by Montana West
Andrew, as usual, waylaid Cora and blocked her from leaving.
“You have been avoiding me, and last week when your parents came to our house for lunch you did not come, why?” He tried to take her hand but she pulled back and saw his lips tightening.
“My mother must have told you that I was quite unwell.”
“You do not look unwell in any way to me,” his eyes roamed up and down her body and Cora felt defiled. He had a lustful look in his eyes, which was making her uncomfortable. “I think what you need is some time away from the farm and all the hard work you have been putting in, so how about if I came by tomorrow to take you for a picnic? Autumn is upon us but before the weather changes we can enjoy whatever is left of summer and what better way than a picnic in the countryside?”
Cora smiled and shook her head. “I am sorry, it is quite inappropriate for you and I to be alone on a picnic. That is not acceptable and my parents will not give their permission.”
“We could always get a chaperone,” Andrew reached out a hand to touch her cheek but she stepped back neatly, leaving his hand hanging in the air. “Why are you so nervous? I am soon to be your husband and you should begin learning how to enjoy my touching you.”
“You said it, soon-to-be husband but not yet, so I will thank you not to try and take any liberties with me. It is disrespectful of me and of my family and more so when you are doing it right here beside the Lord’s house.”
“I am ashamed of my actions, sweet Cora,” Andrew looked down, trying to present a humble and remorseful stance, but Cora was not fooled for a moment. “You are so beautiful, pure and fresh that I cannot help myself.” He looked up. “I wish you would consider me to be your soul mate and put me out of my misery. Oh! Wretched soul that I am, your beauty blinds me and I am helpless as a babe before you,” he said dramatically and Cora rolled her eyes when he was not looking. What a crazy fellow this was turning out to be.
“Listen, I am needed, thank you for stopping by but I have to go,” she turned her back to him and so missed the clenched fist and tightened lips.
“One day,” Andrew mumbled under his breath. “One day, Cora Richards, I will have you where I want you to be and you will beg for mercy, but I will show you none.”
***
“I saw you having a cozy discussion with Andrew Willard,” Ada said softly when they were drying the dishes. Everyone else had gone outside, leaving the two of them to finish cleaning up.
“Believe me, there was nothing cozy about that discussion. That deluded man had the effrontery to suggest that he come by my house tomorrow to take me for a picnic.”
“Cora, no,” Ada held her hands to her heart. “I hope you did not accept his invitation.”
Cora frowned at Ada. “What do you take me for? Do I look like a fool? Of course I declined his invitation, as if I would go anywhere with a man like that, and without a chaperone too.” She sighed. “I have never trusted that man from the first day that I saw him, and nothing has happened in all this time to make me change my mind about him!”
“I am glad to hear that because, like you, I didn’t trust that man from the start, and then the stories that I’ve heard about him are enough to make anyone cringe in revulsion.”
“Stories? Ada, what do you know that I don’t?”
Ada bowed her head, “Gossip and rumors. It’s not right under the eyes of the Lord to defame a man’s character based solely on those. But please, be careful around him and do not attempt or accept any of his invitations, even if a chaperone is present...”
“Thank you, two days ago another young lady said almost the same thing at church. I don’t gossip or rumors to know that Andrew is a disreputable character. I just wish my parents would see him for what he really is.”
“Let us pray that God will open their eyes,” Ada sighed. They had finished drying the dishes and putting them away. “I feel very sorry for Andrew’s parents, they are such nice people. It must hurt them to know that their son is rotten to the core.”
Cora frowned. “Perhaps that is why they are trying to force me to marry him. They may have it in their heads that my upbringing and values will rub off on him and change him, which is quite a delusional way of looking at things. No one can change a man unless he wants to, and certainly not without God’s help.”
“You know, no respectable family will allow their daughter to be married to Andrew.”
“So why are my parents insisting?”
“I don’t know. Perhaps they too refuse to pay attention to gossip. You and your folks are new in Last Chance, and Andrew has already set his sights upon you. His family is powerful, and I suspect most around here don’t wish to cross him.”
“Thankfully my heart is sealed on Louis and nothing can sway me. If their pressure becomes unbearable then I will take drastic steps.”
“Cora, they are your parents and you should honor them.”
“I love my parents, respect and honor them but I will not be pushed into a marriage that will end up destroying me! Do not worry, I will not do anything to hurt or disrespect my parents, but I will do something that will ensure my survival and freedom.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
“Someone should have raised the roof in this mine,” Henry grumbled as his head bumped against another jutting rock. “My head is quite sore.”
“It’s old, but there are some caves which haven’t been fully excavated,” Louis said. “That’s where we’re going. But don’t worry, once you get past this section, you’ll be able to stand without hitting your head,” Louis told him. Because there were the two of them, Louis had come to the deepest part of the mine, a place he had never ventured into before. Reuben had warned him about going too deep into the mine and especially in poor weather but Louis was determined. The weather was still fine and he thought that he might strike lucky if he went deeper.
A few days ago had someone mentioned that he would be leading Henry Richards into a mine to prospect for gold he would have thought them mad, yet here they were and he was still reeling with the shock of being treated kindly by Cora’s brother.
The previous day, Henry Richards had showed up again at the boarding house and since Louis was in, Mrs. Willows had allowed him to wait in the communal sitting room, even though she was not too happy about it. When Henry had mentioned that he was interested in going prospecting with him, he had sat in stunned silence for a while.
“Is there a problem?” Henry had asked.
Louis shook his head, “No, I am surprised that’s all. The last time we met you could not wait to throw me out of your home and now this? I don’t know what to think.”
“When we came West from Akron, it was my deep desire to try my hand at prospecting but we have been busy setting up and settling down that I did not have the time to engage in seeking for gold. I asked around and was informed that you are the best person to go prospecting with because you know many of these abandoned mines.”
“Someone definitely exaggerated to you,” Louis had told Henry. “The best prospector around this town is Reuben Smith, and for an agreeable sum of money he can take you to any of the mines you wish to try prospecting in.”
Henry sighed. “That is not the only reason,” he felt uncomfortable at Louis’s straight and open gaze. “I feel as though I may have misjudged you, and I would like to have the chance to get to know you better. I pride myself on being a fair man and I am sorry that I was not fair to you at all.”
Louis had smiled at who he hoped would soon be his brother-in-law and after making the necessary arrangements for equipment and clothing, the two men decided that the best day to visit the mine would be on Saturday since Henry was sure he would have finished most of the work that required his attention on the farm.
As they walked deeper into the mine there was a slight movement of the earth and Louis frowned. He thought Henry had not noticed it to but when the younger man stopped he turned back to look at him.
“Should we be hearing that?” H
enry listened keenly. There was a slight rumbling sound. “Is there an underground spring in this mine?”
“Not that I know of. Reuben told me this is one of the drier mines even though the temperatures are very low in here.” The rumbling sound was louder this time and the two men looked at each other, dread filling Louis’s heart and in the eerie light, Henry saw the sudden anxiety in the older man’s eyes.
“What is wrong?” Henry asked, looking back towards the corridor they had come through. The sound seemed to be coming from that way.
“Something quite unexpected given the weather,” Louis said. “God help us,” and even as he said this, there was a sudden rushing sound and then everything seemed to happen at the same time.
“Get against the wall!” Louis shouted.
But it was too late. Henry had never been underground before and worse, he had never heard so much noise nor seen so much debris flying towards him. He panicked and in his haste he lost his footing and went down flat. The next thing he knew he was swept up in a torrent of rushing water. He flailed, choking and coughing as the water filled his mouth and nose.
‘I’m going to die,’ he thought.
He was going to drown, and he had no idea how to save himself.
“Lord, receive my soul and give my family comfort,” he prayed. “Forgive me of all my sins that would hinder me from seeing you in paradise and receive me into your bosom, dear Jesus.”
Being in a mine during a flash flood was a terrifying ordeal and in the time that Louis had been in Last Chance, there had been two freak storms and a number of men who had been prospecting for gold in some other mines had drowned, their decaying bodies found days later.
The storm took them by surprise because the weather had been very pleasant all through the summer and even just that morning when they set out for the abandoned mine that Louis had named Anna Albert, after his mother. The water was rushing in through the mine corridor and he was barely managing to stay upright, but what frightened him more was when he lost sight of Henry. Because the mine slanted downwards, the water took everything in its path and pulled it all deeper inside. Louis prayed like never before, that he would be in time to find Henry before the young man drowned.
Louis stared into the flood, praying for some glimpse of Henry. Where he was standing, the water rushed around his knees, causing him to sway. At least he’d kept hold of the lamp. Its weak light reflected over the rushing water as Louis pushed deeper in to the mine, each step threatening to be his last. Only through by sheer will did he remain standing.
“Lord, we are in Your hands, nature belongs to you, these mines are well known to you. Please help me find Henry before it is too late for him.”
Henry caught sight of something, caught on the ledge of a cave wall, the water rushing around it. At first he thought it was a log, but what log would be so deep in the mine? It had to be Henry! Hanging the lamp on an outcropping of rock; he would never be able to keep it dry and carry Henry at the same time, Louis charged into the raging waters. The waters rushed around his waist, and then his chest, the dim light of the hanging lamp growing dimmer and dimmer as he moved farther away from it.
He got to the younger man and using all his strength, pulled him free of the outcropping and got his head above the water. But it was too much. The lamp was too far away, and the water was too strong. They were pulled for a time, until Louis’ caught the dim impression of a large rock. He half walked, half dragged himself and Henry towards it. Shoving Henry up first, he them managed to get himself atop. All he could do was shake. His arms and legs refused to follow his will, and Louis lay prone on the rock, the horrid rush of the water sounding around him in the dark.
When he could finally sit up, he reached out for Henry. The cave was pitch black, but he had some matches wrapped in oilskin to relight the lamp, and he prayed that they had remained dry enough in the packet against his chest to light one.
With shaking hands, he drew the first match against the rock. It lit. The brief flash of light was almost painful against Louis’ eyes. Henry lay face down on the rock beside him.
The match died.
“Lord, please let him not be dead,” Louis begged as he knelt astride Henry’s back and began pushing upwards trying to get him to throw up the water that he had swallowed. After a short while, Henry retched and the sound was glorious in Louis’s ears. Henry coughed painfully, feeling as though his chest was bursting open.
“Here, sit up,” Louis helped him sit up, taking great care to ensure that none of them ended up back in the murky waters below.
Henry gasped for air, his tall frame heaving with the effort. Louis watched him while rubbing his back. After a short while he regained his breath but then began shivering with the cold. The temperature had further dropped but the water kept coming in until Louis feared that their small rocky island would be submerged. He could not have saved Henry only to have them both drown again.
Henry could not believe that he was still alive. He had felt his life slipping away as he lost consciousness and he remembered saying what he thought was his last prayer, and then here he was alive, of course bruised and battered but still alive nevertheless. And he knew he owed his life to the man who was still rubbing his back. He felt something covering him and he quickly looked at Louis.
“What are you doing?” he asked hoarsely for he saw that Louis had taken off his thick pullover and draped it around Henry’s shoulders. Louis had first wrung out the water and then shook it out so it could dry faster. Henry’s throat felt quite raw from the vomiting that he had done a few minutes ago.
“You have just come out of the cold waters,” Louis smiled at him. It was a wonder that the lamp on Louis’s hat was still on even after their entire ordeal. “You need to keep warm before you catch cold.”
“What... about... you,” Henry’s teeth were chattering and he hunched forward, bending his knees so he could get warm.
“I am alright, did not get very wet,” Louis said. In actual fact Louis was as wet as Henry but he felt that he was stronger since he was more acclimatized to the temperature in the mine since he had been coming here for a long time.
“Thank you... for saving... my life,” Henry said.
“Think nothing about it,” Louis said. “You would have done the same for me.”
The two men were silent for a while and then Louis gave a small joyous cry. Henry looked at him quickly. “Don’t you hear? The sound is getting quieter. That means there’s less water coming through the tunnel!” Louis announced. “When the water gets to a manageable level we will be able to make it out of these mines.”
***
“I do not like the look of those clouds,” Michael said, frowning deeply at the sky. The sun had been shining brightly one moment and then all of a sudden dark clouds had gathered. “There is going to be a storm and Henry has gone to the hills.”
“What?” Mary looked at her son. “When did Henry go to the hills and for what reason?”
“He said he wanted to try his hand at prospecting.”
“And you allowed him to go there alone?” Mary turned angrily to Michael. “Why didn’t you stop him?”
“Ma, you know that once Henry gets an idea into his head he is like a mule. Nothing or no one can stop him. I tried to tell him that he was not well equipped nor knowledgeable about looking for gold but he insisted that he had to start from somewhere.”
“Was he alone?” Fear clutched at Mary’s heart, especially when there was a loud peal of thunder and a flash of lighting that made her wince, and then the skies opened and it began pouring heavily. Mary had only heard about freak storms but had never experienced one. It was terrifying, and especially now that she knew her son was somewhere in the hills.
“He did not go alone. He actually went to ask Louis Albert to take him to the mines.”
Mary’s face creased in a frown. “The young man who came calling a few weeks ago, asking for Cora’s hand in marriage?”
“Yes, M
a.”
For a moment Michael watched as his mother’s mouth opened and closed without a word coming out. He could tell that she was shocked and stunned at the same time and he waited for the tirade he knew would follow. Normally his mother was a calm and jolly woman, but when any of her children were in danger, the woman become ferocious.
“You let my son go with that man into the mines! What if he harms Henry out of revenge? Were you even thinking when you allowed your brother to go mining? Why didn’t you tell me or your father what was going on? Do you want to kill me, Michael?”
“Ma,” Michael drew closer to his mother and held her by the shoulders. “Henry will be alright. Louis Albert knows his way around the mines and he will make sure nothing happens to Henry.”
“That is what I am afraid of, what if he leads Henry deep into the mines and leaves him there in order to blackmail us into accepting his suit for Cora?”
“Ma, do not judge someone when you do not know the facts. I do not think Henry is that stupid to meekly allow any harm to come to him.”
“Have you been to any of those mines?”
“No, Ma.”
“And neither has Henry, so do not tell me that no harm will come to him.”
No one could settle down, not even when the rain stopped late that evening. Walter was glad that both houses had been constructed on slightly higher ground so that even though the ground outside was flooded, no water entered the house. He was also thankful for Reverend William’s advice to build trenches leading out of the homestead and into the wooded area. Because of the ditches, the water soon receded and the ground was once again visible in the darkness.
Henry had not come home and Walter was beginning to worry even though he did not want his wife nor his daughter to know just how worried he was. Because of his interaction with a number of people in Last Chance, he had good knowledge of the weather patterns including freak storms that occurred once in a while. Any good farmer sought to find out how best to protect his animals and crops from adverse weather conditions.
