Ruffling Society

by Kay Moser

  “Do as you wish, Miss Caine, but Miss Novak will be riding down with me in a carriage. I assure you that I know what is best in this situation.” He turned to Sarah. “I suggest you skip your afternoon activities and take a nap. You don’t want your friends to start worrying about you.” He turned, flicked his cane in the air, and walked away.

  “One of these days I’m going to take that cane away from that man and beat him with it,” Bert declared.

  “I don’t know why he thinks I need taking care of,” Sarah exclaimed.

  Ella sighed. “I’d give anything to get him to take care of me.”

  “As much as I dislike the man,” Bert said, “his rented carriage just may come in handy. We don’t know exactly what kind of conveyance the sanitarium will send, and there is a large party coming.”

  As it turned out, Bert was right. The sanitarium personnel who met the train were adequately prepared to transport Victoria, Christine, and the girls, but they had made no provision for Frances and Nancy.

  Sarah resisted Augustus’ efforts to make her wait in the carriage until the train arrived. Ignoring his comments about propriety, she jumped down and began pacing the platform. Occasionally she stopped to peer up the tracks, hoping to see at least a distant speck on the horizon.

  “Train’s always a little late,” the station master told her, “but she’ll get here. You ain’t gonna make her come any faster pacing the platform. Might as well take a seat.”

  “He’s right,” Bert called from the bench where she had settled. “And Boulder is down in a valley. You won’t be able to see the train until—”

  “There it is!” Sarah interrupted her. “I see it.” She pointed into the distance. “It’s just a speck, but I see it.” She whirled around and stared at Bert. “Oh, think of it, Bert! Victoria and Christine will be here where I can—I can—”

  “Keep them safe?”

  Tears flooded Sarah’s eyes. “Yes. Yes!” She raced to Bert’s side. “Don’t you understand? They rescued me!”

  Bert rose and dabbed at Sarah’s face with her handkerchief. “And now you are rescuing them.”

  “I’ve never been able to do anything for them before. The giving has always come from them.”

  Sarah watched as hard-shelled Bert screwed up her face in an attempt to force back her own emotions. “Here!” Bert thrust the handkerchief at Sarah. “Wipe your face. Lord have mercy! The last thing your friends need to see is you crying your eyes out.”

  Sarah smiled as she swiped her tears away. “You’re not as tough as you pretend, are you, Bert?”

  “Now, none of that!” Bert turned away.

  “Miss Caine is quite correct,” Augustus commented, inserting himself into the conversation. “You have a definite tendency to overreact, and you must curb it. Emotionalism simply drains one, and it is essential that you remain rational and professional at all times. As I have said before, professionalism requires—”

  “Enough, Professor!” Bert commanded.

  “I beg your pardon,” Augustus countered.

  Sarah turned away from them, went to the edge of the platform, and noted with joy that the train was halfway down the last hill into the valley.

  “Told you she’d make it,” the station master said as if he had birthed the train. “My trains always make it.”

  Sarah laughed. “Since you know everything, can you tell me which car they will be on?”

  The conductor’s eyes twinkled. “Oh, we’ll know soon enough. There’s a crowd of people coming in from Denver to go to the concert up at Texado Park, but they’ll rush right through, and then we’ll find your friends.”

  Sarah worked to squash her impatience as the giant, black engine approached, its whistle deafening her with its announcement of imminent arrival.

  “She’s a beauty, isn’t she?” The station master grinned with pride. “Comes all the way from Texas to little ole Boulder, Colorado. I tell you, that Texado Park is the best thing that ever happened to this town. Don’t let nobody tell you different.”

  The engine lumbered into the station, wheels clanking, then squealing on the rails, steam hissing, smoke graying the air. The station master pulled Sarah away from the tracks. “Step back now for a few minutes, miss. I gotta get to work.”

  “I’ll take care of the lady,” Augustus announced as he approached. “This way, Sarah. You must sit down with Miss Caine.”

  Sarah went to the bench, but she refused to sit down. She stood and watched as the train came to a dead stop and porters began popping out of the cars with their portable steps in hand. Moments later, each car began to discharge a flood of couples, some with children, and the station platform filled up. The noise was deafening as the shouts of arriving passengers and wagon drivers looking for fares competed with the noise of the train engine.

  “Never fear, Miss Novak,” Augustus shouted. “I shall protect you and Miss Caine.”

  “Protect us?” Bert shouted back at him. “From what?”

  “From these hordes of people, from the crush of the masses.”

  “Really, Professor. I sometimes think that you must be the most pompous—”

  Sarah slipped away, and fighting the direction of the crowd, made her way to the side of the train. As chattering concert-goers cleared the platform, Sarah decided to approach each porter for information, but just as she started, she heard a child’s high-pitched voice.

  “Miss Sarah! Miss Sarah!”

  Sarah looked toward the voice and saw Ceci leaning out of the window, waving. Seconds later, Ceci’s body disappeared and was replaced by Nancy’s upper torso, her dark head wrapped in a bright red bandana.

  “Miz Sarah! Miz Sarah! We’s over here.”

  “What in the name of heaven is that?” Augustus demanded as he joined Sarah.

  Sarah’s temper flared but could not compete with her excitement. “That’s Nancy!” Sarah flung back over her shoulder as she began to race toward the car.

  “Well, there is no need to—”

  From that moment on, Augustus did not exist; Boulder did not exist for Sarah. Her reality included only the distance she had to run to get to the car. The stately colored porter grinned at her and held out a gloved hand to help her up the steps.

  “You must be Miz Sarah. I’s heard all ’bout—”

  Sarah bounded up the steps and darted into the car.

  “Miss Sarah! We’re here!” The girls came running down the aisle, and Sarah knelt, scooped them into her arms, and buried her face in their hair.

  “Sarah!”

  She heard Christine’s voice, and her head popped up. Christine, dressed in her black mourning clothing, stood at the end of the car. She beckoned Sarah forward as she pointed at the seat next to her.

  “Christine!” Sarah hurried down the aisle and hugged her friend as her eyes sought Victoria. Sun shone through the window to her left onto a tumble of red hair. Sarah burst into tears when she saw the thin, ghostly face of her friend.

  “Stop that, Sarah.” Victoria’s voice was weak but still capable of commanding. “I am still here. You haven’t gotten rid of me yet.”

  Sarah took a few steps and fell to her knees next to Victoria’s prone body. “Oh, Victoria!” she cried. “I have been so worried, so scared that—”

  “That’s over. I am here. In spite of the perpetual shaking, swaying, rattling of this wretched train car, I actually feel better than I felt when we left.”

  “And you’ll improve every day. I promise you! The air here is so restorative, and the coolness …”

  Victoria lifted her slender hand to Sarah’s face, stroked it, and pulled her close. “I will be fine now. Let’s just get on to the sanitarium, to a good meal for the others, and a rest for us all.”

  “Yes, yes, of course.” Sarah stood up. “I’ll get the men from the sanitarium. They are ready to take all of you … well, all except Frances and Nancy, but that’s okay because my friends are outside with a carriage, and we can—”

&nbs
p; “Sarah, dear girl.” Christine stepped forward and hugged her. “Calm down. We’ll sort everything out.” She turned back to the others. “Nancy, are the girls all packed up and ready?”

  “Yes, Miz Christine. We been ready ever since we left Denver.”

  “And if ya’ll just get outta the way, I gonna get Miz Victoria ready,” Frances added.

  “Oh, Nancy, Frances,” Sarah exclaimed. “I didn’t even see you …”

  “’Course not, honey,” Frances answered. “You’s too excited. Now you go get the mens from the place we’s goin’ and we get things ready in here.”

  “One more thing,” Victoria called out as Sarah started down the aisle. “Telegraph Hayden.”

  “Yes,” Christine agreed. “Telegraph Hayden and Father that we are safely arrived.”

  ***

  By suppertime, with Victoria settled in her room of the stately sanitarium building, and Christine and the girls snug in their nearby cottage, Sarah knew the ordeal was finally over. Her friends were safe in a place that would comfort and heal them. Even so, she would have gladly spent the night by Victoria’s bedside if Bert and Augustus had not resisted that idea.

  “You must be reasonable,” Bert insisted. “She is surrounded by nursing staff, and more than anything, your friends need sleep. Your presence will add nothing.”

  Augustus added, “And you do have a presentation to make tomorrow. Really, Miss Novak, you must realign your priorities!”

  Bert turned on him. “Sarah’s priorities are perfectly aligned, Professor! She cares about her friends, but now that she sees that they are well attended to, she is going back to Texado Park, eat some supper, and rest. Aren’t you, Sarah?”

  Sarah felt a wave of nervous exhaustion roll over her. “Yes, it’s time to rest,” she murmured and allowed Augustus to lead her to the carriage.

  CHAPTER 32

  When Sarah awoke, she yearned to hike up onto the mesa and sit quietly until she could visit the sanitarium and hover over Victoria. “And that’s the last thing she needs. She must sleep; they all need to sleep. I need to sleep!” Unfortunately, this was the day of her Shakespeare presentation, so she hurried to the bath house, to breakfast, and finally to class.

  Throughout her presentation, she struggled unsuccessfully to free her mind of its fogginess. Mediocre! You are failing miserably. Self-condemnation whirled in her mind as she listened to her own low-energy performance. However, when Professor Morton asked her to stay after class, the heat of her anxiety instantly burned off her fog.

  “Miss Novak.” Professor Morton addressed her, then stopped, looked at the rough wooden floor of the tent classroom, and cleared his throat. “Miss Novak, I have high regard for your native intelligence, so I am perplexed by your less-than-stellar performance today.”

  “I’m sorry, Professor Morton. I … I … my mind feels so weary today. This is not like me at all, I assure you.” Sarah bit her lip.

  “Perhaps there are extenuating circumstances? An illness perhaps?”

  Sarah shook her head.

  “You are worried about something?”

  “Not any more. At least, not as much.” She hesitated. Surely such a scholarly man would consider my worries about Victoria and Christine to be unimportant.

  “I do not wish to pry, Miss Novak, or to offend. Nevertheless, I would be less than honorable if I did not tell you that I have heard of your worries regarding your Texas friends. Professor Wickham has told me.”

  Sarah’s eyebrows shot up as annoyance replaced her anxiety. “Has he indeed?”

  “Yes, perhaps unwisely ... but yes, he has. Let me just say that I hope the ladies will benefit from the change of climate and that your concentration will return, now that they are well settled. As I said, I have the highest regard for your intelligence, and I am certain you will justify my confidence on Monday’s exam.” He smiled, bowed slightly, and left her alone in the tent.

  Sarah sank onto a bench, certain she should be furious with Augustus, but too weary to drum up the emotion. “I might as well admit it,” she muttered. “I’m worn out with all the worry of last week.” She sighed. “For once, I’m going to allow myself a nap during quiet hours.”

  ***

  At four o’clock, Sarah walked down to the streetcar station and made her way to the sanitarium. She found Christine, dressed in widow’s black, her veil pulled back, sitting with Victoria.

  “Welcome, Sarah.” Victoria struggled to raise her voice as she made a valiant effort to smile.

  “Oh, Victoria!” Sarah blurted out when she saw her friend’s paleness.

  “Now, let’s all stay calm,” Christine counseled Sarah. “Victoria’s healing is going to take some time. We must all be patient now … and very grateful. The worst of it, the trip, is over.”

  “It must have been horrendous.”

  “It was difficult,” Christine admitted, “but we had good help. Father was right; we did need both Frances and Nancy.”

  “And don’t forget Josiah,” Victoria murmured.

  “Josiah? Who is Josiah?” Sarah asked.

  Victoria managed a grin while Christine laughed, then answered. “Josiah is the porter who befriended Nancy.”

  “Took a fancy to her, you mean,” Victoria murmured.

  “Shhh … I hear Frances at the door,” Christine cautioned. “She must have the tea tray.”

  Sarah sprang to her feet to open the door.

  “Afternoon, Miz Sarah. I sure is impressed with those mountains of yours.”

  “Not mine, but they are grand, aren’t they?”

  “Just put the tray over there, Frances.” Christine pointed to a table under the window that framed a perfect view of the first mountain with its flat-iron-shaped rock jutting up into the sky.

  “Nancy say to tell you, Miz Christine, that she got the girls outside playing,” Frances said as she strode across the room. “She watchin’ them real careful, and you’s not to worry.”

  “Thank you, Frances. Now, Sarah, tell us about your studies so far.”

  “How did your presentation go today?” Victoria asked.

  As Sarah sipped her tea and began to answer the question, she noticed that Victoria’s hands shook so much that Frances had to hold the cup to her mistress’ lips. Sarah’s spirits sank at the sight, but she fought back the tears that burned her eyes and turned to look out the window as she ended her brief account of her lackluster morning presentation. When she turned back, her hands flew to cover her distressed face. Victoria had slipped into sleep.

  “Don’t be alarmed,” Christine whispered. “It has been weeks since Victoria slept soundly. This is just what she needs.” She sighed. “This is what we all need.”

  Sarah looked closely at Christine and noted the dark circles under her eyes and tiny lines around her pinched lips. “I am concerned about you as well, Christine.”

  “I am tired to the bone. I admit it. And now that we are here safely and I have time to think ...well, I guess I have too much time to think.” She stopped abruptly and, looking down, smoothed her black silk skirt as she fought for composure. When she raised her eyes again, they were full of tears. “I believe, Sarah, that we are all in the right place to gain the healing we so desperately need. I believe that God arranged all this, that He began the process long ago before we had the need. You have been used by Him, and I thank you for cooperating so willingly with what must have seemed like a crazy scheme when you first thought of it.”

  “It is a miracle,” Sarah answered simply. “I’m sure it is.”

  Christine hugged her. “We have only begun to see the miracles He has planned for us on this trip, but we must pray fervently for Father and Hayden.”

  Sarah nodded. “They will miss you and Victoria.”

  Christine did not answer immediately. Instead, she guided Sarah toward the door. “Let us walk over to the cottage, Sarah. There is something I need to tell you. Things have changed in Riverford.”

  Sarah’s heart jerked into a
gallop. “Something is wrong? Is it Mama?”

  “No, your mother is fine,” Christine assured her as she shut Victoria’s door behind them and guided Sarah down the hushed, shadowy hall. “There is a business problem, a serious bank problem. That’s why neither Hayden nor Father could make the trip with us; they had to stay behind to ensure that the bank remains in local control.”

  Sarah’s mouth fell open as her eyebrows shot up. “Local control? I don’t understand. I thought Richard owned the bank. So now you own it, don’t you?”

  “Richard owned controlling interest, but the bank has always had other investors, men who sit on the board of directors. They always followed Richard’s lead. They did not always agree with his decisions, but the strength of his personality, his persuasive powers, always won out. Now that Richard is gone, their confidence in the bank is not so sure. An outside consortium, a group of investors from St. Louis, wants to buy the bank, and some board members want to sell it.”

  “That would be terrible—for you and General Gibbes, of course—but also for farmers like my father. Outsiders would not have the compassion Richard had.”

  “Exactly. Hayden thinks the danger of the board’s voting to sell is sizable, and Father agrees,” Christine answered as they stepped out into the welcoming, sun-drenched flower garden behind the sanitarium. “But we must remember what we just said about miracles. We must remember that God walks far ahead of us. We have seen the proof in this trip.” She stopped and turned to face Sarah. “And we have seen the proof in the presence of Lee Logan in Riverford when we most need him.”

  “Lee?”

  Christine nodded. “Whatever your personal feelings about Lee may be, Sarah, or your plans, there is no doubt that he is a reliable, honorable young man. He has worked night and day since you’ve been gone, doing everything he can to retain the town’s confidence in the bank. I shudder to think how exhausted Father would be without his help.”

  “Yes, Lee would do that.” Sarah fell silent for a minute, a sudden wave of love for Lee making it impossible to trust her own voice. “He is fine, isn’t he?” she finally said.