THE FIRE WITHIN
Chapter Eight
He looked at her, seeing his
sister's features in her. He had loved his sister. It was too bad for him that
they hadn't gotten along. He truly missed her, but he never said anything.
"Is it true you are with
child?" he asked her.
"I am," she admitted.
"Whose is it?" he
asked, waiting for her answer.
Christa thought long and hard
about it, wondering if what Amsterdam said was true.
"It’s Tommy’s," she
lied.
"You sure it’s not
Amsterdam’s?" he asked.
"Pretty sure. Why?" She
wondered if he knew she was lying.
"It’s enough that you’re
with the boy, but to have his child would be a total disgrace to the name you
take," he said without haste.
"I am not with him anymore.
He betrayed me," she told him.
"What has he done?"
Bill asked.
"Jenny and he are
together." She hated the thought of such things.
"Well, all the better. You
can stand by my side and watch him die for the misery he’s caused you."
Bill wanted his blood.
"Maybe there is some hope
for us yet, Uncle." She smiled, playing the part of the betrayed mistress.
"Is this Tommy worthy of
you?" he asked.
"More than worthy, Bill.
He’s my life. He took care of me when my parents died." She loved Tommy.
He had been her savior when she was a little girl.
She smiled at him. She may have
deceived him for now, but she wondered if it would last.
*****
Over the next few weeks,
elections were being held. Christa was torn between Bill and Amsterdam. If she
supported Bill, she was safe. If she supported Amsterdam, she was a traitor.
For her own good, she stayed on Bill’s side. Tommy stood by Amsterdam’s side.
He hated that Christa supported her uncle, but he knew she was safe with him.
When it was time for voting, they
grabbed all the men to vote for their candidate. They tried to run away, but
the gangs got everyone in order and sent them to the polls more than once,
changing their appearances so they could get more votes for their candidate.
In the end, it turned out that
Walter McGinn won for sheriff. He was the candidate Amsterdam had supported.
Bill was angry. He didn’t want things to change, because if they did, he was
out of power.
Bill confronted Walter and ended
up killing him in front of everyone. He had no shame.
*****
The next day, Amsterdam walked
with his gang and honored Walter’s death. He was angry that Bill had killed
Walter. When he came down the street, Christa was next to Bill, who was smoking
his pipe. He had nothing to say but this.
"Challenge." He wanted
to kill Bill right then and there. He was so angry.
"Challenge accepted,"
Bill said.
*****
Over the next few weeks, the
tribes gathered. The O'Connell Guard. The Plug Uglies. The Forty Thieves. The
Shirt Tails. The Chichesters. The Dead Rabbits. The American Guard. The
Atlantic Guard. The Slaughter Housers. The Bowery Boys. The Confederation of
American Natives.
Christa had heard about the
upcoming battle. She feared for Amsterdam’s life. What seemed like days turned
into months of sadness. The only thing that kept her going was the baby.
*****
Christa walked down the street,
having nothing to do, when someone grabbed her.
She was going to scream, but she
wondered who had grabbed her.
"Don’t speak. Follow
me," Amsterdam said.
She followed him into an alley.
None of Bill’s men were ever there.
She wondered what he wanted.
When they finally got to where
they were going, he paused.
"Why have you brought me
here?" she asked.
"I needed to see you. It has
been months. How is the baby?" he asked.
"Fine. Why? Thanks to Bill,
it will be a healthy child." She eased his worry.
"That’s good. At least he is
doing something right." Amsterdam sat down next to her.
"Yeah. So, what did you
want?" she asked.
He turned around and kissed her
breathless.
She closed her eyes, feeling
close to him.
"Amsterdam?" she whispered.
He wanted her badly, but he
contained himself.
"I want you, Christa,"
he finally admitted.
"I want you, too. Is there
someplace we can be together?" She had wanted him for months now.
"Name it. I will be
there," he said.
Christa thought about it.
"Meet me uptown, near the
Schermerhorns’ home," she told him.
"All right." He got one
last kiss before she left.
She went on her way. She couldn’t
wait until tomorrow.