Sunday, September 25 and Monday, September 26, 1910
Sarah's train arrived in Eagle Creek very late on Sunday night. She was the only passenger to be let off. Mr. and Mrs. Clementine were not there to greet her. She took her shopping bags and walked up to the small hill towards downtown. When she reached the street, she could see her mother sitting in a wagon.
"New outfit?"
Sarah nodded. "One of two. I've had the craziest weekend of my life."
She placed the bags in the back of the wagon.
Paula Conrad tapped on the reins and the horses slowly trotted down the street.
"I appreciate you picking me up at the depot."
"Crystal called and said you deserved the royal treatment. Jean Clementine is my best friend. When you began working for her, I asked that she treat you as an employee, not as my daughter."
"We just passed the bakery."
"The mother duty was mine alone."
"Why aren't we stopping at the bakery?"
"Because you and I need to have a chat first."
They rode out to the park. It was pitch black, they took a moment to look at the stars.
"Preacher Sam thanks you for taking care of his wife in Miles City. He was glad that both you and he were in the room when Crystal awakened from her surgery. What were her exact words to you?"
Sarah shrugged. "She smiled. Reached out for my hand and said she was very proud of me. She said, 'You are the daughter I never had.'
I replied, 'Mrs. Hines, you have a daughter.'
She shook her head. 'No. I really don't.'
She then said, 'You did a fine job with the speech.'
I titled my head and said, 'But, ma'am, you didn't hear it.'
She pointed at her heart and whispered, 'I heard it.'"
Paula smiled and wiped away a tear.
Sarah sighed. "I was having a miserable weekend before the appendicitis and the rain storm in Billings."
"So I've heard."
Sarah looked up. "Why didn't you say something earlier?"
"Why should I?"
Sarah trilled her lips. "I've been an idiot."
"True. But your weakness helped to make others strong."
Sarah raised an eyebrow.
Paula continued, "When I was Paula Scotia, living in Lewiston, Montana, back," she snickered, "more years than I care to acknowledge. I was a smart, strong willed sixteen-year-old who thought she could get away with anything.
When I met a handsome man who suggested we elope to Billings, my best friend at the time, Judy Trout, begged me not to do it.
'Paula, he doesn't love you. If he did he would wait until you were married.'"
Paula shook her head. "I was so foolish. He had no intention of marrying me. I found that out one morning when I woke up in his bed and he was no where to be found. I had to use my meager purse to pay for the hotel bill he skipped out on.
I hated myself.
That being said, it was my brash idiocy that eventually lead to meeting your father a short time after that. So, it is difficult for me to look back on my experience with regret.
Judy Trout stayed in Lewiston. I was the bridesmaid at her wedding to Lance. She returned the favor by being my bridesmaid.
My parents were so happy to meet Michael. Your grandmother Jenny was as thoroughly smitten as I with the dashing young man."
Sarah wore a warm smile.
"And your grandpa Randolf was impressed with the young man's business credentials and upstanding character. Even though it was not a requirement, I craved their blessing of our union and they happily demonstrated it by giving me away at the wedding."
Sarah imagined the pleasant scene.
"Judy stayed in Lewiston. She had three girls and two boys. Her husband owns the Dry Goods Store. I read her letters a few times a year. She always enjoys mine.
Saturday night, she was staying at a fancy hotel in Billings. She took a chance that I might have a phone by now and called me. We talked for hours.
She told me all about the big rain storm, the helplessly confusing and wacky introduction by Miss Eagle Conrad from Sarah Creek."
Sarah chuckled.
"She told me how you berated yourself and then broke down on the podium. Another young lady named Harriett Dallas; came to your rescue. And, as it turns out, Harriett was the last girl on Earth who would want to help you; however, she overcame her rightful jealousy and stood with a girl like you."
Sarah nodded. "Harriett is beautiful. I can see why Simon loves her so much. I'm glad they're…." she choked up. "I am glad they're getting married. I'm not ready for him."
Paula hugged her. "And that was the most insightful comment I've ever heard you utter."
They shared a quiet moment.
"Back to me: as you know, your father and I lived in Billings for awhile until he received an unbeatable opportunity in the far flung, cow-town called Eagle Creek. Soon after we moved, I felt a rumble in my tummy and I began eating a lot more than I should."
Sarah giggled.
"But, I was pleased with the result. You were an easy delivery."
Paula wiped away a tear.
"Each gender relates differently to the parents. For Marty and Mickey, I was simply 'mom;' the erstwhile partner of 'pop'."
She brushed a few stray hairs from Sarah's forehead.
"But to you, I've always been 'mother.' To you, I am a protector and a priestess and a prophet."
Sarah hung her head.
Paula said softly, "And Jean Clementine could never and should never even try to fulfill those roles because I would not even consider being anything more than Mrs.Conrad to Emily."
Sarah mumbled, "So what does the protector have to say?"
"You hurt two of your best friends for no good reason, and now, you are in a world of pain."
"Will you make it go away?"
"Not even if I could. You deserve it."
Sarah didn't know how to respond.
"And from Judy's report, you've already used that wound to heal others. Now, you'll have to face your real Goliath, an over inflated ego and a sensuous pride."
"What should I say to Tommy and Pete?"
"Not a single word. Do not, repeat, do not say anything to Tommy or Pete. Let them come to you. Sarah, trust me on this, men have their own way of dealing with emotional scars. They don't like to talk about it. The notion is foreign to their nature. If you were to approach the topic you would only alienate them further and quite possibly permanently dissolve your relationships.
Let them approach you."
"What if they never do?"
"You're taking that gamble as the byproduct of your own selfish ambitions. But, I've known Tommy Grossman and Pete Jackson since you three shared a pony ride on Founders' Day. They'll come around to you in due time.
And so ends the charge of Paula Conrad the protector."
Sarah wiped her runny nose. "And now comes the priestess?"
Paula nodded. "How dare you? How dare you think you can use people so shamelessly for sport?
I would expect that from Emily, not you.
I've spent hours these last couple of days wrestling in prayer and reviewing every second of our conversations that I could recall since you were a toddler.
Your actions were such a betrayal of everything your father and I strove to teach you."
"I'm surprised you didn't slap me into next week."
"I'd be lying if I said the thought hadn't crossed my mind; however, after what Michael told me last week, there's been enough of that already.
Jean and I had a necessary conversation. I reminded her of a few things, namely, that you were not her daughter. She already has two. One who gleefully jumped at the chance to move four-hundred miles from home and casually waved ta-ta from a train in River City and another who disappeared with a truly bizarre young, religious nut who, in all likelihood, has not permitted her to say a single word to Jean for over eight years.
This was not the first time that Jean has struck someone to cover up for her own stupidity and carelessness.
Eight years ago, not long after Janice disappeared, Will packed Jimmy, David and Emily in a wagon in the middle of the night and drove them to his mothers' house. He left a four word note:
Jean, Get help. -Will."
Sarah whispered, "That was the time Emily had a black eye?"
Paula nodded. "Jean came scrambling over to my house. I said I didn't know where they'd gone and even if I did I wasn't about to tell her.
She did get help back then, reluctantly, and a couple of weeks later, Jimmy, David and Emily returned from their fun vacation on Grandma Ruth's vineyard."
Paula put a hand on Sarah's hands. "If Julius had not warned her the night before, I would have dragged her by her hair to the jail all by myself."
Sarah whispered, "Thank you."
"I’d only partially be doing it for my daughter. I'd be doing it more for her daughter or son or Emily."
Sarah sighed. "Then thank you from all four of us."
Paula snickered, "And speaking of law enforcement, you stole a dress?"
Sarah chuckled, "I did."
"Judy told me the event hostess paid for it from her own purse."
Sarah nodded. "Mrs. Dobson was very sweet. When I awoke in the morning, there was another new dress and undergarments hanging on my hotel room door. There was a note attached.
For the ride home. -Louis Dobson
So you can look pretty for boys on the train. - Mary Ann Quinn."
Paula laughed along with her.
A minute passed and Paula gathered her thoughts. "And so ends the sermon by Paula the Priestess."
Sarah tilted her head. "And what does the future hold for me, Prophet Paula?"
She smiled. "The wise oracle Paula says this matter will be settled.
You will see a resolution only when you close your eyes.
And your new day will begin with three hands."
Sarah shifted her eyes. "What does that mean?"
Paula shrugged. "I don't know. I was just voicing whatever happened to pop in my head."
She tapped on the reins they headed towards the bakery.
"I promise, mother, I'll never be stupid again."
Paula shook her head. "Don't do that. You've got to make some room for stupidity. It's a necessary evil. Insane little commotions help us digest an otherwise illogical world. Men are prime stalwarts in this field. Remember the over forty bicycle race down Darling Knob?"
Sarah chuckled, "How could I forget? Early morning. Mr. Clementine, Preacher Sam, Tommy's father, Pete's father, Lynn's father, and my father all on bikes about to attempt a steep descent that their younger sons avoid as being too dangerous.
Father gave me the signal. I put on the phonograph recording of Ride of the Valkyries by Wagner.
Six men headed down hill. One fell along the way and for some reason began throwing dirt at my father and yelling 'Toy boat, toy boat, toy boat.'"
Paula laughed.
"They zoomed down like an avalanche. Why Preacher Sam thought he could jump Eagle Creek on a bicycle, I'll never understand."
Paula shrugged. "You're not a man; you cannot understand so don't even attempt it."
Sarah hemmed and hawed. "I suppose so. Father and Mr. Clementine raced through town. Mr. Clementine won when he became the first man to enter the bakery, which he accomplished by flying through a glass window."
Paula popped her lips. "Yup. And do you remember what the prize was?"
Sarah's eyes bulged. "There was no prize! They broke three bicycles, a five dollar, painted window, and Preacher Sam sunk into the muddy creek for absolutely no prize!"
"That's male stupidity for you. But, afterwards, they felt great about the entire experience."
Sarah replied indignantly, "I know, I know. Mr. Clementine still brags how he won the race and even proudly points to the window he smashed." She began to laugh. "But still, I suppose it was fun."
Sarah looked at the bakery and then back around to her mother. "Any last admonitions?"
Paula closed her eyes and nodded. "Stop treating Pete and Tommy like commodities.
Quit chasing rainbows. Learn to be still. Don't worry about finding love. Just relax.
Breathe, breathe in the air. Don't be afraid to care.
Don't love a man based on your assessment of whom you think he should be because by doing so you give him a goal he can never achieve. If neither Pete nor Tommy is destined to be your true love then just… just move along while knowing that God has infinitely better plans in store for you."
Sarah stretched. "I will try to keep that in mind."
"I know you will," Paula said with a yawn. "You have school tomorrow."
"I do." She kissed her mother on the cheek. "Thanks for the ride home."
Paula smiled as she handed Sarah one of the bags. "And thank you for always making me proud."
Sarah unlocked the security gate and stepped into the bakery. She turned around and waved at her mother as she pulled the security gate back down.
All things considered, that evening she slept quite soundly.
When 3 am arrived, she made the donuts and went back to bed.
At 6:30 am, she awoke again, Jean had a delicious pancake breakfast from Casey's waiting for her on the big table in the kitchen. She kissed Sarah and thanked her for the pie sales suggestions. Ray Casey loved it and the bakery was bringing in much more money.
The walk to school was under a blustery sky with thick charcoal clouds which hid the sun.
Sarah was the first to arrive in the classroom. She took a moment to compose herself and close her eyes.
She could hear Tommy and Pete enter the classroom. They sat on either side. She didn't say a word.
Tommy, sitting on her right, slid her a note.
The cryptic message was written vertically. It read:
"We'll
be
fri
Pete and Sar."
As she wondered what that meant, Pete slid a piece of paper to her from the left.
"always
best
ends.
ah and Tommy."
She was confused about the papers meant until she stopped looking at the competing words and slid them together.
"We'll always be best friends. Pete and Sarah and Tommy."
Her lips quivered as she fell into a smile. Pete and Tommy reached out and put one hand each on her back.
It was one of the happiest moments of her life.
She reached behind her and for a moment she was propped up by three hands on her back.
As they celebrated, the clouds disappeared. The sun broke through. A new day began.
