O'Neill's Texas Bride

by Caroline Clemmons

  Lance laughed. “Mama already took it to him. She even read to him for a while. She said he’s a nice man.”

  “His family all died back in Ireland, so he’s all alone in the world. Being shut up is making him that depressed.”

  His face turned thoughtful. “I guess I could visit him.”

  Finn laid a hand on the boy’s shoulder. “You’ll be doing him a good turn if you do. Can’t imagine being stuck in bed for three months, can you?”

  Mr. George called to him. “O’Neill, I’ve something that might interest you.”

  Finn weaved through the crowd to the counter.

  Mr. George reached for a case, opened it and took out a violin and bow. “Just got this yesterday and thought of you. I’ll make you a good deal.”

  “May I see how it plays?”

  When the storekeeper handed it over, Finn plucked the strings, tuned the instrument, and tightened the bow strings. Then he placed the chin rest under his jaw, and struck up a tune. Several customers gathered round to listen.

  The tune sounded clear and sweet. He wanted this violin more than he could let Mr. George know. “Sounds good enough for a used fiddle. And how much are you asking?”

  Mr. George crossed his arms. “Five dollars. You can see it’s in good condition and has the case plus you’re the first to see it.”

  Finn pretended to mull over the price. He’d give twice that for this instrument. “Well, if you’ll be taking scrip, then we’ve a deal.”

  “Done. How’s the concertina working out?” Mr. George counted Finn’s scrip and rang up the sale.

  “Good, but the fiddle is me first choice.”

  Mr. George chuckled. “Wish I’d known that before I named the price.”

  Finn smiled at the store owner. “But ‘tis glad I am you didn’t.”

  A strident voice spoke behind him. “Well, I’m not surprised to find you here.”

  When Finn turned, James Llewellyn stood in front of him. “Hello, James. I suppose most people will come today since Farland announced our scrip is good here.”

  James stared at the fiddle. “You bought another instrument. What are you doing, planning a band?”

  Puzzled at James’s aggressive stance, Finn said, “Sure and that would be a fine idea. Will you be joinin’ us?”

  “Most Welsh are musical but not me.” He stared at the store’s back. “I suppose Stella Clayton walked here with you.”

  “All three Claytons did. Will you join us going back?”

  James appeared surprised at the offer. “Maybe I will at that if your invitation is real.”

  “Sure and you’re welcome. Now, I might buy meself a sarsaparilla. What are you here for or are you just looking around?”

  James’s posture relaxed.“Thought I might get me a new shirt.”

  “Aye, George has some nice ones. I was thinkin’ the same, but I spent me scrip on this fiddle.”

  James spotted the sign. “What’s this? He’s trying to cheat us.”

  Finn edged in front of James. “No, ‘tis all Farland will pay for the scrip. You’ll still save over what you’d spend in Lignite.”

  James picked up a red shirt. Finn could see the man’s lips move as he converted the price. “I see what you mean.” He took the shirt to the counter and paid.

  Stella carried a handkerchief. “This is a dime, but isn’t it lovely?”

  Nettie, who walked behind her, carried two similar handkerchiefs. “I want one, too. We’re going to each pay a nickel and get one for Mama.”

  Finn sent Stella a warning look. “James is here and I invited him to walk back with us.”

  Her eyes widened but she showed no other surprise. “How nice. Hello, Mr. Llewellyn.”

  Behind Finn, James said, “Ladies. Lance.”

  Finn asked, “Lance, did you give Mr. George your mother’s list?”

  “He has it ready in the basket. I paid for my book and he put it in the basket, too.”

  James leaned his head back. “You bought a book? What’s got into you? You could have a knife or a slingshot.”

  Lance blinked. “I want the book. I read Tom Sawyer and I think this takes up where the other left off.”

  James shook his head. “Thought only girls read books.”

  Stella and Nettie were each about to protest, but Finn jumped in. “Lots o’ men like to read. I read all I can, but then you’ve seen me, James.”

  He gave a derisive snort. “Seems a waste of time.”

  “We all have our likes and dislikes. Well, if we’re about ready I’ll treat us all to a sarsaparilla and a piece of candy.”

  Stella smiled at him and her blue-green eyes twinkled. “Really? Oh, I want a piece of chocolate.”

  Nettie chose red licorice and so did Lance. James said he didn’t care for candy. Finn suspected the man was embarrassed to take gifts from him. He paid for the candy then asked George for five drinks. Finn handed over his quarter before he passed the sarsaparillas to his friends.

  He popped a piece of chocolate into his mouth and picked up his drink. He carried the fiddle case under his arm. “Shall we head to the butcher’s?”

  Stella looked around. “Wait. We didn’t get anything for Papa.”

  Lance said, “I did.” He held up a harmonica.

  “Perfect. Remember he used to have one and we lost it in our move?”

  “Okay, then we’re set. Careful o’ me fiddle when we go through the door.”

  James rushed to hold the door. “Ladies.”

  Stella and Nettie glided through. When Finn was about to step outside, James let it close, very narrowly missing his fiddle case. If not for Lance struggling with the large basket, the case might have been damaged. ‘Twas good he had the case.

  Finn thought James had let the door close deliberately, but he said nothing. They reached the butcher’s and Finn went inside. He asked for a beef roast.

  The butcher picked up a large one. “I suppose you know Farland is only allowing 60% value for scrip. I know George bargained him up, but I couldn’t.”

  “I’ll take that roast and a side of bacon.” He paid with the last of his cash. While the owner wrapped his purchases, he thought he might have been foolish spending so much instead of saving for his ranch. No, he’d eaten with the Claytons often enough and hoped to again that he needed to contribute.

  When they were on the road, he told Lance, “Why don’t we trade? I’ll tote that basket if you’ll carry me fiddle.”

  “Naw, I can carry this.” Lance walked stooped and appeared to strain under the weight.

  The sisters rushed to take some items from Lance’s basket and place them in theirs.

  Stella apologized, “We’re sorry. We were so excited that we forgot why we came.”

  Nettie held her candy in the arm over which her basket looped and her drink in the other. “Sister, you’re smarter to have chosen something sweet that didn’t tie up your hands.”

  On their way again, Finn let Lance carry the basket. The boy needed to feel he did his part. Now that his sisters had helped, he didn’t appear to strain under the weight. Stella nudged Nettie and she walked beside James while Stella dropped back with Finn. Lance walked between the two couples.

  Finn watched James. The man’s jealousy ran deep in spite of anything he said. Why else would he act so against a friend?

  Stella took Finn’s arm and he forgot about James’s pettiness. He was walking with a beautiful woman on a pleasant Fall day. When she smiled up at him, he felt he could do anything.

  Yet, he reminded himself, he hadn’t found the villain who intended harm to the miners for some unknown reason.

  Chapter Eleven

  Back at the Clayton home, they unloaded their purchases.

  Mrs. Clayton held up her gift. “I’ve never owned such a fancy handkerchief. This lace edging is lovely.”

  When Lance handed his father the harmonica, Council laughed. “I declare. You remember when I had one of these?”

  “I do,
Papa. Can you still play for us?”

  James carried a couple of chairs into the living room as if he were at home. They all sat, but Finn chose the bench again and Stella sat beside him. James scowled, then apparently caught himself and his expression changed to a more pleasant one.

  Council tested the harmonica then broke into “Camptown Races”.

  Mrs. Clayton surprised Finn when she picked up the mandolin and strummed the instrument as if she did so daily.

  Finn followed along on his new violin that he thought of as a fiddle.

  The sisters clapped their hands in time and sang. Looking as if he felt foolish, James clapped along with them.

  Council looked at Finn. “I’ll bet you know this one.” He broke into “Dawning of the Day.”

  The women sang in English.

  Finn waited until they’d reached the end and then he sang the song in Gaelic while the senior Clayton’s accompanied him.

  Stella clasped her hands at her breast. “That was beautiful. Somehow the lyrics sound more romantic in Irish.”

  James leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. “Liked it better when I could understand the words.”

  Finn put his violin in the case. “Tomorrow is a work day and one I won’t enjoy near as much as the past few weeks.”

  James stared at him. “Why not?”

  Finn stood. “I’ve been transferred to Johann Swensen’s crew because o’ the fire. Farland says I’m too comfortable…no, he said ‘cozy’ on Clayton’s crew.”

  James stood also. “Swensen’s. Whew, tough, man. No more bonuses for you.”

  “So I’ve heard.” Finn shook Council’s hand. “Sure and ‘twas great working with you and your crew.”

  He turned to Mrs. Clayton. “Thank you for the meal and the music.”

  He bowed. “Ladies, Lance, ‘twas a pleasure.”

  When he left, James surprised him by coming along.

  “What did Farland say to you?”

  “Chewed me out for the fire even though he didn’t accuse me o’ being a part o’ the blaze. Then he told me I was ‘too cozy’ with Clayton’s crew and transferred me to Swensen’s starting in the morning.”

  “Man, that’s rough. Swensen’s always at the bottom of the board. Don’t know why. Maybe he lets his sons loaf on the job.”

  “Guess I’ll find out tomorrow morning.”

  Once they were back in the bunkhouse, Finn stopped to let Aleski know what had happened.

  “Well, I’ll be damned if that don’t beat everything. Guess we won’t be winning the bonus this month.”

  Jose was listening. “I’m sorry for you, but I have wonderful news. One of the families is moving out this week and I can send for my Maria.”

  Finn shook the man’s hand. “Hey, that’s great. When will she arrive?”

  “I sent a wire today. But she no send one back yet. Maybe she will just come here.”

  “Congratulations. Now all we need is for Aleski’s wife to show up.”

  Looking solemn, Aleski shook his head. “I don’t have enough saved yet. I need more bonuses.”

  “Sorry, a man needs his wife and child with him.” Finn felt guilty for spending his cash on himself and the concertina.

  “Good of you to say, Finn. None of us has cash, that’s the problem. I’m going to try to exchange scrip for cash with Farland. If I take fifty cents on the dollar, maybe he’ll trade.”

  Finn lowered his voice. “Don’t offer him that. Ask for seventy-five cents on the dollar and let him talk you down. He’s a greedy man.” He related what Mr. George had said.

  “Thanks, Finn. I’ll do that. The worst that can happen is he says no.”

  The next morning, Finn reported to Johann Swensen. He was introduced to Swensen’s three sons, Hans, Joe, and Peter, as well as Ralph Evans and his son, Junior.

  Swensen said, “Toby, another of Ralph’s sons, was sent to Clayton’s crew in your place. Now let’s get busy.”

  They traveled down the shaky elevator and then into a separate tunnel from the one where Clayton worked. Right away, Junior bumped into Finn, knocking him against the tunnel wall. He might have thought it was accidental, but he spotted the smile Junior exchanged with his father.

  After a few more feet, Hans bumped into Finn, almost sending him to his knees.

  Finn was stuck in hell with five devils. He stood with his back toward the tunnel wall, his feet braced, and faced the men. “All right. This had better stop right now. No wonder this crew is at the bottom of the board. Stay out o’ me way and let me work. Wouldn’t hurt you to do the same.”

  Johann glared at him. “What are you squawking about?”

  “As if you didn’t see Junior and Hans knock into me. I’m telling you, I don’t have time for games. I came here to work.”

  Ralph Sr. said, “Watch yourself, O’Neill, or you could get injured.”

  Ignoring the others, Finn set to working the coal and left them standing to stare at him. In a few minutes, they started working too. But they were either clumsy or lazy or both. He out-produced any two of them. Three if you counted Peter, the youngest of the lot.

  Not hard to see where the boys got their mean streaks. No doubt their fathers had talked jealously about Council Clayton. Had they started the rumors or just fed them?

  Peter and Joe looked about the same age as Lance and clearly didn’t want to be here. Easy to understand why they resented Lance being able to stay at home.

  All morning he worked as fast as he could. By noon, his output far exceeded any two of the others.

  Over lunch, Swensen asked, “Where’d you learn to work so fast?”

  “From watching Council Clayton. He can mine more coal than anyone I’ve ever seen.”

  Ralph Sr. said, “What’s the point. Pay’s the same no matter how hard you work.”

  Swensen stared at his friend. “Wouldn’t it be nice to win a bonus? Or just not be the bottom of the board?”

  Junior shrugged. “Don’t seem to matter. Bonus ain’t much anyway. Why kill ourselves?”

  “Back to work.” Swensen stomped off.

  Junior glared at Finn. “See what you started. I ought to toss you down the pit.”

  Swensen yelled, “Junior, get over here. That goes for all of you. Anything happens to O’Neill, I’ll know who to blame.”

  Finn kept to himself and worked at his steady rate for the rest of the day. When the day was over, he could hardly wait to get up on top of the ground. He walked toward the bunkhouse without a word to his coworkers.

  He washed up, wishing he could wash away the entire day.

  Aleski appeared beside him. “How did the day go?”

  Finn dried his face and hands. “I’m surprised I’m alive. Those are the laziest, most worthless men I’ve had the misfortune to meet.”

  “Suspected as much. The Evans kid who came on our crew don’t know his ass from a hole in the ground. If his dad weren’t a miner, he’d be fired. We can kiss a bonus goodbye.”

  He shook his head. “Well, it won’t be Swensen’s crew who wins. I’ve already been threatened by Ralph Evans Jr. for working too hard. Says I set a bad example.”

  “Say, maybe you should see Adams and ask to be moved to another crew. I don’t like any of the Swensen or Evans families.”

  “Naw, Adams couldn’t contradict Farland’s orders. Afraid I’m stuck.”

  “Right. If you need some help…um, reasoning with that crew, let me know. My friends and I will ‘speak’ to them convincingly.”

  “Thanks, Aleski. I appreciate the thought.”

  Even though he wouldn’t ask for Aleski’s help, the man’s offer and support meant a lot. They went in to dinner.

  James sat beside Finn. “How’d it go with the new crew?”

  Finn sent him a glower.

  “That bad?”

  “Worse than you can imagine.” He repeated what he’d told Aleski.

  “Man, that crew sounds lazy. No wonder they’ve never won a bonu
s.”

  Finn leaned in to ask, “Is it true that they’re in no danger o’ being fired?”

  James shrugged. “I don’t know. Appears there’s a shortage of miners. And with the fire, men are leaving.”

  Finn was shocked. “Already?”

  James sopped gravy with his bread. “Yeah, quite a bit of turnover anyway since the accidents started.”

  “I didn’t realize that. Who do you think’s behind the trouble?”

  James looked at his plate, spearing a stray piece of potato. “I can’t say. Hartford wants a union, but he’s not the only one. Besides, I don’t think he’d cause trouble other than talk.”

  “I agree. He’s that sure a union would help miners, but he doesn’t appear the sort to conspire to kill men.”

  “As you learned today, everyone is willing to kill for something.” James picked up his plate and headed for the door.

  Finn sat thinking and listening to the buzz of voices around him. Finally, he stood and carried his plate to the dish bin. He stepped outside for a few minutes’ walk, but fatigue dragged at him. Or, mayhap ‘twas disgust.

  He went in, shucked off his clothes, and lay on his bunk. What was he to do about his new crew? He’d gone from working with men he admired to working with the dregs of humanity. Damned if he’d let them defeat him.

  James came in from outside and plopped on his bunk. “Bet you’re tired tonight.”

  “Disgusted. I worked hard on Clayton’s crew, but the men were all hard workers and friendly. There was respect between us and for Clayton.”

  James chuckled. “Toby Evans must be a shock to them.”

  “Huh, I imagine he’s the one who had the shock. Clayton would expect him to do his share. He’s probably exhausted after actually working for the first time in his life.”

  James turned on his side facing away from Finn. “Good luck tomorrow.”

  “Thanks, you too.” Finn lay looking at the moonlight from the window create patterns on the ceiling.

  Laughter came from the card players. He hoped Aleski was winning again and that Farland would trade scrip for cash but he wondered at the Polish man’s stamina. Aleski must need only a few hours’ sleep.

  Finn resolved to go ask Stella for a walk tomorrow after work. He refused to let Swensen’s crew change his routine. They could try intimidating him all they wanted, but he wasn’t scaring off.