Two Sisters and the Christmas Groom (

by Zina Abbott

  “Because they’ve been working hard and paying their board, now haven’t they? They’re needing the meat. We’ll be giving thanks for having the ham hock for flavoring. Bow your heads now. Patrick will be giving thanks for us having food to fill our bellies tonight.”

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  Chapter 6

  ~o0o~

  Jubilee Springs, Colorado –November 6, 1881

  A nnie slowly picked her way along the rocky path that led from the Catholic Church to Church Street. Most of the businesses in Jubilee Springs, she had discovered, had built boardwalks in front of their establishments. Unfortunately, the majority of the private residents on the river side of River Road and the Catholic Church had not. Then again, neither had the Community Church on the opposite end of Church Street have a boardwalk except for a small stretch immediately in front of the building. Annie lurched to keep her balance as her bootheel slid on one of the icy stones parishioners had embedded in the dirt in an effort to make it easier to walk through the mud and ice during the winter season.

  Annie knew, if she could just make it past the corner of Church Street and River Road and the private home built on the northwest corner, she would reach the walkway in front of Mrs. Stowe’s Fine Fashion establishment where the boardwalk started. Annie sniffed and shook her head. In her mind, Mrs. Stowe had chosen a mighty fancy name for a seamstress’s shop in a small mountain mining town. Then again, she did display a lovely creation in the front window, something Annie would need to save her money for months to afford. From there, she would pass in front of the doctor’s office with his home in back, the furniture store where she worked for the Nighys, and Hackett Laundry where she took the Nighys’ laundry—a blessing to her that she was not expected, along with her other duties, to wash their laundry in the back alley like the Flanagans did at home. From there, the path home by way of the end of the block and one block to the north to Howard Boarding House had become familiar enough to Annie she could walk it in her sleep.

  Annie had no sooner stepped on the boardwalk in front of the dressmaker’s shop than a commotion in front of her prompted her to stop and assess the situation. Before her, three men approached. The two on either side supported a man in the center who appeared to be either sick or the worse for too much drink the night before. As they walked closer, she narrowed her eyes to better focus on who they might be. Did they just come from the Community Church services held in the building on the opposite side of the block from the Catholic Church? If so, they had not bothered to wear their best worship clothes. Could they be trouble for her, perhaps miners with nothing better to do other than canvasing the town looking for some kind of mischief to get into? Were they the kind of men to entertain themselves, perhaps at the expense of others?

  As the men drew closer Annie suspected the trio were hung over. When only a few feet away, she figured out the one in the center appeared to be flushed with fever. She sucked in her breath as she realized one of the men supporting the ill man was Michael O’Hare. Her footsteps had started slow, but increased in speed as she approached the three. Sick friend or not, she intended on speaking to Michael. “Michael O’Hare. A fine morning to you.”

  About three feet from her, Michael turned to look her full in the face, as if seeing her for the first time. Annie realized that, with the dark brown bonnet that covered most of her red hair and the emerald green woolen scarf she had wrapped around her neck and chin, the man had probably not recognized her.

  “A fine morning to you, too, Miss Flanagan. Now, if you’ll excuse us, I need to help my bunkmate here get to the doctor. Unfortunately, Doc Sprague who runs the Prosperity Mine infirmary decided to hie himself off to Denver this past weekend, which left us without medical help at the mine.”

  “Miss Flanagan? Have you been holding out us, Mick? I heard there was a new unmarried woman in town. I didn’t know you had made her acquaintance.”

  Eyes blazing and a sharpness to her words, Annie turned to the man on the other side of the fevered one. “It’s not his place to be discussing me with others, now is it? I’m here working in service to Mrs. Nighy, and I’m not planning on changing my status anytime soon. I’d be of no interest to any of you.”

  The man to whom she spoke raised his eyebrows and muttered under his breath as he looked off to the side. “I wouldn’t be so sure about that.”

  Michael turned to his friend, the sternness in his voice unmistakable. “I know Miss Flanagan because I’ve been writing to her sister for the intent of considering marriage. With her being almost family, I’ll not have you approaching her without checking with me first. She’ll let me know if, and when, she’s ready to receive callers. Now, let’s get Jeff in to see the doctor.”

  “I’ll be expecting to speak with you when you’re finished settling your friend inside, Michael O’Hare.” With a stern expression on her face, Annie held Michael’s gaze to communicate her determination. He studied her for mere seconds before he nodded.

  “Certainly, Miss Flanagan. I’ll join you as soon as I can.”

  Annie stepped to the inside of the boardwalk and pressed her back against the wall of the doctor’s office as the three men passed. Once the men knocked on the doctor’s door and were admitted, she carefully placed her feet next to each other and folded her arms. In an effort to get her emotions under control, she inhaled deeply. She shivered, even though the sun resting overhead and slightly to the south, as was typical for winter, warmed her face. Several worries skittered through her mind. She needed to calm herself and organize her thoughts. If not, she would make a complete fool of herself once she started to express her concerns to Mr. O’Hare.

  Several minutes later, Annie watched Michael step out of the doctor’s office. He carefully closed the door behind him and approached. A shiver of discomfort coursed through her as she realized he studied her face. What did he see? A nervous woman? An angry defender of right? A shrieking banshee full of demands? She felt like all these things. Still, she needed to talk to this man. In her heart, she begged him not to judge Kate by her behavior. Kate was far more even-tempered than Annie could be when she became upset.

  Michael stopped next to her and held out his elbow. “Miss Flanagan, I apologize if you think I spoke as if I have authority over you. It’s just that, with several women coming to town to wed some of our miners, there’s a certain amount of interest, more than usual, about any women who arrive that could be good prospects for marriage. I merely intended to dissuade my friend from behaving too forward with you.”

  “Thank you, Mr. O’Hare. I appreciate you warning off your friends, although there’s no need for you feeling like you must be seeing to my welfare. I’ve been taking care of my own safety for years. I’m wishing to speak to you for other reasons.”

  Michael stared straight ahead. “I see. And what would those other reasons be, Miss Flanagan?”

  “I missed seeing you at morning mass, Mr. O’Hare. Being Irish, I was guessing you’re Catholic. Have I been assuming in error?” Annie kept her gaze forward, refusing to look at the man next to her while she waited for his answer. She both heard and felt him sigh.

  “Yes, I was raised Catholic, in a manner of speaking. I can’t say I get to church much, except maybe Christmas and Easter. Besides, the priest only comes up to Jubilee Springs once a month.”

  “At least you’re knowing that much. He’s holding services at the church up here on the first Sundays. And your schedule’s too full you can’t be attending mass once a month? Or might there be another reason you can’t be getting out of bed in time to be making it to mass?” Annie felt her hand drop free of Michael’s arm as he abruptly stopped and turned to face her. Afraid of what she would see, she kept her eyes averted. No one needed to tell her she had overstepped her bounds. She cringed at his sharp tone of voice.

  “Whatever keeps me in bed on Sunday mornings is none of your concern, Miss Flanagan.”

  Annie’s eyes brimm
ed with tears, and her throat constricted so her words came out in a whisper. “Sorry I am for speaking out. If you’re with someone, it’s none of my concern to be knowing, now is it? It’s just…you’re writing to our Katie. We’re wanting the best for her. I’d be hoping, if you’re deciding on marrying our Katie, you’d be setting that aside.”

  Michael rolled his eyes and, in frustration, sucked in a breath.

  He responded through gritted teeth. “Miss Flanagan, I don’t consider it your business how I spend my time, but I will assure you, it is not that way. Please do not write and tell your sister that you think I’m entertaining myself with the ladies of the Silver Dollar Saloon, because that would be a lie.”

  Knowing her face flushed a bright red, Annie swallowed. “Oh. Certain, it’s a comfort knowing that. It’s just, our Katie was raised to be a good Catholic girl, and she’ll be expecting to go to mass and having her children baptized by the priest. She’ll not be wanting to find out the hard way that, if she’s to be going, she must be going alone because her husband is still in bed suffering with a thick head from the night before.” At the silence that followed, Annie looked at her feet, still unwilling to meet his gaze. Had she ruined everything for her sister?

  Annie realized Michael leaned forward and glared at her, but she refused to look his way.

  “You think I’m suffering from too much to drink, is that what you’re saying?”

  “And why else would a good Catholic man not be making it to mass, especially when the priest only is coming up to town once a month?” She tightened her lips as he rolled his eyes skyward and shook his head.

  “Maybe because that not-so-good Catholic man was tired after working hard all week and preferred to spend some of his morning sleeping in? I might still have been sleeping, Miss Flanagan, if my sick bunkmate hadn’t awakened me with his groaning.” He narrowed his eyes as he studied her. “Are you telling me you and your sister expect me to never take a drink—to never risk a thick head in the morning?”

  The frustration shared by the Flanagan women, along with many other women in the Irish sector of lower east Manhattan, flared. She looked him in the face, the fire of her Irish temper flashing in her gaze. “I know how it is—the right of every Irishman, now isn’t it, Michael O’Hare? Who is to be denying him the privilege to be stopping by the pub on payday and tossing back a few with his workmates? Isn’t he one to be deserving it, relaxing after working hard all week? A wife at home, she’s waiting on him returning with his pay so she can be buying food for the table, now isn’t she? She’s been working hard all day, preparing food, caring for the house, taking care of the wee ones he’s put on her and expecting her to feed and clothe, but is her work counting for anything? Not a thing, now is it? Even when he’s putting her out to work, it’s the husband, being the breadwinner, with the right and privilege. Where is his money going? To the pub, now isn’t it? Buying rounds for his friends….”

  “Miss Flanagan, stop. I don’t know what brought all this on, but that’s not how I see things.”

  Annie jerked her arm back from Michael’s hand he had extended toward her. “I’ll have my say. First, it’s starting with ale, but then it’s the hard whiskey. Soon, it’s not just payday he’s gone drinking, but every night. The children are growing, and less money is making its way home to care for them. And how does he go about resolving it? Him spending less time and money at the pub? Not when he can be putting his wife and children to work—forcing his daughters into service long hours of the day and always at risk for…”

  Annie clapped her hand over her mouth and turned away. She had said too much—far too much. She glanced around to see if anyone might have overheard her. Fortunately, she and Michael stood at the west side of Hackett Laundry, which remained closed on Sundays. Her breaths heaving, she realized she had embarrassed herself completely. She needed to say no more and return to the boarding house. “Sorry I am, Michael O’Hare. You’ve the right of it—what you’re doing with your time is none of my concern. You weren’t deserving of my outburst.” She turned to run, but felt a hand on her arm holding her back.

  “Wait a minute, Annie Flanagan. We aren’t finished talking about this.”

  Annie felt Michael gently slide his fingers down her arm. He grasped her hand and placed it back in the crook of his arm. He nudged her into a slow walk in the direction of the park.

  Annie’s gaze focused on the stark scene before her—one of patches of snow on top of the brown grass and dead leaves with only a few evergreens providing additional color. Delly had told her that in the summer, many of the people in town gathered at the town park after church services to enjoy picnic lunches. Later, while talking to Mrs. Brinks, she mentioned the Catholics tended to stay closer to the Catholic Church and cemetery, especially if they were Spanish-speaking. She also assured Annie she would be welcome to enjoy a picnic lunch either place and should look forward to it. However, a survey of the empty lot with its mud and snow told Annie there probably would not be any picnics there until late spring.

  “Now, take a few breaths and then tell me what this is really all about. I’ll be honest with you if you’ll speak honestly with me. For starters, I did go to the Corner Saloon, and I did have one beer with my evening meal. The cook for the mine’s boarding house has Saturday nights off work. They figure most of us will eat in town, anyway. That is generally how I spend my paydays. However, I usually prefer to play billiards rather than drink all night or get caught up in any of the poker games. I’m…well, I’m saving for the future. I don’t go to the other bar, either, if that concerns you.”

  Unable to meet Michael’s gaze, Annie stared straight ahead and flushed a brilliant pink at his mention of the “other bar.” She had heard about the Silver Dollar Saloon situated close to the Prosperity Mine’s single men’s boarding house. In addition to being a drinking establishment, it also included a bordello. “I’m…you had no need of sharing that with me, Mr. O’Hare, although I find your words reassuring. I’m aware most men are figuring they’re entitled to looser standards than they’re expecting of the women they marry. That’s one reason we’re needing to get our Katie out of lower Manhattan as soon as possible. Then, after she’s safe from hooligans catching her unawares, I’ll be working on getting our Molly and our Bridgette away where they can be having a better life. Ma and I, we’re needing to be certain they’re going to responsible men who’ll be taking good care for their families.”

  “Annie, I suspect your sister has told you something she did not include in her letter to me. She told me about her job, and some gossip about the other servants she works with, especially the cook that always seems to find something wrong with Kate’s work. She talks about your family a little, but nothing to indicate any trouble. What is going on that has you so concerned?”

  Annie shared with Michael the incident of the two men following Kate home one night because Patrick forgot to meet her and walk with her. “Whether they were Americans or Italians, it makes no difference, now does it? None of them are showing respect for an Irish girl, now are they? She also was writing how Patrick keeps saying he’s hating it there, which I’m already knowing from living with him not so long ago myself. He’s been complaining for years about our da taking all his pay each week.”

  Michael wrinkled his forehead in confusion. “I can understand why he would need to pay his share of expenses while he’s living at home, but why would your brother allow your father to take all his pay?”

  “Because Da’s the head of the family and Patrick won’t be of age until next year. Da’s entitled to the whole pay of anyone in his family, including Ma. Would be one thing if what we were earning were going to rent and food. Too often, we’re not seeing any of it. The landlord keeps coming, looking for rent money. Kate says the stores are refusing Ma credit now, because Da hasn’t been paying the bills.” Annie bit her lip and turned away. “I’m expecting Patrick to be running off any time now to be getting out from under Da. Then where will our
Katie be without anyone to be walking with her home? I already told Ma, when Molly goes into service, she needs to be finding a position where she can be living in, even if it means risking a husband or older son taking too much interest in her.”

  Michael inhaled, then he blew out his breath. “It sounds like all your sisters need to get away from there.”

  “Ma and the boys, too.” Annie turned an earnest gaze on Michael and waited until his gaze met hers. “That’s why I’ll not be marrying and putting myself in the position of being beholden to a husband. I need to be saving my money to be helping all my sisters and brothers get away. As for my parents, even with them fighting all the time, Ma’s always been one to be taking her wedding vows seriously. She might not be willing to leave Da, no matter how hard it might be getting. But, if she’s willing, I need to be saving enough for her train ticket, too.”

  “Miss Flanagan, that sounds like a lot for you to take on your shoulders all by yourself. It sounds to me like your father is the biggest problem.”

  “Him and the whiskey. I’m not wanting the same thing to be happening to Katie or my other sisters. Are you understanding why I’m asking about your drinking habits?”

  Annie stopped when Michael did. She pulled her hand from his arm and wrapped it tightly against her waist as she continued to face forward. “You were asking for the truth, so I’ll be telling you the truth, Mr. O’Hare. Katie’s afraid of you. With you being Irish, she’s worried...” Out of the corner of her eye, she watched Michael turn to face her, an expression of incredulity on his face.

  “She’s afraid of me because I’m Irish? What on earth are you talking about? You and your sister are Irish. Your whole family is Irish. Earlier, you nearly chopped my head off for not being at mass because you expected me, as an Irishman, to be a devout Catholic. What do you expect of me, Annie Flanagan? It sounds like you don’t want me to send for her.”