The Barnstormer

by Jane Lewis

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Frankie put his flat cap on his head and grabbed his crutch. He’d waited until the Douglas’ were done with lunch before going. He didn’t want to cause more trouble. He trekked the few blocks using his crutch to keep the weight off his hurt ankle. He’d analyzed all the what ifs since the landing. Today his mind wandered to what he should have done, like he should have taken another plane. He had to see Ruthie and make sure she was well. Only that would stop the voices in his head. He hobbled up the front steps and knocked.

  Hattie opened the door and motioned him in. “I didn’t know you were hurt, too.”

  He sat in the nearest chair. “No, ma’am, I twisted my ankle, and my neck’s sore. I’m not bad hurt. I’ll be fine.”

  She yelled for her husband. “Jacob, please come in here and see about Frankie. He got hurt yesterday but didn’t tell us.”

  Jacob knelt at Frankie’s feet. “Take off your shoe so I can examine your foot.”

  He untied the laces on his two tone oxfords and took off his red argyle sock.

  Jacob examined his ankle pressing with his thumb to determine swelling. “Does this hurt?”

  He winced from the pain but kept his foot still. “It’s sore, but I’ve had worse when I sprained it as a kid.”

  Jacob carefully rotated his foot to determine range of motion. “I don’t think the ankle is sprained, just a little swollen. What have you done for it?”

  “I soaked in warm Epsom salt water and kept my foot elevated. Luckily, I had some crutches. I’m taking aspirin and applying liniment to my foot and ankle.”

  Jacob stood. “You did the right thing. But you should have called and I would have driven you. I will be taking you home.”

  He tugged his sock over the tender flesh.

  Jacob said, “Leave the shoe off. I’m sure you want to sit with Ruth Ann. We’ll put a foot rest next to your chair so you can keep it elevated.”

  Hattie headed for the kitchen. “Come in here and let me fix you some lunch.”

  “No, ma’am, I ate at home.”

  She rebounded, “Well, I’m feeding you supper then.”

  Ruth Ann stood at the top of the stairs. “Is Frankie here? What’s going on?”

  Her mother hurried to her room. “Get in bed. He’s here, you’ll see him. You know what the doctor advised, bed rest for a week.”

  She put both hands on her head and smoothed her hair. “Tell him to wait five minutes.”

  She crawled in bed. “Ma, hand me my mirror and comb, please.”

  Hattie gave her the mirror. “I’ll comb your hair.”

  She gazed in the mirror as her mother fixed her hair. “Looks fine, thanks.”

  Hattie smoothed her bangs over the bandage on her forehead. “You’re still pretty.”

  Jacob positioned the foot rest beside the chair. “This is for Frankie.”

  She sat straighter. “Why does he need a foot rest?”

  Her pa said, “Frankie twisted his ankle.”

  “I didn’t know he got hurt. How bad?”

  Jacob assured her, “Not bad, but he needs to elevate the foot and keep pressure off the ankle. It’ll be sore for a few days.”

  Frankie put a big smile on his face and entered Ruthie’s bedroom. “Hey, fly girl, feeling better today?”

  She raked her gaze up Frankie’s tall frame. “Fly girl? It scared me so bad I fainted. Victor and Lisbeth got the guts in this family. I’m a wimp.”

  He left his crutch by the door and settled in the chair adjusting the foot rest to accommodate his long legs. “I don’t think you’re a wimp. None of us would have the nerve to act on stage.”

  “Yeah, about that. I hoped you would come to my play. You promised you would.”

  “Yes, and you promised to let me fly you to school. You’re the one who left with the dandy.”

  “You mean Ronald, why do you call him a dandy?”

  Frankie’s laughter filled the room. “Victor and I gave him the nickname. He smells like Pond’s Cream.”

  She tilted her head. “How do you know what Pond’s Extract Vanishing Cream smells like?”

  “I was married, remember?”

  “How could I forget,” she said with contempt in her voice and a frown on her face.

  He tilted his head; he’d get the truth out of her. “What did you see in him anyway?”

  “Well, for one thing I met him when everyone thought you were married. And you, you couldn’t wait for me until I got out of school?” She crossed her arms.

  He scooted to the edge of his chair. “Wait for you, are you kidding? You never gave me the time of day until I met someone else.”

  “About her, what did you see in her? Oh, never mind, I know. Tight clothes, low cut blouses, big bubs, and blonde hair.”

  Frankie lowered his voice. “I’m trying my best to forget this chapter in my life, can you?”

  She nodded. “Yes, let’s never talk about it again.”

  “Agreed. Now, tell me about Ronald,. Is he still your boyfriend?”

  She adjusted her cover. “You get to the point, don’t you?”

  “Where you’re involved I do. If you’re still with the dandy, I’m moving on. I’m too old to play games.”

  “Yes, I mean…it’s complicated.”

  Now we’re getting somewhere. Frankie crossed his arms hoping for the whole story. “I’m listening.”

  She continued, “Ronald started out as a friend. Everyone likes him because he’s a good actor, and he lets everyone know he wants to act on stage in New York, and he is good. He asked me to be his girlfriend. You were married, so I decided I should find someone, too.” She watched his face for a reaction. “Anyway, it was all right at first and I liked the attention but after you and I got together, I realized he wasn’t the one for me. He didn’t make me feel like you did. I didn’t crave him when he was gone like I did you.”

  Frankie tried not to smile. “So, what happened when you returned to school after Christmas?”

  “We had a play to perform, and I didn’t have time to do anything but study, memorize and rehearse. I avoided him, best I could.”

  “But you didn’t break up with him? He thought you were his girl?” Frankie’s face burned red.

  “He kept asking me to go to New York with him after graduation. He said we could have a career on stage.”

  “Did he ask you to marry him?”

  She bit her lower lip weighing her answer. “No, he wanted us to live together.” She straightened in bed and talked faster. “I caught him kissing another girl and realized what kind of man he is.”

  Frankie squelched his temper and kept his voice calm. “What kind of man is he?”

  “He wanted intimacy, but he didn’t want to marry me.”

  Frankie stood, fists clenched. “That son of a bitch, I’ll kill him.”

  She jumped out of bed and put her arms around his neck. She stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek and whispered, “You asked and I told you, if I can get over you marrying the gold digger bitch, you can get over Ronald.”

  He gathered her in his arms and gave her a deep kiss. Their tongues met, and he drove his into her mouth. He put his hand on her breast and groaned. He could feel her hard nipple through her nightgown. Suddenly he remembered Mrs. Douglas. If she walked in and caught them, he’d be banned from the house. “Get in bed, I’ll cover you.”

  She crawled in bed and adjusted her pillows. “Will you ever forgive me?”

  He tucked the cover around her. “You left without a word, except for the note your mother burned. I was furious when I heard you left with Ronald. Victor and Al wanted me to get in touch with you, but my stubbornness got in the way.” He sat in his chair and adjusted the foot rest. “I even flew to Atlanta, sat in the restaurant, had lunch, and flew back home. I broke my promise to you about coming to see your play because as far as I was concerned you chose the dandy over me.” He paused, emotion welled in his throat causing his voice to go soft. “G
od might be trying to tell us something. He opened the pine thicket, so I would find a pasture where we could land. He spared our lives for a reason.” He stared into her eyes, losing himself in his want of her. “I don’t think we should argue anymore.”

  She nodded. “Arguing’s our way of communicating. I’ll tell you a secret. I used to fuss and complain when Victor insisted on you going places with us, but I was disappointed when you didn’t go.”

  He pulled her hand to his mouth, kissed it, and gave her a mischievous smile. “You were a bearcat, but an adorable one. We wasted a lot of time arguing. In the future, no fussin’, just lovin’.”

  She tugged his earlobe. “Deal.”

  Lisbeth drifted up the stairs and stopped at Ruth Ann’s door. “Can I come in?”

  Frankie stood to give Lisbeth the chair.

  She noticed his shoeless foot and the foot rest. “No worries, I’ll sit on the bed. What happened, did you get hurt, too?”

  He sat in the chair and put his foot on the stool. “Twisted my ankle. I’m trying to rest today so I can go to work tomorrow. We’ve got to get the Jenny home.”

  Lisbeth couldn’t contain her excitement. “I’m glad you’re both okay, but was it exciting? I mean the engine dying and landing the plane in the pasture?”

  Ruth Ann pushed the covers back and jumped out of bed. “Exciting. Are you insane? The last thing I remember is the eerie quietness after the engine stopped. You know how I hate take offs and landings. Well this added another thing for me to worry about.”

  He’d have to stop the argument, or the sisters would go on all day. “The JN-Four is easy to glide to a landing, but you need a good flat surface. I wasn’t afraid when the engine stopped, but I worried I wouldn’t find a spot in time. When I fly the Jenny, I’m always thinking about a place to land but we were over a pine thicket and I didn’t see the pasture until the last minute. We were very lucky.”

  Lisbeth asked, “Can you fix the Jenny so I can fly it and do tricks like you?”

  Ruth Ann put her hand over her heart. “Please don’t Lisbeth, I’ll worry myself to death.”

  He guided her to the bed and tucked her in. “Calm down, both of you. Yes, Lisbeth, I said I’d teach you how to fly the Jenny, and I will but no, no aerobatics until you have more experience.”

  She eased against the pillow. “You pilots are a strange lot.”

  Lisbeth laughed. “Exactly how we feel about you actors.”

  Hattie entered the room with two plates. “Lisbeth, come eat with us.”

  Ruth Ann straightened, and Lisbeth placed the pillows behind her. “Thanks, Ma, looks delicious.”

  “Thank you, your food is the best.” Frankie reached for the plate. He finished his supper and said goodbye to everyone.

  Jacob followed him to the door. “Let me get my car keys. I’m taking you home. I know you won’t take off sick tomorrow, although I wish you would rest one more day.”

  He put his shoe on and tied the laces. “Victor and I have to get the Jenny home. We’ve got a lot of work to do in the morning. It’s kind of you to take me home.”

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Frankie, Victor, and Al arrived at Mr. Johnson’s farm before eight Monday morning.

  Mr. Johnson greeted them. “Need help with anything?”

  After Frankie made introductions, he said, “No, we’ve got it covered. Thank you, though.”

  Mr. Johnson rambled toward his house. “Let me know if you need me.”

  Frankie and Victor proceeded ahead of Al. When Frankie saw the light blue biplane with red, white, and blue stripes on the tail, he broke into a run. He wanted to examine the plane closer and make sure of no damage. For many years, the Jenny was all he had.

  Victor caught up. “Slow down, we aren’t going to a fire. She’s not going anywhere.”

  They walked around the plane checking for damage. Frankie ran his hand over the fabric of the plane. “I don’t see any problems on the outside.”

  They concentrated their attention on the engine. Victor said, “Let’s turn her around in the direction you’ll take off.”

  They guided the plane around and heard a loud commotion. Al wrestled the large wagon loaded with tools through the rough grass.

  He waved. “The rabbit might win the race, but don’t forget the turtle has the tools.”

  Victor acknowledged the old man. “Thanks, Al. I don’t know what we’d do without you.” They stepped toward him.

  Frankie grabbed the wagon handle and headed toward the Jenny.

  Al yelled, “Frankie, take it easy, you’re going to turn the wagon over.”

  Victor grabbed the handle and stepped in front of Frankie. “I’m taking the wagon, you go slow and take care of your ankle.”

  He took their advice. “Fine, but I’m ready to get her home.”

  Al rubbed his neck and glanced toward the sky. “I know you had a rough landing due to not enough space to coast her down. Are you going to have enough room to take off?”

  “I hope so. If not, I’ll ask Mr. Johnson to take out part of his fence so we can get her on the road. It’ll be an easy take off, but you and Victor will have to stop traffic.”

  Frankie checked the engine over and found a cracked fuel line. He replaced the line and readied the engine for a start. Al checked all of the cables, and Victor added gas to the tank. He climbed in while Victor propped the plane. The Jenny started on the first try. He let the engine run several minutes.

  He stepped to the ground. “I’m going to take a walk through the pasture and see how much room I have to take off before I hit the pine thicket.”

  Frankie made his way to the tree line and gazed at the Jenny and then at the sky. He imagined where he would lift the plane off the ground and checked how much room he had before he hit the pine thicket. He didn’t see a problem.

  Victor and Al were waiting with the loaded wagon. Frankie walked toward the airplane and put on his hat and goggles. “I’ve got plenty of room to take off.”

  Al scratched his head. “Are you sure, son?”

  He climbed in the plane. “Oh, yeah. I’ve taken off in a tighter area than this. Victor, prop me off and thank Mr. Johnson again.”

  Victor walked to the front of the plane and put his hands on the propeller. “I’ll tell him. Be careful and we’ll see you at the air field.”

  Frankie yelled, “Contact.”

  Victor responded, “Contact,” then pulled down and stepped away. The engine started.

  Frankie prayed and headed down the makeshift runway. He cleared the trees and watched Victor and Al wave. Normally he would do a trick for them, but he wanted to get his airplane home.

  He arrived in Saplingville and put the Jenny in her shed. He limped to the hangar to start his work for the day.

  Victor breezed out of his office at three o’clock. “Frankie, everything’s quiet here, why don’t you head home and rest.”

  He gathered tools. “I think I will. I’m going home, change clothes, and check on Ruthie. See you tomorrow.”

  He showered and changed into clean denim pants and a blue plaid shirt. He drove the few blocks to Ruthie’s house. He spotted Ronald’s light blue Studebaker parked on the street. He parked his Ford coupe behind Ronald’s car. What the hell? Frankie heard Al’s voice in his head, “Calm down, son, that temper of yours is as fiery as your hair.”

  He stared at the door handle and froze. He couldn’t face being taken advantage of again. Ronald busted from the front door with Mrs. Douglas following. She stood on the porch with her hands on her hips.

  Frankie jumped from his car and in two strides stood in front of the dandy. He towered over him and took advantage of the height difference.

  Ronald raised his hands, stepped back, and almost lost his balance. “Hey, man, Ruth Ann told me about you two. She loves you. You can have her, she’s replaceable.”

  Frankie raised his fist; he wanted to mess with the dandy’s face. “Ruthie is irreplaceable to me. Now. Beat it. I do
n’t want to see you or your blue car in Saplingville ever again. I’m not going to hurt your pretty face today, but if you give my girl a hard time or touch a hair on her head when she returns to school, I’ll beat your ass.”

  The dandy backed his way to the car, opened the door, and jumped in.

  When Ronald started his Studebaker, Frankie faced the house, Hattie stood in the door. “Mrs. Douglas, I’m sorry you had to witness the altercation. I lost my temper.”

  She hugged him and cried. “I’m glad you did, I just discovered what a despicable character he is. Do you know he wanted her to move to New York with him, unmarried? She set him straight and informed him that she loved you, she asked him to leave, and he started begging her. He said some other things I can’t repeat. Ruth Ann knew I stood at the door listening, so she asked me to come in and escort him out. You arrived at the right time, Jacob’s still at work.”

  He put his arm around Mrs. Douglas and guided her inside. “Everything’s fine. He’s gone for good, and I made sure he won’t give Ruthie any problems when she returns to school.”

  “Thanks, Frankie, go on upstairs. She’s upset.”

  He stood in the door and watched Ruthie cry into her pillow. “Can I come in?”

  She got out of bed and ran. He cradled her in his arms. “Everything’s fine. Ronald and I have an understanding. He won’t hurt you again.”

  Her lips trembled. “But I have to go to school, he’ll be there.”

  He stared into her face, wiping tears from her cheek with his thumb. “He won’t bother you. I let him know I’d hurt his pretty face if he did.”

  Her eyes locked with his, and he recognized from this moment she would be his forever. Ronald’s voice played through his head like a Victrola record, “She loves you.”

  He knelt on his right knee. “Ruth Ann Douglas.” Frankie hesitated.

  She frowned. “Does your ankle hurt?”

  Frankie laughed trying to steady his nerves. “No, oh Dear God, help me. What I want is for us to get hitched. As soon as you get out of school, I want you to marry me. I’ll never leave you. I’ll adore you and take care of you. I’ll do my best to be the man you deserve.”

  A large smile filled her face. “Frankie, I can’t wait to marry you. I’ve loved you since you returned to Saplingville. Remember the hayride? When I gazed into your eyes I saw my future, although I didn’t know it at the time.”