by R. Castro
Lupe’s Luck
The Belles of Wyoming Book 16
R Castro
Contents
Thank You
1. June 1881, The Road To Belle
2. June 1881 New To Belle
3. June 1881 Dinner Party
4. July 1881 fourth of July Picnic
5. July 1881 Late July
6. July 1881 A Dinner And A Date
7. August 1881 Church picnic
8. August 1881 The Aftershock
9. August 1881 A Heart That Yearns
10. September 1881 A Summer Belle
The Belles of Wyoming Series
A Note From R. Castro
Credits & Copyright
Lupe’s Luck © 2019 by R. Castro. All Rights Reserved
Editing by The Enchanted Quill Press
Cover Art by Virginia McKevitt
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, recorded, or stored in any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher, except for the brief quotation for review purposes.
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used factitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead is entirely coincidental.
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First edition, 2019
Created with Vellum
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June 1881, The Road To Belle
The warm summer winds brushed against Lupe’s face as she fussed with the loose, dark locks that’d broken free from her signature braid. Tired and frustrated, she scowled at anyone who dared hold their gaze on her for a second too long. All she craved was the privacy of a washroom and a barrel of fresh, clean water, to wash away the dirt and grime of weeks’ worth of traveling the rugged roads to Belle, Wyoming. A venture only her father seemed to appreciate, coerced by Elias Anthony Hill, his boss. Albeit, much younger than her father, Elias had inherited the family’s very successful blacksmith business when his dad suddenly died of a heart attack and fully immersed himself in the trade. Only, Elias was much more ambitious than his dad, and he believed there was more money for all if they hit the road. At least, that was the story Lupe’s father sold to the family.
Born after the Mexican American War of 1846–1848, Lupe understood all too well what her family lost. The stakes had been high for many, but for her family, it’d been everything. Their once successful orange orchards had fallen into the hands of one of the most notorious land thieves, Don Gerardo de Angeles. For all Lupe knew, the man had sold his soul to the devil and didn’t deserve the title bestowed upon him of a don. Witnessing how he lived high on the hog, with the spoils of other innocent families, was often too much to endure, while her father worked tirelessly perfecting a craft he was forced to learn after losing their lands.
She’d often sneak off into the orchards when the delicate waxy white orange blossoms fragranced the air and everything around them. She’d carefully take a few and place them lovingly in her braid.
The dusty breeze caused her thoughts to shift back to the present. The horse drawn wagons maintained the steady pace with the others. Elias had chosen to make the trek all the way from California in their current mode of transportation. Perhaps the train would have been faster, but he’d insisted on packing just about everything from the shop. In addition, her parents uprooted all their belongings, knowing their time in Belle might be just the start of a long journey. Besides, the train didn’t reach Belle. At least not yet.
Hooves pounded against the ground, forcing her attention in the sound’s direction.
“Miss Cortez, are you, all right?”
Elias’ skin was a light golden from being under the sun, unlike her own honey-warm undertone complexion. His soft blonde curls pushed past his neckline, while his ice-blue eyes held Lupe in attention.
“Yes,” She responded coldly, maybe more than she’d intended.
“We should be there by sundown. I’ve sent a rider ahead to announce our arrival, and to make sure we have a nice home-cooked meal.”
The latter caught Lupe by surprise. Her mouth opened, yet no words came out, so she quickly closed it again.
“What?”
“Nothing. I... I guess I’m just surprised you’d have anyone cook for us,” she said.
Elias chuckled. “Why wouldn’t I have someone cooking for us?”
It was obvious by his tone that he’d caught on to Lupe’s emphasis on the latter.
“I figured you’d have my mother get right to work. I mean, isn’t that why you pay her?”
It was true, Lupe’s mother, Martha, had a job that started with the journey. She’d see that the men had two home-cooked meals a day, their washing done, and clean quarters to return to when the day was over. Of course, Lupe’s younger siblings would help keep the stable, but their father, Valerio, had hoped they’d attend the local school, as they had in their town in the Tulare Valley.
“Hm.”
The grunt escaped Elias as if to mock her; at least, that was her perception.
“My family, Mr. Hill, are in your employ. You’ve compensated my father for this journey. Trust me when I say, we are not expecting a handout.”
“Miss Cortez, your father is more than a mere employee to me. He is my friend. And often, he’s been a father figure to me when I’ve needed the guidance, more so, when I needed it but didn’t want it.”
“Ah, yes.” She grinned.
He shifted uncomfortably in the saddle. “Excuse me, but what’s that supposed to mean?”
Her eyes shifted away from Elias; her grip tightened on the reins as she snapped them to get the horses to pick up their pace. They’d fallen behind with the distraction of the gentleman.
Elias begrudgingly returned to the head of the caravan, alongside Valerio. He fought back the urge to turn and see what smug expression Lupe had for him. No matter how hard he tried, she had nothing but disdain for him, and he couldn’t figure out why.
They arrived in Belle at dusk, having followed a less-traveled path along Belle River.
Lupe took a deep breath as the town came into view. Many things ran through her head. Would they be welcomed, especially being a family of Mexican heritage? She’d heard many horror stories and wasn’t sure what to expect. Her father encouraged them all to keep an open mind.
They circled around a line of houses where two men met them.
Elias raised his hand to the air, giving their small caravan the stop signal, dismounted, and began a conversation with them.
Lupe desperately wanted to hear the conversation, yet it wasn’t her place. So, she waited, like the rest.
After a few words and pats on the back between the three, her father dismounted for an introduction, and the men pointed straight ahead toward a nice wooden building.
One of them walked alongside Elias and her father leading the caravan in the direction the other had pointed.
They continu
ed slowly, rolling through one side of the town. As they passed the other man who remained behind, he tilted his hat to Lupe’s mother, Martha and then to Lupe, who was in the cart behind. That was when she noticed the badge on his chest. The sheriff.
There were a few onlookers as they moved along, causing her to feel a little unsettled. The nervousness about a new community was desperately clawing at her mind and insecurities.
After a few deep breaths, Lupe noticed the signage next to the building they were headed for; which read Cafe. She wondered if it was where Elias was expecting them to dine for the evening, then quickly shook away the thoughts when they rolled past what appeared to be the town square and just past the café. Everyone stopped and started dismounting, including her mother and two siblings. Yet she wasn’t ready. She skirted the side of the other four wagons and moved her horses and wagon to the front, near her father and Elias.
“Right there is your place, Mr. Hill, and just behind it is another place with a few bunks and a washroom, with an open kitchen. That right there,” he said, pointing next to Elias’ new home, “is the place for your master blacksmith and his family. The café has prepared a nice dinner for y’all, and I’ve seen that there is freshly fetched water to help y’all get settled in. Again, welcome and let us know if you’ll be needing anything.” Said the deputy.
“Thank you, Deputy Will,” Valerio Cortez politely said, turning to his wife and children. “This is my wife, Martha, and our two youngest. I’m hoping to get them enrolled in school when the time comes. And that right there is our eldest, Lupe. She’ll be helping with the day-to-day chores and most likely running most of the errands.”
He nodded in their direction. “I’m sure Miss Winkleman will be excited to have two new students. Well, I’m on my way now.”
Lupe looked around for the stable.
Elias noticed, and offered, "It's outback. Why don't you let us unload, and I'll have some men take the horses and carriages outback?”
She glanced at him and, without saying a word, dismounted and started pulling things out of the wagon, causing everyone else to pitch in.
"We could have handled this on our own, you know?" Elias said with a grin.
"I'm quite capable of carrying my weight, but thank you," she said, pushing past him with a basketful of linens, moving thru the open fence and into her new home.
The five men who'd made the trek with them all moved past Elias, playfully giving him heck. Lupe picked up on as much as she pushed through the door, crossing the threshold into their new-to-them home.
It was what she expected in a small town; floor to ceiling wooden structure and a couple of windows. The main area was a combination of sitting space, dining, and kitchen. While off to the back were two rooms.
She'd have to share with her younger siblings. A possibility she'd been dreading since her father had announced the move.
Lupe tossed a few things onto the table and made her way back outside.
Her parents were happily engaged in conversation with someone out front, yet she avoided the small gathering, circling around the carriage to grab more things.
"Truly, you don't have to do that. The men..."
"Again," she said through a clenched jaw, more agitated than before, "thank you. However, I don't need help. Besides, you all have plenty to get sorted out. and the men are likely hungry. So, the quicker they get to their own work, the sooner we can all be done and get over to that cafe to eat."
He beamed, only annoying her more.
"Just trying to be helpful," he said with a tilt of his hat before turning away.
"Go be helpful somewhere else," she mumbled under her breath as she pulled down a wooden crate full of kitchen supplies, realizing that her parents didn't look the least bit concerned about helping her. Lupe looked around for her siblings. They, too, had wandered off toward the town square and were running around with other children. How easy. She thought, wondering how on earth any of them could get along so quickly as she moved back toward the house.
June 1881 New To Belle
Two whole weeks had passed since Lupe’s arrival to Belle, Wyoming. There was a lot of talk about the impending Fourth of July picnic, which she was thankful for as it took some immediate attention away from her, a newcomer.
Her parents were getting along just great and her siblings, more so while she dreaded leaving the house, opting instead to pick up more of her mother's chores so her mother, Martha, could run the errands.
Lupe had become clever at avoiding most people, except for Sunday mass, since their arrival. There, she didn't have a choice. But since their home was very close to the church, she figured out a quick escape route, which allowed her to avoid most of their fellow churchgoers.
"What's on your mind?" Martha said as she milled the dough for the tortillas. The blacksmith workers enjoyed her handmade tortillas so much, they'd spread the word about town, and soon, other folks were placing orders.
"I miss home. We missed the orange harvest," Lupe said, tears spilling down her face. "All I can think about is how everyone is going about as if nothing major has happened. And I'm heartbroken, Mother. I understand why we had to move; still, it hasn't been easy."
Martha rinsed her hands in a pail of clean kitchen water she had off to the side of the mill, then wiped them off on her apron. She took her daughter into her arms and soothed her.
"It hasn't been easy for any of us, Lupe. But in the end, we have to beat those feelings that threaten to pull us down." She patted her daughter's head. "Your father and I really think you need to try harder, to meet the people of Belle. They truly are nice. Just try?"
Lupe wiped her tears on her mother's shoulder. "I'm not making any promises."
"I'm not asking you to. I'm just asking you to do a little more to help yourself get out from under the cloud of gloom you've been carrying with you." Martha smiled as she returned to her duties. Looking over her shoulder, she said, "Why don't you grab that basket of tortillas and take them over to Sheriff Knight?"
Lupe looked it over. "Why so much? I mean, I heard Deputy Will has quite the appetite, but this much?"
Martha laughed. "Some of those are for Pap Johnson and his help."
Lupe furrowed her brows and, without protest, was on her way.
She wasn't fussy about her appearance. Whatever she looked like after washing up in the morning, was how she stayed for the rest of the day.
Many had told her how naturally beautiful she was. Her large brown expressive eyes were filled with wonder but not easily fooled. She was quick as a whip and didn't appreciate the narrative of a damsel in distress. Lupe wanted to be treated as an equal, something that was highly frowned upon. Yet she challenged convention, at every turn. But when the news broke about moving to Belle, her father sat her down before they set off on the new venture to remind her that not all people appreciated a spirited young lady.
In Lupe's mind, that translated to not having a voice. Which only infuriated her. Nevertheless, she understood what her father had said and wasn't stupid. She knew society had certain expectations, and she wasn't above those.
She moved quickly toward the sheriff's station, briefly offering a good day to anyone she encountered, avoiding any direct eye contact, so no one got the idea to chat her up.
When she arrived at the station, it surprised her to find Elias there, comfortably seated with Sheriff Knight and Deputy Will.
"Good day. My apologies for interrupting, but my mom sent this basket over." She politely smiled. "Where would you have me put it?"
"Miss Cortez! What a delightful surprise to see you out and about. I was just talking to Mr. Hill here, about having your family and him over to my place for dinner. My wife, Hope, has been eager to meet you. It seems every time she attempts to find you after church, you've disappeared."
Lupe blushed as she fidgeted on her feet. "Yes. Well, I typically hurry back to get the Sunday supper ready for the men."
"Mr. Hill, you have these lovely
ladies cooking on Sunday's as well?" The sheriff questioned.
It was now Elias who fidgeted in his seat. "The Cortezes insist on us saving as much money as possible, and the men really enjoy the home-cooked meals. Everything Martha and Miss Cortez make is amazing. But the Chile Colorado is something you dream about."
The words made Lupe smile for she knew just how delicious the tender pieces of beef in the rich red chile sauce were.
"Honestly, Sheriff Knight, we enjoy cooking for the men. They are like an extension of our family. And in our family, we all dine together." Lupe added.
"Is that so?"
Elias nodded. "We have a sweet setup between my house and the men's quarters. I believe they call that alfresco dining over in certain parts of Europe if I'm not mistaken."
The sheriff crossed his arms over his midsection as he leaned back into the wooden chair. "Are you telling me, Mr. Hill, that you've been around Europe?"
"Funny, I was about to ask the same thing," Deputy Will chimed in.
“Indeed.” He paused and smiled. “In fact, I enjoyed my time over there so much, I was set on staying."
Lupe had heard the story before from her father. Elias only returned when Mr. Hill fell ill and needed help in the business. Elias had reluctantly returned.
"I'm sorry. I really need to get back and help my mom. Where should I put this?" Lupe interrupted.
Deputy Will hurried to his feet and grabbed the basket from her. "I'm sorry, Miss Cortez. That wasn't very gentlemanly of me," he said, accidentally brushing his hand against hers as he retrieved the basket.