Go West Serial Novel – Rebekah Lyn Books

Go West~The final chapter

Chapter 57 the final chapter

Go West

by DiVoran Lites

Chapter Fifty Seven

The Final Chapter

Ellie

After supper, Ellie changed into work shoes so she could help clean the kitchen. She then walked out the back door to breathe some cool air. The moon spread its light over the fence, the barn, and the mountains. She should have been exhausted after all the excitement of the past few days, but at first, she felt exhilarated and restless. She was glad she and Aldon weren’t enemies anymore, but now they would go their separate ways, she with her grandparents and he to take over Bill’s job in Hollywoodland so he could send money home. She knew, though that he was excited about working with horses. A sense of loss washed over her. What could life possibly be without Aldon? The answer came: without Aldon, life was nothing.

“How about a ride in the moonlight?” Aldon came out of the house pulling the screen door closed behind him.

“I’d be delighted,” she said forcing herself to sound cheerful. If these were their last moments together, she wanted him to remember her as a strong woman, not a fussy feminine chit who could cry and embarrass him.

In the barn, they saddled Chief and Summer and decided to allow Sunrise to follow along. No need in leaving him so that he would whinny for the rest of the evening calling the mare.

Ellie knew that if she didn’t go back inside and change, she’d have to ride in her chiffon dress. If, however, she left Aldon waiting while she changed, someone else would come along and claim his attention.

He cupped his hands so she could use them as a stirrup. He boosted her into the saddle. As she settled in she pulled her skirt down so he wouldn’t see her knees, but then a heady surge of freedom replaced her embarrassment. So what if Aldon saw her knees?

Ellie had no idea where they were heading as they rode upward. She just wanted to be with Aldon. When the road became a trail, she fell back and let him take the lead. Looking at his straight back in the moonlight she gave a sigh of thanksgiving. If there was ever anyone, anywhere, that she wanted to be friends with, it was Aldon.

At the beginning of the trail that led to the warm spring, Ellie pulled back on Summer’s reins and the horse paused. “This is where we got kidnapped,” Ellie said

Aldon half turned in the saddle to look back at her. He locked his eyes with hers. “That’s all over. You’re with me now

She tapped the mare’s belly with her heels. Yes, she knew she was safe with Aldon. He’d protect her with everything he had in him. When they arrived at the pond, the well-trained horses waited for the couple to dismount before they began to graze.

“Do you ever feel sorry for horses not being able to lie down to sleep?” She asked dropping the reins in order to “ground-tie” the mare and dismounting.

“I never thought about it,” Aldon said as they approached a fall of boulders at the edge of the spring. “Their knees lock, you know, to keep them upright. Would you like to dangle your toes in the spring?”

“Oh, yes,” said she. “I’ve heard so much about it. I’ve never been in a warm spring before. I always love the water.”

Aldon steadied her as she sank onto a big rock then he knelt to remove her shoes. He looked at her silk stockings as if he didn’t know what to do with them. Not at all shy, which surprised her, she reached under the skirt to release the garter tabs and showed him how to roll the stockings down. He finished the first one, pulling it off her foot, and he stuck the roll into his shirt pocket. She could see that her feet looked pale in the bright moonlight.

“Your feet,” he said taking one in both hands. “They’re so beautiful.” He lowered his head and kissed the top of it. His eyelashes tickled and she sighed. When he looked up at her, the reflection of the moon caught in his eyes and gave them a shine like that of a sweet and vulnerable child’s.

“Oh,” she thought. “He truly loves me. He loves me as much as I love him.” Warmth spread through her entire body as peace filled her soul. She sighed.

He drew her to her feet and lifted her so he could carry her. Her arms slid around his neck as she snuggled against him with her head on his shoulder. Heedless of his boots, he walked into the water. It soon crept as high as her waist. She was bathed in joy. From somewhere she thought she heard a melody. Overhead, the stars swirled like dancing angels.

“Ellie, Honey,” he said, his deep voice resonating in her ear. “Do you know that I love you more than life?”

“I know,” she answered breathless. “I’m so glad.”

“Why?” He asked.

“What do you love about me?” she questioned him ignoring the fact that he had asked first.

“Your eyes, your hair, your long slender limbs, your smile, your sweetness, your sense of humor, your excellence in everything you do, your kindness, your courtesy, your willingness to be a servant to all”

“Stop!” She said, laughing. “That’s enough!”

“But none of that matters. It’s you I love and always will, no matter what.”

“How do you know?” she asked charmed and receptive.

“It’s the way I’m made. Good old Aldon, steady as a plow horse, sets his mind to something, goes straight at it, and keeps plowing until his days come to an end… until death do us part.”

“Maybe we’ll never die,” she said.

“My love for you will never die, because God put it in my heart. He wants you to be my mate for life. Would you consider that, big-city girl? I don’t have a lot of this world’s goods to offer, but I know I can make you happy.”

“Yes, I would consider it.” She pondered, holding her breath. She then made him wait while she counted to ten. “Yes, I’ve considered–I will be your mate for life.”

“Yippee-e-e,” his voice rose into a triumphal yell that echoed off the boulders. They had come to a deep place in the pond and Ellie felt her body grow light as if she would float right out of his arms. Aldon stepped into a hole and began to sink. There was nothing either of them could do, he lowered her into the water in time for her to stand on the bottom. He bent his head. She lifted her face to his. His mouth touched hers. They stood immersed in each other until her whole body was tingling. She wished he could hold her like this forever. She opened her eyes and saw over his shoulder that cloud sized green lights waved above the peaks. She had heard that sometimes the Arora Borealis could be seen from the pond. It was the seal of God’s love and approval on their approaching union.

The End

elegant lines

Epilogue

The same Sunday, Pastor Rudd performed the marriage ceremony in the church in town. The entire community attended. The bride wore a creamy satin dress decorated in imported lace loaned to her by her employer. She carried a small Bible borrowed from her mother. A silver dollar nestled in her pocket, and tiny, blue ribbon- rosettes held her veil at her temples. The groom wore a Western suit and a new pair of tooled boots that Ellie’s grandfather had brought from the store in Chicago.

On Monday they loaded their horses in the train and began the long journey to California, making plans as they went. Ellie knew that her family would soon follow, but they would buy a place nearby so they could still be a family.

Go West~Chapter 56

Go West

by DiVoran Lites

Chapter Fifty Six

Bill and Shirley arrive

After a visit with Alice and Phil and the children Aldon and Ellie went to the train station to meet Aldon’s brother, Bill, and his wife, Shirley.

Bill

Bill’s heart leapt when the train pulled into the Clifton station. Seeing Aldon and a girl he assumed was Ellie walking toward the slowing train, his first thought was that the two of them reminded him of a pair of leggy, matched colts. I won’t say that to Aldon, though, he decided. It might make him mad. That Ellie sure is a dish. Won’t say anything about that either. Shirley is sensitive about me looking at other women, and it wouldn’t do to rile my brother.

“Don’t let me get stuck in the doorway,” Shirley’s doe- brown eyes sparkled with laughter as Bill took her hand to help her down from the train. “Thank you kindly, Sir.” She placed the other hand on her protruding belly and Bill thought about the little one that would soon become the umpteenth generation of Leitzingers at the Blue Spruce Ranch.

Aldon introduced Ellie, and Bill told them proudly that Shirley was the new Mrs. Leitzinger. Oh, they’d got married a year ago, but he still thought of her as his bride. Ellie gave Shirley a wide-armed hug and turned to hug Bill too. That was all right, but he sure hoped Aldon wouldn’t be jealous.

The four of them packed themselves into the flivver. Bill was glad it was still light enough to see the snow on the mountains. The sky above the peaks were like the sky above the ocean Bill had first seen when he went to California. You never knew what surprise the vista might present.

The road leading to the ranch, though, was mention-worthy rough and cracked, every bump pleading for someone to drive the grader over it. Maybe I’ll apply at county maintenance so I can make a bit of extra income, Bill thought. I could keep up the ranch and do that on the side.

When they had parked the flivver beside the barn, the four of them walked up to the house together. On the back porch, Ellie pointed out the new electric refrigerator. Bill looked over the coats and jackets on the outside wall and nodded, all the same. How good it was to be here. Now that little tyke of his would be a natural-born Coloradoan just like he was and his father and grandfathers before him.

A woman of color and a small girl met them in the kitchen and Aldon introduced them. These people coming in now must be the Eyetalians he’d heard about. They were all right, but it was hard to understand what they were saying. At first he thought the curly-headed young man with the big eyes was with the dark-haired young woman, but when he saw her lean against the white haired gentleman, he recalled from Aldon’s letters it had been a May/December marriage.

He checked out the younger man again. He’d bet Aldon didn’t like that one a bit. He had those lustful eyes when he looked at Ellie. At first he tucked the information in his mind to tease about, but then he decided to leave it alone. He had already tormented his brother and fought with him enough for a lifetime. He wished Paul was here, but he and Dad were long gone now. He and Aldon would have to make the best of it they could.

His mother came in with Molly. Three strangers came too, and he knew they belonged to Ellie who looked like a younger version of her mother. He had been taught to hug Nancy and Molly and followed his training. He didn’t think Nancy would ever let go of him and she might not have if Molly hadn’t insisted. He shook hands with Ellie’s family. They have a houseful, he thought. Aldon’s sleeping in the loft for sure.

Shirley needed to rest before supper so after introducing her, Bill escorted her up the stairs to the bedroom where Molly directed them to go. Here he was, the prodigal coming home. He settled Shirley on the bed and covered her with a quilt. As he turned to leave he looked down at a quarter acre of shiny, black basalt from the bedroom window. The boys had tried every summer of their lives to dig that gigantic stone out of the meadow, but no matter how long or how hard they worked it stayed right where it was.

Family stories had that the house was built on an even bigger slab of basalt. A house built on the rock, he thought, the best place to raise the little shavers as they come along.

He went back downstairs wondering what Signor Solano would want to know about his time in California. It felt strange to ask for a job on the home place and to take orders from a man he didn’t know. But he was fed- up with Hollywood and all it stood for.

“Come in, Mr. Leitzinger, Welcome home,” in his office, the white-haired man motioned for the brothers to sit in chairs facing the desk. Bill gazed up at the gorgeous painting of the mountains on the wall behind it. “You like the painting. You probably saw the ones upstairs, my Lia is a great artist.” Signor Solano swiveled to look at the painting, then turned back again. “We’ve been looking forward to meeting you and your lovely wife. Your brother has talked about your childhood here together.”

“Name’s Bill, Sir.” They shook hands and sat down. “I brought Shirley home to foal because whether it’s a boy or a girl, it belongs here.”

“I could not agree more.” Signor Solano hid a smile. “My dear wife is also expecting the stork, as you Americans say. We talk about going back to Italia, but although she is in good health, I will not risk a long sea voyage. I’m afraid when we arrive at our country home, we will have much renovation to see to because of the war. A faithful few are still there. They took care of the vines the best they could, but the villa was used for a hospital and the cellars for a prison. It is an old farm, so we will work hard to restore it, but we will come back to America sometime, too. We especially love your ranch. It has made me well and brought my beautiful wife such happiness.” Signor Solano sat back in his chair touching tented fingers to his lips. “I will be sorry to leave and I wish to take away a vision of a thriving ranch, so I am glad you came home. Best of all, like our farm in Italy, it will remain in the family. We will be here at least another year, so we will still help a little, with your renovations, Si?”

Go West~Chapter 55

Go West

by DiVoran Lites

Chapter Fifty One

Ellie

Lastus had an arm across Ellie’s throat so she couldn’t move and could hardly breathe. She heard someone speak from above.

“Let go, Lastus Slater,” the voice said, “or we’ll shoot.”

Lastus let go, dropping to the ground and whimpering. Aldon moved swiftly toward where Ellie had collapsed. As she looked up she saw two guns sticking out of an upstairs window. One was real, the other, obviously, a toy.

“Shoot that man, Mommy,” piped a child’s voice.

“Get up, man, don’t cower.” Aldon jerked Lastus to his feet and grabbed the front of his jacket. He marched him into the sheriff’s office, and Ellie followed. Aldon threw Lastus into a cell and closed the door with a clang. He stood watching the young man until a woman carrying a baby in her arms came down the stairs with a tiny-boned girl clutching her apron. Without a word, the woman handed Aldon a big key. He locked the cell door, touched the brim of his hat and handed the key back to the woman.

“Ellie, this is Phil Oate’s wife, Cathy.” Aldon smiled in a way that told Ellie he liked the plain looking young woman standing there.

“How do, ma’am,” the mother wore a flowered wash-dress. “This here is Calvin,” she offered the baby, and Ellie took him, not knowing what else to do. She’d never held a baby before, but in a moment he melted into the crook of her elbow and she relaxed.

“This here’s our Constance,” the mother nudged the child forward. “Say, how do, Ma’am.” The child stuck three fingers in her mouth and lowered her head.

“Hello, Cathy. What beautiful children you have, Cathy!” Thank you for rescuing us.” Ellie said.

“You’re most welcome,” said Cathy. “I’m sure you’d do the same for us.” She turned to Aldon. “Where’s Phillip?”

“He’s looking for this fellow’s brother.” Aldon said. “I heard you call his name, you must have seen him before.”

“Yah! The two of them have spent a night or two on our cots. They like their likker a bit too much. Did you eat?” Cathy asked sweeping her gaze from Aldon to Ellie and running it lightly over her son.

“Yes’m, and so did that bushwhacker there, don’t let him tell you any different,” said Aldon.

“I’ll have to cook his supper later, anyhow, but he’s not too picky, at least at breakfast time.” Cathy tilted her head and looked into the cell at Lastus who sat with his head down and his hands hanging between his knees.

Aldon turned to leave saying, “I’ve got to get gasoline for the automobile.” Aldon said, then he turned back. “Ellie would you like to come or would you rather stay here with Cathy and the kids?”

“You’re welcome to come up to the living quarters over the jail, but you’ll have to excuse the mess. I never get caught up.” Cathy’s voice was wistful.

“You don’t have any help?” Ellie asked.

“I do all right.” Cathy shifted the child to her shoulder and patted his back.

“Is there something I could do while I wait for Aldon?”

“Well, I am running out of diapers and I happen to have the laundry water heating out back. If you could do some washing I could red up the dishes, nurse the baby and get him down for a nap, then I’d come outside and help you. That’s a lot, though, isn’t it?” A blush crept into Cathy’s cheeks, as she looked shyly into Ellie’s eyes.

Vera had taught Ellie how to use the washing machine at home. It would be no trouble at all. Aldon walked her through the jail to the back door and opened it for her.

“Where do you suppose the washing machine is,” she asked him.

“We need to see that the county gets them one,” he said. “We just never thought about it.”

Ellie heard the window upstairs slide open. Cathy barely had to raise her voice to be heard. “Take the stick and fish the diapers out of that big galvanized tub where they’re soaking and throw them in the pot, hanging from the tripod. I already put in the soap flakes. Stir them around then take them back out so you rinse them in that other tub. That’s cold water, so you can wring them out before you hang them on the line.

By the time Ellie finished the difficult chore, she almost wished she hadn’t offered to help. She sat down on a rock and rested against the rough bark of a tree. When she woke she was being gently shaken by Aldon who leaned over her.

As he straightened up, she came out of a dream about him and as he pulled her to himself she slid her arms around his waist holding him tight. He held her too. In that moment, there was no past, no future, no diapers and no criminals. The ranch and their jobs no longer existed –only Aldon and Ellie. He lowered his head so that his lips could touch her waiting mouth and when he kissed her, one of them began to tremble, she couldn’t tell which one. Moving her head so that she could look into his eyes, she received his love as freely as he gave it.

Neither moved until the back door to the jail house opened and the sheriff came out.

“Hey, what’s going on!” he said in a mock gruff voice. You can get arrested for that.” His laugh boomed over the yard.

“Can’t you see we’re doing the washing?” Aldon said. He threw back his head and laughed with joy.

“The wife appreciates it,” said Phillip Oates with a chuckle.

“Thanks so much for washing them diapers,” Cathy said coming out with the little girl. “Calvin’s asleep

Go West~Chapter 54

Go West

by DiVoran Lites

Chapter Fifty Four

Aldon

“Where’s Enrico,” asked Molly as Aldon entered the kitchen? “He’s been going to the saloon every night and missing supper. Sure’n a growing boy needs to eat.”

Aldon began to think about Enrico’s whereabouts and how he might be connected with the kidnapping of Ellie and Lia. If he’d been going to the saloon, then he’d been talking. If the squatter brothers also went to the saloon, then all Enrico had to do was tell them when round-up was scheduled and the boys could make their plans to rustle cattle. He could also have given them ideas of where to look for the women. Enrico probably didn’t know anything about the rustling attempt, nor the kidnapping, but Aldon didn’t think he’d be too worried about either one. Aldon could only see one solution. The sooner Enrico left the ranch, the better off everyone would be. The kindly Mr. Solano would be sad, but Aldon thought it might be better even for him. He seemed to have lately gained a new vitality and love of life. It looked as if he would fully recover, after all. Surely no one wanted him set back in his healing by discovering his grandson’s betrayals.

“I’m going to check on the kid.” Aldon excused himself and climbed the stairs. There, Lastus lay spread-eagled and sound asleep with his wrist cuffed to the iron bedstead. He might have a chance at a decent existence if he could get away from his brother and mother for a while. Maybe the law would go send him somewhere and give him a real job. No use to send him to prison where he could learn how to be a real criminal. All he needed was the Lord and a bit of education and he could probably become a productive member of the community. Maybe he’d talk it over with Ellie. Aldon lay down on the floor next to the bed and went to sleep for what seemed like minutes, but the next thing he knew, the rooster crowed.

Ellie was flipping pancakes when he took Lastus downstairs. “I figured you’d want an early start.” Ellie sounded subdued. “Would I be in the way if I rode along? I’ve got a hankering to get out of here for a while.”

“A hankering? You’re talking like a Westerner.” His eyes filled with the sight of her golden hair and peachy skin.

“Yes, I think of myself as a Westerner. I’ve enjoyed my time here.” Her eyes filled with tears, but she turned her back and brushed them away. Aldon saw that Lastus was watching Ellie closely. He had probably never seen anything like her. The lad kept his mouth shut, though, which was the first smart thing Aldon had seen him do yet.

“Do you still plan to leave here?” He asked Ellie, pushing down the dart of fear that lodged in his throat.

“Granddad wants to move on to California.” She turned toward him as she spoke. “It’s warmer there for Grandmother’s arthritis and you know how he has always talked about going west.” She set the stack of pancakes on the table.

Aldon said. “My brother tells me California can be cold and damp.” He didn’t know why he was arguing with her. She’d made her mind up as far as he could see. It just made him feel so sad to think of her leaving.

“How did your prisoner do during the night?” She changed the subject, a clever ploy to avoid another argument. Aldon played along by motioning toward Lastus. “He’s okay.”
***

When Aldon put Lastus in the backseat of the old flivver he handcuffed him to the steel post that supported the roof. Over the summer the road had developed so many potholes that everything rattled as they motored along. Ellie looked back then mimed to Aldon that the boy slept.

The minute the car stopped in front of the sheriff’s office, Ellie jumped out, but then she stood waiting for him to unlock Lastus’s cuff. Sudden chaos broke out as the young man bolted away from Aldon and around the automobile to grab Ellie. Rage washed over Aldon like a forest fire, but he gritted his teeth and held his ground knowing the big child could snap her neck in a second.

“Throw that there sidearm in the motor car,” Lastus demanded. Aldon obeyed.