Go West Serial Novel – Page 13

Go West~Chapter 9

Go West

by DiVoran Lites

Chapter Nine

Ellie

Aldon drove the Ford in next to the barn and and Pastor Rudd pulled his Stutz up behind them. Molly, Kate, and Seraphina got out and Ellie followed them to the house. A moment before she went up the back steps, she turned to see what the men were doing.

Aldon, the Signor, and Enrico stood next to Pastor Rudd, who had lifted the hood of his car, and seemed to be explaining its workings. Enrico, however, was watching her with an expression of adoration. She turned away confused. Had she done or said something to make him think she wanted his attention? She recalled only that one thought about how good-looking he was. Had it shon in her face?

By the time she got to her room, changed into a housedress, and descended to the kitchen, Molly was bustling around like a waitress in a train station cafe.

“Oh here she is at last,” Molly said. “Ellie, Signor Solano believes in a Sabbath Day of rest for servants as well as for the master, so we’re having sandwiches for our noon meal.” Before Ellie could reply, Molly spoke to Kate, who stood with her back to the counter and the child leaning against her watching everything.

Because Kate wore a calico headscarf that hid any degree of grayness in her hair, and she had a young-looking face, it was hard to judge her age. All Ellie knew was that she was old enough to be the grandmother of a four or five-year-old child. Kate’s long-fingered hands rested lightly on the child’s chest, probably to keep her out of the way until Molly told them what to do.

“Are you hungry?” Molly inquired of the girl.

“Yes,” Seraphina nodded without looking up.

“She fine,” Kate said, getting a light grip on the child’s shoulders.

“I’ll say who is fine in me own kitchen if you please.” Molly’s mouth gathered into a pursed stricture. “Sure’n it’s my house to run. If somebody is hungry here, they will eat, or I’ll know the reason why.”

“Yes’m,” Kate said. She had a wary look that told Ellie she wasn’t one to talk back.

“Butter a piece of bread for the child and sprinkle plenty of sugar on it,” Molly told Ellie.

“I take it Seraphina, means angel.” Molly spoke now to Kate, who nodded. “She might have some Caucasian, as well as Indian in her. I don’t know what tribes you have where you come from but here we have the Utes, mostly they’re all gone now, though.”

Ellie had found the bread on the counter, sliced off a piece, slathered it with butter, and then sprinkled sugar over it. The child looked up with an impish grin as she handed it to her.

“Ah, she’ll be something when she grows up,” said Molly. “You can tell from those light green eyes that she’s a smart one. Here in our valley, everyone gets along. Folks help each other. During the Great War, we people with ancestors from Germany, England, and Ireland buried our young men in the community cemetery and mourned our losses together. Ellie, get the ham out of the refrigerator. We traded five pounds of beef for that. It’s a treat to have something different for a change.” Molly seemed to be letting off steam by talking whether anyone was listening or not. “Kate sit that child down at the table and make yourself useful. You and Ellie can make the sandwiches on that counter over there, assembly line style like that Mr. Ford up there in Michigan.”

“Kate I knew your husband,” Molly said slicing radishes into red-rimmed rounds and throwing them in the bowl on top of the lettuce that had grown in the ranch garden. Next she would add sliced carrots and scallions, all home grown. “Mr. Fisher, Cookie, we called him, was a good humble man. I’ll bet you were surprised when you got here and found out he was gone. I knew him from working with him to prepare food for cattle drives. Once Aldon’s Ma moved to Artesia, we needed a camp cook and he applied, even though he worked most of the time at the saloon. He probably had a real good reason for what he did to that gambler fella.”

Ellie, for one, was listening; she wanted to know as much as possible about the community she had moved into. What had Mr. Fisher done? Why did he make a serious mistake right when his wife and granddaughter were on their way to join him?

“Kate and Seraphina can sleep in the room next to yours, Ellie. The child must be with her granny so she won’t be scared. The rooms are already clean because I regularly mop the floors and risk my life washing windows by sitting on the sill with the top of me hanging outside. I need to train both of you and that will take me all my time. But you’ll do for help and company until Aldon’s mother, Nancy, gets tired of working in the café with her sister and comes back to us.”

Just then, Signora Solano came into the kitchen. She was so stunning Ellie couldn’t take her eyes off her. She wore a red silk dress with jet beads swinging from a generous bosom. The beads were no blacker or shinier than her hair, which she wore, in a low bun on the nape of her neck. To Ellie, it looked ready to fall down at any minute. She wore high-heeled shoes but had a cloth wrapped around her ankle as if she’d been hurt.

“What happened to your leg?” Molly asked.

“It is no business of yours,” said the Signora lifting her head in disdain. “I am the mistress here, not you.” Then suddenly she rushed over to the child eating her sugar bread at the table. She squatted down next to the chair.

“Bella, bella! Who are you, bambino?”

“I am Seraphina and I am five-years-old.” The child showed five fingers. “I want to be four, but Granny says I already been that and I can’t go back to be it again. How old are you?”

Kate stepped over, rapped Seraphina on the head with one finger, and hissed at her. The child’s expression turned mulish.

“I’m four times five,” Signora Solano answered frowning at the older woman. “Do you know how old that is? Have you learned to cipher, yet?”

“What’s cipher?” the child demanded, looking into the signora’s face and smiling.

“Adding, subtracting. It’s arithmetic.” Signora reached up and cupped the girl’s chin in her hand, but Seraphina jerked away.

“We don’t teach arithmetic to such young children around here,” Molly broke in. “They can’t learn it.”

“Do you like stories, little one?” Ignoring Molly Signora spoke directly to the child.

“Oh, yes. I will give you my sugar bread if you will tell me a story.” She offered the crust, which was all she had left.

“You behave now, chile. This lady ain’t got time for the likes of you,” Kate spoke sternly. “Pardon, ma’am, but our last lady took time with her and now the chile she think she somethin’”

Signora Solano at last standing and looking around saw Ellie. “Your hair! I did not notice it when we met last night.”

“What’s wrong with it?” Ellie’s hands flew to her hair.

“It’s bobbed!” Signora Solano sang out.

“Yes, ma’am.” Ellie nodded. “But I can grow it out, if you …”

“No, no, I want mine bobbed, too.” Signora Solano automatically started pushing in hairpins that had come loose from the chignon on the back of her neck. “It is heavy, it falls down, it is hot.”

“Oh, yes, ma’am, perhaps you would allow me to style it for you.” Ellie took a deep breath.

Seraphina put her hands in her hair in imitation of Signora Solano. “My hair is heavy, I’m hot,” whined the child.

Go West~Chapter 8

Go West

By DiVoran Lites

Chapter 8

Ellie

“Pastor, you’re invited to the Fitzgerald’s for coffee. We have something to discuss as a community.” Aldon said. “You’ll remember meeting Kenny and Mr. Fitz at the livery yesterday, Ellie. Come along, you’ll be involved, too.”

The Fitzgerald’s parlor was spacious and comfortable. It held a mix of old and new furniture, which included enough chairs for everyone. Kenny and his mother served the coffee in china cups and set out plates of delicate pastries. Signor Solano and Father Contenti, who had changed out of his vestments, sat on either side of the inactive fireplace. Ellie, Molly, Aldon, and Pastor Rudd arrayed themselves around the room. Mr. and Mrs. Fitzgerald sat together on a Victorian couch. After helping his mother serve, Kenny disappeared.

Aldon introduced Ellie to Mrs. Fitzgerald and Father Contenti. The priest stood and smiled at Ellie. She didn’t know whether to bow or shake hands, but Aldon moved her on as Father Contenti sat down again. The godly man folded his hands waiting for the din of conversation to fade. His snow-white hair lifted in a breeze from an open window. As he began to speak, Signor Solano nodded his head in affirmation obviously knowing what was coming.

“I have called you together to ask for your help. You heard about the Negro man who worked at the saloon.” The priest looked at Aldon.

“Yes, Sir.” He always worked the cattle drives and round-ups with us, called it his vacation.” The room fell quiet for a moment.

“Did you know he sent for his wife?” Mrs. Fitzgerald asked.

“Did she get here?” Aldon nodded a serious expression in his eyes. “She arrived with a small child on Friday – her granddaughter. She has no job and they have no home. We’re wondering if you might look after the two of them at the ranch for a while.” Father Contenti seemed to be asking Molly for her opinion.

“Is she a good worker?” Molly asked. “With so many coming to stay at the house, I’m going to need more help.” Molly crossed her legs at the ankles and leaned back.

“She has helped me a good bit since she’s been here. In fact, she made the pastries.” Mrs. Fitzgerald picked up a plate of baked goods and passed it to Mr. Fitzgerald who made everyone laugh by lifting his pinkie finger as he made a show of choosing the perfect treat. “She’s a fine cook, but the child is quite young and needs someone to look after her all the time. We just can’t manage it.”

“No, Mrs. Fitzgerald, you cannot.” Father Contenti spoke in a firm voice. “You have too much work already for the three of you: the general store, the livery, the movie theater. We could have Mrs. Fisher …”

“She asks that we call her Kate,” said Mrs. Fitzgerald breaking in. “She doesn’t talk much, but I did learn that she and her husband have saved for her fare and a cabin here for many years. The child’s name is Seraphina. Her mother and father are in prison for robbing banks.”

“At first we thought Kate might relieve the Fitzgeralds of looking after the parish house and me, but there’s one thing we need to consider,” said Father Contenti.

“The clan,” Aldon said knowingly. “They’ll be on the look-out for Kate and Seraphina, especially since the two of them passed through Denver, then Artesia and on here to Clifton. The clan seems to know everything these days.”

“Yes.” Father Contenti agreed.

“They aren’t primarily after people of color,” said Mrs. Fitzgerald.

“No,” said Aldon. “They’re after Jewish people and Catholics, and anyone who might take jobs their families could do. To be honest, they haven’t hurt anyone too badly, yet. I don’t think, however, that they’d hesitate to come after someone like Kate do you?” We will be happy to take them,” said Signor entering the conversation. “Perhaps Miss Morgan could help look after the bambina?”

“Of course, Signor,” Ellie said. “I am in your employ. I am not familiar with children, but I will do my best.”

“Signora Solano, my dear wife, will be delighted to help. It is what she needs to fill her life.” Signor Solano lifted his head listening as the sound of the noon train whistle sounded over the valley.”

“Your grandson has arrived.” Standing, Aldon pulled his gold watch from his pocket and glanced at it. “Right on time. Shall we go meet him? Molly, will you and Mrs. Fitz help the woman get ready for the ranch? Ellie is coming with us to the station.” He lifted an eyebrow in Ellie’s direction and she nodded yes. “Quentin, can we prevail upon you to bring a load of people to the ranch in your Bearcat? Molly will give you a sandwich for your trouble.”

***

Five minutes later, Aldon, Ellie, and Signor Solano got out of the Ford and hurried to the boardwalk to watch for Signor’s grandson. When Ellie spotted a young man in a white suit and Panama hat with an umbrella on his arm, she knew it was Enrico. With soft, dark curls resting on the collar of the suit, he resembled a poet from the days of Rosetti. The Signor sagged momentarily against Ellie, so she slipped her arm around his thin waist to support him. He soon straightened his shoulders and stood tall waiting to greet a boy who had become a man. Enrico paused to set his Panama at a jaunty angle. When he looked up and saw his grandfather, his face lit with the smile of an angel. Aldon retrieved Enrico’s small case and paid the porter who had been carrying it.

Signor Solano threw his arms around Enrico. When they both began to cry he took a handkerchief from his pocket and dabbed first at Enrico’s tears and then his own.

“Name’s Aldon Leitzinger,” said Aldon moving to shake hands.

Ellie would learn in the weeks to come that Enrico’s entire family had been scattered at the beginning of the war. Signor Solano had decided to leave him in boarding school in Switzerland so he could finish receiving the excellent education he was getting there. When peace came, his parents were dead and he wanted to come to America, but his grandfather said he must finish at university. He had a degree now and was ready to move into the next phase of his life.

After putting Enrico’s suitcase in the car, Aldon opened the back doors for the two men and they got in. As Ellie got into the passenger seat, she glanced back at them and saw that they were now holding hands. She was so happy for dear Signor Solano to have this new joy in his life.

Go West Chapter 7~Ellie

Go West

By DiVoran Lites

Chapter Seven

Ellie

“How do, Miss Morgan.” Mr. Leitzinger stood at attention near the driver’s side of a new Ford Touring Car. “Ready for church?”

She nodded looking him over and noting the way his Stetson enhanced the western theme of his jacket and boots. The jacket was as handsomely tailored as any tuxedo she’d seen and his boots had been carefully polished. He must have a place for clothes in the house, she thought. Surely he doesn’t keep them in the loft.

“Mr. Leitzinger, I’ve decided you may call me Ellie,” She looked into blue eyes shaded by thick, perfectly shaped, brows.

“Good. Call me Aldon. Please come around and meet Signor Solano.” Aldon steered her to the white-haired gentleman in the passenger seat. The man wore a perfectly cut, pinstriped suit and held a black fedora on his lap. Ellie placed her hand on the windowsill and the older man lifted it to his lips. A diamond cufflink peeked out from under the sleeve of his suit, caught a sunbeam, and winked

“Good Morning, Signorina. You are welcome to Spruce Creek Ranch. Please make yourself at home with us. Today, you are our guest to church.”

“Thank you, sir, she said carefully slipping the hand he had kissed into the pocket of her spring jacket.

“Now will you come over here, please?” Aldon, again at the driver’s side pulled the seat forward so she could get into the back with Molly who sat behind Signor Solano. The older woman wore a heavy black coat aged with russet streaks. Her hat sprouted stiff lavender ribbons looping and turning in a fantasy of bows.

Aldon got behind the wheel, pressed on the starter, and the automobile hummed to life. They were on their way to town, an older man, a woman of a certain age, and two young people who still had most of their lives ahead of them.

It took almost half an hour to get to town, but only a few seconds to coast down Main Street to the outskirts. There, identical churches sat facing each other across the road.

“This is the Catholic Church.” Aldon wheeled in next to the north-facing edifice, got out and opened the door for Signor Solano, then helped Molly out of the back seat. A priest in a cassock rushed from the church, gave Signor Solano a hug, and kissed his cheeks. Ellie noticed that Aldon’s face turned red and assumed he was embarrassed. She knew men in Chicago disdained a show of affection, so she wasn’t surprised that cowboys did too.

“That’s Father Contenti,” Aldon said. “We’ll leave the car here and walk across to my church. Opening the luggage area, he picked up a large, black Bible and stuck it under his arm then lifted his mandolin case and closed the hatch.

A large young man in a dark blue suit, red hair flaming in the sun, emerged from the other church and walked quickly across the street to greet them. He pumped Aldon’s hand and hit him on the shoulder. Ah, that’s how they do it here, thought Ellie.

“Hello there, I’m Pastor Quentin Rudd of the Clifton Community Church, at your service ma’am.” He gave a small bow then led Ellie into the church and straight to a pot-bellied stove radiating heat. “Come get warm,” he said. She held her gloved hands above the heat rising from the stove. Looking around she all but gasped at the sight of jeweled light shining through the stained glass windows, dashing color against the white walls, and splashing over the tops of the pews.

“You have a musician’s hands, I think,” Pastor Rudd said.

“Violin.” She looked around the large room. “Your church is lovely.” One of the windows depicted Jesus leading a herd of sheep with a lamb lying contently across his shoulders; another showed Him kneeling against a rock with His hands folded in prayer.

“The first one is an artist’s rendering of the Good Shepherd,” said Pastor Rudd following her gaze. “The second is our Savior’s prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane not long before His Crucifixion and Atonement.”

By this time, Aldon had seated himself in a wooden chair at the front and was concentrating on tuning his mandolin.

Pastor Rudd walked with Ellie to a front pew and motioned for her to be seated. He then went over to an organ that looked too small for him and fitted himself onto the bench. Angling his feet so he could press the pedals he laid large fingers on the keys. He and Aldon struck up “A Mighty Fortress is our God.” Ellie had heard it before at Grandmother’s church, but never like this. Her heart rose up and she felt as if she could fly to heaven on the music alone.

When the men finished playing, Pastor Rudd disappeared through a door at the side of the church. Ellie gave Aldon a look that asked where he was going. “Young’uns outdoor Sunday School,” he said catching the look. He beckoned to the ladies who were coming in at the back and hanging their coats on a coat tree to come forward.

“Please come closer,” he said. The women wore print housedresses and ancient hats. When Ellie looked at their feet she saw white anklets with stout lace-up shoes. Looking up to scan the women’s faces, she saw eyes bright with anticipation. What kind of lives must they lead, she wondered. It’s probably a constant round of child-care, cooking, washing dishes, cleaning and sewing. What could they do for entertainment except come to town for church on Sunday? Could I bear every day being like the one before it and the one after? she thought. Oh well, I suppose happiness depends more on attitude than anything else. Aldon introduced her to Mrs. Bauer, Mrs. McGregor, and a Leitzinger cousin.

“How do you do?” Ellie said the words she’d been taught to say when she met someone. The ladies nodded without smiling, and suddenly Ellie knew she was being judged. Oh Lord, she thought they’ll be gossiping about me the minute I leave the church.

Let’s pray,” Aldon bowed his head, and the women bowed theirs, too. “Lord, please open our ears, eyes, and hearts and help us know you in fresh, new ways.”

“Ellie,” Aldon said, smiling. “Will you please read Psalm 139:14?” He opened his Bible and pointing to the passage, put it into her hands.

“I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.” Ellie projected as she had been taught in drama class.” Was it true? Was she fearfully and wonderfully made? What a fine thought that was. She paused to let it sink in, and a momentary hush fell over the company as if her own awe had become a benediction for them all. Then, in a gentle voice, Aldon assigned a scripture to Mrs. McGregor and she began to read.

Go West Chapter 6~Ellie

Go West

DiVoran Lites

Chapter Six

Ellie

“Top o’ the mornin’ to you.” The bed jiggled bringing Ellie out of a numbness of sleep. “Didn’t you hear Mister Cock-o-the-Walk this mornin’?” She recognized Molly’s voice. It rang with heartiness and good cheer and it annoyed Ellie beyond measure.

“I didn’t hear anything,” Ellie shaded her eyes with her hand as sunlight streamed in through the lace curtains. “What time is it?” she asked.

“Seven o’clock. I thought you might be wanting a bit of time to get ready and to have some rhubarb pie, fresh baked this mornin’. The milking is done. The chickens are fed. The sow is nursing her squealers. The garden is watered. Aldon has the Ford ready to go and Mr. Solano will be waiting in the front seat in one hour. The missus doesn’t go to church. She’s a heathern and still in bed as far as I can tell.” Molly turned around and left the room forgetting to close the door behind her.

“Okay,” Ellie sank back into the pillow to think. We’re going to church. Signor Solano goes, but the signora stays home. Aldon is driving. I’ don’t want any breakfast; maybe I’ll snooze for one more minute.

“Come on, let’s get going,” Molly was back. She pulled off the covers and when she opened her eyes, she realized that Aldon had not removed any of her clothes. He was a gentleman, indeed.

“No rest for the wicked,” Ellie said, hearing her grandmother admonishing her to rise and get to work. Sitting up and looking around the room, she spotted her trunk. She knew Aldon had brought it upstairs and figured he had taken off her shoes, straightened her on the bed, and covered her. How thoughtful. Maybe he’d turn out to be a good man to know.

The trunk sat on its end, so all she had to do was open it as if it were a giant book. It had hangers and drawers and would have been worthy of a trip on the Queen Mary. Grandmother had tried to send her off in high style, but she hadn’t filled the trunk because she didn’t want to seem ostentatious. Even so, it took her a minute to decide what to wear.

The traveling suit would be dressier and warmer, but she had slept in it for several nights and it wasn’t what Grandmother would call, “fresh,” anymore. The blue jersey would have to do, even though she wasn’t fond of the long waists on dresses these days. She’d be glad when the styles changed again and she could buy a completely new wardrobe. On the other hand, now that she insisted on becoming independent, she wondered whether she’d make enough money for clothes. I wish Grandmother would stop my allowance as I asked, thought Ellie. Her deposits in the bank here don’t speak well of her confidence in me.

She hurried down the hall to the bathroom, sponge bathed and rushed back to slip into silk knickers and a crepe de chine envelope. She hoped no one would notice she was corsetless. The corsetiere at the store had fitted her before the war, but ambulance drivers needed to be able to move freely in their work so she had left those particular garments at home. She gloried in being able to get in and out of automobiles and bend over when necessary, but most of all, she had developed a fondness for breathing. People still gossiped about girls who were free in their dress and behavior, calling them flappers, Modern Millies, or vamps. Ellie realized she must be careful not to fall into that category. She ran a brush through her hair but the air was so dry and full of electricity that it rose like a halo around her head. Grabbing her blue cloche hat she pulled it down to hide her hair. Thank Heaven it was proper for a lady to wear a hat anywhere she went.

“What can I do to help,” she asked Molly in the kitchen.

“Sit down and eat.” Molly placed a piece of pie and a cup of cold milk on the table before her as she complied. Ordinarily I would consider the red juice against the white plate artful, but now it reminds me of gallons of blood pouring from hundreds of screaming bodies during the war.

“I saw Aldon carry your violin case up last night,” Molly said. “Or is that where you keep your eyebrows?”

“What?” It was too early for riddles. “No, my violin.” Ellie brought out her salesgirl smile, and then realized Molly was referring to her thin eyebrows. She knew they weren’t as thin as they could be, but she also knew that older women often disliked the new ways as much as younger people disdained the old ones.

“If God wanted us to have thin eyebrows, he would have drawn them on like I hear the floosies do.”

“Yes, ma’am. I can let them grow if you want,” said Ellie. She was on her way to independence. She was determined not to risk offending anyone and giving them an excuse to fire her.

“Eat your breakfast.” Molly frowned. “We need to get going.”

Ellie took up the fork and tasted the pie. It was so tart it made her ears ring. She grabbed the milk and gulped it down.

“I put six cups of sugar in that pie, my girl,” Molly said. “Eat it up, now. We’ve waited a long winter for this rhubarb. Have you had your spring tonic yet?

“No, ma’am, but I’m sorry I can’t eat it.” Ellie stammered. “I’m just not hungry.” Ellie crossed her fingers hoping not to suffer repercussions for lying.

“You liked the milk though?”

“Yes, it was good.” Ellie nodded and kept on nodding until she realized she must resemble a bobblehead doll.

“That there milk is from our own Brunhilda,” Molly said with a smile. “It’s got a lot of cream in it.”

“I can tell!” Ellie confirmed.

“Aldon will teach you how to milk her. Everybody ought to know how to milk a cow. Well, now, if you’re not going to eat the pie, scrape it into the bucket under the sink, and we’ll give it to the pig, she’s eating for thirteen. I gotta admit, even with all that sugar, it’s still a mite tart.” She walked out laughing to herself and Ellie knew everything was all right for the time being.