miner predict, "You can't steal railroad trains, dynamite mines, and burn villages without some reaction." Personally, she agreed with him.
Angelina spent the first day after the explosion never more than shouting distance from Tonio's bedside. Doc Foster claimed his injury was not life threatening, but that did not prevent nearly twenty-four hours of fever-induced delirium and pain.
Angelina sponged and sponged him again as he sweated and toiled to break the fever. Maybe she imagined it, but he seemed to desire, and even demand her presence in his room. He called her name over and over again. All the while she reassured him of her presence, his safety, her safety. On the second day, the fever broke and he sat up in bed drinking warm broth. On the third day she caught him sitting up on the edge of the bed pulling on his boots.
"Pull those things off and lie back down!" She watched him from the doorway. "What on earth are you doing trying to get up?"
He looked at her calmly. "I'm preparing to leave the state. Be a dear and pack me a bag."
She thought he was joking until she saw the serious glint in his eyes. "You're not teasing."
"Of course I'm not teasing, Angelina. This is a serious matter. Now find me a jacket, I've lost my black leather one. And find me a duffel of some sort, anything will do. I need you to run to the bank for me and make a withdrawal." He ticked off an impressive list of preparations for Angelina to make.
"Where are you planning on going? And why?" She had no intention of helping him move.
"We're going. Pack some things for yourself and grab any cash you have; we'll need it. It may be a while before we can return."
"I'm so happy you're including me in your plans, but we aren't going anywhere." She walked over and eased him back onto the bed. He didn't have the strength of a buttercup. "You're in no condition to travel if you can't defend yourself against me."
"Such a nice girl. I'd leave you behind in an instant, but you're an accessory now and I'd hate to see what they'd do to your pretty hide in jail." He leaned up on his elbow.
"What jail?"
"The jail where the officials will surely pen up as many miners as they can round up and charge with blowing up the concentrator. Haven't you read the papers lately?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Our fine governor has declared Shoshone County is in a state of insurrection and rebellion and asked for federal troops. It's only a matter of time before they arrive. When they do, it'll be '92 all over again. They'll round up every miner in sight and throw them into a makeshift bullpen, and then they'll make an example of one or two of them.
"I don't plan on being around when that happens. The Montana border is fewer than ninety miles away. With luck, we'll reach it before the troops arrive."
"That won't happen, Tonio. Men who are directly implicated are calmly awaiting their fate. So many can't be wrong."
"They're fools. Do you see Ed Baker or any of the other leaders hanging around?"
"We aren't going anywhere until you're well enough to travel. And then only when I say so. You've lost too much blood and there's still danger of an infection." She stood over him, trembling with fear and wondering whether she should heed his warning and get them out of town.
Tonio lay back in the bed looking pale and drained.
She bit her lip. Maybe Tonio was right. "I'll pack the things you asked for on the slim chance you're right and have to escape quickly. Now you need to rest. You can't possibly travel today."
"Tomorrow may be too late," he replied weakly. "You will come with me. I won't leave you behind."
She looked down so that he couldn't see her eyes and the desperate plea for his love they held. She could never veil her eyes the way he could. "Tonio, there is no need to leave, is there? Not if you're innocent?"
He didn't answer but instead closed his eyes. "I'm tired, Angelina. Please leave me alone now."
She covered him with a light blanket and walked to the door.
Tonio saw her hesitate, watching him for a moment before departing. Her doubt permeated the room. He could have reassured her, but he wanted her faith in him to be her own. What had he expected? That she would jump at the