DiVoran’s Promise Posters, Paintings from Go West as well as other art can be purchased as note cards and framable art
Tag: Faith
Promise Poster~Knock
DiVoran’s Promise Posters, Paintings from Go West as well as other art can be purchased as note cards and framable art
Go West~Chapter 13
Go West
Chapter Fourteen
Ellie
As Molly, Kate, and Ellie approached the log corral, Ellie saw the cattle kicking up dust in the far corner. Molly stepped onto the bottom log and put her arms over the top one to balance herself. Ellie, taking her lead, helped Kate up, and the three women waited for the action to begin. Ellie saw the handles of the branding irons sticking out of the fire in the middle of the enclosure.
“It won’t be long now,” Molly shouted. She waved to one of the older cowboys. “There’s Jim, he married my cousin.”
“Good morning.” Aldon rode over on one of the most beautiful horses Ellie had ever seen. Its white mane and tail blew free. The colors on its hide reminded her of a brown, black, and burnt orange painting, on a white background, she had seen in a gallery once.
“Is that Chief?” Ellie asked, remembering her few conversations with Aldon. The horse nodded its head twice as if in answer, but Ellie suspected it was only demonstrating impatience.
“Yeah, he’s an Appaloosa.” Aldon answered.
“I like his hair,” she hid a smile, knowing her choice of words would tease Aldon. He hesitated before speaking, but then he smiled too.
“Most of his breed has one or two colors, but he got all four.” Aldon touched the brim of his Stetson. “We’ll get to work, now, kid. So long.” He touched the brim of his Stetson, gave the animal a light kick with the heel of his boot and they were away.
Ellie, watched Aldon as he left. Suddenly he had a rope in his hands and was twirling it over the cows’ heads. He seemed to choose a cow and calf to separate by letting the loop drift between them. The cow stepped back, and at the perfect moment, the loop settled on the ground under the calf’s hoof, catching him by the ankle. Aldon pulled the rope tight, and Chief strolled pulling the calf along behind on three legs. At the fire, a big man grabbed it and threw it to the ground. He tied its back feet together, then its front ones.
The creature bellowed in pain as another man shoved a red-hot iron into its hip. The sizzle and smoke from the burning brand, and the odor of singed hair took Ellie back to early days at Grandmother’s store when she trained in the beauty salon. It was the day the permanent wave machine malfunctioned and burned the curls off a patron’s head at the scalf. The smell, combined with the calf’s agony, made her sick at her stomach, so she lowered her head hoping she wouldn’t upchuck into the corral. She didn’t think anyone saw her distress, but when she looked up, Molly was scowling at her.
Telling herself to be brave Ellie looked again into the center of the pen where the young steer had been released to return to its bawling mother. A cowboy, down on one knee tossed something white that looked like baby eggplants into a galvanized bucket.
“There now,” said Molly, “that’s the castration done. Those Rocky Mountain oysters are a treat for the men. They insist on frying them theirselves. They think a woman can’t do it, but I was frying them when they were only gleams in their dad’s eyes, so they needn’t tell me there’s anything a woman can’t do.” Molly stepped down and started back toward the house. “We have to get dinner ready, and then start on supper.” The other two joined her.
“Will those poor calves be ready to travel this week?” Ellie asked.
“Sure and they will. They never give it thought. What’s the matter, girl? You can’t be feeling sorry for everything and everybody around here. This is a working ranch! You’d best hurry up
***
“Are you ready for the drive?” Aldon stood in front of the serving table, which had been brought outside for the noon meal, giving her a knowing look. Apparently, her lapse of attention was already the talk of the ranch.
“Ready when you are,” she said, handing him a slice of bread. He laid it on top of his chili.
“Thanks for the grub.” Aldon turned and walked over to a grove of trees where the other men sat on the grass eating. She wished he could have stayed and talked, but she knew they must tend to their jobs. As Molly had said earlier, there was no time for lollygagging.
“We better slice the cakes.” Molly came up behind her and set a cake and a knife on the table. “Those fellers will have all that chili et in no time and be looking for more.”
She was right. They wolfed down their dinner, came for seconds, and then demolished the cakes. As the cooks cleared the tables, the men rested against cottonwoods with their hats pulled over their eyes to shield them from the bright sun. The younger ones, including Kenny Fitzgerald, roughhoused like warriors training for battle. Too bad we have no young maidens here to swoon over them, thought Ellie.
***
At suppertime, after the branding was finished, the men filed into the kitchen and seated themselves at the long table. Since she was going on the cattle drive, Aldon insisted that Ellie sit down with them instead of serving. Molly gave him an annoyed look before she handed him the plate of Rocky Mountain Oysters, the product of the need to neuter the calves. As the plate went around and the contents disappeared, the men laughed and joked. The plate was almost empty when it reached Ellie, but the men had stopped eating and talking and were staring at her. She forked a Rocky Mountain Oyster, put it on her plate, took a deep breath, and cut off a morsel. The men fell silent, all looking at her. She knew she had to prove she wasn’t a sissy so she put the bite into her mouth. As she chewed, she thought she might be sick again. It only took a moment, however, to discover that the meat tasted like nothing, but fried flour, salt, and pepper. She smiled, and the men around the table roared. Kenny applauded, and the rest joined in.
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.