transpired. Wallace was nearly the last stop. Somehow they got off the train and made their way to the Hall home with Angelina supporting Tonio.
The shock had long since worn off and Angelina could only imagine the pain each step caused him. The alcohol numbed his senses some, but unfortunately it had numbed his balance as well. They wove and threaded their way across the sidewalk until they reached home. May met them at the door and the two women shuttled Tonio into the second floor bedroom that Angelina occupied. Angelina's shoulders ached from his weight as she watched May guide Tonio the last few feet to the bed.
"Drop the knife, Angelina. You're home," May commanded.
Angelina wasn't aware she still clutched it. She stood in the doorway too stunned to respond.
In the end, May pried it from her hand. "Don't fall apart now, Angelina. Tonio needs help, quickly. Let's get him to bed and see to his wound."
Angelina helped May undress him. May moved with rapid precision. Angelina fumbled in a haze. They pulled off his boots and pants. May cut off his undershirt and untied the dirty towel to inspect the bullet wound.
"Couldn't find anything cleaner," he mumbled seeing the disgust May displayed as she dropped it to the floor.
She ordered Angelina to bring a basin and fresh towels and sheets to use as bandages. She was about to help him lie down gently on his back when he cried out. "My back, May. Clean my back first. I can't lie on it."
Angelina returned with the basin of water, soap, and rags. May wet a cloth to wipe clean the blood. Tonio cried out in pain. Confused by his reaction to her gentle wipes, May took a closer look. In the light from the window hundreds of tiny slivers of glass glinted viciously, piercing the skin of his shoulders and arms.
"Angelina, get the tweezers," May said.
"A window blew out above me." Tonio spoke through his teeth in great pain. "Should've known better."
When Angelina came back into the room May was asking Tonio a question and oddly Tonio seemed to be comforting her. Angelina heard only muffled parts of their conversation.
"He's all right, May. They didn't hurt him. He was driving when we pulled into Wallace."
May mumbled something and Tonio replied. "He'll be home anytime. You should be proud."
May realized Angelina was back. "The bullet's still in. Angelina, go for the doctor. Get old Foster. He'll come. And be quiet about it."
As Angelina left, May was gently and meticulously tweezing the glass from Tonio's upper body.
Finding Dr. Foster had not proved an easy task, probably made more difficult by her tired mind and the confusion and hysteria in town. May had finished the job by the time Angelina returned. Tonio was lying on his back, nearly unconscious, his wound neatly scrubbed, but oozing a clear looking fluid. May bathed his forehead with cool water. Doc Foster sent Angelina out, though she protested. May stayed to assist him. When they were finished, the bullet was out and the wound dressed and Tonio was ordered confined to his bed for at least a week.
Al didn't return until late that night. He was exhausted and refused to say much about what had gone on during the abduction. May didn't press. She was too happy that he was home safely to care about the details. She didn't even condemn him for letting Angelina go along.
For days the story of the explosion dominated every aspect of life: the newspapers, conversation, peoples' thoughts. Everyone had an opinion, an anecdote, a fear.
For three uneasily quiet days, euphoria reigned in the Valley. Many of the mines shut down. Most notably the Bunker but other smaller ones as well, those that depended on the Bunker's power plant for energy to operate. Nearly eight hundred mining jobs were at stake, but it didn't dampen the sense of victory the men felt. They drank and partied and bragged of their victory while their leaders quietly packed and left town without anyone bothering to question their conspicuous absence.
Governor Steunenberg had been wired immediately, but no action had been taken. Many felt none would be despite the governor's promise to "punish and totally eradicate from this community a class of criminals who for years have been committing murders and other crimes in open violation of law."
After all, what could the governor do? The Idaho State militia was away in the Philippines cleaning up the aftermath of the Spanish-American War. Angelina heard one young