by Janine McCaw
There were some subtle changes since she had last seen him. His hair had grown, cascading in waves behind his ears that were never there when his hair was close cropped. His arms and legs were firm and hard due to the constant physical activity. He had a kind of confidence that never surfaced around her family. Perhaps the mine was a good place for him, she thought.
He glanced at her and saw the same young girl he had fallen in love with as a teen. She still had that carefree way about her, but there had been a maturity of late, perhaps due to her leaving her family ties behind and beginning a new life. Frank was glad she was out from her family’s influence. It was a time for them to begin something new, something where he would be her lover and provider.
This thought was in his mind as he gently eased her onto her back and raised himself over her where he could take her beauty in. She reached for him, their eyes meeting together, a smile crossing both their faces. So began their intimacy in their first new home, something they would never have again, but always remember fondly.
Chapter Eight
A little later than originally intended, Frank and Olivia went to the Bentall's to pick them up. They were surprised to learn that Marty was staying home. Frank said he would try to smuggle a shot of McMichael’s good rye back for Marty.
When she first arrived at the wedding reception, Olivia felt like she was being starred at more than the bride was.
“Why is everyone looking at me?” she asked Lucy.
“Because you’re young, married and not pregnant which is more than they can say for the bride…oh and because you’re new here,” Lucy laughed. The earlier events of her day were being put behind her.
“What?” Olivia gasped.
“Forget the story about them moving away and wanting to get married in front of their friends. This is an old-fashioned shotgun wedding plain and simple. But relax and have a good time because it is a McMichael shindig after all, and they don’t come often and they don’t come cheap. The bar is free tonight.”
“Are you sure? About the bride I mean?”
“Olivia, this is a small town. I’m sure. Okay, first things first, that stern looking woman with the two beautiful girls, that’s Mrs. Schwindt. She’s the McMichael nanny. Those are McMichael’s daughters, Lara and Christina. They are the royalty of this town.”
Mrs. Schwindt, decked out in her Sunday finest of black on black, reminded Olivia of a governess her father had once hired who lasted about a week and a half. She had beaten the children once too often and had been caught by her father who promptly smacked her back and threw her out the door faster than she came in. But the two girls didn’t seem terribly frightened of the woman, so Olivia told herself not to judge a book by its cover. The youngest daughter, Lara, as beautiful as Lucy had said, had long blonde hair tied up in a French braid for the occasion. She wore a lovely knee-length blue velvet dress with lace around the collar and cuff, and a few flowers in her hair. Olivia thought she must have been a flower girl during the wedding ceremony as her dress was a younger version of the one her sister Christina wore. Christina, Olivia noticed, was a truly blossoming young woman with hair as fair as her young sister’s, and a smile that lit up the room. She was on the verge of adolescence, and Olivia noticed the teenage boys hovering around her.
“See that woman over there in the green dress with the hideous hat with the bird on it?” Lucy continued. “That’s Mary Alice Carpenter, the local seamstress. Had to let the bride’s wedding dress out twice the past few weeks, she tells me. Notice how forgiving the cut of the gown is. The older man over at the bar is Dr. Van den Broek. She’s been in to see him a few times lately. And the skinny gal over there is Diana the hairdresser. Says that the bride’s hair won’t hold a curl anymore. Some say that’s just an old wives tale but, three plus three equals six and that’s about how many months we all figure she is along. Now shhh! McMichael’s nearby.”
McMichael, playing the role of father-of-the bride for his niece, was pleased with the way the event was progressing. The wedding was a grand affair with plenty of food and plenty of liquor. He was a self-proclaimed frugal man, but when he did things, he did things right. He had even brought a professional band up from Vancouver to provide live music. Everyone seemed to be having a good time, he thought, as he glanced around the room. As beautiful as the bride looked today, there was the lovely Lucy, stealing the show as she always did when she walked into a room. She had danced most of the night away, with the single and married men alike lining up for a chance to take her for a twirl. As gorgeous as she was though, he couldn’t explain why his heart literally skipped a beat when he gazed upon the woman now standing beside her, with the lovely long chestnut hair.
“Nice wedding, Mr. McMichael,” Frank said as he passed by with a couple of drinks in his hand.
“Is that your wife Frank? Over there with Lucy?”
“Yes sir. Come on over and I’ll introduce you,” he said, making his way back to the ladies.
Olivia took the beverage Frank brought and put it down on a table.
“Frank, I love this song, let’s go dance,” Olivia begged, not paying much attention to the stranger with him. She had met so many people that night, she couldn’t remember who she had been introduced to and who she hadn’t. They were becoming a blur.
“Liv, I’d love to, but my leg’s killing me. I’m sorry. I need to sit down for a few minutes.”
“Well then,” McMichael said, literally sizing her up. “I would be happy to have a dance with your wife, Frank. Olivia isn’t it? I’m J.W. McMichael.”
Olivia hesitantly looked at Frank who in turn gave her a hesitant go-ahead, as McMichael placed his hand across her back and led her onto the dance floor.
“Oh sure Frank,” Lucy said, “throw her to the wolves her first day.”
“Why doesn’t he ask you to dance Lucy? I mean if he wants to dance so much? I know he likes you. I think upon occasion I’ve even seen him throw a smile your way.”
“Because,” she replied, “I’m taller than he is. I tower over him and he can’t stand it.”
The crowded dance floor soon made room for the new couple.
“Thank you for inviting me, Mr. McMichael,” Olivia said. “That was quite kind of you. I didn’t know anyone beforehand, but I’ve met quite a few of the townspeople tonight. Your daughters are quite beautiful.”
“Thank you Olivia,” he said, taking her into his arms. “I hadn’t realized that I did invite you, but no matter. It is a pleasure to have you living in this town. I hope you’re happy here. That’s a lovely dress you are wearing. Do you mind if I ask where you got it?”
Olivia was taken aback by the question.
“It was a birthday gift from my parents. I’m not sure where they got it.”
“Ah, well it’s just that the workmanship is so detailed. I thought it might have come from a private clothier in Seattle. My wife had one very similar once. A gift from a friend of the family. I thought perhaps they were made by the same shop, that’s all. Your parents have remarkable taste.”
“Is your wife here? I don’t think I’ve met her yet,” Olivia asked innocently.
McMichael stopped dancing.
“No, she died, I’m afraid.”
“I’m sorry sir, I didn’t know…”
“Please call me McMichael, everyone else does around here. It’s like it’s my given name, not my surname.”
“I think I’d better call you Mr. McMichael, as obviously I’m not very familiar with you, and you are Frank’s boss. That’s probably more appropriate. Again, I am terribly sorry about your wife, I didn’t know.”
McMichael was comforted by the sincerity in her voice.
“Well, you will be hearing many things about me over the next few days, I’m sure. It would have come up eventually. Good to hear Frank hasn’t been gossiping about the boss.”
Olivia blushed at that remark and McMichael noticed how the colour only made her more stunning.
“Hmm
. Well then, I see the music has stopped. I’d better take you back to your husband. Welcome to Britannia, Olivia. Make sure he’s not late for work in the morning. I’m sure you’ll find everything you need at one of the stores in town. If not, let the shopkeeper know and we will have it brought in for you. We like to keep the money in the town, to keep people employed, so outside goods are frowned upon, just so you’re aware. It was a pleasure to meet you,” he smiled, releasing her, as the dance was done.
“Well he’s a bit of a pompous chore,” Olivia said when she was safely sitting on Frank’s lap. “Let me guess. He owns the most of stores in town?”
“Nothing gets passed you, pretty lady,” he said, kissing her softly on the neck.
The old steam clock in the centre of town struck midnight, letting out eleven short whistles, followed by one long blast.
“Does that go off every night?” Olivia asked.
“It does, but you’ll get used to it. I hardly hear it anymore,” Lucy replied.
“It’s a little quieter up the hill where you are,” Frank admitted. “There’s been a few nights when I’ve wanted to stuff a sock in it.”
“Last call!” the bartender yelled above the music.
“I’ll go get us another one,” Frank offered.
“No more for me Frank,” Lucy said “I really need to get home, I should have gone hours ago. I’ll never hear the end of it from Marty. I was just having so much fun with you two.”
“Cut the music,” McMichael said, taking the microphone from the singer’s hand. “I want to make a farewell toast to the bride and groom.”
The musicians stopped playing and the hall grew silent. But only for a moment.
A thundering noise could be heard outside, a noise that was so loud it caused the walls of the dance hall to vibrate.
“Oh my God, what’s that?” Lucy asked.
McMichael took control over the panicking crowd. “Men, outside! I want the women and children to remain indoors. Mrs. Schwindt, take care of the girls. Keep them inside.”
“What is it? An earthquake?” Olivia asked. Earthquakes had been known to occur at various locations up and down the Pacific coast.
“I don’t know Liv,” Frank replied. “Do what he says, stay here, I’m going outside.”
The rain had mercifully let up, giving the men emerging from the hall a clear look at the horror that was unfolding before them. A torrent of mud and debris was coming down from the top of the Jane Mountain at a tremendous speed. The entire north face of the mountain above the 1000-foot mark had split from the mountainside and was sliding down towards the town site. The noise became deafening as the rock crushed what had once been longhouse number six, home to eight Chinese workers of the mine, their cries for help stymied by the rumbling force of Mother Nature. Louder and louder the noise got as the rubble worked its way like falling dominoes down the side of the mountain, toppling one structure after another and carrying parts of them in its path of destruction.
“What do we do?” Frank asked McMichael.
“Nothing. We do nothing.”
Frank looked at him cold-heartedly. McMichael read his mind.
“Right now, we are safe and we are alive. She’s cutting a path down the east slope. Simpson, get Dr. Van den Broek over here. He’s been at the bar all night, so he’s probably still there. Get him some coffee and sober him up. I want every available medically trained person over to the hospital immediately, and that includes the vet. Christianson, start knocking on doors and get every available man down here and form rescue teams. We’re going to need to get up there and get help to those who need it. You, Clarkson, we’ll need some stretchers from the hospital and Jeffries, get the stretchers from base camp. The dead are going to stay dead. Got that? We take care of the injured first. But we are not going up to the top camp until it is safe to do so.”
Lucy, true to her nature, came out from the hall to take a look despite McMichael’s instructions not to do so.
“Get back inside,” McMichael yelled at her.
“Oh my God, it’s going towards my house!”
She froze in horror.
“I said get back inside Lucy!”
“My babies!” she cried, and bolted into the street. “Oh my God…my family…”
McMichael ran after her and grabbed her forcefully. “I said get inside.”
He shook her. “Do you hear me? Lucy!”
“Yes, of course I hear you…oh my God, my little girl, she can’t hear the noise…”
“Leave her alone,” Frank snarled, his hatred for the man pulsing through his veins. How dare he rough up the woman. Could he not see the shock draining all but the slightest colour from her face?
“Do you really want her to see this Fitzpatrick?” McMichael asked, turning her head and giving her to Frank, a fleeting moment of compassion in his voice. “You get in the hall, and you tell that young wife of yours that you need her to keep Lucy and the other women who are in a state of shock, inside the hall. We will get some blankets brought over. Olivia’s new here. She’ll be able to help them without any pre-conceived notions or prejudices. I need her to be compassionate. You don’t need any training for that, but it’s not something all of us have. From where I’m standing, you and your wife have come out of this very lucky. So you save that attitude of yours for another time and place. I have a job to do, and right now, it isn’t very pleasant. I have to count the dead. I have to decide where to set up a temporary morgue. Do you really want to be in my position?”
Frank, somewhat humbled, took Lucy back inside. There was wisdom in McMichael’s words if not in his actions.
The thought of the lives of her loved one’s ending so abruptly was too much for Lucy to bear. She sobbed hysterically.
“Oh my God, Marty!” she wailed. “Marty’s gone…and Melissa, she just had a little cold. I should have stayed home with them. I should have brought them to the wedding anyway. Robbie wanted to come and I said no, I didn’t think there would be any other children here…”
“My lord Frank, what is it? What happened?” Olivia asked.
“Mountain slide,” he replied, nodding towards Lucy. “She’s right. They’re gone. There’s no way they could have survived that. The whole two upper levels of the town…”
Frank’s voice choked and he could not continue.
Olivia remembered her new friend’s conversation on the boat. How these were the only children she would ever be able to have.
“What?” Olivia asked, shocked.
“I saw it, Liv. I saw the rocks come crushing down on their home. It pummelled it like it was made of paper. There’s nothing left. McMichael’s asked if you could stay here, with her and the other women, in the hall, as there’s going to be more bad news tonight. I guess he thinks you’ve got a warm heart. Please, stay with her, and help the others. I need to go back outside to help.”
Olivia put her arms around Lucy.
“Lucy, if there’s anything I can do…”
Lucy just looked away.
What can anyone really do when your family has been taken from you in one swift act of God, Olivia asked herself? Call it Mother Nature, call it fate…call it what ever you want. Nothing prepares you for a loss as great as she was suffering.
Olivia sat her down and Lucy began rocking, in a catatonic state.
Frank went back outside. The tons of rock had crashed down to the lower level campsite, taking Lucy’s home and five others along with it, and reduced them to rubble. The thunder was now silent. There was devastation everywhere. People started to emerge into the street with candles.
Akiko, who had been making her way over to the hall when the rumble began, turned around and glanced towards her home, where she was relieved to see Harry and Jimmy safe on the doorstep. Their home had been spared. She must remember to burn incense, she thought, in honour of the saving of her family’s life.
“We need blankets taken to the dance hall. Go get them,” McMichael barked at her, and sh
e was only too happy to do so, to be of some assistance. She searched her mind for the English words to say. “So sorry,” was what she was able to come up with.
McMichael nodded.
“I want every man available to get his flashlights and gear and assemble at the foot of the mine. Divide up into crews of four. Do not separate under any circumstances. Go up and down the mountain together. I want you to report the number of injured people to your crew chiefs. I am going to ask you to make a judgment that I hope I never have to ask you to make again in your life. If they look like they are about to die, they probably are. Leave them. If they are talking, in pain, but able to move and speak coherently, leave them for now. Take the most severely injured out first. Injured means alive, unconscious with a pulse, turning blue, or bleeding severely.”
He touched under his neck.
“You feel your own pulse under your chin? That’s what you’re looking for. If they don’t have one, they don’t go. Now let’s get to it.”
The men broke into groups and started to make their way up the mountain.
And like a moment’s rest from the tragedy surrounding him, Frank came across an extraordinary site. There at the base of the rubble, was Tan Chui, one of the immigrant workers from longhouse six. He had come down the entire side of the mountain inside a ball of debris. Like a massive snowball making its way down an avalanche, Tan had tossed and rolled down to the town. Frank glanced up at the distance he must have travelled and shook his head.
“Mr. McMichael, come see this. You’re not going to believe it, but I think he’s still alive.”
McMichael began to walk over towards Tan. He touched his fingers to his neck again to remind Frank to check to see if Tan were indeed still alive. As Frank moved aside some wood and mud, finding Tan's head, then his throat, Tan let out a moan, scaring Frank half to death at the same time. Frank quickly pulled back his fingers from Tan’s throat.
“I’d say he’s alive,” McMichael agreed. “Get him over to the hospital.”