Runabout (9 page)

}As the speeches progressed, the crowd pressed in and the two found themselves in close company with half a dozen people, including Carlisle Bowman and John Auslander.

}Bowman looked at Luther strangely. "I hear all over the place that you brought Tulsa May here."

}Without glancing over at her, Luther knew the young woman's cheeks were flushed with embarrassment.

}"Yes sir, Mr. Bowman, I did," Luther replied easily. "And we're having a mighty nice time."

}Bowman snorted with disdain. "In my day a fellow didn't stand around at political speeches when his gal was near and her daddy weren't."

}Luther almost pointed out that the reverend was only a few hundred yards away, but Tulsa May interrupted.

}"I enjoy political speeches, Mr. Bowman," she said.

}Luther wasn't sure if she'd misunderstood the older man's implication or was just too much of a lady to notice.

}"As a reporter for the
Populist,"
she continued, "it's important that I take an interest in everything that makes news."

}Bowman appeared ready to give his opinion of young ladies who work for newspapers when, fortunately, young Fasel called out.

}"Looky, here comes our 'Voice in Washington.' So drunk, as usual, that he can hardly stand."

}Congressman Elias Curley had the long, lanky body of an Abraham Lincoln. Unfortunately, he also had the vices of Ulysses S. Grant. By the time his turn came at the podium, the congressman was somewhat unsteady on his feet and his nose could have been used as a beacon on a foggy night. Although there was some laughter and shaking of heads, the community forgave him because he said the things they wanted to hear.

}Curley cleared his throat loudly and raised his hands high over his head to capture the audience's attention. "We," he hollered out to the crowd, "in this great forty-sixth state of the United States, are a peace-loving people."

}There was a momentary pause as he cast his gaze across the crowd. Nodding heads were seen throughout the crowd and murmurs of approval could be heard everywhere.

}"There are those who would cry out for the blood of this country!" Again he hesitated, letting his words soak in. "Those who endeavor to steal our boys from their seats in the schoolroom and their places behind the plow." He paced unsteadily from one side of the podium to the other. "There are those who would send our boys to far-off places. Places we've never heard of," he yelled. "Places we can't even pronounce," he added more quietly.

}"The continent of Europe, my friends, is half a world away," Congressman Curley continued. "And the folks living there are a people of many languages and of many minds. If they have divided up in two camps and propose to destroy each other, what business is it of ours?"

}"Amen." Reverend Bruder's voice was heard plainly near the front of the crowd.

}"Whether the future of the Old World is ruled by the Kaiser and the Central Powers, or by England, France, and the Allies, will not amount to a hill of beans come harvesttime in Oklahoma!"

}The roar of the crowd was partly for his words and partly for the wild gesturing of his arms that nearly knocked him off balance.

}"I follow the lead of President Wilson," Curley declared. "I want an America of peace, an America of neutrality." The congressman paused to sigh with great drama. "That's what I want for America and that's what I want for Oklahoma. And now, my friends, if what you want is what I want, then I know come November you'll be marking your X in the box for me."

}The crowd roared its approval and Congressman Curley hurried to the side of the speaking platform where he sat down, apparently not a minute too soon.

}"I don't care how bad a drunk that man is," Carlisle Bowman declared. "He is just plain right and I'm voting for him again."

}"I sure ain't interested in fighting no war in Europe," Roscoe Nunley agreed.

}"But the war is coming," Tulsa May said. "We can't stay out of it much longer, it's coming right to our door."

}"That's nonsense, girl," Bowman assured them.

}"It's the truth," Tulsa May insisted. "I don't work on a paper without knowing what is going on. That sneaky submarine-boat strategy is killing as many Americans as it is Europeans."

}"Wilson said not to sail on European boats," Bowman protested.

}Tulsa May shook her head. "The submarine commanders can't even tell whose ship they're blowing up. They're hitting everything in the water."

}Luther nodded gravely. "What she's saying is true. When they fire off those torpedoes, they don't know if they're aiming at friend or foe, navy or civilian."

}"Those submarines
are
really a sneaky, underhanded way of fighting," Roscoe offered.

}Bowman nodded shortly then turned to John Auslander. "What about the Kaiser fellow of yours?" he asked. "Why is he doing such a thing as hiding and shooting?"

}Auslander's eyes widened in surprise. "I know nothing of the Kaiser. I came to America when I was twelve years old."

}Young Fasel interrupted his father. "In a way I wish we would go to war," he announced to the crowd. "I'd be the first to sign up to get a shot at the Kaiser and all his army!"

}The young man's words of bravado brought boisterous excitement to the crowd. Tulsa May felt a tug on her arm and allowed Luther to lead her away from the argument heating up.

}They moved to the relative privacy of the area behind the speaker's stand. The sky was clouding over and a brisk, cool breeze ruffled Tulsa May's skirts. She held her hat in her lap. •

}"Did you see John Auslander's face?" she asked quietly.

}Luther looked at her a long moment. "I was hoping that you hadn't."

}Tulsa May shrugged. "I don't know what makes the old man sadder, the Kaiser's aggression or his son's defection."

}Luther slipped a comforting arm around her waist. "Maybe those Europeans will patch up their differences and settle down to making a living."

}She smiled broadly at him. "Now you're talking like me, all hope and no reason."

}"We might
not
get involved in a war," he said.

}Tulsa May gestured to the dark bank of rain in the distance, and the flashes of lightning. "We might not get rained on tonight either," she said. "But the clouds are sure looming."

}

}The political speeches completed, the first of the entertainment began. Tulsa May waved at Jedwin Sparrow, whose daughter Ellie slept against his shoulder, while he welcomed the crowd from the podium.

}In the ten years since he'd begun his business, the flower farm had achieved national recognition for its dried and wax-preserved floral products. Now, with new ice-cooled and refrigerated railway cars, Cimarron could sell fresh flowers in both Guthrie and Oklahoma City. And once a year the whole community benefited from the success of the Cimarron Ornamental Flower Farms.

}"I see nothing but growth and good times for this industry," Sparrow announced to the crowd. "And as we succeed, the entire city of Prattville succeeds with us."

}That brought enthusiastic cheers from the assembly.

}Haywood Puser, local mortician and Sparrow's stepfather, edged up to the side of the podium and wordlessly took the pretty young child from Jedwin Sparrow. The day had already been a long one for the children, but the festivities had only begun.

}"In all the years we've been having this little to-do," Sparrow said, "we've tried to make each one better than the last. We've finally figured out that our celebration had something missing." Hesitating dramatically, he grinned at the crowd. "I suggested to my wife that it might be corn liquor." This statement brought a roar of laughter. "But, you know, women understand these things better than us men. And the women of this community have convinced me that what the Prattville 1916 Spring Blossom Festival needed was a queen."

}"I'd rather have the corn liquor!" a heckler yelled from the back.

}Jedwin chuckled. "As the owner and manager of the Cimarron Ornamental Flower Farms, I am delighted tonight to present our very first Spring Blossom Queen."

}There was a moment of restlessness in the crowd as everyone looked around curiously to see what woman would step up to the podium to be crowned.

}"Now, I know that most of you think that I'd probably choose my wife for festival queen," Jedwin said. "But she told me she was
already
taking care of a three-hundred-acre flower farm, a brand-new house, four unruly children, and a husband who had practically no hair left at all."

}The crowd laughed loudly as Jedwin patted his receding hairline with mock dismay.

}"So, folks, my second choice just had to be the prettiest little spring blossom in Prattville. My friends, my employees, good people of this city, I now present your Spring Blossom Queen, Miss Maybelle Penny."

}Shouts broke put from the entourage that followed the pretty Miss Penny like a shadow, while the four strongest employees of the Cimarron Ornamental Flower Farms carried in a cane-back chair on skids. The chair was lavishly decorated with colorful flowers and twined with vines. Seated thereupon was the lovely Spring Blossom Queen dressed in an elaborate high-waisted gown of soft silk messaline and white net. In her lap, the queen carried a fancy ribboned wicker basket. As she slowly made her way through the crowd, she nodded regally from her throne and threw handfuls of pretty, fragrant flower petals upon the assemblage.

}Tulsa May cheered. "Isn't she beautiful!" she said to Luther breathlessly.

}He nodded. "Maybelle is a very pretty little girl, but she thinks a little too well of herself."

}Tulsa May giggled. "What else would you expect of a queen?"

}When Maybelle reached the speaker's stand, she was helped to the stage by Sparrow. As her throne was secured into slats at the side of the platform, Queen Maybelle waved and smiled and addressed the crowd. A delicately woven coronet of pink blossoms was placed on her head and she was then escorted to her throne.

}Jedwin Sparrow handed her a scepter of flowers and greenery trailing long silk ribbons. Maybelle held it high in the air. "Let the music begin!"

}Old Mort Humley hurried up to the platform with his fiddle. He gave a jerky bow to the queen before setting the scarred and much abused violin against his collarbone and scratching up a tune as he jigged around the stage. Mort played with more enthusiasm than talent, but it was enough for the good people of Prattville.

}While square dances were more typical in the community, Mort could not fiddle and call a set simultaneously. So he stuck to the round dances. That suited the younger people perfectly since it allowed the young gentlemen to hold their ladies more closely.

}"Shall we dance?" Luther asked, taking Tulsa May's hand hopefully.

}She hesitated. "Papa doesn't approve of dancing."

}"I am quite aware of the Rev's views on the 'musical excuses for the encouragement of unlawful congress.' " His words were spoken with such a dead-on imitation of her father that Tulsa May laughed. "Come on, Tulsy. The Rev didn't want you working for wages or driving your own car either. That hasn't stopped you much in the past."

}Looking up into his vivid blue eyes, Tulsa May found it impossible to refuse. "You'll have to teach me," she said shyly.

}"It will be my pleasure."

}Luther led her out to the dancing area directly in front of the podium, carelessly tossing his hat to the corner of the platform as they passed.

}He walked Tulsa May right square onto the middle of the floor and placed her left hand on his shoulder, holding her right in his own. As his palm rested lightly against her waist, Tulsa May could feel its warmth through her shirtwaist. They were a full arm's length apart, but the closeness was still heady—and very, very new for Tulsa May. Swallowing bravely, she watched and listened raptly as Luther began to demonstrate a very conservative one-step.