Ada's Secret (17 page)

We paid in cash from the leather case and stashed the remainder inside our open blouses. “No respectable man will look for it here, and any man who does will want to deal with the Devil before he deals with us,” I said. Mother Burgess laughed as we got back into our buggy to go home.

Mother was quiet as we turned into her ranch. “Ada, I have never had so much fun in all my life. I always wanted to do something like that, but civilized women don’t do that.” A fleeting smile passed her lips as she chuckled. “Did you see the look on Norman Johnson’s face? I am glad we are leaving town, though; I think I have worn out my welcome here.” Mother Burgess sighed as she looked around the place she had called home for so long. She sat quiet for a moment, and then suddenly waved her hat in the air. “Yahoo! Colorado, here we come!”

W
e planned to leave Vermont on April 10th and rest the sheep for a few days in Denver’s stock pens. The sheep would have food and water in the livestock cars, but it would be harder on them to be penned up for such a long time.

“I don’t want to stress those pregnant ewes any more than we have to.” Mother said.

“We can stay at Lettie’s ranch until we meet Patrick and he can help us re-load the sheep to Fort Collins.” I smiled thinking about the surprise he was in for.

“Are you sure your aunt Lettie has room for another guest?” Mother asked.

I burst into a fit of laughter. “Remember what my aunt does for a living? Lots of people spend the night at her place.” Mother caught the irony of the situation and giggled somewhat self-consciously.

The day finally arrived, and hired men herded the sheep from the Burgess’ ranch to the rail station, loading them into the railcars. Mother patted the big ram, Duke, on his wooly head as we made our way up to the passenger cars. “I’m sure glad we are wearing skirts and petticoats today,” Mother remarked. “As much as I like working in dungarees, they do have a disconcerting effect on people.”

I watched Mother Burgess for any sign of regret as we got ready to pull out of the little station. At first she seemed a bit unnerved by the loud sounds of the engines, but she bravely boarded the passenger car and quickly settled into one of the comfortable velvet-covered seats.

Looking out of the window toward the ranch and people she was leaving, she said nostalgically, “I don’t think I will ever be back here, but the sad part is I really don’t feel I ever want to come back.”

Catching my eyes, she flashed one of those beautiful smiles that Patrick used to give me. My heart skipped a beat because it was so much like his. Letting her Scottish brogue flow, she said, “Come on, lassie, we have miles to go before we sleep.”

***

T
hree days later, we arrived in Denver. “This doesn’t seem so wild,” Mother Burgess commented as she stepped out of the passenger car into the bright Colorado sunshine. Women in the latest fashions, girls in gingham dresses, men in traveling suits, and cowboys in worn dungarees mingled together as Mother watched with interest.

“It doesn’t seem all that much different than ... ” she began. I heard her stop and suck in her breath. “Oh, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!” she gasped and then began breathing again. “They are magnificent!” Her gloved hand shaded her eyes as the beauty and grandeur of the snow-covered Rocky Mountains mesmerized her.

“Everyone said they were beautiful, but I never expected anything like this,” she said as she studied the beautiful panorama before her.

I followed her gaze and watched in wonder as she fell in love with the mountains. “That is Pikes Peak to the south,” I said. “Thousands of miners have answered the call of ‘Pikes Peak or Bust!’ Now look to your right. See that far peak? That’s Longs Peak, and just past there is the Never Summer Range. You can’t see them very well from here, but your new home sits nestled at the base of those beautiful mountains.”

Mother looked as far as she could in both directions and stood silently transfixed by the beauty before her.

Unexpectedly, I heard strident voices call and whistle for my attention. “Ada! Ada!”

“They’re here!” I shouted, jolting Mother from her peaceful state. Ma, Aunt Lettie, Jeremiah, and some of my favorite aunts had arrived to take us to Lettie’s ranch.

There is nothing subtle about being greeted by Ladies from the Silver Dove. The platform erupted in whoops and whistles as the boisterous assembly enfolded me with their silk bustles and huge feathered hats. Within seconds kisses smothered me and delighted cries welcomed me back home.

“I have only been gone a few short months,” I laughingly protested. “You’re going to kill me with all this attention.” But the affection only increased until I called out, “Mother, save me!” I reached for Mother Burgess, who was standing quietly outside of the wild circle of elation.

The gathering quieted as everyone remembered their manners. “Everyone, I want you to meet my mother-in-law.” Mother happily joined the raucous group as I took her hand and began introducing her to my wild family.

“Mrs. Burgess, I’d like to introduce you to Jeremiah. Jeremiah is the only father I have ever known. I know we don’t look very much alike, but I’ve already told you how unique my family is. Jeremiah is the most charming man I have ever met, next to your son,” I said. I blew a kiss to Jeremiah.

“Ma’am, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” he said, as he bowed low, hat in hand, and kissed Mother’s hand.

“Oh please!” Mother Burgess exclaimed, blushing from all the attention. “Call me Alice. Everyone does. From what Ada has told me, I feel like we’re family,” Alice exclaimed.

Aunt Lettie stood next to Jeremiah. “Mother, meet Aunt Lettie. Aunt Lettie is the most fascinating woman in the west. She’s the one who taught me how to negotiate with bankers.” I winked at Mother. Mother understood my jest and smiled appreciatively at me.

Ma couldn’t contain herself anymore and wrapped her arms around me in one of her intense hugs. “Oh sweetie, I’ve been so worried about you. I’m so glad your back.”

“Ma, this is Patrick’s mother.” Mother Burgess skipped the perfunctory handshake and wrapped her arms around Ma, hugging her warmly.

“I just can’t tell you what a wonderful daughter you have. You must be so proud of Ada. She’s spoken so much about you, and what an inspiration you’ve been. I would’ve lost everything if it hadn’t been for her.” Ma’s eyes misted and I knew a bond of motherly friendship had been born.

As I introduced Mother Burgess to everyone else, Lettie called out, “Daylight’s a-waist’n! Come on, girls! Maria has supper ready at the ranch.”

Mother sat primly in the wagon as we headed to the ranch. I couldn’t help wonder what she was thinking, so I asked, “Now that you have met them, what do you think?”

“Ada, you were raised better than my own child was.” Mother thought for a moment before she continued. “I don’t think any woman would willingly become a prostitute, but your family has taken a bad situation and turned it into love. Most children will never know love like your family gives you.” Gazing at Ma and Aunt Lettie, she continued, “Those women loved you and protected you from the evils in this world. Against all odds, they fought to raise you right. They gave you love and the ability to respect yourself and others. I only wish I could have done the same for my son. Thank you for sharing your very special family with me. I feel blessed just to know them.”

Early evening shadows stretched across the sky as the horses pulled our wagon into the circle drive of the adobe Spanish-style ranch house. Jeremiah carried Mother’s valise through the massive great room and up the huge spiraling oak staircase. A fire crackled warmly in the massive moss rock fireplace and reflected a warm yellow glow off of the gleaming wood floors.

Jeremiah set mother’s valise on the floor of the guest room we saved for visiting dignitaries. I followed her as she explored the beautiful suite. Stepping out onto the balcony, Mother Burgess inhaled the cool spring air and surveyed a sweeping panorama of the Rocky Mountains. “I understand where you got your love of the outdoors,” Mother said approvingly.

“We will have to hurry,” I encouraged her as I disappeared into my own room across the hall. “Maria gets upset when people are late for supper.”

As Mother descended the huge oak staircase into the great-room below, she slid her hand appreciatively over the ornate, spiraling handrail. Stepping into the dining room, her gaze was transfixed by the massive cherry wood table set with fine dishes.

“China and crystal!” she exclaimed as rainbows from the crystal glasses caught the candlelight.

Maria had prepared rabbit and dumplings for supper, and the delicious smells from the kitchen wafted through the dining room, making my mouth water. Entering the kitchen, I said, “Maria, you made my favorite dish! No one makes it as good as you do.” On the stove, steam rose from the rich meat simmering in thick cream gravy as it bubbled up between fluffy white dumplings. Mother joined me at the stove, drinking in the wonderful aroma as Maria tisk’d loudly and chased us both out of the kitchen with a wooden spoon. “You two get on into the dining room with the others,” Maria cackled in disapproval.

Dinner was incredible, and Mother talked animatedly with Ma and Aunt Lettie through the meal, but I could see that the day was catching up with her.

“We have a very busy day tomorrow, so we’ll need to get to bed early tonight,” I said. “Jeremiah has promised to take us on a tour of the ranch by horseback. If you like what you saw today, you’ll love tomorrow. I have so much to show you,” I giggled excitedly. “You’ll need to wear your dungarees tomorrow morning. We don’t have any lady’s side-saddles here.”

Mother willingly accepted the chance to make a graceful exit from dinner. Taking my hand as we climbed the stairs to the bedrooms, she finally spoke. “Now I know why you are such a remarkable woman, Ada. I hope Patrick will be able to see all this someday and understand.” With a tired, grateful squeeze, she closed the door to her suite.

The sun was just peeking above the horizon, the next morning, when the smell of Maria’s flapjacks, bacon, eggs, and coffee woke me. My mouth watered as I climbed into my dungarees and vaulted the stairs, three at a time. Mother Burgess was already sitting at the huge table, sipping on her first cup of real cowboy coffee. Maria had liberally included plenty of heavy cream and sugar, and Mother nodded her head in appreciation as she sipped the brew. We enjoyed a relaxing breakfast and had just finished when Jeremiah appeared.

“Lets go girls!” Jeremiah called from the door. “The day is beautiful. Cold but beautiful!” Stockings, a gentle sorrel mare, waited patiently for Mother. Jeremiah rode his big, grey gelding, Sailor, and Missy neighed her welcome home to me as I buried my face in her warm neck.

This was the first time Mother had ever ridden astride a horse, but she caught on quickly as we visited all my favorite places on the ranch. The horses whinnied their greeting as we rode by Crackerjack before heading to the high meadow pastures dotted with cattle.

By midmorning, we had seen many of my favorite places, but I really wanted Mother to see Turkey Creek Falls. When we arrived, we stopped and ate the picnic lunch that Jeremiah had packed.

“Either you have the most amazing food in this country, or mountain air does something to my appetite,” Mother said as she eyed another biscuit piled high with smoked ham.

Jeremiah noticing her appetite unwrapped another sandwich for Mother. “Alice, don’t stop now,” he encouraged. “Maria gets mad if we bring anything back. She takes it as an insult if everyone isn’t as round and plump as she is.”

We watched a porcupine waddle across the forest floor and climb into the safety of the bows of a pine tree. After eating, Mother Burgess followed Jeremiah down to the creek to rinse out the lunch dishes. Stockings and Sailor were tethered beside the creek, and I walked with Missy along the stream as she munched a few strands of grass greening up in the pale spring sunlight.

My ears picked up a deep woofing sound, and Missy jumped, pulling away from the stream. As Missy snorted, I asked, “What is it, girl?” Through the years, I had learned to trust my horse’s heightened senses and knew she was warning me of danger close by. Willows beside the streambed moved erratically, and the woofing sound coming from within them abruptly changed into the urgent bawling of a baby bear. Instantly I swung onto Missy and let her out her reigns so she could take us away from danger. We both knew that a bawling baby bear meant an angry mother was close by.

Jeremiah and Mother emerged just above the trapped baby. “Mother! Jeremiah!” I yelled at the top of my lungs, “Get out of there! You’re between mother bear and her baby!” The old sow bear suddenly appeared. Standing on her hind legs, she howled in anger at the perceived threat to her baby and then charged.

Seeing the now charging bear, Mother screamed. Jeremiah, moving like a mountain lion, jumped onto Sailor and pulled Mother up behind him.

“Jeremiah, watch out for Stockings!” I yelled. Seeing the other horses, Stockings pulled up behind Sailor just as the mother bear rushed the willows. Stockings gathered her haunches under her and launched forward, but not before the angry bear’s paw had swiped her flank.

Grabbing the Winchester from my saddlebag, I quickly got the mother bear into my rifle’s sights. “I don’t want to shoot you, momma bear. Go get your baby and leave us alone,” I whispered as the cold metal of the trigger resisted my finger.

Thankfully, the mother bear turned her attention to where the crying baby had now freed himself from the willows. Keeping my rifle trained on her, I watched as she herded her baby toward the shelter of the deep forest.

Jeremiah, Mother, and Sailor soon caught up with Stockings. Jeremiah grabbed her reigns, and she trotted to as stop where Missy and I stood waiting, in the security of the meadow. After sliding out of his saddle, he helped Mother to the ground, before he examined the wound on Stocking’s flank.

“She’s got a pretty good gash on her hindquarter,” Jeremiah said as we examined the wound. “But the bleeding has already stopped, and it isn’t very deep. Some hot soapy water and a good coating of salve will fix her right up.” I breathed a sigh of relief as I patted Stockings and turned toward a wide-eyed Mother Burgess as she stood, in shock, beside Sailor.