ride that way and check things out while he was on this end of town. He rounded the bend and pulled his mare up short. Two, three, no, four new buildings—not more than shacks, really—hugged the banks of the frozen creek. A crude sign proclaimed one a saloon. Jake clenched his jaw. Just what they needed. Another one to take the coal miners’ hard-earned pay.
He could see the glove factory in the distance, nestled under some trees close to the creek and away from town. The structure wasn’t big, but he supposed a large workshop wasn’t needed to make gloves. The new industry didn’t provide many jobs, but it did offer a few people work other than in the mines. And that was always a good thing.
A young woman hurried toward him, a basket of laundry clasped against her waist. Her gaze lifted and caught his. Her steps faltered, but she gave a short nod in recognition before ducking her head and continuing on.
Johanna Thorndike.
Widowed with two small children to raise.
Jake watched her out of sight, then turned away, a tight knot forming in his chest.
God, why did I survive when Derek didn’t?
Not expecting an answer to the question he’d asked a thousand times over the last two years, Jake dismounted in front of a cabin in better repair than most and pulled a burlap sack off his saddle. He knocked, and a frail voice called out for him to enter. A small amount of light from a single dingy window and the low flames of the fire illuminated the cabin. The room felt warm and cozy compared to the bitter cold outside. Jake’s eyes adjusted to the dim light and the figure seated before the fire, rocking slowly back and forth. “Seamus?”
The old man smiled. “Ah, young Jake. Come in. I haven’t seen you in a coon’s age.”
“Now, Seamus, I came over here last week.” Jake left the sack on the table. He knew better than to mention he’d brought a few things with him. Seamus would find them soon enough.
Confusion lined the elderly man’s face. He’d not been the same since the mine collapse a couple of years ago that had killed his two sons, Johanna’s husband, and—
Jake tamped the memories down.
“You did? Oh, well, the noggin ain’t what it used to be. Sit a spell, and tell me what’s going on outside these four walls.”
Jake straddled a chair. “Lots of new folks in town, but I guess you’ve noticed that.”
“Hmmm.”
“Snowed over two feet the other day. You been outside lately?”
Seamus cackled. “Not if I can he’p it.”
They sat for a few minutes, warming by the fire. Jake made a mental note to check the coal bin on his way out. Seamus didn’t have anybody else to care for him these days. “You heard anything about a bunch of street kids roaming around?”
“Ah, you know young’uns. They wander around day and night. Nobody cares what they do. I’da took a switch to mine and made ’em stay at home.”
“These kids don’t have a ma or a pa. They live on the streets.”
Seamus shook his head. “Well, I never. What’s this world coming to?”
“I don’t know.”
After a few minutes of silence, Seamus dozed off, rousing when Jake stood.
“I’d better get going. I’ll see you next week, okay?”
“All right. Take care, and tell your pa to come see me when his shift is over. He’s working too hard.”
Jake’s throat constricted. Sometimes Seamus could carry on a conversation for hours without slipping into the past, but today didn’t seem to be one of those days. He’d learned to humor the old man rather than explain things.
But inside, he felt not an ounce of humor.
He placed a hand on the old man’s bony shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. “I’ll do that, Seamus.”
* * *
Church bells pealed throughout town, calling everyone to Sunday morning services. Livy bit back a grin as Mrs. Brooks marched down the street, the children following like a brood of little chicks. Livy brought up the rear, keeping an eye on Seth and Georgie. She’d promised them a treat if they stayed away from the iced-over mud puddles. So far, the promise of a sliver of carefully horded peppermint outweighed their desire to see if they could crack through the ice.
They arrived at the small church to a flurry of townsfolk entering the front door. Reverend Warren smiled and shook hands with Mrs. Brooks. “I’m delighted you and the children could make it out today.”