The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap

by Paulette Mahurin

  “No! We can’t tell anyone else,” said Josie.

  “Why on earth not?” Sarah asked as she poured herself another cup of tea.

  “I think we need to figure out a way to pay Mildred a visit. Don’t want to alert her we know. You keep this to yourselves!” Josie authoritatively commanded. “Do you hear me?”

  “Yeah, sure Josie,” Sarah winced.

  Josie looked at Madeline and Hanah. They did not respond.

  Three days had passed since Mildred’s episode in town and in that time she rested and let Edra tend to her needs. Edra was having none of Mildred’s insistence that what she reacted to was Pursey’s barrage coupled with the heat, and told her, “You’re still pale.”

  “I know but it’ll take a few days for the medicine to kick in.”

  “What Doc gave you to boost your iron?

  “Yes.”

  “Have you looked in a mirror?” Edra was worried and on the verge of tears. “Shouldn’t it be working by now?”

  Mildred knew Edra was right but avoided answering the question. Two nights earlier, she had awakened in a sweat and quietly changed her nightgown hoping she would not wake Edra. She didn’t want to talk about what was happening in her body, her cold limbs or waning appetite, and hoped a few days of rest would calm things down. She knew she held things in to the detriment of her body but it had never gotten this severe before. She also knew if she opened up to Edra about how recent events had been affecting her, she would throw them both back into chaos, so she opted to keep her own counsel and ride out the physical distress while hoping for the best. “I am feeling better,” she lied.

  Edra, in desperation, had sent a note with Ben to Doc Nichols that said, Mildred still looks pale. Can you come out please?

  Doc arrived early on the morning of the next day just as the women were finishing breakfast. Edra was relieved they were up and at the kitchen table, avoiding having to deal with the chance that Doc might ask to see Mildred in bed. She had been preoccupied with that one bed and Mildred’s weakened condition.

  “Morning, Mildred,” he greeted her as he placed his black case down on the table.

  Mildred looked at Edra with slight annoyance. “You sent for him?”

  “Yes, she did,” he said. “I was planning on coming anyway to see how you’re getting on.”

  “I am feeling better…just needed the rest.”

  “Edra thinks you look pale. I tend to agree with her this time. Let me have a listen to your chest.” He pulled the stethoscope out of his bag, put in the earpieces, and held the diaphragm over several areas above Mildred’s heart. He then listened to her lungs. He took the tubes out of his ears. “Everything sounds okay. Your heart rate is slow and steady. Doesn’t sound like an anemia. Lungs are clear. Let’s have a look at your mouth. Open up. Edra, can you bring that lamp a little closer?”

  Edra held up the nearest lamp for Doc to have a look.

  “Tongue looks pink enough but your mouth is dry.”

  “What’s that mean?” Edra asked, somewhat disquieted.

  He looked at Edra. “She needs to drink more water. A little dehydration can make you tired.” He turned back to face Mildred, “Keep taking what I gave you to build your iron. Looks like it’s helping. But you need to keep at it with the water.”

  Edra gave Mildred a look that said, I told you so.

  Doc put away his stethoscope. “I’ll come back out in a few days. Meanwhile, send a note with Ben if you need me sooner.” He started to leave then turned back. “I almost forgot. Mildred, Charley wanted to know if he could come see you?”

  Mildred hesitated.

  Edra jumped in, “Do you really think she’s ready for company?”

  “Well, okay then. I’ll just let that be.” Doc was about to turn to leave when Mildred looked like she wanted to say something.

  Mildred felt guilty. After all, Charley had helped her return home from her spell in town and it didn’t feel right to keep avoiding his requests to come visit. She was sure he didn’t have a love interest in her but did not understand why he gave her so much attention. She pushed away the thoughts and focused back to Doc. “Well, maybe…”

  “You want him to come?” asked Edra.

  A nod followed Mildred’s tentativeness. “Oh sure, go ahead and tell him to come on out tomorrow early afternoon.”

  “I think it’ll do you some good to have company.” Doc said his farewells and left.

  Edra kept her frustration to herself.

  The next day Charley stopped by Gus’s to pick up some ground chocolate for Mildred. When he arrived at the Dunlap’s ranch he found Mildred and Edra sitting on the porch bench reading. “Good to see you Mildred, Edra.” He handed the bag to Mildred. “Thought you might like some hot chocolate. Had me some the other night and it was quite tasty.”

  “Thank you, Charley. That was nice of you,” said Mildred.

  Edra put down her book and took the bag from Mildred’s hand. “I’ll go and put on some water. We can all have some together.” She was in better spirits than the day before since Mildred looked rosier in her cheeks and appeared to have more energy.

  Charley sat on a chair across from Mildred. “You feeling better?”

  There followed an awkward silence, then Mildred responded as if rehearsed. “Why yes, I am. What have you been doing to keep yourself busy?”

  “Helping the children after school, doing some carpentry work, and had a couple of meals with Gus.”

  “Gus?” She was surprised since she knew Gus usually kept to himself.

  “Never really know about someone till they start to open up. He’s an interesting man, that Gus. Had some good food, good conversation, and I borrowed a book from him. I’m almost finished with it. I see you and Edra were reading. Do you like to read?”

  “Yes. We both do. What book are you reading?” She was relieved the conversation shifted to a neutral subject, and not onto any talk of town gossip or happenings.

  Edra interrupted them, carrying a tray with three cups of hot chocolate and a plate of oatmeal cookies that she had baked earlier that day. “Made these for your visit.”

  Charley reached out for a cup and picked up a cookie. “These sure do look good.” He took a bite. “Darn good indeed.”

  Edra offered Mildred a cup, helped herself, put the tray down near Charley, and sat in a chair next to the bench, facing him.

  Mildred turned to Edra, “Charley was telling me he borrowed a book from Gus. I was just about to find out what he’s reading.”

  “Uncle Tom’s Cabin. There was a page in the book that told about the author. Gus has all sorts of files on history, authors, all sorts of things.”

  “Interesting,” replied Mildred.

  “Yes. It is interesting what I learned about this book and the author…”

  “Harriet Beecher Stowe,” said Edra.

  Mildred smiled.

  “Yes. That’s the name. Gus told me she was the first to put a Negro as a main character in a book.”

  Edra’s interest perked. She commented, “There’s rumor that President Lincoln met her and joked about her being the woman who wrote the book that started the Civil War.”

  Mildred added, “Next to the Bible, that book sold more copies than any other book.”

  The three of them continued their conversation for close to an hour with Charley and Edra doing most of the talking. Mildred watched and took it as a good sign that Edra indulged Charley in conversation, something new for her. Perhaps he does just want some friends to visit with. Maybe Edra senses that.

  Finally, Edra noticed Mildred’s attention waning. “Well Charley, if you’ll excuse us, it’s starting to get a little late.”

  “Thank you again for the hot chocolate,” said Mildred.

  “Well, I sure enjoyed our visit today. Would it be okay if I come again tomorrow?”

  Edra stood, ignoring his request. “Let me walk you to your horse.”

  When out of earshot from Mildred, Edra c
ommented, “Doc says she needs to rest. It’s going to take a few days for the iron to work. I think it’d be best to hold off on another visit so soon.” Charley nodded with understanding and mounted his horse.

  Edra walked back through a trail of dust left by Charley’s horse to find Mildred on the porch nodding off. She was proud of herself that she found the gumption to assist him to leave and curtailed any immediate future plans.

  “Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.” OSCAR WILDE

  18

  Mail and packages from around the world arrive at Carson City by train. From there they are picked up by stagecoach and transported to outlying areas where tracks have not yet been laid. The twelve-hour trip, over a seventy-mile expanse, the safe limit for horses to travel in a day, ends up at the telegraph office in Red River Pass, which doubles for the post office.

  Hanah Larue was in the telegraph office when Gus entered. Charley was also there installing a cabinet he had repaired for Satchel. “Hanah.” He nodded. “Hey, Charley. Satchel.”

  Satchel gave Hanah her receipt and welcomed Gus. “You here for your package?”

  “You bet.” Gus replied.

  Hanah fumbled with her purse, pretending to have difficulty placing her mail in it.

  Satchel reached under the counter and pulled out a small package. “From Bonwit on Sixth Avenue. This looks like the one.” He handed the package to Gus.

  “That’s it. Been waiting for these rings to come in.”

  Hanah dropped her purse to the floor, scattering the letters.

  Just then Charley completed his work. “Okay, I’m done here.”

  Satchel hesitated. “Give me a minute here Gus, while I pay Charley…”

  “We can settle up later. You’re busy.” Charley packed up his tools, made his way to the front of the counter, where he patted Gus on the back. “Rings there?” He smiled, then continued, joking, “That’s gonna make someone happy.” He walked out laughing.

  Rings! Hanah thought as she tried to listen in and wondered if Josie had been right. Who else would order rings? There’s no one. We’d have heard. She could not get out of there fast enough. She ran to Sarah’s place and couldn’t believe her luck when she found Josie there. “You were right!” She started to relay what had occurred.

  “I told you!” said Josie.

  Sarah in the kitchen heating up water yelled, “Wait for me.” She approached carrying a tray with a pot of tea and three cups. “Here you are. Would you like me to pour…”

  “Never mind that,” said Josie. “Let her finish what she was saying.”

  “So, where was I?”

  “Gus got the rings,” prompted Josie.

  “Rings?” Sarah blew on her tea.

  Josie shot her a look to shut up.

  Hanah continued and the story took on an unrecognizable twist.

  “Charley thanked Gus for getting him a ring?” Sarah was dumbfounded. “You’re kidding!”

  “Well, it was something to that effect. Haven’t seen Charley that happy in a long time. Left laughing. They come all the way from Sixth Avenue in New York City! Some fancy place.”

  Josie was ready to come out of her chair. “I told you! I knew it! Why, that vile woman!”

  “I can’t believe he’s going to marry her,” from Sarah. “I don’t know about this.”

  Josie indignantly replied. “Oh, come on! You know something is going on with Charley and Mildred. She passed out. Now the ring arrives. Mildred hasn’t been seen around. Put the pieces together.”

  “You do have a point,” Sarah agreed.

  Josie smiled peccantly. “I think we should pay the Dunlap’s ranch a visit.”

  The cyclone in Josie’s head had picked up speed as she thought and rethought what she heard. She’d been after Mildred for years, to no avail. Now she had her chance and knew this was something that wouldn’t just run off Mildred’s back like the sweat pouring down hers. If it were the last thing she ever did, she was determined to bring Mildred down. Later that day, she had tea at the cafe with Annalee, who commented that Helene must know something. “Why, that Helene. I’ll have her neck for not saying anything to me. I knew the minute I saw them at the lake that something was going on. Didn’t I tell you?”

  Pat walked up to the table, “Did I just hear you talking about Mildred and Charley? Biggest surprise this town’s seen, the two of them! Did I really hear you say engaged?”

  Josie left the café and went to collect her children from the schoolhouse, where she ran into Charley. “Finished with the kids today?”

  “Yeah,” he replied.

  With hackles raised, a feigned smile, and as much pleasantry as she could bring herself to display to elicit a response in him, she said, “I’m happy for you, Charley.”

  Unsuspecting anything devious, he assumed that she was referring to his borrowing books and spending time with Gus. “Yeah, never thought it’d turn out to be so much fun. Gus’s really been helpful.”

  The next day Josie, bent on finding out what Helene knew, amassed Annalee, Sarah and Madeline. Hanah, home with an ill child, was not along. They made their way through the vast expanse of dust and watched the covered variety of plants-turned-tumbleweed bounce about in the wake of their motion. A few wisps of clouds moved along with them in the enervating heat as they rode out to the Whitmore’s place. When they arrived they ran into Frank, wiping sweat from his face with a handkerchief. “Ladies,” Frank greeted them on his way to the house from the barn, “what brings you all out here today?”

  “Is Helene home?” asked Josie.

  “Inside. Go ahead on in. Be a little quiet. The baby’s sleeping.”

  Annalee could not contain herself. “Of all things, Frank. Probably make life easier for you now.”

  “Come again?”

  Annalee blurted, “Charley and Mildred.”

  “Charley and Mildred what?”

  “Why, their engagement.”

  Josie nudged Annalee’s foot in an attempt to stop her from saying anything else.

  Frank nearly fell over. “What the hell are you talking about!”

  Helene ran out. “What’s the yelling? The boy’s asleep.” She was surprised to see the women.

  Frank started to seethe. “Helene, what do you know about this?”

  “About what?”

  Josie laughed under her breath, delighted she had stirred the pot, a sweet consequence of meddling. She was determined to get everyone riled up then blame it all on Mildred for getting Charley involved with her. Emotions running high at her causation empowered her and she was delighted she had succeeded at drawing others in.

  “Annalee, would you care to repeat what you just told me?” commanded Frank.

  Annalee, now embarrassed, said, “You haven’t heard? Why, Josie told me…”

  Josie snapped back. “I didn’t tell you nothing. Hanah was the one who heard it. Right from the horse’s mouth. You were there with me, Sarah. You heard her.”

  Frank, exasperated, asked, “And what did Hanah hear from whom?”

  Sarah answered him. “Charley got a ring for Mildred.”

  A startled Helene stepped back. “A ring? What…”

  “Seems your friends are telling us that Charley and Mildred are engaged.”

  Helene was astonished. “What?”

  “You haven’t heard yet?” Josie pointed her question to Helene. But before giving her a chance to answer, she continued. “Maybe they were just too wrapped up in each other to come around here and tell you,” Josie said to Frank with edged sarcasm.

  Frank turned red in the face. “That’s enough out of you. All of you. Helene, if you’ve got anything to do with this…” he fumed.

  “This is the first I’ve heard,” Helene pleaded.

  Frank yelled, “Out of here! All of you! We’ve got work to do!”

  As he watched the women leave, he hissed to Helene, “If you had anything to do this with, I swear to you…”

  She
tried to defend herself against Frank’s anger. “I’m telling you the truth. This is the first I’ve heard.”

  “Bunch of nonsense. My sister’s husband engaged to Mildred!”

  “Frank, your sister is gone…”

  “Shut up! You shut your mouth. Not a word about Emma. There’s no way…”

  She cowered. “What if it’s true? What if they just hadn’t told us yet?”

  “I told you to shut up! You listen to me and keep that mouth of yours out of this. If I find out you had anything to do with this…” Frank was so enraged that it was all he could do but turn around and go back to the barn.

  Helene, still surging with anxious energy, went inside, looked in on little Frankie sleeping through the commotion, and made some sage brew. It took her several minutes to become calm from Frank’s upset.

  An unsuspecting Mildred woke up feeling refreshed, the best she’d felt since all the dealings began with Charley. She attributed this to the fact that Edra had relaxed about their situation since his visit. She was pleased that he came to talk about the books he was reading, since she knew how much Edra loved to read and talk about stories she became involved in. Again, she had also had enough time away from the over-stimulation to relax emotionally and physically.

  “You are looking better,” Edra commented.

  “Yeah, I feel back to my old self.”

  “That’s a relief, Mil.”

  “Think it’s time I go back to town.” Mildred told Edra she felt that her recent physical problems were all but resolved and she felt strong. Edra could see the validity of that in her demeanor and complexion and did not resist. Mildred got ready, hitched Lil to the buggy, then headed to town. She arrived at Gus’s before the usual flood of customers, took care of shopping business, and then made her way to Charley’s to surprise him. He had just returned from helping the children at school.

  “Mildred. Good to see you here. You feeling better?” He was pleasantly surprised.

  “Yes. A little rest and I’m back as good as new,” she smiled.