“What a shame,” whispered Sam to his wife Hanah.
“I don’t know how I’d live if it were our child,” she replied.
“So young.”
Satchel led Josie and their family away rapidly before she could make any comments to anyone.
Gus went back to his store and kept it closed. He went upstairs to his loft and poured himself a large glass of whiskey and thought of Frank back there at the coffin with his dead baby. For the first time in years, he broke down in tears.
A week had passed since the burial of little Frankie. Amos sat at his dining room table with Rebecca while their children played outside.
“Did they take Helene to Carson City yet?” she asked.
“Last night.”
“Poor Frank. I can’t even imagine what he’s going through. Burying his little boy and now having to sign all those papers to admit her. Why’d he have to do that?”
“If he didn’t sign, it could have gone to court. Not what any of them need right now.”
“Court?”
“As long as there was suspicion of violence against her baby…”
Rebecca protested, “Helene loved her children. She’d never hurt…”
“Someone started that rumor. But to be honest, we don’t know what goes on in people’s homes. You think you know someone then something happens to tell you different.”
“You can’t honestly think she did this on purpose.”
“I don’t. I’m just saying that we don’t really know what people are capable of. I counsel people. Oh God, you have no idea. We all think we’re so smart, better than that guy over there who’s doing no good, then something snaps. We don’t know what’s inside ourselves, let alone anyone else. We’re all struggling with our emotions, wanting things to be different than they are. So much unrest in our souls, and yet we walk around lying about it all, putting on faces for our friends.”
She reached a hand out to her husband. “You never told me anything.”
“I can’t, Becky. It wouldn’t be right. The gossip stops here. All it does is create more damage.”
“Poor Frank. What now?”
“The idea is for him to get a place in Carson City to be close to Helene.”
“How in the world are they going to afford that?”
“Mildred.”
“Mildred’s doing that for them?”
“She’s a good woman, Becky.”
“What about Mabel?”
“She’s staying at Charley’s till they know about Helene.”
“Know what?”
“Whether she’s going to come out of the state she’s in.”
“Oh dear Lord.”
The weeks that followed brought with them the space needed for a return to normal, just as Charley had hoped for that night at Mildred’s. With the help of the women, he moved Mabel and Cranky in with him. He did his best to take care of his niece, to occupy her with playful activities and spoil her with trips to Gus’s. He was grateful it took very little time for her to get back into the typical life of a child.
“Let’s go play on the swing.”
Charley smiled. “You’re gonna wear me out.”
“Let’s go! Come on, Uncle Charley!”
“I guess we have some time before we head out to Mildred’s. On your mark. Get set. Go!” He ran for the door with Mabel and Cranky behind him and headed for the swings in the schoolyard.
Charley pushed and watched her fly through the air. We sure did save each other, didn’t we? Would any of this have happened if Mildred hadn’t brought you around to me? You’re safe with me, Mabel. For as long as I live. Did you hear that, Emma?
They finished playing then went back to Charley’s to get ready for a visit to Mildred’s.
Mabel said, “I have to get Cranky’s things ready.”
Charley smiled. “Now what would those be?”
Mabel ran to where she slept and pulled a sack out from under her bed. She ran back to Charley. “Here!”
“What do you have there?”
Mabel became excited. “Look.”
Charley looked and broke out in laughter. He brought out a ball and held up a knotted rag. “Where’d you get this?”
“Mildred! We made it together.” She excitedly explained they used rope, material, and string to make a toy for the dog.
“What’s it for?”
“Pulling! It’s Cranky’s favorite toy.”
“And this?” He held a piece of bark.
“Auntie Dra gave that to Cranky.”
“Oh, Auntie Edra did, did she?”
“Yeah. For catch.” She gathered Cranky’s toys, put them back in the sack, and insisted, “Let’s go!”
They stopped by Gus’s to pick up some biscuits before continuing on to Mildred’s.
“Well, well, if it isn’t my favorite little customer.”
“I’m not little. Tell him, Uncle Charley. Look how tall I am.” Mabel walked over to the nearest wall and put her back to it. Charley knew the drill on measuring her height.
“Why Mabel, you’ve grown a whole inch since you were last here,” joked Gus.
“I’ll take that tin over there.” Charley pointed to the biscuits he wanted.
Mabel ran around to the candy aisle and grabbed hold of several hard candies. “I want these.” She handed them to Gus.
Gus put the candy in a little bag. “Here you are. On the house.”
Mabel reached in, grabbed a candy and put one in her mouth.
Gus said with affection, “Hey, young lady, you’ll ruin your dinner.” Turning to Charley, he said, “You heading out to Mildred’s now?”
“Yes, we are,” replied Charley as Mabel grabbed him by the arm.
“Let’s go. Cranky’s waiting.”
“One minute,” Charley said, and then leaned over and spoke to Gus briefly under his breath.
On the ride out Charley asked, “How’s about singing me a song?”
Mabel giggled and broke out in “Mary Had a Little Lamb.”
Charley sang along, “Whose fleece was white as…”
Cranky started barking at the familiar sight of the Dunlap’s roadway. Mildred and Edra were outside in the yard waiting for them. Cranky jumped from the buggy before it stopped and ran up to greet them. Mabel squealed, “Mildred! Dra! We’re here!”
Edra laughed at the way Mabel pronounced her name. “Who in a million years could have planned this?” she said to Mildred. “Come on over here and give Auntie Dra her hug.”
Mabel gave them both hugs and ran into the house. Charley gave Mildred and Edra his own hug. “She’s perky today,” he laughed.
Mabel yelled from the house, “Chocolate cake!”
Mildred laughed. “Oh no! We better get in there before all the cake’s gone.”
They went inside to find Mabel with chocolate cake smeared over her mouth. Cranky sat beside her with a look that said, Where’s mine?
Charley said to Mildred, “I took the liberty and invited another friend over.”
Mildred laughed. “Now who would that be?”
“Gus.”
“Illusion is the first of all pleasures.” OSCAR WILDE
27
Fall moved into a cold winter. When the snow melted, spring produced lupines dancing in the sunlight. The temperate season brought with it a beauty and with the warmth came the return of the loons to Walker Lake. Like the desert tortoise, which heads underground into tunnels with the start of cold and returns when the frost melts, rattlers came out from hibernating under rocks and burrows and begin to mate and find their prey.
Annalee, Hanah, Sarah and Josie sat at Barney’s Cafe sipping cups of tea.
Annalee asked, “Did you see that new customer over at Gus’s?”
“The one that moved into the Whitmore’s place?” asked Sarah.
“I just saw them,” said Josie.
“And?” asked Hanah.
“Finegold. Irving and Edith. Satchel sent a telegram for th
em yesterday after they arrived to let their family know they are here.”
“What’d it say?” Annalee asked.
“I just told you,” Josie said, adding sarcastically, “sounds like a Jewish name to me. Why in the world would a Jew want to move into our Protestant town? Isn’t there enough land in this world for them to go where they’re wanted?”
Annalee said, “Well at least they’re not living in town.”
“Good company for Mildred,” Josie laughed. “All those church haters.”
Hanah picked up the gingerbread cookie sitting on her plate and took a bite. “I have to get Pat’s recipe. These are so good. Must be the extra vanilla extract.” She wiped her mouth and the remaining crumbs from her hands with a napkin and took a sip of tea. “What’s happening with Charley?”
“He’s heading to Carson City in a couple of days with Mabel,” replied Sarah.
Hanah commented, “That poor little girl. Having a mother in the mad house. Good thing they got Charley around to take care of her.”
Josie struck out, “Helene brought it on herself. Why, I never liked her.”
“You never told us that,” Hanah retorted.
“She started that false rumor about Charley and Mildred. This whole mess…it’s on her head.”
Annalee became indignant. “I remember it was you who started that, Josie.”
“Me? Why would I do that? She’s his sister-in-law. She’s the one in the crazy house.”
“Mildred’s done for,” commented Sarah. “She’s never going to find another man like Charley.”
“Too bad we didn’t see her when she was pregnant,” smirked Josie.
“She wasn’t pregnant…” Hanah began.
Josie countered, interrupting, “Yes she was. I heard it from Doc. She miscarried.”
“Doc wouldn’t say that,” Hanah objected indignantly.
“Yes he would and he did. Not directly…but I have it from a reliable person,” Josie fumed, covering up the lie.
Hanah propitiated by saying nothing further.
“Maybe Mildred will go be with Charley,” Sarah said.
“She’ll never leave this town. Her daddy’s money helped build this place,” insisted Annalee.
Hanah added, “I heard she helped Sherriff Roper out last winter…”
“Her daddy. Her daddy. He robbed the landowners blind. He swindled rightful owners out of their property. Mildred hoarding all that money. Why she’s a no good selfish pig. Making all the rest of us struggle to put bread on our tables. She’ll never leave her place and her miserable cousin!” Josie’s face turned ruddier than ketchup. “With all that money, she has to go and rent to Jews!”
Annalee appeared preoccupied when she asked, “Do you think Helene did it on purpose?”
Sarah responded, “Why wouldn’t she? She wanted Mildred’s money. She thought if she married Charley off to her, she’d…”
Annalee interrupted, “I didn’t mean that.”
“Well what’d you mean then?” asked Sarah.
“I meant the baby.”
A couple of days later, the telegraph office was visited by two businessmen who had ridden in from Carson City. Tobias and Bradford had their orders. They also had the power. They were known throughout Carson City and its outlying towns as two brokers you do not mess around with. Satchel was instantly intimidated when they handed him their business cards.
“I think you better lock your door, Mr. Purdue.” Tobias moved his face close to Satchel’s.
Satchel took a hard noisy swallow that told the men how nervous he felt. He complied and then waited with trepidation.
“This offer is to be kept between us,” said Bradford.
Satchel wiped beads of sweat from his forehead. “What offer you talking about?”
“A clerk’s position in Carson City at the telegraph office is what you tell people. Mr. Tobias here has the contract.”
Tobias took a sheet of paper out of his pocket, unfolded it, and placed it on the desk before Satchel.
Satchel’s eyes met a blank piece of paper. “I don’t understand?” He soaked in a slow deliberate breath, looking back and forth at the two men. “This some kind of joke?”
“No joke, Mr. Purdue,” said Tobias.
Satchel stuttered, “There’s...there’s...nothing here.”
“Exactly. Nothing more powerful than an empty slate. Don’t you ever forget that. One word from you about this and that’s what your life will become. Nothing. And that includes your wife.”
“But…” Satchel’s gut knotted tighter. “People will have seen you both come in here. What do I tell them?”
“As I said, a clerk’s position in Carson City at the telegraph office and if word gets out otherwise, we will see to it that you won’t get a job in any reputable city in this State.”
Satchel stood speechlessly, fear washing over him.
“Mr. Purdue, we expect you to be packed and in Carson City by tomorrow evening,” stated Bradford firmly.
Satchel stood there shaking his head in disbelief. “But…but…”
The two men had walked to the door to let themselves out when Tobias turned back with a serious look and said, “One more thing, Mr. Purdue. You better learn to keep that wife of your’s mouth shut.”
Satchel whispered, “Josie!”
Gus stood on the porch of his store and smiled to himself as he watched Tobias and Bradford mount their horses and ride out of town.
When word got out later that Satchel had been offered a telegraph office position in Carson City, the townspeople were surprised that he had accepted the offer so quickly. One individual was not, and that was Gus who had recently been made a silent business partner in the properties owned by Mildred.
The day before they were to leave for Carson City, Charley brought Mabel and Cranky by for a visit with Mildred and Edra. They were waiting on the front porch when Charley and Mabel arrived.
“There they are,” smiled Edra as she held up a gaily-wrapped package.
Mabel jumped from the buggy and ran to them. “That for me?” She grabbed for the package.
“It’s a very special gift, my sweetheart,” smiled Edra. Over the last several months, she had grown very fond of Mabel.
“Oh boy! I can’t wait!” Mabel cried happily as she ripped at the wrapping.
Charley had come with his own wrapped gift. “Well, lookie here. We’ve got an early Christmas.”
“Charley, you’ve done enough for us.”
Edra knelt down to give Mabel a hug and watch her open her gift. “This is something you can wear all your life and never forget your Auntie Mildred and Auntie Dra.”
Mabel tore off the rest of the paper to find a small box, which she quickly opened. She pulled out a sterling chain necklace with a heart-shaped locket. “Mine! Oh Auntie Dra! This is so pretty! Thanks!”
“Aren’t you going to thank your Auntie Mildred?” asked Charley.
Mabel hugged Mildred who said, “You can open it.”
Mabel fumbled with the tiny latch and popped open the locket. “Look, Uncle Charley.”
Charley saw inside the locket were two miniature photo portraits, Edra on one side and Mildred on the other. “That’s a beauty. So nice of you. Here, I brought you something also.” He handed his package to Mildred. “There’s a little something in there for each of you.”
Mildred unwrapped the box and opened it. Inside were two small blue mugs with white embossing. “Why Charley, these are Wedgwood.” Mildred knew these were treasures that must be a hundred years old. “My mamma left me some Wedgwood plates. Look just like these mugs.”
Her mother had told her the story of Josiah Wedgwood who had worked with an established potter until the mid-eighteenth century. It was his marriage to a remote cousin and her sizeable dowry that had enabled him to start his own pottery business. Mildred had often looked at their plates and thought about her own inheritance. She knew that it would never become a dowry. She sometimes reflecte
d on the irony that Wedgwood had married his cousin.
“I thought I saw those plates here.” Charley reflected on something Gus had loaned him to read about the history of Wedgwood. He smiled at Mildred and wondered if they were thinking the same thing.
“Charley, this is the perfect gift for us. Look, Edra.”
When it was time to say their final good-byes and give their last hugs, all except Mabel fought back tears. Mildred could barely get out the words, “Come back soon, you hear?”
Mildred and Edra watched the dust spill over the wheels of Charley’s buggy as they drove away. Just as they were almost out of earshot, they heard Cranky’s bark.
Mildred thought, Thank you, my friend, for everything you helped us with, especially encouraging Edra to go town. Couldn’t have done it without you. All that worry is gone and thankfully I have my life and health back. Never knew holding so much inside could break the body down. Never again.
As the women turned to go back inside, Mildred gave Edra’s buttocks a pat.
Edra picked up her pace and lilted, “Don’t be getting too frisky with me in public,” she laughed.
Mildred smiled, “Gus won’t mind.”
Mildred and Edra sat at Gus’s dining table and watched as he placed tea and chocolate cake in front of them.
“Ladies, please help yourselves.”
Mildred poured the tea.
“You’re looking well, Mildred?”
“Thankfully Gus, I am.”
“I’m glad to hear it. You’ve been through a lot.”
Edra commented, “I finished Moby Dick last night.”
“Did you read it, Mildred?”
“Yes, I read it first. Thanks so much for the loan.”
They talked into the evening about the book, an adventurous whaling voyage that had become a vehicle for examining such themes as obsession, the nature of evil, and the human struggle against the elements.
“Oh look! How beautiful and peaceful!” exclaimed Mildred.
All attention shifted to the window and the foothills beyond that were slowly and gently turning a magnificent red hue as the warm comforting sun set on Red River Pass.
The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap Page 19