morning?"
"No."
She stared at him. "Tonio, are you in trouble? Please tell me." She reached up and stroked his face. A stiff stubble met her fingertips. She wanted to run her hands over his entire body. "Tonio, please! You can trust me."
"Women! You like to imagine the worst." He took her chin in his hand. "Angel, I'm fine. I've neglected the Hole and I need to get back to work. That's all."
His eyes were dark, unreadable. She closed her eyes for a moment and looked down trying to steady her emotions. He was hiding something. When she looked back up he was studying her intently. Without thinking she reached up and kissed him, throwing her arms around him and pressing tightly against him. He kissed her back deeply and fully, but for the first time he was gentlemanly and respectful. His hands didn't wander. He pulled back.
"Tonio, I—"
"Angelina, right now you can't afford to be involved with me. I was careless in taking you out in public tonight."
"I knew it! You're lying! You are involved in something!"
"Yes, I'm involved in something that you don't understand and the less you know about it the better. It doesn't concern you. I've foolishly put you in danger. I didn't realize how much until tonight. If certain people believe we care for each other—"
"But I do care for you, Tonio! And you care for me, you must!"
"Angelina, I want you to go into the house and lock the door behind you. Do you understand me?"
She nodded.
"Then go straight to bed. Grab my stiletto and keep it beside you. I should have thought ahead and taught you to shoot."
She stared at him. "Tonio, what is—"
"I'm going to Burke immediately to guard the Hole. Damn that weasel Clell! He knows I can't be in two places at once."
"Tonio?" Tonio's cautious attitude frightened her.
He grabbed her by the shoulders. "Listen, Angelina, I don't want to leave you, but I have to get back to the Hole and warn Gus to post guards. The union's planning trouble any day now. Baker's mad as hell. He wanted me—" He stopped himself.
"Clell, Baker's goon, you remember him from the train?"
She nodded affirmation.
"He's been following me all day. He showed up while we were at the Fuller tonight and sent a very clear message. He wanted me to know he was there.
"Clell has a vendetta against me. For too long I was more in Baker's favor than he was. Call it a kind of rivalry.
"Angelina, I don't want you to go anywhere near that asshole. He's had his eye on you since he first saw you on the train. If I flinch in this game we're playing, he'll have all the excuse he needs to go after you. And believe me, he's dangerous. The ladies at the Lux don't even…"
Although she tried to look brave, she must have looked scared.
"I did something this morning that set him off. Now he's forcing me to choose which front I'm going to protect. I'm betting he'll follow me if I head to the Hole. He'll see where he thinks my priority is and leave you alone. You should be safe with May and Al."
"How long will you be there? When will you be back?"
"I don't know. Angelina, promise me that until I return you won't go near the mines. Any of them. I don't want you near the railroad either. And no going out after dark. Not unless Al and May are with you." He grabbed her by both arms. "Promise!"
"I promise."
He looked relieved. "Truthfully?"
"Yes. I have no reason to go either place now."
"Will you consider going back to New York?"
"No! Tonio, what's going on?"
"I'm leaving now, Angel." Suddenly he pulled her close, burying his face in the top of her hair. He let her go and opened the door, guiding her in by her arm.
"Tonio, whatever it is, be careful."
"Goodnight, Angel."
Once inside Angelina leaned against the door, shaking uncontrollably. "Tonio, what have you done?" She listened as his footfalls receded into the distance.
On April 25th, the Western Federation of Miners held a secret session at the heart of its camp in Wardner. At five thirty, the men filed out three abreast. Headed by President Baker, the 400 men formed a winding line nearly 1000 feet long. They wound their way up the hill to the Bunker Hill Mine where they demanded a chance to talk to the workers. Superintendent Burch complied. Cheers resounded each time a Bunker employee walked over to join the union.
Tensions