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Jeremy Chadwick, Esq.,
Blue Sky, Montana
Dear Jeremy:
I’m sorry for not writing earlier, but there’s been nothing much to report since you left us two weeks ago. Heyes’s recovery has been slow but steady, and I’ve been spending most of my time reading to him, mopping his fevered brow, encouraging him to eat and to walk, and trying to keep Rachel from overtaxing him. You saw, when you were here, that she has grown increasingly mobile. She finds “Papa” a source of endless fascination as he begins to emerge from the sickroom. I have never used the word “Papa” in my life, so I think she must have gotten that from Gloria.
Speaking of Gloria, she has been of inestimable help with Rachel, and I pledge that I will never again make a sweeping judgment about women in her former profession. She is a fine person who found herself in difficult circumstances and did the best she could, simply to survive. It might well be argued that I am far more morally deficient, myself, considering Heyes and I did everything in entirely the wrong order, and purely due to our own personal inclinations. But as we are an old married couple now, and Rachel is the result of our transgressions, perhaps the path we took to get here is beside the point. In any case, I am certainly not without sin and will cast no stones, in future.
Dick and Martha have been absolutely wonderful in keeping us fed and watered. They’ve made the old abandoned farmhouse clean and bright and habitable again, for the length of our unexpectedly extended residence here. And considering this is the site of Sandy’s captivity and of Rick’s death, that’s something. I cannot wait to leave here, in all honesty – I wish we were coming home to Blue Sky, but our current plan is to return to San Francisco and consider our next steps from there.
Jed Curry has devoted himself entirely to his partner’s recovery, and I believe that he would have the makings of a fine medical professional in him, though he laughs at me when I say so. He is caring and diligent and understands people very well. It’s fortunate that he has Heyes to think about, as he is tormented by Sandy’s absence and about his inability to reach her. But he knows, as I do, that the Blackfoot people have more to offer her than do our own, who’d lock her away and plunge her into hot and cold baths and whatever else it is they do in those horrible places. Albert Raintree loves his daughter dearly, and Jed knows she will receive the best possible care. As you know, I was angry at first not to have been consulted, but I realize now that there was no other choice.
All my love to Melanie and the children, and to yourself, and of course to dear Sven. Oh, and if you see my sister, you might give her some idea as to my whereabouts.
Ella
Miss Caroline Fillmore
Mount Holyoke College
South Hadley, Massachusetts
Dear Caroline:
I am so delighted to hear that your first year at college has gotten off to such a wonderful start and that you have made so many friends already. I hope you find ever more and obscurer languages to study! I understand Romanian has its unusual elements, and I cannot imagine you letting Sanskrit pass you by entirely. Of course I was completely unqualified to instruct you in classical Greek, having gotten no further than schoolboy Latin myself – is there such a thing as schoolgirl Latin? So much for you to learn! I do hope you will not neglect history or the natural sciences entirely.
We have sold the house in San Francisco, and are putting everything in storage, in anticipation of a more peripatetic lifestyle for awhile. The Western Star is out of business, and anyway, Jed is asserting himself and says he needs a change of scenery. He misses Sandy very much, and these surroundings have become painful to him.
Heyes is unusually quiet these days. Everything still takes him a great deal of energy. Jed and I are going to take him to Texas, to the ranch of a wealthy friend of theirs, a Mr. McCreedy, who sounds quite a character. And from there, I’m uncertain. I will, of course, write and let you know.
Rachel points at your photograph and exclaims “Caro” on a regular basis, so you are not forgotten by your youngest friend, either.
Much love,
Ella
Jeremy Chadwick, Esq.,
Blue Sky, Montana
Dearest Jeremy and Melanie:
So this is Texas. It is rather large, and quite dry. Despite the winters, I much prefer our North Country, and don’t expect that to change.
We are staying at the McCreedy ranch. You will remember Heyes’ and Jed’s stories about the McCreedy-Armendariz feud? Well, apparently they deliberately left out the last bit, which is that there is a fairly recent Mrs. McCreedy, namely Carlotta Armendariz McCreedy, wife to one and sister to the other. She is delightful.
McCreedy is a real character. I confess that neither he nor I have the slightest idea what to make of one another. I find him peering strangely at me, at odd moments, as though I am some sort of impossible creature. I suppose he finds the notion of Heyes’ marriage as improbable as everyone else finds his own. He adores Rachel, and she him, however. And I caught him with an old banjo the other day, playing with great skill, so perhaps there is more to him than just the blustering, wealthy rancher.
I finally met Senor Armendariz last Saturday, as it was Senora McCreedy’s birthday celebration. He is a widower with snow-white hair, a slim figure and imperious bearing, and the possessor of an impressive mustache. I confess, were my heart not already given, I would be tempted to run off with him. He exudes confidence and power. There is a Spanish word, machismo, and he exemplifies the quality almost definitively, but tempered with a sly and wicked sense of humor.
Heyes is recovering nicely, whether it is the warm weather or the congenial surroundings. He has begun to go for longer rides, usually with Jed but occasionally even on his own. He is playing cards, again, and spinning longer and more elaborate tales. Having come so close to losing him and having seen him come back to himself so satisfactorily, I am keenly aware of my great good fortune. That does not, of course, mean that I am not quietly furious at him for losing a good deal of money at poker last Saturday night. He is, of course, rather out of practice and I trust will recover his form shortly.
Jed is increasingly despondent about the lack of any correspondence from Sandy or her father. But Albert Raintree had exacted a promise from him to let her be until she is ready to return. As his people remain your clients, and as you always know where to find us, Jed knows he must simply trust. It is hard on him, and I think being so far South, with so much distance between them, is all to the good.
My love to your children, and to you both,
Ella
Jeremy Chadwick, Esq.,
Blue Sky, Montana
My dear Jeremy:
I’m addressing this to you alone, because some of the information deals with a case for which I am considering offering my services, and I’d appreciate it if you would take care about those portions of my news, when you share this letter with Melanie.
There is a case going to trial soon in New Orleans which has me tossing and turning in my bed at night, with the injustice of it. It involves a young man, from up in the bayou country, of somewhat limited intellect, who was put in the indefensible position of protecting his family’s illegal interests. The popular press is calling for his blood, as he killed two officers of the law before being seriously wounded himself. But from what I have read, it is difficult to tell how much he understands of right and wrong, having been kept very sheltered by his family.
I know I would be blundering in, not being knowledgeable with regards to the local culture. And Louisiana, of course, is a Napoleonic Code jurisdiction, meaning I am worse than ignorant of legal procedure there. Nevertheless, I have been in contact with his counsel and intend to offer my services, pro bono, for whatever they may be worth.
The McCreedys are immensely generous hosts, but we have remained here far longer than we ought to have done. Rachel is an energetic child and they have enjoyed her company, I am certain, sufficiently. Gloria is a saint, by the way.
Heyes is doing marvelously well. He has more than won back the money he lost playing cards in those early weeks, is a better storyteller than ever, and has regained his sense of mischief entirely. In the past week alone, he nearly convinced Jed that some old bones they found while out riding were those of an entirely new species of prehistoric animal (they were not); nearly convinced me that our daughter is a budding mathematical genius (she may well be, but has not actually evidenced it as yet); and absolutely convinced poor Pat McCreedy that they are, in fact, distantly related (they are not). Only Senora McCreedy remains sacrosanct – he wouldn’t dare pull anything on her, as she sees right through him.
Jed is still immensely sad. There is some vague muttering, when he thinks I am not listening, about a girl he used to know who lives in New Orleans. It’s been the better part of a year with no word from Sandy, so what right do I have to insist on her claim to his heart? And yet I remain hopeful, perhaps because I cannot fathom losing her, myself.
So to New Orleans we are going. Share whatever you think appropriate with Melanie, but no one else – the case is stirring great controversy. Love to your children and of course to Sven Rasmussen. He apparently made quite the impression on Gloria – she likes very, very tall men. And kind, quiet ones.
Ella
Miss Caroline Fillmore
Mount Holyoke College
South Hadley, Massachusetts
Dearest Caroline:
We have arrived in New Orleans. Oh, I wish you were here – you would glory in the many languages spoken in the port – French, but in many varieties, Spanish, and of course English, but those are only the beginning.
You could also help me communicate with my new client, who is semi-literate and speaks a dialect of Cajun French which is far outside my capabilities. I have found a marvelous interpreter, however, a young woman of color who understands many local dialects. And I am merely a consultant on the case, working with a local attorney, a young idealist who reminds me very much of Jeremy.
Rachel sends tiny and ferocious hugs to her Caro. And Heyes and Jed hope you will wreak merry havoc on the educational system – while I caution you not to actually get yourself kicked out, as I suspect your various and extraordinary talents might be best used within said system.
Love always from,
Ella