“How’s Mrs. Ragsdale doing?”
“She was better this morning. The doctor thinks she’ll make it now.”
“That is good news. Lia was heading over there once the boys were off to school.” LeRoy looked Owen over and shook his head. “You look done in. Why’d you come to work if Payne gave you permission to take the day off?”
“They need this boiler fixed.”
LeRoy shook his head. “There are others who could manage it. You need to learn to let folks earn their keep.”
“I know.” Owen yawned and shook his head. “I thought I’d sleep well enough last night, but I kept waking up at every creak and footfall. I kept thinking someone was coming to get me.” He yawned again.
“I think you should head home and get a decent sleep. The boomers can manage this. I saw the boiler. Most of the work is gonna be reaming and taping out those stays and replacing them. Hundreds of them are cracked, and you know it’s gonna take a lot of time for each one.”
“I thought the boomers were leaving for California today.”
LeRoy nodded. “Their transfer was delayed for some reason, so they’re here at least another week. Take advantage of that. I’m sure Mr. Payne would tell you the same thing.”
“I’ll be fine. Stop worrying over me like a mother hen.”
His friend laughed. “Well, have it your way. Guess I’d best get back to work.”
“Owen,” Gary Ragsdale called, entering the shop, “I brought over that case of stays you ordered.”
“Thanks, Gary. I appreciate you being so quick about it.”
“No problem. What are you looking for now?”
“A couple of the tubes we had stored over here.”
“Do you need help?”
Owen glanced at Gary. “No, I think I’ve got it. I just have to get a ladder. The tubes are up there.” He pointed to the shelves before grabbing the nearest ladder and maneuvering it into place. It bumped into the shelving unit, so Owen adjusted it and started to climb.
“Watch out. I think you might have a problem with those iron sheets,” Gary said, pointing up at the stack above the ladder.
Owen hadn’t seen anything amiss but glanced upward just as the entire thing came crashing down, sending parts from other shelves in one direction and then another. He ducked to avoid being hit, but his foot slipped off the rung, and he went flailing to the floor as debris rained down upon him.
“We need some help over here!” Gary hollered.
Several men, including LeRoy, came running. Gary was already assessing the situation.
“We need to get these iron pieces off the top first, and then we can move the sheets. Owen’s beneath those. He fell off the ladder, so he’s most likely hurt.”
He directed one person after another, teaming up several men to move the larger pieces. It wasn’t long before a new voice joined the group.
“Looks like you’re doing a good job, Ragsdale,” Mr. Payne told Gary. “Go get the doctor,” Mr. Payne told one of the other men.
Gary hadn’t realized the department supervisor was there. He was much too concerned about Owen’s condition. He didn’t know how any of them would manage to console Susanna if something happened to Owen.
Gary gave Payne a nod and then went back to work clearing the debris. Owen moaned as they removed the last piece, an iron bar that probably weighed forty pounds.
“You’re bleeding,” Gary told him. “Don’t try to get to your feet. Just sit up, and we’ll see how bad it is.”
Gary took out a handkerchief and wiped the blood from Owen’s forehead. “There’s a pretty nasty gash along your hairline.” He put pressure on the wound with his left hand while holding the back of Owen’s head with his right. He soon realized his right hand was wet. “Looks like you have another wound on the back.” Gary pulled his hand away, but he couldn’t see very well because Owen’s hair was matted with blood. “Does someone have another handkerchief?”
Mr. Payne was quick to provide one, and Gary placed it against the back of Owen’s head and resumed holding pressure.
When the doctor arrived, Gary stepped aside. The doctor directed the men to bring a stretcher and take Owen to the little company hospital. Owen insisted he could walk, but when he got to his feet, he wasn’t at all steady and gave up the fight.
“You did a good job, Gary. You took charge and got things organized. I’m impressed with you a little more each day,” Mr. Payne declared.
Gary wasn’t used to anyone’s praise. He felt his face flush. “Thank you, sir.” He wasn’t sure what else he could say.
“Keep up the good work, son. I believe you’re going to go far.”
A swell of pride caused Gary to straighten his stance. He watched Mr. Payne walk away. The supervisor couldn’t possibly know how much his words had meant to Gary, but sometimes a person just needed to hear that they were of value—that they were serving a purpose.
Susanna had never been to Owen’s house before. It was a small place in a row of connected houses for company workers. They varied in size but weren’t much to look at. The renters relied on the outdoor pump for water and privies in the back.
She found his home and knocked on the door. LeRoy had already told her what happened. He’d come to her directly after work. Susanna had been horrified to hear the news and wanted to go immediately to see Owen, but LeRoy suggested, since Owen was back from the hospital, that she wait until Gary could accompany her for the sake of her reputation. Most of the company places housed only men, but there were a few families here and there. Still, LeRoy thought it better for her to have an escort. He had to return home to Lia and the boys but offered to take her the next day. Susanna didn’t want to wait that long.
She got directions to the place, telling LeRoy she wasn’t sure Gary had ever been there. Then, once LeRoy had gone, she pulled on her shawl and told her father she’d be back as soon as possible. She wasn’t concerned with what people thought. She needed to see Owen for herself.
She knocked on Owen’s door and wasn’t surprised when he opened it himself. His head was bandaged, but his eyes were clear.
She gave a nod. “I heard you were in an accident and decided to come see for myself.”
“I’m fine. Not to worry.”
“I’m not worried, I just needed to see for myself that you were all right.” She remained outside on the top step. “Does it hurt?”
“Some. The doctor gave me something for the pain, but I didn’t like the way it made me light-headed, so I stopped taking it.”
“It could be you’re light-headed from getting knocked to the ground. LeRoy said not only were you hit in the head by some piece of iron, but you also hit your head on the concrete floor.”
“Yeah. I always have to do it big when I do something. I have stitches in the front and the back.” He grinned. “You wanna come in?”
“Want to? Yes. Will I? No. I don’t want to get folks talking.” She glanced down the row of houses. A bunch of children were playing in the sandy dirt in front of the house three doors down. One was pouring sand over the top of another, who squealed in protest. She smiled as they scattered and ran from the angry child. It reminded her of Emilio and John playing with their cousins.