Ada's Secret Read online

  “Mother,” I said haltingly as we trotted the little black mare out of the ranch. “There is something you need to know about me. I am a honorable woman, but I was raised by prostitutes.”

  Mother’s eyes lit up. “I figured there was something you were hiding. Girls just don’t have the skills you do without having a spectacular story to go along with them. Makes no difference; I am very proud to call you my daughter, no matter who raised you. You can tell me the whole story on our way to town, and don’t skimp on the details.”

  I told her everything as the little black mare pulled the buggy along the road. I didn’t know how she would take it, but she nodded supportively as I bared my soul to her. When we saw the town on the horizon, I asked her one more time, “Are you really sure about this?” She just smiled and nodded her head in the direction of the buildings.

  When we reached the bank, I whispered, “OK Mother. Show time.” We stepped out of the buggy, then tied the little mare to the hitching post. People pleasantly nodded at first, and then women gasped and men covered children’s eyes as Mother Burgess and I strode on the boardwalk.

  “Hopefully, the Sheriff is out of town,” I giggled to Mother. “Looks like we are causing quite a stir,” I said as we walked through the front door of the bank.

  I stood at the manager’s desk and cleared my throat. In a loud voice that everyone in the bank could hear I addressed the nervous manager, “I hear you’ve negotiated an offer for the Burgess land.”

  “We all know that you are stealing from this good woman in her hour of desperation, and we need to talk about a fair settlement. We are in a bit of a hurry and want to close the deal quickly, but I must insist that you add another five thousand dollars to the offer.”

  Catching the eyes of each customer in the bank, I continued, “The land alone is worth ten thousand. The barn, house, and all of the fences are in excellent condition, so we all know that you would still be taking advantage of this good woman at a mere fifteen thousand, but as I said we are in a hurry and willing to settle for less today.”

  I signaled to mother, and we settled ourselves into two overstuffed wingback chairs positioned in front of the manager’s desk. As we turned our chairs toward the bank patrons, we made sure every last employee was able to view our performance as we brashly crossed our dungaree-clad legs.

  Still using my strongest voice, I continued, “We are quite comfortable now. Run along now; we’ll wait until you can get all the money together.”

  It was a busy day at the bank, and as customers entered and gawked at our attire, I would call out, “Come on in, honey. Don’t tell me this is your first time seeing ladies in dungarees.”

  The manager turned ashen shade of grey, and I really thought he was going to faint as he tripped over his own feet. As quickly as he could, he scurried away to find the bank president and owner, Mr. Norman Johnson. Mother blanched a bit as Mr. Johnson blustered in alone. I held out my hand and with a rather un-lady like grip to my handshake and a sneer of contempt on my face, I met his pale blue eyes until he looked away in discomfort. His thinning hair accented a red, perspiring face. He nervously wiped his clammy palms on his handkerchief while flashing a smile in an attempt to gain the upper hand.

  “Mrs. Burgess, I am so sorry about your husband’s passing. He was such a good man, and he will be greatly missed.” Turning to me, he smiled. “You must be Ada. I heard Mrs. Burgess’ new daughter-in-law had come to help out. We haven’t seen Patrick around here for quite a while. Where is he?” he said, as he looked me up and down. I knew that look. He was undressing me with his eyes just like the patrons did to the ladies at the Silver Dove. Because I was a woman with flowing red hair, and no visible husband, he was taking mental liberties with his judgments about me.

  I think we can make this work for us, I thought to myself. This old weasel has already fallen into my trap.

  His eyes glittered with thinly disguised lechery as he said, “My name is Norman Johnson, but everyone calls me Buck. Get it? Like bucks at a bank,” he laughed, but neither Mother nor I responded. He fumbled with some papers on the manager’s desk as he turned his attention to Mother.

  Speaking with sticky sweetness, he tried to look into Mother’s eyes, but his attention was ensnared in her cleavage. “Now dear Mrs. Burgess, I know this has been a difficult time, but I fear that I need to remind you of the terms of our agreement,” as he sat down behind the manager’s desk.

  A greasy smile crossed his thin lips, showing crooked yellow teeth. “I’m sure you must remember the price we agreed on was ten thousand dollars. That is a fair price for the condition your farm is in. I am willing to keep my end of the bargain, and if you can step into my office, I will have the funds available within the hour.” His eyes took in every inch of her bountiful attributes, but Mother held her own under his scrutiny and settled deeper into the chair.

  “I’m quite comfortable right here. Aren’t you dear?” she asked me as I stood and walked around the manager’s desk. I sat on the corner of the desk, one leg suggestively dangling next to Buck’s chair. I heard several of the bank customers gasp with surprise.

  Feigning demureness, I replied, “Buck, I don’t think you heard the final terms of our offer. Our price is fifteen thousand, and you know it’s a fair price. You’ve probably heard about the repairs we’ve done because everyone tells us how much better the ranch looks. I’m sure you wouldn’t dare take advantage of a poor widow at such a difficult time, would you?”

  I stood and leaned over the bank president bringing my face within inches of his. Speaking seductively, I gasped, “Wait, Mother. Why, I remember Buck. I thought he looked familiar.” Wagging my finger at him with a shameful shake, I raised my voice just a bit; “You lost quite a bundle that night at Miss Rose’s poker table in Denver.” Lowering my voice to a suggestive whisper, I let my lips brush fleetingly past his ear, “As I remember, that isn’t all you lost at the Silver Dove. Aunt Lettie will be so glad to know that we are doing business with one of her preferred customers.”

  Abruptly he stood, and with his back to the rest of the bank, he raised a sweaty palm to silence me. Buck was shaking with fear, like a little boy caught with his hand in the cookie jar. My ruse had worked!

  “All right, all right,” he whispered, as hissing through his teeth like a snake. He collected himself and mopped his sweaty brow. Speaking loud enough that everyone in the bank could plainly hear, he said, “Mrs. Burgess, I can see how difficult the passing of your dear husband has been. We both know that land values change almost daily, and I might have overlooked some of the outbuildings in my original offer.” His eyes beseeched us as he continued, “If you will please step into my office, I will have all of your funds ready in twenty minutes.”

  I smiled sweetly and threw a triumphant grin to Mother Burgess as we followed Buck proudly into his office. Within twenty minutes, we were walking up the street toward the rail station with our money secure in a small leather briefcase that Mr. Johnson had given us “as a token of his appreciation.”

  “Did you really see Mr. Johnson at the Silver Dove?” Mother asked.

  “Oh dear, no.” I smiled at Mother. “Lettie and Ma, never let me near the saloon when there were customers there. Since the Silver Dove is the finest gentlemen’s establishment west of the Mississippi, I took a chance that a fancy banker like Buck Johnson might have partaken of the services there. “I still can’t believe it worked so easily. Too bad, because I was prepared to get even louder.” Giggling like naughty schoolgirls, we entered the railroad station.

  The stationmaster didn’t need much urging to get us out of his office. He quickly figured the cost for three hundred head of sheep to be transported from Vermont to Denver and didn’t count the money until we had gone.

  We paid in cash from the leather case and stashed the remainder inside our open blouses. “No respectable man will look for it here, and any man who does will want to deal with the Devil before he deals with us,” I said. Mother B
urgess laughed as we got back into our buggy to go home.

  Mother was quiet as we turned into her ranch. “Ada, I have never had so much fun in all my life. I always wanted to do something like that, but civilized women don’t do that.” A fleeting smile passed her lips as she chuckled. “Did you see the look on Norman Johnson’s face? I am glad we are leaving town, though; I think I have worn out my welcome here.” Mother Burgess sighed as she looked around the place she had called home for so long. She sat quiet for a moment, and then suddenly waved her hat in the air. “Yahoo! Colorado, here we come!”

  Chapter 22

  We planned to leave Vermont on April 10th and rest the sheep for a few days in Denver’s stock pens. The sheep would have food and water in the livestock cars, but it would be harder on them to be penned up for such a long time.

  “I don’t want to stress those pregnant ewes any more than we have to.” Mother said.

  “We can stay at Lettie’s ranch until we meet Patrick and he can help us re-load the sheep to Fort Collins.” I smiled thinking about the surprise he was in for.

  “Are you sure your aunt Lettie has room for another guest?” Mother asked.

  I burst into a fit of laughter. “Remember what my aunt does for a living? Lots of people spend the night at her place.” Mother caught the irony of the situation and giggled somewhat self-consciously.

  The day finally arrived, and hired men herded the sheep from the Burgess’ ranch to the rail station, loading them into the railcars. Mother patted the big ram, Duke, on his wooly head as we made our way up to the passenger cars. “I’m sure glad we are wearing skirts and petticoats today,” Mother remarked. “As much as I like working in dungarees, they do have a disconcerting effect on people.”

  I watched Mother Burgess for any sign of regret as we got ready to pull out of the little station. At first she seemed a bit unnerved by the loud sounds of the engines, but she bravely boarded the passenger car and quickly settled into one of the comfortable velvet-covered seats.

  Looking out of the window toward the ranch and people she was leaving, she said nostalgically, “I don’t think I will ever be back here, but the sad part is I really don’t feel I ever want to come back.”

  Catching my eyes, she flashed one of those beautiful smiles that Patrick used to give me. My heart skipped a beat because it was so much like his. Letting her Scottish brogue flow, she said, “Come on, lassie, we have miles to go before we sleep.”

  ***

  Three days later, we arrived in Denver. “This doesn’t seem so wild,” Mother Burgess commented as she stepped out of the passenger car into the bright Colorado sunshine. Women in the latest fashions, girls in gingham dresses, men in traveling suits, and cowboys in worn dungarees mingled together as Mother watched with interest.

  “It doesn’t seem all that much different than ... ” she began. I heard her stop and suck in her breath. “Oh, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!” she gasped and then began breathing again. “They are magnificent!” Her gloved hand shaded her eyes as the beauty and grandeur of the snow-covered Rocky Mountains mesmerized her.

  “Everyone said they were beautiful, but I never expected anything like this,” she said as she studied the beautiful panorama before her.

  I followed her gaze and watched in wonder as she fell in love with the mountains. “That is Pikes Peak to the south,” I said. “Thousands of miners have answered the call of ‘Pikes Peak or Bust!’ Now look to your right. See that far peak? That’s Longs Peak, and just past there is the Never Summer Range. You can’t see them very well from here, but your new home sits nestled at the base of those beautiful mountains.”

  Mother looked as far as she could in both directions and stood silently transfixed by the beauty before her.

  Unexpectedly, I heard strident voices call and whistle for my attention. “Ada! Ada!”

  “They’re here!” I shouted, jolting Mother from her peaceful state. Ma, Aunt Lettie, Jeremiah, and some of my favorite aunts had arrived to take us to Lettie’s ranch.

  There is nothing subtle about being greeted by Ladies from the Silver Dove. The platform erupted in whoops and whistles as the boisterous assembly enfolded me with their silk bustles and huge feathered hats. Within seconds kisses smothered me and delighted cries welcomed me back home.

  “I have only been gone a few short months,” I laughingly protested. “You’re going to kill me with all this attention.” But the affection only increased until I called out, “Mother, save me!” I reached for Mother Burgess, who was standing quietly outside of the wild circle of elation.

  The gathering quieted as everyone remembered their manners. “Everyone, I want you to meet my mother-in-law.” Mother happily joined the raucous group as I took her hand and began introducing her to my wild family.

  “Mrs. Burgess, I’d like to introduce you to Jeremiah. Jeremiah is the only father I have ever known. I know we don’t look very much alike, but I’ve already told you how unique my family is. Jeremiah is the most charming man I have ever met, next to your son,” I said. I blew a kiss to Jeremiah.

  “Ma’am, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” he said, as he bowed low, hat in hand, and kissed Mother’s hand.

  “Oh please!” Mother Burgess exclaimed, blushing from all the attention. “Call me Alice. Everyone does. From what Ada has told me, I feel like we’re family,” Alice exclaimed.

  Aunt Lettie stood next to Jeremiah. “Mother, meet Aunt Lettie. Aunt Lettie is the most fascinating woman in the west. She’s the one who taught me how to negotiate with bankers.” I winked at Mother. Mother understood my jest and smiled appreciatively at me.

  Ma couldn’t contain herself anymore and wrapped her arms around me in one of her intense hugs. “Oh sweetie, I’ve been so worried about you. I’m so glad your back.”

  “Ma, this is Patrick’s mother.” Mother Burgess skipped the perfunctory handshake and wrapped her arms around Ma, hugging her warmly.

  “I just can’t tell you what a wonderful daughter you have. You must be so proud of Ada. She’s spoken so much about you, and what an inspiration you’ve been. I would’ve lost everything if it hadn’t been for her.” Ma’s eyes misted and I knew a bond of motherly friendship had been born.

  As I introduced Mother Burgess to everyone else, Lettie called out, “Daylight’s a-waist’n! Come on, girls! Maria has supper ready at the ranch.”

  Mother sat primly in the wagon as we headed to the ranch. I couldn’t help wonder what she was thinking, so I asked, “Now that you have met them, what do you think?”

  “Ada, you were raised better than my own child was.” Mother thought for a moment before she continued. “I don’t think any woman would willingly become a prostitute, but your family has taken a bad situation and turned it into love. Most children will never know love like your family gives you.” Gazing at Ma and Aunt Lettie, she continued, “Those women loved you and protected you from the evils in this world. Against all odds, they fought to raise you right. They gave you love and the ability to respect yourself and others. I only wish I could have done the same for my son. Thank you for sharing your very special family with me. I feel blessed just to know them.”

  Early evening shadows stretched across the sky as the horses pulled our wagon into the circle drive of the adobe Spanish-style ranch house. Jeremiah carried Mother’s valise through the massive great room and up the huge spiraling oak staircase. A fire crackled warmly in the massive moss rock fireplace and reflected a warm yellow glow off of the gleaming wood floors.

  Jeremiah set mother’s valise on the floor of the guest room we saved for visiting dignitaries. I followed her as she explored the beautiful suite. Stepping out onto the balcony, Mother Burgess inhaled the cool spring air and surveyed a sweeping panorama of the Rocky Mountains. “I understand where you got your love of the outdoors,” Mother said approvingly.

  “We will have to hurry,” I encouraged her as I disappeared into my own room across the hall. “Maria gets upset when people are late for supper.
”

  As Mother descended the huge oak staircase into the great-room below, she slid her hand appreciatively over the ornate, spiraling handrail. Stepping into the dining room, her gaze was transfixed by the massive cherry wood table set with fine dishes.

  “China and crystal!” she exclaimed as rainbows from the crystal glasses caught the candlelight.

  Maria had prepared rabbit and dumplings for supper, and the delicious smells from the kitchen wafted through the dining room, making my mouth water. Entering the kitchen, I said, “Maria, you made my favorite dish! No one makes it as good as you do.” On the stove, steam rose from the rich meat simmering in thick cream gravy as it bubbled up between fluffy white dumplings. Mother joined me at the stove, drinking in the wonderful aroma as Maria tisk’d loudly and chased us both out of the kitchen with a wooden spoon. “You two get on into the dining room with the others,” Maria cackled in disapproval.

  Dinner was incredible, and Mother talked animatedly with Ma and Aunt Lettie through the meal, but I could see that the day was catching up with her.

  “We have a very busy day tomorrow, so we’ll need to get to bed early tonight,” I said. “Jeremiah has promised to take us on a tour of the ranch by horseback. If you like what you saw today, you’ll love tomorrow. I have so much to show you,” I giggled excitedly. “You’ll need to wear your dungarees tomorrow morning. We don’t have any lady’s side-saddles here.”

  Mother willingly accepted the chance to make a graceful exit from dinner. Taking my hand as we climbed the stairs to the bedrooms, she finally spoke. “Now I know why you are such a remarkable woman, Ada. I hope Patrick will be able to see all this someday and understand.” With a tired, grateful squeeze, she closed the door to her suite.

  The sun was just peeking above the horizon, the next morning, when the smell of Maria’s flapjacks, bacon, eggs, and coffee woke me. My mouth watered as I climbed into my dungarees and vaulted the stairs, three at a time. Mother Burgess was already sitting at the huge table, sipping on her first cup of real cowboy coffee. Maria had liberally included plenty of heavy cream and sugar, and Mother nodded her head in appreciation as she sipped the brew. We enjoyed a relaxing breakfast and had just finished when Jeremiah appeared.