“Sure.”
“You go to college?”
“Hell no. Had no time for it. Went straight into the army when I was eighteen. Best thing I ever did. Got me away from home. I learned a lot about the world in the army.”
“Mrs. Glidewell wants me to go to college, but I am not sure. Seems I don’t really need to.”
Corky put down his dish rag and turned toward Maizie. “You know, Maizie, I can’t give you advice, but I can tell you what I see. I see that you are a chosen one around here, a person who has a whole lot of support. You have a good job and a position of privilege in this house. And I am not the only one who sees it. I guess I have to ask myself this: “Why wouldn’t you go to college? You have every opportunity. Turning it down might displease the Glidewells. Why would you want to hurt them? They’re just tryin’ to help you.”
Maizie said nothing in return, although she had listened to every word Corky said.
“I have to stock the baking cupboard and food pantry. Be back in fifteen,” said Corky. Maizie nodded, put away the mop, and walked to the butler’s pantry, picking up a stack of clean plates on the way.
Rye Fulton had spent the evening with his camera, catching descriptive moments of the staff while they readied the horses in their stalls and then enjoyed their dinners in the mess hall. As a result, he’d forgotten to eat. His photography work always trumped his need for food. Deciding he’d better get something to tide him over until breakfast, he walked to the ranch house kitchen. Opening the back door, he looked around for Corky. He was surprised to see only Maizie still at work, putting dishes away. He watched for a moment from the door as she stacked dishes on the shelves. He stole across the floor, drawn to her like a bee to a flower. He thought of poetry about beauty, love, broken dreams, tragedy, and a man’s unrequited, secret love quest. He was always a sucker for the sublime, and Maizie was glorious. He looked again at Maizie in the flesh and his eyes filled with tears. He removed a hankie from his pocket, his emotions uncontrollable.
Hearing his light foot falls, Maizie turned in his direction. He was upon her, only a few feet away.
“Oh Mr. Fulton, you frightened me. May I help you?”
“I’d like a plate of dinner to take to my room.” Rye stood still, his eyes on her.
“I’m sure Corky can fix you up. You can sit at the small table by the window. He’ll be right back.” Rye said nothing, his stance rigid as he stared at Maizie.
“Mr. Fulton, did you hear me?”
“Huh? No. So sorry. It’s just your face, so beautiful. Would you like to take a walk around the property? Get some fresh air? I know I could use some. It’s a beautiful sunset.”
“No sir. I’m not allowed.”
“Not allowed?”
“No sir.”
“I see,” he said. “Here, let me help you.”
Walking to within a few inches of her, he reached and deliberately brushed her breast with his hand. Then pushed her up against the wall, not violently, but purposefully.
“Mr. Fulton, no! Please, let go.”
He leaned in and kissed her on the lips as she attempted to turn her face away. Maizie squirmed as he proceeded to run his hand up her skirt. “Stop it!” she yelled. With all her strength she pushed hard on his chest. She managed to free herself as he stepped back, his breath short. A look of horror was on his face; he looked at his hands as if they were alien to him.
“I’m so sorry,” he muttered. “I never meant—”
He ran his fingers through his hair and quickly left, nearly running into Corky on his way out.
“What’s going on?” Corky said appearing alarmed.
“Nothing,” Maizie said, her face registering fear as she adjusted her skirts, her heart racing, her breathing coming in stops and starts. With trembling hands, she finished putting the dishes away. Corky looked at her with concern but did not pressure Maizie to explain.
When Maizie returned to the grand hall, she saw Mary sitting on a cowhide chair.
“Maizie, come join me for a cup of tea.”
“I’m tired. I think I’ll call it a night.”
“Oh come, just for a minute. I have news from Louisville.” Reluctantly, Maizie took a seat and waited quietly to hear the news.
“You okay?”
“Yes, just have a lot on my mind.”
“James called. He was so excited. He wants you to help train a yearling. Name it too.”
“And then he’ll sell it. I know that now. I couldn’t go through that again. Tell him no.”
“I’ll do no such thing.”
“I can’t give another pony away. If I name it, it’s got to be mine.”
“That will be a conversation that you can have with James.”
Maizie was getting ready to leave for her room, when Mary said, “I was thinking about your singing. Would you be interested in a voice coach to fill in for Meadowlark until he returns in the fall?”
“I don’t think so.”
“There is a voice teacher at St. Agnus who needs work. I’d like to help him by giving him a job. He isn’t like Meadowlark. He’s been schooled in music.”
“Schooled?” asked Maizie.
“Yes, he was taught how to sing by a teacher. Meadowlark is coaching you well, but this teacher might help you in ways Meadowlark can’t.”
“It’s almost summer. We’re going to be busy with match season and new horses at the backside. There will be so much going on.”
“How about we set up a few lessons? See if you like it.”
“I can’t think about lessons right now. I’m tired. Please.”
“All right. We will talk another time. You go on now. Only sweet dreams.” Maizie nodded, her brow etched with worry.
Corky finished up his work in the kitchen and waited while Maizie said her good-nights to Mary. When Mary was finally left alone, he approached. “Do you need anything else, Mrs. Glidewell?” Mary was deep in thought, and didn’t acknowledge Corky’s presence. “Mrs. Glidewell, may I get anything for you before I head back to the backside?”
“Oh Corky, sorry. No thank you.”
“Well, I’ll be headin’ out then. Good night.”
“Corky, tell me how has Maizie been in the kitchen. Happy? Talkative?”
“Seems she hasn’t been herself since Capp left. We all have noticed that. But tonight I left Maizie alone while I ran to refill supplies. When I returned, Rye was running out the door. When I looked at Maizie, she looked hurt or something.”
“Hurt? What are you saying?”
“Not hurt in a physical way. Just distressed, more distressed than I’ve ever seen her.”
“I see.”
Corky thought about what he had witnessed in the kitchen, but decided he probably was reading too much into what he saw. “I wouldn’t worry too much, Mrs. Glidewell. She is at that emotional age.”
“Yes, she is,” Mary affirmed as she looked thoughtfully across the room. “Corky, before you leave would you go to Rye Fulton and invite him to breakfast at eight a.m.? I’d like to talk with him.”
Chapter 65
Maizie’s Diary
May 2, 1932
Something happened that frightened me. Tonight Rye Fulton touched me. I wanted to run. I wanted to scream, but I didn’t. It all felt wrong. I’m still shaking. I hope I don’t see him ever again. He made me feel dirty. The way he looked at me. I remember when I was little, seeing that look in the eyes of the men who Mama did small favors for. Is that what he thought? I would do small favors? I can’t quit thinking about it.
Capp doesn’t make me feel like Mr. Fulton did. I’m sad because he has only written twice since he left. And that girl, Tilly, haunts my thoughts. I think of her when I think of Capp. I think of them together, how maybe they missed each other when he went to Arkansas. Maybe he wrote her letters
. I try to remember what she looked like but I can’t. She was pretty, I remember that! This all makes me feel bad and honestly, I feel mad too. I wrote Capp letters, like it was from all the folks here, but he doesn’t write back. Just can’t help but think Capp doesn’t miss me or anyone. Guess he has other things on his mind. I hope it’s horses.
Capp will be home soon. Liking somebody and being mad at them at the same time hurts. I hope my feelings don’t show when I see him. It’s been a long time.
Bonne nuit, mon ami,
Maizie Sunday Freedman
Chapter 66
Horse Shopping
Capp arrived at the Churchill Downs backside in James’s hired car. While James and Wil slept in, Capp was back at work. He was checking in on the four new claimed horses and making arrangements with Bob for their care and feeding. He was near Bob Hench’s barn when he heard a familiar voice calling his name. A sense of dread engulfed him.
“Capp, Capp, wait up!” Capp turned and saw Tilly, blond and beautiful, wobbling on her high heels as she made her way toward him. “Capp, honey, I need to talk with you.” Tilly approached, out of breath and a bit ruffled from her run.
“What you doin’ here so early? What’d you want? I’m in a hurry.”
Pulling a wad of gum from her mouth she threw it to the side of the lane and waited while she caught her breath. “You are a hard one to catch. Capp, where you been? I been looking everywhere.”
“What do you want, Tilly? I got about two minutes. I’m on my way to Idle Hour. We are checking on Colonel Bradley’s stock.”
“Colonel Bradley? Why, he is famous in the horse racing world. You can afford his horses?”
“Not me. Mr. Glidewell wants the best he can get. Be nothin’ better to him than to have Bradley’s horses. Now what you want?”
“Oh honey, I just had to see you, is all. I have missed you. And with you going back to Missouri soon, I thought maybe we could have a date some night. We haven’t been out since you got back from Arkansas.”
“No, Tilly. No time. I’m workin’. Remember? Besides that, I’m not interested. Our foolin’ is done. Mr. Glidewell don’t like it.”
“Maybe I could come to your hotel and see you there,” she said in a whisper. “I’ve missed you so.” Leaning seductively toward him, she removed the Stetson from his head.
Capp stepped back as she reached to stroke Capp’s blond curls. He turned his head from her. “Give me my hat, Tilly. Now,” he demanded.
She shoved his Stetson into his chest so hard, Capp had to struggle to keep his balance. Men coming and going from barns and bunkhouses stopped to observe the scene playing out in front of them. This wasn’t the first row between the two they’d witnessed.
Capp grabbed his hat and turned to go to the barn. Tilly reached for his shoulder. He pulled from her grip and stood his ground. “Tilly, it’s over. Whatever you think we had, it was nothin’ to me!” Putting his hat back on his head, he proceeded on his way. Tilly ran after him. “Capp, Capp, please!” she cried.
He stopped. “Leave me alone. You’re embarrassing me. I have to check on our new horses.”
“You sure can be a cuss when you want to, Capp!” She stomped her heeled foot for effect, the sound muffled by the looseness of the dirt. “Now what about these new horses? Let me see what you got!” Reaching her hand to her hay colored locks, she guided loose strands away from her eyes and stepped closer to Capp.
Noticing that all eyes were on him, Capp replied in a soft but assertive way, “Tilly, I’m turning to go now. A car will be here soon with my dad and Mr. Glidewell and we are leaving for Lexington. Do you understand? I have to feed my horses. I’m workin’.” Capp turned toward the barn. This time, Tilly did not follow.
When his chores were finished, Capp found Bob in the tack room. Capp needed to make arrangements with Bob to see to the Glidewell horses while he was in Lexington.
“No problem, Kid, and I won’t charge you. It will be my payment for all your hard work.”
Capp secretly wished James was there to hear the compliment. As he left the barn, he saw the Buick coming toward him. Seeing Tilly nearby, talking with her father, he quickly ran to the car.
Hank, the hired driver, rolled down his window and yelled, “Good Morning, Capp. Ready to drive to Lexington?”
“Sure am. Get me out of here,” said Capp as he climbed into the backseat next to Wil, slamming the car door a bit too hard.
“What’s got you in a dither?” Wil asked.
“Nothin’, just anxious to get goin’.”
“I am too,” admitted James. “We need to find high-quality horses before they are all gone.”
“That would be a start. Idle Hour has a great pedigree. Could be the place, but those horses gonna cost a pretty penny.”
“That’s what I’m expecting,” assured James. “Was thinking last night, do we need to hire a jockey trainer?”
“To work with Capp?” asked Wil, removing his Stetson and running his fingers through his thinning hair.
“Just wondering,” said James, not really answering the question.
“I sure have the basics down,” said Capp. “Bob had me working horses every morning, practicing my form. Takes strength, balance, and courage. Everyone said I looked good and had good instincts. You could give me a try to teach others. Maybe I can train Tommy, Alvaro, and Ernesto to ride in a racing saddle. If you aren’t happy, get someone else?”
James smiled. “I’m sure you’ve learned a lot.”
Capp slapped his leg and looked out the window at the green rolling hills dotted with livestock. Appreciating James’s confidence in him, the thought of Tilly was now the furthest thing from his mind. On his mind was showing James all he had learned.
Chapter 67
The Nightmare
Maizie was usually up by seven, dressed by seven fifteen, and on her way to breakfast by seven thirty. On this particular morning, she had slept later, the sun higher off the horizon. A nightmare had kept her awake for hours. During the night she muffled her cries, trying not to wake Mary. Looking in her bedroom mirror as she brushed her hair, she saw evidence of her night terror: her eyes, red and puffy; her mouth, turned down.
Maizie sat on her bed and replayed the nightmare in her mind as if she were viewing a motion picture. The night was moonless. The rain poured down in relentless sheets; the wind howled in menacing overtures. A raging river, nearly at flood stage, roared nearby. Maizie clung to her mother for comfort as they huddled together near a small campfire in a cave under an outcropping of limestone. Suddenly a boar-like creature with huge tusks charged them, seeming to have no fear of the fire. Maizie’s mother picked up a cypress branch from the fire and threw it at the beast. The limb missed and as the boar stopped to inspect the now hissing log, Maizie and her mama tried to run for safety. Maizie’s legs, heavy and slow moving, made it impossible for her to keep up with her mother. Both slipped and fell in the mud outside the cave. The beast, only momentarily slowed by the burning branch, approached them, enormous and menacing. His tusks seemed to glow by the light of the campfire. Maizie’s mother looked at her child and grabbed her arm and pulled Maizie toward her. The beast was upon them. There was no escape.
In the terror of that moment Maizie sat up in bed. Her breaths came in a short staccato rhythm. The nightmare was crippling and left Maizie shaking, heart racing, her body limp with fear. When she identified her surroundings and knew she was safe, she lay back on her bed, turned onto her stomach, and began to cry into her pillow. Her crying calmed her and after an hour she fell back to sleep, but it was a fitful, fearful slumber. She woke frequently when in her dreams her mother would say, “I’m trying Maizie, but life is hard. Your mama loves you, but there are too many beasts and slippery paths in this world.” Her mother’s words were slim comfort to her.
Maizie removed the map from her bedside drawer
. Opening it gently, she placed it on her bed. Putting her finger on Vicksburg, she followed a path from each circled town to the next until she was in Memphis, Tennessee. She had memories of Memphis, but all the other towns were unclear or there were no recollections at all. She looked again at the symbols hand drawn with pencil and wondered why she had never seen her mother looking over the map. Seems a good thing to teach a child, map reading. There was so much she didn’t know and maybe the truth would free her from her nightmares. She decided that she would write a letter to Meadowlark’s friend in Vicksburg and inquire about her parents. She would do it soon. This decision calmed her and she stood to get ready for the day.
Arriving in the kitchen, Maizie was greeted by Corky, who was still filling in for Phillippe and Leon. “Glad you’re here, Maizie. Busy day already.”
“You need help?”
“In the cavalry I learned to make short-order breakfasts real good. Don’t need your help. Sugar is here meeting with Mrs. Glidewell about improvements to the backside,” Corky explained. “Seems Mrs. Glidewell wants to put sleeping stalls in the bunkhouse so the guys have more privacy. Not needed for me, but I guess it’s a good idea. By the way, Mrs. Glidewell said she wants you to join her for breakfast. She’s got Rye Fulton in there too.”
Maizie looked down to the floor as her hands began to knead the folds on her skirt. Her neck and shoulders stiffened. “No. No, I won’t do that.”
“No? You okay, girl? What you mean no?”
“I’ll stay and help you, please. I’ll take my breakfast in the kitchen. I’d just be in the way in the dining room.” There was desperation in her tone, a pleading. Her eyes gave away her fear.
“Nope, Mrs. Glidewell was clear. You were to join her.”
“I’m not hungry, Corky. Think I’ll just go to work.” Corky stopped what he was doing, picked up a hand towel and wiped his hands. “Is it because of what happened last night in the kitchen? Did Fulton say something to you to upset you?”
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