by Montana West
Freak storms always led to flash floods and that was dangerous for man and beast and Walter silently prayed that his son would be safe. He also prayed for the life of the young man that had accompanied Henry to the mines. He might not have thought Louis Albert was a suitable husband for his daughter, but he was still a human being and did not deserve to lose his life in the storm. Victor Willard had told him harrowing tales of his own days as a prospector and the dangers that all miners faced when they went into the bowels of the earth.
“When a man goes into the ground, he will either come out alive or perish inside the mines,” Victor had said. “I have the deepest respect for anyone who tries his hand at mining because it is not a task for the fainthearted. Many lives are lost each time a new find comes up. Sometimes because of heavy rains, the mines get flooded and people get marooned for days on end. Some die of starvation, others die of fear, others die of the cold but a few make it out alive.”
“Why do people keep doing it if it is that dangerous?” Walter had asked, finally deciding that mining was not for him. He would farm and provide produce for the miners, but no one would catch him going into a mine and he had expressed his reservations to his sons who seemed eager to try their hand at prospecting.
“Sometimes that is the only thing that a man feels will break him out of poverty,” Victor had said. “It was years ago when I first came to Montana from Kentucky. I had nothing because I was the younger son and did not stand to inherit anything from my parents, therefore I decided that I would come to the West to make my own way in life. For a number of years things were terrible and I was in dire straits. Whenever I would hear of gold, I would be one of the first there but it always eluded me, until Last Chance.”
Victor had a faraway look in his eyes. “It was here in Last Chance that I caught my big break after trying for almost seven years. My wife and son were still in Kentucky because I could not sustain them, but when I struck gold the first thing I did was build my house and send for my family.” Victor looked at Walter. “There is always that hope in a miner’s heart that the next mine he enters will be the one that will change his life for the better and that is why people just keep going.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. For Thou art with me. Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me,” Louis was muttering as Henry dozed on and off.
Even though the waters had stopped rushing into the cave where they were the level was not going down as fast as the two men had hoped. At some point Henry had dozed off and when he had woken up he realized that he was slightly warmer than before and he realized it was because his feet were shod. He had lost his shoes when the floods were sweeping him away. Louis must have dived into the murky waters to find his shoes, but when he looked closely he could see that Louis only had his socks on.
The two men, though different in height, had been amused to find that they wore the same size of shoes. Henry tried to sit up but felt the older man’s hand pressing him down.
“You need all the rest you can get after that frightening ordeal so just lay still. You can get up in the morning when you are better. I will keep the night watch because this is something I always do.”
“How do you know it is night time?”
“I’ve been down here enough. I can tell. Unfortunately, the food was swept away. If we make our way back to the entrance, we should find the lamp, if it didn’t fall in. I am sorry. I should not have allowed you to join me.”
Henry laughed briefly. “I am alive and that is what counts. I had said my last prayer and believe me when one is snatched from the jaws of death for a while, being comfortable and well fed isn’t the most important thing. I’d be happier though if we could drink any of this water.”
Henry sighed.
“Interesting isn’t it?” Louis laughed, shifting to make himself a little bit more comfortable.
“What is?”
“That there is water all around us but we have none to drink.”
The two men were silent for a while. Henry slowly sat up. “I think I am slightly better now.” He looked towards Louis. The cave was dark, so dark that Henry could only make out the faintest impression of the other man. “Why do people do this?”
“What? Prospecting?”
“Yes.”
Louis was quiet for a long time, and Henry thought he might have fallen asleep. Henry’s eyes were heavy as well, and he considered laying down again and letting his head rest on his arm when Louis said, “When I was in Philadelphia, some friends of mine came out West and when they returned two years later they were rich beyond words. That is what got me interested because I also saw no prospects for me back there, and the war loomed in the horizon. There was a rumor that we would be forcefully drafted, but I promised my mother before she died that I would make something of myself. I didn’t think that becoming a corpse in Lincoln’s war, so I went West.” He sighed. “I guess some people come for the thrill and adventure, others to escape situations back at home and others like me feel that we can change the circumstances of our lives by mining.”
“When people talked about mining back in Akron, I thought of it as an easy thing to do and when my family decided to come to Last Chance I believed that this was my chance to try my hand.” Henry shook his head. “I have renewed respect for anyone who attempts this kind of work.”
“Well, unfortunately it does not always end well for some people. I know of a couple of people who had high hopes of making it big but when all they got was dust they could not take it. One lost his mind because he had sold everything back East and was now completely broke. They both took their own lives when the going became too tough for them. I guess they did not relish the thought of returning back from whence they came with nothing to show for their efforts. To a proud man that is a disgrace and many cannot live down that shame.”
“Is that why you did not return back home?”
“A year ago I almost went back home, but then Cora responded to the advert that I placed seeking for a mail-order bride.” There was a gentle look on Louis’s face. “Somehow Cora made me come alive once again and I wanted to do better for her, because of her. She made me believe that nothing is impossible and that if I held on I would eventually break through.” Henry heard the deep affection in the man’s voice. “I lived for the day when I would get a letter from Cora, and with each letter came more encouragement and I knew that I could not give up. When she said you were all coming West it was the best news I had received in a long time and I was determined to work hard to make Cora proud of me.” Louis sighed. “Have you ever noticed that when Cora is happy, her eyes turn light green and it seems as though fire is flowing from them, and then when she is sad they turn a dark shade of green?”
“How did you notice all that and yet to my knowledge you and Cora have not met, not apart from the time you came to our home? Also the few brief meetings at church but I have never seen the two of you talking.” Henry was amazed that Louis had noticed all that, which was quite accurate.
“The day I came to your home and saw Cora for the first time, her eyes lit up and from that moment I knew that there would never be another woman for me. For the few minutes that we were in each other’s presence, Cora’s eyes did not lose that spark, but when your father turned down my request to marry your sister I saw the same bright eyes turn dark and from that time all I have seen is the darkness in Cora’s eyes.” Louis twisted his lips. “One day I went to the school because Reverend William had asked me to fix some of the desks there. Cora was there with her friend Ada and they were reading one of Cora’s books to the children. They did not see me but I saw Cora’s eyes again and the spark was back. She loved reading to the children. That is how I know.”
If Henry had any doubt about Louis loving his sister they all faded at that moment.
“My only prayer is that I will get you safely back to your parents and to Cora because I would once again like
to see that light in her eyes, even if for only a moment.” He smiled.
“When I thought that you were gone, my prayer was that I would find you because I do not ever want Cora to feel the pain of losing the brother that she loves so much and so I prayed to find you and just when I was giving up God showed me where you were.”
“I do not know what to say, Louis, and I am sorry for misjudging you before.”
“Think nothing of it, Henry. You were within your right to do so and now I realize that your parents only want what is best for Cora and perhaps they are right, I am not a suitable mate for your sister. My prayer, however, is to behold Cora’s face just one more time and then I will leave Last Chance and so give Cora a chance at happiness with another man. I know that Andrew Willard is courting Cora and because I love her so much I will ask you to do one last thing for me.”
“What is that?”
“Whatever happens to me, do not allow Cora to be married to that man. His parents are exemplary people but Andrew is rotten to the core. He will destroy Cora because he is a controlling man and prone to violence. Cora may be headstrong and stubborn,” he smiled. “Notice how her chin goes up when she feels cornered in any way?” Louis laughed. “But beneath all that stubbornness, Cora is a very gentle and sweet girl and Willard will destroy all that goodness in her. I will leave so as to allow Cora to find love with another man, and I know that there are more worthy men than me here in Last Chance, only do not allow Willard anywhere near Cora.”
Henry pondered Louis’s words for a long while and he came to the realization that only a man who loved deeply could set the woman he loved free to find happiness elsewhere. Louis Albert was a worthy man, and he was just the right man for Cora. He nodded slightly. Louis may not be rich in material goods but the man had a heart of gold and Henry was convinced beyond any doubt that Louis Albert would give up his own life for Cora if need be. Yes, this was Cora’s soul mate and he was going to make sure that his sister was married to the man she loved with her whole heart because Louis loved her with a love that was so deep that it awed Henry.
“Louis Albert,” Henry began. “I give you my word and my promise that if God in His mercy gets us out of this danger that we are in, then I will stand up for you and Cora.”
“Thank you, but like I told Cora when she wanted us to run away together, your parents’ blessings are so important to us. If they do not want me to be your sister’s husband then so be it and I will leave gracefully and allow Cora to find a man worthy of her.”
“There is no man worthier than you are, Louis, and I believe God may have allowed us to get into this situation together so that I could come to that realization. Regarding Cora, my parents know that if I stand to protect and defend her then it is as good as done. They know I love Cora and I would never let anything happen to her and that is why I am assuring you that should we get out of this place alive, you will marry my sister.”
Louis felt as though a great weight had been lifted off his shoulders and the sun was shining on him once again. “I am not a rich man, Henry, and I understand your parent’s reservations about my being able to provide for Cora.”
“Leave all that to me. You are a man who works hard to earn an honest living and when I stand by you, my parents will see that. My own father married my mother when he had nothing but his name and together they built whatever they have. We have just lost our way slightly, but I know my parents will remember their own lives. Just trust in God and trust in me.”
***
Cora shook her head when she woke up on Sunday morning. She had slept fitfully, wondering if her brother and the love of her heart were still alive. She had heard Michael leaving the house at dawn to join the search party that had come calling when word had gone out that Henry and Louis were missing. According to Eli Shepherd, the sheriff of Last Chance, there were five other men who were also missing and so it was a large party that would be going to the hills to look for them.
The sun was already shining and it was hard to believe that just yesterday there had been a devastating storm. They had lost two cows but other than that, the damage to their property was very minimal. She had overheard the sheriff saying that other farmers were not so lucky because one farmer had lost all his grain when his storage unit had flooded and then come crashing down. Others had lost houses and the town folk were trying to do as much as possible to assist those who were affected by the freak storm.
Michael felt his heart pounding as his team went over the hill and towards the mine that one of the men had mentioned was Louis Albert’s regular haunt.
“Louis named the mine Anna Albert in honor of his mother,” the man said, “And if there is anywhere that he would be that is the place.”
When they got to the Anna Albert, two men went in to scout the mine but came back, their faces quite downcast. Michael was immediately upon them. “Any sign of them?”
“I am sorry,” one of the men, a short wiry man who looked about forty years old and a seasoned miner shook his head. “We could not go so far into the mine because it had caved in and there is no way around all the rocks and mud.”
Michael stumbled with shock and found himself on the ground. He could not believe what he was hearing and he felt weak. He began crawling towards the opening of the mine.
“Hey,” he felt strong hands pulling him back. “You cannot go in there, sir, the place is not safe and from what I see, the remaining part may come down at any moment.”
“My brother,” Michael pointed his hand, his voice hoarse with grief and shock. “There has to be something we can do.” He looked around him at the faces of the five men who were part of his party but all he saw was grim expressions that were devoid of any hope. “No, Henry cannot be dead.”
“I am sorry, sir.” He was helped to his feet and as they turned to leave, he threw one last hopeful glance at the yawning entrance. There was a loud rumbling and the men half dragged him to safer ground and he watched in stunned horror as the rest of the mine collapsed, covering the entrance through which the two men had just emerged.
“No,” he cried. “Henry,” he wailed. “Oh my brother, my brother.”
Michael was still weeping when his team met up with the other two search parties. He heard them mentioning that the other five men had all been found alive. They were hurt but they were alive and there was a cheer, though subdued because his own team leader told the others that the mine that Louis and Henry had gone into had collapsed.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“And now I will request all of you to stand so we can offer a heartfelt prayer for the families of Louis Albert and Henry Richards, who are still missing after yesterday’s storm,” Reverend William’s normally booming voice was quite subdued this Sunday morning and Cora felt as though she was in a dream.
Michael and his search party had returned just as Cora and her parents reached the church and while people rejoiced that the other five missing men had been found alive, there was still sorrow because of Louis and Henry. Everyone believed that they had been buried alive when the mine collapsed and Cora felt as though her own life was ending.
“Louis Albert was a hard working young man who never shirked from any task that was set out before him and many of you can bear witness that whenever he was called upon to do anything, he did it with his whole heart. A number of you live in houses that the young man helped to construct.” There were murmurs of agreement and nods. “Your animals have been kept safe because of the barns that Louis Albert helped to construct. You all know that whenever there was work, Louis would be the first on site and the last to leave.” Once again there was general agreement. “He may have had not family here in Last Chance, but Louis Albert is one of our own.” Reverend William wiped his eyes and there were sniffs and sobs heard throughout the congregation.
The church was packed on this particular day which is common when a community has faced a tragedy. People tend to gravitate towards finding spiritual comfort and counsel so they can dea
l with whatever they are facing. Naomi Willows, who had long adopted Louis as her son, was weeping openly and people gave her sympathetic looks. Many of them knew just how much Louis had done for the widow.
When he had moved into her boarding house it had been a rickety building, but whenever Louis had any free time, he had repaired the walls and the floors and Naomi felt the guilt eating at her. The young man had done a lot of repairs for her but she had treated him like any other tenant and charged him the same amount of money for his board, and even when she knew he had nothing to eat, she still charged him for any extra meals she had provided him, apart from breakfast which was free for all. Louis had never asked her for any money for the repairs he had carried out, neither had he demanded any favors even though it had been justifiable. Naomi made a vow that if God returned Mr. Albert alive, she would be his mother and he would never pay a single penny for his room. Besides giving him free board for as long as he needed it, he would eat at her table and never again would he go to bed hungry.
“Henry Richards may be new in Last Chance, and as many of you are aware, his family just moved here not so long ago. In the short period of time that I have interacted with the young man, I found him to be very hardworking and intelligent. He and his brother Michael, with the assistance of a few other young men from church, have put together the family homestead in a short time and yet we know it takes a long time for families to settle.
“You all remember that we built the first cabin that the Richards family moved into when they first arrived in Last Chance. It is less than three months since this family moved here, but you will be glad to know that they now have a brick house just like many of you do, and all because of the efforts of that young man and his brother. One time I called in on the family at dawn because of some pressing matter and when I got to the homestead, the boys were already hard at work on the new house even though the other laborers had not arrived.” William sighed sadly. “My words cannot fully express the sorrow that I feel at the loss of two such fine young men and all our deepest sympathies go towards Mr. and Mrs. Richards and their remaining children Michael and Cora. We cannot understand the pain you are in, but we pray that God of all comfort will hold you up during these dark trying times.”
