“Well, maybe I have a chance then,” Hart said. “Surely no one can drink whiskey better than me,” he winked.
“You got that right,” Flynn said as he wound up his rope.
* * *
Fifty men! Aurelia thought as she felt as if icy cold water had been poured over her. Aurelia stood in the stable with a brush in her hand. The impatient horse in front of her whinnied loudly to signal its displeasure that she had stopped her combing. She began combing the horse again, and her mind seemed to be exploding with thoughts and worries.
This is worse than I could ever imagine. Fifty men… Who can these men be? I must find out who these men are. There must be a way for me to see the list of names. I wonder where father is keeping it.
As Aurelia finished combing the horse and Matthew and Billy came running into the stable, pointing sticks at each other in a make-believe gun battle.
“Pew, pew,” Matthew shouted. Billy giggled and hid behind Aurelia.
“Not fair,” Matthew complained.
“Bang, bang,” Billy called, peering his head from Aurelia’s side.
“Pew,” Matthew called. “You’re dead!”
“Am not,” Billy objected.
“Are too.”
“Boys, boys,” Aurelia said in a calm voice. But the boys wouldn’t listen. Billy ran away from her, and Matthew followed him, his stick gun raised. She heard their shouts outside and suddenly a loud crying. Billy returned to the stable, holding his arm tight to his chest, crying with heavy sobs.
“He… He hit me,” Billy hiccupped between sobs.
“Shush,” Aurelia soothed. “Come here,” she put down the comb and sat down on a small wooden stool. Billy hurried towards her and flung himself into her arms. Aurelia hugged him tightly and stroked comforting circle on his back.
“I’m going to hit him too,” Billy said angrily as he looked at his injured hand. Aurelia noticed the tiny scratch, that must have looked very big to Billy.
“You shouldn’t hit,” Aurelia admonished. “Even if he hits you,” she forestalled Billy as he opened his mouth to retort.
“Why not?” Billy complained.
“Because you’re brothers,” Aurelia said sweetly. She looked at the stable entrance and saw a pair of eyes peering inside. “And brothers should protect each other,” she added, a little louder. Matthew moved away from the entrance and ambled inside the stable.
“You two have each other, and that is so very important,” Aurelia finished, and she felt her throat tighten with emotion.
“And we have you,” Billy added, looking up at his big sister.
“Yeah,” Aurelia chuckled. “You will always have me, even if I’m not here.”
“What do you mean?” Matthew asked, now standing in front of his siblings.
“One day I will have to leave,” Aurelia said keeping her voice steady
“Why?” Billy asked, confused. “Don’t you like it here?” he added with furrowed brows.
“This is my favorite place in the entire world,” Aurelia said, and she felt a single tear streaming down her cheek.
“Then why are you leaving?” Billy asked. Aurelia looked between her younger brothers. Their young faces looked confused.
My fate is not just; it is not fair, but I will not let father’s decision hurt them.
“I’m growing up,” she said, wiping her tear away. Then she mustered up all her strength to smile gleefully at her brothers. “And the fastest one to run to the large hill in the garden can have my room,” she added, and at once the worry and sadness vanished from Billy and Matthew and they ran outside, pushing each other as they rushed ahead.
“Be careful,” she called, but they had already disappeared outside. The sudden silence in the stable was deafening. I’m not going to be able to see them every day, Aurelia thought sadly. Although she often felt it was unfair how little the boys had to do at the farm, she loved them very much. She had been a mixture of a sibling and a parental figure with her brothers, and the sudden reality that she was going to leave her childhood home was eerily close now.
She walked out of the stable and noticed her father mounted on his horse in the farmyard. He looked at her intently, but she avoided his eyes. He sighed and rode off down the road that led to the town.
This is my chance. He might have left the list with the names.
Aurelia looked around for her mother, and when she noticed her hanging the washing on the clothesline, she hurried into the house. Her heart beat fast as she rushed towards the bureau in the hallway by the living room, where her father kept all the bills, certificates, and important documents.
Aurelia gently opened the first drawer, rummaging through the papers but found only old bills of sale. She closed the drawer and opened the next one; still nothing. She opened the third drawer, and at once she saw her father’s handwriting, accompanied by many signatures she did not know. Her heart was hammering in her chest now. With shaky hands, she took out the paper and read the names. There were some names she knew from the town, and some she had never heard before. Oh dear God, she nearly dropped the note as she noticed the name on the top of the list: Boone Jenkins.
Suddenly she could not stand to look at the list anymore. She stuffed it back into the drawer, hastily pushed the drawer back, and ran from the house. Boone Jenkins… I should have known. She didn’t stop running until she could hardly breathe anymore. She stopped and sat behind their old tool shed. Boone Jenkins had long since made it clear that he thought Aurelia should be his. She had rejected his proposals not once, but twice. Her father had been furious when he heard what she had done.
Boone was very wealthy, and he had made it clear that her family would benefit significantly if they got married. But Aurelia wanted to marry someone she loved, and she was pretty sure she would never be able to love someone as pompous and selfish as Boone Jenkins.
How cruel the fates are. After all my attempts to reject Boone Jenkins I might just be forced to marry him after all. I wonder if there is someone else competing that could thwart him? Or am I doomed to be his wife?
4
Aurelia could not believe it. The weeks had flown by, and the morning of the first competition had arrived. Her mother had woken her gently and was now combing her hair. Aurelia could not remember the last time her mother did her hair. She was instantly pulled back to a much simpler time when she was a little girl, and her mother combed her hair every Saturday morning. Her mother even hummed the same song.
“Now, you must remember to smile,” her mother said as she braided Aurelia’s hair. “Even though if you don’t want to.”
“I certainly don’t feel like smiling,” Aurelia retorted.
“I understand, sweetheart,” Sophia said gently. “Did I ever tell you the story when your abuela met your grandfather?”
“No,” Aurelia said.
“It was at a town fair, back in the town where your abuela grew up. It was spring, and all the young women went to town, dressed in their best clothes. Mama didn’t have nice clothes. Her parents were very poor, but she knew if she would find a good husband, she could help her family,” her mother paused as she gently pinned two braids together.
“Your grandfather was the most handsome man in the town,” Sophia continued. “Or at least that’s what your abuela said,” she laughed.
“All the other women were determined to grab his attention, but your abuela knew what to do. She wore her plain work dress, with her hair combed and she smiled. You are blessed, my sweet Aurelia, as you have inherited your abuela’s smile. This smile could melt ice, and it brings out the sun. And if you smile today, you will bring out the very best of the crowd,” Sophia finished.
Aurelia was silent as she took in her mother’s words. Finally, she said, “I’m scared.”
“I know, sweetheart,” Sophia said, and she hugged Aurelia close to her. “Just remember your magical smile.”
* * *
Aurelia sat in the carriage, dressed in her mother’s dress, and they
neared the field where the first competition was going to be held. She peered from her seat ahead and was stunned when she saw what must have been more than half the town gathered around the large field. All around were carriages, and even a tent.
There was the old hanger, hung between two tree branches, with the painted text “The Big Windy Competition.” Down in the field, men were hanging wooden signs with a bullseye painted on them in blue and red. The first competitions were going to be a marksmanship contest and log rolling contest.
Aurelia jumped down from the carriage and slowly walked towards the throngs of people. This is unbelievable, she thought as she walked close by her mother, her eyes wide. As they neared the tent, Aurelia realized that the long line of men stood, getting red bandanas tied around their arms, were competing. “Come here,” Sophia said to her daughter, pulling her inside the tent. She sat down on a wooden stool and observed her suitors. The men were as different as they were plentiful.
There stood Boone, polishing the handle of his rifle, looking bored. Aurelia gasped as she saw a man who was almost as old as her father. And there was another one who had to be younger than she was. Some of the men looked nervous; others looked determined. One of the men was looking at her intently. He towered over the rest of them, and his dark hair fell over his eyes. A strange tingle ran through her as she looked back at the tall man.
She didn’t recognize him. Then a too familiar voice called over the crowd, “I thought the sky was clearer and the sun shone brighter,” Boone called. “I am honored to be in your company, sweet Aurelia,” he said and bowed low in her direction. At his words, all the men in the line turned to stare at her.
Aurelia felt like she was going to be sick. This was too much—the fifty pairs of eyes staring at her, demanding a response. Sophia gently stroked her hand, and as she whispered in her ear, “Remember your magic.” Aurelia looked back in the direction of the man she had noticed before. But he seemed to be the only one who wasn’t looking at her. She felt disappointed, but at the same time, she gathered the strength to smile. At once, she noticed the change in the crowd.
Perhaps mother was right? Was abuela’s magical story not just the fairytale I thought it was?
“Ladies and gentlemen,” a voice called out. It was Mr. Pennyfeather, the barman at the Hotel Excelsior. “Welcome, to this very special edition of the Nelson Big Windy Competition.” The crowd clapped and whistled in appreciation. Mr. Pennyfeather, a man with an enormous handlebar mustache, stood in front of the crowd, wearing his usual striped waistcoat. He had his hand resting on his hip, and he beamed at the crowd.
“I must say, that in all my years in hosting the Big Windy, never have ever seen such a crowd,” he called. “But never before has there been such a prize before. Boy, oh boy,” he slapped his thigh. Aurelia felt her face grow red, as Mr. Pennyfeather turned his head in her direction.
“Who would’ve thought that old Gary Nelson could have such a beautiful daughter,” Mr. Pennyfeather said with a wide grin, and the crowd laughed with him. Aurelia smiled a small, mysterious smile, and she could see the competitors grow restless, and Boone was staring at her intently.
“Now gentlemen…” Mr. Pennyfeather continued, speaking to the men in front of him. “As the competition is a unique one this year, we have added more skills tests. You will be tried in marksmanship, horse riding, whiskey drinking.” The crowd cackled. “Log rolling, and the abominable wild bull capture.” He paused for dramatic effect before he called, “Our first competition is going to be marksmanship and log rolling!” Mr. Pennyfeather walked towards a giant pile of heavy looking logs.
The crowd cheered, and Aurelia could not help but feel a tiny bit excited. The excitement was infectious. What’s wrong with me? she admonished herself.
“As we have got so many competitors I think it only fair to weed out the weaklings,” Mr. Pennyfeather teased, and many of the men in the row puffed out their chest, determined to prove their strength.
“However, as this is no ordinary competition, we have decided to up the ante.” The competitors stood still as they waited for Mr. Pennyfeather to continue. “You will need to roll the logs up to the Devil’s hill, ring the bell, and carry it on your backs down the hill, without breaking it.”
The crowd chatted animatedly. Aurelia noticed some of the competitors cursing and one even threw his hat on the ground. “We only have twenty-five bullseyes so men….” Mr. Pennyfeather drew out his pistol and aimed it at the sky, a wicked grin on his face. “Get to your marks.” The line of men looked around, some looked very confused. “Get set.” Mr. Pennyfeather pulled back the hammer. “And go!”
He pulled the trigger, and Aurelia jumped with fright as the sound of the gun pierced the sky. The group of men stormed towards the log pile, sending Mr. Pennyfeather running away for safety. The most dexterous of the group had already grabbed their logs and were rolling it furiously towards Devil’s hill.
The hill got its name from the sharp edges and the steep fall from the top. At once four men took the lead, while others were still fighting to get away from the tight huddle of men, moving towards the hill. The crowd laughed as two of the men began bickering until one finally punched the other one. Aurelia gasped and grabbed her mother’s hand.
“This is terrible,” she whispered.
“It’s to weed out the spoiled and lazy ones,” her mother said with a small grin. And she was right, Aurelia realized as the two men who had started fighting were being led away before they even got a chance to compete.
“Will you look at that, ladies and gentlemen,” Mr. Pennyfeather called, as he stood on a wooden crate near the edge of the crowds. “Flynn Morris has nearly reached the top.” At once everyone looked up the hill and saw Flynn rolling the log, very close to the top of the hill. Aurelia watched mesmerized.
Flynn Morris is his name. I do not recall hearing it before. He certainly is dexterous; he didn’t even stop to catch his breath before he ran towards the bell. He picked up that log as if it were nothing more than a bag of wool.
But Flynn wasn’t the only one who had reached the top. Boone Jenkins and two other men had reached the top, and the bell rang three times in quick succession. Flynn had begun his trip down the hill, but the hill was very steep, not to mention filled with the rest of the men that were still rolling their logs up. Carefully, he scurried downwards, taking small steps. Now the bell rang again and again. Many in the crowd had stood up to see better.
Boone and a red-haired man were closing in on Flynn. But suddenly the red-haired man fell down and pushed into Flynn. The crowd gasped as he dropped his log, and Flynn nearly lost his balance. With his hands up, holding the log, he had difficulty catching his balance. Aurelia covered her eyes behind her hands, too nervous to look.
But as people began clapping, she peered through her fingers. Flynn had regained his balance and was nearly down the hill. He jumped the last part and ran towards his previous spot on the line and put down the log. Next was Boone, who put down his log and gave the crowd a little bow and sent Aurelia a finger kiss.
* * *
There was a lot of chaos as the rest of the competitors ran down with their logs. Mr. Pennyfeather moved along them, carefully inspecting the logs. A large, bolding man refused to turn his log around. Mr. Pennyfeather ended up yanking it away from the now cursing man, showing that the log had a nearly broken in two. Finally, it was clear which twenty-five men would continue on to the next competition. The losing half stood to the side and glowered at the victorious twenty-five.
What a strange thought that one of these men is going to be my husband. Mr. Pennyfeather was right; these remaining men are undoubtedly the better choice from the lot. Flynn Morris almost seems like he is bored, he at least does not look in my direction, while the others give me furtive glances. I wonder what he thinks of me. What am I thinking? Why do I care about his opinion?
Most of the men on the losing side were much older than she was, and some of them looked quite f
rightening. Two of the men from the losing side were arguing and pushing hard at each other. Aurelia gasped, as one of them punched the other one.
“You bastard,” the punched man screamed.
“It’s your fault,” the other man retorted. “I dropped my log because of you…” The two men jumped at each other, and the sound of the punches made Aurelia terrified. The crowd jeered and laughed at the two men, but Aurelia was close to tears.
“Drop it,” a quiet but strong voice said suddenly. He pulled the two fighting men apart with ease, and one man tried to keep punching the air stupidly.
“Who do you think you are?” the other man said, spitting at Flynn Morris’ feet.
“Take this fight away from here,” Flynn said seriously and the man swallowed his retort and tried to shake himself free from Flynn’s strong grip. Finally, Flynn let go of the men. As he walked back, he glanced quickly at Aurelia. For a short moment, they locked eyes.
“Oh, my…” Aurelia whispered. Flynn gave her a small nod of the head and looked away.
“Folks!” Mr. Pennyfeather called, pulling Aurelia from her reverie. “The first competition has finished. Before we continue to the marksmanship contest, we will have drinks and allow our competitors to rest.” The crowd cheered and stood up, walking near the two wagons that were stationed at the perimeter of the clearing.
The Robinsons, who ran the town’s general store were selling lemonade and beer. A man had begun playing the guitar, and all of a sudden, the atmosphere became more festive rather than competitive. Aurelia sat inside the tent, looking at her hands.
For the people here this is a joyous occasion… They aren’t the ones being offered up as the prize, a competition bounty.
People took turns to look inside the tent, trying to catch a glimpse of her. She wanted nothing more than to be invisible. Aurelia had never been much for crowds of people. She liked being at her home with her family, but the few times she went to town, to go to church or to accompany her mother with her shopping, she had always preferred staying away from people.
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