Carol looked at her friend. “This is your mother?”
Penelope nodded. “Yes, Widow Wallace is my mother who hated my husband, refused to help me after he died and didn’t even mourn the loss of his baby with me. No, she is too busy fussing about the women of this town sending letters for husbands and men finding wives not from Silverpines. Or wooing a man who just came here to do an honest day’s work.” She turned and glared at her mother. “How is Mister Bunyan anyway, Mama? Are you and he having supper together again tonight? Make sure and tell him how you’re faithful to Papa’s memory while you giggle and bat your eyelashes at him like a school girl.”
“Penelope Wallace, how dare you…”
Penelope straightened her spine. “My name is Penelope Cooper or Widow Cooper to you, Widow Wallace. You lost the right to call me anything else when you turned your back on me. Carol MacGregor is my friend. She is a better friend and support than you’ve been in the last year. Now do your job, postmistress, and mail her letters to her friends or I will contact the Postmaster general of Oregon myself and tell him how you are incapable of fulfilling my father’s old post.”
She dropped Carol’s correspondence on the counter along with the required price for postage and then took Carol by the arm and led her out of the post office. “I’m sorry about that. I’ll have a talk with the Mayor about how her gossip and bitterness is starting to interfere with her performance.”
Carol said nothing as her stomach clenched. Was that how most of the women in this town saw me? As an interloper? A fallen woman who took an eligible husband away from their widows and daughters? If so, how can I continue to live here and have to interact with them regularly?
She needed time to think. Maybe Widow Wallace was right and she should just return to Creede before she destroyed Ian’s life here, as well as her and Collin’s.
April 21, 1900
Ian looked at his sleeping wife. Four months, he’d been married just over four months and it seemed that his life was lonelier than when he brought Carol and Collin to Silverpines. Well that was only partially true. Collin was a joy and was calling him Ada, his own baby word for Adair, and lit up every time Ian came into the room. But Carol, she was another story. He didn’t know what was going on with her. They’d celebrated Collin’s first birthday a few days earlier and had been blessed by having the Sewell’s invite them over for dinner the night before to thank Carol for her help in delivering little Alexzandria Lynn and Adam Lucas. However, Carol was subdued and almost standoffish to everyone there. She’d been the same way at the birthday party and even at the larger celebration of Creede’s continued survival and revival a year after the disasters.
She’d been like this since right before the new year and no one seemed to understand why. She just suddenly stopped making friends or visiting the women of Silverpines. But worse for Ian, she had asked him not to pursue having Mayor Garrison file a petition of adoption for Ian to adopt Collin. She used the holidays as an excuse until after the new century arrived, and then she used the snow storm and the recovery efforts in the middle of January. Then when Ian had brought it up in February, she had asked him to wait until after the mine was open again and people weren’t scrambling to help with all the preparations with that. It was almost like she’d decided she didn’t want Ian to become Collin’s father and yet she didn’t try to keep the lad away from him.
To Ian himself she was still affectionate; if anything he thought she was almost frantic in her affection toward him. Like she was trying to store up his love in case she lost it. She spent time with him after work and kept him awake late into the night. Yet when she thought he was asleep she would roll away from him and he would hear her trying to keep her sobs from waking him. However, if he mentioned that he thought something was wrong, she would tell him everything was perfect. She couldn’t be happier. He didn’t know what to do. He’d talked to everyone and no one seemed to know what had happened to make her pull away.
He needed answers and tomorrow he was going to get them, if he had to hold Carol until she told him what was going on in her head. Because he knew what was going on in his. He loved his wife and son and wasn’t going to let anything drive them apart. That is what he knew. He also knew something was trying to separate them and he would fight for the family he’d wanted. The family he’d found, his family. Because he was Ian MacGregor of the Clan MacGregor, a descendant of Scotland’s tightest warrior and there was no foe he wouldn’t vanquish to protect his love for Carol and see her embrace hers for him. He’d start by throwing caution to the wind and telling her he loved her. After four months it was time to say the words.
He reached out and pulled her into his arms. He was a highland warrior and he was going to fight for what he wanted. What he wanted was his family, Carol and Collin and any children they had themselves. The MacGregors of Silverpines, his family now and all eternity. Heaven help whoever tried to stand in his way.
He’d just drifted off to sleep holding Carol tight in his arms when he was startled awake by the sound of the bell in the park ringing like mad. What idiot would be ringing the bell in the middle of the night? As Carol began to stir awake Ian noticed that he could smell smoke. He sat straight up in bed. FIRE! That’s why the bell was being rung there was a fire.
Carol looked over at him. “What is it, Ian, why is the bell ringing?”
“Fire, love. There’s a fire in town.” He climbed out of the bed and began to quickly throw on his clothes. The spring had been so dry that he was worried. In a town like Silverpines where everything was made of wood, a fire in a dry condition could get out of hand quickly. “Carol, you and Penelope stay here but get yourselves and Collin dressed. If we have to leave, it will be in a hurry. I’m going to find out what’s going on and help out if I can.”
Carol jumped out of bed and grabbed him. “Ian, don’t go, I’m scared. I can’t lose you.”
He pulled her into his arms and kissed her like she was the very life in his veins. “You won’t lose me, mo chridhe, I’m going to help save our town and then I’ll return to you. Keep yourself and our son safe.”
He turned and ran out the room and down the stairs then outside, where he stopped. The whole far side of town was ablaze. He could see the fire moving along the business section and also creeping toward the gas company. If the flames hit the gas lines it would take out the whole town. Without a thought for anything but saving his family, Ian ran straight toward the gas company building, desperate to separate the lines from the flow of fuel.
Chapter Nine
Ian slid to a stop in front of the gas company warehouse. This was where the gas well connected to the lines that ran through the whole town, connecting every house and shop to the highly volatile gas that lit most of the houses before Watt’s Electric Company opened. Just as he raised his foot to kick at the solid oak door, Clay Cutler and his oldest boy came up with three axes. “This might work better, Ian.”
MacGregor nodded and took the axe held out to him and the three of them made short work of the door, quickly spreading out inside the room that was already starting to heat up. Clay pointed to a series of valves along the back wall. “Those go to the side of town the fire isn’t active on. You shut those off and I’ll try to shut off the main valve.” He pointed to the valves on the other wall. “Ryder, you cover your hands with your shirt sleeves and try and shut off those to the side of town that’s burning. Start with the ones closest to the front and work backwards.”
The boy nodded and started toward the wall, as did Ian. They all turned as quickly as they could until the whole town was without gas. “The well may still blow but at least the flame won’t travel through the lines to every building.”
Ian nodded and the three of them turned and headed to where they could see people working to put out the fire. “This is bad, Clay.”
The mercantile owner nodded. “It is, but it would have been worse if we hadn’t shut off those valves. Let’s head for the hotel next. If we can t
ake down their water tower, we may be able to put out the fire heading toward the Inn.”
Ian nodded and then had another thought. “You go that way, I’m going to head to the train depot. We need that not to burn. As much as the railroad will be upset if we can drop their water tower over the platform and depot, we may have a fighting chance if you and some men can drop the one from the Inn.”
“Great idea.” They set off at a run. “What about your family, Clay, are they okay?”
The man nodded. “You knew my uncle, so you know about our family’s gift. Both Ryder and myself knew to get out before the fire reached the mercantile. Millie and the younger girls are at the Sewell’s house with Betsy.”
“Thankfully my house is on the far side of town, so Carol, Penelope and Collin are safe.”
That was the last they said as they ran toward the line of men and women working a bucket brigade. They had just reached the fire line when a man stepped to the front yelling. “Everyone needs to get back; if the gun powder blows we’ll have massive injuries and deaths.”
The mayor shouted after him, “Everyone listen to Mister Montgomery, he has experience with massive city fires. He’s in charge, for now move back to the next block.” Ian headed to the man yelling. “Two townsmen are headed up to the water tower on top of the Inn. If you can get them some help, they could drop it and maybe stop the fire from continuing through town. I’ll grab some men and do the same at the train depot. We need to save the platform at least, if we want the train to keep stopping here.”
The man nodded. “Great idea. I’ll get some men to do the same at the Saloon. Between those three water towers we might have a fighting chance.”
They’d been moving toward Main Street when they heard the boom of the gunpowder exploding. “There went the gunsmith shop. I wager we’re going to lose the mercantile and the rest of that block before they can drop that water tower. Same for the feed and seed, everything in there is burnable. Grab some men and get that water tower at the depot down. Try to direct it to fall on the platform toward this part of town.”
Ian nodded and grabbed a couple of lumberjacks who he saw had tools with them. The six men including Paul and James all followed him as he explained to Paul what they wanted to do. Paul looked at his brother. “Head to the Saloon, grab some of those miners and our men and take down that water tower. Angela may not like it, but I can’t see the McMillians or those girls burned out. Drop it toward town and to cover the saloon.”
Then they split, with Ian and Paul heading straight for the depot with four men. “We’ll drop it. Give me your axe, MacGregor, and you get yourself back to the bucket line. This is lumberjack work.”
Ian did as Paul asked but wasn’t happy about it. Until he saw how easy the woodsmen got into a rhythm with each other. Something he knew he’d not have done as well.
He headed back across to Main Street and the bucket line. Haul and pass, that was a rhythm miners knew.
Carol ran to the window and watched as Ian ran straight toward the glow of the fire. She could see the flames as the town was burning. Quickly she dressed and then went and had Penelope dress too. The fire was on the far side of town, but she knew if the wind shifted, as dry as it was, they could be without safety as well. She went downstairs to pump every bucket and pan she had full of water. She even had Penelope plug the new brass tub that hadn’t been installed yet but sat on the front porch, and they started filling it with water too. She would do what she could to defend her house and save her family. The whole time she prayed that God would keep Ian safe. She loved him, she knew she did. As much as she thought she shouldn’t, she couldn’t help falling deeper in love with him every day. She’d been trying to work up the nerve to ask Celeste for the money to return to Creede but every time she tried to write the letter she just couldn’t give up her husband.
For the last two weeks she suspected it was too late to leave. Her time hadn’t come when it should and she was almost sure that she was with child again. Just yesterday she’d started to feel off like she had with Collin before she became sick. She’d planned to see Hattie or Doctor Tory today, but now it looked like everyone would be fighting a fire or trying to recover from it. She needed Ian to be safe. She couldn’t survive losing another husband and being alone and pregnant again. She dumped her bucket into the big tub and turned to go inside when she heard the cluck of a chicken. Carol looked over the side of her porch and was shocked. “Bob? Is that you?”
The black and red rooster seemed to be nodding his head, and then he hopped up on the porch rail and crowed. “You can’t be Bob. He’s in Creede.”
The bird hopped down and started pulling on the end of her dress and squawking. She tried to shoo him away, but he kept coming back and tugging on her. “Well you’re as crazy as Bob, that’s for sure.”
The rooster puffed up and let out a loud. “COCK-A-DOODLE-DO!”
Carol suddenly remember the stories and rumors that went around town about Bob. How he’d lead people to those in need. Took out men and outlaws who were hurting innocent women and children. Showing up during a time of need and lending help to those that needed it most. Maybe this was Bob trying to save Ian. Maybe it wasn’t but she was sure she was supposed to follow that bird. “Let me tell Penelope to watch Collin and I’ll go with you.”
She told Penelope that she was needed for an emergency and she’d be back as soon as he could. The younger woman wanted to argue with her but knew that when her boss and friend got like this, nothing would stop her from doing what she wanted.
Carol turned and started following the rooster who was moving toward the burnt-out Chinatown or the church, she wasn’t sure which. They passed by the church and started for the glowing embers of the Chinese tent city. She didn’t understand; there wasn’t really anything left there and then in the field halfway between the church and the ashes of Chinatown, as it was called, she saw the shape of a person laying on the ground.
As she and the rooster, which she was almost sure was Bob now, she saw the person was a Chinese woman heavy with child. Her face was covered in soot and her simple nightgown was soaked on the lower half. Just as Carol drew up in front of her the woman grabbed her swollen belly and screamed. Carol swallowed, this was why Bob came for her. This poor woman was going to have her baby, and unless Carol could help her get to the church building, she was going to have it on the ground in the middle of a fire. As soon as the woman let go of her belly, Carol wrapped her arms under the woman’s arms and lifted her to her feet and pointed to the church. The woman nodded, and they started walking. After a few minutes they had to stop as another birth pain hit the woman. Carol began to pray that they would make it to the building and inside before this woman gave birth to her child.
It took almost an hour, Carol guessed, but they did get to the church and inside. Unlike with Betsy’s birth, there was no water or alcohol. No soft bed or clean cloths but at least they were inside, and Carol prayed, safe from the fire. Now all she could do was make the woman as comfortable as she could and help her bring her child into the world. Carol looked for Bob, anxious to send him after one of the towns’ doctors but the rooster was nowhere to be found. Like the stories she’d heard back in Creede, the mysterious bird had fulfilled his quest and vanished.
Chapter Ten
As the sun rose, the devastation was obvious. Everything below Main Street was in ashes. They’d saved the Hotel and part of the mercantile by dropping the water tower off the top of the hotel. Of course that meant the Inn was without water now, as was the railroad. The tower they used to refill the boilers on the engines had been dropped, barely in time to save most of the train platform, but a good section of the depot and all the warehouses were ash or still glowing embers.
The Saloon had been saved, as had everything past it, again by dropping their water tower. The mayor had been wise to put Mister Montgomery in charge when he did. The man obviously had experience fighting a large fire in a town. Thanks to his organizational s
kills and the unique skills of the men and women of Silverpines, they hadn’t lost the whole town. Yes the butcher shop, cafe, gunsmith shop and everything between the church and the hotel back all the way to the river, nothing was left but ash and embers. The docks still had a few fires and Montgomery had taken some men to try and put those fires out. They’d have to watch the rest of the burnt-out areas for most of the day and keep dousing any hot spots or flare ups to keep it all from starting again.
Ian stood with Mayor Garrison and Clay Cutler. “You men were smart cutting off the gas valves; probably saved the town.”
Ian shrugged his shoulders. “Just trying to protect my family, Mayor.”
“Yeah I know, but you saved mine as well. I won’t forget that.”
Just then Marshal Sewell came up to them. “You have a casualty count for me, Alexzander?”
“I don’t know how to say this, Luther.”
“Just speak plain, how bad is it?”
“We have a few minor burns from those fighting the fire and one idiot drunk who fell down and broke his leg. But the only death last night had nothing to do with the fire. But it’s gonna be hard for the ladies to take.”
Luther Garrison frowned. “What do you mean?”
“I sent the deputies door to door on the side of town opposite the fires. As you know people have been going home as they couldn’t stand anymore. Just to check for injuries. No one answered at Fanny Pearl’s place and they came and told me. I gathered up Hattie and we went to check on her. Looks like the old gal passed in her sleep before the fire even started.”
“You’re right, the women are going to take that hard. Heck, some of the men too.”
Wanted: Family (Silverpines Series Book 20) Page 7