Fire, The (13 page)

Kevin initially took that as a good sign. He had left in winter and wanted to return to winter. If he had, in fact, returned to winter, he would be in great shape – in theory, anyway.

Reality might be far more complicated. Kevin needed only a few seconds to run the numbers. He had met Asa Johnson and his family on February 14, Andy and Maude on February 16, Principal Ed Morrison on February 18, and Sadie on February 21. Any arrival before those dates would complicate his current visit beyond measure.

Determined to learn his arrival date as quickly as possible, he walked briskly down Garnet to Sixth Street and proceeded north to a shop that sold newspapers. A few minutes later, he stepped inside the store, gave the clerk a nickel, and opened the latest edition of the
Wallace Standard
. The date at the top read: Monday, February 28, 1910.

He couldn't have asked for a bigger break. Assuming he had reentered the same time stream, he would be able to reenter the lives of his friends as if he had been gone for only five days. He would be able to tell Maude, Andy, and Sadie that he had seen what Montana had to offer and come running back. With any luck, he'd be able to pick up precisely where he'd left off.

Kevin took a moment to scan the front page and found stories that made him laugh, wince, and sigh in relief. A wire story reported that an amorous embracer named "Jack the Hugger" had been apprehended in Butte, Montana, after harassing the city's women for weeks. More ominous was a breaking report that avalanches in nearby Burke and Mace had killed several people. The good news was that Andy O'Connell was still at the paper. His article on an ongoing labor dispute ran nearly the length of the last column.

The time traveler, wearing his gray Stan Laurel suit, a red bow tie, and a derby hat, left the newsstand for King Street. Heavy snow continued to fall, making Kevin wonder whether he should have packed leather boots instead of leather shoes.

No matter where he looked, he saw signs of the times: businessmen closing shops, school children walking home, dirty-faced miners wandering in and out of saloons, and horse-drawn wagons hauling a variety of goods. He saw no cars. Automobiles would not come to Wallace in noticeable numbers for a few more years.

When he reached Maude's mansion, he took a deep breath, dropped his suitcase to his side, and knocked on the door. Nothing happened. He knocked again. This time he heard two people walk to the entry. One stuck her nose against a pane of frosted glass.

Kevin started to say something but held his tongue when the door began to open. The first person to greet him raised her eyebrows and put her hands on her hips. She offered a sly grin.

"Welcome back, Mr. Johnson," Maude said. "We missed you."

The second person, standing at Maude's side, didn't say a thing. She didn't have to. Her million-dollar smile said it all.

CHAPTER 25: MAUDE

Tuesday, March 1, 1910

"Where's Andy?" Kevin asked as he buttered a sourdough biscuit. "I can't imagine him passing up a feast like this."

"Normally he wouldn't," Maude said. "He's become quite fond of Sadie's cooking, but he had to rush to a warehouse near the depot this morning."

"What's going on?"

Maude sighed and glanced at her boarders, who sat facing each other at her dining room table. She saw a well-dressed man look at her with curious eyes and a more modestly dressed woman look at the well-dressed man with adoring eyes. She wasn't sure she wanted to bring up such a delicate matter at breakfast.

"The authorities have begun . . . assembling the victims from the slides. I'm told that nineteen perished in Burke and Mace and another five in outlying areas."

"How awful," Sadie said.

"Tell me more," Kevin said to Maude.

Kevin placed his biscuit on a plate of eggs, sausages, and sweet rolls and looked more thoughtfully at his hostess. He did not at all appear reluctant to discuss death at the table. He instead seemed eager to jump in.

"Very well, Kevin," Maude said. "I spoke to a neighbor last night who has a brother in Mace and he said the situation is quite serious. Most of the camp is buried under forty feet of snow."

"Did you say nineteen died?"

"Nineteen died, and it could have been worse."

"How is that?"

Maude glanced at Sadie before answering Kevin. She didn't want to cause her unnecessary distress but decided to continue when she saw that Sadie appeared just as eager to hear the news.

"Several men on a construction train that was carried into a ravine were able to dig themselves out," Maude said. She sipped her tea and turned to Kevin. "What's more, the slide barely missed a boarding house filled with three hundred miners. Most were asleep at the time."

Kevin stared at Maude and slowly shook his head.

"What about Burke?" he asked.

"It was lucky too."

"What do you mean?"

"When the news from Mace reached Burke, most of the people there moved to safer ground. The slide in Burke buried mostly empty houses. Sadly, four of those who died in Burke were men who had helped with the rescue effort in Mace."

"Did you know any of the victims?"

"I knew one of the managers at the mine in Mace. I'm not sure about the rest. The authorities have not yet identified all of the deceased. I suppose Andrew will be able to tell us more when he returns," Maude said. "Anyway, that's enough gloom for one morning. How was your trip?"

"It was nice. I'd never been to Montana. I enjoyed my time there."

"Did you find any teaching opportunities?"

"As a matter of fact, I did," Kevin said. "There's a small town near Missoula that had two immediate openings for math instructors."

"So why did you return?"

Kevin paused for a moment before answering.

"I came back because I like it here. Don't get me wrong. I want to teach, but I want to be happy where I teach. I'm not looking only for a job, Maude. I'm looking for a home."

Maude smiled when she looked at Kevin and laughed to herself when she looked at Sadie. The girl had not taken her eyes off the teacher all morning and appeared surgically attached to his every word. Maude pined for the day she could look at a man, any man, that way again.

"Does that mean you intend to remain with us for a while?"

"It does. If it's OK with you, I'd like to stay here for at least a few weeks, maybe longer."

"You know you're welcome," Maude said. "If you need any sort of financial accommodation until you find employment, just let me know."

"That won't be necessary. I have more than enough money to pay my rent and help with some of the expenses around here."

"Are you a man of means, Mr. Johnson?"

Kevin smiled.

"Let's just say that I come from old money. My forebears invested wisely."

"Then I won't give your situation another thought. Shall we continue with the glorious meal that Sadie has prepared?"

"Yes, we should."

Maude laughed again when she saw Kevin and Sadie exchange affectionate smiles. She might have to set down some rules if the smiles evolved into something else. Or maybe she'd just let love run its course. She could think of far worse things than a man and a woman who actually liked each other.

Maude started to cut into a sausage but stopped when she heard the front door open. She turned toward the back of the dining room just as Andy walked in from a hallway.

"Come join us, Andrew. There is plenty."

"I think I'll do that."

Andy pulled up a chair facing Maude, sat down, and helped himself to sausages and eggs but didn't eat. He instead sighed, looked at the table, and brought a hand to his chin.

"What's the matter, dear?" Maude said.

Andy scanned the faces at the table and shook his head.

"It's worse than I thought, Maude, much worse."

"What do you mean?"

"Miners weren't the only casualties."

"Please continue."

"Some children were killed and at least a few people from town, including someone we know. Lawrence Monroe was among the dead. He had gone to Mace to visit a friend."

Sadie put a hand over her mouth.

Kevin looked at Andy with bewildered eyes.

"Who was Lawrence Monroe?"

Andy took a breath and turned to Kevin.

"He was many things to the people of Wallace: a businessman, a church deacon, and a gentleman of the first order," Andy said. "He was also a teacher who worked at the high school for more than fifteen years. Mr. Monroe taught science."

CHAPTER 26: KEVIN

Monday, March 7, 1910

"Good afternoon, Mr. Johnson."

Edward Morrison shook Kevin's hand firmly and then turned to face the others in the room. Two stern-looking older men and a very pleasant-looking younger woman comprised the balance of the interview committee.

"Kevin, this is Samuel Garrison and Thomas Wainwright."

The applicant shook two more hands.

"Mr. Garrison and Mr. Wainwright are longtime instructors here. Mr. Garrison teaches chemistry and botany. Mr. Wainwright teaches Latin and rhetoric."

"It's nice to meet you gentlemen," Kevin said.

Morrison continued.

"Over here is Miss Sarah Thompson, our newest faculty member. She teaches English and American history. I believe we looked in on one of her classes on your first visit."

"Indeed we did," Kevin said. He spoke to the principal but looked at the teacher, the first person he'd met in 1910 and one he'd never forget. "It's nice to meet you, Miss Thompson."

"The pleasure is mine," she said as she shook his hand.

"Please take a seat, Mr. Johnson. Is there anything I can get you before we start?"

"No, thank you."

"OK then. Let's begin."

Morrison sat at one end of a polished hardwood table, Kevin at the other. Sarah sat to Kevin's right, facing the two other men. Five glasses and a pitcher of water sat between them.

"As I told you on Friday, Mr. Johnson, I have been authorized by the school board to fill this position immediately if I find a candidate with suitable qualifications. I have assembled this committee for advisory purposes only. Any decision on a probationary hire will be mine, and mine alone, and be subject to final approval by the board in thirty days."

"I understand," Kevin said.

"As you may also know, Mr. Monroe taught economics as well as physics and chemistry. The successful candidate for this position will be required to demonstrate at least minimal proficiency in all of these subjects during the probationary period."

"I see."

"Does that present any problems?"

"No, it does not. I took several physics and chemistry classes to fulfill my major requirements and three economics classes to fulfill my university requirements. I think I could teach all three subjects satisfactorily."

"Are you telling us that you do not have a degree in education?" Wainwright asked.

"I am. I majored in astronomy and earth sciences, but I believe I could effectively teach any of the physical sciences – and economics – at the high school level."

Kevin looked at Wainwright and saw a poker face. He couldn't tell whether he had gained ground or lost it, but he was satisfied that he had answered the question as best he could.

Morrison jumped back in.

"I should also note that the successful candidate will serve initially in an auxiliary role and be subject to oversight by his peers. Is that something you would find acceptable?"

"I would. I'm a big believer in team teaching. I would find working with other instructors rewarding and even stimulating," Kevin said, looking Sarah in the eyes.

OK. That was a little over the top
, Kevin thought. But what was the point of an extended stay in 1910 if he couldn't have some fun? He looked at Sarah and saw her blush. Clearly his mildly flirtatious comment had registered.

Kevin also saw a tight smile sweep across the face of Samuel Garrison. He wondered if he had heard about his escapade in the boarding house.

"Mr. Johnson, you say you have a strong background in the physical sciences," Garrison said. "What can you tell us that might shed some light on your expertise?"

"Well, I can tell you that our understanding of our planet and the universe around us is in its infancy. We're on the verge of breakthroughs that will both enlighten and astound."

"Can you give us an example?"

"I'd be glad to. Let me give you one that relates to astronomy. As you may have read in the paper, Halley's comet is coming this spring. Most scientists today believe that comets are made up primarily of rock and dust, but a few think that they are comprised mostly of ice. I subscribe to the latter theory and think it is gaining currency. I believe that comets are, essentially, dirty snowballs and that their tails are little more than heated streams of vapor emitted by their nuclei."

"You believe that?"

"I do."

Kevin looked at Garrison and could see he was skeptical. Morrison looked impressed and Wainwright baffled. Miss Sarah Thompson greeted his theory with an appreciative smile.

Garrison, the scientist, gently peppered Kevin with science-related questions for the next thirty minutes. He seemed intrigued by the candidate's answers but not entirely convinced by them. When the give-and-take began to go in circles, Morrison intervened.

"Perhaps Mr. Wainwright would like to ask another question."

"Indeed, I would," he said. "Mr. Johnson, I'd like to inquire about your understanding of economics. As you know, there is much division in this country over the gold standard. What is your opinion on the current policy?"

Kevin wanted to say he was a firm believer in gold. It had allowed him, after all, to access a time portal, pay off Sadie's debt, and have a pretty sweet time in the age of ragtime, derby hats, and nickelodeon shows. But he suspected that a flippant answer wouldn't cut it with a man who looked more like a mortician than an instructor of Latin and rhetoric.

"I lean toward the opinion of Mr. Bryan," Kevin said, referring to William Jennings Bryan, a man who had sacrificed his presidential aspirations on an ill-advised "cross of gold" speech. "I am a proponent of free silver."