Blossoms of Love (60 page)

Barbara knew Lamont was out on the range. There was no way of getting to him. She would just have to wait and see him as soon as he got to the stables.

Before Barbara could get to the stables when she saw Lamont, the other men were there too. She decided to wait until he came to the house but then things began happening too fast. She looked out to see Johnny going to the stables. Barbara breathed, “Oh God!”

Lamont was taking the saddle off his horse, like he others were doing, when Johnny came storming into the stables. He grabbed Lamont by the sleeve and hit him so hard Lamont fell on the floor of the stable. Jesse grabbed Johnny by the arms and David got between the brothers. Lamont got up. He wiped the blood from his mouth, “What in the hell is wrong with you?” Johnny said, “Susan is pregnant. She said it belongs to you.” Lamont said, “You know damn well I can’t get a baby!” Johnny said, “I know that but she said you did make love to her.” Lamont said, “You better calm down a minute.” Jimmy said, “It’s a lie. Susan is the one who tried to make Dad—touch her. He wouldn’t do it. He tried to talk to her. She begged him not to tell you or Aunt Ellen.” Everyone looked at Jimmy. Jimmy said, “I was up in the loft. I was afraid to come down when I heard them talking.” Johnny said, “I’m sorry Monty, I just kind of went crazy for a few minutes. I’m sorry . I knew better.” Lamont said, “I’m gonna tell you one damn thing. Don’t you ever hit me like that again unless you got a damn good reason.” Lamont turned and walked towards the house. He met Barbara. She saw his mouth, “Oh Monty.” Lamont said, “I can’t believe my own brother would think I would seduce his daughter. My niece.” Barbara said, “He doesn’t really believe it. He’s just upset now.” Lamont said, “Did you know Jimmy was in the loft the day Susan tried to undress in front of me? He told Johnny all about it a few minutes ago.” Lamont was really angry by the time he got to the house. Suddenly, Lamont stopped and started back to the stables, “This damn thing is gonna be settled right now.” Barbara grabbed his arm, “No, Monty. Not now, you’re too mad.” He jerked his arm away, “Hell yes I’m mad.” Barbara saw a car stop in front of their house. It was Ellen and Susan.

When Lamont got to the stable door, Johnny was sitting on a bale of hay, Jesse standing beside him, and David near the door. The other men went on to their quarters. Johnny looked up when Lamont came back to the door. Johnny said, “Go ahead and hit me. I’ve got it coming.” By then, Barbara, Ellen, and Susan were there. Susan said, “I lied Daddy. Uncle Monty never once touched me.”

That was when Johnny began to cry like a little boy. Ellen went over to him and put her arm around his shoulder. David looked at Lamont. Lamont said, “Now since all the truth has been said, Johnny I want you and your family to leave.”

Lamont turned and went to the other stable. Barbara followed him. He started saddling his favorite horse. Barbara asked, “What are you going to do?” Lamont said, “I’ve got to get away for a while.” Barbara said, “It’s getting late.” Lamont said, “I don’t give a damn. I’ve got to get out of here for a while.” Barbara said, “Please don’t go Monty.” He got on his horse, “There’s one thing I’ve got to know. Do you have any doubts about this damn cock and bull story?” She answered, “I have no doubts Monty. I know you would never do a thing like that.” He leaned over and kissed her, “Don’t wait up for me. I’ve got a lot of thinking to do.”

She watched him ride off towards the mountains where they went not long ago. She slowly went back to the other stable. Everyone was gone except David. Barbara sat down on a bale of hay as David was hanging up the horse blankets. Barbara said, “Monty just left going to the mountains.” David said, “He will be all right. He will think things out. Johnny did a very stupid thing a little while ago.” Barbara cried, “I know. Monty is deeply hurt because Johnny even thought he would seduce his daughter.”

Johnny and Robbie came to the stables. Aunt Sara said supper is ready.” Barbara said, “You boys go and eat.” Jimmy asked, “Where is Dad?” Barbara said, “He went riding. He’ll be back soon.”

When everyone had gone to bed, Barbara waited for Lamont to come home. She kept the coffee hot. It was getting colder outside. She could hear the wind whistling around the corner of the house. Every few minutes she would look out the window. The last time she looked out, she saw it had began to snow. Barbara really began to get worried.

At daybreak, Barbara was still waiting in the kitchen when Sara came in to cook breakfast. Barbara began to cry, “Sara I’m worried. Look how it’s snowing. In the mountains, it’s even worse.” Sara put her arm around Barbara, “Don’t cry and try not to worry. Monty knows these mountains like the back of his hand. I’ll say he found shelter last night and will be home today.”

When Lamont wasn’t there by noon, David called everyone to come. Johnny was the first one there. He said, “I’ve got to go with you all. It’s my fault he’s up there.” Berry said, “I don’t understand you Johnny. How could you even have one doubt that Monty could do such a thing?” Allen said, “There’s no need to talk about that now.” Leon said, “Allen’s right.”

The crew of men, Jesse, and Lamont’s brothers rode off to try to find him. David and part of the men went west and the others went north. The boys sat at the window by their mother. Jimmy said, “Mom, why did Susan want to lie about Dad?” Barbara said, “She’s a mixed up girl Jimmy.” Jimmy said, “I saw Susan start to take her blouse off and Dad stopped her. He talked so rough to her she began to cry.” Barbara asked, “Why were you up in the loft?” Jimmy answered, “I went up there to push some hay down. I lost my knife and when me and Jesse got done feeding, I went up there to see if I’d lost it up there. Then Dad came in to polish the saddles. I was afraid to come down because he told me not to go up there unless it was to get hay for the horses.” Barbara hugged Jimmy, “I wish you would have come on down when Susan came in.” Robbie said, “If he had, Daddy would have whipped him.” Jimmy said, “Mom, if they can’t find Dad, he is all alone.” Barbara said, “He wants to be alone for a while. Your father likes to be alone to think, that’s why he rides in the mountains a lot.”

That afternoon all the Ellman wives came over except Ellen and her children. When Mrs. Ellman saw how upset Jimmy was she told Barbara, “You better keep an eye on Jimmy. Just as soon as this snow let’s up, he is gonna strike out to find Monty.”

It was late evening, almost dark, when the men came back. No one had seen Monty. They said they would go back tomorrow.

Before daybreak, a snow blizzard hit. That stopped any of the men from going out to find Lamont. Even David was getting worried. How could any man live in the mountains now?

Thanksgiving morning, the men went out to hunt for Lamont. He had been gone two days. Sara went in the kitchen and started to prepare Thanksgiving dinner. She had to have something to do, even though she knew no one wanted to eat.

Susan finally told her parents who the baby belonged to. It was Dr. Morris’ grandson. When the boy learned he had fathered a child, he and Susan got married. Ellen called Barbara on Thanksgiving afternoon and asked about Lamont. Then the men came back before noon. The snow was too deep. Jesse’s horse fell and broke his leg. They had to shoot him.

It was a week before the men could go back out. When they came back Berry said, “I’m sorry Barbara. There is no way a man could get to the old miners cabin.” Barbara looked at David, “He wanted to be buried up in those mountains. He’s got his wish.” Everyone accepted the fact that Lamont was dead. David said, “We will go back just as soon as we can get there.”

It snowed just about every day between Thanksgiving and Christmas. On Christmas day, Carolyn, David, and their children came over to be with Barbara and the children. They had just finished eating dinner when Johnny came over; Ellen was with him. David was still a little angry with Johnny. When Johnny said, “Susan has moved to Butte. I think she and her young husband will get along fine.” David said, “That’s just fine and dandy, now what about Monty?” Johnny said, “I think Monty is in the miner’s cabin. He’s been up there before when it snowed.” David said, “He’s never been up there for a month with this much snow.” Ellen asked, “What else can we do? We are both so very sorry.” David said, “I just can’t understand how in the hell you two could even think Monty would seduce your own daughter.” Ellen said, “When you’re mad and in shock you just don’t think straight.” Barbara said, “Monty told me about what Susan did that day in the stable. I should have told both of you. When she started to show him her breasts, he stopped her and made her so ashamed she begged him not to tell either of you. He should have told you. Now he’s up there all alone, stranded for God knows where, if he is alive?” Johnny said, “I’ll never be able to make this up to Monty.” David said, “I just hope you get a chance to try. Remember Monty didn’t go prepared for this kind of weather. He was too upset. I blame myself for not stopping him.”

Christmas night it came one of the worst snow storms they had ever had. Lamont’s brothers, Jesse, and David decided there just wasn’t any way to get in the mountains now. Berry said, “There’s just no way we can get up there now.” Allen said, “We just have to pray he will be alright.” Johnny said, “I’m for going and trying today anyway.” Leon said, “There is still more snow on it’s way by tonight.” Johnny repeated, “I’m willing to try it today.” David said, “No way. It wouldn’t help matters at all if we started and Berry could keep us from getting lost. Not even Monty could keep a horse from going off a cliff or stepping in a hole.” Berry said, “Yea and the slide would be bad.” Johnny said, “Something has to be done. He’s been up there a month.” David said, “If he has made it this long, then he will be alright until we can get to him.”

The men all went back to be with their families. David was sitting at the table with Carolyn and his children. When Carolyn asked, “Do you think Monty is alright?” David put his fork down, “I honestly don’t know. He’s been up there a month. If he had been prepared for all this snow I wouldn’t be as worried as I am. Monty can live up in the mountains when no one else can.” David got up and walked over to the window and looked out at the mountains covered with snow, “I keep remembering how he looked when he left. Johnny really hit him with a hard blow and accused him of seducing his daughter. Monty was angry and very hurt. Damn it, I shouldn’t have let him go. We don’t even know if he reached the miners cabin or not. I don’t know what will happen to that family if Monty doesn’t come back. Robbie just sits around and watches for Monty. Jimmy is pitiful. He won’t talk, he won’t even talk to Freddie. I had another thought, if Monty does make it in the cabin, what if he has a siege of the fever?” Carolyn said, “He doesn’t have them much any more. Even the last one was minor. David came back to the table and began eating again, “You know what Monty’s big draw back in life is?” Carolyn asked, “What?” David said, “His looks. His damn good looks. Monty is so much of a super handsome man, women always fell for him. His handsomeness is deceiving too. When you look at him, your first impression is he’s soft, sissy, and self centered.” Carolyn said, “Oh, he’s quiet the opposite.” David said, “You don’t have to tell me. We’ve got into a lot of fights just because men thought he was a sissy. It didn’t take long for them to find out different. Johnny is damn lucky Monty didn’t clobber him one.” The phone rang.

It was Barbara, “Dave, Jimmy and his horse are gone. I’m afraid he has gone to look for Monty.” David said, “Tell Jesse to saddle my horse. I’ll be there in just a minute. How long has he been gone?” Barbara said, “It can’t be more than thirty minutes.” David said, “Good. He hasn’t got very far in this snow.” Carolyn got David’s heavy coat. David said, “I was afraid of this. It’s only four hours until dark. We better find him before then.”

Barbara was at the stable saddling her horse when Jesse and David started by the door. David asked, “Where do you think you’re going?” Barbara answered, “With you and Jesse.” Jesse said, “It’s gonna be rough.” Barbara said, “Don’t worry, I can keep up.” David said, ‘I hope so. We got to catch Jimmy before he starts up the slope.”

The wind was so cold it cut into their faces. Even with their gloves, their fingers were cold. The snow was so deep they couldn’t go very fast. Barbara kept up with them. One thing Monty had taught her how to do was ride a horse. After riding about an hour, David spotted Jimmy. He was walking. Before they got to Jimmy, they found his horse. He had a broken front leg. Jesse said, “The horse is suffering.” David said, “He’ll have to be shot.” Barbara asked, “Are you sure?” David said, “Yes, I’m sure.” Jesse took out his pistol. David said, “I’ll go on and get the boy.” Barbara cried, “This is the horse Monty gave Jimmy just a few weeks after he came to live with us.” Barbara put her hand over her ears and closed her eyes, but she still heard the shot clearly. The shot rang loud in the cold, clear air. David saw Jimmy stop walking and look back. He’d heard the shot. He was just standing in the snow looking first at the mountains, then back toward his horse. When David got to him he said to the half frozen boy, “Come on son, it won’t be long until dark.” David helped him up on his horse. Without a word he sat down behind David. As they started back to Barbara and Jesse Jimmy began to cry, “I tried to find Dad Uncle Dave, and I’ve killed my horse.” David said, “The horse can be replaced son.” Jimmy said, “I loved him. Dad gave him to me.” David said, “He’ll give you another one.” Jimmy cried, “No he won’t because he’s not ever coming back.” The young boys hopes were gone.

When they got to Jesse and Barbara Jimmy asked, “Mom are you mad at me?” Barbara said, “No darling, I’ve just been worried about you.”

When they got home, Barbara made Jimmy take a hot bath then go to bed. Robbie came in his room, “I was scared, Jimmy, but I didn’t tell.” Jimmy hugged Robbie, “I know you didn’t tell on me. I was scared too when my horse fell.” Barbara hugged both of her boys, “If Daddy doesn’t come back to us, you’re all I have. Jimmy you will be the man of the house.” She kissed Jimmy and went with Robbie to his room and tucked him in bed.

David and Jesse were drinking coffee in the kitchen when Barbara came from upstairs. She said to them, “I think Jimmy will be alright.” David said, “There’s one thing certain, we won’t have to worry about him doing that again.” Jesse said, “That’s for sure. He was one frightened little boy.” Sara handed Barbara a cup of coffee. Barbara sat down with them and said, “I didn’t realize the snow was so deep. The higher we got, the deep it was. Let’s face it, no one can survive up there.” David said, “No one but Monty.” Barbara said, “Not even Monty.” Jesse said, “Everyone can give up if they want to. I believe he will make it.” David said, “I do too. Anyone who can go through what he did in prison camp during the war can make it on a mountain even if they are snowed in. Monty is a very good hunter. He’ll eat and use the hides to keep warm.”