Melinda and the Wild West

by Linda Weaver Clarke

  Far, far away on Judea’s plains,

  Shepherds of old heard the joyous strains:

  Glory to God, Glory to God,

  Glory to God in the highest;

  Peace on Earth, good-will to men;

  Peace on Earth, good-will to men!

  After they finished the song, the room was still and no one said a word. Melinda could feel the sweet spirit in the room and she turned to look at Gilbert. He had an air of contentment about him and she wondered if he could feel the peaceful atmosphere in the room as she did.

  When their eyes met, Melinda felt warmth creep into her cheeks. His eyes seemed to be searching hers. But why? Feeling uncomfortable, she quickly averted her eyes and stood.

  “Jenny, I have a gift for you because I won’t be here for Christmas to give it to you,” Melinda said.

  Melinda walked over to the Christmas tree, picked up a small gift, and handed it to Jenny and then sat down. Jenny’s eyes sparkled with delight as she ripped the paper open. Inside the package was a lovely blue ribbon.

  “It’s for your hair, Jenny. And it’s your favorite color, too.”

  Jenny ran to Melinda and wrapped her arms around her neck, hugging her tightly. Melinda sighed and wrapped her arms around Jenny. Jenny’s voice sounded constricted as she spoke, “Thank you, Miss Gamble.” She looked up into Melinda’s eyes and said lovingly, “I love you.”

  Melinda was touched. She had not expected this sudden display of affection. She had never had a student tell her that before. Her eyes moistened and her chest was tight with emotion. These were such simple words, yet they seemed to have an intense effect upon her.

  Gilbert watched his daughter and Melinda. He saw how touched Melinda was by his daughter’s affection and he saw his daughter’s love for her teacher. No other teacher had ever affected his daughter like this before. In fact, no other teacher had ever cared enough to help his daughter in school before. He knew Melinda had done some good in his daughter’s life. In fact, he felt that she had made a difference in his own life, too. He felt alive again, as he had never felt before.

  Aunt Martha had watched Gilbert at Thanksgiving and noticed that he seemed to be quite interested in Melinda, so she had made sure he was invited over every Sunday evening for supper. The town called Martha “Cupid” because she enjoyed pairing people up. And that was true. Martha wanted others to have the joy and happiness she had in marriage. So, when she noticed Gilbert’s interest in Melinda, she had decided on a plan.

  While everyone had been singing, Martha put a coffee table just inside the kitchen door where the mistletoe hung. Then she carefully placed the dessert and plates upon it. When Melinda or Gilbert would get a cookie or brownie, they would be positioned perfectly under the mistletoe. Martha thought her idea was very clever.

  Uncle William watched Martha studiously and he chuckled. He knew his wife and he knew what she was doing. He sat comfortably on the sofa as Martha came with a plate of cookies for him and for Jenny.

  As she handed Jenny her plate, she said, “Sit by the fire and enjoy the warmth while you eat your dessert.”

  Then she sat down beside William and handed him his plate with a smile. William whispered in her ear, “Thanks, Cupid.”

  Aunt Martha acted innocent. “What do you mean?”

  Uncle William whispered, “I’ve been living with you for over fifty years now and I believe I know you inside and out.”

  He grinned at her as she tried to act innocent and then he kissed her cheek lovingly.

  Aunt Martha smiled at him and then called out, “Dessert everyone! There’s cookies, brownies, and tarts on the coffee table.”

  Melinda headed for the dessert table and began filling a plate. As she stood in the doorway of the kitchen, it had not dawned on her why Aunt Martha had put the table there instead of the living room. Gilbert walked up to the coffee table, waiting for his turn. He had noticed the mistletoe, but was not sure if he should say anything or if he should take advantage of the situation.

  Martha grinned and said, “Oh, oh! Look at that. Melinda is under the mistletoe. Well, what are you going to do about it, Gilbert? You can’t let her get away tomorrow on that train without a kiss, especially when it’s tradition. No one can avoid the mistletoe, you know.”

  Melinda quickly looked up at the mistletoe in surprise and then jerked her head toward Aunt Martha with a shocked expression.

  When she turned to face Gilbert, his soft eyes seemed to glow as he stood before her. Melinda quickly touched her cheek with the tips of her fingers when she felt the warmth creep into her face. She felt so embarrassed. She was nervous and felt uneasy as he gazed into her eyes. She was not sure what to expect.

  Gilbert smiled with amusement when he saw her blush a rosy color. Then he said in a low and soft tone, “Melinda?”

  His eyes held hers as he searched them for an answer. Then Melinda lowered her eyelids and looked down at her hands that were nervously playing with the red satin ribbon at her waist. Gilbert could see that she felt apprehensive and uneasy and he did not want to embarrass her more than she already was. So, as his eyes stayed glued to her expression, he gently took her slender hand into his and lifted it toward his lips. Then he pressed them tenderly against the back of her hand, lingering a bit.

  Melinda was surprised at this chivalrous gesture and raised her eyes to meet his. The tenderness of his kiss and the softness in his eyes touched Melinda and a warm glow filled her soul. She was sure he could feel her pulse race as he held her hand in his and her fingers seemed to tingle from the touch of his lips. It did not take much to turn her face a rosy glow once again. Then, instantly, a strange sensation of joy came over her that she had not expected.

  Gilbert let go of her hand as he turned to Aunt Martha and said, “We had better go, Martha. It’s getting late.”

  The softness of Melinda’s hand in his and her many blushes seemed to have their effects on Gilbert. His heart had skipped a beat that night and he felt it was time to leave. He was not ready for what his heart was trying to tell him. He had concerns that he was not yet ready to face.

  Aunt Martha grabbed their coats and a bag with cookies and roast beef inside and handed them to Gilbert. As she walked them to the door, she whispered, “Don’t worry. She’ll soften towards you. It will just take time.”

  After they left, Melinda felt as if she were in a daze as she walked upstairs to her bedroom. Her heart was full and she didn’t know why. For the life of her, she could not figure out why she had reacted in such a way to his tenderness. She tried not to think about it because the following day she would be catching the train to Boston and she needed her sleep.

  Chapter 14

  CHRISTMAS VACATION

  As the train clattered down the tracks, Melinda was thinking of home. She could not wait to see her parents. She pictured her mother’s face. Her hair was slightly graying, but she still had a youthful look. Her father was a tall, heavy man who spent too many days at his desk. He never found time to exercise, so he tended to be overweight. He had a thick salt-and-pepper mustache and a large nose. Melinda felt that there was more of him to love than an ordinary father and loved him just the way he was. She would not change one thing about him.

  Melinda had fond memories of vacationing with her parents. The bond between them was solid. Her memory went back to ten months ago when her father had excitedly bought the three of them tickets for the grand opening of the Crystal Carnival and Ice Palace in Leadville, Colorado.

  When she had looked upon the Ice Palace from a distance, it had seemed like a fairyland. As the three of them approached the Ice Palace, she was in awe. It was made of five thousand tons of ice blocks formed into the shape of a magnificent palace, which stood on five acres of ground. It sparkled and glimmered in the sun and she felt like a princess walking into a storybook world.

  Her father had put his arm around her shoulders and said, “When you were a little girl, did you picture the palaces of kings and queens to look
like this?”

  The three of them walked together into this magnificent man-made creation. Inside the palace, there was a dance floor, a restaurant, a gaming room, and an ice rink. It was illuminated with electric lights that sparkled against the ice blocks.

  She remembered how her father had danced with her mother on the dance floor of this Ice Palace and how lovingly he had held her in his arms. Her father was deeply in love with her mother and Melinda longed for a marriage such as they had: one of equality, where the man respected the woman and supported her education. Her father had never taken her mother for granted. She wondered if she would ever find a man like her father.

  Then her thoughts turned to Gilbert. Would he treat her in such a loving manner? Would he respect her and treat her as an equal? Or would he be opinionated and stubborn? He did know how to cook, however. That was one point on his side. But on the other hand, he certainly had been stubborn that first day they met. Melinda laughed as she remembered the little arguments they had had and when he had called her “self-willed.” She hated that word. Melinda quickly shook the memory of him out of her mind.

  Just then the train pulled to a stop and she saw her father and mother waiting for her with smiling faces. As soon as she stepped off the train, she leaped into their arms. Tears were shed and hugs were exchanged and all the way back home there was constant chatter.

  That evening, as soon as she got settled down, she walked down the staircase to the living room where she found James waiting for her. He was a former boyfriend who had been courting her before she left for Idaho.

  “Melinda, you look even more lovely than I remember.”

  James took her hand in his and kissed it tenderly. Melinda noticed that she did not respond the same way to James as she had to Gilbert’s kiss. Her heart did not flutter and her hand did not tingle from the softness of his lips.

  Her mother walked in with a smile. “I invited James over for dinner. I thought the two of you could catch up on old times.”

  Melinda smiled. Her mother and Aunt Martha had so much in common. They were both matchmakers. Melinda knew that her mother wanted her to marry James, but she couldn’t help but wish they would both relax and let her make up her own mind.

  James was a good man and they had much in common, but she didn’t love him. He did not make her heartbeat quicken; he did not make her blush at the thought of him. When James kissed her hand, it felt like nothing more than the kiss of an old friend, but James did not seem to realize that.

  On the other hand, Gilbert and she were as different as night and day, and yet she felt attracted to him. Why? She remembered his lingering kiss and how warm and tender it had been. The memory of it seemed to linger in her mind. Her heart had raced when he had touched her hand and when he kissed it, and a tingling sensation seemed to start at her knuckles and make its way to her heart. As she thought of Gilbert and her last night with him, a tingle of excitement went through her and she smiled.

  After dinner, she and James made plans to go to Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Ballet. “It’s a new ballet,” James told her. “Only three years old. I know you’ll enjoy it. Then I’ll take you to the Messiah on Christmas Eve.”

  James spoiled her each day and the week passed quickly and soon it was Christmas Eve. James arrived to pick her up and was waiting in the living room for her. When he saw her descend the stairs, his eyes happily swept over her.

  Melinda was dressed in an elegant silk violet gown with sleeves that were gathered at the shoulders and hung freely to her elbows. Her hair was secured loosely upon her head with silver combs.

  James looked into her eyes and smiled. “You look absolutely lovely tonight, Melinda.”

  She smiled in a coy manner. “Why, thank you, James.”

  James took her by the arm and walked her toward the carriage. The carriage ride was pleasant and she enjoyed seeing her hometown once again. Melinda had many lovely memories growing up here and joy filled her soul as she looked around at the scenery.

  It did not take long before they arrived at the concert hall. James held his hand out to help her down from the carriage and they walked into the building arm in arm. Melinda noticed three gigantic chandeliers that glimmered and sparkled from the light in the room. People were dressed elegantly and bustling about.

  They found seats in the auditorium and sat whispering together until the performance was ready to begin. James told her of all the success he was having as a lawyer, how much he wished that she would come back home to stay, and bragging about how important she would be if she married him.

  The performance began and all was quiet. As they sat listening to the magnificent music of Handel, James leaned over and whispered, “I bet they don’t have this type of entertainment in the Wild West.” Then he chuckled softly as if the West were a big joke to him.

  As the choir sang, the rich voices filled the concert hall. Melinda’s heart was touched when they sang the “Hallelujah Chorus.” Her eyes filled with tears because of the beauty of that magnificent song and its message, and a reverence filled her soul.

  When the concert had finished, Melinda took James’s arm and walked toward the carriage. As they headed home, James said, “I enjoyed being with you tonight. I can see that you really enjoyed the concert, too. You must have missed the East with all its balls, concerts, ballets, and parties. The West doesn’t have the sophistication that the East has. It’s no place for a lady like you, Melinda. Stay here. Marry me. And you will never have to work again.”

  Melinda looked into his eyes, astonished by his words. “James, you don’t understand. No, the West doesn’t have the concerts and ballets that you have here, but it has something the East doesn’t have. It has heart. It has no pretense. You know where you stand with people out there and you don’t have to put on fancy gowns and finery, trying to outdo one another. And about working…you don’t seem to understand that I love it. Of course, it isn’t easy and I get frustrated at times, but it’s all worth it. Those children need me. And besides, I love them dearly.”

  “But Melinda, it’s about time that you settled down and had a family of your own.”

  Trying to remain calm, she answered with a bit of frustration, “James, I’m tired of men who don’t believe women can do more with their lives. Yes, I want a family. I want a family very much, but the only words that seem to come out of your mouth are about me forsaking my job and marrying you so that I can wait on you hand and foot.”

  James’s eyes widened at that statement. “I didn’t say anything about you waiting on me. Although it doesn’t sound like a bad idea. I’d like to be spoiled by a woman. Doesn’t any man?”

  Melinda shook her head in frustration. “Take me home. I don’t want to discuss this any longer.”

  James looked into Melinda’s eyes, as if he were trying to understand her. He looked confused. Then, as if to persuade her through what he perceived to be of interest to all women, he changed the subject to shopping.

  “How you can stand such an uncivilized world is beyond me!” he exclaimed. “They don’t have the shopping stores and the social life we have here. If you marry me, I’ll buy you whatever your little heart desires.”

  Melinda shook her head. “I can’t. I don’t love you, James. I told you that before I left.”

  The carriage stopped in front of her home and James once again put his hand out to help her out of the carriage. Then he smiled and said, “Well, I still have a week to convince you until you go back.”

  Melinda grinned and decided to forgive his inability to understand her. “You’re incorrigible, James.”

  “I know. And I’m not giving up until you’re on that train heading west.”

  Melinda smiled as he took her hand and led her to the front door.

  Chapter 15

  THE NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY

  The rest of the week went by much more quickly than she realized, and before she knew it Melinda was packing to leave for the West. After she packed, she hurriedly dress
ed for the New Year’s Eve party. She was happier than usual that evening, not for the fact that she was going to the dance, but because she was returning to her second home in the morning.

  As she walked down the stairs, James was waiting. He gave her a hug and said, “Melinda, you look lovely. I’ll be the envy of every gentleman tonight.”

  He escorted her to the carriage and they talked all the way to the dance. As they entered the party, Melinda saw a few of her friends and they had a brief visit before James escorted her onto the dance floor. She spent most of the dances that night with James and several friends whom she had not seen for months before she stopped to rest.

  While conversing with her friends, one young woman inquired with derisive laughter, “Well, what’s the Wild West like, Melinda? How can you stand being away from society that long?”

  Melinda did not comment because the rest of her friends roared in laughter. Nothing she could say would make her friends understand the peace and tranquility she felt among the mountains and the countryside.

  Melinda looked around at everyone. The room was a clamor of noise and the people were bustling about. Women were flirtatious with anyone who noticed. Men responded with insincerity. Both men and women had drinks in their hands and acted as if there were no tomorrow and they didn’t care about anything but the moment. And especially on this night, fidelity and respect did not seem important to anyone. To these people, money was important. Women sat around admiring one another’s dress and waving their fans in the air with feigned sophistication, batting their eyes at anyone who was male.

  There was such worldliness in the air and it bothered Melinda. She neither smoked nor drank and she had high standards—among them, fidelity towards one’s spouse. These beliefs were part of her upbringing and religion and she practiced them faithfully.

  When the New Year’s chimes rang, they all cheered and threw their hats in the air and blew their horns while music played on stage. James grabbed Melinda and kissed her. “Happy New Year, sweetheart.” Then he went down the line kissing a few more friends in a most jovial manner.