Unbridled Dreams (18 page)
When Shep finally walked through the door to the private dining room and smiled at her, Irma forgot about everyone else in the room.
Her heart began to pound. He headed her way. But then Irma saw Helen Keen tagging along; Helen Keen wearing a simply tailored skirt and waist that showed off her lovely figure. Helen Keen, who was smiling at Irma and reaching out to her with hands Momma would approve. There was nothing masculine about Helen Keen’s small, long-fingered, delicate hands.
“So here she is in the flesh,” Miss Keen said, squeezing both Irma’s hands and smiling warmly. “The Nebraska gal planning for glory in the Wild West.” Before Irma could say a thing, Miss Keen nudged Shep. “Now don’t be upset with him for telling me about your dream, honey. This big galoot can’t keep a secret from me.” She grinned up at Shep. “We go back almost as far as the Alamo. In fact, I taught him everything he knows.” Laughing, she let go of Irma’s hands and turned to Minnie, giving her the same enthusiastic double-handed greeting. “And you’re Monte’s sister?” When Minnie nodded, Helen said, “Well, I’d say the two of you are off to a good start with the Wild West. You already know the handsomest men on the grounds.” She winked and then leaned close to say—in a stage whisper—”Although I shouldn’t admit that right now. The Shepherd’s head is so big already, his hat barely fits.”
Shep smiled at Miss Keen with entirely too much affection just as Buffalo Bill motioned both him and Miss Keen over to meet the mayor. Minnie looked longingly at the candlelit dining table at the far end of the room. “Do you suppose we’ll actually get to eat before next year?”
Monte finally arrived.
“You were wonderful,” Minnie said and hugged him.
“Incredible,” Irma agreed.
“Aw shucks,” Monte said with mock humility. “It was nuthin’.” He grinned.
While Minnie shared the news from home, Irma’s gaze wandered, first to Shep and Miss Keen, then to a corner of the room where Daddy was engaged in an intense conversation with Nate Salsbury. “What do you suppose that’s all about?” she murmured to Minnie.
“It’s a banker and the Wild West business manager,” Monte said matter-of-factly. “They’re talking money.”
In spite of being part of a gathering of famous people, Irma realized she cared about only one thing, and as Shep continued to squire Miss Keen around the room, Irma’s excitement and appetite dissolved. Just when she was about to plead exhaustion and head upstairs, Bill Cody walked over to the dining table and used a knife to tap on a crystal water glass and call everyone to supper.
The place cards at the table put Minnie and Irma at the far end of the table from Buffalo Bill, opposite Daddy and—
oh no
—the reporter. Shep and Miss Keen sat to the left of Bill Cody, with Annie Oakley and her husband on his right. Mr. Salsbury came to sit at their end of the table. After all the guests sat down, Cody made a short welcoming speech—and thus began a parade of food like nothing Irma had ever seen. Her stomach growled and she took a sip of water. It was good to realize that she could be mature about things. Just because Shep Sterling was attached to another woman was no reason Irmagard Friedrich couldn’t enjoy herself.
It was long after midnight when Buffalo Bill stood up and invited the gentlemen to join him for brandy and cigars. Shep bent to say something to Miss Keen but only gave Irma the slightest nod and a faint smile before following Cody and the other men across the hall. Only Daddy and Mr. Salsbury stayed behind with the ladies. Assuming the two men hadn’t finished the private conversation begun before supper, Irma bade Miss Keen good-night, linked arms with Minnie, blew Daddy a kiss, and headed for the stairs.
But Daddy motioned for them both to linger with him and Mr. Salsbury. Miss Keen departed for the Wild West grounds with Annie Oakley and her husband, and when the last guest had left the dining room, Mr. Salsbury spoke up. “While we may not have been formally introduced until tonight, Miss Friedrich, in many ways I feel as though I know you. My partner speaks fondly of your camping with his daughter years ago. He says you were already quite a cowgirl back then. I’ve also heard about your summers on the Mason ranch.”
Minnie chimed in. “Irma worked right alongside my pa and the other wranglers. She can rope and bulldog with the best of ’em.”
Salsbury nodded. “And your father tells me you were planning to audition for the Wild West a few weeks ago, but that an injury prevented it.”
“I’ve wanted to be with the Wild West ever since my Uncle Charlie and Aunt Laura took me to see the very first performance in Omaha.”
Salsbury nodded. “Your father says you’ve put together an act. He seems to think it’s something that would enhance the experience for our audience.” He smiled. “We’d like to see it. I understand we have the horse you trained with. What do you say, Miss Friedrich? Would you and Diamond do us the honor, say, on Sunday afternoon?”
Say something, you idiot.
She could only nod.
“She’s just surprised,” Minnie chimed in. “Dumbstruck would be the word, sir. Doesn’t happen very often. But she definitely wants to audition.”
Salsbury glanced from Daddy to Irma and back again. He glanced down at his watch. “Good. Sunday, then?”
“Sunday,” Irma croaked.
Daddy clapped his hand on Mr. Salsbury’s shoulder. “Thank you, Nate. You won’t be sorry.”
It was too much. A late supper, Shep’s being more interested in Helen Keen than in the girl he’d kissed less than two weeks ago, and an
audition
?! Irma’s head hurt, her heart pounded, and she thought she might just have to give up the late supper if she didn’t calm down or catch her breath or . . . something. She didn’t know whether to cry or laugh. At first she did a little of both.
Daddy grabbed her arm and guided her to a chair. “Breathe, Irmagard,” he said, putting his hand on her back. “Slow, even breaths.” He watched her face with concern, then smiled and finally chuckled. “I’m going to interpret all of this as joy,” he said.
Irma nodded. Sucked in air. Glanced from Daddy to Minnie and back and then finally blurted out, “What about Momma? I promised I’d go to Brownell.”
“If you’ll give me the room key,” Minnie said, “I’ll head upstairs and give you two some privacy.”
“Thank you, dear.” As soon as Minnie was gone, Daddy said, “You must trust me when I say I’ve worked it out. I was feeling sad about how different things would be for you this summer out at the ranch with Monte and Diamond both gone. And then it dawned on me. The Wild West’s summer season concludes in August.” He smiled. “It’s perfect, really. You have a summer with the Wild West, and Momma still gets her Brownell graduate.”
“It
isn’t
perfect,” Irma insisted. “Brownell notwithstanding, she’ll never forgive us for doing this behind her back.”
“She’ll be upset,” Daddy agreed. “But eventually she’ll see I did the right thing.” He reached out and took both Irma’s hands in his. “I am so proud of you. Proud of your determination to be what you want to be—to let the rest of the world think what they will think and to forge ahead into new adventures. I understand that kind of drive because you got it from me.” He stared intently into her eyes. “I want you to have this, Irma. You must trust me to handle Momma.”
How she wanted to believe him. But Momma wasn’t the only obstacle. “I don’t have the right clothes, Daddy. Without boots that fit, I won’t be able to do a thing, and I don’t think they sell work boots at any of those fancy stores on Broadway. Even if they do, I’m used to the saddle at home
.
I know just where to balance when I stand atop it and just where to grip when I’m doing a handstand.”
“Surely you didn’t think I’d go to all the trouble to plan this and not consider the details.” Daddy stood up. “Come upstairs with me. I’ve a package for you.” He winked and took her arm. As they mounted the stairs he explained. “I drove out to the ranch before we left. Your Aunt Laura helped me pack boots and clothes, and I packed them with my things. As for the saddle, your Uncle Charlie brought it into town and shipped it to Monte here at the fairgrounds. I checked with Monte earlier. It arrived a couple of days ago.” At the top of the stairs he paused and put his hand on his heart. “In here, Irma, your mother and I both want the same thing. We want you to be happy and fulfilled.” He gave Irma a fierce hug. “Now, let’s get those clothes and get you to bed. It’s already Saturday by the clock. You have a lot of work to do today, besides attending two more performances. And we’ll want to rise early on Sunday and get over to the fairgrounds in time for church.”
“Church?” Daddy rarely attended church in North Platte.
“It’ll help your mother feel better about things if I can describe the Wild West church service to her. And tell her that you’ll be attending every Sunday while you’re gone.”
By the time Irma had retrieved the package of riding gear and gone back to her room, Minnie was sound asleep. Snuggled beneath the luxurious comforters, Irma eventually convinced herself that what Daddy said about Momma was true. She would be angry. She would get over it. Eventually.
B
E KIND TO ONE ANOTHER, TENDER-HEARTED
,
FORGIVING EACH OTHER, JUST AS
G
OD IN
C
HRIST
ALSO HAS FORGIVEN YOU
.
Ephesians 4:32
NASB
From where she sat in the green chair by the hotel room window early Sunday morning, Irma focused on the mop of dark curls just visible in the bed across the room. She cleared her throat—just a little louder than usual. She didn’t want to be rude, but she couldn’t sleep, and if Minnie would only wake up, maybe between the two of them they could solve some of the problems swirling around in Irma’s mind. Minnie stirred, then snuggled deeper beneath the peach-colored satin comforter and began to snore. With a sigh, Irma slid to the edge of the cushioned chair and pretended to hold Diamond’s reins. Closing her eyes, she mentally re-created her routine—for probably the hundredth time since giving up on sleep and climbing out of bed. When she visualized failure—again—she sighed and sank back into the chair.
I can’t do it. It’s been too long. Diamond and I worked hard yesterday,
but I still only landed that dismount one time. Daddy will be embarrassed.
Bill Cody and Mr. Salsbury will think their time’s been wasted. Helen
Keen will laugh out loud. And Shep
— Who knew what Shep would do? She was thinking entirely too much about Shep Sterling.
This has
to stop.
There were too many other things to worry about. “I can’t do this,” she murmured aloud. “I just can’t, and that’s that.”
Minnie turned over. She tucked the comforter beneath her chin and said, “You can and you will.”
“I’ve been sitting here going over and over it in my mind, and—” Irma got up and crossed to the washstand. Pouring cool water into the bowl, she scrubbed her face to keep from bursting into tears. As she turned to face Minnie she put her palm to her midsection. “I’ve never been this terrified in my life. I’ll fall. I’ll be the laughingstock of every single person in the Wild West.”
“I hardly think
every single person
in the Wild West cares one way or the other about one more trick rider or one less,” Minnie said. “Most of them probably won’t even come to watch. Sunday’s the only day they have to themselves. It’s not like they haven’t seen female trick riders before. And you said it yourself yesterday after seeing two more performances: Except for the handkerchief trick, you can do everything those rancheras do—and then some.”
“Well, I was being . . . snooty,” Irma said. “Did you hear what Miss Keen said about her riding sidesaddle?”
“I was standing right there. And she’s right. Take away the saddle horn and a cowboy’s ability to grip with his legs and most of ’em wouldn’t last five minutes in the arena.”
Irma nodded. “Exactly. Miss Keen is a better rider than I’ll ever be.” She sighed. “Which leads me back to my initial point: I can’t do this.”
“Stop saying that.” Minnie tossed her dark curls as she slid out of bed. “Because you’re going to
try,
even if I have to drag you bodily across town and tie you to the saddle.” She pulled her dress over her head and began to button the waist. “What time did Uncle Otto say he’d come for us? I’d like to have some breakfast before we leave.”
