Mama’s eyes widened, but she only nodded. Beside Mama, Nettie grinned from ear to ear. She could imagine Nettie would be full of teasing when she returned.
Breathless in her haste before one of her family made a comment, Stella closed the door behind her. She should have asked him in instead of leaving him standing on the porch but she’d been so flustered. Too late now.
He offered his arm, and she laid her hand there, pleased he had manners. They stepped off the porch together and proceeded through town.
Still, she hadn’t recovered from the sting of his remarks to Lance. “I’m surprised you’d ask me to walk with you.”
“Why is that? Surely you realize I can’t keep me eyes off o’ you when you’re near.”
“You told Lance you vowed never to go near a woman who had red hair and a quick temper.”
He appeared puzzled. “True, though I should not have told your brother. I didn’t want to find you or any other woman here in Lignite attractive, but I can’t help meself.”
“You make me sound like a case of influenza.”
His quick laugh startled her. “Did I? Does a man ask influenza out for a walk? ‘Tis true me sister has hair like yours and a fiery temper to match. Believe me, other than those two things, you’re nothing alike. And I’ll warn you that what I feel for you is not brotherly.”
”Oh, I see.” She felt the heat of a blush on her cheeks and thought she’d best change tactics. “Tell me about your family. What’s this sister’s name?”
He nodded to someone they passed. “Cenora Rose. She’s about your age or what I guess your age to be. She and her husband live on a ranch. Me younger brother is named after me dad, Brendan Sean O’Neill. We call him Mac, which you probably know is Irish for ‘son of’.”
“Your sister’s name is lovely and I’ve not heard the name Cenora before. I do know about Mac’s meaning. Is your Mac a rancher too?”
He made a tusking sound. “I wish ‘twere so but he’s not overfond o’ work is that boyo. He’s had a bit o’ trouble finding his way. Last summer he married a girl too young to wed. Not in years exactly, although she’s only Lance’s age, but she’s very childish. They live in a caravan beside me parents.”
“A caravan? How interesting. Tell me about your parents.” She had no idea where they were headed, but he appeared to have a destination in mind.
“Ma and Da live in a sweet little house me brother in law bought them. They’re in the town o’ McClintock Falls, or at the edge, but have a cow and chickens and a large garden plot. ‘Tis in heaven they are for that’s all they’ve wanted since we lost our place in Ireland.”
She sent him what she intended as a sympathetic glance.“I’m sorry they lost the place they loved in Ireland.”
“The one they have now is far better than the one they lost so ‘tall worked out for the best. Me sister is happy and expecting a babe soon. Vourneen won’t be far behind her. Me parents are happier than they’ve ever been.”
“That’s wonderful. And you want to live near them. If only Papa would look for some other work before the mine kills him, perhaps we could find a place where my family could live near one another. You already know I don’t want Lance forced into that life.”
He turned her to look out over the town. “Here is what I wanted you to see.”
“I had no idea the view was so lovely up here. Thank you for bringing me.”
He pulled a large piece of cloth from his jacket pocket and spread the fabric on a boulder. Then, he bowed elegantly. “Your seat, me lady.”
She couldn’t suppress a smile as she sat carefully. “Thank you, kind sir.”
He took a place beside her. “Lignite looks best from up here. At this time o’ day, the light hides the grubbiness I find oppressive.”
She peered at him. “You puzzle me.”
Surprise spread across his handsome face. “Me? Why?”
“You aren’t like the other miners. Why are you here?”
“I’ll tell you that story another time, but I’ll not be a miner forever. Someday I’ll own me own ranch.”
Another dreamer? Bitterness overtook her. “You won’t get the money working for scrip.”
“Too true.” He took her hand. “Just the same, I’ll have me own place someday soon.”
She wanted to yell at him, but held her voice under control. “How, Mr. O’Neill? How can you ever earn enough while working in Lignite?”
His fingers twined with hers. “Please, call me Finn, will you?”
Frustration tinged her voice, but she was helpless to soften her words. “All right, Finn. You can call me Stella. But you still haven’t answered my question. How can you work here and even hope to own a ranch?”
“You’ll have to trust me, Stella.” He brushed a stray curl from her face.
She gave up on his dreams to ask a question of uppermost importance. “Do you think Papa is to blame for the trouble at the mine?”
“What I believe is that whoever is causing the trouble wants your father to look guilty, maybe even be arrested or injured.”
She exhaled a whoosh of breath. “Thank you for not believing those horrid rumors.”
He caressed her cheek with his free hand. “Do you think we could walk out together steadily, Stella?” His voice was soft and his touch gentle.
Her discouragement lessened. He appeared to be a fine man even if he was a dreamer. Could she consider letting him court her? She tried to turn away but his gaze mesmerized her.
“I think so.”
He leaned forward and brushed his lips across hers, soft as a feather’s touch. Her first kiss lasted only a second but the effect was magical. She wished he’d repeat the stirring contact and linger.
He tilted her chin upward. “Seems a shame to waste time with a beautiful woman on this lovely evening with all this talking.”
She knew the kiss was coming and could only lean toward him. His lips were soft at first but increased in pressure. As if by their own volition, her arms slid around him.
By the time he broke the kiss, she was breathless. He kissed her brow, her eyes, and along her jaw before returning to her eager lips. What had come over her that she permitted such freedom? Not only permitted, but responded with kind.
She melted against him as his tongue slid along her lips, pressing the seam until she opened for him. Heavens above, she’d never imagined such a way to kiss. She’d never have imagined the warmth pooling in her private parts or the way her heart pounded so hard she feared it would leap from her chest.
He broke their embrace but cradled her head against his shoulder. “I had no intention o’ taking such liberties, Stella. I only wanted to learn if you could ever return my feelings.”
And she had practically attacked the man. “You learned that all right. I hope you don’t think less of me for kissing you back.”
“I’d have been torn to bits if you hadn’t. What chance would I have had to court you if you didn’t like kissing me?”
She raised her head and touched his jaw. “C-Court me? Finn, don’t say things like that unless you mean them.”
He stood and pulled her to her feet. “If you say I can come courting, then ‘tis a lucky man I am, Stella Clayton.”
Suddenly uncustomary shyness overwhelmed her. “Y-Yes, you can come calling.”
He lifted her and twirled her around.
She laughed, her joy bubbling up from deep inside her. “Put me down before we tumble down the hill.”
“Aye, and that would change our plans.” After folding up the cloth, he stuffed it into his jacket pocket.
He guided her away from their perch on the boulder. “I’d best get you home before your father comes looking for us with his shotgun.”
She couldn’t suppress her laughter. “He doesn’t own a gun. He’d be more apt to wait up and give us a scolding. I suppose we had better get back though because you have to work early tomorrow.”
He caught her when she would have turned her ankl
e on loose rocks. “Aye, but I’m invited for dinner on Sunday. If ‘tis all right, I’ll be along to walk you to church.”
So, he was a church going man. That added to her joy. “Are you sure? Doing so will start talk about us.”
“As long as none o’ the talk damages your reputation, I care not. Mayhap you’d walk to Spencer with me after lunch on Sunday. Someone from your family can accompany us so there won’t be any rough talk.”
He was considerate and kind. She wanted him to be the one to show her new places. Her face heated at all the new things he could teach her. Things she shouldn’t think about now.
To cover her distraction, she said, “I’d like that. I’ve never been there.”
He stared at her with surprise etched on his face. “What? Never? In a year you’ve not left Lignite?”
Clearly he didn’t quite understand their position. “We have no cash, Finn. Nothing but scrip, so there’s no point going to see things we can’t have.”
“Your father’s winnings? ‘Tis not much, ‘tis true. My share was a dollar, but his was three. And surely he’s won other months.”
She nodded. “But that money goes straight into the bank in case Papa is injured and can’t work. As far as Nettie, Lance, and I are concerned, we’re penniless.”
His expression changed to somber, and he nodded. “Sure and I can understand that, for there were many years when I had naught. ‘Tis another tale for another time.”
She waved at Mr. and Mrs. Young as they passed that house. “I want to know more about you and your family. You already know mine.”
“Not everything. For I don’t know why your father became a miner or where he met your mother or where you were born or what you thought of traveling here.”
“You’ll find none of that is interesting.” She was sad to notice they’d reached her house.
“Mayhap ‘twill be to me. I’ll enjoy learning more about you on our future walks.” He led her up the steps but immediately stepped away.
“I’ll not steal a goodnight kiss because your neighbors are watching. I bid you goodnight with thanks for walking out with me.”
She smiled at him and knew her heart’s longing must be in her eyes. “Goodnight, Finn.”
He touched his fingers to his forehead as if tipping a hat. “I’ll see you Sunday.”
Chapter Nine
Finn strolled toward the infirmary to visit Mick. When he arrived, Mick was propped up on three pillows. A broad smile split his face when he spotted Finn.
Finn sat in the chair beside his bed. “You seem in better spirits, lad.”
“Some of the guys have been by and left me part of their paycheck. Karpinski gave me several times as much as I lost to him. They all said it was your idea. I owe you a lot of thanks.”
He handed over a handful of his worthless scrip. “Here’s more for your collection.”
Mick stuffed the paper into a bag “I can’t thank you enough. I was worried, for the bills are mounting. Doc says I won’t be able to work for three months or more.”
“Can you read?”
“Slowly, but I’d welcome some kind of book. I’ve nothing but time.”
“I keep one with me and I’ll bring it to you tomorrow. Mayhap others have one they’ll loan you.”
Mick asked, “Has anyone found out who covered the hole with tarp?”
“No, but many of us would like to know the answer to that question.”
“I think it was Clayton. He has the knowledge.”
“You’re wrong there. He helped me find the others and remove the tarp. If you’d seen how upset he was, you’d know he wasn’t acting. He swore to find out who was guilty and do him damage before he threw him down one of the holes.”
Mick relaxed against his pillows. “That’s a relief. I hated thinking that because his wife comes to visit and brings me little treats. Still and all, I’d sure like to see whoever did cause my fall go to jail.”
“Depending on who learns the identity of the swine who caused your accident, he may not live to go to jail. Many o’ the men have sworn to throw him down one o’ the holes.”
“I can’t say I’d wish that for him exactly, but I’d sure like to see the man who put me here caught and punished.”
“Me, too, lad. Me too. Well, I’ll bring you a book when I come again. Take care.”
Finn left and strolled back to the bunkhouse. By now, some of the men were already in bed. A few played cards with Aleski. Where did the man get his energy to stay up late playing poker when he worked hard for long hours?
James appeared beside him and sat on his own bunk. His face conveyed anger. “Saw you walking with Stella Clayton.”
Finn sat on his bunk and faced James. “Yes, we walked for a while. I value your friendship, James, and hope this doesn’t come between us.”
The other man laughed, but the mirth didn’t reach his eyes. “Sure, she made her choice. There are other women in town.”
Relief spread through Finn in spite of James’s half-hearted attempt. “Thanks for taking that attitude. ‘Tis pointless to argue.”
“Righto. You go see Mick?”
Finn nodded, eager to change the subject. “He’s that happy many o’ the men have given him part o’ their scrip. Aleski gave Mick several times what he’d lost.”
Before James could reply, a man Finn didn’t’ recognize opened the door. “Fire! The store’s on fire! Everyone out to help.”
Pandemonium spread as men who’d turned in scrambled into their clothes. Others rushed out toward the company store. Flames shot up from the store’s roof and smoke billowed upward.
Men came from all over town. The company fire pumper wagon arrived to direct water to the center of the flames. Bucket brigades formed to wet down the untouched portion of the building. Where all the buckets had been stored, he had no idea.
Finn joined a line formed at the fire’s edge. Heat pushed against him in waves, as he was the second nearest the flames. He thought they were wasting time, for a hundred buckets of water had no chance of dousing this fire.
This had to be another disaster orchestrated against Farland. When he and Stella had been on the hill above the store, there was no sign of smoke. Someone deliberately set this tonight after he and Stella left. Wouldn’t they have seen anyone sneaking around?
He kept passing the pails to the man in front of him. Mayhap working with the firemen, their efforts would make a difference. At least they should do their best with the resources at hand.
The fire chief shouted to keep the fire from spreading. The line moved to wet down the building at the edge of the fire. Roasting temperatures radiated toward the men. Popping of bottles and cans exploding sounded like guns.
Continuing to pass buckets, Finn shouted at the nearest fireman, “Where are the explosives and ammunition kept?”
Horror passed across the man’s face. He pointed at the opposite end of the store. “Heat from the fire could set off the explosives. If the flames pass the door there, draw back.”
Finn nodded.
The pump truck ran out of water and had to hurry back to the garage to refill. In their absence, fingers of fire reached for fresh wood. Embers of red and black drifted through the air, threatening to spread the flames to other buildings. Wetted down by the water hose, the new wood smoked but then soon caught. Someone brought ladders to enable the men to take the brigade up rungs to climb toward the roof.
Soon, the ladder had to be moved to keep the men on it from being burned. By the time the truck returned, the fire was roaring. Though the firemen sprayed water, the fire chief directed the others to move back by the longhouses.
Finn joined his mates beside their longhouse. Men from town stood nearby, watching the destruction of their only source of staples. The murmur of angry and worried voices reached him.
What would the miners and their families do without the store? This was payday, so most wives probably shopped on Saturday. What would people eat until the store was
repaired and restocked?
Once again, guilt of failure engulfed Finn. He hadn’t discovered who was behind this crime spree? Why hadn’t he figured this out?
This time, Farland was sure to fire him and he couldn’t say he blamed the man. What would that do to his chance to have his ranch? And what else would happen to the miners?
Dear Lord, help me. Not just for me, but to protect those who will suffer from the villainous actions of whoever is doing this.
Council edged toward him. “Stella said you two walked above the store. Did you see anyone around?”
“Nothing out of the ordinary, but we weren’t looking for anything. I took her up there because the town looks almost nice at sunset. If someone were up against the hill, he would be out o’ sight from above.”
Worry shadowed the other man’s face. “Suppose I’ll be blamed for this.”
“Surely not. You were at home, weren’t you?”
“With only my family as witness to that, so who’s to believe me?”
Finn wanted to reassure his crew chief, but the man spoke the truth. Rumors are impossible to combat.
A man pointed his way and yelled, “There they are. Get them.”
Another said, “I saw this one and Clayton’s daughter walk from the store this very evening.”
Finn edged backward as angry men advanced on him and Council. He held up his hand to stop them. “We weren’t walking from the store, but above it. There’s a group o’ boulders up there where you can look out over the town and the land around.”
The first man advanced. “And did you throw a fire bomb down from there?”
“No, are you crazy? Why would we do that?”
The second said, “They’re in this together. Let’s get ‘em.”
Council stepped in front of Finn. “The man is innocent, and so is my daughter and myself. You’re looking in the wrong place.”
Aleski and Jose stood by Council and Finn.
Aleski raised his arms and yelled. “This must stop now. These men are guilty of nothing but hard work. I work beside them every day. If they were bent on destruction, why would they work harder than anyone here? Go home or go stare at the fire, but leave my friends alone.”
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