New York Storm Read online

  New York Storm

  Clover Springs East

  Rachel Wesson

  Doherty family

  Carmel Doherty – family matriarch

  Joe Doherty – her son,

  Ruth Doherty – Joe’s wife

  Charlie Doherty – Carmel’s grandson – working on the railroad

  Nora Doherty

  Katie Doherty

  Stevie Doherty

  Headford family

  Jimmy Headford – milkman

  Nancy Headford – Ruth Doherty’s sister

  Jamie Headford

  Paul Headford

  Michael Byrne – Ruth and Nancy’s brother.

  Factory

  Lizzie Carpenter – Jamie’s love interest.

  Tommy Carpenter – Lizzie’s older brother

  Stan O’Riordan – works at factory

  Sadie O’Riordan –

  Barry Henson _Jamie’s friend

  Mitch Griffin - Jamie’s Friend

  Hotel

  Robbie Fenton

  Mr. Prentice

  Mr. Floyd

  Ned Duffy – local thug

  Marcia Henson –Barry’s mother and friend of Nancy Headford

  To my author mom

  An author mom works hard to make sure the author is equipped with the knowledge, skills and abilities to make it as a competent writer. Love you x

  May God give you...

  For every storm, a rainbow, For every tear, a smile, For every care, a promise, And a blessing in each trial. For every problem life sends, A faithful friend to share, For every sigh, a sweet song, And an answer for each prayer.

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Epilogue

  Afterword

  Acknowledgments

  Also by Rachel Wesson

  Chapter 1

  Hell’s Kitchen Sunday March 1888

  Yawning, Lizzie Carpenter pushed ashes through the grate as she cleaned out the fire. She shivered. The apartment was colder than usual. They never let the fire go out, but last night had been an exception. Da had come back early from the pub and got into a big row with her ma. They were always fighting about money. The younger Carpenters had fled to bed not wanting to get caught up in it. If fists started flying, nobody wanted to be on the receiving end. Tommy hadn’t been there, thank goodness, as he would have stood up to their da. But da had been out cold by the time Tommy came home. Her brother was working an extra job but hadn’t told either of her parents. He gave up most of his wages from his regular job to the family and the extra he earned, he was saving for his future. Away from Hell’s Kitchen, and as far away from New York as he could get.

  As she covered the kindling with a couple of coal lumps before lighting it, Lizzie hoped her brother would take her with him when he left. Despite the size of their family and the shortage of space in the apartment, her da was talking about renting the floor space to lodgers. There wasn’t room to swing a cat at the moment, what would it be like if more people lived here?

  The fire done, she glanced at the clock. Her ma’s only surviving wedding present. Everything else had been pawned or sold. She’d be late for mass if she didn’t get a move on. She quickly ran a brush through her hair before braiding it, then ran a damp flannel over her face.

  “Lizzie are yer right? We’ll be late and you know what that means.”

  “Coming, Tommy.” Lizzie grabbed her shawl, thankful her big brother was waiting for her. She didn’t like walking into church alone. Father Devine had a way of looking at her that gave her the creeps.

  She knew Tommy was trying to match his stride to hers but still she ended up running rather than walking to church. She wondered if Jamie would be at the early mass; she needed something to brighten her day.

  Jamie Headford rolled out of bed, cursing under his breath as his toes hit the frigid floor. It was on mornings like this, he hated his religion. Other religions didn’t have to go to Church every Sunday so why did he? Briefly he considered returning to bed but decided an extra hour in bed wasn’t worth the wrath he would incur if his ma, or God forbid his da, caught him. Da always went ahead. He liked to spend some time in the church alone. Ma usually waited for both her sons but this morning she had left early, saying she wanted a word with someone. She had taken Paul with her but trusted Jamie to get to mass on time. He dressed quickly wishing he could have something to eat but that was another thing about his religion.

  Pulling closed the door to the apartment, he picked his way over the litter left by the Stevenes. Why couldn’t they be tidy like his family? The smells made his stomach churn.

  Once he left the house, he walked faster. Father Devine wasn’t the attraction, but a young lady by the name of Lizzie Carpenter. He was friendly with her big brother, whom he knew from their school days. Tommy Carpenter had a job in the factory, too, and he had gotten Lizzie and her friend Sadie signed on. Sadie O’Riordan was a pretty little thing but no match for his Lizzie with her auburn curls, sparkling green eyes and cute freckles.

  Chapter 2

  Jamie knew he wasn’t as good looking as his friends, he was too tall and too thin and had a scar just under his right eye. When he was a kid he’d told people he got it in a fight. He didn’t want them to know he had hit the window ledge after jumping up and down on his bed. He wished he looked more like his cousin Charlie. The girls loved him; he had a new one on his arm every time Jamie met him. Charlie wasn’t serious about any of them but the girls didn’t seem to mind. They weren’t the type Charlie would bring home to meet his ma. Ruth Doherty would expect Charlie to marry a good Catholic girl like Lizzie Carpenter.

  Lizzie was a bit on the skinny side, too, but no doubt that was because the food was short at home. It was hard to feed a large family and the Carpenters had lots of children. A new one seemed to arrive every year.

  Jamie thought Tommy had his eye on Sadie but he couldn’t be sure. Tommy was a bit like himself, in that he had dreams and ambition for his future. He wasn’t interested in settling down, getting married and having a new baby year in, year out. Tommy was saving hard to get out of New York. He wanted to file a claim somewhere. He wanted to be a farmer like his grandfather had been back in Ireland.

  Though neither boy was going to tell Father Devine about their ambitions. The priest raved about the duties of every Catholic man and woman to produce numerous offspring…but only once they were married. God forbid anyone was caught having marital relations without being married. He remembered some years past a friend of the Carpenters had gotten hers
elf into trouble. He couldn’t remember her name now but he knew the baby’s father. Ned Duffy should have done the decent thing and married the girl but no, he left her to face Father Devine alone. The priest had made a spectacle of the girl before sending her to a home for unmarried mothers. The family had moved away too. Ned Duffy hadn’t suffered at all, in fact, there seemed to be nothing that fella did wrong in the eyes of the priest. And him running a brothel. Sure, he called it a gentleman’s club, but everyone knew the truth of it.

  Jamie had never been inside Duffy’s club. His da would cane him good and proper if he got wind his son had anything to do with Duffy. If his da didn’t, Nora’s gran would. Although Mrs. Doherty wasn’t his grandmother, she kept as close an eye on his ma’s children as she did his Aunt Ruth’s. She’d known his gran back in Ireland and had sworn to look out for her family. Jamie didn’t know if that was true, but he did know you didn’t mess with Carmel Doherty. In fact, if he had a choice between her and Duffy, he’d pick Duffy any day.

  As if conjured up by his thoughts, Jamie heard her voice behind him.

  “Well, ’tis an awful hurry you are in this morning, Jamie Headford,” Carmel Doherty said.

  “Good morning, Mrs. Doherty. I just wanted to make sure I was on time. You know Father Devine doesn’t like us to be late.”

  “Oh, it’s Father Devine that has you running to church, is it? Here was me thinking it might be a young cailin with red hair that had attracted your attention.” Carmel Doherty’s eyes sparkled with humor.

  Jamie couldn’t look at her, nor could he look away. “Are you teasing me, Mrs. Doherty?”

  “Of course I am you daft lad. I know I seem ancient to you but I can still remember rushing to mass to see my Joseph. He was the center of many a girl’s gaze to be sure but it was me who caught him. You will do the same. You’re a fine looking young man and you benefit from a decent upbringing. You bring her over to me and I will tell her…”

  Jamie nearly fell over his own feet and not at the comment about him being a fine looking young man. The old lady must need glasses. “Mrs. Doherty, please don’t say anything. I haven’t, I mean I don’t…oh please just keep this between us.”

  Mrs. Doherty cackled as she laughed. “Jamie Headford, I won’t say a word but you might want to close your mouth when you’re looking at the girl. You look like a starving man eyeing a juicy steak.”

  Jamie flushed as the old woman continued to laugh. He looked for a way out but there was nobody nearby to rescue him.

  “It’s all right, lad, I am only pulling yer leg. You are far too well brought up to be slobbering over any girl. Not like that piece of dirt over there.”

  Jamie looked in the direction of her gaze and caught sight of Ned Duffy. How did that fella have the gall to turn up every Sunday to mass, but then with Father Devine rolling out the carpet for him, why wouldn’t he?

  “Now, Mrs. Doherty, let’s talk about something more pleasant such as the smell of horse droppings.”

  Mrs. Doherty laughed so much, he thought she was going to choke. “Jamie Headford, will you take my arm and assist me into the church? I would be forever in your debt.”

  Jamie took her arm and walked beside her as she barely greeted the priest. She wasn’t rude but she didn’t fawn over him like most of his parishioners. It bugged Father Devine as was evident from the dirty look he cast in their direction, but if Mrs. Doherty saw it, she ignored him. She was a real lady and Jaime was proud to have her as a part of his extended family.

  He wasn’t so proud five minutes later as they took their seats. Mrs. Doherty gave him a sharp poke in the ribs and gestured her head in the direction of Lizzie Carpenter. He followed her gesture and ended up staring into the sparkling green eyes of his dreams. Eyes that seemed full of laughter, and he could only assume it was because she had seen what Mrs. Doherty had done. It was bad enough having been caught. With Father Devine, the mass would go on forever, so it would be at least two hours before he could escape the embarrassment.

  Chapter 3

  Lizzie Carpenter felt someone looking at her. She turned just in time to see Mrs. Doherty poke Jamie and gesture in her direction, but did the old lady mean her or Sadie, her friend sitting beside her? Sadie was good looking with her pale freckled skin and long straight hair, at least Tommy thought so and he should know being a boy. Tommy said Lizzie’s hair was too red and curly and she had the temper to match it. Her brother’s eyes smiled as he said it but she wasn’t convinced he was teasing her. It was all right for him, he had been blessed with eyes the color of coal and dark hair. A couple of hours outdoors in the sun, and he turned golden brown. All the girls were mad for her black Irish brother as they called him. But he only had eyes for one girl, her friend Sadie O’Riordan. He was so protective of her, especially when it came to her da and elder brothers. All the O’Riordan men were heavy drinkers and they used their fists more than their mouths.

  Lizzie prayed Jamie was interested in her although then she had to pray for forgiveness. Her ma would be mortified if she knew what Lizzie prayed for. At times Jamie seemed to be interested in her, but he was always playacting so she wasn’t sure. She did know he shared Tommy’s views on getting married young and being landed with a load of children. She loved babies but she didn’t want to end up like her ma. Her ma looked older than Carmel Doherty who was at least twenty years her senior. But then Mrs. Doherty didn’t have loads of children. Her husband had died years ago, and she had never married again.

  A hush came over the congregation. Sadie nudged her making her realize she was still sitting and everyone else was kneeling. She felt the blush spread from her neck up to the top of her ears. She was in for a lecture from Father Devine when he caught up with her that was for sure.

  In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti…

  Chapter 4

  Tommy Carpenter said an extra ‘thank you’ prayer when Father Devine finally stopped talking and they were allowed to leave. His knees were killing him and he was starving. But more importantly, he would get a chance to speak to Sadie. She sat with his sister on the other side of the church and he hadn’t been able to take his eyes off her for the whole service.

  Sadie was the girl he had set his sights on, the one he would marry, but he hadn’t made his intentions clear. Not yet. His parents wouldn’t be happy. The O’Riordans had a bad reputation and deservedly so for the boys were black-hearted, mean-spirited devils. But not his Sadie. She was like a pure flower among the nettles.

  He was torn between wanting to rescue her right now and waiting for a couple of years to save enough money to get them out of the tenement slums. He had been reading of opportunities out West. Although the days of finding cheap land had more or less gone, there were still some opportunities. There were some states that had yet to be populated. Would Sadie consider making a new life out West? Somehow, he didn’t think she would need too much convincing to move away from her family, but then he could be surprised. Blood was thicker than water and all that.

  As they moved outside the church, he spotted his friend Jamie Headford walking beside Mrs. Doherty. Everyone knew Carmel Doherty. She was as famous as the president, he reckoned. She was the only person he could remember Ned Duffy, father of Ned Junior, being afraid of. Not that Ned would ever admit it. He liked to tell people he listened to Carmel Doherty as a sign of respect for her advanced years. It might have worked too if Mrs. Doherty hadn’t told everyone Ned was five years her senior. He laughed but quickly turned it into a cough before he brought about Father Devine’s wrath. He despised the man but his ma would have him for dinner if he did anything to bring the parish priest knocking on her front door.

  He signaled to Jamie he needed to speak to him and waited while Jamie made his excuses.

  “Would you like me to walk you home, Mrs. Doherty?” Jamie Headford asked politely.

  “No thank you, lad, why don’t you catch up with your friends? I want a word with your mother.”

  Jamie didn’t
need telling twice, he was gone before his ma could stop him.

  “Morning Carmel, fine day isn’t it?” Nancy Headford greeted her sister’s mother-in-law. “How is Nora getting on? I saw she’s wearing a new dress. Doesn’t she look beautiful?”

  “She does indeed, Nancy. Doc Erin came back to New York and she took Nora shopping. Spoiled her rotten if you ask me.”

  “Ah sure the girl deserves it. Life hasn’t been easy for her lately,” Nancy said but immediately regretted making the comment as it sounded like she was blaming Carmel’s son Joe. Well he was to blame but sure his mother didn’t need to be told. She was about to apologize when Carmel said,

  “It’ll help her get a job. Amazing what a new dress can do isn’t it?”

  “A new address doesn’t hurt either. Not much demand for the Irish from Hell’s Kitchen is there?” Nancy responded, relieved Carmel didn’t seem to have taken offense at her earlier remark.

  Carmel nodded. “He’s a lovely boy, your Jamie.”

  “Thank you, Carmel. He is a treasure to be sure. Not like his brother, Paul, who has my heart broken. Look at him over there kicking a ball around and him just out of mass. You’d swear he was eight or nine, not heading for fifteen.”