Free The Gold Miner's Wife: A Young Woman's Story of Romance, Passion and Murder by Amethyst Creek Page B

and Jack Simmons had made remarkable progress in only three years’ time, starting from the discovery of the first placer (surface) gold in the area along Russell Gulch in 1873.  They had established a very good dirt road leading up from nearby Pine Creek, as well as a bunkhouse, a store house, a few cabins and a washhouse.  Other profitable placer strikes in the area added to the boom and soon the town of Pine Creek could boast twenty three saloons, three banks, a telegraph shack and a newspaper.  A single church existed for a time, but it seemed as out of place as a cow on a front porch.  Pine Creek had gained a rather rough reputation for itself.  Thomas Sprague and Jack Simmons both carried Colt single action 440 caliber revolvers.  They were excellent weapons.  The Colt carried a big charge of powder and would shoot like a rifle if held straight.
                  Extracting the gold ore had not been without its share of headaches.  Loose stone, underground water and decomposed granite were persistent problems.  Costly twelve by twelve beams of California redwood timber were brought in to shore up the whole shaky proposition.  They intended to work the mine until the tremendous snow packs of winter would make passage impossible.  On this day, while Jack was working on invoices in the nearby mining office, Thomas was to make certain that the beams were solidly in place in the new chamber.  Thomas had also spent the morning in the office.  Tomorrow he would return home to Denver, some 35 miles east, where Colorado statehood festivities were in full swing.  Susannah needed his help with the crush of guests they were hosting.  Edward Mansfield was one of those guests.  He had returned to Denver yesterday afternoon, having been given the tour of the mine as he had been promised. 
                  His mouth was gritty with dirt, it had been a long afternoon.  Thomas lowered the lantern, robbing the chamber of its halo of light.  A steady pounding could be heard nearby.  A more superstitious person might have thought Tommy Knockers were up to their devious tricks.  But Thomas knew his foreman had the men laying another charge.   He took a step up, supported by some loose rubble, teetering for balance as he tested a beam.  There was a white flash and then a deafening crack split the air.  He dove sideways and rocks crashed all around him, while someone else, shrouded in darkness, melted safely back into the shadows.

Chapter Ten
     
                  It was late when a great pounding on the mansion door awakened them all.  Jack stepped into the foyer, his hair was wild and his eyes were bloodshot, he had mud on his clothes, his jacket was torn and his lips were colorless.  Dr. Reed was with him.  Something bad had happened.  Susannah stood there in the lamplight with Catori and Mrs. Sheppard, Edward and Charlotte when Jack spoke the words she feared most. 
                  “Thomas is dead,” Jack said without preamble.  She gaped at him, looked at him in disbelief, wondering if perhaps she had misheard.  The raw words stung, like a slap to the face.  “There was an unexpected explosion at the mine this afternoon.  Thomas was working close to it.  He and one other lost their lives.  We are investigating, trying to piece together what happened.  I am so very sorry.”
                  The words were sinking in, tears flooded Susannah’s eyes and slipped down her cheeks.  She was incapable of speech.  Catori embraced her, held her friend close, while they both wept.  Jack’s heart clenched.  Charlotte and Mrs. Sheppard were also crying, but Edward Mansfield had questions.
                  “How could this happen?” he asked sharply.  “You were supposed to take precautions.  Where were you ?” he continued, his tone accusatory.
                  “Not now, Mansfield,” Jack said tightly.  “All of us