Moonshine, Coal, and Hope

by Richard Allen Evans

  Her smile was radiant.

  “It’s a good start. Speakin’ of which, I’ll get goin’ on it now. Folks are cold and hungry,” she said.

  “You missed your callin’ Lucy. You should’ve been a quartermaster,” Ed said as he gave her a quick swat on the backside.

  After she walked away, Hill looked at Ed.

  “Boss, what the strikers need more than anything is help in negotiations. Milner Coal might not have them strikebreakers from Pennsylvania anymore but they aren’t budgin’ in the talks,” Hill said.

  “This Biddle feller is as bad as any of the Milners. He don’t want to pay anybody. He’s tryin’ to starve out the strikers. A man can hold out a long time but when he sees his wife and children starvin’ and livin’ outside it makes him more willin’ to settle for a whole lot less,” Ed said. “And I heard he’s been rootin’ around lookin’ for more strikebreakers from Chicago and New York.”

  “So how do you want it handled? The feds are still watchin’ us and still lookin’ for answers in the killin’ of them other strikebreakers,” Hill asked.

  “First, our newspapers can put a spotlight on the greed of Milner Coal. And they can remind people one of the owners of the company is in a federal prison and another is wanted for murder,” Ed said. “As for the strikebreakers, I have an idea for them. Have the kid meet down at the barn this evenin’. He and I need to talk.”

  ***

  As Thanksgiving approached, Lee sat in a rented apartment above a bakery on Canal Street. His face was heavily bandaged, but at last his postoperative pain had eased somewhat. He had long since grown weary of Jack’s company but realized he was a necessary conduit to the outside world — until he healed completely and could go back to Kentucky.

  At the moment, Jack was visiting his favorite location on Bourbon Street — a speakeasy with a brothel operated by a woman named Miss Kate. Certainly he would return drunk — but he would also return with an ample supply of booze. It was a good thing because their stock was running low. He toyed with the idea of having Jack send Marguerite to the apartment. Then again, he could also send Jack out again if he decided he needed the young woman’s particular skills.

  Lee stood up and walked over to the radio. He went through the dial. He settled on a music show broadcasting out of Shreveport. The fiddles were lively and entertaining.

  He touched the bandage on his face and again counted the days until he could see his new face. He felt the bandage on his repaired ear.

  His new face — Lee had a hard time imaging what he would look like. Dr. Bertrand assured him no one would recognize him as Lee James Milner. The doctor even added that he might even like his new face better.

  Lee had been pretty happy with his old face. He could not conceive Bertrand improving much. But, he wanted to get back to Kentucky and exact his revenge on Ed Elkins and the Fultons.

  Lee understood Russell was busy having someone prepare a new identity to match his new face. He wondered what would be chosen as his new name. As long as he got back to the hills with a gun in his hand, he really didn’t care.

  ***

  As Thanksgiving approached, Rachel’s health seemed to improve. There were days in which she spent hours entertaining Ginny while Trish prepared meals and did the cleaning. There were even a few occasions that Rachel felt well—enough to help out.

  It thrilled John to see her happy and more active but his joy was tempered with the reality that her condition could — and likely would deteriorate at any given moment.

  A week before Thanksgiving she and John sat in the living room listening to the radio. Supper was over and Trish had cleaned up the kitchen and put Ginny to bed before paying a visit to her sister a couple of streets over.

  Rachel sat in a wingback chair near the fireplace while John sat on the couch across from her.

  “You know what I want to do for Thanksgiving?” She asked.

  “Tell me,” John said.

  “I want to have it here. Mama and Daddy can come here; Bob and Daisy too,” Rachel said.

  John nodded.

  “And I want to invite Ed and Lucy. I ain’t seen her in ages. Think they might come?” Rachel asked.

  He chuckled.

  “If Ed’s not trying buy Louisville, they might. Seems like he has his fingers in a lot of pies these days. But I’ll give him a call. I can even invite Hill and Mae if you want,” John said.

  Rachel smiled.

  “I’d like that. I miss seeing them too,” she said.

  John shook his head and offered an easy smile.

  “I don’t know if our little house will hold that many people,” he said.

  “We’ll be fine,” Rachel said as John studied her face.

  She was still pale and the circles around her eyes was even darker but the sparkle was still there. Even after losing thirty pounds, Rachel was still beautiful and her smile remained almost hypnotic.

  “Something wrong John?” She asked.

  He smiled.

  “Just trying to figure out what I did to deserve such a beautiful wife,” he said.

  “You’re a liar — a sweet one but a liar still,” Rachel said.

  “It’s the truth. You are beautiful and I love you,” John said.

  “That’s not what you’re thinkin’. You’re thinkin’ this will likely be my last Thanksgiving,” Rachel’s voice caught. “The last one we’ll all be together.”

  “I was thinking no such thing,” John said too quickly.

  Rachel smiled gently again.

  “Honey, we need to talk about this sometime. You’re a doctor. You have a pretty good idea of how much time I have left,” she said.

  His face revealed no emotions.

  “Please, not now,” John said.

  The same easy smile on her face, she nodded.

  “Okay. Not now. Let’s just talk about Thanksgiving and how many turkeys it’ll take to feed you and Bob,” Rachel said.

  ***

  Willie stepped off the train near the Dearborn Street Station. Dressed in a simple blue suit — for the first time in his life — he looked around and took in the sight of Chicago. Willie had been to Lexington and Louisville but this place was nothing like either of those.

  In his left hand, he carried a simple black leather satchel. The young man walked slowly taking in his surroundings.

  “Welcome to Chicago kid,” said a short, stocky man with a flat nose.

  Willie recognized the man as a truck driver Hill dealt with on many occasions.

  “Mighty tall buildin’s up here,” Willie said.

  The man laughed.

  “Wait’ll you see Michigan Avenue,” he said as he took the satchel Willie handed him and hefted the weight. “Oh yeah, Mr. Capone is looking forward to talking with you.”

  Willie extended his hand.

  “Name’s Willie,” he said.

  The other man took his hand.

  “Call me Rocky,” he said with a smile that revealed yellow—stained and chipped teeth.

  Willie followed Rocky to a black Ford sedan. As Rocky held the door open, he got into the backseat.

  “Alright Tommy, let’s get back to Cicero,” Rocky said to the driver as he slammed the door.

  With traffic, the drive took almost forty minutes and there was little conversation as Willie stared at the buildings which sprouted out of the earth seemingly as tall as the Cumberland Mountains. Rocky and Tommy silently enjoyed watching the young man get his first glimpse of the big city.

  “This ain’t nutin’ kid. Ya outta see New York,” Tommy said as he glanced in the rearview mirror.

  “Or San Francisco,” Rocky said.

  “You’ve been to San Francisco?” Willie asked in wonder.

  Rocky grinned again.

  “Sure have. I spent five years looking at it every day. Beautiful city,” he said.

  “And you came to Chicago?” Willie asked.

  “I had to go somewhere — they wouldn’t let me hang around after they
gave me a suit and ten bucks — not that I wanted to stick around a minute longer,” Rocky said.

  Up front, Tommy chuckled.

  “That was me leavin’ Sing Sing,” he said.

  “Ever been in the joint kid?” Rocky asked.

  “No — not yet anyway,” Willie said.

  Rocky smiled. “Good for you kid. Good for you. The joint’s not so bad but it’s a lot better out here especially if you got a full stomach and some walking around money,” he said.

  “Too many men walking around empty stomachs with no way of fillin’em up,” Tommy added. “Bad for business.”

  “Can’t argue with you there,” Willie said.

  “What do you fellas do for fun down in Kentucky?” Rocky asked.

  “Same thing y’all do up here I reckon — ‘cept with fewer people and shorter buildings,” Willie said.

  The other two men laughed.

  “You’re alright kid,” Tommy said.

  “And after you meet with Mr. Capone, we’re gonna show you a good time in the big city,” Rocky said.

  Willie grinned.

  “Look forward to it,” he said with a quick bob of his head.

  ***

  “It’ll be good to see Rachel. I don’t know how many more chances we’ll get to spend time with her,” Daisy said as she packed a suitcase.

  Bob nodded as he sat on the bed next to the open luggage. Talking about his sister-in-law’s illness bothered him. He could cover various types of mayhem without blinking but Rachel...she was a different matter. She had become as close as his own sister before she married John. And then he thought of John and the future he faced without the only woman he ever loved. Bob shuddered at the thought. He knew — or at least thought he knew — how he would react if Daisy was in the same situation.

  As much as he wanted to see his brother and niece, he wasn’t sure he could bear to see Rachel, knowing her life was gradually slipping away.

  Daisy sat down next to him and placed her arm around him.

  “It’s hard for me too honey. I’ve cried a million tears since we got word of her sickness. But look at it this way: We ain’t goin’ to see her for us. We’re goin’ to see Rachel for Rachel. She knows we love her but a little remindin’ never hurts,” Daisy said.

  Bob managed a faint smile.

  “I reckon you’re right,” he said as he leaned over and kissed her check. “But it won’t be easy for either of us.”

  Daisy’s eyes were red and tear filled. “No, it won’t but we’ve got to be there for her — and John. So no matter what, we’ve got to be strong for both of them,” she said.

  Bob squeezed her hand. “You’re pretty smart for one of them ol’ Maple Creek girls. I think I’ll hang onto you.”

  “You better,” she said in mock anger as Bob smiled softly again.

  ***

  Lee stepped off of the train in Middlesboro and took a deep breath. Jack followed him onto the platform.

  “Close to home now,” Lee said.

  “Same dump and same stupid hillbillies as always. I miss New Orleans,” Jack said as he reached for a cigarette.

  “No. You miss the whores and liquor I paid for,” Lee said.

  Jack shrugged. “Still miss it.”

  Lee recognized a face in the crowd.

  “There’s our ride,” Lee said pointing to the man.

  Jack waved.

  “Junior! Hey Junior! Come on up here and help my ass with these bags,” he shouted.

  “Keep it down dumbass,” Lee said under his breath as he too reached for a cigarette.

  When Junior got them he gave Lee a quick once over.

  “Junior, this is Lenny. Lenny’s coming to work for Mr. Biddle,” Jack said.

  “Nice to meet ya,” Junior said with a quick nod.

  “You too,” Lee said. “And call me Lee — I hate the name Lenny.”

  Junior looked at him quizzically.

  “Lee? Uh...You sure you want the Milners to call you that? I don’t know if Jack told you anything about Lee Milner,” he began.

  “What about him?” Lee asked with a stern glare.

  “Well, uh, he was — I guess still is — a member of the family. And they ain’t seen him in a few months...I don’t know, just seems like it might be a hardship on Mrs. Milner, that’s all,” Junior said.

  Lee’s expression softened a bit.

  “I think it’ll be okay. Mr. Biddle is the one that sent me after him,” Jack said.

  “He knew my name when he hired me,” Lee said.

  “Alrighty, didn’t mean any harm,” Junior said as he put up his hands as if to surrender.

  Jack loaded the suitcases in the trunk and slammed it shut.

  “Just get in and drive. We don’t wanna be late,” Jack said.

  Not much was said on the drive from Middlesboro to the Milner Mining Camp at Newman. Junior gathered that this Lee fellow wasn’t much on small talk and friendly conversation. And he simply didn’t like Jack so that meant little talking.

  Junior wheeled the new black Chevrolet up in front of the office and stopped.

  “Wait here,” Jack said to Junior as he opened the door. Lee followed him out of the car and over to the front door of the mine office.

  “We’re back,” Jack said as he walked through the door first.

  Russell walked out of his office. He immediately spotted Lee. He nodded and looked to the two secretaries. “Ladies, please take a walk over to the commissary and have some coffee,” he said.

  After the two women walked out, Russell looked back to Lee.

  “I wouldn’t have known you from Adam,” he said. Lee grunted.

  “For the hell I’ve been through with this, nobody should be able to know who I am,” he said.

  Russell stepped over and shook his hand.

  “It’s good to have you back,” he said.

  “Tell me. How’s everything going?” Lee asked.

  “Jack, you and Junior head over to the commissary and join the ladies for coffee,” Russell said.

  Jack offered a lop-sided grin and stepped outside.

  “Insufferable bastard. I’m sorry I had to saddle you with him these past few months but I needed the better men here,” Russell said as he motioned for Lee to follow him into the office that once belonged to Joe.

  Lee walked in and found a comfortable chair. He propped his feet up on the desk as his brother in law opened a desk drawer and pulled out a quart jar filled with clear liquid. He also sat two glasses on the desk and poured about two fingers’ worth in each.

  “You asked how things are going,” Russell said as he handed a glass to Lee. “It’s not good. We’re actually having to deal with the union for a change and it’s costing us money. Big money.”

  “Since when do we deal with communists? Get the boys from the Keystone Crew in here. They’ll handle these union do—gooders,” Lee said as he took a sip.

  Russell smiled wistfully.

  “Yeah, well...I forgot how long you’ve been gone. There ain’t no Keystone Crew anymore. Somebody ambushed the lot of them in Whitley County. They didn’t leave one alive,” he said as he stared at his glass and then turned his gaze to Lee who chuckled bitterly.

  “Let me guess: Elkins.”

  “He did it but nobody can prove anything. Besides, he’s respectable now. Haven’t you heard? Elkins stepped in and rescued businesses across the state when the stock market collapsed. He owns a bunch of newspapers across the state and he’s making life hell for any elected official who goes against him,” Russell said. “He feeds the poor and downtrodden. Respectable.”

  “Respectable my ass. He ain’t nothing more than a dirty little bootlegger like his dead uncle. I’ll take care of him myself,” Lee said.

  “And that little Indian whore he’s married to?” Russell asked.

  “Oh yeah, I have something real special for her,” Lee said with a nasty laugh. “But what do we do about the union until I set things right?”

  “I
’ve made arrangements to bring in some people from up north — Chicago and Detroit. I’m hoping they’ll get here soon. I don’t know how much longer I can stall these negotiations,” Russell said as he finished off his glass.

  “When do you expect them?” Lee asked.

  “They should have been here yesterday but there was some kind of problem with the track in Indiana — at least that’s what I was told,” Russell said.

  “As soon as they get here, leave the planning to me. You run the mines. I’ll handle the union,” Lee said.

  Russell refilled both glasses, smiled, and repeated himself.

  “It’s good to have you back.”

  ***

  Thanksgiving dinner was relaxing. John looked to the end of the table and watched Rachel. Pale and tired, her eyes sparkled as she caught up on gossip and talked with the other ladies at the table — a respite from facing her illness. It was if the goodwill of family and friends could make her whole.

  And he knew it was a false sense of hope but it was hope of some fashion and he clung to it maybe more than Rachel.

  “You okay John?” Bob asked.

  John offered a slight smile.

  “I’m fine. How’s your dinner?” He asked.

  “Too good I’m afraid. I’ll probably gain ten pounds,” Bob said.

  “I have to agree. Rachel, you outdid yourself on this meal,” Ed said.

  “Wait ‘til you try one of the apple pies she has in the kitchen window sill,” John said.

  “I’ll try and save some room for it,” Ed said.

  As it turned out, everyone saved room for the desert. When the meal was finished, the men made their way to the porch for coffee and cigarettes. Though Rachel started to help clear the dishes, the other ladies jumped in and took care of it, helping her to get some rest.

  She sat at the kitchen table with her mother, Marlene while Daisy, Lucy, and Mae took care of the work. Marlene held Ginny in her lap.

  “How are you feelin’?” Marlene asked.

  “A little tired but I’ve had so much fun today — the most in a long time,” Rachel said.

  “I was afraid you’d overdo it,” Marlene said.