“Oh, dear God,” he groaned, the pain producing sweat beads along his hairline. Tears squeezed from his eyes and he rested until relief coursed through him.
“Alex?” Yanni’s voice funneled through the small opening.
“Yanni, I am here!”
“We’ll get you out, Brother.” Footsteps padded away, and Yanni shouted for help in the distance.
Thank You, Lord.
Several minutes passed as he wrestled with the throbbing pain of his leg and the joy of the light growing wider and brighter. He relished the sound of his brother’s voice among that of Greek and American miners together. Soon, Yanni’s face shone down on him as if he were a looming giant.
Alex shielded his eyes with his arm and chuckled. “You are my angel, Brother.”
“Say that to your bride. She refused to let us leave this morning. Said she prayed all day and all night and knew that God would protect you.”
He praised God for answering that prayer, but when he closed his eyes, he could only envision Leanna.
Yanni shouted through the tunnel for a stretcher. “They’ll be here soon. Is it your leg?” Now that the rock was moved, he saw the unnatural angle of his leg and winced.
“Who else was with you, Alex? Do you remember? We are missing a handful more.” Yanni was now crouched down, one arm leaning on the rock just above Alex’s head.
“Coffey. He was with me,” Alex said. If his mother were near, she’d blame the accident as a curse for the fire.
“He is missing still.” Yanni did not look at him, just at the ground. As if his words declared some sort of challenge to fate, a deep moan came from his right. Yanni didn’t move. He must not have heard.
Alex turned toward the moan. “Who is there?”
Another moan, but no words. He was certain. It was Coffey.
All his hate for the crooked man beside him was diluted by his sounds of pain. He was alive.
Alex’s last image of Jack McKee flashed in his mind. He couldn’t save him that day. And he wept for him. But now, Coffey was alive beneath the rubble and Alex felt nothing.
“Coffey, he’s alive. I just heard him.” He turned his head in his brother’s direction.
“Are you sure it’s him?” Yanni asked in Greek.
“Neh.”
The two brothers stared at each other for some time.
“What if my children were in the dining room that night, Alex?” He spoke in a heated whisper. “Their blood would be on his hands.”
And if it weren’t for Coffey, Leanna would be here waiting for him. He would never have had to give up on love or marry for convenience. If Coffey’s prying eyes weren’t around, the Pappas family would not suffer the hardship that came with the fire, nor the animosity fueled by the American miner. If they rescued the man who hated them, Alex was sure life in Castle Gate would continue on as always—one step ahead, but a miserable man trying to push them back.
“Leave him,” Yanni mumbled with disgust.
Alex wanted to agree. But he couldn’t. What if Alex were the one trapped? Would Coffey rescue him?
He doubted it.
He thought of Tommy’s grandmother and the Good Book she quoted. They were all the same, all under the same God’s watch. Coffey may not know their shared position, but that didn’t make it any less true. Alex couldn’t allow ignorance to win. He must not give in to such darkness.
Yanni walked away, assisting a group of men with the stretcher. Alex searched the rocks beside him. Compassion snuffed out his hatred, and he began to dig out the rubble. Coffey’s face appeared, badly bruised. His eyes fluttered open then rolled back in his head.
“Stay with me.” Alex continued to remove the rubble, uncovering his shoulders. Coffey’s gray eyes wobbled open and fixed on Alex.
“You’ll be fine. Try and stay awake,” Alex whispered.
“I…can’t breathe.”
“I know. Help is on its way. Just stay calm.” He examined the load that bore down on Coffey’s chest. If Alex’s leg was twisted by the fall, he could hardly imagine the damage. He winced at the thought.
“Coffey, don’t go to sleep, okay?”
He barely nodded then screwed his face up in pain. “I—I don’t think I’ll make it.”
“Don’t say that.” What could he do? He could not reach any more rubble, and his leg was throbbing again. All he could do was pray. He squeezed his eyes closed. “Protect this man, Lord. Bring Your peace to him—to me. Please let us see the light of day again. Amen.”
He looked down at Coffey.
He just stared at Alex, his eyes brimming. “Thank…you.”
The scuffle of miners came up from behind them.
“Coffey’s here!” someone shouted, and everyone began to work on the rock.
They carefully placed Alex on a stretcher. Yanni came up beside him, giving him a narrow look.
“We would be no better than him,” Alex said as he winced with pain.
Yanni’s jaw flinched. He placed a hand on Alex’s shoulder and smiled. “You, Brother, are better than me.”
Alex grimaced at the bright sunshine, and he wrapped his arm around his face. Urgent voices spilled on all sides of him, but he couldn’t open his eyes until he was in the shade of a covered wagon.
His old friend Will Jacob came up beside him. “Alex, they will take you to Salt Lake City this afternoon. You are one of the lucky ones. A load of coffins just arrived today. We expect at least twenty men have perished.”
Alex drew in his first full breath of dust-free air, giving his friend a weak pat on the shoulder.
“There’s a young lady who’s been anxious to see you, sir.” Will tipped his hat and left the wagon, ushering in someone from below.
Kara was a faithful woman. He must thank her for praying. He sure did feel those prayers.
“If only Jack had been as lucky as you, Mr. Pappas.” Leanna’s words startled the fatigue right out of his aching bones. He whipped his head up, spied the fair-haired beauty, then groaned, the ache wrapping around his neck.
“Be careful.” Her warm hands brushed the curls from his forehead. “You’ve been through quite an ordeal.”
“When did you arrive?” He took her hand and held it to his chest. Her fingers tensed at first, but then she allowed her hand to relax beneath his.
“This morning.” She gave him a sorrowful smile. “How are you feeling?”
“The whole of the Castle Gate spires seemed to sit on top of me, but I’ll survive.” Alex chuckled softly. “But seeing you is something else entirely.” His heart was about to burst from his chest.
“I had to see you and make sure you were still—” She grimaced and pulled her hand from Alex’s in a gentle, determined way.
“Alive?”
She nodded. “Alex, I also came here to see if there was still a chance—” She gave a nervous glance to the entrance of the wagon then back to him again. “I met Kara. She is so worried about you.” Her eyes bubbled with tears. “I realize that I was presumptuous. Even if I had the chance to give Coffey a piece of my mind, I could never hurt Kara or your family.”
This is the woman he should be with. She was the one who gave him hope in the dark mine, in his bankrupt faith. Leanna McKee was his heart. “Wait, Leanna—”
“I shall be just fine,” She swiped a tear from her eye. “You have a lovely bride, Alex. She is perfect for your family. And as for Coffey, I suppose it would be rather harsh of me to give him an earful when death was so near him today.”
“Leanna, there must be a way.” He tried to prop himself on his elbows. He grunted and then fell back.
“Please, don’t hurt yourself even more. Really there is nothing to discuss. You have found a match, a Greek match. And I shall go to San Francisco. My cousin has a position for me now. It is all working out—perfectly.”
A rustle came from the opening, and a man boarded, lugging another stretcher up into the wagon. He slid Coffey beside Alex.
Coffey’s
eyes were closed and bruises ran along the entire right side of his face. Any ill feeling he had for this man must have been buried beneath the mountain. He only felt sympathy for him.
“I better go,” she said with her attention now focused on Coffey.
“Is that you Mrs. McKee?” Coffey blurted in a weak, hoarse voice, opening his eyes.
“It is, Mr. Coffey,” she said. Her ivory skin flushed as if she was either embarrassed or furious. Perhaps she was both.
“I’ll not forget your deed, Mr. Pappas.” Coffey managed a half smile. “I ain’t been much of a man to deserve such a thing.”
“We are all men in need of a little grace, Mr. Coffey,” Alex said.
“Some of us need it more than most.” Coffey nodded at Leanna. “I ain’t been very neighborly to you, either. Runned you off, and for that I apologize.” He retrieved his hand from beneath the tight blanket pulled over his body, offering it to Alex. “You are a good man, Alex.”
Alex flared his nostrils then smiled. He held out his hand and shook Coffey’s. “Thank you, sir.”
“Now, if you’ll excuse me. I’d rather sleep this whole thing off.” He settled back and closed his eyes.
Leanna gaped at him. “What happened?”
“More prayer, less reason.” Alex winked.
She cocked her head, searching his face. “How did you know?”
“Know? I prayed over Coffey, Leanna. God was close down there.”
Her brow tilted in a desperate furrow. “I prayed over you—up here.”
“He listened to us both.” He smiled wide and reached for her hand.
“I better go.” Leanna began to scoot back.
“Please.” Alex grabbed her arm. “We can work this out. Most of it is done already. Would you have ever thought that he’d apologize?” He nodded his head at Coffey.
“She needs you, Alex,” Leanna whispered. “I cannot get in the way of a family. Not again.” She wrestled her arm away and disappeared.
Leanna filled her lungs with the mountain air, her pace brisk as she tried her best to keep her wild emotions under control. Her heart brimmed with gratitude and grief—all for Alex.
Stergios met her, wringing his hands. “He okay?”
She forced a reassuring grin. “Yes, Mr. Pappas, he will be fine.”
His blue eyes were vibrant. He placed a hand on her shoulder. “You are good friend to us.” He grimaced, opened his mouth as if to continue, and instead, gave her a squeeze and walked away.
Mrs. Pappas and Kara approached from town. Kara must have run down to tell her the news.
“Ah, Leanna!” Alex’s mother ran up to her and embraced her with great enthusiasm. She pulled away, her face swimming in emotion. “He safe, he safe.” She patted Leanna’s cheeks. “You stay now. You family.” Her smile fell quickly with a glance to Kara.
A lump formed in Leanna’s throat. She could not—
“He is a strong man, Mrs. Pappas,” Leanna said. Mrs. Pappas spoke quietly to Kara, shrugging her shoulders. Kara nodded in a thoughtful way.
“Meesus McKee!” Yanni ran up to her. “You come to dinner tonight? Maria and Teddy see you?”
“I would love to,” she said, but the tension between Mrs. Pappas and Kara was obvious. All because of her. “But I can’t; it wouldn’t be fair to Kara.”
Leanna had seen the damage of a love triangle with the Scotts. She would not play Mildred’s part in all of this.
“Kara would not mind.” He smiled just like his brother. “She’ll go with Alex to Salt Lake City.”
Stergios came up and spoke quickly to Kara. She began to follow him but stopped by Leanna’s side. “Thank you, Meesus McKee. You are like family to them.” Her teeth rested on her lip, and then she said, “I glad I meet you.”
The woman continued toward the wagon.
Leanna had come here to fight for love, but perhaps she could settle with the fact that God brought her here to pray, just like Mrs. Pappas said that she wished for. This was enough. To have this final good-bye with the Pappas family without a fire or a fight. She would leave Castle Gate knowing that all was well with the people she loved the most.
She peered back at the wagon. Kara ducked under the canopy, and her soon-to-be father-in-law followed her inside.
Leanna turned to Yanni. “Thank you for the invitation. But it is time for me to leave.”
Yanni stepped closer. “But—”
“No, Yanni.” Leanna shook her head. “Give the children my love. This is for the best.” She gave him a hug and then turned to Mrs. Pappas.
“You are family.” The small woman managed in her limited English, her brown eyes intense.
Not anymore. Leanna leaned down and kissed her cheek. “Good-bye, Mrs. Pappas.”
A dim light crept from somewhere to the left side of Alex, casting a myriad of shadows upon the strange ceiling. He imagined his cot was rocking to and fro as it had the whole journey to Salt Lake City. When he turned his head, Kara stood beside him, perfectly still.
“How do you feel?” she spoke quietly.
“The same.” He tried to move his body, but it was stiff. “Do I dare look at my leg?” Had they amputated? He couldn’t bear the thought, although the mining company doctors were known to lop off limbs for quick repair.
“It is neatly wrapped in a cast. You have nothing to worry about. They will have you up on crutches as soon as you have food and water. And rest, of course.” She sat down on a stool.
“You did not have to come, Kara. Where will you stay?”
“Do not worry about me.” Her words were cool, oddly confident.
“How can I not worry?” A shadow cast over his thoughts. “You are to be my wife.” He forced the words out through his teeth then immediately regretted them as hurt washed over her face. “I am sorry. This has been a hard day.” Leanna surrendered because of Kara.
“I know.” She lowered her eyes. “Leanna is a beautiful woman.”
“It does not matter.” His father emerged from the shadows.
Alex groaned. “Why are you here?”
“Kara cannot come to this city alone.”
“You were in the wagon?” A dull ache sprouted down his neck as he tried to remember. “You should be home with Momma. We are fine.”
“It is good he is here,” Kara said. “There is much to be settled.” Once again, her confidence surprised him.
Alex’s father wrung his hat in his hands. “You’ve gone and induced your American ways on this woman.”
Alex winced with confusion. “What have I done?”
Kara stepped forward and opened her mouth to speak but was not quick enough.
“She’s got it in her head that Leanna is your match more than she is. If only Meesus McKee would stay where she belonged.”
“You have nothing to worry about. Even if I begged her to stay, Leanna refuses to hurt you or Kara.” A different heaviness than collapsed rock pressed on his chest now.
“She is a good woman,” his father admitted quietly.
“Her prayer was powerful, just like Maria said,” Kara added. “Alex, if you love her still, you cannot let her go. Love was something stolen from me back in Greece. All because of money. I cannot expect you to marry me because of a dowry. It is not fair.”
Money? How were his heartstrings always attached to money? With his effort to save Helena and now with Kara.
“This is the way it is done,” his father muttered.
Alex piped up. “What about love, Papa? The way it is done isn’t always the only way.”
“Alex, do not speak to me of such things. This is tradition. You are Greek, and Kara is a good Greek bride.”
She boomeranged her gaze between the two men. “Mr. Pappas, I know your obligations to accept my father’s dowry, but perhaps—”
“Money is of little concern to me.” He folded his arms on his chest and began to pace. “But I cannot disappoint your father.”
“My father was afraid to disappoint Demet
ri’s with such a dowry as mine.” She sank down on the bed next to Alex’s shoulder. She whispered to him, “It seems that our fathers, at least, will be happy in this match.”
Her heart was tender, and her love for another may be just as strong as his was for Leanna.
“Papa, it is not just me who risks betraying love.” His heart began to swell, and he could not keep a smile from creeping on his face. “Kara is in love with another man.”
“What will I tell her father?” Papa tossed his hands up. “What will you do, Kara?”
She shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know. My dowry is too small for Demetri’s father.”
Alex managed to lift his hand and find hers. “You act so strong, so ready to give your life to me.”
“That is the perk of being a woman. Our imagination can persuade us that anything is possible, even winning the heart of your husband, eventually.”
“She is a good Greek girl.” Alex’s father pulled out a handkerchief and wiped his forehead.
Her eyes widened, and she kept her gaze on Alex for a good long while.
“Demetri has found where I am and sends letters even.” Her brown eyes dulled.
A long sigh escaped Alex’s father, and he muttered under his breath, “What will happen to us? The restaurant will be in danger again.”
“I don’t think it will.” Alex’s heart pounded in his chest. Could this be happening? “A collapsed mine reminds men of their humanity—and the chance for mercy. Coffey is of no concern now.”
“Coffey? But what about others?”
“We won’t allow men to stop us from living, Papa,” Alex said. “I will not. Not again.”
His father glanced at him then said, “Kara will return to Greece unmarried?”
Kara shrugged her shoulders, her eyes sad and hopeless. She was at the mercy of men and money.
But Alex could change all that.
My Heart Belongs in Castle Gate, Utah Page 23