Historically, Appalachian coal miners have struggled to make ends meet, but in the fictional town of Cascade, West Virginia, five generations of the influential Dawson coal mining family have prospered while treating their miners with respect and consideration. Over the years they have faced many challenges, but none came close to the dangers the Dawson men now face at the Blackwater Shaft. A few excerpts: In a delicate and feeble voice Ben's grandmother asks him to come nearer. "What is it, Grandmother?" He asks, leaning close and taking her hand. "Ben," she pleads in a frail whisper, "You must promise me that you will never close the Blackwater shaft." She makes a barely audible coughing sound, then continues, "Promise me, Ben, that you will always leave a way for my Robert to come home." Ben's eyes fill with tears. His parents, Nat, and the others lean closer to try to hear what Grandmother Lu is saying, but only Ben can understand her words. Alex does not need to hear, he knows instinctively what his mother is asking of Ben. Lucretia holds a determined look at her grandson's face. With a newfound clarity of voice and mind, and with startlingly penetrating eyes, she again appeals, "Ben, promise me." The tears roll freely down Ben's cheeks, dripping onto Lucretia's lacy blue gown. He whispers, "Grandmother, I love you, and I love Grandfather, and I promise you faithfully that I will always keep a safe way for Grandfather to come home to you." A smile slowly transforms her pale face into a picture of tranquility. She gives Ben's hand a delicate squeeze. With her eyes now closed, she whispers, "Thank you, Ben, thank you." Dawson feels a hard thump on the calf of his left leg, then searing pain. He slaps the mare on her flank, urging her upward and forward. She goes down again. Thoughts flash through the soldier's mind. He knows he's been shot and he needs to find cover before the shooter reloads. The shooter must be using a muzzleloader. With a repeating rifle he would have gotten off a second shot by now. Dawson pulls hard on the reins, trying to get the mare back on her feet. She tries, but he's pulling so hard, so hard that it hurts. She raises her great head to try to relieve the pressure. She finds solid footing under her hind feet. She raises her head higher. Dawson yells and pushes on her neck. She paws at the air in a desperate attempt to maintain her balance. She feels a fire and terrible pain in her side. She's confused and frightened, exhausted and hurting, and her normally powerful rear legs collapse as she falls backward. No one will ever learn for sure what actually caused the explosion, that there was methane gas in section 65 just behind the face of room #1, off entry 64, that when the charge of dynamite went off it blew through the wall into section 65 and ignited several thousand cubic feet of gas. No, no person would ever know exactly what events triggered the tragedy that killed 23 miners. Cole grips her shoulder firmly and again pleads, "Nicki, listen to me, let me explain " But, she doesn't hear. Her thoughts have already flashed back to her childhood and the large sign printed on the tipple in Glen Haven. In large, dingy white, block letters, it reads, HEADLEY COLLIERY COMPANY. The long buried memories return; Why is Momma crying? I will not cry, because if I cry it means I may never see Poppa again, so I will not cry. Nicki's world slowly begins to darken. It grows shadowy, fuzzy, murky, silent and morbid. In this world she sees her hand reach for the door latch. She lifts, and then slowly pushes the door away Even as the knife blade leaves the throat of the corporal, Ganji has his eyes on those of the sergeant, looking for the sign of recognition, of realization that he has been duped, but he has his blade twisting in the sergeant's chest before the realization comes, and instead of comprehension, the sergeant's eyes suddenly show confusion, puzzlement, and remarkably, anger.