The Traherns #1 (38 page)

“Yes.”

“Have you gotten yourself a good drink of water?”

“No.”

“Always get water in you before riding out. You won’t get as
thirsty.”

“Could save your life,” Mally added. “Do you need to eat before
you go?”

“I had a late breakfast. I’ll eat at Lizzie’s,” I said, getting
a drink. I was thirsty.

“We’re off,” James said.

Mally gave me a hug and I left, feeling very welcome.

James handed me up into the buckboard and we drove off. I looked
back to see Catherine waving at me from the upstairs window.

She would be nice as a sister.

But so would Lizzie. We had done lots of things together, Lizzie
and me, feeling very brave and adventuresome as we did so. But nothing compared
to my trip out west. I couldn’t wait to ask her how her trip had been.

Compared to Mally’s trip in a wagon train, the train I had come
out on seemed tame and uneventful. Just another trip out west.

People here didn’t make a big thing out of losing your luggage,
or having to wear the same clothes for a week. I wondered why I had ever felt
upset.

We drove out of the ranch gate and down the road. I could see
the workers off in the distance, still gathering the hay that had been cut and
laid out to cure.

James pointed out the places we could see on the horizon. Horse
Heaven Hills, the Columbia River area, Wallula. Walla Walla nestled in the
valley with the Blue Mountains all around. The dominant blue haze that colored
anything in the distance.

“I’m amazed at how many people there are.”

“Filling up fast. The good land is getting taken.”

The road took a ninety degree turn to the right for what seemed
no reason at all.

“Why do the roads turn so sharply out in the middle of a flat
place?” I asked James.

“It’s following the property edges. The grid is square. When the
boundaries don’t quite line up with each other, the road turns and follows the
edge sideways until it can go forward again. See, it will turn the other way at
the end of this field. A few of our roads in town do the same thing.”

I pictured our roads in New England, winding all over the place.
Ours did so mainly because of the hills and valleys.

I couldn’t help comparing James to the men I had met back east.
Except for Lizzie’s handsome brother, they seemed dull in comparison. I might
settle on Victor. I think I would have already, except for his wandering hands
and his domineering mother.

She had told me one day that she expected to run the house until
she was too old, at which time Victor’s wife would take care of her. It hadn’t
sounded too bad, since I couldn’t cook and could barely sew, so if I found a
mother-in-law who insisted on doing all those things, it seemed a good
trade-off to me. Having watched Catherine, it no longer seemed such a great deal.
She was entirely capable of running a house, so was not dependent upon anyone,
especially a bossy mother-in-law.

Mally wouldn’t do that to James or his wife. I pictured Lizzie’s
mother and suddenly knew that Mrs. Morrison wouldn’t be able to boss James
around either. James would never be bossed around by anyone.

I wondered if Mrs. Morrison was the reason Lizzie’s husband had
rushed Lizzie clear across the country as soon as they were married. I know
Mrs. Morrison hadn’t expected it. She came to my mother bemoaning the fact that
her Lizzie was gone, without hardly any warning.

She had picked me out for Victor. I don’t think my father
agreed. When she visited us, she tried to boss everyone around, including him.
I don’t think he wanted her as part of the family.

Was that why he had decided to sell Sir Galahad, and then sent
me to deliver him? He had talked about keeping him in Baltimore, which was why
it was such a big shock to me when he sold him. Victor was due home from
college the day I left.

“That’s quite a conversation you’re having with yourself,” said
James.

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

“That’s all right.”

“Things have been happening to me lately, and I’m just beginning
to piece them together.”

“There’s nothing like a long ride to set things in order.”

James, being James, did not ask for more.

We came down the last hill into the flat area where the town had
been located. There were already so many trees, it looked like a town of
treetops rather than houses. Much like a small New England town.

“Do you really think your folks are going to want to move in
here, after the view they get at your ranch?” I asked James. “I couldn’t part
with it, if I were them.”

“I never thought about it. Both of them grew up in the
mountains. I wonder if they thought about it. I know whenever I get back home
after having gone to town, I get a feeling of open spaces. Open sky.”

“I had that, too.”
Especially when I got out of the boxcar.

We continued down the tree-covered street, cool and comfortable.

“I would think you’d like it better, in the shade,” he said.

I didn’t. I liked the sun. It was a trifle melting, but felt
wonderfully dry.

If mother could see me now, traveling along without a chaperone,
in a buckboard without a top to keep the sun off, she would faint.

We drove along in what felt like mutual contentment. I enjoyed
being with James and did not want the trip to end. Too soon, we arrived at
Lizzie’s. Too soon, I said “Good Bye” to James. Too soon, the feeling of
contentment was broken.

Lizzie’s home was a large, two story house that looked like it
had been transplanted directly from Baltimore. A small picket fence, painted
white, enclosed it. A yard, with flowers around the edges, completed the
picture.

James stopped the wagon. “Here we are.”

“Thank you.”

Lizzie threw open the door and sauntered down the walkway. It
was the same old Lizzie. Dark brown hair, carefully done in ringlets, face
untouched by the sun, red lips, and beautiful blue eyes. Lizzie had had many
admirers when she had formally come out.

“Brynn. It’s so good to see you. Come inside. You must be
broiled.” She smiled broadly at me, then turned to James. “Bring her luggage
inside, please.”

“Lizzie.” I stopped. I didn’t know whether to protest her
speaking to James as she would a servant, or to tell her he was the son of the
man who bought father’s bull. I realized she didn’t know anything about the
past week. James was dressed in his working clothes, clean, but not fancy, and
seemed to be amused rather than insulted.

“Lizzie. It’s good to see you, too. This is James Trahern. His
family has a ranch outside of town.”
And he could buy your father several times over.

“That’s nice. Is that where you were?”

“Yes.”

“That nice young cowboy brought me word, you know. He said you
were walking to the ranch.”

“Not all the way.”

“Why did you go there? Did you know these people?”

“No. Father sold a bull to them. Sir Galahad.”

“Your
favorite
bull! How could your father do that?”

“He just did.” I turned to James. “Why don’t you come inside and
have something cool to drink before you head home? And Lizzie, where can we
water the horses?”

“In the ally. Thomas always comes in that way with the team.
Where did you put your luggage?”

“It got lost on the train.”

“Oh, how dreadful. You poor thing.” Lizzie sounded like I did a
week ago.

“I lost my comb, too,” I said with a grin, remembering how great
a loss that was at the time, and how insignificant it had become.

“Come in. This sun is way too hot. It ruins your complexion.”
She turned to go in and I spoke to James again.

“Will you stay for a while?”

“I should get back and help. Your friend and you can catch up on
your visiting.”

Lizzie had gone inside the house. I spoke, keeping my voice low.
“I hope to see you again, while I’m here. I know it’s your busy time. Maybe I
could bring Lizzie and come out.”

“You’re always welcome.”

“Thank you. I’d like to see Sir Galahad once more,” I said with
a smile.

“Oh, yes.” He laughed. “You must definitely come visit him. And
me. We’d love to have you.”

“I’ll tell Lizzie I must go visit him.”

“Do that.” His eyes sparkled, amused. “Do you remember the way
out?”

“Head toward the mountains on the crooked road.”

“Most folks know where we live.”

Lizzie stuck her head out the door. “Brynn? Come inside.”

“I’ll water them out back,” James said.

“Will you come in?”

“Not this time.”

“Another time?”

“Yes.”

I patted the near horse on the flank and went through the gate
and down the walk. Another time. That sounded like a promise and James struck
me as a man who would keep his promises.

Inside, I stepped back into Baltimore. Lizzie had brought out
chairs and tables and other furnishings, so it was exactly like going into her
mother’s parlor.

“I don’t see why you miss Baltimore,” I said. “You brought it
with you.”

“I miss the parties,” she said. “We used to have such marvelous
parties.”

“Yes, we did. But you are married now, Lizzie. That would change
whether you were in Baltimore or not.”

“Well, I planned a party for you. I invited everyone I know. The
young people.”

“When?”

“This Saturday night. Starting at seven. I hired a group from
San Franciso to come play music for us.”

Lizzie never did things on a small scale. I couldn’t imagine a
crowd in this house, so asked her, “Where at?”

“At the inn. It has a courtyard.”

“I’d like to invite James and his sister,” I said.

“I’ve sent out all my invitations.” She looked put out.

“That’s all right.” I walked through her house and out the back
door.

James was still there, watering the team. He was getting ready
to leave, backing them away from the trough.

I flew out the back door and down the steps.

“James!” I had to emit a very unladylike yell to make him hear
me, but he stopped the team, and looked over at me.

I hurried down the small winding pathway Lizzie had made in her
back yard.

“Lizzie just told me she’s planned a party for me.” I gave him
the details. “Could you come, you and Catherine?”

“Certainly. I’ll bring Kelly too, if he’s home in time. He’s
Catherine’s twin.”

“I’d love to meet him.”

“See you Saturday, then.” He chirruped to the horses and they
trotted down the alley at a good clip.

I looked about me. With all the land around, the people here had
still built their houses lined up, back to back with an alley in between, like
a small New England town. Some of the streets were straight, but a few wound
around, or took off at odd angles, like paths on a village green.

I went back inside.

“Brynn, you barely know those folks. How could you invite them
to the party?” Lizzy said.

“I like them.”

“But I only invited people who are something in this community.”

I looked at her in wonder. “Lizzie, are you a snob?”

“No.”

“Well, you’re talking like your mother. And she is.”

“She is, isn’t she?”

“Yes. And so is your brother.”

“Victor has been educated at Harvard. He’s already joined a
prestigious law firm. I invited him to come.”

I had been sidestepping Victor’s wandering hands for several
years. His weren’t the only hands, so I didn’t think too much of it. “To the
party?”

“Yes.”

“They are coming across the entire country to a party?”

“Yes. Mother thought it was a good idea. He can accompany you
back, so you won’t be traveling alone on the train. When mother heard that your
companions had to leave you the first day, she was very upset. Your mother
reminded her that you did have a car to yourself, so that you would not have to
mingle with the other passengers.”

“Yes. I did have the car to myself.” And I didn’t want to return
with Victor. He viewed himself as God’s gift to women. I didn’t. He might have
changed in the last year while at college, but I doubted it.

“Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you married Victor? Then you and I
could be sisters.”

Lizzie had put out two teacups and some little cakes. She
brought a teapot and its cozy out from the kitchen and set them down, ready to
pour.

“I need to wash up,” I said.

“Oh. Of course. Through that door.”

I poured some water in the basin and washed, using the
sweet-smelling soap Lizzie had placed there. It had glycerin in it, making my
hands smooth again. The towel was tiny and clean, reminding me of the
furnishings in my private car. Lizzie had indeed moved Baltimore with her.

I joined her at the table and answered all her questions about
the friends she had left behind. Most of our friends were mutual friends, so I
was able to give her the latest news.

“How was your trip out here?” she asked me.

“Uneventful.”

“Uneventful? Ours was terrible.”

“What happened to you?”

“A dust storm blew though and delayed us several hours. The
engineer refused to move the train when he couldn’t see the tracks. But you
lost your luggage. Aren’t you worried about your things?”

“I wonder if they sent my luggage back to Baltimore, or if it’s
waiting for me here at the train station. If not, I’m going to need a dress for
your party.”

“I’ve found a wonderful dressmaker here. I’ll send Thomas to
check for your cases when he gets home tonight. Have you been wearing that
dress all this time?”

“Not all the time.”

“That’s good. It looks terrible. I had hoped you could bring me
up on all the fashions. Your mother always had you dressed in the latest.”

“You’ll see them in my trunk, if it arrived. Mother ordered
several before I left.”
To show me off. She liked to dress similar to me, so that people
would tell her that we looked like sisters.

We chatted on about nothing much. I decided Lizzie would always
find something to turn into a great event.

My coming had inspired her to put on a large party. She wanted
me and herself to be wearing the new fashions, so all the ladies she invited
could see what was the rage right now.

“Could you show me how to cook, Lizzie?” I asked. I figured she
had learned something by now.

“Not me. When Thomas saw I couldn’t cook, he hired us a woman to
come in and fix our breakfast and dinners. I usually have leftovers for lunch.”

Finally, her husband, Thomas, came home, cheerful from his work
at the Baker Boyer Bank. A friendly young man, he greeted me, asked after my
health, and quickly agreed to take me to the station. He had always seemed
happy-go-lucky to me, but now I saw that he had figured out how to handle his
wife. The first thing he had done was to get her far away from her mother. The
second thing was to hire a part time cook and housecleaner, but no extra horse
and buggy or live-in servants. That kept her from going to the stores and
shopping constantly, which would have eaten up his salary immediately.

It was a good thing I went along, because the car was there. My
things were inside, still unpacked, as I had left them.

“This is going to take me a few minutes, Thomas.”

“No bother. Take your time.”

I packed as quickly as I could, stuffing the clothes into my
cases and steamer trunk. I couldn’t believe I had brought all of this out here
for a few weeks stay. I almost threw the hated corsets into the trash, but knew
I would want at least one to wear to the party. Some of the dresses didn’t fit right
without the corset molding my body underneath.

I shuddered to think that I could have spent the days wearing
one of the tight, fashionable dresses, a corset, and high-topped shoes. I would
probably have been in agony. I certainly wouldn’t have been able to ride on the
back of James’ horse. By dressing comfortably enough to take care of Sir
Galahad, I had worn the right clothes to last a week in.

Once packed, I called Thomas in. He had a station man with him
and the cases were soon loaded.

“So, how are you faring in our land?” Thomas asked, as we drove
off.

“Quite well. Had you been here, before you and Lizzie were
married?”

“No. A cousin of mine had come. I don’t know how long Lizzie
will last. I plan to work here for at least a year, then see if I can get a
transfer to San Francisco. I think she’ll be happier there.”

“You need to give her a baby to keep her busy.”

He laughed, looked at me. “Do you know, a lady at our church
here told me the exact same thing. She said Lizzie had time on her hands and didn’t
know what to do with it. A baby would keep her out of mischief.”

“It would,” I said, remembering Annabelle.

We arrived back at their house and Thomas carried in the trunk
and other luggage. “Were you planning to stay permanently?” he asked as he
carried the last one to my room.

“No. I just couldn’t decide what to bring. Lizzie and I are the
same size. I think I’ll leave her most of this. If she wants it.”

Lizzie came in carrying the last bag, a small valise. She
couldn’t wait for me to open the trunk, so did so herself. “Oh. You have to
model these for me,” she said.

“Not today, Lizzie. Wait until tomorrow. Better yet, you try
them on and take whatever you want. Right now all I want is to have supper and
rest. I am still tired from the trip out.”

“You can’t mean to give these to me?”

“Whatever fits you. We’ll see if you still have your girlish
shape.”

It was funny seeing her cinch up a corset to get herself able to
fit into my clothes. I had always been a little thinner, so wore the corset
more as fashion than of necessity. She was able to put on several of the new
dresses Mother had just got me. I looked at them and decided that I really
didn’t want them. They were uncomfortable to wear and looked out of place here.