arada rarely swore and she only ran off when she was really upset.

An hour or so later, we’d all been back to work for a while when Overse finally came out of the tent. “Arada’s parents want to see her. Actually, they want to come see her here. And they’re coming sometime tomorrow, which we didn’t know because the mail was a week late even though it was just coming from Pueblo San José.” She huffed. “Ratthi, any chance I can move into your tent for a few nights?”

“Certainly,” he said, looking up from the campfire. “Does Arada want me to trade with you for that time?”

“No, probably not. Her parents are still unhappy about her running off rather than agreeing to get married to anyone. I doubt a man inhabiting her tent will help with that, especially if she’s visibly unmarried, which we are right now.”

(Here is where I have to stop to explain something. Arada and Overse were the only two of us who shared a tent on a regular basis. I didn’t know what their deal was, and I didn’t care because it was none of my business. I mostly cared that they didn’t talk about it in front of me. But they were lovers or something. Arada didn’t want to be married because she couldn’t marry Overse. Her parents wanted her to be married. This was not something that sounded easy to resolve.)

Ratthi nodded and handed Bharadwaj the frying pan while he got up. I sat down in his spot and shoved my feet near the fire. (Volescu rolled his eyes at me and Gurathin sighed loudly. Mensah just smiled.)

The next day Arada was miserable. She finally agreed that I could go with her to town to meet the carreta, but she warned me her parents weren’t too happy about anything she did and that I might find myself thoroughly insulted. She forgot this wasn’t new for me, even here where nobody knew where I’d come from.

Her parents were reasonably polite to me, believing me to be a random person standing nearby, but when I began to walk back with Arada, they indeed started to question my very being as a miner. (I already had to pay a tax for it (which, screw you, Governor Bigler), I didn’t need their questions too.)

We arrived back at camp around the time Ratthi and Bharadwaj were starting dinner. Pin-Lee had been dragged into doing laundry with Mensah (who’d gotten more miners hiring her than usual this week because one of the white washerwomen who also served the outlying mining camps had accepted a good marriage offer) and the two of them were boiling clothes when we got there, leaving the particular smell of lye settled across the camp. I didn’t know where the others were. Probably Overse and Gurathin and Volescu were at our claims.

Arada’s parents perched on two of our four wooden stools (nobody wanted to tell them Arada had carved the stools herself, paying attention to the flourishes, which are hardly the pleasure of our time. Miners tend not to care about flourishes. Arada “just thought it looked nicer”) and asked pointed questions of Arada in Spanish.

I didn’t know enough to understand most of the questions, though I picked up the word “marriage” multiple times. Arada sure seemed uncomfortable, though. She answered most questions calmly, I thought, but her face made it obvious that she didn’t want to be here.

Eventually I wandered off to go into the mine with the others. At least I didn’t have to deal with the disapproving stares from Arada’s parents.

When I got back, Arada was stomping around and saying things in Spanish, and her parents weren’t there.

Mensah handed me a bowl of stew. “Don’t talk to Arada. She… well. She asked Ratthi to escort her parents to town, though I gather from her current demeanor that their response didn’t go as planned. It might be best were we to leave her alone with Overse for a while.”

I thought that sounded like a great plan. Familial relationships were messy and complicated and I didn’t like that my comrades had to deal with them. It made me glad I had never known my family.

[1] Translator’s note: Rancheros. It means rancheros. [return]

Chapter Text

The 19th day of August, north of the River American.

The next day’s travel brought us to an unusual mining camp by the River, the P— camp. We stayed barely a day; the camp’s Leader, Mr. G—, threw us out by the afternoon.

My dear maid seemed to make some acquaintance with the [Black] washerwoman who worked from this camp. I suppose she was married to one of the miners, another [Black person] who she seemed extremely close to. Other than that none of the miners were very friendly. There were four: Mr. G—, Mr. R— (who was not [Black] but Indian [1]), Mr. V—, and the washerwoman’s husband. Their wives went with them to the mines, except the washerwoman, and I am sure I saw a young Chinese woman who went to the mines alongside, but perhaps she was merely a wife to one of the Chinese workers in town.

In the afternoon the washerwoman did not make tea, telling her companions to fetch it themselves. Their Hospitality was limited and we were roundly ignored in favor of a Discussion of the mine conditions. When our Questions could no longer go ignored, we were Thrown Out and informed that we could just make it to Sacramento before dark.

[1] The use of the term “Indian” here is telling. This is still a period when that applies primarily to those who are now classified as “Native Americans”, yet the author of this text, Mrs. Helen Barnes, seems not to realize Ratthi is ethnically Indian and hails from the Indian subcontinent. [Return]

Chapter Text

10 de septiembre de 1854. Los mineros otros están comparando sus medidas de dorados. El campo de Preservación no ha encontrado mucho dorado el mes pasado. Dios, pero necesitamos lo hacer rico.

15 de septiembre de 1854. Overse y yo plantamos un jardín hoy. ¡Qué maravilloso y bonito es!

17 de septiembre de 1854. El precio de tela ha aumentado. Sin embargo, Overse me ofreció su vieja camisa azul para mi nueva camisa. Es el mejor beneficio de una amiga que es más grande que mí.

Translation:

September 10, 1854. The other miners are comparing their measures of gold. The Preservation camp hasn’t found much gold this last month. God, but we need to strike it rich.

September 15, 1854. Overse and I planted a garden today. How marvelous and beautiful it is!

September 17, 1854. The price of fabric has gone up. However, Overse offered me her old blue shirt for my new shirt. It is the best benefit of a friend much larger than me.

Chapter Text

To Sabah and Noor Mensah, living in the house at 124 Bluestone Road in Cincinnati in Ohio

From the Pen of Ayda Mensah Preservation Mining Camp, outside the Port of Sacramento in California October 5, 1854

My Dearest Parents,

I write to you asking for all the Advice you may give me, which has heretofore been of Much Usefulness. Amena has asked me for a Most Unusual and Rather Worrying Favor — she wishes to call me Mother as she calls Farai.

I see the children perhaps once a fortnight, my Parents. I do not know where Amena picked up this Inclination. While I care for Tano and Farai most deeply, I am not a Mother to their Children. I would be Prevented from it should I try, as Tano is Anglo and Farai is one of the lightest Skinned of the Californios and both of them have families who would take the Children should one die. Amena is of course very Dear to me, but I should not be her Mother, second or otherwise.

Farai said the children, and here is where I ask you to hold Secret this letter while I am gone, are being raised to know the mother who bore them and the father who sired them are not their only parents, as they have a mother who cannot be part of their lives because her skin is Dark as midnight Sky, an Expression I find more Poetic than most which describe my Complexion. I find myself in an odd state and all out of sorts after hearing of this. I have known for much time that I am unusual in the ways of Romance but I did not realize until now that Farai and Tano wish the children to be raised with a new idea of Family.

I am not opposed to it. I would indeed enjoy being Mother to the children. But how may I do so when I am not the mother who bore them?

Pay my Worries no mind, I suppose. I am only uncertain and will figure myself out soon. Beyond this issue most is Well. The Laundry and I are prospering. Pin-Lee is angry at her Relatives again about an Issue for which we are all Concerned and has left for San Francisco. She sent word she will return All Hallow’s latest. Arada is taking up Seamstress work from many nearby camps so as to supplement our meager Income. Volescu has returned to the city for a Week or two to see his Beloved Wife, who is now living with a storekeep of some Renown and the storekeep’s wife, her great friend. Other than that our Camp is at Peace.

Tell my Sisters and Brothers I send them my Love and that Gurathin and Rin cause me more Headache than all of them combined.

With all my Love and my Whole Heart, I remain: Your Devoted Daughter, Ayda

Chapter Text

October 10

How does Ratthi manage such Impossible feats as to leave a Bucket stuck on his head? Grease and a Hard Scrubbing with Lye solved much of the problem, though added a layer of Complaint to the process. I must reprimand Arada later for her Role.

October 11

We are beginning to consider the Winter. Last year we stayed our claim but roomed in town and this year we shall probably do the Same. Arada wishes to take Seamstress work in town and so she and I will most probably find rooms to brave the Winter Chill rather than a Tent. Our outdoor Bed will be more comfortable in Spring.

October 12

Walked to the general store for the mail. Depressingly little.

October 13

Ratthi stayed the night in town and returned this morning with an unfortunate case of the Fleas. I instructed him to bathe in Lye and left him to deal with the consequences of his own Actions.

October 14

Ratthi still has fleas. Bharadwaj announced publicly this morning that should he continue garnering Diseases Of The Sort she will never share a Tent with him again and Pin-Lee who returned today from San Francisco concurred. I do not know what Goes On between them but I am Certain I do not wish to know.

October 15

Arada and Ratthi and I stayed in Town tonight to go see the Theatrical Show currently playing. It was a Fascinating Story and we have Roundly Decided to suggest Rin see it.

October 16

Mensah ate a rotten potato and I gave her purgatives. On the morrow she ought take another round.

October 17

Ratthi’s fleas have cleared up but Pin-Lee is still banning him from her tent. He is Distraught over it. At least Arada and I are Each Other’s Alone and do not worry over these Odd disputes that are the purview of Others. We have been Friends for Long Years now and it has only been a Few Years since we have come to customarily sharing a single Tent that is ours together.

October 18

Mensah reprimanded Ratthi and Pin-Lee and Bharadwaj today for “Forcing Your Constant Arguing onto the Rest of Us” and “Making the Rest of Us Listen to You Discuss Your Relationship”, to which Gurathin and Rin and I roundly agreed that this was too Much. Arada and Volescu were already elsewhere attempting to ignore such Arguing.

October 20

Missed writing last night for Arada and I had discuss Private and Personal Matters late than usual on account that the night was finally Quiet for once. Today the mines proved Fruitful and our quartz resulted in nearly two ounces Gold.

October 21

We celebrated Volescu’s birth today and had the special treat of seeing the Steamers arrive.

Chapter Text

16 de octubre de 1854. He decidido que voy a escribir en mi diario una vez más. Hoy Mensah vomitó y Ratthi comió cuatro peces del rió Americano.

17 de octubre de 1854. ¡Hoy vi un pájaro!

18 de octubre de 1854. Ratthi me molestó. Le quiero pero él me molesta a menudo.

19 de octubre de 1854. Estamos acostándonos temprano.

20 de octubre de 1854. [Ed: While Arada provided an entry for this date, it consists solely of a heart and Overse’s name and has thus been omitted.]

Translation:

October 16. I have decided that I am going to write in my diary again. Today Mensah vomited and Ratthi ate four fish from the American River.

October 17. Today I saw a bird!

October 18. Ratthi annoyed me. I love him but he often bothers me.

October 19. We are going to bed early.

Chapter Text

Mensah and I had been staying at Farai and Tano’s home for three days. The three of them sat on the couch, curling into each other, and I sat in a chair, until someone pounded hard on the door. We made Tano go see who it was.

The person Tano came back with was a white man with the scariest look on his face I had ever seen. I was already standing, as was Mensah, when the two of them got back. You could always tell by the way footsteps moved on wood floors and these steps didn’t sound good.

The unknown man stared at me. I kept my head down through sheer force of will.

Farai stood up and stepped between the man and us. “What, exactly,” she demanded, “is going on here? Why have you come?”

“People’s saying my slave is in Sacramento and you’d know where to find her.”

“I don’t know about that,” Farai said. She was very good at not sounding nervous, I thought. She turned to Mensah and me and nodded towards the kitchen. “Help me get drinks.”

We followed her, and when the kitchen door was closed, Mensah let a lot of air hiss out from between her teeth. “He freed me, Farai. He freed me four years ago when we came to this state and he decided to set up residence. Why is he back now?”

Farai hugged Mensah while I looked anywhere else in the kitchen. “And you’re sure that’s the same man?”

“Believe me, there is very little reason to think I could forget Gray’s face. Farai, there has to be something we can do.”

“Not much I can see. Was there a writ?”

Mensah found something in her pocket and brought the paper out. “He’ll say I faked it. He’ll do anything and the courts will back him over anyone who’d represent me.”

“How did he find you?” I asked.

“Asked around, asked the general store, who knows? Everyone knows I run a laundry.”

Farai said, “If he thinks you’re still his property, maybe he’d sell you.”

“You hardly have the money to pay the ransom he’d ask for if you ask outright. He’s not known for letting go of his property easily.”

“Ayda, my love,” Farai said, hugging her again. “My sweet. I’m sorry I even brought that up. You’re not his property any longer and we’ll protect you from him if it means going to the court.”

While they were discussing, I’d been thinking. He was probably here because he’d been planning to return to the South. The last time this had happened to someone, a year or two ago, taking things to court hadn’t worked and the three people had been deported anyways. Mensah deserved better.

I looked up and said, “We can’t take him to court, the Perkins case means they’ll side with him. We can always try making a big enough fuss that he has no choice but to agree to our terms, except that’s dangerous.”

“No,” Mensah said. She looked at Farai. “Do you trust me, my Farai?”

“With my life,” Farai said. “I will follow your lead, my Ayda.”

“I have a plan, but you have to trust that I have my emotions under control and keep going even if I don’t look alright. Give him my writ and tell him you hired me on the assumption I was free. Be sympathetic. He’s probably still going to say that he wants me to come back, and at that point I need you to ask him if he really wants to be known as the man who took laundry away from half the miners of Sacramento. There’s only two laundries right now, until mining season comes around again, and he hates being thought badly of. Tell him you’re going to tell everyone, including the mining company that sent him here in the first place, how he took away the laundry for half a town and went back on his word in the process. And tell him that unless he agrees to my freedom, he’s going to get a lot of angry miners running him out of town.”

“I don’t want to do this to you,” Farai said.

I didn’t either. It wasn’t a bad plan, exactly, but if anything went wrong… “There’s no backup plan here.”

“The backup plan is for you to break me out and hide me. Pin-Lee has done this sort of rescue mission many a time, only from brothels.”

This was all way too much like the type of plans I made. I was the only one who was supposed to do this sort of self-sacrificing plan. Then again, I couldn’t come up with anything better.

Farai asked, “And if he wants money in return?”

“Rin, does the camp have any sort of funds right now?”

I shook my head. “Not enough to pay the price and still get by for the month.”

“He doesn’t know that, though. We could bluff him.”

“I have most of my dowry money still,” Farai said. “The store makes enough we’ve not needed to use it yet. It’ll cover part. Our Tano has something put away too, I believe. And… Ayda, do you still have the linens I made you that you never use? With the flowers?”

“Somewhere, I’m sure. I would happily donate them to the cause of my freedom. They’d be worth something elsewhere even if here there’s few enough to appreciate them.”

Farai looked directly at me and I only flinched a little. “If this doesn’t work, you can rescue her?”

“I can,” I said. And I would, even if I had to shoot somebody.

Farai picked up a tray of drinks. “Come on, then, let’s try to talk him down.”

Tano, while we were gone, had managed to convince Gray that we weren’t trying to steal anyone away and that Farai had been trying to get Mensah’s side of the situation in the kitchen, and now they were making small talk. When we returned, Tano smiled. “Love, Mr. Gray claims our Ayda is one of his slaves who escaped. Is there anything that she said that can prove this?”

(I appreciated Tano’s eloquence. The way Tano said “our Ayda” was flippant, like a person would talk about a servant, but I’d heard Tano and Farai both calling Mensah “our Ayda” before and knew that the three of them meant the possessive in a weird romantic way.)

“She gave me her writ,” Farai produced the writ in question as she spoke. “It does appear to have a signature, and I know her writing isn’t like this.”

Mensah and I were both having trouble keeping ourselves still and out of the conversation. After so long being treated like a person, it was hard to go back to acting like an object. I thought of one thing I could do, though, and took her hand in my larger hand. She smiled and squeezed my hand back. We traded squeezes until she looked actually calm.

At that point Farai had managed to argue Gray into selling Mensah to them for the price of Farai’s dowry and a little more which Tano’s expression told me they could afford with little effect on their livelihood (though I suspected money would be tight for some time).

As Tano and Gray went to draw up proper sale papers, Farai came over and hugged Mensah really tight. “Dios, that was awful. I’m so sorry, Ayda. How are you feeling?”

“I hate being treated like nothing, Farai. I hate it with every strand of my being. I’m angry, more than anything, I think. Perhaps furious.”

“I understand, my love. I never want to have to treat you like that again. You’re not nothing, you are a person deserving of as much respect as anyone else.”

Mensah smiled. “Thank you.”

“Do you want us to do anything about it? Would you like us to leave you alone for a day or two now?”

Mensah considered for a second and hugged Farai tight. “No. I want you two today more than ever.” I looked at the mantel before either of them started getting gross and sappy.

Finally, Tano and Gray came out of the study, sheaf of papers securely in Tano’s hand. Gray clapped Tano on the back (Tano flinched), shook Tano’s hand, left, and we were finally free of him.

Tano handed Mensah half the papers. “Here. I have to keep these ones so he can’t dispute it later, but this is proof. You own yourself, Ayda Sabah Mensah, for real this time.”

Mensah stopped hugging Farai to kiss Tano. I went into the other room and let them have their moment.

Chapter Text

December 6

Our Camp is officially Closed for the season, to reopen in March. We left our claims marked, and will return every few days just as others do, but it is much too Cold to sleep outside now. Arada and I are taking rooms with a Cousin of hers who is quite kind and does not mind the single bed for two Women.

December 7

As always I find myself somewhat depressed by the lack of Winter Activities here and missing my parents and Home more this time of year.

December 8

Arada is quite busy with her Dressmaking work for all the Ladies Of The Town (there are indeed some now) who wish for new dresses for the Yuletide season. I am busy at the mines while it is not too bad of rain.

December 9

I will never understand Ratthi. Arada’s and my monthlies began today, mine the morning and hers the evening.

December 10

Busy day — received visitors interested in Arada’s dressmaking and have only just finished with them. It is past the last mark on the candle now.

December 11

I have come down with an Inavoidable Fever and would be quite upset at being bedridden if Arada were not nursing me to Health again.

December 18

Arada has only just given me my diaries back. She is a most Frustrating Nurse when one is sick. I have been bedridden for some days, though, and have Nothing much to say about that time.

December 19

I rose from my bed for the first time today since my Illness began. I am Unsteady but Relatively Hale.

December 20

Nothing much happened today but I was able to walk downstairs this Morning. I have High Hopes of making it to town in time to find Arada some sort of Gift for Christmastide.

December 21

I have found the Prettiest Ribbon in the General Store today and it will be Arada’s Gift from me.

December 22

Arada and I baked the Christmassy foods today so they are Ready on time. Then we went to the Roses' house for a merry Dance, the likes of which I have not had in some time. Rin, who Simply Does Not Dance, played the pianoforte for us and a rowdy time was had by all. Mensah taught us a Dance her Family is fond of and it was a delight to see the children all joining in the circle. We enjoyed a new Reel which Bharadwaj learned in Town as well.

December 23

Arada went today and delivered a Kind Note to each of our friends wishing them the Merriest Christmastide. She returned with a few similar.

December 24

Merry Christmas! Arada and I are celebrating quietly and then she will to Midnight Mass at Saint Rose and I will to the Service at the Protestant Church.

December 25

Arada and I spent the day together, following and preceding Dinner. She and I ate with her Cousin and then retreated to our Rooms where we read the Book my Aunty and Uncle in the East sent months prior with the assertion not to open before the Yule log is lit. It is a Very Good book, about the histories of my Home Country of Sweden.

In this time we also Cuddled on the bed, as it was cold, and Arada surprised me with a Scalpel of good manufacture. She enjoyed her Ribbons very much and has already begun to trim her fancy dress with them. We are now sitting under blankets by a Warm Fire and she is telling me of an Idea she has for a beautiful dress. It is the most Wonderful way to end a year and I will Forever Treasure this. She is Mine and I am Hers and together we are in the most Joyous of Loves.

Chapter Text

Avella, Steven M. Indomitable Sacramentans: A Social History of Catholics in the State Capital. Mount Pleasant: Arcadia Publishing, 2023.

“Gold Rush - Gold Chains: The Hidden History of Slavery in California: ACLU NORCAL.” ACLU of Northern CA, 28 June 2018, www.aclunc.org/sites/goldchains/explore/gold-rush.html.

Pitti, Stephen J. The Devil in Silicon Valley: Northern California, Race, and Mexican Americans. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2003.

Salzman, Ed, and Ann Leigh Brown. The Cartoon History of California Politics. [City]: California Journal Press, 1978.