Melinda and the Wild West

by Linda Weaver Clarke

  Gilbert knew one thing, though, bears could not be killed very easily. Many times the bullets did not penetrate deep enough to kill it because of its thick hide. So, he had learned to take careful aim and make sure the shot counted because if it didn’t, there was a good chance he would be mauled or killed. He knew the only places to kill a grizzly, for sure, were in the head or in the heart. Anywhere else, and it would not drop immediately.

  Melinda was watching Gilbert with curiosity. His eyes were staring off in the distance and he seemed to be deep in thought.

  “Mr. Roberts?”

  Gilbert’s eyes turned toward her. “Yes?”

  “I appreciate your help. If you hadn’t been out hunting I don’t know what would have happened to me.”

  “I wasn’t hunting.”

  “Why were you in the area with your rifle?”

  “Don’t know.”

  “You don’t know?”

  “Yup. Don’t know.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  Gilbert leaned forward, facing her, and rested his arms against his legs. “Well, I live by instinct, so to speak. I felt an urgent feeling come over me and didn’t know why. I’ve noticed that when I don’t listen to those feelings, then I’m sorry afterwards. So when I felt this urgent feeling come over me, I just grabbed my rifle and headed out the door. I first walked down to the pasture to see if my cattle were all right and they were, so I just continued northward toward the West Mountains for a ways. It’s not too far from my pasture, so when I heard the hideous growling in the distance I quickly ran and made it there just as it began to leap towards you.”

  “Oh, a premonition.”

  “Don’t know if that’s what it is. I just go by instinct mostly.”

  Melinda steadily watched Gilbert as he spoke. There was something about this rancher that intrigued her beyond words and she didn’t know what it was. He seemed so rugged, yet there was something gentle about him at the same time. She quickly dismissed the idea of getting to know him better because Melinda was his daughter’s teacher. Anything else would not be proper.

  Chapter 10

  THE DOCTOR

  Gilbert’s home was a cozy place with the living room, kitchen and dining room all in one room with no dividing walls. The walls were made of dark wood, but no pictures hung there. A sofa and two stuffed chairs faced a rock fireplace on the right side of the room. The kitchen was at the left side of the room with a cabinet that separated the living room and the kitchen. If a person was preparing food, then he or she could communicate with someone on the sofa. The table was near the kitchen end, towards the hall that led to three bedrooms.

  While waiting for the doctor, Melinda’s mind was in a whirl. After the bear attack, Melinda relived that moment of terror over and over again in her memory. The vision of the grizzly kept haunting her. She felt anxiety rise within her as she thought of it.

  Melinda shivered as she realized how close Gilbert had come to being attacked. If he had not aimed carefully enough…

  She shook her head and quickly put the notion out of her mind. It was too terrifying to even imagine.

  The doctor arrived with Jenny and he checked Melinda’s heart and the strength of her pulse. Then he mixed some powder in a glass of water and handed it to her to drink.

  After a while, he said, “Melinda, you are one lucky lady. If Gilbert had not come along when he did… Well, I just don’t want to think about it. You city folks don’t understand the dangers out here in the West. But with time, I guess you’ll learn.”

  Melinda winced at the doctor’s words. Then the doctor spoke softly to Gilbert in the kitchen, handed him a bottle of powder, and bid everyone farewell. Melinda pushed the covers off her legs and began to stand up, but her weak knees gave way and she slumped to the floor.

  Immediately, Gilbert was at her side. He slid his hands around her and lifted her to the sofa. Melinda was aware of his tender touch as he tried to make her comfortable. When she looked into his soft dark eyes, she noticed how concerned he was and it touched her heart.

  Then Gilbert said, “You can’t get up quite yet. The doctor told me that the medicine he gave you was to relax you and take your anxieties away. He said that you’d get drowsy and I think he’s right.” He tucked the lightweight blanket around her shoulders. “You’d better rest for a while longer and then I’ll take you home on the buckboard.”

  As he handed her the powder the doctor had given him, he said, “Take this in the evening just before bed. It’ll make you drowsy and help you sleep. You’ve been traumatized and he thinks you’ll need this at night.”

  Melinda nodded as she sank into the couch. Her head was cradled in the soft pillow and she closed her eyes. It was not long until she fell into a deep sleep.

  While Melinda was sleeping, Gilbert went about his chores. He and Jenny fixed a meal, swept the floor, and set the table.

  “Jenny, put on a tablecloth this time.” He smiled cheerfully. “We have a guest. And our best plates, too.”

  Jenny smiled back. “I really like my teacher, Pa. She cares about me. The other teacher never did. She makes me feel important.”

  “I’m glad, Jenny.”

  Gilbert watched his daughter as she set the table. What his daughter said impressed him greatly. Her teacher cared and she showed it in her actions and words. He walked over to the chair next to the sofa and sat down, watching Melinda sleep. What was it about this Eastern lady that fascinated him so? Was it her grit and determination? Was it her kindness to his daughter, whom he adored? Was it her caring attitude towards others? He did have to admit, though, that she was a strikingly beautiful woman and that certainly added to her charm. He wondered why they argued each time they met. Then he thought about their differences and he shook his head in dismay. An Eastern lady and a rancher were not a good combination, he thought.

  Yet he knew that he was attracted to her. It had been years since he had spent time with a woman, let alone held one in his arms. And for the first time in eight years he felt the desire to care for someone other than his daughter. For some reason he felt a need to protect Melinda and he could not deny it. But they were too different and the West was too wild for her. She would probably go back to the East after the school season was over, especially after the grizzly experience. He would be surprised if she even renewed her contract at all.

  As her eyelashes began to flutter, he realized she was about to wake up. Gilbert smiled as she opened her eyes and looked up at him. When their eyes met, he asked softly, “Hungry?”

  Melinda yawned and stretched every muscle that she had, just to make sure everything was working. Then she nodded.

  “Jenny and I made something for you to eat before I take you back home.”

  Melinda looked over at the table and saw how neatly it had been set. She was going to ask if he could take her home instead, but she realized they had gone to a lot of trouble. And besides, she had never met a man who could cook before. Maybe it would be worth it just to try his food.

  She smiled appreciatively. “Thanks. It sounds wonderful.”

  As they sat at the table and ate, Melinda noticed what good manners Jenny had. Gilbert had taught her a lot, and he had not forgotten the importance of manners. Each time Jenny wanted to talk about the grizzly and what it looked like, Gilbert would ward off the subject with his eyes and each time Jenny got the hint and let it lay.

  After they ate, Gilbert took Melinda home in his buckboard. As they rode in silence, he was conscious of her sitting beside him and he had a feeling of great peace. Once at her house, he reined in the horse and stepped down from the buckboard. He looked up at Melinda and held his hand out toward her. Taking her hand in his, he felt the softness of it and he smiled at her, as a warm feeling seemed to engulf him. This woman, of all the women in the world, was managing to have an effect on him. But he and Melinda were just too different and he was certain it would not work out. Why did he have to be so attracted to her?

  Melind
a stepped down from the buckboard and thanked him for the fine supper. “You’re the first man I’ve ever met who knows how to cook. And thank you for saving my life like a knight in shining armor.”

  This made him laugh jovially. His laugh was deep and warm and it made Melinda smile. When she noticed Gilbert gazing into her eyes, she felt a warmth creep into her cheeks. What was he thinking?

  He took her by the arm and led her to the front door, tipped his hat with his fingers and said, “Miss Gamble, I hope you have a good evening.”

  As she watched him walk toward the buckboard, she wondered about Gilbert. He was so rugged on the outside, yet he was gentle and caring on the inside. Besides that, this tough man could cook. And he was good at it, too. He was such a contradiction.

  Melinda quietly closed the door, intrigued by this mysterious rancher.

  Chapter 11

  THE DANCE

  Uncle William sat in a chair in the living room, comfortably reading the newspaper, while Melinda was upstairs in her bedroom getting ready for the dance. She could hear her aunt and uncle speaking downstairs.

  “Martha, listen to this,” said William, and began to read aloud from the paper. “Susan B. Anthony has really been working hard for women’s rights. A resolution was passed in Idaho. It says, ‘Believing in equal rights for all and special privileges to none, we favor the adoption of the pending women’s suffrage amendment to the Constitution.’ Idaho is now considering giving women the right to vote. Well, I’d say it’s about time, don’t you think? Why, it was in January of this year that Utah entered the Union as a state, and they introduced women’s suffrage immediately. Right now women have full suffrage in only three states and all of them are in the West: Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah. I don’t know if it’ll go through in time for the November election, though, since it’s already October.”

  Martha stood in the doorway of the kitchen, listening. “William, who do you think will win the election this year?”

  “Our nation is in such turmoil, Martha,” he said, ruffling the pages of the newspaper. “Mills and factories have shut down, merchants are bankrupt, and millions are out of work and have no means of livelihood. Poverty seems to dominate this country. Due to the severe depression we’ve had, which started during the Democratic administration, I believe that the Republicans will win by a long shot.”

  Martha looked over at William and said with a longing in her voice, “I can’t wait for Idaho to pass its amendment, William.” Then she walked to the stairs and called to Melinda, “Are you ready, dear? The town social starts in fifteen minutes. Let’s not be too late.”

  Melinda knew that her Aunt Martha felt it was time to introduce her to the residents of Paris at the town social that night. Melinda was excited about meeting the townsfolk. She had met a few of the parents of her students during the past two months, and she felt this would be a great opportunity to meet the rest of the people.

  As they entered the room, the music and dancing had already begun. Aunt Martha introduced Melinda to each person she came across. After a while, Martha spied Henry, a handsome young bachelor. “Henry, come here. I’d like to introduce you to my niece.”

  Henry was a thin and tall young man, about twenty-six years of age, with blond hair and blue eyes. He walked toward Martha and Melinda with a broad smile on his face.

  “Yes, Martha?”

  “This is my niece and the new schoolteacher in town. Melinda, this is Henry. He’s the superintendent of schools. Henry examines prospective teachers’ credentials and hires them for the district, in addition to being the janitor and ‘fix-it man.’ In other words, he was the one who accepted you to fill this position. If you need anything at all, you can just ask Henry and he’ll get it for you or fix it.”

  “It’s nice to meet you, Henry,” Melinda said. “I’m sure I’ll be obliged to use your services every now and then.”

  Henry held his hand out for a handshake and smiled charmingly. “Melinda, I’m glad to meet you at last. I’ve heard so much good said about you. I’m sorry that I haven’t taken the time to come over to the school. I tend to spend an awful lot of time over in Montpelier, helping the teachers with a few problems there.”

  The three of them were interrupted by the sound of loud and excited voices. They turned and saw a huddle of men surrounding Uncle William, who was showing them a picture of a quadricycle from a magazine. Melinda and Henry moved toward them to see the picture.

  William exclaimed with excitement, “The article under this picture says: ‘On June 4, 1896, Henry Ford put the finishing touches on his magnificent creation. It is gasoline-powered and Ford calls it the Quadricycle since it runs on four bicycle tires.’” William looked up at the men and smiled. “The Quadricycle is built on a steel frame with a seat and metal arms on each side of the seat. There is an electric bell in front of the dash and it has a bicycle lamp for driving at night. So, you see, boys, this is going to take the place of horses.”

  “Not a chance.” One of the men said, emphasizing his disapproval. “I wouldn’t ride in one of those contraptions if someone paid me.”

  “You’ll see. This Henry Ford is serious about making more of these quadricycles. And when he starts selling them, I’m going to be the first to buy one.”

  William smiled as the men guffawed at his silly notion, slapping him on the back with amusement.

  Melinda was beginning to think the town social was a wonderful place to meet people. Henry took Melinda in his arms, glided her around the room, and danced several dances with her. He was a good dancer and a very good conversationalist. He seemed to be genuinely interested in her and asked several questions about her and her background. She noticed they had quite a few things in common, too. She surmised that he would make a wonderful friend.

  As Melinda socialized, she scanned the room for Gilbert, but he was nowhere in sight. After she thought about it, however, she guessed it was for the best that he was not there. It was simply unwise to get involved with a student’s parent anyway.

  Chapter 12

  THANKSGIVING DAY

  October gave way to the crisp chill of November, and Melinda was excited to spend Thanksgiving Day with her aunt and uncle. A fire was made in the fireplace. As it crackled and popped, Melinda thought what a pleasant sound it made. It was sort of a homey sound and she liked it. As they busily prepared the turkey, cranberries, and potatoes, Melinda and Martha listened to the soothing voice of Uncle William.

  Uncle William was sitting comfortably in a kitchen chair reading to Martha and Melinda from the Woman’s Journal, a newspaper about women’s suffrage published out of Boston, which Melinda had received from her parents that week. Her parents wanted her to keep up with what was happening in the world.

  Uncle William seemed to enjoy reading about the events around the world. “Melinda, listen to this,” he said with enthusiasm. “Your Boston newspaper has something about Idaho. Listen: ‘Welcome, Idaho! State number four has wheeled into line! An unexampled victory for woman suffrage has been achieved in the State of Idaho.’ Martha, that means that you can vote next year; and you, too, Melinda, if you renew your teaching contract. You’ll be an Idaho State citizen.”

  Melinda smiled. “Sounds good to me.” She turned and looked thoughtful with her hand on her hip. “Uncle William, you were right about a Republican becoming the next president. How did you know?”

  “Well, it only made sense to me after the mess that the Democrats got us into.”

  “I bet the Democrats don’t see it that way, though. You’d probably have quite an argument.” Melinda laughed. “When will McKinley be inaugurated?”

  “March fourth. He’ll be our twenty-fifth president.”

  Melinda set the table with a lacy tablecloth and as she got the plates out of the cupboard, Aunt Martha said, “Oh, I forgot to tell you. Put on two extra plates today. We’re having company over.”

  Melinda smiled. Her aunt and uncle always seemed to find someone to invite over and they
enjoyed sharing their food and charity with others.

  “We’ve invited that nice young man and his daughter, Gilbert and Jenny.”

  Melinda froze. Her heart beat rapidly. She looked over at her aunt with widened eyes and asked, “Mr. Roberts and Jenny?”

  Aunt Martha nodded. “I know they don’t have kin close around here and I always like to invite them over whenever we have a special celebration.”

  Melinda quickly exited the room and ran upstairs to fix her hair. As she looked into the mirror and primped, she thought, “Why do I care what I look like? He’s just Jenny’s father. He’s nothing to me.”

  She tried to ignore the fact that just recently her heart would flutter whenever Gilbert’s name was mentioned at the table.

  As she descended the stairs, she saw Gilbert already sitting on the sofa with Jenny. He stood politely as she walked into the room and he smiled with his hat in his hand.

  Melinda nodded to them. “Mr. Roberts. Jenny.”

  “Please call me Gilbert. Mr. Roberts sounds so formal. May I call you Melinda?”

  She smiled and nodded her assent.

  “Melinda, how are you doing?” Gilbert asked with concern. “I haven’t talked to you since the bear attack in October. I’ve seen you in town off and on, but we both seem to be in a hurry and don’t take the time to visit. Are you doing all right?”

  “Yes. It took a couple weeks to get over it. I would have nightmares and wake up in a cold sweat. I had to take the medicine the doctor gave me just before I went to bed so I could sleep. But I’m all right now. I’m sleeping much better. I have a lot to learn here in the West, don’t I?” She smiled and gave a nervous sigh. “Thanks for asking.”