#amwriting – Page 2 – Rebekah Lyn Books

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 51

Chapter 51 The Cave

Go West

by DiVoran Lites

Chapter Fifty-One

Ellie

When Ellie and Lia were finally allowed to get off the horses, they found themselves inside a large cave on the edge of a cliff. Furstus and Lastus unpacked the horses and made a fire.

“You can kill that one if you want to,” said Lastus, “but this one is my little darling’ and you ain’t touching her. I saw her first a long time ago when she was making a picture at the pond and she hurt herself and fainted and… He leaned over and kissed Lia on the cheek. She tried to spit at him, but he dodged it. “You know durn well I want a woman of my own, and I’m picking this one.”

“Oh, shut up you low-down ugly old skunk.” Furstus shook his head. “Now you women, if either of you can cook, do not tell Ma. She’d take it hard if she thought we didn’t like her cooking and brought someone else to take over.”

“Neither of us can really cook,” said Ellie quickly.

Lastus pulled something from his pocket and bit off a chunk filling his cheek with it. He held what looked like a hard, brown cake up to Lia. “Have a chaw, sweetie?” he said, offering to share. Lia shuddered and shook her head.

“Don’t you like this kind of tabaccy? It’s Ma’s favorite” said Lastus. “She might like you better, sir, if you weren’t so hairy,” Ellie said, coming up with a plan to get his bowie knife away.

“Might you, Miss?” He looked at Lia who sat on the stone floor rubbing her wrists.”

“I might,” she said, cutting her eyes at Ellie and then quickly back at Lastus.

“Good, I’ll give you a haircut and a shave.” Ellie said.

“You don’t look like you got anything to cut with,” the young man said.

Ellie recalled Aldon wanting to hang a gun belt on her and wished she had accepted it. She had no idea whether she could actually shoot somebody, but she thought if they made a move to hurt her or Lia, she’d be willing to give it a try.

“I can cut your hair with that knife.” She indicated the knife in a scabbard attached to his belt. “If it’s sharp enough, I can shave you too.” Just in time, Ellie had recalled Granddad’s mention of the pride most men took in the sharpness of their various knives.

“Ya got a deal,” said Lastus. He pulled out the knife and began to rub the blade on a small whetstone from his pocket. “I always keeps my knives as sharp as my brain in case one a them bears gets mad when we’re trying to kill it.”

Lia fanned her face with her hand and Ellie knew it was a way of saying, what a lot of bologna.

“All right, hand it over.” Ellie ordered.” He slapped the knife handle into her palm. “Sit on that rock. I’ll shave you first.”

When he was clean-shaven she picked up a strand of greasy hair, sliced it off and threw them in the fire. She kept cutting until the tangle of curls had been tamed into a short, military cut.

When she finished, she angled the broad blade into the last rays of the dying sun so he could see a reflection of his appearance. He turned his head this way and that and ran his hand over his cheek. Having been shorn, he looked almost harmless—and much younger than Ellie had imagined.

“Is that me?” he said, his voice full of awe. “Why I’m a right pretty sight, ain’t I?”

“How many years have you?” Lia asked, her voice subdued.

“I don’t rightly know. How old are you, Miss Lady?”

“Trenta, old enough to be your mama,” Lia snapped.

“Oh, no, Ma’s a real old lady. You’re beautiful and I want you to come live with us. I’ll treat you good, I promise, and I won’t let Ma hit you and I won’t let Furstus be mean. I do all the clothes-washing and I’ve got a pair of real good sad-irons. I know how to use them, too.”

“I can’t, Lastus, I am married all ready and my husband and I are going to have a baby.”

“I had no idea, that’s wonderful!” Ellie interrupted. “Oh, I hope you’re all right.”

“Yes, I am sana, how you say, full of good health. And the bambino, is so tiny he would not be hurt by such a day.” Lia looked smug and rather proud of herself.

Go West~Chapter 44

Go West

by DiVoran Lites

Chapter Forty Four

Aldon

Now that they were home from round-up, it was time for Signora Solano’s musicale. While the ladies primped, Aldon asked Ellie’s grandfather to help take the dining room and kitchen chairs into the big front parlor. Seraphina, who had been roaming the house looking for something to do, asked if she, and the kitten she clutched to her chest, could help. Aldon glanced at the older man who grinned and winked. Aldon could read Mr. Morgan’s heart then, and knew he was remembering his granddaughter’s childhood.

“Sure you can. Dust with this.” Mr. Morgan took a large white handkerchief from his pocket and gave it to Seraphina, who put the kitten down and began to run the cloth over the baseboards. The kitten, doing his part, crouched, wiggled, and pounced making Seraphina’s giggles tinkle through the room like a merry brook.

Loud voices alerted Aldon that his cousins had arrived with Eva and Olga from town. When he heard the chiming of the young women against the roar of the men, he thought back to two small pigtailed girls arriving for the beginning of school not knowing how to speak English. As he strode to the back door to greet them all, he recalled that the girls had worn home-made traditional German costumes for school plays. They’re wearing them still he thought as he approached. But bigger sizes and more filled out. From the way the girls clung to Dieter’s and Joe’s arms, Aldon sensed that their bachelor days were limited. Instead of teasing with a knowing look, he stifled his envy.

Dieter, who was as tall as Aldon and much beefier, jammed his shoulder against his cousin’s, delighting in putting him off balance so he’d have to take a step. Dieter had been doing that since they were ten years old and Aldon had never thought it funny.

“Did you call Sheriff Oates?” Dieter asked.

“Come out here, for a minute,” said Aldon knowing there would be no talking to the boys as long as they were showing off in front of the girls. Joe followed telling his date to go on in and take his tuba with her. She hefted it willingly, as a stout housewife would hoist a basket of laundry.

The men followed Aldon to the barn where he turned suddenly and said, “I wish you’d keep your mouth shut, for once.”

“What are you goin’ on about? We got to bring in the Sheriff or get up a posse to go up the mountain after them squatters. Somebody coulda got hurt, plus they’re don’t you know they’re the ones what stole those five cattle we’re missing.” Dieter always spoke his mind. Aldon only hoped none of the other men would hear him. If they did, and formed a posse, he could see a lynching in the future.

“Yeah,” said Joe. “We got to do somethin’ ”

“Okay, here’s what I’ve been thinking,” said Aldon. “Number one, we can’t do anything about finding those fellows in the dark. Number two, they aren’t going anywhere; they’re not what you’d call adventuresome types. They’ve been on that mountain their whole lives, I doubt if they’d know how to read a map or buy a train ticket.”

“We goin’let them go?” Joe asked.

“No, I’ve already told you, we’ll let the sheriff deal with it. We are not going outside the law and we’re not going to tell anyone. You got that? So don’t’ say another word about it.” He felt better after making sure they wouldn’t stir up trouble he wasn’t ready to handle. To change the subject he asked where they had found the tuba and the accordion they had brought.”

“Ma took it in her head to clean the attic and when she found the instruments, she told us to get rid of them, but instead we fixed them up. We had to order some new bellows ‘cause the mice had been at them, but then we didn’t have no trouble putting them back together.”

As they went through the kitchen and into the front parlor, Aldon wondered where Ellie was. He hoped she was all right and that she would be down soon. He tried never to worry, but the thought that she was leaving dug worry holes in his brain. Knowing nothing in life would ever compare with the simple happiness of being in her company, he was overwhelmed with grief and an awful helplessness.

Finished with their conversation they went back to the parlor where last-minute practicing and tuning of instruments were almost deafening. As Mrs. Fitzgerald and her son, Kenny, settled themselves at the piano the room grew still. Coleen and Kenny both played by ear, and they had practiced together most of the boy’s life. Their duets were now the sensation of Clifton. When they began the lively, “By the Sea,” everyone began to clap.

Ellie came in as the piece ended and Aldon, who had been standing by the piano checking out the crowd, rushed over to greet her. He wanted to hug her, but didn’t dare for fear that she would be angry with him for making another scene.

DiVoran’s Promise Posters, Paintings from Go West as well as other art can be purchased as note cards and framable art

Creative Arts

Go West~Chapter 43

Go West

by DiVoran Lites

Chapter Forty Three

Aldon

The trip down the mountain was easy until they got into a sloping meadow where the herd fanned out. There, without warning two horsemen came over a rise yelling and shooting their side-arms. The Herefords took off in a stampede, leaving no time to go after the hecklers.

Riding fast on both sides of the herd, the men set themselves to stopping the stampede. First they had to get them into a mill. It wouldn’t do for them to fall into a draw and break their bones or get lost and have to be rounded up all over again. Kenny and Aldon rode next to the head of the stampede slowly forcing them to change their course and double back. After a few heart-stopping moments, the beasts melted into a swirling, red and white tornado, and were forced to slow to a standstill. Eventually they settled down and began to graze. Aldon took the first deep breath he’d had since the stampede began.

“You can start on down again, Mr. Morgan,” Aldon rode to the wagon with Summer in tow. Do you mind riding Ellie’s horse, Mr. Morgan,” he said. He dipped his hat in thanks to the older man who got down off the wagon and mounted Summer.

Aldon tied Chief to the back of the chuck wagon, and took his place on the seat next to Ellie.

“I’m glad everyone is safe.” She touched his face with her warm, slender hand and all at once Aldon felt as full of ginger as a day old colt.

“Who were those men?” Ellie asked.

“Probably the squatters that were at the ranch with Enrico the other night,” Aldon gave the reins a shake to remind the mules they weren’t allowed to graze along the way.

Why would they do something like that? We could have been hurt or killed.” Ellie leaned against him as though seeking reassurance.

“Nah,” he shook his head and then looked directly at her. “It’s all in a day’s work.”

“But, what if one of us had died?” Her eyes pooled with unshed tears.

“That would have been a shame, don’t you think?” He put his arm around her shoulders and gave her a gentle squeeze.

“Why would it have been a shame?” He guessed maybe she was looking for reassurance.

“We’ve got a lot of living to do.” He clicked his tongue at the mules to move along now that they were on more even ground.

“But what’s the use of living if you’re not happy?” She asked.

“You’re not happy?” He hadn’t known that. He’d thought she was just mad at him.

“Not really,” she answered rubbing her hand on her jeans.

“Don’t you know? It’s, it’s…” there was a sob in her voice…because we’re at odds with each other.”

“You may be at odds with me, but I’m not at odds with you,” he said.

“You’re not?” She found a handkerchief in the jacket pocket and dabbed at her eyes.

“Haven’t you noticed who has been doing the ignoring?” He pulled the brim of his hat down a quarter of an inch.

“You walked off when I was trying to talk to you after church.”

“All right, I’m here now. What did you want to say?” Aldon pushed the hat back a bit and gave her his full attention.

“Having men fight over me was embarrassing.” She put her hands over her face.

“Didn’t I tell you I was sorry?” He thought he had explained how he felt, but obviously he hadn’t said the words she needed to hear. Would dealing with this woman ever become easy and commonplace? He doubted it but he knew he’d keep on trying.

“Out here we call a man responsible for his own actions even if he’s sick or drunk.” Aldon, shifted and wrapped his hand around hers. He pulled it to the region of his heart which seemed to be fluttering in his chest.

“Besides, you could have hurt him.” Ellie’s hand cuddled into his.

“There’s no harm in a bully getting hurt if he’s misbehaving, especially toward a lady like yourself.” He knew he sounded gruff.

“Is that what you think he is… a bully?” She tugged, but he held on to her hand.

“Maybe, but I have to be honest with you, I wasn’t sorry about interfering with that young man.” She tried again to pull away, but he went on talking. “I was, though, very sorry it upset you. I know fighting isn’t right or good, but sometimes men must look after women and…

“Are you saying I don’t know how to look after myself?” Ellie’s voice rose slightly.

“Anyhow, I never hit him. He passed out while I was dragging him away.” He tried to tell her the truth, hoping she’d listen.

“You didn’t hit him? But he was unconscious when you threw him in the pick-up.”

“No ma’am, I wouldn’t hit a shrimp like him. You ever heard of, pick on somebody your own size?” Aldon shook his head amazed at her lack of understanding. “Besides, why do you care what other people think?”

“You don’t care what people think of you?” She asked.

“I care what you think.” He gently rested their joined hands on the seat.”

“Why?” She sighed.

“First ‘cause you’re a good woman.”

“What else?”

“You’re easy on the eyes.” He flashed her a smile.

“You like the way I look?” Ellie, who was sitting hip to hip with him scooted a bit closer. Knowing he’d fall off if he budged, he sat as still as if he were watching a butterfly hover over a flower.

“Sure I do.” Maybe they were getting somewhere now. He held his breath.

“And?” Her voice went up on a singsong note.

“I got fond of you.” He gently squeezed her hand.

“Why did you stop talking to me, then? People can’t read each other’s minds. We’ve got to communicate.”

“Everything I said seemed to make things worse.”

She thought and nodded. He wondered if she might be getting angry all over again.

Aldon turned loose of her hand, removed his hat, scratched his head, leaving tufts of champagne colored hair sticking up like bull horns on the front of his head, and put the hat back on over them. Silence fell and after a long haul to the ranch, the mules pulled the wagon into the barn.