Tabitha and Gabriel waved back.
“Well, here we go. Thanks for coming with me,” Gabriel said as he focused on the road.
Tabitha put her hand on his leg. “I’m excited. I can’t wait to see where you grew up.”
The young couple drove through the night, trading off every few hours so the other could sleep. The hours on Highway 70 felt long. The scenery was the same . . . fields and more fields. It was miles and miles of flat.
“We should be getting close, only another half an hour or so,” Gabriel said as he munched on some jerky.
“There are some really beautiful areas here,” Tabitha observed as she watched out the window. “I love the old windmills. It’s just so open.”
“Yeah. I think that’s why I couldn’t believe my eyes when I got to the Rockies, ya know? It’s so much more wild and extreme.”
“Wild and extreme is awesome, but it’s nice to have a peaceful break and see something different now and then.”
“We’ll pass the Cairo Diner on the way to the farm. Mom should be starting her dinner shift. We can surprise her. They have a great meat and three too.”
“Meat and three?”
“Yeah, meat and three sides. You’ve never heard of that?”
“Nope.”
“Welcome to Kansas!”
Gabriel was excited to show Tabitha around, but he was nervous for the meeting of the two most important women in his life.
They pulled into the sleepy little town around four thirty in the afternoon. With their windows down, the warm air blew through the cab of the truck. Gabriel saw a few overall-clad farmers chatting outside the filling station, and somebody inside the old hardware shop on the left just flipped the sign to “closed.”
“There’s the five-and-dime where I used to work.” Gabriel pointed across her to the store on the corner. “That’s where Jimmy called me to invite me to The River. One of the best days of my life was telling Mr. Baggers, my boss, I was done.”
Gabriel rested his forearms on the large steering wheel as he took in the sights. They came to a four-way stop, and Gabriel saw it.
“There it is. I had many a meal at that diner.”
He turned into the parking area around the back so his mom wouldn’t see him.
“Yep. There’s Mom’s truck.” He slammed the column shifter into park and turned the engine off. He took a deep breath, exhaled, and leaned back on the old bench seat.
“Does it feel weird?” Tabitha asked as she put on her sandals.
“A little. Just coming back here after all that I’ve experienced over the past year. It’s like I’ve lived two lifetimes. I spent the bulk of my years here, but at least for now, it just feels strange.”
“You know what I’m feeling?” Tabitha asked as she fluffed her hair in the rearview mirror.
“What?”
“I’m feeling like . . . I gotta pee.”
“Nice. After you’re done, why don’t you get us a table and I’ll sneak in shortly.”
“Got it.” Tabitha hoisted herself out of the truck and walked around to the front of the old cinderblock building. Gabriel parked the truck and watched through the window as some of the locals having pie at the counter stared at Tabitha. Her fitted cutoff jeans, tie-dyed tank top, and faded orange dew-rag gave away that she was definitely not from around there.
“May I have a table for two please?”
Gabriel watched as his mom came into view.
“Absolutely, sweetie. Follow me.” The waitress took her to a booth in the back of the diner next to a window and slapped a couple of menus down.
“What can I get you to drink?”
“Water, and I’ll have some black coffee too.” Gabriel saw Tabitha’s eyes land on the name tag on the waitress’s white blouse. Maggie. Tabitha grinned.
Gabriel listened through the open window.
“May I use the restroom?”
“Sure, hon. It’s back there . . . the first door on the left.” Maggie pointed.
“Thank you.” Tabitha headed back.
Maggie headed up to the front to get the drinks. “George. Get your eyes back on your dessert.” The sassy waitress obviously caught the old farmer watching the brown-skinned, long-legged beauty as she sashayed to the back of the diner.
The old man choked on his coffee as he spun his bar-stool back around. His friend next to him slapped him on the arm, and they both got a chuckle.
Gabriel’s heart skipped a beat as he peeked through the window and watched his mom head back into the kitchen. He snuck in the front door and joined Tabitha in the booth, facing away from the kitchen.
Maggie came through the swinging door in the back and loaded her tray with two glasses of water. As she was pouring a cup of coffee, the other waitress on duty, a rotund and frumpy dark-haired woman, talked under her breath while looking Tabitha and Gabriel’s way.
The couple overheard the comical conversation.
“Did you see that amazing piece of man that just joined little Trixie back there?”
“Oh please, Jenny.”
“I’m serious . . . I just saw six feet of a bearded mountain man who is begging for this Kansas girl. Can I take the table, please? I’m going to give that skinny little runway model a run for her money.”
Maggie started laughing. “No, I need the tips. Now wipe your chin and get back to work.” Maggie headed down the aisle toward Tabitha.
Gabriel kept his head down and looked away as she approached.
“Here you go.” She placed the waters and the coffee down. “Would you like to hear the specials?”
“Any chance you have any of Maggie’s famous chocolate chip pancakes?” Gabriel looked up at her.
Maggie dropped the empty tray and covered her mouth with both hands.
“Happy birthday, Mom.” Gabriel jumped up out of his seat.
“Oh my gosh! I can’t believe you!” She hugged his neck.
Gabriel grinned. “Are you surprised?”
“Are you kidding? I’m in shock! Let me look at you!” Maggie grabbed his chin. “What’s this? A beard? It’s so good to see you. Oh I just can’t believe this.” She turned her attention to Tabitha, who was smiling from ear to ear.
“You must be Tabitha.”
“It’s such an honor to meet you.” Tabitha extended her arms for a hug.
“Well, I know Gabriel thinks the world of you. She is beautiful, Gabriel.”
Gabriel winked at Tabitha. “I told you.”
Looking at his mom, he added, “I hope Ms. Vonda and Mister Earl don’t mind the surprise. I’m assuming we can stay a couple of days at the farm.”
“They will be thrilled to see you. It’s not the same around the farm without you.”
The other waitress came over to the table. “So, Maggie, you know these folks?”
“Jenny, this is my son, Gabriel, and his girlfriend, Tabitha. Jenny has only been here about six months.”
The waitress looked Gabriel up and down.
“Well, nice to meet you.” She looked at Maggie and pointed her finger up at her. “Don’t you say a word.”
Maggie motioned to zip her smiling lips. “Not a word.”
Jenny smiled. “I’ll cover your tables tonight. You go be with your family. I’ll even give you the tips! I didn’t know it was your birthday!”
“Really? Oh, Jenny, I owe you.” Maggie untied her apron as fast as she could.
“Go on before I change my mind!” Jenny shooed them out with both hands.
Gabriel and Tabitha took Gabriel’s truck, following Maggie in hers, as they both headed through town to the Cartwright farm. They turned off the main highway onto the first of two unpaved roads. The trucks stirred up a cloud of dust as they motored through the infinite fields. They made the final turn through the gate of the Cartwright Farm. The tires crunched along the gravel drive.
“There’s Mister Earl! Hey, Mister Earl!” Gabriel shouted out his window to the old man who was walking out of th
e barn. The old man squinted and furrowed his brow. The two trucks parked and Gabriel jumped out.
“Holy smokes!” Mister Earl took his John Deere hat off and grinned from ear to ear. Gabriel raced over to the slight man and gave him a big hug. “Where did you come from?”
“I wanted to surprise Mom for her birthday.”
Tabitha got out and walked over.
“And who is this pretty little lady?” He extended his wiry arm for a handshake.
“Mister Earl, this is Tabitha. I work with her family at The River in Colorado.”
Tabitha flashed a winning smile. “I’ve heard so much about you, Mister Earl. It’s so nice to meet you. Your farm is beautiful!”
He ducked his head. “Oh, it ain’t much, but it has served us well. Come on in and see Ms. Vonda. You hungry? You know she’ll want to feed you.”
“We are starved,” Gabriel said. “We’d planned to eat a meat and three, but when Jenny volunteered to take Mom’s shift, we ran out of there.”
They all ascended the steps of the porch and through the screen door to find Ms. Vonda in her apron bustling around the kitchen.
“Oh my!” The little white-haired woman wiped her hands on her apron as she waddled over to Gabriel and threw her arms up for a hug.
“It’s the best birthday present ever!” Maggie said as she watched Ms. Vonda’s reaction.
“Fried chicken and biscuits okay for dinner?” She knew how much Gabriel loved her cooking.
“I was hoping you’d say that. Ms. Vonda, this is Tabitha.”
“My stars, she’s a looker. Are you taking care of my Gabriel? And look how skinny you are. We’ve got to get some food in you. It’s good to meet you, sweetie.”
Gabriel laughed to himself. Ms. Vonda only chattered like this when she was nervous or excited.
That night they enjoyed a fantastic Southern meal complete with fried chicken, biscuits, green beans, and sliced tomatoes. Ms. Vonda made Maggie’s favorite birthday cake, chocolate with fudge icing. They sat around the dining room table for hours, reminiscing about days gone by on the farm. Maggie asked lots of questions, and Gabriel told of his exploits and discoveries on The River.
For Gabriel, bringing Tabitha to his other home and into his childhood memories was like bringing water to a desert. It felt like healing. She was really getting to know him now. He couldn’t wait to show her around. There were new memories to be made on this old property . . . memories that would last a lifetime.
19
The Tractor and the Rain
7:30 a.m. at the Cartwright’s Farm
Gabriel woke up to the smell of bacon frying. He’d slept on the sofa in the living room. He heard the guest bedroom door open and Tabitha’s feet shuffling into the kitchen where his mom and Ms. Vonda were. He started to get up, but smiled lazily and listened to their conversation instead.
“Did you sleep okay?” Maggie asked.
“Oh yes. I think there’s something special about that back room. I don’t remember waking up once,” Tabitha said, a yawn cutting her short.
“How about some eggs and bacon?” Ms. Vonda asked.
“That sounds wonderful. Can I do anything to help?”
“No, just relax and I’ll have you a plate in a jiffy. Coffee or tea?”
“Oh, it feels like a tea kind of day.”
Gabriel peeked over the couch to see Tabitha sit down and fold one leg up on the seat under the other.
“A girl after my own heart,” his mom said as she took a sip and smiled.
“He’s still snoozing away.” Ms. Vonda smiled as she placed a full plate of scrambled eggs, bacon, and a blueberry muffin in front of Tabitha.
“I have to say, you sure have had quite an effect on Gabriel. He seems like a part of him just woke up or something.” Maggie poured herself a little more hot water as she continued. “We had a pretty rough few years there. I couldn’t get him to talk or play with the other boys. He was just a shell. It was really hard, ya know? He just wanted his daddy.” Maggie’s eyes welled up. “But you seem to have broken through. I can see the way he looks at you. He really loves you.”
“I just knew there was something special about him from the first time we met. He seemed to have a deep well in his heart . . . like he was capable of pure greatness. I don’t know how to describe it. He was so awkward the first time we talked, but I thought it was cute. I think The River was in him all along. You should see him out there when he’s guiding. He has such good instincts and confidence now. I’ve seen his courage in really difficult situations. It’s just amazing to watch. You did a really good job raising him.”
Gabriel’s heart felt like it was swelling with love for the two women in his life.
“I sure didn’t feel like I did at the time. Getting inside the head of a young man isn’t the easiest thing. His dad was like that, so inside his thoughts all the time. We made due, though. I had a lot of help.” Maggie looked at Ms. Vonda as she cleared some dishes.
“I didn’t know he struggled so much as a child.”
“He was afraid of his own shadow . . . angry too. He didn’t want to have anything to do with the water. He was terrified of it. Thank God for Mister Earl who took him to catch his first fish. All along the way, Gabriel had people in his life, pointing him ahead, helping him on to his destiny. It’s beautiful to see him really living . . . to see him so happy. I couldn’t give him that.”
Tabitha looked thoughtful. “I don’t think anyone could give him that. He has to choose it, like the rest of us.”
“What do you mean?”
“I think at the end of the day, everyone has to make the choices for their life. As much as I would want to be the source of someone’s happiness, I just think that’s got to come from something greater. That’s too much pressure. We all have to own our decisions for the future and how we are going to live. We can’t control life, but we can control how we respond.”
“Those are wise words for such a young woman.”
“I had a wise mother,” Tabitha said humbly. “This breakfast was delicious! Thank you so much. I wish I could cook like that.”
“You’re quite welcome, darling.” Ms. Vonda leaned down in Maggie’s ear and whispered loudly, “She’s a keeper.”
Tabitha excused herself to go get dressed.
Gabriel figured he should have been annoyed that his mom and girlfriend were chatting about his life, but he wasn’t. Instead, he just felt loved.
Gabriel sat back on the tractor in the old barn that morning. The smell of hay and rich soil that was caked on the plow filled the air. It was almost time to plant the corn. The sun-rays beamed through the cracks in the wood-slatted walls. He loved the sight of all the old tools hanging on the rustic boards. After taking a bite of one of Ms. Vonda’s biscuits, he opened The Journal and couldn’t believe the entry he found.
I don’t tell her enough, but Helen is my best friend. I married my best friend. She is kind and patient. She is strong and humble. She is ravishing and pure. She has given her life to me all these years. She knows me and I know her. I think the best thing is, we haven’t been busy trying to change each other. We share something so deep I can’t explain it. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that giving my life to her was the best decision I could have ever made. When you focus on meeting the other’s needs, it just all works out. We have walked through the darkest of times and the brightest of days, and we’ve done it all together. Oh, what majestic mystery in the two becoming one! We have laughed and cried, been at odds and at peace, but never once have we walked it alone. I pray when we go, we go together. I can’t imagine life without my Helen. If you find a soul mate, give your life to her or him. Hold nothing back. Never quit. Be quick to forgive. Use soft words. Let the other just be who they were made to be and cheer your lover on! That’s what we learned to do. If you find what I’ve found, you’ll be the luckiest person alive too.
—R. Allen Clarke
1948
The barn
door creaked open and startled him.
“There you are,” Tabitha said as she let herself in the barn.
Gabriel thrilled at the sight of her. “Hey. Did you have a good sleep?”
“Probably the best sleep I’ve had in a while. There’s just something about that old bed and those quilts. I slept like a baby.”
Tabitha walked up and put her hand on his calf.
“Do you know how to drive this thing?”
“Absolutely. Want me to teach you?”
“Are you sure?”
“Climb up.”
Gabriel extended his hand and helped her scale the side of the tractor. She plopped down on his lap.
“What does this do?” She started jostling the gearshifts.
“Easy there.” Gabriel put his hand on hers. “Let me get us out of here in one piece,” he said as he laughed.
He turned the key and started the old John Deere. It chugged and coughed dark smoke into the musty barn air.
“I guess it would help if we opened the doors. Don’t touch anything. I’ll be right back.”
Gabriel jumped down and swung open the massive doors, then climbed back up.
“You ready?” he asked over the rumble of the engine. He locked it into gear and released the clutch. The tractor heaved forward and out into the morning light.
“Woo-hoo! Ride ’em, cowboy!” Tabitha yelled as she held on to the side of Gabriel’s legs. He pulled up her hands and placed them on the steering wheel.
“You steer. No sharp turns, okay? Let’s head out this way.” Gabriel pointed to the large plowed field on the back of the property. He opened up the throttle and the tractor took off.
“Yee-haw!” Tabitha yelled and laughed as they cruised in the wide-open space. “I want one of these!”
The warm wind invigorated Gabriel’s face as he felt the pure joy in that moment. They felt no pressing obligations, no heavy sadness, and no worries. They were free.
Gabriel directed her through the fields and down the way to the pond he went to as a young boy. They pulled the tractor up under the giant cottonwood tree he climbed as a youngster. He told her the stories of wrestling matches and fishing. He laughed as he reminisced about the legendary stories of his childhood friends, Jimmy Bly, the gum stealer, General J.J., the giant wrestling champion who ate everything in site, and all the rascals who used to spend their afternoons there.
Into the Canyon Page 16
