O'Neill's Texas Bride

by Caroline Clemmons

  Before he went to his bunk, he sought the storekeeper. “I’ve lost me blanket. I know ‘tis Sunday, but can you sell me another?”

  “This once. I’ll get you one and put it on your bill, O’Neill. Cold weather’s on the way.”

  He accepted the blanket. “I’m that grateful, Mr. Frampton.”

  Finn staggered toward the longhouse. While he was working toward Stella, he had high energy. Now, he could barely remain upright.

  He met Aleski near the door. “Best get your hands seen to. Piotr too.”

  Aleski held up his giant paws. “Mine were not so bad. I won’t be playing cards for a couple of days, but the others need a break to keep their scrip a few days longer.” He laughed, then asked, “How’s your woman?”

  “She’s not mine yet, but she’s finally awake. Wants to go home but she has a concussion and will be staying there at least until tomorrow.”

  “She may not be your wedded wife, but the woman has eyes only for you, O’Neill. You’re caught man, same as I was.”

  “I hope you’re right.” His surroundings swam by him.

  The Pole grabbed Finn’s arm. “Hey, don’t pass out on me. Here, come along to your bunk.”

  “Good idea. Me energy left in a rush.”

  “Come on, get shed of your clothes and lie down. I’ll unlace your boots.”

  When Finn would have protested, the Pole whispered. “I know about the knife and gun, man. I wear the same and spotted the shape.”

  “Thanks for your help. Guess I’m not as strong as I thought.”

  “Sure you are. I saw you digging like a machine. You moved more than we move with our picks.”

  Finn threw off his shirt and kicked out of his britches, remembering to fold the clothes over his boots before he crawled onto his bunk.

  The Pole unfolded the new blanket and covered him. “You’ve a good rest coming.”

  Finn mumbled another thanks before he burrowed into the pillow and fell asleep.

  The next morning, the longhouse dining room was abuzz with talk about the landslide and what caused the boulder’s fall.

  James sat next to him. “You were dead to the world when I came in. Tell me exactly what happened and how seriously Miss Clayton is injured.”

  Finn raised his voice so other diners could hear. “Here’s what happened.” He explained about the picnic and explosion that sent the boulder and them down the hill. “Miss Clayton is in the infirmary. I don’t know if she can go home today.”

  James clapped him on the back. “Sorry I wasn’t around to help. I spent the day in Spencer”

  Finn frowned. “Didn’t know the store there was still accepting scrip.”

  “They’re not, but the good weather made me long to stretch my legs. I remembered the spot where I found you and Lance eating and thought it a good place for my own picnic.”

  He paused with his fork pointing at James. “Aye, ‘twas a lovely day for an outing…until someone blew us halfway to kingdom come.”

  Talking about the landslide brought back the terror Finn had experienced when he thought he’d lost Stella. He swallowed hard and fought for calm. “I thought sure she was dead from all the debris covering her. If not for me seeing a scrap o’ her skirt, reaching her would have taken longer.”

  James shook his head. “She’s lucky then that you spotted her green dress. Are you going to work with your hands bandaged?”

  “I’ve no choice. I’m full of bruises and cuts but I don’t want to lose me job.”

  “Huh, didn’t think you liked mining.” James forked egg into his mouth.

  “I’m here, so I’ll do me best. Farland is already that mad at me from the fire. I’ll not do anything that gives him cause to fire me.”

  “Then we’d best get to work.” James stood and picked up his plate.

  At the mine entrance, Finn met the two men assigned to round out the crew. Both Cesare Garcia and Darby McGee had worked as miners in North Carolina and fell into the job. Finally, Swensen had a chance of getting off the bottom of the board.

  As soon as he’d cleaned up after his shift and had supper, he headed to the infirmary. He didn’t know if Stella had gone home, but he hoped she’d stay as long as needed. As sore as he was, she must feel worse.

  Nurse Williams met him in the foyer. “Here now, where do you think you’re headed? Miss Clayton can’t have young men parading in and out.

  He held up the book he’d brought. “How about if I visit with Mick Gallagher?”

  “Much better. He gets lonely.” She went back to her office.

  Finn ambled into the ward and stopped at Mick’s bed. “Here’s a book I found near the longhouse. I thought you could read it before I searched for the owner.”

  The young man checked the title. “Jules Verne. I’ve heard of him but haven’t read this. Reckon people can really go around the world in eighty days?”

  “Aye, ‘tis possible. Hope you enjoy the book.” With a grin at his friend, he put a shushing finger to his lips and stepped around the screen to see Stella.

  “Hello, Finn. I was worried because Nurse Williams said she wasn’t letting another person come see me. I-I hoped you’d come by when your shift finished.”

  “You look good. I know you’d rather be at home. Are you in pain?”

  She shrugged. “Oh, you know, aches and pains from being thrown and having rocks land on top of me. I’m sure you’re sore too. How are your hands?”

  He held them out for her to see. “Almost back to normal. Probably heal faster if I could get the grime our o’ the crevices.”

  “Who’s doing this, Finn? I’m so worried. Finn if you’d been the one under all the wreckage, I’m not sure I could have reached you in time.”

  “Others came and ‘twas not just me digging. And still we don’t know who caused the boulder to fall.”

  “Mama said the sheriff found explosive evidence.”

  “Aye, do you not remember a loud bang as the slide began?”

  “Sort of, but I thought it was the crack of the rock breaking loose.” She clasped her hands. “Finn, I can’t help being afraid for you and my family. Someone is determined to disgrace Papa and maybe kill us.”

  “We can’t live in fear or the guilty person wins. I’m that cautious, but I won’t stop me routine on account o’ some blackguard. He’ll be caught soon or I miss me guess. He’s getting’ cocky and made no attempt to hide the evidence o’ explosives he used.”

  Stella blushed and put her hands on her cheeks. She whispered, “Finn, do you think he was watching us? I mean, we were lying down on the blanket. You touched my breast.”

  “We did nothing wrong and were both fully clothed. But I suspect he spied on us, the devil. ‘Tis how he knew when we were near the edge.”

  “That makes things worse.”

  Finn took her hand in his. “Don’t be thinking that. I thought you’d be going home today.”

  She grimaced. “I would have but I made the mistake of letting Nurse Williams know my ankle is sprained. She won’t let me go until tomorrow. Honestly, she’s like an Army General.”

  Nurse Williams stepped around the screen. “Aha, I suspected you’d be here with Miss Clayton. Young man, let me see your hands.”

  Finn held them out to the nurse. “’Tis fine I am.”

  “Harrumph, well, this Army General,” she glanced at Stella, “is ordering you to leave and let Miss Clayton rest.”

  Resigning himself to the martinet’s decree, Finn kissed Stella’s forehead. “I’m glad you’re better, but stay here until you’re really healed enough to leave. I’ll find you tomorrow, wherever you are.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  On Wednesday, Finn received a summons to Farland’s office. He followed the mousy man whose name he’d never learned. He feared the owner would fire him. Then how would he ever achieve his bargain for Lippincott’s ranch?

  His feet turned to lead and his body sagged at the thought of being sent home in disgrace. And what wou
ld he tell Stella? Hadn’t he been that cocky and assured her he’d have his ranch soon?

  How could he ask her to leave with him when he wouldn’t have more than a single room in someone else’s home? Unless he succeeded here, the most he could hope for was managing the former Lippincott ranch instead of owning the fine place. Almost accomplishing his dream would be a hard pill to swallow.

  When he arrived at the mine’s offices, Farland’s office door stood open. Finn had no intention of letting the man intimidate him.

  He stood tall and rapped on the door facing. “You wanted to see me?”

  With a fierce scowl, Farland motioned him inside. “Get in here and close the door behind you.”

  When Finn had done as requested, Farland yelled, “Instead of finding who’s guilty, you continue to be the center of trouble. What have you got to say for yourself?”

  What could he say? “I’ve eliminated people you thought were guilty as well as several I thought might be involved. I admit I haven’t found the culprit, but I’m close.”

  “You have someone in mind?”

  He did, but he couldn’t prove anything yet. “Not that I can share right now. I need proof and I have none.”

  Farland stabbed his forefinger at Finn. “I think you’re stalling. You have until the 15th`. If you haven’t found out who’s guilty by then, you’re out of here and I’m telling Uncle Vincent you loafed on the job.”

  Embarrassment turned to anger. “I’ve not loafed and you know it. I’ve worked harder than most o’ your miners.”

  “You haven’t accomplished what I hired you to do. Remember, Monday. Now get out of my sight.”

  Without another word, Finn turned and left. What a sorry excuse for a man Farland was. He walked to the Clayton’s home and rapped on the door. Carefully composing his face to hide his anger at Farland, he smiled when Lance opened the door.

  “Is Stella home now?”

  “Sure, come on in.” Lance stood aside to admit Finn. “She’s in the parlor and sure being hard to get along with. You know how redheads can be.” Lance winked at Finn.

  From the parlor, Stella said, “I heard that, Lance Clayton. I’m not too injured to box your ears. Yours, too, Finn O’Neill.”

  When Finn entered the room, she sat on the bench with her foot propped on one of the kitchen chairs.

  Lance danced back and forth out of his sister’s reach. “You’d have to catch me first. I can outrun you.”

  Council grinned and pointed to the ladder-back chair. “Finn, have a seat if you dare.”

  Finn would have preferred sitting beside Stella, but he figured she needed extra space to adjust her body so she didn’t rest on sore places. “You going to stay home from school the rest o’ the week?”

  “No, I’ll be going back to teaching tomorrow. I’m perfectly fine except for a bit of headache and a sore ankle. Already, both are better so I’m sure by tomorrow morning I’ll be back to normal.”

  Mrs. Clayton came into the room. “Now, Stella, a few more days won’t hurt.”

  “Mama, Nettie’s exhausted. Even with Lance’s help, teaching both classes is too hard when most of her students don’t speak English. And if the kids become frustrated, they’ll stop coming to school.”

  Council gave his wife a look filled with love and kindness. “Grace, love, the girl’s determined and there’s no point arguing. Unless we tie her to a chair or her bed, she’ll be going to school tomorrow.”

  His wife sighed and sat on the kitchen chair that had been moved to the parlor. “I know you’re right, dear, but I thought I should try one more time.”

  Finn asked, “How will you get there, if you’re unable to walk.”

  “I can walk!” She sighed. “Sorry, I snapped at you. Well, I hobble a bit but Nettie will let me lean on her. Nurse Williams loaned me a cane, which helps.”

  Nettie came into the room. “She turned down the crutch.”

  Finn recognized the signs and clearly Stella’s ire was rising. “I’m sure you’ll do well with the cane. And you can whack students with it.”

  She grinned at him. “I’ll only hit wild Irishmen who cause me trouble.”

  He held up his hands in surrender. “I never cause trouble, although Farland won’t agree. He had me in his office again because o’ the explosion and landslide. Why he blames me when someone else does these things is beyond me.”

  Council puffed on his pipe before he spoke. “You’re guilty by association with me, I’m afraid. I don’t know how long we can last with these horrible events terrorizing us all. He’ll likely soon fire me.”

  “I hope you’re safe from attack. Farland’s that worried. I figure his profits are way down and he’s scared he’ll lose the mine.”

  “He’s made a lot of mistakes in dealing with us. His wages are less than he guaranteed. When I asked him about the difference, he said his expenses setting up the mine housing and the associated businesses had been higher than he’d anticipated. Yet he lives in a fine house at the other end of town.”

  “I’ve not been there, but ‘tis fancy from the outside. I’d wager the man never does without himself.” He stood and looked at Stella. “I’ll not delay leaving, for I know you need to rest up for tomorrow.”

  She smiled at him. “You’ll come back?”

  “Aye, but I’ll give you a couple o’ days to recover.” He bid the family goodbye and went back to the longhouse. He could use some time to recover himself, for didn’t his body still feel as if a stampede of horses had run over him?

  But he had things to discuss with Stella. The boulder’s fall and landslide impressed on him the need to be honest with her. What would she think, though?

  Finn waited two days until Thursday and his crew rode down on the rickety platform he hated. “Swensen, I’m asking to leave two and a half hours early today.”

  The man scowled. “You’re my best worker. Is this something important?”

  “Aye, I’d not ask otherwise. I’ll work all the harder until then.”

  With a shrug, Swensen agreed. “Don’t see how you can work harder than you do, but you have my permission.”

  He had a pocket watch he’d borrowed from Aleski. At half past three, Finn ascended to the surface. Being alone on the platform, he was able to turn the handle on his own.

  Quickly, he cleaned up and changed shirts and britches. Then he walked swiftly to the school a few streets away. Children were already scattering when he arrived. He’d almost cut his appearance too late.

  Nettie stood beside Stella’s desk. “Hurry, sister. I’m tired and hungry.”

  Stella looked up and spotted him. “Finn, what a surprise. You didn’t get fired, did you?”

  “No, I just wanted to talk with you and thought I’d come to the school and see how you’re walking.”

  “Nettie, you go ahead and Finn will walk me home, won’t you, Finn?”

  He nodded and strode to the desk. “Aye, ‘tis why I came. That and a chance to talk to you a while.”

  Nettie smiled at him. “Okay, then I’ll go home. When you’re finished ‘talking’ you can come home. I’m sure Mama will invite you to supper, Finn.”

  He chuckled at her inference, because the assumption had brought a blush to Stella’s lovely face. “We’ll not be too long.”

  Nettie raised an eyebrow. “Uh huh.”

  Stella hissed, “Nettie?”

  Finn held the door for Nettie then closed and locked the door behind her. He went to Nettie’s school room and borrowed her desk chair which he set beside at a right angle to Stella’s.

  A frown marred her lovely brow. “Finn, you have me worried. What’s this about?”

  “I’ve been wantin’ to talk to you serious like.”

  She folded her hands on the desk. “I’m listening, but you look so fierce.”

  “This is a long story, so you please listen to all o’ it before you make a judgment. And promise you won’t breathe a word o’ it until I say ‘tis okay. Do I have your word?
”

  She nodded, her gorgeous blue-green eyes full of questions.

  “When I was living with me sister and brother in law, I helped him train horses. He’s that gifted and I learned his way o’ gentling them. We agreed to go into business together, but I had no money except what he paid me each month.”

  “But you want your own place, right?”

  “Aye, and the large ranch next to Dallas came for sale. The opportunity was too good to pass up. Dallas talked me into going to his grandfather and asking him to loan me the money.”

  “He’s the one the town’s named for?”

  “The same and he has a lot o’ money. But when I got there, Farland was already in Grandpa’s study. Grandpa’s wife is a harridan, and Farland is her nephew. He wanted me to come here and see if I could learn who’s behind all the trouble. If I worked as a miner, he figured I’d have an inside chance the sheriff wouldn’t.”

  She gasped. “You’re a spy?”

  He held up s hand. “I said hold your judgment, remember? But yes, I’ve been working undercover to find who’s behind this trouble. So far, I haven’t had success except to cross off people Farland suspected.”

  He saw her ire growing. “And one of those was my father, am I right?”

  “Aye, but I crossed him off the list right away, for no one works harder or is more fair than he is.”

  She put her hands at her waist. “But courting me was a way to check on him.”

  “No, never. I tried to stay away from you so as not to color my opinion o’ your father, but I was helpless. I’ve never experienced such a feeling. From that first evening we met, I couldn’t get you out o’ me mind.”

  “But you thought my father was a…a criminal who’d kill the men he worked with every day. How could you cozy up to me when you thought so little of him?”

  “I told you I ruled him out right away. I admire the man, but what I think o’ you has nothing to do with what I think o’ him.”

  “If you walked with me and went to church with me and picnics and…and, oh my word.” She brought her hands to her cheeks. “When I think what we did on the boulder before it fell.”