Ribbons of Steel (29 page)

“It’s not so much from the ale, but from what you’ve been through.” Charley poured two cups of coffee and handed one to Seamus. “Here. See if this helps.”

“You’re a real good friend, ya are, Charley. I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t been here. I’ve got to thank you for talking me into sending Maggie and Madeline up to Candor where they’re safe.”

“Then let’s talk. You can start all over again if you go up to Candor with Maggie and Madeline. Two trains run through the town. You can see if one of them will hire you. With everyone having to apply to get their old jobs back down here, you just might have a better chance getting something up north instead. If not, there’s always Owego or Spencer. Even Newark Valley might be needing someone.”

Charley looked in Seamus’ eyes. There was caring there, and an overwhelming amount of friendship shining back.

“Ah, Charley, you’re a true and loyal friend. You’ve done so much already.”

“Then let me do this one last thing for a friend. Something I can do. In fact, I’ll be going to get Emily as soon as I talk to Aderley.”

“I’m sorry I questioned your allegiance, Charley. It must have been hard to divide loyalty between your friends and the company. Somehow you managed not to compromise yourself. I hope Aderley realizes how strong your commitment is and rewards you right proper.”

“As soon as I settle things with him, you can go with me to Candor. There are others who can do our jobs here. They won’t be missing us.”

“What do you mean, us? You’re not giving up your position with Aderley are you?”

“It’s time my family got to see a lot more of me. Not sure what I’m going to do. I’m not a farmer like Seth. Maybe they’ll have a job on the rails for both of us in New York,” Charley chuckled. “We’ll see. But before I decide, I need to get my family back on track. I am not letting the trains get in the way any longer. Even if I have to learn to be a farmer.”

Charley scraped his chair out from behind the small kitchen table to get the coffee pot.

“Here. Have another cup of coffee while I get us some breakfast going. No need to be thanking me. I haven’t done much.”

“What are you going to tell Aderley about Donahue?”

“The truth. The man is dead. I think Aderley will be just as relieved. Seems there’s been kidnapping threats on his family just before the strike got underway. One of the reasons he sent his family out to California. The irony was he thought he had sent them out of harm’s way.”

Charley peeled potatoes while he talked to Seamus. Emily would be proud of the way he took his time to slice a paper thin layer of skin off the potato and then dice them into the pan with a slab of bacon drippings.

“Sad thing is, Aderley found out the day before Hancock arrived that one of his sons had been killed in a buffalo stampede. Aderley was in pretty bad shape just before the meeting with the engineers, too. I was about to tell him I couldn’t support him and Scott, when he told me about the incident. How could I tell him I was about to walk out on him once I found out his son had been killed? I just couldn’t add more to his worries.”

“Like I said, Charley, you’re a faithful friend.”

“Go get yourself dressed while these potatoes finish frying. We’ve arrangements to make. I’ll deal with Aderley, you deal with things around here. Start getting your things in order. I plan to be going home in a few days. I’d be glad of your company.”

Charley visited Aderley later that day. His boss was in better spirits than he’d been since before the strike broke, and the news of his son’s death. The sparkle in his eyes was still lacking, but he looked a hell-of-a-lot better.

“Afternoon, Charles. Glad you’re here. Did you hear about Donahue? Me? I’d of taken my sweet time on him.”

“I suspect the blood draining from his body took some time.”

“Hell, the shock alone might have killed him right off. Anyway, I found proof he was the one threatening my family. I was cleaning his office drawers out the other day and ran across evidence, papers and another note he was getting ready to send.”

“At least you won’t have to be concerned about your wife and son coming back home, now. They’ll be safe.”

“It doesn’t matter where you are, you’re never safe. You can never fully protect your family no matter how hard you try, Charles.”

“All the more reason to take care of them while you can.”

“You’re right. I’m heading out to California to take care of Marian and Jonathan. Spend more time with my son. He’s going to need someone. Lord knows I need them.”

“I know how you feel. I’ve come to ask for those favors.”

“You were a faithful employee during this entire fiasco. I know you had loyalties to the workers as well. I don’t know how you managed to carry out your job at the same time. It’s what I value most about you. Anything you want. Ask.”

“I’d like the company to help relocate Seamus up to Candor and get him a job on the rails there. He needs to be with his family, too. He’s gone through too much down here to ever feel safe again. I’m sure Donahue and his thugs were the ones who attacked him at his own home. Seamus was the one who found Donahue dangling from the trains. He needs to put this all behind him. Besides, you know there are others who need the work here. There are too many bodies trying to grab hold of the too few available jobs. Rescinding the wage cut only put these men back to the same level they were before the strike.”

“The company is floundering. Scott is having a hard time keeping things going, and this strike hasn’t helped. There’s even talk Scott’s Empire Transportation is in trouble. He mentioned John D. Rockefeller is interested in buying him out and controlling the company with the Standard Oil Company in New York. Heaven help us, it will be the biggest monopoly the world has ever seen.”

Aderley paused, looked out the window, and then turned back to Charley who was trying not to feel sorry for Tom Scott. The man was a true capitalist. Whatever Aderley could do for him and Seamus, he’d better be doing it fast considering Scott’s predicament.

“Seamus is not a problem. Done,” Aderley said.

Aderley lifted the carved humidor on his desk and took out a cigar. He rolled it between his fingers, and then as an afterthought, offered one to Charley. Something he didn’t do too often. Charley took one and rolled it in his hands, as well, both of them savoring the feel, and the rich tobacco aroma. Aderley offered him a light, and then pulled out his bottom drawer.

“I restocked. Let’s celebrate.” Aderley poured two drinks and handed one to Charley. “Now, what about you?”

Charley didn’t hesitate. “I need a ticket to go home and then out to California to bring Emily home. She’s doing well and needs to be with her family…our family. A doctor out there has somehow helped her overcome her illness, and she is well rested. Her cousin wants her to stay longer, but if I know Emily, she’s ready to come home to be with her family. After the episode on the train ride out there, I want to be by her side during her ride back home. I
need
to be by her side to make sure she’s safe.”

“Done. Take the children out to her. She’s been away from them long enough. I can’t imagine what Marian is going through without Jason, now he’s gone. Mothers need to be with their children. If you need anything while you’re out there, you contact me at Marian’s sisters. I’ll give you her address in San Francisco.”

“I’ll be leaving for Candor the end of next week. Seamus will be coming with me. I’ll need a few days to get the children ready for the trip.”

“I’m leaving for California by the end of the week, myself. Scott will be back in his office and will manage things just fine without us for a while. Freight goes out day after tomorrow.”

“We were luckier than Pittsburgh and some of the other mill towns,” Charley said. He took a swig of the amber liquid and set the glass back on Aderley’s desk. “They’re going to have a hard time recovering. Some of the miners are still holding out, though.”

“Won’t last too much longer,” Aderley confirmed. “Their grievances are different. Entire families are being buried alive in those mines. Kids never see the light of day.”

“I hope it’s resolved before too many more lives are lost.”

Mason Aderley placed his cigar between his teeth and grabbed his whiskey bottle with shaking hand. He poured a couple more shots for both of them.

“What happened to Westmüller? Do you know how he’s doing?”

Charley hadn’t forgotten about Johann Westmüller. He had visited Johann several times in the hospital and learned the man’s body was starting to heal, although he was going to be scarred for life. Sixty percent of his body had been burned before Charley had been able to subdue the flames, including the left side of his neck and lower cheek. He had been luckier than the other two men who had burned to death.

“He’s going to be okay. Scarred a bit, but he didn’t lose the use of his hands and legs. He should be up and about in several months. The company ought to pay for his medical expenses. The family has nothing much to speak of, and these expenses will put them in the poor house for sure. God, he was one of them trying to save the car, not destroy it. He deserves some help now.”

Aderley was silent. Charley held his breath. Had he stepped over the line with his demands? Was Aderley about to tell him to get out of his office and be glad with what he got? Would he take it all back and send him packing on his own? He couldn’t quite meet Aderley’s eyes. When he did look up he found them shut in contemplation.

“Ah, Charles, a true humanitarian. You drive a hard bargain, and you catch me at a time when family means a great deal. I’ll see what I can do, but I’m not sure Scott will go this far. Tell you what I’ll do, though. If the company won’t pick up the tab on this, I will. I’ll see Westmüller is rehired as soon as he’s able to work. Now, there isn’t anything else I can do for you, is there? Someone else you want to help?”

Charley looked at Aderley and smiled. “Would you help them if there were?”

“I think I’m out of favors for one day. Go. Start getting things wrapped up here. I’ll see you before I leave. I have a proposition to put to you. I hope you’ll agree. In the meantime, I’ll go see Westmüller myself. Tell him the good news. Might just help his recovery some.”

Charley stood, took the cigar out of his mouth with his left hand, and accepted another refill with his right. They clanked glasses, drained their shot, and then shook hands. The hand clasp lasted a moment longer than usual. Charley was grateful for the unspoken admiration Aderley’s grasp implied. This was goodbye. Charley wouldn’t return to Philadelphia any time soon.

“It’s been a pleasure, Charles. A real pleasure.”

Charley wished he could say the same.

Chapter Twenty

News of the strike being put down traveled fast, thanks to the telegraph offices and the newspapers spreading the word across the nation and Candor. President Hayes’ announcement was unexpected but welcomed by many. Cut wages were rescinded. Some rail workers had fought for an eight-hour day and won. It would please his pa. The man worked too hard for the rails as it was.

Even with all the concessions made, however, Seth vowed he would never consider working for the rails. If his grandmother hadn’t needed help at the farm in Candor when his grandfather died, and his father hadn’t wanted to get them out of the tenement houses in Philadelphia, he’d already be working the rails right alongside his father. He’d have been involved in the strike, too. He’d heard from Mr. Benson at the depot that child labor had also been talked about during the strike. He hoped they were put into law as well.

Seth stopped by the depot to see if there was any word from his father.

“Why, yes, Seth,” Mr. Benson smiled. “Your pa says he and a…, let me see…” Mr. Benson looked for the telegram on his desk, then held it up with a smile on his face. “Ah, yes. Here it is. A Mr. Flanagan is coming home with him at the end of next week.”

“Yes. Maggie’s husband.”

This was good news. Having his father home would relieve some of the pressure of family responsibilities such as making sure Catherine’s education was taken care of, making sure there was food on the table, and dealing with other family matters that arose. Mrs. Flanagan had been a Godsend, even though the bulk of the farming responsibilities rested on his shoulders. With his father home to take some of his worries away, he could concentrate on the farm itself. And of course he would have more time to concentrate on courting Anna Louise.

“Thanks, Mr. Benson.” Seth smiled and reached for the telegram. “I’ll be sure Catherine gets this as well. She and Mrs. Flanagan will be happy to welcome them.

“You take care, son,” Mr. Benson called as Seth headed out the door.

Seth waved and then walked down the street to the Candor National Bank. He needed to withdraw money for a down payment on Catherine’s tuition fees and take it to Professor Denison at the Academy.

Professor Denison gave Seth the names of three possibilities where Catherine might be able to board for the school year; one of which was Anna Louise’s home. The other two were located on the outskirts of town on the south side of Candor Corners. Anna Louise’s house was the better choice for several reasons. Not only could Catherine walk to the Academy with Anna Louise, but he would also be in a more favorable position to have plenty of excuses to visit Anna Louise.

He rounded the corner of Spencer and Mill Street and caught a glimpse of Anna Louise sitting on her front porch. A smile lit up her face when she spotted him. Her smile faded as he drew closer. But Seth had already seen the momentary pleasure in her eyes. Ah-ha, all would be well. He’d known she’d had feelings for him all along.

Seth found when it came to looks, Anna Louise had sassy Miss Strang beat. When it came to manners, Anna Louise’s were gracious. There was nothing sassy about his Anna Louise. She was small and petite, Cassandra was full-bodied and tall. Anna Louise was blonde, perfectly groomed hair and sparkling blue eyes. Cassandra had deep, dark brown eyes and a head of unruly auburn hair.

He wasn’t quite sure why he was comparing the two ladies, but when he stepped up on the front porch with confidence blooming inside, he walked right up to Anna Louise and forgot all about Cassandra Strang. He stopped in front of Anna Louise, looked down at her perfect face. He clasped her hands gently, tugged, and lifted her up and forward. He led her away from the white wicker chair where she’d been sitting. She didn’t say a word; just followed. He was sorely tempted to take her into his arms and kiss her proper, but he hesitated.