By His Hand

by Stefanie Bridges-Mikota

  After the verse was read and the sermon given, she thought she did have a better understanding. He wasn’t going to tell her what she needed to do. He would be the one to act. Maybe that meant she would find a way to earn more money… or Eddie would show up on her doorstep and force his way back into her life.

  Whatever happened…that would be her answer. She hoped it would be favorable for her, but she wasn’t going to question the ways of the Lord. The final song ended. People began setting up the shared meal.

  Allie knew Frank wanted to talk to her. She hoped he would wait for a private moment. She moved in the direction of her mother and the other ladies so she could help. It was their turn to keep the bowls of food full. That would keep Frank from diving into whatever he wanted to talk about. The line formed, and people began filling plates. Frank was towards the front of the line and stopped in front of her.

  “Hello. Come find me when you’re finished please.” He gave a small smirk.

  Allie gave him a look back, hoping to show that she wished him to remember about not wanting to be seen in public. Was that taking matters into her own hands, though, or letting God do His work without her interference? She mulled that over for a while. She supposed she could act as though they were just two acquaintances catching up, just like everyone else did on Sundays. Pushing that thought aside, she grabbed the almost empty bowl of rolls and replaced it with a full one. Then she topped it off with what remained in the last bowl.

  The line was shrinking. That meant she could dish up her own plate. She was hungry. She spooned up a variety of salads and some chicken and found a seat close to her father. He was sitting with some of the other men folk. She was at the opposite end of the table. There were more empty spots close to her and she hoped Ma, who was still serving, would join her.

  Frank came and plopped himself down instead. He had already finished his pile of food. She didn’t see him make his way back for seconds. But since she saw his first plate, she suspected he couldn’t possibly have room.

  “Last time I saw you, I had some news to share, but I forgot about it when you told me about yours.” He sat with his hands folded and a smug smile plastered across his face.

  Allie had taken a bite and only cocked her head to the side in response.

  “Well, I shouldn’t say all of it here, but I can tell you something I overheard.”

  Allie was thankful for his discretion and worked to swallow her mouthful. “You have my interest. I could sure use some good news. And, judging by the way your face is lit up, it must be great.

  “Well, most of it is great…and the rest could become great. Not sure how it will turn out yet.” He snickered a bit. “You look pretty hungry. I’ll let you finish up first while I go see if the ladies need my help with anything.” He stood and strolled away whistling as he went.

  Allie harrumphed as she purposely shoved another bite in her mouth. How dare he string her along and then walk away! She didn’t care if it wasn’t ladylike as she continued shoveling in her food. She needed to finish up. Then he would tell her his so-called great news. Great news was hard to come by these days. Just knowing there was some raised her spirits.

  She had grabbed her chicken leg and was tearing a bite off with her teeth when her mother approached. “Dear, please! People are staring!”

  Allie looked around and saw Pa and all the men around him with eyes large staring down the other end of the table. Some were chuckling under their breaths. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

  “Honestly, Allie!” Ma took a seat across from her. “I don’t know what has come over you! This is not how you were raised!”

  Allie swallowed a large hunk of chicken and barely managed to avoid choking. “Sorry, Ma. Frank said he had some good news to share with me and he won’t tell me ’til I’m finished eating.” She grabbed her fork and began eating more politely.

  “Ah! I bet I know what that might be. Your Pa!” She looked down the table and smiled at him. “He told me some things the other day.”

  Allie was plumb confused now. Frank had good news…and her parents were in on it? What might that be? She stood and picked up her plate intending to take it to the tub to be washed.

  “Allie! Where are you going with all that food still on your plate?” Ma slapped her hand on the table.

  Allie reluctantly set her plate back down and retook her seat. “Sorry! I just wanted to be finished so I could talk to Frank.”

  Ma giggled. “Don’t go wasting good food, now. Fill up and then talk. The news won’t be any better coming sooner than it will be later.”

  Ma stood and sauntered over to the table where the ladies church group was in a lively conversation about the upcoming summer festival. There was a meeting scheduled next week to begin planning. Allie was planning to attend to see how she could help this year. The wells were drying up, the crops were failing, and the ever-growing potential of a disastrous fire was threatening.

  Everyone needed to look forward to something. Watching her manners, she slowly finished her meal and felt thankful that Ma slowed her down. Indigestion would lessen the effects of this great news. She quickly cleaned up her end of the table and deposited her plate in the wash tub. Then, she searched for Frank.

  Allie scanned the group but didn’t find him. Deciding to walk the perimeter to get views from different angles she moved at a leisurely pace making a casual sweep of the crowd. When she noticed two individuals by themselves talking by the base of a large oak tree she realized that must be him. And the person he was speaking to could only be Gladys.

  Allie’s heart fluttered. Did Gladys have something to do with the good news? She highly doubted that. It was more likely the good news was being replaced by bad with every word they spoke. Pushing the feelings of doom aside, she decided to continue her walk in their general direction to see if Frank would notice her. She didn’t want to make it apparent that she was trying to get his attention. Their wagon was parked in the ideal place for her to set her steps towards. If Gladys said anything she could feign collecting something left in the wagon. When she was halfway to the wagon, Frank spotted her.

  “Allie! Hey! Wait up,” Frank called, as he quickly caught up with her and matched her pace.

  She continued her walk to the wagon to keep up appearances and he followed.

  “So, about the news,” he began. She braced herself for the possibility that it wouldn’t turn out to be good. “You know how you told me about losing your job at the paper?”

  She hesitated slightly. “Yes.”

  “Well…I’ve heard that roughly the same number of men laid off have recently been hired to fight the fires. So, I went to the paper.”

  “You what?” They both stopped midstride and she glued her unblinking, frightened eyes on him. “I thought you said I wasn’t to act. I was to give this all to God and sit back and wait.”

  “Yes! You were…are!” His hand swiped down the side of his face. “God did act. In this portion of the problem, anyway. The same number of men were hired. Your job is being removed from the paper…and you have it back.”

  Allie was silent. She didn’t know how to feel.

  “That’s not even the best news for you.” He waited for some response from her before he continued.

  She swallowed the lump in her throat. That seemed to be all she could give him, so he continued.

  “I pointed out a few issues. You not only have your job back, you start tomorrow! And, you will be paid the advertised wage.” Frank dropped his hands and stood stock still waiting for her to respond.

  “Tomorrow is Monday. I never worked on Monday before.” She was excited and confused all at once.

  “Mr. Ashton wants to change the schedule. You’ll be working Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. He says the work can pile up a bit on your days off for you, instead of having less to do by Thursday.”

  She was elated. This might help Ma a bit more, too. She could stay caught up if she wasn’t gone three days in a row. Allie
turned and finished the walk to the wagon. Placing her hands atop the wheel she focused on breathing.

  “Allie?” Frank came up behind her. “I was just trying to help. Are you alright?”

  She wiped the tears falling on her cheeks with the back of her hand and turned to face him.

  “I’m more than alright. God has answered. I’m not sure how it all worked, but that is wonderful news. I’m going to be okay. At least for now. I can help Pa and Ma again and keep saving—in case God’s answer is for me to go to Reno.” She lowered her head and silently thanked God before voicing her thankfulness to Frank.

  “Allie, there’s more news. And I can share it since we are somewhat alone.” The side of his lip was inching up. She raised her head and looked him in the eyes. “I talked with your pa after I left George and Blinne’s.”

  She couldn’t imagine how that would be good, but Pa did seem to be in a good mood lately. Maybe it was good news, too.

  “At first, he wasn’t too happy with me, but we came to an understanding. He gave me permission, Allie.”

  She was confused. “Permission for what?”

  “You! To begin a relationship…when your current marriage comes to an end.” He waited expectantly for some sign that she was thrilled about this information.

  “That sounds like a dream! I can’t think about it right now. There is too much left to settle before I get my hopes up.” She blew out the breath she was holding.

  Frank’s smile lost its luster, but he managed to keep it in place. He understood her hesitation.

  “There is one last thing…and it involves Gladys.”

  Here it comes. What has that woman done now!

  “I spoke with her after speaking with your father. I explained my feelings, or lack of them, for her. I made sure she knew she was a friend…and nothing more. She was hurt, and I felt bad I was the cause, but, when you saw us talking over there, she was apologizing. She said the shock and hurt from the other day kept her from absorbing the information immediately. Now that she’s had time to think, she realized she was only pushing herself on me because that’s what her ma wanted. It wasn’t what Gladys wanted. She didn’t tell me who, but she’s interested in someone else. Her ma doesn’t like it, so, she decided to go with her heart instead of doing everything her ma wants.”

  Allie’s jaw dropped. That didn’t sound like Gladys. Maybe she was growing up a bit, too. The sun must be drying up all the wet behind everyone’s ears and making them all become full-fledged adults around here. She smiled a relaxed, contented smile and wished she could wrap her arms around this man. Her heart was light. Whatever happens is surely in God’s hands and He would not steer her wrong now.

  “That is the best news of all, Frank. I can relax a bit, knowing that she isn’t going to cause any more problems for either of us.”

  “Well…Gladys won’t. But, we still have to watch out for Mrs. Wimble.” He raised his eyebrows to accentuate his point.

  Allie stifled a chuckle! “Yes! That’s very true. I’ll keep that in mind.”

  “Gladys said she would do what she could to keep her ma out of our business, but she couldn’t make any promises.”

  “I hope that’s enough. I can’t imagine what life has been like for Gladys. Growing up with the parents she has must have been difficult. I probably should have been a bit nicer to her.”

  “Don’t waste time thinking about what you should or could have done. It’s still not too late to start being nice to her. Maybe you’ll start up a friendship?”

  Frank rested his hand on hers briefly before walking back to the main group. Allie pondered his last comment for a moment. Then she made her way—with much lighter steps—to join her parents in the final cleanup before saying goodbyes.

  CHAPTER 36

  The fires were relentless, and Eddie’s job was monotonous. At least the pay was fantastic! With no experience, twenty-five cents an hour was more than he thought he would make. That was slightly more than he’d made working for the railroad.

  The government sure pays well. Too bad I’m stuck in the middle of nowhere and can’t spend it on some fun.

  He put his head down and continued to slice through the underbrush. The firemen were in a line all doing the same job. The days were long, much longer than he usually worked. Ten-hour days were the average for the railroad, but out here you worked until you physically couldn’t keep going or couldn’t see any more due to nightfall and thick smoke. Eighteen hours seemed to be the average work day, but he didn’t have a way to accurately tell time.

  He had to rely on the government to keep track for him. No one talked much. The smoke was thick and just breathing took too much concentration. Lots of stories went around back at camp, though, because the smoke was thinner there.

  Eddie’s work party was made up of a strange group of men. It seemed no one really had any experience. All walks of life came together on this line. Based on the stories, Eddie decided he might be better than some. He’d made some mistakes and there had been run-ins with the law a few times over the years, but compared to some of these men, he was almost angelic.

  The government made a sweep of some prisons to get enough hands to fight this inferno. Keeping his nose clean and staying on the right side of this group was essential, if he valued his life. The boss man was in charge of several groups and wasn’t always standing by to be sure order was maintained. They had a party leader that stayed with them, but Eddie knew he was useless. If the men in his group got riled up, he figured no one would be able to stop their wrath.

  The work was the same every day. His shovel and axe were quickly becoming his best friends. The calluses were so thick from the repeated digging that his hands no longer hurt.

  Their efforts weren’t futile. What they were doing was helping. The fire was staying on its side of the line and away from towns. That was some reward for putting in the long days. When sleep finally came, it was fitful.

  Dinner and breakfast were served at camp…and neither were wonderful. The camp cook was a man no one wanted to cross. He kept watch over his supplies and fed the men just enough, so they wouldn’t wither away. Potatoes seemed to be in abundance. They were served every day, twice a day. If he never saw a potato again, he would not be upset.

  Sleeping was done on the hard ground—surrounded by those he couldn’t trust. His whiskey was gone. He realized early on that if he didn’t finish it, someone would find it and finish it for him. Now his head ached daily, and he thirsted for the quench only liquor could provide. He used to stumble into towns without any money for alcohol. Now, he had ample funds, but wasn’t allowed to leave camp.

  The situation was maddening. He’d been here before and knew as his body would work through the dry spell, the ache would lessen. He didn’t like it, but he had no choice in the matter. He needed to make money. He needed Allie. And, he would keep his eye on the prize and push forward.

  He closed his eyes trying to do the math in his swirling head. Twenty-five cents an hour for roughly an eighteen-hour day…he should be ready in just a few weeks. If he worked for a month or so, provided the fires held out that long, he could go just about anywhere he wanted with her. He knew with her family, the farther away the better.

  The government supplied his tools, but he was told he needed to pay for them. The cost would be deducted from his first week of pay. When he was paid it seemed low to him, but he figured that was why. He should have much more the end of this week. He did have another problem…the same he’d had with his whiskey. He feared his pay would be taken by someone. He had to keep it on his person at all times. Sleep would be done with one eye open. This adventure would be short on the calendar, but long on his body.

  There was a commotion! Men were yelling up ahead in the line. Eddie stopped to make sense of what was going on. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to know. If a fight broke out, he would rather run the other way and wait for it to settle than to charge into the crowd.

  Reluctantly, he made his
way closer to try to figure out what was happening. The smoke was as thick as pea soup. He could only see a couple men ahead. Then the yells carried back to him in the wind. The fire was stirred up. He got closer and realized there wasn’t a fight. It was a rescue. They were calling for help and he hurried forward. He reached the front of the line and could see a man lying on the ground and a group around. The man was awake, but unable to get up.

  Eddie stayed back. He didn’t know what to do. So, he watched the other men lift and carry the injured man to camp. With those men gone, the rest needed to pick up the pace to keep the progress going. He’d have to find out later that night what had happened. He made his way back to the line to continue his work of digging and scraping. This left the land barren.

  He had his own problems to think through. This wasn’t a good time to think about others. If they were only one man short, it would increase the demand on the rest of them. Given that, he hoped this man recovered from whatever had overtaken him. He could hear the party leader yelling for everyone to get back to work.

  Some of the men were so shaken up, they were just standing around. He knew better. Working on the railroad laying track…he had seen some things. Just because one man had fallen didn’t mean the work day was over. Regardless of how bad the injury might be, the deadline was more important.

  The fire didn’t give a defined deadline, unless it was yesterday. They all wanted the fires out as quickly as could be managed. He knew his place and what was expected of him. He couldn’t dwell on the fate of the injured man. The line re-formed without much discussion. The repetitive sounds of metal hitting rocks and plants getting slashed resumed.