by Paty Jager
“How did you manage the baby coming?” The reverence in his voice nearly brought her to tears.
“Colin helped me to the shack.” She looked over at her son. “He was so brave, so grownup that day. Helpin’ his sister into the world.” Ethan squeezed her hand, and she saw the pride in his face as he too studied the boy.
“When Mr. Miller dinnae come stormin’ into the shack after the baby was born, Colin left me alone. He came back sayin’ the man was dead. We packed food for several days and hid in the old shack up the creek.”
She placed a hand on Colin’s chest, measuring his breathing. “Aye. We’ve both thought he caused the man’s death. But ah would never give him up. He is my soul.” Tears burned her eyes. “Ah can only hope this news will lift the devil that’s been fightin’ in him.”
“With your love and my guidance, he’ll be a fine man.” Ethan lowered his lips to hers, brushing them softly, tempting her. She moaned, pressed her body to his, and wound her arms around his neck.
He drew his head back. “Does this mean yes?”
“To what?” The throb in her head was replaced with a nice hum of pleasant feelings.
“That you’ll marry me?”
The question shocked and brought back the throbbing as well as panic constricting her chest.
“Ah cannae.” When she tried to pull out of his embrace, his arms locked around her.
“Why can’t you? You love me. I love you. I care deeply for your children and their well-being.” His warm breath danced across her face, reminding her of his sweet kisses. Her heart fluttered.
“’Tis no’ a time to be talkin’ rubbish.” His arms remained around her. Rather than fight him, she leaned against his solidness. She could have this the rest of her lifetime.
“What about Colin’s future? We’ll be goin’ to get his land back.”
“I’m sure you could use my persuasive nature to help.” The jesting in his voice sparked a nerve.
“Gettin’ my laddie’s inheritance back is no laughin’ matter. It is his legacy. His da’s gift.” She spun out of his arms and moaned from the pain it caused in her head.
“I’m not saying it’s a laughing matter. I’m saying, I’ll go with you to get it back for Colin.” He pulled her back into his arms. “I know how much this means to you and must mean to Patrick’s family to send Healy here to look after you.”
“But ye wouldn’t be happy livin’ in England.” She could see him yearning for his mine and his family and slowly hating them. Possibly to the point of drinking and…
“Would you be happy living in England?” His question caught her by surprise.
“Ah, ah have no’ really thought about it.” She tried to recall if she’d set foot in the country before.
“Then let’s worry about that day when it comes.”
Colin moaned. Aileen knelt beside him as Ethan loomed over her.
“Laddie, how are ye holdin’ up?” She pushed the hair from his forehead. His skin was clammy and cold. “He dinnae feel right.” Fear shook her. She couldn’t lose him. Not now, not when they knew the truth.
“Healy should be back with help soon.” Ethan put a large hand on her son’s forehead. She glanced up and saw the worry etched on his brow.
He caught her watching and smiled. “He’s been through a lot. Soon as we get out of this shaft we’ll get him to the doctor in Baker City.” He placed his hands on her shoulders and squeezed. His strength always seemed to quiet her fears.
“Thank ye for doctorin’ my laddie. Ye have a gentle touch.”
He chuckled. “Tell my brothers that. They always screamed like little girls when I’d try to doctor them.”
“We did not.”
Ethan shot to his feet and peered up the ventilation hole.
Chapter 32
He’d never been so happy to hear Zeke’s voice. “Colin’s injured.”
“I know. Healy told me. I’ve got six men to dig. The rest are working on the front of the mine to get Clay.”
“Clay?” Ethan’s gut twisted. “What’s Clay doing in the mine? Is he hurt?”
“We don’t have any answers yet.” Zeke’s frustrated answer did little to settle him.
A lantern lowered through the hole, narrowly missing his head. He grasped it, untied the rope it dangled from, and flipped up the mantle. Aileen stepped up beside him. He placed the lamp in her hands. He pulled out his match safe and lit the wick. Light filled the area, casting a ghastly white light on Colin’s pale face.
“Send down another lantern,” he shouted to the hole above him.
“You only need one lantern,” Zeke called. “Step back we’re going to start digging.”
“Send another lantern down. I’m going to see if I can get to Clay from this side.” Ethan raised a hand up to grasp a lantern.
Aileen grabbed his arm. “Ah dinnae want ye to leave us.” The uncertainty in her eyes held him a moment.
“Clay could be hurt. I have to see if it’s quicker to get to him from this side.” He patted the hand on his arm.
The lantern appeared. He handed it to Aileen. “Follow me with the lanterns. You and Colin need to move away from the debris.” Dirt poured down through the hole from the men above. He slid his arms under the boy, being careful of his splinted leg and carried him back down the shaft with his mother following.
With care he settled Colin on the ground and turned to the woman. She placed the lanterns on rocks and knelt beside her son. Her color was returning. The blood-crusted, disheveled hair sent fear spiraling in his gut. He’d come so close to losing both her and the boy. All because of some lunatic’s misplaced devotion.
He pulled her into his arms and covered her lips with his own. There was no way he’d let her out of his life. Not after he’d found the love he was sure his parents experienced. They’d find a way to make things work.
When she sagged against him, he gently sat her on the ground beside her son. “I’ll see if I can find Clay. When Zeke gets down here, if I’m not back, get out of here and take Colin to the doctor.”
She shook her head, clearing her eyes. “Nae. When Zeke gets here, we’ll come find ye.”
“Take care of Colin.” He kissed her forehead, glanced at the boy, and picked up the second lantern. He headed toward the entrance of the mine.
With the path lit, he moved quickly. They weren’t that far from the end of the tracks and the ore cart.
He skirted the cart and stepped over piles of rock. The air still held dirt particles. He covered his nose and squeezed through fallen sections of the tunnel, all the time searching each inch with lantern light for signs of Clay.
Why had his brother come into the mine? Had he seen Healy enter and followed? If so, it was his fault for ordering Clay to keep an eye on the man. Fury at himself for bossing his brothers around and not giving them credit for being responsible men ate at him as he shuffled through the debris and called out to Clay.
“Over here!” Clay’s voice sounded strong, but disoriented. Ethan shoved aside rocks.
“Call again!” He stopped to listen.
“Over here!”
Ethan turned to his right and spotted Clay staring at the wall of rock in front of him. His brother didn’t turn toward the light as he approached. Ethan placed a hand on his shoulder and he jumped.
“How’d you find me so fast? It’s pitch dark in here.” Clay moved his hands in front of him as though searching.
“This lantern makes it pretty easy to see you.” Ethan took hold of his brother’s arm.
Clay jerked out of his hold. “That’s not funny. There’s no lantern in this mine.”
Ethan grasped Clay’s hand, placing it close enough to the lantern to feel the heat.
“Damn!” Clay rubbed at his eyes with the heels of his hands. “I’ll kill that bastard!”
“Who?” Ethan set the lantern down and pulled Clay’s hands from his scratched face.
“Miles! He was messing around in here. When I hollered a
t him, he threw a stick of dynamite at me. The end was burning, and I batted it away. I didn’t get down before it blew and knocked me backwards.” Clay spread his hands and shoved against Ethan’s chest. “I’ll kill him!”
Ethan took hold of his arm. “You can do that after we get out of here. Zeke’s got men digging the ventilation hole bigger so we can climb out through there.”
Clay stumbled on the rocks. “Just leave me here. Tell everyone you couldn’t find me.” Clay pulled out of his grasp.
“What? You think I’m going to leave you here? To die?” He grabbed the back of Clay’s coat and shoved him along in front. “You don’t know the blindness is permanent. I’ll not let you rot here feeling sorry for yourself.”
Clay swung his arms and stiffened his legs like two logs.
Growling, Ethan put his shoulder into his brother’s back. “You want a broken leg by being a jackass that’s up to you, but I’m going to get you out of here.”
Clay’s legs began to wobble, and his body shook.
“Come on, stop fighting me, you’re in no shape.” Ethan draped his brother’s arm over his shoulders and half carried-half dragged him back to Aileen and Colin.
Aileen hurried over to them. “What happened?” She grasped Clay’s other arm and helped lower him to the ground.
“Miles threw dynamite at him. Says he can’t see.” He didn’t miss the way Clay’s head dropped closer to his chest at his words.
“Clay, you’re sitting next to Colin. He’s got a bad broken leg. Don’t move around too much.” He drew Aileen next to him and kissed her head. “Take it easy and talk to him while you see if he has any other injuries. I’m going to see how Zeke’s doing.” She nodded and slid out of his embrace.
He kept hold of his lantern and moved down the shaft toward the ventilation hole.
Dirt and pebbles rained down. The pile grew, making a nice ramp for them to walk up when the hole was large enough.
“Zeke, I’ve got Clay. How much longer till we’re out of here?” Ethan shielded his eyes from the falling debris and stared up into the hole.
The clank of shovels stopped.
“I think we’re about there.”
“Step back and I’ll take a look with the lantern.” He held the lantern up to the hole. “About three more feet. I’m surprised someone hasn’t fallen through.”
The sound of the shovels resumed, and he backed up.
With Clay blind at the moment, he had to think of his responsibilities. He couldn’t ask Hank or anyone else to put their lives on hold to help Clay until he got his sight back. How could he marry Aileen and saddle her with the burden of caring for his brother, too?
He was exhausted and didn’t want to think about anything other than Aileen saying she loved him.
But he couldn’t do that to her.
His eyes burned as he thought of what he had to do. He couldn’t make Aileen his wife. Not until Clay was better. And he couldn’t ask her to wait for him. That wouldn’t be fair. She might find someone when she took Colin to claim his land.
The thought stuck in his throat like a fist full of dirt. He didn’t want anyone else putting his hands on her. She was his.
He shook his head. She wasn’t anyone’s. She became free when Miles killed Miller. And she wanted to remain free. She’d understand his reasons for having to back out on his proposal. Heck, she never even said yes.
Thud. Zeke landed on the pile of dirt. “Hey, big brother, you got everything under control?” Zeke sobered. “Is everyone okay?”
Ethan snickered sarcastically. “Yeah, every thing’s great. Colin has a severely broken leg, Aileen has a gash on her head, and Clay—”
“What happened to Clay?” Zeke grabbed his arm, hauling him to his feet. “It isn’t—you know?”
“No, he isn’t dead, but he wants to be.” Ethan put a hand on Zeke’s shoulder. “Miles—”
“What’s Miles got to do with this?”
“Clay came upon Miles setting the dynamite and Miles threw some at Clay.”
“Damn! How bad is he?”
“Just cuts and scrapes, but he can’t see. And he’s feeling sorry for himself.” Ethan picked up the lantern. “Come on. There’s no telling if this mine will hold together much longer.”
They hurried down the shaft to where Aileen tended both Clay and Colin.
“Ye made it!” Aileen stood, willing her feet not to carry her into Ethan’s arms. He looked drained and didn’t need her hanging on him.
“Aileen, you and Zeke help Clay, I’ll get Colin.” She watched Ethan gingerly scoot his hands and arms under Colin and lift him like he weighed no more than Shayla. Mon! She’d forgot all about her little gem.
“Ah have to get out. Shayla!” She started to pull Clay, he stumbled and growled.
“She’s fine. Maeve’s been keeping her company while we worked.” Zeke flashed her an encouraging smile.
“She’ll be wonderin’ where we are, if we’re safe…”
“I’ve had a man letting them know everything we did. She’s fine. Maeve loves children. She’s taking good care of her.” The man’s tone revealed his love and reverence for his wife.
She glanced back at Ethan carrying Colin. Would he talk of her in the same light to others?
His gaze caught hers, and her heart stopped. Something was wrong. Shadows darkened his gaze.
Zeke crawled up the dirt pile first and grasped Clay’s hands, directing him with his voice.
She stood beside her laddie and Ethan. “What’s wrong?” She placed a hand on his arm.
“We’ll talk after everyone’s been seen by the doctor.”
The resigned timbres of his voice clenched her insides. What he had to say wasn’t going to set well. She knew it as much as she knew she loved him.
Chapter 33
Ethan stood in the doorway of Colin’s room, watching Maeve and Shayla shoo Aileen into the bedroom with the new bed. Zeke had the foresight to send a man to fetch a doctor as soon as the mine blew. The doc rewrapped Colin’s leg after giving the boy laudanum for the pain.
Aileen wouldn’t leave the boy’s side until the doctor pronounced him fine. His leg would heal in time.
Hank and Zeke set up cots in the living quarters for Healy and Clay. The doctor would see them next. Aileen insisted he check her last, since there was nothing wrong with her. Ethan snorted. One look at the woman and you could see she was worn out.
“The boy’s going to be fine. You did an excellent job on that leg, Ethan.” Doctor Spangle put a hand on his shoulder. “You keep this up and I’ll be out of a job.”
“I doubt that. I only did what was necessary to keep the boy from bleeding to death.” Ethan ran a hand over his face. Now he had to figure out how to stop the bleeding in his heart when he told Aileen he could no longer be a part of her life.
“Clay, sit down!” Zeke’s command was followed by cursing from all his brothers. Ethan hurried down the hall and into the room housing the rest of the invalids.
Clay flailed his arms, keeping everyone at a distance as he moved toward the door.
“Sit down!” Ethan boomed and took hold of his moronic brother, shoving him back on the cot. “It’s stupid to go wandering around when you can’t see.”
“Oh, now I’m stupid as well as blind.” The bite to his words and the way his shoulders slumped disturbed Ethan more than the fact his brother couldn’t see.
He motioned for Hank and Zeke to pull up a chair in front of the cot. He grabbed one, too. They made a barrier in front of the bed.
“If I thought you were stupid, I wouldn’t have stuck you with Healy to learn how to slough the gold dust.” He smiled when Clay turned his head toward him.
“A lot of good that’s going to do you now.” His dejected tone rankled Ethan. Halseys didn’t give up.
Ethan nodded to Hank to say something.
“Why do you think that? This may only last a couple of days.”
Clay turned to the sound. “Hank, you
ever heard of anyone only being blind a couple of days?”
“Sure, I heard tell of a man who had a hit to the head. He cleared up in a few days.” Zeke nodded to the others and smiled.
“Where’d you hear that?” Clay asked, shifting his face in the general area of Zeke.
“Right there shows you, you aren’t as bad off as you think.” Ethan waved his hand, and Clay leaned back as though avoiding a blow. “Did you feel that?”
“Yeah.”
“You just figured out each one of us by our voices and what told you I waved my hand?” He held his breath hoping his little ploy would settle his brother down.
“I felt a breeze.” Clay’s brow furrowed in thought.
“You’ll just have to rely on things other than sight until it comes back. Quit feeling sorry for yourself.” Ethan stood, noticing the doctor had finished his examination of Healy.
“Doctor Spangle’s going to take a look at you now.” He pulled his chair away from the cot. “Hank, Zeke would you—”
The outer office door slammed, next the inside door burst open. Their youngest brother, Gil, followed closely behind by his wife, Darcy, strode across the room.
“Myrle told us what happened.” He stopped in front of the cot and looked down at Clay.
“Gil?” Clay stood, reaching out with his hands.
“You sure you can’t see?” Gil asked, stepping forward and giving Clay a hug.
“Hey, let me in here,” Darcy, the small, dark-haired woman with the spirit of a whirlwind, held a baby in her arms as she pushed up beside her husband to put an arm around Clay. Her brother, Jeremy, followed close on her heels. He was nearly as tall as Gil and becoming a handsome young man.