Chapter 8

The girl was up with the sun the next morning, the smell of breakfast cooking wafting in under the closed door. She rubbed her eyes, yawning as she sat up. Abigail must have been up for ages already. Look at her, sleeping in like a spoiled child. She slowly got off her bed, heading out of Abigail's room into the kitchen. 'You should have got me up, I could have come given you a hand.'

'You need your rest honey.' She replied, scraping the scrambled eggs onto a plate. She glanced back at her, the girl still dressed in her nightgown. 'Did you get some sleep?'

'A little.' She nodded as she looked at Abigail, dressed in men's clothing. She wondered why for a moment then remembered. They were starting work at the mine in a little under an hour. 'I better go find something to wear.'

Abigail sighed, placing the plates down on the table. 'There's no talking you out of this, is there?'

'If you're going in that mine I'm coming with you. Besides, girls can do anything boys can. My mother used to say that all the time. We just do it more dignified.'

She chuckled. 'There's nothing dignified about working in a coal mine, trust me.'

'Yeah, probably not but what's gotta be done has gotta be done.' She glanced at the clock. 'I'll go see if I can find something to wear.'

Joanna stepped out into the cool morning, running barefoot across the yard to the shed where her father and brothers belongings were stored. Aztec snorted, turning his head around to look at her as far as his lead would let him. 'Sorry boy, can't take you for a ride today. I'll see if I can find someone who will later, okay?' She gave him a pat then quickly gave him his hay and checked his water bucket. 'I'll see if I can put you out on a picket line tomorrow but right now I've got to run.'

The stallion dug into his meal as she went to the trunks stacked on the opposite side of the wall, sighing as she knelt down next to them. She hadn't opened them since she packed them to move in with Abigail. Her hand hovered over the lid for a moment then she opened it, looking at her fathers and brothers clothes inside. She ran her fingers over her father's spare cap, the lamp still half-filled with oil. She smiled sadly as she held it, remembering her father and brother leaving for work and returning each day. They used to joke they got more coal on them then they did in the coal carts.

Abigail calling her brought the girl back to reality and she quickly grabbed her brother's shirt and pants. 'Won't be long.' She yelled back, slipping out of her nightgown into her brother's clothes. It felt weird, being in his clothes. She hadn't worn men's clothes before, she was always dressed like a young lady. It was the first time she'd ever worn pants.

Quickly she adjusted the belt and suspenders, she was so little she had to bring them both in all the way and still they were a little loose. It'd have to do though, she didn't have time to fix them up properly to fit her. Grabbing her brother's coat and boots she put the coat on then grabbed her father's cap and headed for the door.

'I'm sorry, I got a little sidetracked.' She apologized as she walked into the kitchen, Abigail filling their lunch pail with sandwiches. 'I'm so sorry.'

'It's alright Joanna but you'll have to eat on the run.' She handed her a scrambled egg sandwich, turning to Elizabeth as the woman came downstairs. 'There's breakfast here for you Elizabeth but you'll have to find your own lunch, Joanna and I have to go.'

'That's alright, I'll manage.' Elizabeth nodded, looking at the two of them as Abigail handed the girl her lunch pail. She walked over to her, giving the woman a hug. 'Good luck. Be careful.'

Abigail smiled as she pulled back. She could see Elizabeth was worried and with good reason too but like she had said with Jack, it was an unspoken contract between a miner and his family. It went for friends too. Elizabeth understood they needed to do this, there was no point bringing up the fact they'd be walking into the same mine that her husband and son and many others had lost their lives in. It was a stark reality that hung over all the widows heads. 'We'll be careful. Come on Joanna, we're going to be late.'


'Boy's got the last of the inner shafts cleared of the roof-fall yesterday.'

'Retimbered too?' Henry asked as he looked at the map of the mine.

'Almost. But some of the deeper sections are still blocked. Shafts fourteen and sixteen are still closed-'

'I'm counting on you, Mr. Ansvil. That's why I named you my new superintendent.'

'I know sir and I'm doing the best I can. I just don't have the manpower to clear those shafts any faster.'

'Well, shouldn't be a worry too much longer. I've been doing some recruiting, help should be on it's way soon.' He glanced out the window, squinting to see through the glass at the people walking up to the building. 'Who in God's name are those men?'

'You're recruiting more miners?' Abigail asked as she stopped in front of the office, the ladies gathering around behind her as Gowen came out to speak to them. 'You got 'em.'

'Respectfully ladies, is this some kind of joke?

'No joke, Mr Gowen. You need workers.' She slipped her arm around Joanna as the girl stuck to her like glue, she could guess the girl was probably scared out of her mind but there wasn't time to comfort her just yet. 'We need roofs over our children's heads.'

'You lost your husbands in there-' He motioned towards the mine. 'What happens to your children if they lose you? Who puts roofs over their heads then?'

'Mr. Gowen-' Cat spoke up. 'We're offering to do this with our eyes open and we're counting the cost. We have to try. Coal Valley is our home.'

'All we're asking for is a chance.' Abigail continued. 'Everybody knows you still have shafts blocked. You tell us which one you want open, if we have it cleared and timbered between now and the evictions-'

'You get to stay in your homes?' He cut her off. 'What happens if you don't?'

'We leave quietly. We'll even give the row houses a proper spring-cleaning before we vacate.'

Henry looked around at the women, weighing up his options and he finally nodded after a moment. There was no way they'd actually be able to do it. In the meantime, they might get a little of that shaft cleared and them cleaning the rowhouses before they left with their tails between their legs was an added bonus. 'You have two weeks. As well, none of the men who work for me may help you. I will not compromise their safety.'

Warning bells sounded in Abigail's mind but they didn't have much of a choice and she knew he knew it. 'Fair enough.'

He turned to the superintendent. 'Mr. Ansvil.'

'Ladies, line up and sign your waiver.'

Joanna glanced over at Gowan as he got into his car, listening to the conversation between him and the Pinkerton as the women lined up..

'I'm flabbergasted you agreed to this.'

'We both know they won't last more then a week, Mr. Spurlock. And in the meantime, perhaps they'll get some of that shaft cleared.'

The girl glared at him with narrowed eyes then followed the rest of the ladies into the office to sign their papers. She hadn't liked it either when the man had said he wouldn't compromise the rest of his workers' safety. He was a crook, she knew it, her father and brother had known it but they had still worked for him. Her father had taken the job as second under the Superintendent, Noah Stanton. It paid better then the other jobs and since her father was educated he was able to convince Gowen he was able to qualify for the job. Even though he had never worked in a coal mine, the fact that he could read and write and most of the other miners couldn't was the biggest thing that had worked in his favor.

She reached the head of the line, signing her waiver then joined Abigail outside as they waited for the rest of the women to finish. 'Are we making the right choice?'

'We don't have much of a choice.' Abigail whispered grimly. 'He's got us over a barrel and he knows it. If we don't, we lose our homes.'

There was no need to take about the danger, the girl had been around long enough to know the dangers of working in a coal mine. The only good thing was that while the other mines employed children as young as five, the Pacific North-West mining company only employed men. It was something, at least. There were children who were 'brought' by the companies under 'adoption' back at the orphanages. The mines were always looking for new children because more often than not they were killed. The girl clung to Abigail, the woman with her arm around the girl as they waited.

Finally the rest of the women finished signing their waivers and received their pit-checks and Mr. Ansvile stepped back out onto the porch. 'You all have your pit-checks now. Make sure they go back on the board so we know who's in and who's out of the mine. Any questions?' He looked around but the ladies were silent. 'All right-' He picked up the canary and started towards the mine. 'Ladies, follow me to shaft number fourteen.'

'Ladies-' Abigail was the first to walk into the mine, the girl beside her as they followed the superintendent. 'This is to keep out homes.'

Joanna looked around in the darkness as they walked in further, the temperature dropping the deeper they went into the mountain. It was cold, it was dark. She shivered, keeping close to Abigail. She didn't envy the work her father or brother had done at all. It was horrible. The darkness was so thick you could feel it, almost touch it. The little light their head lamps offered was quickly sapped away, swallowed up by the cold void. They marched on, deeper and deeper into the mountain. It's okay Joanna, it's okay. You're alright. She forced herself to remain calm. She hated dark, enclosed spaces. Hated them ever since she'd been locked in the ranch cellar a few days after she'd been adopted. She'd been locked in it for over a day before she'd finally been found. Since then she had been scared of the dark. Cut it out Joanna, stop being a wimp.

Finally they reached the blocked shaft, the man hanging up the birdcage on a hook. 'If that canary stops singing for fifteen minutes, I want you high tailing it out of here. Too much methane? Boom. Too much c-o-2? Boom. And with those open lamps you got on your heads, too much coal dust-'

'We get it, Herbert.' Florence interrupted.

'Get to work.'

Abigail looked at the wall of rubble, sighing heavily. Where did they start?

'Let's put our lunch boxes here-' Cat started placing her pail down near the wall out of the way then looked at Abigail for guidance. 'Where do we start?'

'Probably by getting some empty carts in here to take the rubble away-'

The sound of a mule braying reached their ears and a man came around the corner, leading the animal. 'Mr. Ansvile told me to bring the mule. Any of you women had any experience with livestock?'

Joanna glanced around, the rest of the women shaking their heads. After a moment she found herself stepping forward. 'I have.'

'Right.' He nodded, handing her the lead. 'This here is Sweetie, don't let the name fool you. She kicks and bites so watch her front end and her tail end. Two carts at a time empty, one full. Good luck.'

The girl looked at the mule, raising her eyebrows. A mule that bit and kicked. Brilliant.

'Bring her closer Joanna, we can get a line started between the rubble and the carts.' Abigail called out. 'Once we get started we'll divide into two teams. One team clears, one team re-timbers-'

'Come on you stubborn thing-' Joanna tried to get the mule to move forward, the mule braying as it sat back on its haunches. 'Sweetie, huh.' She scoffed, trying again to make the thing move. 'What a name.' The mule stood up suddenly, the girl falling on her backside, glaring at the animal as it brayed at her. 'Very funny.' She sighed as she stood and wiped her backside then grabbed hold of the lead rope again. 'Come on, I'm not happy about being in her either but there ain't nothing much you or I can do about it.'


'Mr Gowen-' Jack spoke with him in his office a little while after the man had returned from the mine. 'How can you justify allowing those women to walk into that mine?'

'Believe me, it wasn't my idea.' He replied as he took the record off the gramophone and placed it in its cover. 'Those women go into that mine with their eyes wide open.'

'But you've prohibited your men from lending a hand.'

'Of course I did. My men are the only thing standing between me and a complete shuttering of that mine.' He walked over behind his desk, helping himself to some whisky. 'Would you like a drink? The constable shook his head and he poured himself a glass then sat down at his desk. 'I'm not going to allow my men's lives to be put in danger for a bunch of stubborn women.'

'Who are trying to save their homes.'

'Constable, you do realize that as an officer of the law, that you cannot take a position on a property dispute one way or the other.'

'I am aware of the laws.' Jack nodded.

'And should the evictions become necessary, that it will fall on you to enforce them. Now, I've been more than generous with these widows. I've allowed them to stay in company housing rent-free since the mine disaster when-' He grabbed a file from his desk and placed it in front of the constable. 'Clearly, according to the contract, I could have evicted them much sooner.'

He glanced at the contract then back at the man. 'I'm sure you've done everything you can to take care of them.'

'I have.'

'Just like you took every precaution to protect their husbands.' He watched the man's face carefully as he stood up. 'I'm sure you spared no expense when it came to the safety of the men who work for you. Mr. Gowan.'

He could feel the man glaring at him as he walked out of his office, heading over to the general store next. 'Good day, Ned.'

'Good day.' He held the glass he was polishing up to the light again.

'Just wondering if there were any wires for me yet.'

'Oh, sorry. No Constable. I'll let you know if anything from your command post comes in. Oh, but you did get another package in the mail.' He walked over to the shelves where the mail was stored, looking for the package for the Constable. 'Pretty heavy. Is it a book maybe?'

'Maybe.'

'A little light reading?'

Jack smiled but wasn't about to give away what he had ordered as he took the package. 'Something like that.' He headed towards the door. 'Thank you.'


Joanna was so thankful when the shift finally came to an end. Between fighting with the mule and helping load the carts she was absolutely and utterly drained. It made her appreciate how hard her father and brother had worked, trying to provide a better life for themselves and her. Standing next to Abigail they followed the other miners on the way past the board to hang up their pit-checks for the day so they could leave.

'I know you're between a rock and a hard place ladies-' Max exclaimed as he looked at the women behind him. 'But you've got to give it up. It just ain't worth it.'

'Shut up Max.' The miner in front of him interjected. 'They're only doing what we would do if we were in their shoes.'

Abigail wearily placed her pit-check up on the board once she reached it, placing her arm around the girl as they stepped off the porch. 'You okay honey?'

'Yeah, I'm fine.' She replied softly as they started down the road back home. 'I'll be alright. I'm more worried about you-' She looked up at her. She'd never seen Abigail so exhausted before. 'I didn't really do that much. You were doing the work of two, helping with the timbers and loading the carts.'

'I'll be alright.'

Joanna looked at her, worry evident on her face. Abigail was the matriarch of the town, she was a lot older than the rest of the women. It wasn't a surprise that the work had taken its toll on her. 'You just rest when we get home, I'll cook supper.'

'I'm planning on going straight to bed.' She sighed, her utter exhaustion evident in her voice. 'You sure you're alright?'

'I'm fine.' The girl plastered a smile on her face, every muscle in her body aching as they walked back to the rowhouses. 'Don't worry about me.' She chuckled. 'I'm planning on taking Aztec for a quick ride if I can, he needs some exercise. I was thinking of maybe asking the Constable if he could ride him a little, I wouldn't trust anyone else with him.'

'I do need to speak to the Constable at some stage too.'

'About what?'

'Just something.' Abigail brushed her fringe out of her eyes wearily. 'Nothing for you to worry about.'

'Well-' She nodded towards Jack sitting on his horse beside the road as the houses came into view. 'Now's your chance. I'll go get some water ready for you to wash up in.'

'Thanks honey.'

'Mrs. Stanton.' Jack nodded as she walked over to him, the girl heading inside the house. 'I barely recognized you under that coal dust.'

'You and me both. Now I appreciate firsthand what my Noah and Peter went through everyday.' She sighed dejectedly, looking up at him on the horse. 'I was wondering if perhaps you'd received word of when the circuit judge would be in town.'

He shook his head. 'Have not, I'm afraid. However, I could ask if he could send the paperwork to us, if you wish?'

'You could? Thank you.' She glanced towards the house. 'Joanna doesn't know yet that I'm getting guardianship of her, I think once she knows she'll be able to stop worrying some.'

'I'll get a letter sent off to the Judge at my earliest opportunity.'

'Thank you Constable.'

'I'll let you know as soon as I hear anything.'

Elizabeth was standing at the stove when Abigail opened the door, quickly walking over to meet her. 'Oh.' Poor Abigail looked exhausted, even more so then the young girl had. Abigail handed her her cap, she could see how stiff she was as she tried to take off her coat. 'I made dinner. I found a recipe for stew and biscuits.'

'Oh well-' She winched, her shoulder aching dreadfully as she finally managed to get her coat off and she hung it up on the rack. 'That's very kind of you, Elizabeth, but I think I would fall asleep in my plate.'

'I wish there was something I could do to help. Do my part.'

'You are doing your part by tending to the children.' She replied as she sat down to take her boots off.

'I suppose so.'

'Besides, the children of this town need their teacher more than ever right now.' She stood back up. 'So let's not hear any more about this, okay?'

'Mrs. Stanton, there's fresh water in the basin for you.' Joanna exclaimed as she walked out of her room, the girl's face and hands clean but still wearing her work clothes. 'I laid out your clothes too.'

'Thank you honey.' She smiled, giving the girl a kiss on the forehead. 'I'll see you in the morning.'

The girl nodded, watching as Abigail walked into the room and closed the door then she turned back to Elizabeth. 'I'm going to take Aztec out for a quick ride, I'll be back shortly.'

'Okay.' She nodded, heading to close the front door when she saw Jack on his horse through the window. 'Hmph.' She placed the cap down and walked out, closing the door behind her. 'You're just everywhere, aren't you?'

Jack smiled as the woman walked up to him, her arms crossed in front of her chest. 'It's my job to keep an eye on things.'

'Isn't there anything more you could be doing rather than just sitting around looking all smug?'

'My rules and regulations require that I can't take sides on this issue.'

'At least not until you have to enforce Mr. Gowen's evictions, right?'

'If they become necessary.' He replied. 'Not because I'd take any joy in it but because the law requires me to.'

'Well, they won't be necessary.'

'How can you be so sure?' He scoffed. 'These ladies, they've taken on an impossible challenge.'

Elizabeth's hands went to her hips. 'Just because they're women?'

'Says the woman who needed a man's help lifting her crates into the saloon.'

'You think I'm weak.'

'What I'm saying is, if there was ever a time for you to use those big-city brains to look for another way out of this mess, it's now.' He smiled, tipping his hat as he turned Sargent back towards the road. 'Good evening, Miss Thatcher.'

Jack chuckled as he rode down the road, shaking his head. That woman was nigh to impossible. She took the cake for being the most stubborn, obstinate, headstrong woman he'd ever met, even worse then Rosemary and that was saying something. Add to the fact that she was the reason he was here in the first place and it made it all the more fun taunting her.

A horse walking on the road up again with its rider slouched over the saddle made him slow Sargent, grabbing hold of the horse's reins to stop it. The horse came to a stop and he placed his hand on the rider's shoulder. 'You alright sir?'

Joanna yawned, blinking as she looked at Jack. 'Hey Constable. I must have dozed off.'

'Joanna.' He chuckled. 'I thought you were a man dressed up like that. What are you doing out here?'

'Taking Aztec for a ride.' She sighed wearily as she ran her hand down the stallion's shoulder. 'He was my father's horse, he's my responsibility now though.'

'If you don't mind me saying, you probably shouldn't be riding right now. You look exhausted.'

'I am exhausted, fighting with a stubborn mule called 'Sweetie' all day isn't exactly my idea of fun.'

Jack chuckled again then offered his arms to the girl. 'Come on, I'll take you home. You can nap on the way.'

'I'll get coal dust all over your clean uniform.'

'I've got another one. You look like you're going to fall off him any moment. Come on.'

'Alright.' She sighed wearily, sliding onto the Constable's horse. 'Aztec needs his exercise though.'

'Don't worry about that, we can take the long way around.' He had one arm around the girl, holding onto Sargent's reins and held onto her horse with the other. 'How was working in the coal mine?'

'Horrible.' The girl rested her head against his shoulder. 'The air smells like rotten cheese and it's cold and damp and horrible. And that mule- ugh. I've never met such a stubborn creature in my entire life.' She glanced down at her horse walking beside the Constable's mount. 'Would you be able to ride Aztec for me? Just a little bit each day?'

'It'd be my pleasure. You just nap now young lady. You've had a big day.'

Jack chuckled to himself as the sun started to set, the sleeping girl on the saddle in front of him as he led her horse back to the rowhouses. This was not how he expected to be starting his Mountie career, babysitting an orphaned child when Cape Fullerton was where all the action was. He shook his head. His buddies at the academy would have a good laugh if they saw him now.

It was almost dark when they reached the rowhouses, the girl waking up when he brought his horse to a halt. 'Here we are young lady.'

'Thank you Constable.' She sighed, wearily sliding off the horse and he handed her the stallion's reins. 'Won't you stay for supper? Miss Thatcher made stew.'

'I'll politely decline the invitation this time, I need to get back to town. Another time perhaps.'

Joanna nodded. 'Thank you again for bringing me home. I'll put Aztec out on his picket line tomorrow, his tack is in the shed there. Ride him as much as you like, he's all yours for the time being.'

'I look forward to riding him. He's a magnificent looking horse. Good night Miss.'

'Night.' She ran her hand over Aztec's neck as the Mountie rode back to town then led him into the shed. Untacking him she placed his gear aside and tied him up, giving him his hay then headed back into the house. Elizabeth was sitting at the table, writing in her journal as she took her coat off and hung it up. 'You said there was dinner?'

Elizabeth looked up. 'Joanna, where have you been? I was worried about you.'

She shrugged. 'I can take care of myself. Is there anything to eat?'

'Joanna-'

'Miss Thatcher, I'm tired, I'm hungry and I don't want to listen to your nagging-' She sighed, looking down at the floor. 'I'm sorry. That was uncalled for.'

'There's some stew in the pot on the stove.' The woman replied after a moment and the girl walked over to the kitchen. 'It's not very good I'm afraid.'

That's the understatement of the year. She thought as she looked into the pot, wrinkling her nose up at the smell. It looked burnt, whatever she had put in the pot was unrecognizable as food. Shep wouldn't even eat this if he was around. 'On second thought I'll just head to bed. Night Miss Thatcher.'

'Night Joanna.'

The girl headed to Abigail's room as the teacher sat down again, opening the door quietly. She chuckled wearily, standing just inside the doorway. Abigail was out of it, she guessed she'd been asleep before she hit the pillow since she hadn't even pulled the covers up. Quietly she walked over, tucking her into bed. Abigail didn't stir and she smiled sadly, brushing the ladies fringe out of her eyes gently before pulling the covers back over her. She hadn't even pulled her hair out of her braid.

She walked over to her side of the room, changing out of her dirty clothes into her nightgown and started unbraiding her hair as she watched Abigail sleeping. It reminded her of the months she spent looking after Miranda, taking care of her. Even though she'd only known Miranda for a short while, barely six months before she got really sick, Miranda had been the closest thing to a mother that she had ever known. The consumption had come on quickly, taking her life just four months after she had been diagnosed. There wasn't anything anyone could do.

Sighing wearily the girl laid down on her cot, tucking the covers up underneath her chin. She was tired, so so tired and tomorrow they would do it all again….