“I am. I was supposed to take today off. Susanna’s mother has been quite ill, as you know, so I was up until past midnight. I had a room at the hotel but couldn’t sleep much.”
“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 severalmen 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.
