Melinda Heads West (16 page)

Lee put on a sober face. “They killed ’em, Ma. Tweren’t nothing we could do. It’s just me and Rich now.” Lee climbed down off his horse and walked toward his mother, but she waved him off.

“Where’s my baby? Where’s my Roger?”

“He’s gone, Ma. That’s what I’m saying. Him and Ben were shot dead.”

The woman threw her head back and began to keen. She collapsed in a heap and put her head to the ground. “No!” she cried. “Not my baby!”

“It were Ben, too, Ma,” Rich said from his position in the dirt. He had seen the wisdom in staying where he was; his legs didn’t seem to be working. “But they died brave. You’da been proud of them.”

Rich’s mother never heard. Her sorrow was overwhelming. The boys looked at one another. They’d never heard a sound like the one their mother made. It was eerie, and echoed in the dark night, chilling the bones.

Lee began to cry. He staggered to where his mother sat on the ground. Moving the lamp aside, he knelt with her, putting one hand on her back. “It’ll be all right, Ma.”

The woman rose up and smacked his hand away. She stared him in the eyes and spat, “How could you let this happen? Better you die than my Roger. He was just a boy.”

“What?”

“You heard me. You boys have always been worthless. Good for nothing but shooting! But my Roger was an angel. How could you let something like this happen to him?”

Lee sat dumbfounded. He looked over to Rich, who was passed flat out on the cold, gray dirt of the front yard. He opened his mouth to speak, but his mother drew back an arm and slapped him with all her might.

“I don’t know where you’ll be sleeping tonight, but it’ll not be in my house! And you can drag your sot of a brother out of my sight!”

Lee reached for her, but his mother staggered to her feet, pitched into the house, and slammed the door. When her wailing began again in earnest, Lee walked over to his brother and kicked him in the ribs.

“Ugh!” cried Rich. “Whaddya … whaddya … doin’?”

“Get up! I ain’t carrying you. We gotta bunk in the barn, so get up!”

“Wait,” Rich said. “Gimme … just a minute.”

“Take all the time you need, brother.” Lee wiped his face, then turned and stumbled off in the direction of the lean-to barn, leaving his brother where he lay.

Lucas took Mindy to the 49ers Restaurant for lunch on Saturday. It was two crowded rooms with cloth-covered, square tables and a long counter. The top half of the walls were painted a bright pink, with white wainscoting beneath. Colorful paintings in wooden frames decorated the space and lent it a homey atmosphere.

Once Lucas and Mindy were seated, a harried lady in a flowered apron came by the table and plopped down menus.

Saturdays:

Son-of-a-Gun Stew

Fried liver and onions

Calves’ feet

Roast mutton

Grits and gravy

Fried potatoes

Fried eggs

Vegetables (whatever’s fresh)

Vinegar pie

Molasses pie

Fried fruit turnovers

$1.25 a meal

“Oh my,” Mindy said with a laugh. “I love molasses pie
and
fried turnovers! Can we start with dessert first?”

Lucas took her hand across the table. “We can do anything you want.”

Mindy’s smile slid from her face as she slid her hand from his. “Lucas, don’t … ”

“No, no. Let’s don’t talk about anything negative today. We’ve worked out our differences, and I want to stay on the right course.”

“It’s just that — ”

“Mindy, I don’t mean to be rude, but I’d like for you to let the past go. The fight was unexpected yet unavoidable, in my opinion. When I saw Boone with another woman, I became enraged.” Mindy’s eyes widened, and he continued, “I couldn’t stand the thought of him deceiving you. I spoke to him, and he attacked me. There was nothing I could do. I hope you understand.”

“He was with another … ?”

“Yes, dear. He was in one of the saloons.”

Mindy put her hand to her mouth. She sat back in her chair to absorb the information. Had Boone kissed another girl the way he kissed her? Were his kisses given away so freely? The thought of his lips touching another’s quelled her spirits.

“I hope I haven’t disturbed you, Melinda,” Lucas said with a concerned look.

“No. Of course not,” Mindy said, flapping her cloth napkin onto her lap. “I’ve simply never thought of Boone doing that sort of thing.”

“You’d be surprised what men will do. After serving in the army, I can tell you that men always amaze you. When they should be brave, they cower. When they should be honorable, they are base and dishonest. Now, what will you have to eat?”

Mindy studied the menu before she said, “I think I’ll have the mutton, please.”

“The liver and onions are very good. I would recommend that. As a matter of fact, I think I’ll order it for both of us. You will be very pleased.”

When the aproned lady came by, Lucas flagged her down. “We’ll have two livers, please. Then give us each the fried potatoes and a helping of the vegetables — what are they today?”

“Parsnips.”

“Wonderful. We’ll have dessert afterwards.” When the woman walked away, Lucas turned back to Mindy. “I think you’ll be much happier with the liver.” He smiled warmly.

Mindy folded her hands into her lap, and nodded.

Nearby, a ruckus started. A deliveryman was in a heated argument with the owner of the restaurant.

“Them’s the prices they told me, them’s the prices I go by.”

“How can I make any money at these prices?” the bespectacled, whiskered owner said. “Twenty-seven cents for a bushel of potatoes! Sugar up to fifteen cents a pound!”

“There’s nothing I can do about it, neighbor. I just deliver the goods.”

The owner pulled some bills out of the cash register and handed them over.

“Since the gold rush, everything has gone up in price,” Lucas said, shaking his head. “During the heyday, there were places where potatoes sold for a dollar and a half a pound. Eggs and oysters were a dollar each!”

“You don’t mean it!” Mindy said.

“I do. Greed will do strange things to people.”

The meal came and the pair ate in relative silence. Mindy found that she didn’t have much to say. But the liver and onions was good, she had to admit.

“Have you made a decision about the property?” Mindy asked, as she stopped to take a drink of tea.

“Yes. I’ll buy it, if you’ll take three dollars an acre. That’s over four hundred dollars for a little girl like you.”

Mindy bristled. “First of all, I’m not a little girl. Secondly, I’m selling the property for my mother. And finally, I will not take three dollars an acre. I have been told property here sells for much more than that.”

“You’ll not get more in this economy,” Lucas blustered.

“Then I’ll hold it,” Mindy replied.

“Now, wait a minute. I have every intention of buying that property, Melinda. How much do you want per acre?”

“Four and a quarter.”

“You must be joking!”

Mindy stared into Lucas’s face.

“Fine. Fine! Four dollars an acre, then.”

Mindy paused, and then nodded. “I think that will be sufficient.”

“You know that’s close to six hundred dollars? What will your mother do with that kind of money? Will you see any of it?”

“Why? Does that matter?”

“No, of course not. I just wanted to see if you would be well-situated,” Lucas said. “I wouldn’t want to worry about you. I’ve told you I care for you, Melinda. I mean it.”

Mindy bowed her head. “I’m not sure about anything right now, Lucas.”

“I understand, but I plan to purchase the property either way. I have hopes of us living there together as man and wife. Without you, that farm is next to worthless.”

“Then I would not recommend you purchase it at this time, Lucas. I … ”

“Forget I said anything. We’ve got plenty of time. We’ll go by the bank when we leave here. I’ll transfer the funds and you won’t have to worry about that anymore. Only if — ”

“No more talk. Let’s have dessert.”

It was less than a week before the Fourth of July. The ladies of the Tipton Women’s Club had been active little bees. Holding another impromptu midweek meeting, they reported on the activities lined up for the celebration.

Merle Lacy bubbled. “Everything is set for the rodeo. It’s to start at six
P.M.
We already have several cowboys signed up, and I’m sure there’ll be more. It should be thrilling!”

Some of the other women in the room tittered, and began whispering.

“Now, quiet down, ladies, please,” said Mrs. Celia Logan, the chairperson. “I know we’re excited, but we have much to do. Let’s stay on track. I think we should go over our items in the order the events will take place. Perhaps it will be less confusing.” She looked at a pile of papers on her podium. “That means we start with the parade. That’s you, Ivy Faith, isn’t it?” Mrs. Logan turned to a middle-aged woman with brown hair and a dimpled face, sitting in the second pew.

Standing, the lady said, “Yes, Celia. The parade will begin at ten o’clock. That should give our visitors time to arrive and get settled. We will meet with all the participants at the north end of Main Street to line up and then we’ll proceed south.” She smiled sweetly. “We have cowboys, kids on horseback, three motor carriages, the Tipton General Band, and assorted wagons that will be gaily decorated.”

“You’ve done a fine job coordinating that, Ivy,” Mrs. Logan said. “Next, is … Mary Hubbard and Brenda Murphree. You ladies are taking care of the games of skill?”

Those two ladies stood and looked at one another. One gestured for the other to do the speaking. Mary began, “We have decided on a number of games for the afternoon. So far, we have a pulling contest, a greased pig, a greased pole, an egg toss, a frog toss, a three-legged race, a horse race, and an Old Timer’s horse race, for those men who are fifty and above.” She nodded to the other ladies as they made exclamations. “People can sign up before each event for fifty cents and we’ll have cakes and pies donated as prizes for the winners.”

“You heard that, ladies. We need those cakes and pies. We want to have lots of winners,” Celia said.

Mindy leaned over to Becky. “Does it matter what kind of cake or pie it is?” she whispered.

Becky shook her head.

“Then I’d like to make a couple of apple pies, if you will allow me to use your kitchen.”

Becky took Mindy’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “We’ll do it together!”

About that time, they heard a loud “harrumph” from the front of the room.

Becky stood. “I’m sorry. We were discussing pies.” She looked around at the happy faces. “Mindy and I have been working on the bunting and have it almost ready. We’ll begin decorating downtown tomorrow or the next day, and yes, we’ll take all the help we can get!”

She sat down and Mindy gave her a nod. “Good job!”

Celia voiced her encouragement. “Next, let’s see … oops! I forgot our noon meal, but that’s being handled by the men and only deserves a brief mention.” She paused and gave a knowing look to her audience. The ladies all laughed. “Yes, we’ll be following up behind them all day! We’ll need food items to go along with the meat, so I expect everyone to bring a dish and a dessert. And you know the men will forget things like plates and cups and things of that nature … ”

“Or won’t want to use them!” someone shouted.

“I expect you are right,” said Celia. “I’d like a couple of women willing to oversee that task. Barbara? Isn’t your husband one of the cooks that day? Then we’ll put you down. Select some women to help you, please.” Celia waited for a nod from that lady. “The speeches by our prominent men will take place after the games. Then, last but not least, will be the fireworks display, and the men have that handled, as well. Our job will be to pray. Let’s hope the whole town doesn’t go up in smoke!”

This comment was met with many chuckles. Celia waited until it subsided before speaking. “Is there anything else? If not, I expect everyone to help out somewhere. And this meeting is adjourned.” She slammed a gavel.

Outside, Mindy greeted the women again, pleasantly surprised that she could put names to many of the faces. As they walked toward the hotel, she said, “This is going to be such fun! I can’t wait to see the frog toss!”

Becky said, “You’ll love it! It’s not as easy as it sounds.”

They walked on for a few moments before Mindy said, “I admire Mrs. Logan, the chairperson. She does a wonderful job of heading everything up.”

“Yes,” Becky replied as they crossed the dirt street, avoiding a couple of men on horseback. “She’s been the chairperson for years. No one else would have the job. It’s like trying to herd cats!”

They both laughed and then Mindy turned to her. “Let’s have lunch together! It will be my treat.”

“That sounds great, except for the treat part. I have to get Terese from a friend’s, and then we’ll meet you … at the hotel?”

Mindy nodded and they separated.

• • •

Lucas had agreed to take Mindy to the farm that afternoon to visit her aunt and uncle’s grave. She wanted to have a quiet memorial service. When Becky heard about it, she offered to join them and bring Terese and her mother.

On the way, Mindy and Lucas chatted about the celebration. She encouraged him to enter the greased pig contest.

“Not me,” he said with a chuckle. “I’m too old. I’ll leave that to the young bucks. The horse race sounds interesting, though.”

Mindy rejoiced. It had been a good day and she was happy with the world. The sun shone overhead like a blinding diamond in the sky. Though the day was cloudless and hot, riding in the wagon kept a breeze flowing against their faces.

“Have you thought any more about what it would be like to settle down and quit your wild ways?” Lucas asked, nudging Mindy.

With a laugh, Mindy said, “I’ve thought about it a great deal. Mother has been afraid for years that I would end up on the shelf like my aunt. I love the idea of having my own home and someone to look after. What about you?”

“I’ve been thinking about it a lot in recent days,” Lucas said, with a quick glance to see Mindy’s reaction. “I’ve been roaming for too long. I love traveling and seeing new things, but after a while, it’s as the good book says — there’s ‘nothing new under the sun.’”