Olivia's Mine (29 page)

“But you have to understand Olivia, while
your Uncle could call your position whatever the hell he bloody
well wanted to, I don’t have that same luxury. I can hold open a
job for you, and it will be a respectful job for you, but I can’t
give you a job title that would belong by rights, to a man.”

“Did you notice that your injuries were
down?”

“Yes, Olivia.”

“Did you notice that on several occasions on
the late shift the men stayed an extra hour without pay so that
things would be ready for the morning crew? Not bad loyalty to a
boss they hate working for, as you said.”

“Olivia...”

“I’m sorry Mr. McMichael,” Olivia said. “I
have to refuse your kind offer.”

“Olivia,” he began, “please reconsider. I
promise you I will find Frank a job in town somewhere. Maybe at the
general store. On second thought, perhaps that wouldn’t be
appropriate. I will find him something...I promise you.”

“I can’t,” Olivia said.

“You’re sure?”

“I’m sure. I’m pregnant, Mr McMichael.”

The news shocked McMichael. The emotions that
ran through his mind were surprising to him. He wasn’t at all sure
this was right for Olivia, but it was none of his business. He bent
down to her.

“Well, I suppose congratulations are in
order,” he said, not convincingly.

He stood up and walked over to his desk,
pulling out his rye, and pouring himself a stiff shot. He did and
not offer Olivia any, not that she would have taken it.

“Shall I leave?” she asked him. She could
sense the news had upset him.

“Perhaps it’s best,” he admitted.

Olivia moved quietly towards the door.

“Olivia,” he paused, “you can rest assured I
do not say this with any frequency.”

Her eyes rose to meet his as he
continued.

“Take some time off. Raise your child, or
children as it may be. Go back to your store when you’re ready. But
if you ever find you can’t get the ore out of your veins, my door
is always open. There will always be a job for you here at the mine
as long as I’m in charge.” He would never admit it, but he knew he
would miss her.

“Thank you, Mr. McMichael, that’s quite
kind.”

“Kind nothing. I’d rather have you working
for me than against me.”

That much was true, McMichael thought to
himself. She competed against him with the store, and that had been
a success. She had tackled the unfathomable job with the
concentrator with a finesse he hadn’t seen in many of his men. Not
any since John Cruickshank had retired. And through it all she had
managed to hold onto her pride, her dignity, and, he thought, her
femininity. Even in the overalls, he recalled.

He escorted her out the door, his hand
resting on her shoulder.

While Sarah noticed this, she made nothing of
it, as she was well aware of what McMichael was going to do today.
She assumed Olivia had been given her news.

“Sarah, get me Frank,” he said. His head was
still pounding and there was so much yet to do today. He’d make
Frank fire the men.

“Certainly, Mr. McMichael. Mr. William Bower
phoned while you were with his daughter. Shall I get him on the
line for you?”

McMichael sighed. Not today, he thought. Not
more bad news.

“Yes, thank you Sarah. Please do call him
back for me.”

McMichael went into his office and waited for
Sarah to get William on the line.

“John,” William began, “I’ve got some news
for you.”

McMichael didn’t like the tone of his
voice.

“It appears the Canadian government has run
out of money as far as railway expansion is concerned. They’re
having a hard time making their existing financial commitments as
it is. Cashing in bonds left and right or so the banks are telling
me. The rail line to Squamish has been delayed indefinitely. And
without them securing the loan, I’m afraid we’ll have to pull out
as well, at least for the foreseeable future.”

“Delayed? Again? How long?”

“They’re saying it could be decades. We can’t
afford to have our portion of the money tied up that long. I’m sure
you understand.”

McMichael’s hopes and dreams of the coastal
railroad collapsed in an instant.

“John? Are you there?” William asked.

“Yes William. Damn disappointing, that
is.”

“Indeed. But there’s something else I’d like
to talk to you about John. I’ll see you next week. We’re all coming
up for Jason’s wedding. Grace, the whole clan, and me including
Aaron. We’ll talk then.”

“Of course.”

Great. McMichael thought. I can hardly wait.
I just went through months of your daughter under my feet, and now
this. He could think of a million places he’d rather be than in a
room with the Bower clan now that the railroad had fallen
through.

The word “your daughter” lingered in his mind
for a moment. Perhaps he was wrong, he thought. Perhaps there was
nowhere else he’d rather be.

“William,” McMichael said, “I understand
you’re about to become a grandfather. I just thought that maybe you
should know.”

He wasn’t sure why he said that. Perhaps it
was to keep her safe. He had fallen in love with her, he admitted
to himself. Slowly, gradually over the seven years he had known her
she had taken his heart. But she was a married woman, blissfully
unaware, and he was a decent man. At least in that regard.

As he hung up the phone contemplating this,
Sarah’s fists pounded on the door.

“Mr. McMichael,” she screamed. “Oh my God,
come quickly!”

“Has something happened to Olivia?” he asked,
not waiting for an answer.

“What the hell happened?” McMichael
asked.

“There’s been a cave-in,” Frank said.

“How? Where?”

“In the southwest tunnel. We’re not sure how
it happened.”

“Is anyone down there?”

McMichael started to head off towards the
tunnel entrance. The scene was chaotic as the men tried to organize
themselves.

“We’re not sure sir,” Frank said, following
him. “The men were just coming off shift. The cave-in happened as
they were leaving. The walls fell in behind them.”

“Then we’ve got to do a head count.”

Olivia approached McMichael.

“I heard the news.”

“Good news travels fast, bad even
quicker.”

“Here’s the roster sir,” she said, handing
him a clipboard. I brought it over from the office. We can check
the scheduled attendance. Sarah said no one called in sick. I know
I don’t really work for you anymore...”

“It’s quite all right Olivia. I need your
help.”

“Frank,” McMichael called. “Come get this
list, do a roll call.”

“Olivia, go find Harry. I’m going to need a
full report on this. Tell Sarah to call Wolanski and the doctors. I
need every available man on the scene. Tell your man Hearn I need
his expertise. Ask him to work for me until we sort this out. I’ll
pay for him.”

“No problem sir.”

She left to look for the men.

A crowd had begun to form at the base of the
mine.

“Is it true?” Akiko asked.

“Yes,” McMichael said. “There’s been a
cave-in. Now you know about as much as I do,” he snapped.

“Forgive me,” Akiko said, and bowed her head
in respect.

“Forgiveness is up to the Lord, not me,”
McMichael said. “Akiko, I need you to be a translator. I promise to
keep you informed as soon as I know more. Stay close so I can get
you to assure the Japanese workers that we will do everything we
can. Pass the message along to the other bilingual people. We need
more translators. Can you do that for me?”

“Yes. I will do what I can to help,” she said
humbly.

Tragedy. It comes in threes, she thought.
First the landslide, then the fire, now this. At least they would
be safe after this. Her sentiments were shared by most of the
community.

“Can I help?” Jimmy asked, standing alongside
his mother.

“I don’t think we have any magic potions for
this one,” McMichael sighed.

Jimmy stood firm.

“All right Jimmy,” McMichael said. “You’re an
experienced man. I need you to help co-ordinate the rescue efforts.
You’ll be my liaison with Dr. Van den Broek. Tell me what I need to
know about potential medical needs. Are you up to it?”

“Yes sir,” he said.

“You’re a fearless lad; I’ll give you
that.”

Akiko looked at her son with pride.

Frank approached McMichael, his employee list
in his hand.

“Well?”

“Everyone is accounted for except for two,”
Frank said, glancing at the Yadas.

“Well then, let’s have it,” McMichael
said.

“Yan Li, and Harry.”

Akiko’s hand clasped her mouth, stifling a
scream.

“Good God,” McMichael sighed, placing his arm
around Jimmy.

Jimmy closed his eyes for just a moment.

“I am fearless, Mr. McMichael. I must go to
work,” Jimmy said, turning to his mother. “Be strong, mom.” He held
her hand until she regained her composure.

Jason Bower came over to McMichael.

“I gather people won’t feel much like going
to the movies tonight. How can I help Mr. McMichael?” he asked.

“We’re going to need to be working day and
night until we get those workers out. If you could just report to
Frank, I’m sure he can use all the help he can get.”

Jason was silent.

“Jason,” McMichael began, “I know there’s no
love lost between you and your brother-in-law but if I could get
you to set aside your differences for the time being. He really is
the best man to organize the work crews. He knows everyone’s
skills. We’ll need to get them out as fast as we can.”

“So it’s true then. There are people trapped
inside?”

“Yes, it’s true. Two as far as we know.”

“How long can they last?”

“I don’t dare make a guess at this point. I
don’t know if they’re injured. I hope they got to the safety room,
but I just don’t know.”

“Safety room?” Jason asked.

“We have safe spots throughout the tunnels
that carry a supply of food and water, medical kits, axes, shovels
and other things that could be of use in an emergency. The men know
where they are.”

“And what if they didn’t make it to the
safety room?”

“Then they’ve probably got a few hours to a
few days at best, if they’re lucky. But I wouldn’t go spreading
that around.”

“I’d better get to work then,” Jason
said.

“Thank you Jason, I appreciate it,” McMichael
said.

He took a deep breath. He didn’t know Yan Li
all that well, but he knew he was one of his best employees. Yan
had never given him any trouble. Never late. Never missed a day’s
work. And Harry...thinking of Harry brought a lump to his throat.
Harry was such a diverse man, with all his idiosyncrasies. He had
been a good friend to him over the years. Or at least as close to a
friend as any of his employees were. He would miss him.

“I could use the assistance of your first
mate getting this equipment on board,” Aaron Bower said from the
wharf. There were two large crates at his feet.

The Captain motioned for his sailor to come
over to help Aaron.

“Permission to come aboard Captain?” Grace
asked.

Frenchie smiled.

William Bower helped his wife Grace step
aboard the Northern Mary. The rest of his family were already
inside the cabin. It was a wet day in Seattle, the winter rains
having come early this year.

“Frenchie!” William said, extending his hand
to the Captain. “It’s good to see you, my friend. You remember
Grace and the rest of the clan?”

Frenchie shook William’s hand.

“How could I ever forgit such a delight to de
eyes? Welcome aboard Mrs. Bower. You’re welcome to anything ye find
onboard. Tea, coffee, hot cocoa. I tink dere’s some biscuits in de
galley. If der’s anything else ye fancy, well then we’re kinda
outta luck until we get to the ‘Couve.”

“We’re stopping in Vancouver?” Grace
asked.

“Aye. I’ve got to pick up Father Fernier
along de way.”

“He’s coming up a few days before the
wedding?” Grace enquired. She knew Father Fernier was coming up
from Vancouver to perform Jason’s wedding.

“’
E might have one or two people ‘e
needs to see first,” Frenchie winced.

“I see,” Grace said, smiling at the Captain.
“I’m sure everything will be fine. Anne says he comes highly
recommended. Lovely weather we’re having, isn’t it?” she said
sarcastically.

“’
Dat time o’ year again. Maybe we
should turn de Northern Mary around and head for Hawaii. It’s been
doin’ nuttin’ but rain fer days now.”

He noticed Grace’s smile fade.

“Oh but it’ll be fine fer yer wedding. I put
in a special order.”

He winked at her and her smile returned. He
could see where Olivia got her own beautiful smile. As he studied
Grace’s face he could envision Olivia in twenty years or so. He
realized he was staring and turned his gaze to the dock.

“Do you need a hand boys?”

“No, I think we’ve got it,” Aaron said. He
and the first mate finished loading the cargo and disappeared below
deck themselves.

“Go on down and git out of dis rain, lovely
lady,” Frenchie said to Grace.

Grace went inside the cabin to join the rest
of the family. They had all made the trip up for Jason’s wedding:
Billy, Emily and her husband and Sister Anne. And Daniel. Olivia
hadn’t seen her baby brother since Emily’s wedding. How he had
grown! She was going to be surprised! William helped Frenchie untie
the boat from the dock.

“You’ve got a fine looking family,” Frenchie
said.

William nodded with pride.

“So my friend. Aside from the weather, what
else is happening in your fair town?”

“Well,” Frenchie sighed, “since ye asked.
Der’s been a mine cave in. Looks pretty bad. Dey’ve been down der
for two days befer I left to come get you.”