Free The Miner's Lady by Tracie Peterson Page A

all the while they prayed. Chantel had never known her brothers to be overly religious, but even they were attentive to Father Buh as he spoke words of encouragement and hope.
    Chantel took out her tatting and began to work at the rings and chains. She found the work helped to soothe her weary nerves. She wove the shuttle back and forth between her fingers, begging God to save her father.
    When Dr. Shipman finally appeared, she had created quite a length of trim. The doctor offered a stern expression. Only then did Mama begin to sob. Marco put his arm around her shaking shoulders. “How bad is it?” he asked.

Chapter 7

    Dante saw his father speaking with the mine captain and knew he was giving an accounting for every stick of dynamite and every bit of nitroglycerin. He couldn’t help but notice the looks of the people around him. They watched him and his father with an expression that suggested blame. Even so, no one said anything about it—at least not to his face.
    By the time his father joined him, Dante had seen them move two more men from the mine. Both were badly hurt, but alive.
    â€œWhere’s your brother?” Father asked.
    â€œI sent him to let Nonna know we were all right. What did the captain have to say?” Dante asked.
    â€œHe said there will be a thorough investigation to figure out what caused the collapse. Neither of us is convinced that there was actually an explosion. The noise heard might simply have been a large piece breaking loose. That in turn could have weakened the entire structure.”
    Dante nodded. “I think plenty of folks see it otherwise. I heard some of the talk. They want to pin it on the old feud.”
    His father shrugged. “I’m never heartbroken to see a Panetta die.”
    Rage heated Dante’s face. “How can you say that?” He lowered his voice considerably. “We aren’t murderers. But talk like that will convince folks we are.”
    His father seemed surprised by Dante’s reaction. Again he shrugged. “You are right. We are not murderers, but if God chooses to remove Panettas from the earth, I for one will not mourn.”
    Dante shook his head at his father’s comment. “Men lie dead and others are injured—and this is your thought on the matter? With this response, it’s no wonder people suspect we set an explosion to kill.”
    His father swore and spit. Moving closer to his son, he raised his fist. “You forget yourself, Dante. I am your father and you will show me respect. Capisce? ”
    â€œYes, I understand.”
    Dante watched his father move off toward one of the other mine shafts. To him this was just an unexpected interruption in the day’s work—at least it seemed that way. It was already growing dark, and soon their shift would be over and the next shift would come on. A great many men would be needed to clear debris and ore from the collapsed stope. If luck was with them, tomorrow it would be back to the same routine and they would learn if the injured men had survived the night.
    Frowning, Dante couldn’t help but wonder about Panetta. He hadn’t looked good when they’d pulled him from the shaft. If he died, what would happen to Chantel and her family? Marco and Alfredo were perfectly capable of seeing to their family’s needs—if they were inclined to stop spendingso much of their money in the saloons. Marco had gained a reputation for his drinking at the Fortune Hole, and both boys seemed to have a passion for gambling.
    Dante clenched his jaw. It was impossible to forget the grief in Chantel’s eyes. If her father died, Dante knew she would be heartbroken, and for reasons he couldn’t begin to share with his father, he didn’t want to see that happen.
    â€œThey’re bringing up the last of them,” a man called from the shaft.
    Dante made his way to the area and waited while the final victim was brought to the surface.