#Serial Western Romance – 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 29

Go West

by DiVoran Lites

Chapter Twenty Nine

Aldon

When dinner was over, Aldon herded everyone onto the sidewalk in front of the hotel. Offering his arm to Molly, he checked his gang to make sure they were all there: Nancy and Gertrude, Signor and Signora Solano, Kate and Seraphina, and of course, Ellie. Enrico hadn’t come, and Signor Solano seemed sad about that. Aldon would have been unhappy too, if a member of his family had not shown up. On the street, the group threaded their way through the strolling ranchers and their families who all seemed drawn toward the marquee where the words, “The Thief of Bagdad” shone in neon brightness.”

“Wait, boy! Where you going?” Molly pulled back, but Aldon tugged on her arm so that she was impelled to go along with him. They walked into the theater lobby, which was only a small room decorated in red velvet, but so exotic to Molly that she stared in wonder.

“Popcorn, Molly?” Mr. Fitz asked from behind the counter. The aroma as the white kernels popped and fell into a snowy heap against the glass filled Molly’s senses. She received the bags and passed them as Mr. Fitz filled them and handed them to her. When Aldon tried to pay, the grey-haired gentleman waved the money away.

“Where’s Ellie,” Molly asked.

“Here I am.” Ellie slipped into place, received her popcorn, and followed the herd into the theater. Aldon knew his young friend had already been inside this night to announce Molly’s arrival. He slipped behind Molly so she could enter first and when she did, Kenny played a mighty fanfare on the upright piano at the foot of the screen. Colleen stepped in front of the curtain and stood waiting for the theater to quiet.

“Ladies and gentlemen, please join us in singing happy birthday, to Molly,” she said

In the dimly lit theater, everyone heard Molly say tearfully “You mean…we’re going to see, “The Thief of Bagdad?”

“Yes, dear lady,” said Signor Solano. “Would you like to sit down and enjoy your birthday song first?

Molly sat down and tried to concentrate on the song. She knew it was an honor to have the people of the valley notice her in this way. The war was over and they had survived together in spite of devastating losses of family members at home and on the front. Prejudice, fear, and hatred had not managed to destroy the regard the people had for each other. A new respect and cooperation had begun which promised a better and more prosperous future for all, and now Molly was going to see her first film. Her cup overflowed.

“Take off your hats,” a man yelled from the back. Women’s bob-hats and old-fashioned, wide-brimmed chapeaus vanished into laps. A hush fell over the audience, and the feature began with a rolling glissando. Words came onto the screen, “The Thief of Bagdad: An Arabian Nights Fantasy,” 1924, By Douglas Fairbanks.”

Later when Lia asked Molly what she had liked best about the movie, the housekeeper had said that everything was too wonderful to be able to choose. When Lia insisted on an answer, Molly confessed that Kenny’s music had enhanced the screen excitement to the point where, near the end, she chewed her fingernails in terror. Soon, though, their own brilliant young musician played such beautiful music that she knew the lovers would be safe. She cried with relief as they flew over onion domes, spires, and pillars, and left the air above the exotic city for the clean, pure atmosphere of the desert and mountains.

***

“Indeed, that was a lovely show, thank you all.” Molly said, on the way out.

Aldon took Seraphina from Ellie and gave her to her grandmother. He slipped his free arm around Ellie, knowing it would be an announcement of sorts to everyone else. Looking up to see if there were any flying carpets in the air, he saw that the moon lacked only an inch or two of being full.

Once they arrived at the ranch, everyone except Aldon and Ellie scattered for their rooms. It was late and tomorrow, the chores had to be finished before anyone could leave for the rodeo. The two of them, though, took their time checking on the horses and shooing the chickens into the barn where the cougars and foxes couldn’t get at them.

“I’m so glad you came up with the plans for Molly’s birthday,” Ellie said. Aldon looked into her face thinking, you give off such a glow that no one could be unhappy around you, you beautiful thing.

“Did you like the movie?” he said, barely controlling his voice, which wanted to go gravelly on him.

“I loved it,” she said. “It was better than, “The Sheik.” Kenny did a wonderful job with the music. How can he know what to play? ”

“It’s improvisation. You’re good at that too,” Aldon answered.

“I suppose a person could get the hang of it. Has he ever talked to you about it?” Ellie wanted to know all the details when it came to music.

“The movie companies send accompaniment sheets, but Kenny ignores them and plays by ear. He says that as he watches a movie, his brain supplies the melodies and his fingers tickle the ivories. He believes movies will have the music recorded in them, somehow. He wants to go to Hollywoodland and be a part of that.

“I liked the flying carpet,” Aldon said. “I don’t know how they did that … wires, I guess.” He took her hand in his. “You know, kid, if they were really flying that fast, they would have fallen off the minute the rug lifted off the ground.”

“Oh, you’re so romantic,” Ellie gave a saucy toss of her head.

“Thank you.” He told her. “I think I am.”

The grandfather clock in the hall sounded twelve times and still they sat gazing into each other’s eyes.

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 27

Go West

by DiVoran Lites

Chapter Twenty Seven

Ellie

As Ellie’s spirit quieted, she began to see her surroundings again. When she looked up at the Ferris wheel she saw that it was slowing to a stop, and that someone was waving and calling to her from a gondola.

“It’s getting late and the Signora is probably wondering how to get a taxi back to the hotel.” Aldon said standing up.

“Look over there, she’s on the Ferris wheel,” Ellie said.

“Hoo, hoo,” Lia waved and called again, and they walked over to wait until the attendant released her.

“Where have you been!” Lia demanded. “I have lost Enrico!”

”Are you all right?” Forgetting her own former emotional state, Ellie slipped her arm around Lia’s shoulders. “

“Am I all right?” Lia said shaking Ellie off. “You left me without a fare-thee-well, and now Enrico has disappeared. No, I am notta all right. We must find him so we can go back to the hotel.”

“I’ll get him.” Aldon strode away, and the women hurried after him so that he wouldn’t become as lost to them as Enrico already was. As fast as they walked, Lia could still chatter, and because she didn’t lower her voice people kept stopping and staring at her.

“Really, that Enrico, he is too bad. He has no self-discipline. He is always going to the saloon in town, I give him money and money and he always needs more. If Giovanni knew how he was taking from me, he would have a heart attack.”

“I presumed Enrico was in the suite with you and the Signor at night, or in his own room.” Ellie tried to keep an eye on Aldon while weaving through the crowd and conversing with Lia.

“He comes home broken every night.” In the garish carnival lights, Lia stopped and rubbed her fingers together in Ellie’s face. It was the ancient sign for money.

“You mean broke?” Ellie asked, imagining how the local people would say it.

“Yes, n-ever no m-oney and in his chips, as well.” In her anger Lia stammered.

“In his cups, you mean…drunk?”

“Drunk, yes. I will tell my Giovanni he must send his grandson to Switzerland, or Italy, or wherever he wants to go. I want my peace back. I want my home again.”

As the crowd thinned on the outskirts of the amusement park, Aldon cut between two tents toward the sound of men’s threatening voices. When the women came into the small alleyway, they saw Enrico crumpled against a tent wall like a rag doll. A man came at Aldon, but Lia, in her hurry to get to Enrico, rushed past and the man accidently knocked her down. Ellie rushed to her, but Lia was getting to her feet unharmed.

“Stop this nonsense at once,” Ellie cried. When Aldon heard her voice, it took his mind off protecting himself. A punch landed on his jaw, and he fell. The three men looked for someone else to punish, but could find no further victims. One of them ran over to where Enrico lay and went through his pockets. He pulled out a roll of bills and shoved them down his shirt. He nodded to the others and they took off.

Ellie rushed out onto the fairway looking for help, and a policeman, who must have heard about the fight, came on the run, waving a nightstick. He pulled back to hit Aldon but Ellie grabbed his arm and held on as hard as she could.

“Not him,” Ellie said, shaking all over. “The bad guys are already gone. See if that other man is all right.”

“A word to the wise,” the policeman said trying to get Enrico to his feet, “Take this man home and don’t bring him back to town again. He don’t pay his gambling debts. They were only after what belonged to them. If I ever see any of you again, I’ll arrest you all.”

Aldon took Enrico from the policeman and Ellie put her arm around the young man’s waist to help support him. Lia followed them to the Packard Six, and Aldon stuffed Enrico into the back seat. He shoved him over, and got in.

“You’ll have to drive,” Aldon told Ellie. “I’m still woozy from that punch. We leave for the valley at six o’clock in the morning.”

Go West~Chapter 23

Go West

by DiVoran Lites

Chapter Twenty Three

Aldon-The train to Denver

One day Molly came out of Signor’s office to tell Aldon the master wanted to see him. When he opened the door, Signor Solano motioned for him to be seated. “Aldon, I have ordered a Packard Six automobile for Father Contenti and I want you to go to Denver on the train and bring it home. The Fitzgerald boy will teach him to drive so he can visit his parish. I hadn’t realized that he had to either ask the Pastor to take him or wait until Rudd went out before he could go. I invited him to apply to come here, he is my countryman and friend from my boyhood, and I’m sorry it took me so long to see what he needed.”

“Yes, sir. I’ll be glad to do that. Is it all right if I go on Friday?” At Signor Solano’s nod, Aldon rose and turned to leave. Then he paused and turned back. “Sir,” he said, “Miss Ellie is looking tired. I think she’d enjoy a rest from her work here. Would it be all right if I took her along? I’ll be staying at the Cattleman’s, but she could stay somewhere else for the sake of propriety.”

After Signor Solano gave his permission, Aldon asked Ellie to go along. It didn’t take much to persuade her, but she refused to admit that she needed to get away. The whole plan changed when Lia heard about the jaunt. She invited herself to go too. She and Ellie could shop for clothes to wear to Molly’s birthday party and to the Fourth of July dance. Lia insisted they take Enrico, after all, he was family and a guest in their home. So the plans were made. Lia said that Aldon could stay at the Cattleman’s Hotel if he wished, but the rest of them would be at the Brown Derby, the best hotel in Colorado.
The train left Clifton at seven on a Friday morning. Aldon talked the conductor into letting him and Ellie stand out on the caboose platform so they would have a good view of the highest suspension bridge in the world as the train went along under it in the Royal Gorge canyon. Lia and Enrico sat inside grousing about getting up so early.

“Hey, kid,” said Aldon bringing up something he’d been wondering about. “I got the notion you were afraid of horses.”

“Yes.” Ellie dipped her head then looked up into his eyes. “The first horse I ever rode ran away with me and I got banged up. No broken bones, but after that, I thought I’d stay away from horses.”

“I noticed that you kind of like your mare and colt, though. Do you … like them all right, I mean? Summer is coming along fine in her training.”
“Yes, she is. You’re a good trainer. If someone had taken the time with that first horse, and if I’d had a few lessons I would have loved horses from the beginning.”

“You’re a natural and I have some more things to teach you.” Joy surged through him. “That young’n is having fun too. He’ll need hardly any training when he grows up.” Aldon slipped his arm around Ellie’s shoulders. He intended to give her a quick, one-armed hug, but the train lurched throwing him back against the caboose. When Ellie fell into his arms he braced himself and tightened his arms around her to keep her from falling. The minute she reached around him to hold herself steady, a blend of peace and pleasure flowed through him like hot coffee on a cold morning. He didn’t want to let her go. Then he recalled the time he’d held her at the beaver dam and how she had rared back and hit him saying, “Let me go you big lug. I can’t breathe…” Wait a minute, though. She had regained her balance and still she leaned into him. Sadly it didn’t last.

She pulled away as soon as she realized what was happening, but hope poured into his heart when she said, “Thank you for catching me, and thank you for teaching me to love.” She took a deep breath. I mean thank you for teaching me to love horses.”By this time they were out of the canyon and heading east toward Artesia.
When the train swept past the Colorado State Penitentiary where some the worst criminals in the west were incarcerated. Aldon thought about Cookie and his wife and granddaughter.

“I heard that Kate’s husband ended up in that pen,” Ellie remarked.

“Yes, he was here, but he’s not here any more.”

“What happened?”

“Everybody in the valley knew about it.”

“What did he do,” she asked.

“He killed a man.”

“What?” Ellie gasped. “That can’t be.”
“Cookie Fisher was a good man all right,” Aldon nodded. I told you he helped on cattle pushes and round-ups. His real job was at the saloon where he was the chief cook and bottle-washer.”

“What did he do?” Ellie asked.

“He had saved money to send for Kate and Seraphina and enough to build a cabin but it was time for Slick’s yearly visit to Clifton.”

“Slick? That’s a strange name for a man.”

“Not if you knew Slick,” he said. “He was a traveling gambler. People knew he cheated, but somehow he always got at least one sucker at a poker table. Cookie wanted to buy Kate furniture for the cabin. He ended losing the game and it was the last straw. He was still the underdog. The day after the game, he made a separate pot of chili for the gambler.”

“What did he put in it, arsenic?” Ellie asked.

“How’d you know? But I’ve got this to say for him, he put in enough so that Slick didn’t suffer long. My friend Sheriff Oates came up from Artesia to arrest him. After Cookie was tried, he was electrocuted – the first in the new electric chair.”

“Oh, poor Kate. She must be grieving so… I thought she was just standoffish.” Ellie put her hand on Aldon’s sleeve as if looking for comfort.. Aldon nodded and covered her hand with his until she drew away.
When the train pulled into the station, Aldon walked Ellie, Lia, and Enrico to a taxi. He held Ellie back for a moment.“I’m staying at The Cattleman’s and I’m going to the stockyard. After that, I’ll pick up the automobile. I’ll come get you then. I’d like it to be just the two of us.”

“Could I come with you now?” Ellie asked. He thought he heard a sweet message in her voice.

“You’d better ask the Signora, we don’t want her mad,” he answered. He went around to ask the driver to wait and in a moment Ellie was at his side telling him the answer was no.

“Mrs. Solano needs me.” Aldon saw that Ellie was sad and yet she squared her shoulders and climbed into the backseat of the taxi, which immediately pulled away.