Steel & Lace

By Marcia A. Oster

Laces escape from an abusive father ends in Liberty Mill. Here, she meets the charming Steel OConner, a 3rd generation steel worker. Steel rescues her from an assault but isnt there to protect her from a disgruntled mob of fellow mill workers. Badly injured, uninsured, jobless and then homeless, Steel brings her into his home to mend. Steels job at the mill ends when the mill closes. He decides that his fortune is south in Texas greener pastures. He wants Lace to play married while sharing his bed. The news of an impending child sends Steel flying into a rage. This sends Lace fleeing north towards Liberty Mill. On the bus, fellow passenger, Bob Trout, insists she come with him to his daughters home. Lace doesnt feel comfortable indefinitely imposing on Bobs family. Her call allows Mrs. Castle to tell Steel where he can find her. Back in Liberty Mill, Steel gets work in nearby Pittsburgh, weds Lace and awaits the birth of their child. Frank & Karen Dailey quickly become friends to Steel & Lace. Laces father finds her with what could be disastrous results. Is there hope? Or will their love and life die with Liberty Mill?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing
• Release date: Jan 13, 2014
• ISBN: 9781490721927

Marcia A. Oster

BORN: July 17,1953 ST MARY’S HOSPITAL, SYRACUSE, NEW YORK MARRIED: June 7, 2002 St. Mary’s is now a mental institution in Syracuse, kind of scary, isn’t it? I lived in Mattydale, New York until age 24. I attended North Syracuse Central High School graduating in 1971. The same High School as the actor Richard Gere. In 1977, my father retired and moved us all to Harrisburg, PA. I lost my mother on January 6, 1972 due to cancer and my father on January 29, 1987 due to kidney disease. I have one sister living in Florida with her husband and two daughters. Another sister lives in Mattydale, NY with her 2 children and 3 grandchildren. I started writing at the encouragement of my tenth grade English teacher, Mrs. Chappell. Always a verbal storyteller, I avidly wrote for the next six years until a harsh remark by my father caused me to put everything away for over 20 years. In 1999, almost 11 years after his death, I started putting my stories on paper again. My major in high school was business. For 18 years, I was a full-charge bookkeeper before switching to the Caregiver Field for six years and then back to accounting. I have always been an avid reader of romance, mystery-suspense and sci-fi/horror novels. I recently discovered the box containing my old manuscripts from 25 years ago and a variety of stories waiting to be told. My hobbies are painting, needlepoint, photography and reading. One of my passions is cooking. My favorite color is purple. I currently have two novels published thru America House Publishing. April in Chicago and Her Snowman. Other published novels include No Way Out and Contract on Time. One of my dreams finally came true when I met John Oster via the Internet in October 2001. With his love and support, I hope to realize my writing dreams.

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© Copyright 2014 Marcia A.Oster.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written prior permission of the author.

isbn: 978-1-4907-2191-0 (sc)

isbn: 978-1-4907-2193-4 (hc)

isbn: 978-1-4907-2192-7 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2013923190

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Contents

Chapter One Before The Fall

Chapter Two The Death Of A Town

Chapter Three For Sale: Liberty’s Mill

Chapter Four The Grass In Texas

Chapter Five Our Dailey Friends

Chapter Six Grampa!!!

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CHAPTER ONE

BEFORE THE FALL

During the past four years I’ve lived in Liberty, a small town which grew around the Liberty Steel Mill. I love the spring time. The flowers bloom and the bright colors chase away the grays and dingy darkness of the long cold winter months. As an accounting clerk at the Mill, I have plenty to keep me busy over the winter. Although lately, there’ve been a lot of nasty rumors circulating that the mill is being sold or going to close.

I have a nice room on the second floor at Mrs. Castles white clapboard Boarding House on Main Street. She’s a large rather gruff woman whose strict morals and rules seem to move her tenants to seek other lodgings as soon as they’re able. Many young ladies have found their suitcases sitting on the front porch when they arrived home beyond curfew or the next morning. She has a rather large plaque which states the rules. No. 1 is—no men in the rooms. No. 2 is curfew is at 10 p.m. No. 3 is no cussing or loud music. No. 4 is no unladylike behavior and so on.

When I stepped off the No. 10 bus, her establishment was on the opposite corner. I spotted the big red ROOM FOR RENT sign before I even got a look at the town. I had $50 cash, a large suitcase containing my possessions and a battered and bruised body. The driver carried my case up onto her porch and tipped his hat before continuing on his route. I guess the bruises on my face from my father’s last beating made people extra sympathetic and nice towards me. With a quaking stomach and weak knees, I turned the old fashioned door bell and waited. The door was pulled inwards with such force that I was almost sucked into the foyer.

Are ya here about a room? She gruffly asks. Her gray hair is pulled tightly back from her round face. Her dark eyes look hard but then she smiles and they seem to soften a little.

Are you a runaway? She softly asks. I can only nod as tears form in my eyes. Well, you look 18, so come on inside. She steps back and motions at the case sitting beside me. I quickly pick it up and follow her into the front parlor on the left. I’m greeted with the sight of a very old fashioned parlor set up for the boarders use. There are an assortment of chairs, sofas, small tables and bookcases. Mostly the room is decorated in brown and green tones. Mrs. Castle walks across the room to sit in a high backed arm chair in the far corner and motions for me to sit in the matching chair opposite her.

She says, Sit the case down and come here. smiling when I quickly comply.

Leaning forward to study me closely she asks,Where’d you get the bruises?

My father. I choke out.

She sighs leaning back to ask, How old are you and do you have proof of your age?

I quickly reply, I turned 18 two weeks ago. removing my license from my purse and placing it into her outstretched hand. She places the glasses hanging around her neck onto her nose to intently study the small white paper.

She asks,Lace P. Dancer, Missouri. What’s the P stand for? as she’s handing it back.

I reply, Pauline. Over the course of the next hour, I bare my soul to her. For some reason which she never reveals, I touched her heart. Finally straightening, she announces, You can stay. I’ll give you chores around the house for the first weeks rent. Mr. Clark at the nearby Five and Dime needs help. Abruptly she rises and turns to smile at me. I quickly rise and follow her to a small room on the front corner of the second floor.

Opening the door she says, There’s a bathroom at each end of the hall and a 5 minute limit. Then she steps back motioning for me to enter. This room is done in lavender gingham. As a corner room, it has two windows and is very bright and cheerful. There is a single bed, dresser, corner desk and chair and a single door which opens to reveal a small closet.

I tell her, Thank you. placing my case on the foot of the bed.

Settle yourself in and come on downstairs. The kitchen is back the hall. We’ll have lunch. She’s gone before her words are all out. I quickly hang up my two dresses, 1 skirt, 3 blouses and 2 pairs of nice slacks. I have enough for five days at work. My nose easily leads me to the kitchen.

After lunch we begin the supper preparation as she outlines my chores. Within two days I have a clerking job at the nearby Five and Dime Store. Mr. Clark is a tall slender gray haired man who seems to be constantly in motion. He talks rather fast. I have a hard time understanding him at first. He would patiently repeat his words whenever my face would go blank in confusion.

With a soft smile, he would remark, Lost ya agin. Mr. Clark often stood nearby and talked with me as I worked. I learned that he and Mrs. Castle were high school sweethearts. He only married Mrs. Clark after Mrs. Castle married a traveling salesman who promptly moved on after three years. This saddens him so much. It’s easy to see that he still loves her. Mrs. Clark is always referred to in this manner. I finally ask Mrs. Castle what her first name is and she wasn’t sure.

She says, Emma. after digging out her high school yearbook. Both of Mrs. Clarks’ babies were stillborn. Mr. Clark said Mrs. Castle inherited the boarding house from her mother. Mrs. Castles’ daughter left town 15 years ago to attend college and never returned. After my first weeks employ, I’m able to purchase new clothes here at cost. My first purchase is a red and white dress for Sunday.

Mrs. Castle highly approves of my choice. The empire waisted full skirted dress is deep red on the bottom. The short lacy white top is trimmed in matching red cording on the collar and cuffs.

Mrs. Castle remarks, Most becoming. while we are walking the six blocks to her United Methodist Church. She was very pleased on Thursday when I asked if there was a church in town. Rain, snow or shine, we make that trek every Sunday and religious holiday. The congregation is composed of much older people, but they’re friendly. Soon everyone knows my name and speaks to me in passing wherever I am in town.

Before two more months passed, I heard about a position opening up at the Mill so I applied. Mrs. Castle and Mr. Clark are my only references except for my Honor Roll School records. I never expected to be hired. My very first day, I stood in the Personnel Office looking out through a nearby dirty window. This very handsome young man rode into the parking lot on a big Black Harley. I watched his friends and co workers greet him as he climbed from the machine and strolled across the lot. His dark brown hair was rather long. His mouth is very full and sensual looking under his slightly upturned but very straight nose. I couldn’t see his eyes behind his reflective sunglasses. Later in the day I got my first up close glimpse in the cafeteria. When I looked up, directly in front of me, there he was.

He asks, You’re new? in a deep male voice that sent shivers up and down my spine and made me blush as I stammer, Yes.

He reached past me to put a brown tray on the silver rack. You need a tray with the little chit for the cashier. I looked down and saw a white piece of paper attached to my tray.

I stammer, Thank you. and he smiles. I could see those beautiful sky blue eyes for nights and days afterwards. I didn’t take much for lunch. I suddenly wasn’t hungry for food.

During my first year working at the Mill, everyone is friendly but in a stand offish manner. The girls in the department include me in their activities but never really accept me fully into their group. They all grew up in Liberty. All of them have been friends since grade school. I’m an outsider. I always listen to the talk around me. I learn the blue eyed man’s name is Steel O’Connor. His mother ran off when he was 8. He’s 25 years old which makes him seven years older than me. He’s played in or around the mill most of his life. The older folks all speak highly of him. I hear a lot of gossip at the Five and Dime. He just made foreman two years ago. His daddy was killed at the mill over five years ago. His grandfather worked in the mill when it first opened. It’s amazing what you can hear, if you listen hard enough. People like to gossip.

Almost everyone living in Liberty are Steel Mill families. Everyone works at the Mill or are related or married to someone who does. There were a few people, like me, who moved here, but they usually moved on. For me, this is the end of the line, so I stay. Most Friday and Saturday nights, everyone goes out to party. For awhile, I tagged along but then I discovered that they usually end up drinking, drunk and rowdy. Having lived all my life with a drunken mother, their wild behavior is very intolerable. Eventually, I stopped accepting their invitations.

During the second year of my employment at the Mill, I learned who the guys on Steel’s crew were. Whenever any of them asked me out, I’d accept hoping to get in with his crowd. It didn’t take me very long to discover that the guys at the Mill only went out with a girl for one thing. I wasn’t about to give it to them. I usually ended up back at the boarding house in plenty of time for curfew. By my third year of employment, the guys begin calling me the Ice Princess and teasing me whenever they get the chance. It changes nothing. I manage to learn that Steel likes to party, drink and have a blonde hanging all over him. It was during the summer of this year that I started walking over the grounds at lunch to avoid sitting alone in the cafeteria.

On one particular lovely July day, I’m walking around the end of the old section of the Mill to a low wall I like to sit during lunch. I spread my sweater on the wall and sat down. My glance across the nearby field reveals two people leaning against the one large maple tree. It takes me a few minutes to recognize the blonde because at first, her face is buried in the mans’ shoulder. By the time I realize what they’re doing, I’ve gotten an eye full. I scramble off the wall and walk quickly away but the image of her hands on his hips as he thrust into her remain for quite some time. Penny obviously saw me.

She casually remarks, Hey, Lace, you left your sweater. Thanks for giving us privacy. Steel is such a male animal sometimes. in case I hadn’t recognized who she was with.

Attempting a casual tone, I tell her, No problem. Although I don’t feel at all casual at that moment.

During this past winter, I joined the local Big Sisters organization. They meet in the church basement. I’m assigned a seven year old girl named, Jewel. She’s very timid but we hit it off right away. She has these big gray eyes and light almost white blonde hair surrounding her cherub face. I discover that she has a tinkly laugh once I’m able to release it from inside of her. Later I discover her mother has a drinking problem so our relationship becomes even more precious. Over the next six months, Jewel and I spend a lot of time together. I met her mother, Agnes. Agnes says she really appreciates me getting the brat out of her hair. I cried for days when the Minister said that Jewel’s father lost his job at the Mill. They suddenly left town during the week. I’m saddened because I never got a chance to say goodbye. Now she’s friendless again and unfortunately, so am I.

I go back to working evenings at the Five and Dime on Main Street. Mr. Clark’s glad I came back. I worked off and on over past holidays. He also knew he could call me if he was short handed. My days are filled. I’m up at 5 to get ready to catch the 6 a.m. bus to the Mill where I work 7 to 3:30. I catch the 4 p.m. bus back to town and walk over to the Five and Dime to work 5-9 when they close. This gives me time to get back to the Boarding house and sleep. Mrs. Castle has been packing me a lunch since she claims I’m getting too thin. Maybe I’m trying to disappear all together. Mrs. Clark has started bringing me a supper for the same reason. When their weekend girl quit to get married, I started working 9-5 on Saturdays. Mrs. Castle then starts doing my laundry at no charge. I usually attend the 9 a.m. church service before I help Mrs. Castle with preparing the Sunday dinner. Sunday afternoons, I walk around town or read in my room.

Over the winter, things have been getting progressively worse at the Mill. I work in the Payroll Division of the Accounting Department. I’ve seen the amount of hours that have been cut from the different crews. There have been a large amount of forced early retirements. They let several girls go from various departments. I must have a sixth sense. When my Supervisor askes for volunteers to do additional work without additional pay, I’m the only volunteer. I think it probably saved my job. It’s just filing because they let all the filing clerks go. By early April, they start eliminating shifts in the mill area. Of course, the unions call for a strike which doesn’t make matters any better. The picketers don’t hassle the girls coming into work, thank goodness. It’s still scary walking through them.

The strike goes on for over 4 long months. It was a very hot summer. Most of the time, the company doesn’t run the fans. Being located on the third floor, most days, it’s stifling. Our Supervisor finally gives us permission to wear shorts and sleeveless tops but even that doesn’t really help. Finally, September rolls around and the heat wave breaks. On this particular Thursday, walking through the picket line, I stop to talk with several of the guys. Standing at the bus stop, I hear the Harley engine start and then come progressively closer before stopping beside me.

Hop on. I’ll give you a lift. I almost fall over at his words. I’m sure surprise registers on my face at the sight of Steel standing so close. I hesitate briefly so he quickly extends his hand. I put mine in his and climb on behind.

After placing my feet where they need to be he says, Hold tight. He moves my hands from his hips to around his waist with a soft chuckle. I lay my face against his warm back. The bike roars to life with a slight jerk. The rushing air feels heavenly.

It seems like only seconds before he began to throttle down. My glance over his shoulder reveals we’re rapidly approaching the boarding house. He dismounts and helps me off the bike.

Thank you. I stammer.

He remarks,This is much faster than the bus. swinging his leg over the machine and raising the stand.

I reply, Yes. But he’s roaring away. Mrs. Castle is standing at the porch rail.

She asks, Miss your bus? as I’m climbing the stairs towards her.

I tell her with a smile, No. I don’t think so. He just offered me a lift. It was much cooler than on the bus. hurrying across the porch to change for work.

She remarks, Mighty nice boy, that Steel O’Connor. almost under her breath as I step into the house.

That night while I’m clerking at the store, Steel comes in and walks the aisles. Can I help you find something? I quickly ask when I’m close to him.

He says, I need another pair of jeans. He’s looking around where the jeans used to be before Mr. Clark decided to move them back into the store more.

Gesturing towards the new location, I tell him,They’re back in the corner now. then I begin walking that way. He follows. It takes a few minutes to locate his size. Then I ring up his purchase and put them in a bag.

He suddenly asks, Hey, why don’t I pick you up for work in the morning? as I’m counting back his change. I glance upwards quickly and drop the change all over the counter top. He smiles, picks up the coins and hands them back.

I reply, Ok. to his statement. My heart is pounding in my chest so hard I’m positive he can hear it. When I try to return the coins, he remarks, Keep it. My jeans get a hole from the change. He picks up the bag and with a wave strides from the store.

Mr. Clark is watching, as usual. He comes up front as I’m getting ready to put the change into the drawer. He says, You best keep that yourself. Mrs. Clark will think you shorted a customer. I nod in silent agreement. Mrs. Clark counts the drawer at days’ end. Mr.Clark waits while I take the coins back to my purse since my slacks don’t have pockets. I can barely sleep that night waiting for morning. Sitting on the porch swing in the morning, I’m hesitant about letting the bus go by. Twenty minutes after the bus goes, I hear the Harley’s engine. He roars to a stop and waves. I hurry down the steps and take my place behind him. The ride isn’t long enough.

He says, I’ll take you home too. while we’re walking in from the parking lot.

I tell him, Thanks. Can I share the cost of the gas?

Shaking his head, he says with a smile, No. I’m going this way anyway. Save your money. before turning and striding towards the mill works entrance.

I walk upstairs and try to concentrate on my work. They let two more girls go. I seem to have acquired their work. My Supervisor wants me to stay. I nod and then walk to the parking lot to let Steel know but the bike is already gone. He forgot me. I walk back and work until 8 after calling Mrs. Castle and Mr. Clark. When as I walk from the building, I realize there aren’t any late buses running. I don’t have a way to get home. Approaching the gate, the Harley is sitting outside the guards’ station.

Hey! I forgot you earlier and Harvey said you were still working. Sorry about that. Come on, I waited for you. Steel tells me, nods at the guard and takes my arm.

He asks, Did you eat?