New York Storm

by Rachel Wesson

  “Jamie and I had something to ask you Nora. You might as well hear what we have to say too, Tommy and Sadie.”

  “Lizzie, you’re scaring me, what’s wrong?” Sadie asked, her hand clutching Tommy’s.

  “You all know Barry Henson died in the blizzard. Marcia, his mother,” Lizzie explained for the benefit of Robbie who had just rejoined the group, “has accused Jamie of murdering Barry.”

  “I’ve heard that gossip. Nobody will believe it. Sure everyone knew they were great friends,” Tommy said.

  “Yes, they were and obviously it is not the truth at all. In fact, Mitch, the third friend who was there with them, probably owes his life to Jamie. The police accept it was an accident.” Lizzie stopped to take a breath.

  “But…” Tommy prompted his sister.

  “Father Devine and Donnolly seem to think Jamie is responsible in some way. They’ve made it very difficult for him already in the few days since he returned home.”

  “And for Lizzie. Just yesterday they suggested to her, she might wish to marry someone else,” Jamie added.

  “They can’t do that,” Nora protested, looking as shocked as Sadie and Tommy.

  “They can and they have. Most people don’t seem to be listening to them but you always have a few who like to gossip. Mrs. Sherry being one of them,” Lizzie said.

  “That old hag needs to shut up,” Tommy growled.

  “So what are you going to do about it? Are you going to let these men dictate your lives?” Robbie asked.

  Lizzie and the rest of the group turned to stare at him.

  “It’s not that simple, darling. These priests carry a lot of authority in Hell’s Kitchen. Their word is law,” Nora said.

  “It might be in Hell’s Kitchen but there are other places in the world. Why don’t you move away?” Robbie asked.

  Jamie took Lizzie’s hand. She nodded for him to tell their friends. She didn’t want to leave them, or have to say goodbye to her brother. She could live with never seeing her ma and da again, but Tommy? He was different.

  “Lizzie and I were talking and we would quite like to move to Clover Springs if that was possible. We want to get out of New York and start our married lives without anything hanging over us. I, I mean we, will always remember Barry but he wouldn’t want his death shadowing our lives either. So we decided we would move. We’d rather go somewhere we knew someone. What do you think Nora? Do you think your friends Doc Erin and the rest would welcome us into their town?”

  Nora stood up and threw her arms around Lizzie. “I think it’s a wonderful idea. But I’m being selfish. It means I get to keep my friends, some of them anyway.” Nora looked at Sadie.

  Lizzie noticed Sadie kept glancing at Tommy.

  “Tommy, do you have something to say?”

  Tommy took Sadie’s hand in his, and at a slight nod from her, he smiled. “We were thinking we might come along too.”

  Lizzie’s mouth dropped open. “Are you serious?”

  “Yes, you know I’ve always wanted to farm. I spoke a lot to Aaron and to a less extent with Mick Quinn about farming in general. They said they would help me,” Tommy glanced at Sadie quickly, “I mean us, to get started. It seems Sadie quite likes the idea of living in green open spaces too. So long as Doc Erin says she can go, we want to move to Clover Springs as well.”

  “Oh, this is just wonderful! I thought I was as happy as I ever could be when Jamie asked me to be his wife, but this is even better.” Lizzie didn’t care that she was crying. She stood up and gave her brother and Sadie a big hug, then Nora and then she came to Robbie. “I know I don’t know you but I have heard a lot about you. Nora is a very special lady and I am sure you too will be happy together.” She held out her hand for him to shake it, but he surprised her by giving her a hug. “We’re nearly family after all,” he joked once he let her go.

  Lizzie sat back down, taking Jamie’s hand in her own. “Have you said anything to ma and da, Tommy?”

  “Not yet Lizzie, but I shouldn’t think they will be too bothered. Can’t see your parents liking the idea too much Jamie lad?”

  Lizzie watched her man’s face. She knew he was dreading telling his parents, but the reality was, the priests and local gossips were making it too difficult for them to live happily here.

  “No, they won’t like it, but they do want us to be happy. So whatever we decide, they’ll support us all the way.”

  “Well Charlie says with the way the railroads are expanding, it will soon be a much faster journey by train. He may even be able to get your folks cheap tickets,” Nora said.

  “Is he moving to Clover Springs too?” Lizzie asked.

  “Our Charlie? Not on your life. He loves his independence and with Mam and da in Clover Springs he will be a free agent.”

  “So when are you traveling, Nora?” Tommy asked.

  “I am going back with Doc Erin. I’m going to mind Michelle, their baby, as Lily is going to stay in New York. Then when Da is finished at the hospital, Gran is coming with him and ma. The plan is they’re going to open a small restaurant.”

  “When do you move Robbie?” Jamie asked.

  “I’m not sure yet. I have a couple of loose ends I have to tie up here for Mr. Prentice. He’s been a good employer so I want to make sure he’s sorted before I go. What about you?”

  “Old Man Carter was very good about our jobs. I reckon we should stay on at the factory until Sadie is ready to travel. How about it Lizzie? Jamie?” Tommy asked.

  Lizzie exchanged a glance with Jamie. If it were up to her, she would leave tomorrow, but she understood Jamie wouldn’t want to appear guilty by running away. And he’d also want to spend some more time with his family before he left them.

  “I think we should stay until he gets new staff trained up, although he may decide he wants us gone,” Jamie said, giving Lizzie a look of reassurance. He knew how worried she was, the priests would mess things up for them.

  “I need to earn some of Mrs. Reynold’s bonuses so I can start my own dressmaking store once we get there,” Lizzie said, sounding braver than she felt. She told herself she just needed to trust that her and Jamie’s love for one another was stronger than anything the priests or gossips could throw at them.

  “I always said you’d have that shop one day,” Sadie said.

  “You did Sadie, and you best hurry up and get well as I may just need another seamstress if what Lily says about the number of women and lack of decent dress stores is true.”

  Everyone smiled. Lizzie knew they were all excited, but part of her was terrified. What if Clover Springs was not as wonderful as it was made out to be?

  “I like Aaron Higgins and Mick Quinn. They both seem like decent sorts,” Tommy said, looking to the door of the lounge where the men in question were chatting.

  “Mick has been so nice to me. He told me it took forever for him to learn to walk again, although he still has a limp especially when he is tired,” Sadie said.

  “What happened to his leg? Did he fall of a horse or something?” Lizzie asked.

  “No, he was shot in the war.”

  “The civil war? Wow, he doesn’t look that old,” Lizzie said.

  “It’s sad really, he was only twelve or thirteen when they sent him to fight. He could have lost his leg, only he met a good surgeon and then a union soldier kind of adopted him and they’ve been friends ever since.”

  “Does that ex-soldier live in Clover Springs too?”

  “Cookie? I think so, but I’m not sure. We got interrupted when he started talking about him. He did tell me they have an Indian deputy and a crowd of different characters around town. It sounds like a good place to live,” Sadie said, her eyes on Tommy.

  Lizzie watched as Tommy cuddled Sadie closer. Any misgiving she had about her brother being able to cope with Sadie’s potential disability vanished. Her brother and his fiancé would be just fine.

  Chapter 45

  Tommy watched as Doc Erin examined Sadie again. His f
iancé was reacting much better to the pin tests now. She had feeling in all parts of her toes, save for a small piece at the top of the big toe.

  “Looking good isn’t it Doc?” Sadie asked.

  “Yes Sadie it is. I am not sure if you will ever get feeling back in that piece or if it will eventually fall off. But I don’t believe we need to worry about amputating it anymore. We’ll keep an eye on it, and if you notice anything different, a smell or feeling or don’t like the look of it, you need to see a doctor as soon as you can.”

  “I’ll make sure she does what you tell her, Doc Erin,” Tommy said. He was taking Lizzie’s words to heart and looking after Sadie to the point where she was accusing him of stifling her.

  Mick Quinn came over to join his wife. He held the Sunday Sun Newspaper in his hand. “Says here they don’t think the horse drawn cars will run for at least a few days.”

  “The poor horses. I hope their owners are looking after them properly,” Erin replied.

  “I think they must be. Some fella died and they tried to bury him in Greenwood cemetery. By the time they got to the grave, the coachmen and the undertaker had almost died. They had to be taken to a saloon.”

  “Where no doubt they were given plenty of whiskey,” Erin said.

  Tommy clenched his mouth shut so he didn’t laugh. He remembered what Aaron had told him the first morning he’d woken up in the hotel. Erin got very annoyed anytime people used alcohol to cure anyone. She didn’t mind men having an odd drink but she hated the almost constant use of hard liquor as medicine.

  “Doesn’t say, actually. Just says hot drinks. The poor horses were so cold, their coats were covered in a layer of ice. They didn’t get whiskey but they were given oats. They survived too.”

  “I wonder if they’ll ever know how many people died in that horrible blizzard,” Sadie wondered softly.

  “More would have died if it wasn’t for people like Doc Erin. I don’t know what we would have done if you had been in Clover Springs,” Tommy said.

  “Thank you, Tommy. But I am sure someone would have helped you.”

  “Erin, you haven’t been reading the papers. Says in here most people ignored their fellow man’s struggles,” Mick said.

  Tommy thought of the reporter he had thrown out. If he was anything to go by, stories of the good deeds done by people like the Quinns, Mr. Prentice and others would go unmentioned.

  “I’d like to think people did what they could. Look at Nora’s ma. She took in a baby off the street. It would have died but for her,” Sadie said.

  “That’s true, we have to remember the good in people. Mick put away the paper. They never sell newspapers by printing good news.”

  “Where’s Erin?” Aaron asked Mick as the men sat downstairs in the bar drinking with Tommy.

  “In bed I hope. I sent her off to sleep.”

  “Alicia is sleeping too. I wish there was something more we could do. I feel a bit powerless and our wives are working so hard.”

  Tommy knew Mick felt the same, but they’d been warned not to leave the hotel. With neither of them knowing New York, they could get lost, stranded or worse. The communication system was adversely affected, someone had said the fire departments were communicating using Morse code. The police were facing similar struggles. The only people who could benefit from times like these were those who would take advantage of the chaos. People like Ned Duffy.

  “Your wives can only work as hard as they do because you’re here to support them. If you head outside into New York, they will be worried sick. Believe me, you can do as much, if not more, by continuing to help the people in this hotel. I, for one, want to know Sadie is protected. Robbie and I already threw some reporters out for hassling the patients. I have to make my way back to work tomorrow so I won’t be here to look after Sadie.”

  “We’ll look after her, Tommy, don’t you fret. We’ll educate her about the choices you’re making for your ranch. After we are finished, your wife to be will only want to raise cattle,” Aaron teased.

  Tommy laughed. It was nice to be accepted by these two men. He had no doubt their help and advice would help him and Sadie build their new lives in Colorado.

  Chapter 46

  Lizzie opened the Headford’s front door to find Carmel Doherty outside. Before she got a chance to say anything, Nancy brushed past her to greet her sister’s mother-in-law.

  “Carmel, it’s lovely to see you looking so much better. Just let me grab my shawl, the rest of them are already at the Wake. Barry is laid out on his mother’s front table.”

  Carmel waited while Nancy took her shawl off the peg and checked her fire one last time. “Are you ready, Lizzie?”

  Lizzie nodded, waited for the women to walk out and then she closed the front door behind them. Together they walked the short distance to the wake, the two older women chatting. Lizzie was content to just listen. She was concerned about Jamie and the effect the wake would have on him.

  “I thought you might have gone to the wake with Jamie?”

  “I was going to Mrs. Doherty but he wanted to spend some time with Paul.”

  “I heard Paul came back safe. That’s a worry off your shoulders, Nancy. I’d say he had one or two stories to tell.”

  “He has indeed Mrs. Doherty but to believe them, you would have to hear them from his own mouth.” Lizzie didn’t think Nancy was up to talking about Paul yet. The poor woman was still trying to come to terms with the danger her young son had been in. Her thoughts were confirmed as Nancy changed the subject.

  “Our Ruth was right worried about you,” Nancy went on.

  “Ruth wouldn’t be happy if she wasn’t worrying about someone. You know that.” Carmel smiled. “How’s Jamie doing?”

  Lizzie caught the shadow as it crossed Nancy’s face before she replied to Carmel’s question, “Physically he’s fine, but he’s tormented by all the talk. You know what people are like. Some of them wouldn’t know the truth if it came up and bit them on their ar…”

  Lizzie didn’t have time to warn the ladies the priest was in earshot.

  “Good evening, Mrs. Headford, Mrs. Doherty. How nice of you to take the time to offer comfort to poor Mrs. Henson.”

  “Evening, Father Devine. Sure, where else would we be when our own tried his best to save young Barry’s life?” Carmel said, seeming fearless as always.

  “Aye, well, that is a matter of opinion, Mrs. Doherty,” the priest said scowling, his hard, blue eyes staring at her. “This is not the place to discuss this. We are called together to pray for the soul of the dear departed Bartholomew Francis Hanson.”

  “Beg your pardon, Father, but Barry doesn’t need your prayers. Not now. We all know Barry was a fine lad and surely Saint Peter has admitted him already.”

  Stunned silence followed Carmel’s words. Lizzie knew that while Nancy admired Carmel’s bravery, her soon to be mother in law didn’t like confrontation.

  Lizzie spotted Jamie standing alone and walked over to stand not only beside him but to hold his hand. They had their whole life ahead of them and she wasn’t about to let Father Devine ruin it for them. She was thrilled Carmel Doherty was standing up for them. Father Devine looked as if he were about to have a stroke. Lizzie watched his face closely as Carmel continued.

  “I don’t mean to be disrespectful, Father, but the fact of the matter is our Jamie did his best to save Barry. At great risk to himself. As a result of his actions, Mitch Delaney is still walking around, almost whole,” Carmel said.

  Lizzie knew Mitch had lost four toes from his foot, despite her Jamie’s best efforts. Mitch had told many of the community currently surrounding the priest about how Jamie had insisted he wash his feet, which may have been what saved the rest of his toes.

  “Mrs. Doherty. Please go home. Your type isn’t welcome here,” the priest said firmly before turning his back on her.

  Carmel’s temper seemed to rise faster than a lit match. “Why ever not? I am a good Catholic. I go to Mass, do my pena
nce, look after my own business, but I won’t stand by when the likes of you bully my family. Jamie is a hero, not a villain.” Carmel turned the full force of her gaze onto Marcia who, despite her son’s long friendship with Jamie Headford, had done nothing to help Jamie. “Marcia Henson knows that this isn’t the first time young Jamie tried to save Barry. But this is the first time he failed. Barry would be turning over in his own coffin if he could see how you’re treating his best friend. Those two boys were as close as brothers. You never saw one without the other. So anyone who believes Jamie Headford did anything but try and save Barry, is a fool.”

  Chapter 47

  The silence lingered as everyone stared at her in shock. Even Father Devine couldn’t answer. He turned back to look at her, his mouth opening and closing a couple of times but no words came out. Lizzie saw nobody else was going to step forward. Without a second’s thought, she started clapping.

  “Hear, hear, Mrs. Doherty. You never said a truer word. My Jamie wouldn’t hurt a stray dog, never mind his best friend. Barry was my friend too. He would be horrified at what his community is doing to the Headford family.”

  “There is no call for that type of talk, young lady. I will see you at confession,” Father Devine said, glaring at the young woman.

  “Actually, you won’t. I won’t set foot in your church ever again. I wish you had never replaced Father McKenna. If he were here, none of this would be happening. He would have brought us all together to celebrate Barry’s life. To remember Barry’s kindness, his laugh, his love of donuts.” Lizzie took a deep breath trying to control her tears. She saw Carmel Doherty give her a nod of encouragement. Standing taller, she continued, “That’s what we should be doing. Thinking of the good things Barry contributed to each of us. So we remember him with a smile. The bible says we should love one another—if there was ever a man who lived that word by word, it was Barry Henson. I am honored he was my friend. I am sorry I lost him but I won’t ever forget him.”