by R. Castro
Elias pushed his fingers through his golden locks, wondering just what to say. There was no better way than to come out and say it. So, he mustered the courage and blurted out. "I want to ask Lupe if she'll allow me to formally accompany her to tonight's dinner."
"I see."
"Would that be fine with you?"
"With me?" Valerio said, straightening up. "Elias, you know my daughter. She has a mind of her own. I appreciate you asking me first. But I assure you, it's her you have to get approval from."
"That's what I'm afraid of," he admitted.
Valerio laughed loudly, "Yeah, I can see that. She has a good heart. She’s just full of opinions and ideas. Most great, but frowned upon, nonetheless.”
“And I appreciate that about her.”
“Well, you have my support. Just don’t be surprised if she rejects you.”
Mrs. Hill had returned to her son’s cottage so that Lupe and her family could prepare for the dinner.
Mrs. Cortez was arguing with Maribel about wearing something other than her new dress to no avail, while Gustavo had gone to find their father, so he too could get ready.
Lupe had peeked out the window to see if either her brother or father were in route, and that is when she saw him—Elias, pacing in front of their gate.
What on earth is he doing? she wondered.
She was about to duck away when Elias caught her staring at him. He stopped, and she could’ve sworn he looked irritated. So, rather than scurry away, she walked outside.
“Mr. Hill is there something I can help you with?” she said, reaching for her skirt, avoiding getting it dirty before they even reached the café.
“Miss Cortez, you are breathtaking. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you with your hair down.”
She laughed. “Well, take a good look because I’m about to throw it up in a bun. I’m just looking for my dad and brother.”
“Oh, they should be here soon. We had an emergency tool repair that needs to head back so the rail workers can keep going. Shouldn’t be much longer.”
She scrunched her eyes. “Well, you never answered my question. Is there something you need? After all, you’ve been pacing out here for heaven knows how long.”
He let himself inside the fence and approached her rather assertively. His mannerism caught Lupe a bit off guard as she watched him stop just a couple of feet away.
A strong woodsy smell reached her, which she only assumed could be his cologne. She took a deep whiff of it and found the scent interesting, pleasant to her senses.
Elias had gotten a haircut, she noticed, probably the work of his mother. He looked handsome, she admitted quietly to herself.
“Lupe, I’d like to accompany you to dinner tonight. Formally.” He said, voice cracking from nerves.
Lupe looked at him, flabbergasted. Had he just asked her… never mind, she thought. Surely, she was misunderstanding the request.
“Mr. Hill, you always accompany us. I doubt you’ve ever needed to ask our permission.”
He was nervously opening and closing his fists at his side, and she continued. “Mr. Hill, are you all right?”
He nodded. “Lupe, I’m asking to formally accompany you, in the most proper way as a gentleman accompanies a lady he fancies.”
Her free hand instinctively covered her mouth. It surprised her.
“What do you say, Miss Cortez?”
His eyes looked over her, studying her reaction, but she did her best to remain unmoved, although there was something about the invitation that felt good.
“I suppose that would be fine.” She replied, just as her father and brother approached them.
“Mr. Hill!” Maribel shouted from the front porch.
Lupe mumbled under her breath, “I’ll be back shortly.” She quickly turned and disappeared back into the cottage, shutting the door behind her.
Her face was flushed as she moved toward the bedroom. However, not soon enough as her mother caught her just before she went in.
“What is the matter?” Martha said as she stopped her daughter.
Her father entered the house, and from where she was standing, she could see her brother and sister entertained with Elias.
Martha turned to her husband. “Do you know what is wrong with our daughter?”
He smiled. “I believe Mr. Hill just asked to formally accompany her to the dinner tonight.”
Martha looked to her daughter. “Is that so?”
Lupe nodded.
“And what did you respond?”
“I said it was fine. But now I regret it. He caught me off guard. Oh, Mother, can you just say I’m sick?”
Martha blinked, grasping for what to say.
Valerio moved in closer to the women. “Lupe, you should have said no if you didn’t want him to accompany you. There is no harm in saying no. But you didn’t do that. Therefore, I think now you should own up to your decision. Clarify that it is all on friendly terms. No need to be angry about the entire matter.”
Lupe knew her father had a point. “Yes, Father. Excuse me as I need to go put my hair up.”
Even in her agonized state, Elias found Lupe appealing. They took the longer route around the town square to the café, Gustavo and Maribel followed slightly behind.
“I’ll be leaving in a couple of weeks. I believe my mother might have mentioned that?”
Her despondent expression he was sure had nothing to do with him leaving.
“Yes, Mrs. Hill mentioned it. I’m happy for you. You’ll do great things and get to see even more amazing places just as you like.”
Her words seemed genuine, even if she was dejected because of him.
He smiled. “There will be a lot of work, initially. But eventually, I’ll have the opportunity for more world travel. Maybe make it down to South America and Asia.”
“Sounds wonderful.”
He stopped, causing her to do the same. “Mr. Hill?” She said, the question in her eyes.
“Miss Cortez. Lupe, you see…” He paused, noting Lupe’s younger siblings’ distance before he continued. “I like you. And I’d like to know if I may write to you while I’m gone.”
A haunted expression came over her. “I… I don’t know what to say, Mr. Hill,” she said, quickly looking down.
“Please say yes. That you will accept my letters.”
He reached over and carefully lifted her chin, hoping she’d look him in the eyes. “Please,” he pleaded.
Her mouth opened and shut with an uncertainty of what to say next.
“Mr. Hill, I’m Mexican American. Surely, that is not something you want for yourself. Formally writing to me? What will people say?”
“I don’t care what they say. All I care is what you have to say.”
“You and I know both know this is not how your society works. If anything, it might dissuade folks from dealing with you, because you are dating a woman of Mexican heritage.” She looked away. “No. I cannot accept your letters or this.”
“Lupe, please. Why won’t you at least allow yourself to get to know me better? Give the possibility of something beautiful a chance?”
She let out a jeering laugh, peering into his eyes, causing him to feel hopeless. “Possibility? Chance? Do you take me for a fool, Mr. Hill? I’m not some hopeless young lady, looking to be saved. I don’t have delusions of grandeur. I know my place. You should know yours. This conversation is over,” she said, grabbing at her skirt as she stormed off.
He caught her, telling her siblings to pick up the pace as they found their way into the café. The evening carried a nice breeze, a welcome reprieve from the hot summer day and Lupe’s incensed temperament. Perhaps, another gentleman might be taken aback by her display of anger, but he wasn’t an average gentleman. Her beauty was attractive, but her mind was so much more intriguing to him. Elias wanted to be the one to expose her to so much more the world had to offer.
If only he could convey this in such a way that she wouldn’t find treacherou
s for he knew she’d take it that way.
His lungs welcomed a deep breath of fresh air as he smiled to himself. She was worth every moment of contention.
When he joined the others in the café, his mother motioned him to sit next to her at the head of the table.
“And here he is,” she said delightedly, “my son Elias. His vision for this longstanding family business will come to fruition whether I’m ready for it or not.” She winked as she raised a glass and the others joined, except for Lupe, who looked to desperately want to leave. “To Elias and to all of you, for believing in him and our family business. And most especially, to our dear friends the Cortezes. Thank you,” she said graciously. “Thank you for your willingness to uproot your family and follow the business.”
Glasses clanged against each other, and the room combusted with cheering. As everyone congratulated Elias, he only had eyes for Lupe… and she? None.
His mother leaned in as their guests settled into the wonderful dinner.
“You like her, don’t you?”
He remained composed. “If I did, what would you say to it?”
She smirked. “Good luck. Lupe isn’t one you trifle with. She’s dazzling and has a lot to offer. Yet, she has some maturing to do. But then again, that might be one of her finer qualities. She has a strong sense of self and can easily maneuver through society; she simply doesn’t know it. And that she is beautiful… well, that kind of seals the deal.”
“Would you approve of her?” Elias questioned.
“Son. I trust your judgment. Just don’t be surprised if your feelings are not reciprocated,” she said, turning her attention back to the guests while Elias stared intently into his glass.
He would soon leave, and if he didn’t declare his feelings toward her, it might be too late.
August 1881 Church picnic
Many were at the church picnic. But not Lupe. She stayed behind to do some sewing. She’d been avoiding anyone outside of her family since the dinner Mrs. Hill hosted.
Elias’s mother was staying behind, to see that her desires for improving upon the Cortezes’ living arrangements were up to her expectations. The translation was that she missed her friend, Martha, Lupe’s mom.
It was nice having her around.
As Lupe held two pieces of fabric together and back stitched, she thought about Elias and how he provoked her. She couldn’t understand why, and the more she gave him any attention, the more she thought about him.
“Ouch!” she loudly complained, immediately putting her finger in her mouth to suck on the blood from the hard poke.
She pushed her sewing aside, not wanting to bloody Gustavo’s shirt, their mother had so carefully cut out. He was excited to finally get some new clothes. He’d grown so much since they set off on this venture to Belle, that he hardly looked like a little boy anymore.
Lupe moved about taking in their small cottage.
Tears streamed down her face as she sunk to the plank floor.
She’d been trying so desperately to be strong for her parents; yet, she was tired of putting on a farce while overcome with emotions.
She missed her family. Her old community.
Her chest rose and fell rapidly, moving with the sobbing.
“I had to give everything up without a say,” she said out loud.
The crying increased before she calmed down, still laying on the floor where she fell asleep.
Men and women from around Belle came together to help with either the picnic or the church’s maintenance needs. It was a community event and an excellent opportunity for a newcomer to get to know more of the people from Belle.
Elias moved about, helping where he could while the women watched and prepared drinks and snacks.
He couldn’t help but notice Lupe was nowhere to be found.
“She’s not coming,” Maribel said, handing him a glass of fresh-squeezed lemonade. “I don’t know why she doesn’t try harder to like it here. Her dreary attitude about this move will scare away anybody who might have liked her.”
Elias chugged down the lemonade. “Thanks. And just give her time. It’s a big move. Not everyone is so open-minded as you.” He winked.
Maribel smiled. “True,” she said as she snagged the glass back from him and walked away.
He worried about Lupe. He might be wrong in wanting to help, but he would leave soon and knew that any attempt to help her at that juncture might cause more harm than good.
“The horses!” Lupe sat up with a start. She was supposed to feed them.
She rushed out the door and around the house, making her way to the small stables.
The newly stacked hay was too far up, and she couldn’t reach it with a pitchfork.
So, she climbed up the stack to push a few to the edge. They went crashing to the ground. She repeated this a few more times before peeking over the ledge.
That was a big mistake. Lupe lost her footing, and like a butterfly taking to flight, her arms went out, only she didn't possess a butterfly’s beautiful wingspan and ease of flight. Instead, she joined the hay. Her world went dark.
Mrs. Hill went to check on Lupe. She'd always had a soft spot for the young girl.
When no one answered in the house, she circled the property, and that's when she heard a scream coming from the barn or the stables. She couldn't be sure, as these were connected.
"Hello?" She hollered as she reached the barn.
No answer.
"Hello?" She repeated walking through.
When she reached the stables, she saw the mountain of hay.
Strange. She thought. As she was about to walk away, she saw something shift. Recognizing the boot, she rushed to climb over the sloppy stacks of hay.
"My dear! What on earth?" she said, throwing herself onto the ground next to Lupe.
"Child, are you all right? Oh, please, Lupe." She said leaning in to check if she was breathing.
Lupe let out a light groan. But that was it.
"Oh, dear Lord. Don't move. I'll be right back with help!" she exclaimed as she made a mad dash back to the church where she quietly pulled her son away from his task.
"I need you to get to the stable. Now! Hurry! Lupe's had an accident. I'll quietly alert her parents. Please, son, hurry. Just don't cause a commotion. We don't know how bad this is."
Elias dropped his saw and speed-walked his way to the stables.
Mrs. Hill quickly set off to find Valerio and Martha.
His stomach was in knots as he turned the last corner into the stables.
There, he found the girl he believed to be the most beautiful, lying on the ground, lifeless.
Elias pressed himself hard, landing on his knees when he reached her.
"Lupe! Lupe!" he shouted. "Please. Lupe!" he repeated as he carefully caressed her face.
A sudden tug of fear yanked at his emotions, as he stared at the woman he had slowly fallen in love with.
It had built gradually over the years. Little nuances about her that occupied his every waking thought.
His shaky hands took hers in his, as he gently pressed his lips to them. "Please, my sweet stubborn girl, please, come back to me."
Her hands felt a little cold, and that only caused him to panic. That's when he mumbled into her ear, "I'll be right back. I will get help."
Elias ran to the mercantile and told Henry Stewart about Lupe. The man gave him directions to Doc Masons' house. Elias hurried on and found the doctor, dragging him back with his medical bag.
When they arrived, Lupe's parents and his mother were there. Martha was in tears, kneeling over her daughter, while Valerio was talking to her.
"Please, all, give me space," the doctor instructed.
He leaned over and checked her breathing. He pulled something out of his medicine bag, breaking the top and waving it under Lupe’s nose.
Everyone held their breath, and when she didn't respond, he handed the tiny vial to Elias.
"I need a large board we can carefu
lly transport her on," the doctor said, looking around the stables, setting his eyes on a bench. "That will do it,” he said pointing at it.
Valerio and Mrs. Hill ran to grab the wooden bench on either side. When they reached the doctor, Lupe had started moving.
"Wait!" the doctor said.
She moaned, and moaned again, as they all waited in anticipation.
When she opened her eyes, Elias let out a huge sigh of relief as he turned away to take in a few deep breaths, pushing his fingers through his wavy locks.
A few tears escaped him. He'd been so doggone worried; he hadn't noticed just how worked up he was inside.
Lupe attempted to push herself up, but the doctor immediately held her down.
"Miss Cortez, I'm afraid I will have to have you lie here until we can safely move you indoors. I must evaluate you, so please, just give me a few minutes," he said warmly, and she complied.
She was trying her best not to panic, but everything was a blur. She didn't remember ever coming into the barn or stables, yet, there she lay.
"Doc, my head hurts a lot," she said, reaching to massage her temple.
"It seems you might have taken a fall. Were you up in the hayloft?"
She nodded and grimaced loudly in pain. "Ouch!" she yelled.
Elias rushed back in. "What's the matter?" he said, making his way to her side.
She wondered why he seemed so worried?
"I suspect a concussion and probably some bruising. I'd still like to stabilize Miss Cortez before we move her indoors." Doc Robert said, motioning for Valerio and Elias to bring the bench closer to Lupe.
She was embarrassed. Her cheeks lit up as the doctor carefully instructed her father and Elias to carefully lift her.
"I can get up myself," she protested. But the doctor wasn't having it.
"Nonsense. We must take precautions," he urged.
"Come now, Lupe, it's just your father and Elias," Mrs. Hill attempted to coax, aware that Elias caused Lupe a bit of anxiety as of late. She still didn't understand why.