“Ed, if it’s money, ye know—” Liam began.
“Ye know I couldn’t accept that. I have me pride, and me own nest egg. Thanks, the same.”
“I wouldn’t want to tread on yer pride,” Liam said with a tease and a smile. “Nonetheless, the offer remains open. I'll still take care of Annie, however, whether ye like it or not.”
“With that, I have no say,” Ed replied. “I know better than to wedge meself between the two o’ yez.”
Annie looked in Liam’s direction covertly. He winked at her, in appreciation of her love for him throughout the years. Suddenly, Annie lost composure and began crying.
Liam went to her, pulled her to her feet and held her in a strong embrace. “Don’t cry, Annie,” he said. “We won’t be parted for long. I know somethin’ will work so we can be with each other.” Liam looked at Ed over Annie's shoulder with a please-think-it-over look.
~~~
Eva, always brought to tears when it came to the sweet relationship between her husband and Annie MacDonald, saw the non-verbal communication between Ed and Liam. She had a certain idea of what was said. She stood up and went to Annie and Liam, putting her arms around them. Annie let go of Liam and took Eva into her arms. Eva, already a mess emotionally, soon was blinking tears from her eyes.
“I luff you, Annie,” Eva whispered, barely audible.
“I love you too, Eva. Take care of him, will ye?”
“I vill, for you,” Eva said with conviction. Then she whispered, “But I tink ve see you soon, anyvay.” They wiped the other’s tears with their fingers, trying to smile.
At eight o’clock, Ed and Annie said goodnight. All were resigned to the swift departure of Liam and his family to parts unknown—at least to Sheridan McKay and his thugs.
Chapter 4
Eva, still overly tired and anxious, woke Liam to make love before the girls got up. The morning was overcast, which made it a little cooler, but the air was still oppressively damp and heavy.
“You can wake me anytime for that, love. That was very nice.” Liam pulled her close in spite of the heat. “It may be a few days ’til we’re able to do that again,” he whispered.
“You tink you stand it?” she whispered back.
“If I drag ye into the privy on the train and start yankin’ yer skirt up, ye’ll know.”
They laughed silently.
Matti had fired up the sauna very early that morning so the unenthusiastic travelers would start their trip fresh, with clean children and clean outfits. The girls came into the sauna with Eva and Liam so Eva could make sure they both washed well. She also wanted to help Ellen with hair washing. Ellen’s sun-lightened reddish-blond hair had grown nearly to her waist, and it was difficult for her to wash alone. Liam tended to Liisa, who was playing in a giant galvanized tub full of cool water. He washed her hair and her chubby baby body, deftly keeping the lavender shampoo from stinging her eyes.
~~~
After breakfast, Eva had a few moments with Saimi. They spoke in Finnish.
“Saimi, I want to thank you for being so good to me, especially in my early years here. You were a second mother to me. My gratitude will be unending.” Eva hugged her tightly. “I’m so happy in my heart you found a family to take care of, and a new man. I can see all the Huttunens love you, the young boys especially.”
Saimi pulled back to look in Eva’s face. “You, my dear girl, are very special to me. You, too, gave me a family when I needed one. So young you were, with a little girl to take care of. So much you went through at such a young age, and look at you now. You have a new family. How much you have grown. I am proud of you. I hope you write to me to let me know how everything turns out. I want to know about your baby in December.”
There was no more to be said. Eva and Saimi kissed each other on the cheeks. Both had tears. Neither one could say goodbye.
~~~
A short while later, under the leafy maple by the house, Saimi took Liam’s hands and held them. She said, “I remember how you came to us. I vas verdy nervous, but I could see you luff Eva right avay. Den I knew Eva need you vhen Victor die. Eva almost die, too, but you save her. You verdy special to me, like I tell Eva sees is.”
Liam hugged her and kissed her cheek. “You saved my life, Saimi, when you let the men bring me into the boarding house that winter night. You didn’t have to, I know. I was a stranger, a dirty, stinkin’ drunk, a sick vagrant. I thank God for ye every day. I owe my life to you and Eva.” He hugged her one more time. “Are ye comin’ to the station, then?” he asked as he regained his composure.
“I don’t tink so. Dat’s vhy I vant to say somptink now. You are good man, Liam Dady.”
“We’ll write,” he said. “We’ll let ye know about the baby.”
“I look for mail.”
They walked companionably back to the kitchen door and inside.
Just at the last minute, Ellen ran into the house with tears falling. She fell into Saimi’s arms. “I love you. I will miss you,” she said in proper Finnish.
Saimi responded in kind, closing her eyes as she received her last hug from the incomparable Ellen Mattson.
~~~
At last the time came for catching the two o’clock train. Annie and Ed came with Mack the cabbie to gather up the Dady family. The trunks had been left at the station the afternoon before and were ready for freight, designated for Helena, Montana.
At the station, Liam said a quick so-long to Dolly, the horse. “Thanks, girl, for all the rides,” he said. He patted her neck and she gave him the friendly nicker she always did.
Liam gave Mack a firm, friendly hand shake and an envelope. He spoke quietly, solely to Mack. “Don’t open it until I’m gone, my friend. Ye didn’t have to be my only cabbie, and I appreciate all ye did for me.
Mack tipped his hat and promised not to open the envelope as Liam had requested. He tucked it into his inside vest pocket. He would wait in the cab for Annie and Ed to take them home.
Earlier that morning, Saimi had dug out extra diapers for Liisa at Arvid’s son’s house next door. Liisa now had her own carpetbag full of clean diapers. Eva and Liam's first-class accommodations would give them their own wash room and toilet, which would make travel so much easier. Eva would be able to wash out clothing, especially undergarments and diapers. Ellen had her own carpetbag, and Liam and Eva shared one.
“Ellen, hug Grannie,” Liam said. They all stood on the platform under the station’s eave, in the shade. The overcast morning had made way for a blazing summer day.
Annie and Ellen squeezed each other. Annie kissed her on the head. “You take care of yer Pappa for me, eh? And yer Mamma.”
Liam then handed Liisa to Annie. “Ooh, my wee selkie, I’ll see ye soon,” Annie said. She kissed Liisa’s chubby cheeks over and over in rapid succession, which made Liisa titter in delight, showing her shiny, white baby teeth. Liam took her back.
“It seems,” Ed began, speaking to Liam and Eva as he pulled Annie’s hand, bringing her to him, “this girl here has made me rethink me life. We both have enough of a nest egg to be able to come out there with yez, perhaps by October, when all is taken care of here.”
“Ed, that’s grand news,” Liam said. “I won’t be losin’ my Annie fer long, only a couple months.” Liam shook Ed’s hand vigorously with gratitude. As he hugged Annie robustly, she gave a toothy wide smile.
“Dat good news, Annie,” Eva said. “Ve glad to haff you and Ed. You stay vit us, den find you place.”
“We’ll wire ye,” Liam said quietly to Ed. “Remember our code words and pseudonyms, at least for a while.”
“Ye’ll have an escort and look-outs in Duluth,” Ed said quietly. “I haven’t heard anythin’ up here in North Country. The Sheriff told me that Minneapolis officials said McKay went to Chicago. We’ll keep our guard up anyway.”
“Thanks, Ed.” Liam reached in his pocket and handed Ed an envelope for the escorts’ and guards’ payments.
“I have men in H
elena already, for yer arrival,” Ed added.
“Jesus, ye’re efficient,” Liam said in his best Irish brogue.
Ed gave Liam a wink and a handshake.
“All aboard!” the conductor yelled. The giant steam engine began its belching and huffing, and late boarders began to scramble for the passenger cars.
The mood had shifted with Ed and Annie’s news, and it was easier for everyone involved to say “So long,” and not “Goodbye.”
“Stay safe,” Annie said to Liam in one last embrace.
“I just realized somethin’,” Liam said. “Ye’ll be present for the baby’s birth and Ed’s grandchild’s too.”
Annie’s eyes lighted brightly. After one last hug, Liam boarded the chugging train, stoking up for the ride to Duluth. He was the last one to board of all the passengers.
~~~
Miles away, Liam woke from a short nap. They were on the west side of the train, heading south. The window shade was down to keep the hot afternoon sun at bay. Liam turned his head to see Eva sitting and knitting on the bench opposite his. Next to her, Ellen was reading. All of sudden, Liam realized that Liisa was sleeping in the crook of his arm. He was happy they had their own private compartment. He was so comfortable and content on the cushy, red upholstered bench; he lay motionless, head propped on a pillow. Eva looked up from her knitting and smiled sweetly at him. Liam found the rocking of the train soothing and apparently, so did Liisa. Her thumb was in her mouth. Beads of sweat dotted her nose. As he studied the riot of dark curls all over her head, wisps of it plastered to her temples with perspiration, he smiled. For a short moment, he wondered if his mother ever looked at him like this. Probably not, but that didn’t matter anymore.
There was a knock on the compartment door. Eva bid them to come in. It was the car attendant with refreshments.
“Tank you so mutts,” Eva said with a delighted smile.
~~~
They arrived in Duluth close to five o’clock. Before they left the compartment, Liam cautiously peaked out through the crack in the pulled shade and scanned the station for nefarious characters, the kind McKay would have working for him. They were usually burly “chest-beaters” dressed in leather vests and caps. Liam knew if there had been a problem, the look-outs and escorts would have come to them.
There was a small hotel across the street from the station, built in the age of the vast expansion of the transcontinental railroad in the 1860’s, 70’s, and 80’s, opulent in its style. Carpetbags in hand and children in tow, the Dadys walked across the quiet, summer-dusty street and booked a suite for the night.
Liam and Eva ordered a chicken and biscuit supper, left a wake-up call for six thirty the next morning, and then Liam took his family up the elevator to the second-floor suite. As they rode up, Liam scanned the cavernous, wood-carved, lobby one more time.
I’m goin’ west. That won’t stop McKay from tryin’ for me. If his men see me, they’ll just kill me, and to hell with tryin’ to take me to him. That didn’t work the first time. He doesn’t make the same mistake twice. It’s not goin’ to be over until either McKay or I am dead, preferably him.
Liam took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Sheridan McKay could hold a grudge, and he would not stop looking for Liam as he and his boxing syndicate crisscrossed the country. He had too many people’s blood on his hands, and Liam didn’t think McKay would give a damn if Liam’s blood was on them as well.
As the elevator stopped at the second floor, Ellen was fully enthralled. She let everyone off, shut and locked the gate of the birdcage-like contraption, and pressed the down button. After a few minutes, she was back with a half sheepish, half pleased grin plastered on her face.
A man in the elevator who got on at the first floor smiled at Ellen. “Thank you, my dear,” he said. He tipped his hat to Ellen, then Eva, and proceeded down the hallway to the second suite on the floor.
Liam unlocked the door to their suite. The family gave a collective gasp as they walked into the extravagantly decorated rooms.
“Too bad we’ll be leaving so early,” Liam lamented. “Enjoy it in yer sleep.”
“How can we? We’ll be sleepink,” Ellen answered. “Why would you say such a ridiculous thing?”
Liam tried not to show his hilarity at the look he received from the often literal eleven-year-old.
Eva was carrying Liisa, who was awake but subdued. Eva laid her down on the bed her big sister would be sleeping in. She changed her diaper, putting on a double one and a clean wool over-cover to catch any pee leaks in the night.
Chapter 5
It was the second day into the four-day journey to Helena. The family had left Duluth the day before without Liam seeing any of McKay’s men. He did see the look-outs Ed had in place and thanked Ed silently. They passed the first day switching between reading, knitting, napping, and watching the flat expanse of prairie as the train rolled westward, crossing into North Dakota. They spotted thunderstorms to the north and south of them. After a dinner of roast beef, the train moved directly into a storm. It was exciting yet unnerving, with fierce winds and lightning. Liisa cried from the lightning strikes on the ground and the booming thunder accompaniment. She found some solace in the arms of her Pappa, her face tucked into his sweaty neck.
“It was a gully washer,” Elam the attendant said. He was checking in on his passengers after the train emerged on the west side of the storm, the ominous black clouds finally behind them.
It got to be too hot on the train, with the temperatures on the prairie reaching close to one hundred degrees in August. The attendant opened the top windows in their compartment and the ones in the corridor.
“Best if you leave the door open,” Elam said. “Air will flow more. Unfortunately, you’ll get some of the ash and smoke from the engine, but it can’t be helped. I can bring you some ice-cold lemonade, or something stronger if you prefer.”
“I like lemonade, please?” Eva said.
“Me, too,” Ellen agreed.
Liam added, “Keep it comin’.” He smiled. “Thanks.”
After sitting for so long, Ellen and Liisa began to play in the narrow corridor. Liisa resorted to crawling. Due to the constant rocking on the tracks, she couldn’t stay standing. She chased her felt ball on the cleaned carpet, having to move out of the way occasionally for passers-by. Not too many people were in first class, and those who were decided to spend their days riding in the dining car and lounge, with a bar and a poker game continually going. When the train stopped at a depot, they’d get out and walk.
~~~
Halfway through the next day, the train came to a complete stop.
“Conductor says it’s a mechanical problem,” Elam the attendant reported. “They workin’ on it now,” he said. “Don’t know how long, though. It could be an hour, could be half a day.”
“At least we’re in the shade,” Liam said. “Thank you, Elam.”
Liam regrettably spoke too soon. Sitting in the high plains of eastern Montana, in the direct sun of a cloudless sky, was nearly unbearable for the sturdiest of people, let alone a pregnant woman with two cranky children. He was sweat-soaked. Even Elam appeared to be silently suffering, but he did his best to keep his passengers in water and lemonade. When the train began to roll again, it was early evening. The wind was a welcome relief, even though it was a ninety-degree wind. Thank God for the night, Liam thought.
Sleeping was a welcome break from the monotony of the trip. During the daytime, Liam read newspapers they'd picked up in Duluth, Bismarck and every place in between, while Eva knitted. She even had time to sleep one afternoon, the day before their arrival in Helena. Her back ached. Liam propped her lumbar with a pillow, which was a great help.
“All I can say is, I’m glad we didn’t opt for San Francisco,” Liam murmured. He was sitting opposite Eva and Ellen. Liisa had petered out again and was sleeping, splayed on her back next to her father.
“Urrgg,” Ellen answered in an irritated growl. “How long
are ve supposed to be on this God damn train?” She was at the end of her rope. She was frizzy, sweaty, puffy-eyed, and refused to do anything but complain.
Liam gave her sharp look for the language, but he saw a girl, raised by Eva, who was in no mood for any kind of humor from him or any hapless soul who would come along. “As God damned long as it takes, Ellen,” he said. He looked her directly in the eye. He was as humorless as she.
She matched his glare, but was the first to look away. She heaved a heavy, pissed-off sigh, and crossed her arms around her chest, glaring out the window at the sun-beaten high plains.
Elam knocked and stuck his head in the door.
“Just two more hours, the Lord willin’, and we’ll be in Helena. Best get yourselves ready, good people.”
“Thank you kindly, Elam,” Liam said.
In her best histrionic display, Ellen crumpled to the floor in a heap, chanting, “Tank you, God,” over and over.
“Goodness sake, young lady,” Elam exclaimed. As he left the compartment, he looked ready to bust out in giggles.
Eva put a stop to it in short order. “Ellen!” she said quietly yet sharply. “You stop dis, now! Ve all hot and tired.” She didn’t drop a stitch in her knitting.
Liam rarely experienced Eva this irritated, even a mild version like this, and it was surprising. The first time he saw her in such a state was with Victor, when Liam first arrived in Minnesota. The second time was Liam and Eva's fight in the snow. He would never forget the time Eva went to the tavern to furiously admonish Victor’s extra-marital collaborators.
After Eva's reprimand, Ellen obeyed. Eva gave Liam a brief glance, apparently satisfied with Ellen’s acquiescence. One corner of her mouth rose quickly.
Liam got up and went to the privy at the end of the corridor instead of the one in their compartment, locking the door. He burst into giggles, the tears rolling down his cheeks.
Imitating Ellen, “God damned train—” he was laughing so hard he could hardly breathe. After a few minutes, he said out loud, “Christ, the girl has hubris. What a set o’ steel balls she has.” He took a hand towel from the neatly folded stack and wiped his face and blew his nose. He tossed the towel into the dirty towel basket on the floor. When he gathered himself again, he opened the door. Much to his surprise, Ellen was standing there, looking up at him with a sweet smile. She hugged him around the waist. He hugged her back.
Eva and the Irishman Page 60