Mayhem erupted. People cheered and wept and applauded, children squealed, gunfire exploded and church bells began to ring. From somewhere in the distance came the sound of mariachi music. Townspeople ran toward the well and pranced around, wiping their oil-covered hands on their heads as if in baptism. I stood, not knowing what to do next. I was afraid to go back to the well when Aidan had ordered me to leave. Suddenly, I was grabbed from behind. I swung around, and there were Mayflower and Nora.

“C’mon,” shouted Mayflower above the din, “don’t stand here like dummies.”

Nora’s eyes were wide. “What in the name of God is happening?” she said, blessing herself.

“It’s my daddy’s well,” shouted Lily. “There’s oil in it.” She grasped Nora’s hand. “Come on, Miss Nora.”

“But . . .” Nora hesitated, looking down at her shoes. “Ah, sure I’ll never see the like of this again!” she said and, kicking them off, ran barefoot with Lily toward the well.

The oil was still pumping out, the plume well over one hundred feet high. Aidan and Hans were covered in the black, sticky liquid. Aidan looked stunned, while Hans was jumping up and down. He ran over to Mayflower, grabbed her around the waist and began dancing. Lily ran to Aidan, who picked her up and swung her around. He set her down and extended his hand to me. I walked into his embrace.

“There’s money to drill a hundred new wells now,” shouted Mayflower.

Aidan turned somber. “Unfortunately, Mr. McCabe told me he has signed his lease over to Sullivan. We can’t drill any more wells on his property. But my father-in-law can and will get rich.” He took a deep breath. “But we must thank God for what we have.” He looked at me and Lily.

Nora looked from me to Aidan. Then she let go of Lily’s hand and pulled a paper out of her bag. She held it out to Aidan.

“’Tis the lease Mr. McCabe signed,” she said. “I never gave it to Sullivan or Kearney. I’m sure Mr. McCabe would be very glad to tear it up.”

We stood in silence for a second before Hans and Mayflower let out loud whoops and Lily cheered. Aidan went toward Nora and took the lease from her.

“Thank you, Nora,” he said. “I see now that you and Delia are true sisters.”

I walked over to Nora and we hugged each other through tears.

Hans and Mayflower began to dance again, and Lily twirled Nora around. Aidan turned to me and bowed.

“May I have this dance, Miss Sweeney?”

“Why, of course, Mr. O’Hanlon.”

As we danced, oil rained down on us, painting rainbows on the ground beneath our feet.

Delia

Delia

The day after the oil find, Nora and I stood facing each other on the train station platform. I reached out and took her hands in mine.