Page 58 of A Tenuous Betrothal
The brothers stopped at an inn for a few hours of sleep and then rose again to keep moving.
When at last they arrived, Marc didn’t even stop at her uncle’s home; he went straight to the mines.
Rhi had been up all night. She sat outside the mines near the others, whose stricken expressions she could see in the light of the candle she held. Half the town stood vigil. The hillside was decorated with people she’d known her whole life. All other miners not trapped refused to work elsewhere. Everything was at a standstill while they awaited her uncle’s decision. He’d refused to see her, but she’d left him a desperate and scathing note, demanding that he lead a rescue party to free the workers.
She was about to order the miners in to begin the rescue. If she and the others had to go into the dark with no lanterns to avoid the risk of another explosion, they would. But they would free those people.
The foreman, Mr. Thomas, stood at her side. He was a good man. Workers approached and clasped him in an embrace. Townsfolk brought meals for the group. They were a family. They were beautiful.
And they were in danger of losing a good number of their close loved ones.
She rested a hand on Mr. Thomas’s arm. “Do we have a team ready to dig into the mine?”
“They’re more than ready. We’re going to risk everything to do this.” The dear man’s concern lined his face, but he spoke the truth.
“It’s worth it.” She reached for his arm.
“Yes, it is, but any help you can give our livelihood would be greatly appreciated. Even if we save them all, your uncle is not likely to be pleased.”
“I won’t let anything happen to you.” Rhi didn’t know how she could keep that promise, but she knew she had to try.
He nodded. “You’ve so much of your father in you, and your grandmother.” His face was lined with respect. “That woman used to stand here with a candle herself when the workers needed someone speaking for them.”
“I know. I can almost see her now.”
“I as well. Like she’s right here with us. Your father too.” His face was lined with wrinkles—evidence of his years of working in the mines.
They stood together like that, Rhi and the foreman, as she thought of her father and grandmother. “No answer from Uncle.” She shook her head.Despicable man. She turned to Mr. Thomas. “It’s time.”
“It will take us a number of hours to get them out, and they’ve had no water.” He raised a hand in the air, and those who were watching by the mine entrance signaled back.
“Wait!” she called out and ran after them. “I’m coming with you.”
Gasps sounded, and the men and women looked around, clearly uncomfortable.
Mr. Thomas followed her. “You and I both know your father wouldn’t allow it, would he? I can’t feel good about that. We need his blessing, even as an angel watching out for us, and we surely won’t have it if you go into the mine.”
She shook her head. “I know he wouldn’t want me to sit back and do nothing.”
“You’re not doing nothing.” His urgent expression gave her pause. He gestured all around them. “See what you’ve done? You’ve given us the power to make the right choice.”
Hesitation and uncertainty tremored through her, but she nodded. “Not the first wave, then.”
Clearly relieved, Mr. Thomas signaled the men to go in. They had to dig a new entrance at the back of an existing tunnel. The goal was to enter a faster way, possibly a less dangerous way. But it wouldn’t be easy. The sounds of shovels echoed out the entrance. At least progress was being made. Rhi clenched her hands, mumbling prayers and hope to the skies.
Marc ran the horse at a full gallop as they got closer to the mines. The sun had been up for almost an hour now. And he knew if Miss Davies were going to get herself buried in a mine, now would be the time. He rounded the bend and jerked to a stop as he nearly trampled the outskirts of a large crowd of people. His heart hurt for them. Signs that they had been there all night were everywhere—candles, tired and worried faces. His brothers were not far behind, but he couldn’t wait for them.
There was no room for his horse, so he slipped the reins over a low-lying tree branch, grabbed the new lamp out of his satchel, lit it, and ran toward the mine entrance. People were standing in a half circle around it, but he ran right past and into the mine. It was immediately dark, except for the intimate glow surrounding the lantern. At least he now knew it worked. The gray light behind him became charcoal; the farther in he went, the colder and blacker it became.
“Where are you? I have a light!” he called out.
“Ho, there!”
He followed the sound, greeting those at the back of the group and pushing his way to the front. “This isn’t explosive. It’s a new design.” He held it high.
As soon as he was near, the area surrounding them filled with light.
“Thank you... who are you?” A man with a large nose, a head full of hair, and a tired and worn expression clapped him on the shoulder.
