“Stella, love, don’t fash yourself about that. I wanted you to know the truth, but I hope you understand that I’m telling you this because I have feelings for you.”
“Feelings? You have feelings? What about my feelings, those of my family? You’ve deceived us all.”
“Which is what I’m trying to remedy. Farland’s given me until the 15th to find the guilty person or persons.” He leaped to his feet and paced. “After that, I’ll be gone. I’d planned to ask you to come with me, but if I don’t find the blackguard behind the trouble, I’ll have naught to offer you except a room at me sister’s house.”
She stared at him and he couldn’t read her thoughts. “Leave my family?”
“Aye, you said you wanted out o’ this life. Well, so do I. You can’t hate mining more than I do. I’ve been wracking me brain to think o’ something else your papa can do with his talents. I’m sure there’re opportunities in McClintock Falls if I but knew o’ them.”
“You think I’d go with a man who lied to me by omission?”
“That’s what undercover means, Stella. Can’t you understand I couldn’t tell anyone? I shouldn’t have told you now. You not knowing doesn’t change how I feel toward you.”
“Of course it does. How would you feel if you suddenly learned I’m a totally different person that I’d told you?”
Finn reached for her. “I wouldn’t care, for I know how I feel about you.”
She pulled away. “Just go, Finn. I can get home on my own.”
“I won’t. If you can’t see reason, I’ll still walk you home and not bother you again until you invite me.”
“No, you won’t walk me home.” She hobbled toward the coat tree, leaning heavily on the cane. She stumbled and would have fallen if he hadn’t caught her.
He grabbed her shawl and put it around her shoulders. “We can go now.”
She locked the school behind them. “I’m not changing my mind. Just don’t even talk to me.”
They walked toward her home.
“Stella, think o’ what you’re doing. You liked me fine before. I’m the same person.”
She stared ahead. “Don’t talk to me.”
After a block of silence, he tried again. “When you think over what I’ve told you, you’ll see ‘twas wrong to be angry.”
She whacked his leg with her cane.
“Stella? That hurt.”
“Good. Now stop talking.”
He waited until they were at her porch. “Remember you promised to keep my secret. I won’t bother you again until you invite me.” He helped her navigate the steps.
“Goodbye, Mr. O’Neill.” She went inside and closed the door in his face.
Defeated, he strode toward the longhouse. Although the thought offered little consolation, at least he hadn’t missed supper this time.
Chapter Sixteen
James sat beside him. “What’s got you looking so glum?”
“I took off early to meet Stella at her school so I could tell her how I feel about her. Afraid she doesn’t want me to call on her again.”
On the other side, Aleski nudged him. “Ah, she’ll come around. The way she looked at you at the fiesta sent clear signals. The woman is crazy about you.”
“Maybe she was. Now she’s mad and in no uncertain words told me not to come around.”
James gestured with his biscuit. “That’s the way of women. They’re fickle things.”
Finn shook his head. “She’s not a thing, James. She’s a beautiful and intelligent woman. She just doesn’t understand what I tried to tell her.”
James used another biscuit to sop up the gravy on his plate. “Tell me and I’ll be the judge of whether or not she’s right to be angry.”
“Not a chance. I’ll just give her a few days and hope she comes to her senses.”
Aleski nodded approval. “That’s the way, Finn. Let her think over what’s between you and she’ll realize she loves you.”
Finn hoped so. He only had a week and then he would have to leave, successful or not. He’d had flirtations, but he’d never felt about a woman the way he did about Stella. She was all he’d dreamed of in a life’s companion. She’d be the perfect wife for him.
He pictured her family moving to McClintock Falls. They’d all be together forever. He tossed his plate into the bin by the door and lay down on his bunk. He couldn’t concentrate on reading, didn’t want to play a game with the other miners.
He wanted Stella. Wanted to hold her and kiss her sweet lips. His heart hurt, as if the organ had truly broken in two.
***
Stella broke into tears as soon as she was inside her home. She didn’t want anyone to see her cry, especially Papa. Maybe he wasn’t home yet.
Mama rushed at her. “Dear, are you in pain? I thought Finn was coming home with you.”
“He walked me home but I sent him away.”
“What on earth for? Tell me what’s wrong, Stella. Your father will be here in moment and we’ll have supper.”
“Mama, please, just let me go to my room and lie down. I don’t want to be around anyone right now.”
Nettie grabbed her arm. “I’ll help you, sister.”
Once she was in their room, she flung herself on her bed and sobbed. “He lied to me.”
“Stella, you know he cares for you. Whatever caused this can be remedied. If you two talk things over you can work this out.”
“No, you can’t undo a lie. He waited too long to tell me.”
“Is he married?”
“No, nothing like that. Please, Nettie, just let me be. I need to be alone. Tell Papa the day tired me out and I need to rest.”
“All right. I’ll bring your supper on a tray. Shall I light the lamp?”
“Thank you, but the dark suits my mood.”
When she was alone, Stella went over every word Finn had spoken today. Then she tried to recall all he’d ever said to her. Remembering all the nice times only made her sink further into depression.
He hadn’t cared for her. Oh, she recognized the interest in his eyes, but he was just dallying with her. She’d known he was a dreamer, but she didn’t realize how much she’d come to care for him until the explosion and landslide.
She’d envisioned them married and living on a ranch and her family moving nearby. What a fool she’d been. He’d never intended them to be wed. He’d only wanted a means to label her father a criminal.
Recalling she’d asked him point blank if he thought her father guilty, he hadn’t said no. His answer was that her father was the hardest worker and best man in Lignite. What kind of reply was that?
Had that been the truth? If so, why hadn’t he said “no” outright?
Nettie opened the door and slipped in with her supper. “I told Dad the headache is back and you need quiet and dark. We’re all worried about you, sister. Please tell me something.”
“I told you he lied to me.”
“Stella, I’ve seen the way he looks at you. He’s in love with you. So what has set you against him?”
“I can’t tell, only that he lied to me.”
“Is he wanted by the law?”
A derisive laugh burst out before she could stop herself. “Quite the opposite. Look, I gave my word I would keep what he told me a secret. Just let me wallow in self-pity tonight and I’ll be all right in the morning.”
“I’ll leave as soon as you’ve eaten. Mama made you a cup of her headache remedy.”
Stella sat up and choked down her meal. She drained the cup and set it back on the tray. “There, are you satisfied?”
“No, but that will have to do. I’ll swan, you’re harder to reason with than the children at school.” She carried the tray and closed the door behind her.
Stella knew Mama and Papa were worried. Probably Lance too. She simply could not face her family tonight. The pain of betrayal was too great.
Somehow, she endured the next two days without breaking into tears. Except at night. Nettie must know she cried, but di
dn’t mention the fact.
On Sunday, she dreaded going to church. Tongues would wag because Finn wasn’t with her. Would he attend? He appeared to know all the songs, even said one was his ma’s favorite.
She pretended nothing was amiss as she and her family walked to church. Inside, she longed to crawl into a corner and stay.
Ilya Swensen asked, “Where’s your young man, Miss Clayton?”
“He isn’t my young man, just a friend. I suppose he isn’t coming today.”
“I hope nothing’s wrong.” Her tone invited sharing a confidence.
“He’s probably sleeping late.” She pretended to see a friend. “Oh, excuse me. Virginia is signaling me about something.”
Nettie whispered, “Virginia? Is that the best you could do? You don’t even speak to her.”
“She was the first person I saw. Let’s sit down so people won’t be likely to ask about Finn.”
But when Papa and Mama and Lance joined them on the pew, Finn accompanied them. He sat at the other end, by Papa. Dear heavens, what was the crazy Irishman thinking?
Miserable as she was, she couldn’t get over her sense of betrayal. When Reverend Mitchell preached on forgiveness, she thought he’d read her mind. Could she forgive Finn?
After the service, Finn shook her father’s hand and weaved his way to the exit without speaking to her. She’d been set to snub him, but he hadn’t given her a chance. Her anger climbed that he hadn’t spoken to her.
But hadn’t he said he wouldn’t until she invited him? Perhaps he was waiting for her to send him an invitation. She wasn’t ready to do that, no matter how much her heart ached.
***
Finn strode out of church quickly as he could before he gave in and went to Stella. Seeing her sitting there all fresh and beautiful tore at him. She should be his fiancée. Darned if he would give up. He’d give her a few days and then he’d try to talk to her again.
In the meantime, he’d keep trying to solve the puzzle of who wanted Council and him dead or looking guilty.
Finn realized there were only two people who fit as the one behind the trouble and he considered both friends. Doing so hurt, but he forced himself to view the facts objectively. This was too important to let his opinions interfere.
Aleski Karpinski was up most of the night and needed cash to get his wife and child to America. He was a nice guy who Finn had worked with on Clayton’s crew, but he knew his way around mining. He had supposedly been sick the day the platform cable was cut. He knew about explosives, but he couldn’t have been the one following Finn from the Claytons’ that night.
James Llewellyn was a friend, but jealous of Finn’s friendship with Stella and her family. He often disappeared with no explanation. Did he know how to use explosives? Probably. He’d worked in a mine in Wales before coming to America.
***
Stella dusted off her fingers after erasing the blackboard, happy she didn’t have to rely on the cane this week.
Wearing her shawl, Nettie strolled into the room where the older children studied. “I’m ready for home, aren’t you?”
She pulled her own shawl around her shoulders. “I’m starving. You’d think I was an orphaned waif on the streets.”
Nettie stepped toward the door. “Then let’s go.”
Both girls jumped when the door opened.
James Llewellyn stepped inside. “Ladies, didn’t mean to startle you. Miss Stella, Finn O’Neill had me to stop by and ask you to wait here for him so he can tell you something important. He said even though you’re put out with him, please wait here. He said for Miss Nettie to go ahead home, and he’d only keep you a few minutes.”
Stella frowned. “Isn’t he working for another couple of hours?”
“Not today. He took the day off and went to Spencer on an errand. Well, I’ll be on my way. Good day, ladies.” James left and closed the door behind him.
Nettie grasped Stella’s arm. “Maybe he’s going to throw himself on your mercy and propose.”
She looked at her sister. “Don’t be a silly romantic. I told you I’m not marrying a miner. Not even Finn O’Neill.” But her curiosity was aroused. Dared she hope he’d decided to leave Lignite and mining?
Thinking aloud, she said, “I wonder why James was off work early. Never mind, go on Nettie. I have lessons I can work on until Finn arrives. I’m sure he won’t be long or he wouldn’t have asked me to wait here.”
Nettie wavered. “I don’t know, sister. Are you sure?”
“If he hasn’t shown up soon, I’ll follow you and he can come to the house if he has anything to tell me.”
With a concerned glance over her shoulder, Nettie pulled her shawl close and left.
Stella hung her wrap on the coat rack and returned to her desk. While she could elaborate her lessons planned for the remainder of the year, she was as fidgety as if covered by ants. She opened a drawer and sorted through the contents.
A slingshot that belonged to Peter Swensen caught her eye. How sad he now worked in the mines at fourteen. True a lot of boys left school at that age, but Peter held promise for a better life. She set the toy weapon aside to return to his family.
The door opened and James Llewellyn returned. This time he held a gun pointed at her. .
“Why do you have a gun? I don’t understand.”
“You’ll understand plenty before the day’s over. Stay right where you are.” He advanced on her.
She opened her mouth to scream, but he shook his head.
“Yell and you’re dead. Here’s what’s going to happen. You and I are going to go for a walk. Anyone who sees us will think we’re cozy, and I’ll have this gun against your side. Any attempt to get help and I’ll shoot you and whoever you’re trying to signal.”
“Why are you doing this?”
He tugged her close. “You think your pa will be so full of himself now? And that Irishman will never know what hit him.”
“Don’t do this.” Was James mad or just evil? Focusing on her predicament, she fought for an idea to rescue herself and Finn. None came to her.
They walked through town with his arm around her. She saw a woman she knew but was afraid to try to signal to her. James held the gun against her side and she knew he’d shoot. Praying something would occur to her to distract him, she gazed around for safety.
Finn. James had said Finn wouldn’t know what hit him. Dear Merciful Heavens, what did James plan? He had to be the one behind all the disasters. How could he?
He’d been in their home, talked pleasantly to her father. Did he hate him so much? And her? She knew he resented her choosing Finn over him, but the mine incidents had begun far before that happened.
She had to leave a trail. Dragging her injured leg, she hoped she left a trail.
“What are you hanging back for? Pick up your feet and walk.”
“You know I hurt my ankle badly when the rock ledge fell. I still have trouble walking and you’re hurrying me.”
“Don’t be casting about for help. I told you I’ll shoot anyone who tries to stop us and I mean it.” He tugged on her waist.
She repeated, “Why are you doing this? I’ve done nothing to you.”
“Think you’re too good for me, don’t you?”
“Not at all. No one can explain why he or she feels romantically attracted to one person over another.”
“So you’re in love with the Irishman as I thought?”
“I-I don’t know. I don’t know him well enough to say yet. We’re just walking out together to get to know one another better.”
“You know him as well as you will, for I’ve plans for him.”
“But why?”
“Enough questions.”
They left the road and crossed a gravel area to the mine’s storage buildings. No, this couldn’t be good.
He dragged her past the first two and opened the third. “Get inside and don’t be giving me trouble.”
When they were inside, he closed the door
and shoved her into a corner. After he lit a Davy lamp, he leaned against the wall.
“We’ll wait here for your lover.” He picked up a coil of rope.
Chapter Seventeen
Finn washed as well as he could without bathing and went in for supper. He couldn’t get Stella out of his mind. A dozen times he wanted to confess his love and ask her to wait for him while he sorted out who was guilty. But he couldn’t. If she loved him, she’d take him as he was and not accuse him of lying to her.
As soon as he’d eaten, he strode to her house. He’d given her three days to think things through. Maybe she’d reached a decision in his favor. Wanting to see her sweet face and lovely eyes, he tapped on the door.
Lance opened the door and peered around. “Where’s Stella?”
Finn stepped inside. “I don’t know. I’ve come to see her.”
Nettie rushed toward him. “What do you mean, came to see her? You sent Mr. Llewellyn to tell her to wait at the school for you. We’ve wondered what on earth could be keeping the two of you so long.”
Fear shot through Finn. “I never asked James to tell her anything. I’m going to look for her. Tell your father to get more help. James Lewellyn is the one behind all the trouble.”
Finn raced to the school. The door was unlocked and Stella’s shawl hung on the coat tree. James had her. Which way would they go?
He stood on the school steps and scanned the area. He found a man’s boot print and beside it that of a woman’s shoe. Finn strode in that direction, searching for more prints.
Apparently they were walking close together and Finn worried that James had a gun pointed at her. Stella dragged her left foot. Good girl, at least she left more of a trail. But then they turned onto the rocky portion of the road.
Frantic, he scanned each side of the road without success. He stopped to survey the area in the hope of determining which way James had taken Stella. A woman walking along caught his attention.
“Ma’am, did you see a dark-haired man about my size and a red-headed woman walking this way?”
The woman screwed up her face. “If you mean the schoolteacher, she was altogether too snuggled up to the man and right in public. I’ve a mind to complain to Mr. Farland.”
O'Neill's Texas Bride Page 15