Beatrice and the Beast, page 19
Wrapped in blankets, both girls returned to camp and sat together near the fire, with Grace, who had become extraordinarily subdued, moving as close to Beatrice as she could possibly get without actually sitting on her lap.
Charlie handed them both a tin plate laden with bacon and beans complete with biscuits. The food was hot and for both girls, after standing for many minutes in the cold water of the creek, most welcome.
After they had eaten and washed down the food with hot coffee, Beatrice produced a comb and proceeded to comb out the tangles in Grace’s hair, all the time expecting to hear Frank Zelletta impatiently berating her for wasting valuable time. But strangely for him, he seemed content to sit with a mug of coffee in hand and look on with almost, an air of pure serenity on his countenance. All three men appeared to be enchanted as the older girl sat behind the younger one and gently combed her long, wet, blond tresses.
She had hung her underwear and Grace’s dress close to the fire to dry but doubted they would be dry enough to wear by the time Zelletta decided it was time to depart. Normally, she would have felt abject embarrassment, knowing her underwear was on show to men who just a few days ago, had been complete strangers. But having lived and slept alongside of them twenty-four hours a day, she had surprisingly, adapted very quickly and learned to ignore the very many, potentially embarrassing situations that had arisen during the journey.
However, she finished combing Grace’s hair and even had time to comb her own, all the time expecting Frank Zelletta to bark out orders to prepare for the journey. Yet they never came and he further surprised her by announcing they would wait until mid-morning before continuing the journey.
‘It’ll give your clothes a chance to dry,’ he mumbled. ‘No sense in riding in wet duds.’
Just when she thought she was beginning to understand the nature of his personality and was learning the make-up of his character, he goes and surprises her once again by going against everything she had expected of him.
When they finally, headed out, Grace and Beatrice were dressed once more and she thought the child looked much prettier now she had bathed and her long blond hair had been washed and combed. Zelletta had given the girl Reef Mason’s hat to wear so that the sun wouldn’t burn her head and face. The child had taken it from him tentatively and with a little suspicion as to his motives for being kind. Especially as he had also given her Mason’s horse to ride.
They rode hard for most of the day, only stopping for a short break at the Cimarron River before attempting the difficult crossing of the deep, fast flowing water. That was where tragedy struck causing even more delay to the incident ridden journey.
It took a while to find a suitable crossing point and it was left to Rappo to scout along the bank until he found what appeared to be a shallow part of the river. The problem was, it wasn’t shallow all the way across. In the middle section was a kind of sand bar made of pebbles, sand and gravel where the water was just a couple of feet deep. And around ten yards across. But either side, where the water skirted around it, the river was deeper and fast flowing. From the near bank to the sandbar, the distance was around fifteen feet and the same distance spread from the sandbar to the far bank. However, the deep water on the far side was only a few feet across before the bottom sloped upwards to the bank. Rappo figured if they galloped the horses and leapt from the bank, they would almost make it to the sandbar in one leap. The horses should be able to make the final few feet to shallow water before the river swept them too far downstream.
The Indian elected to go first and after trotting his appaloosa away from the bank aways, spurred it into a full gallop to the edge of the river, where the horse took off at full stretch and landed in the water not too far from the shallows. Rappo quickly unseated himself from the horse and held on to his mane while the animal swam to the shallow water. Soon they were standing on the sandbar looking back to the others. Charlie was next and after splashing down in the river he rolled off the horse and hung on to the saddle while his mount swam to the shallows. Next, they needed to get the mules across, which they did by Zelletta attaching ropes around their necks and tossing the other end of each rope to Charlie and Rappo Then the two men rode and swam their horses across the relatively easier stretch of river to the opposite bank then by wrapping the rope around his saddle horn, Charlie was able to help each mule by backing his horse and keeping the rope taught with Rappo adding his own weight and strength to the task by hauling on the rope close to the bank. Even then, the current swept the mules downstream aways but, one at a time, they were able to find firm ground and make it to the sandbar. After that, it was relatively easier to guide them across the narrower deep water to the far bank.
Zelletta had already recognized, the biggest problem was going to be Grace. Although she was capable of riding Mason’s horse, he doubted she had the strength or capability to handle the big chestnut gelding when it came to making such a big and dangerous jump. Furthermore, the child didn’t possess the confidence to make the leap and sat teary eyed on the big horse, dreading the time it would be her turn to gallop the animal to the bank, take off and soar through the air before splashing into the deep river.
‘Your turn girl,’ said Zelletta forcefully. ‘Ride him hard to the bank and don’t hesitate when you get there, go at full pelt and make him jump.’
His air of authority coupled with her intense fear of the big man, was enough to ensure her compliance and she hesitantly, trotted the horse away from the river around thirty-five to forty yards and turned to face the near bank where she sat the animal shaking with abject fear of what she was about to do and unable to spur the horse into action. Tears rolled down her pale cheeks as she tried in vain, to stifle a sob.
‘Come on girl,’ yelled Zelletta. ‘Let him go and give him his head.’
He was too far away to hear her whisper.
‘I can’t.’
Beatrice had already sensed the girl’s fear and felt deep sympathy for her. Indeed, she also felt extremely nervous about making the leap, so she was able to empathise with the child’s position. However, she trusted her male companions to guide her to safety should she find herself in trouble and that instilled in her more confidence to attempt the jump. No such determination came from Grace however, for she had lost all belief in her ability to ride the big horse into the river if any existed in the first place. Zelletta’s voice brought her attention back to him.
‘Goddamn it, what the hell is she waiting for?’
Beatrice gave the man a sharp look.
‘She is just a child and perhaps doesn’t have the confidence to handle such a big horse. Let me talk to her and see if I can help her overcome her fears.’
He scowled, but her sweet voice soothed his anger and had the effect of suddenly making him want her to look upon him favourably and in that moment, it became the most important thing in his life.
‘Alright,’ he mumbled. ‘I guess you’re right. She’s just a kid and a skinny, weak one to boot.’
Beatrice rode her horse away and came alongside Grace who was crying and trembling as she sat in the saddle of the bay. The woman tenderly took the child’s hand in hers and smiled sadly at her tear streaked face.
‘I’m scared too Grace,’ she admitted. ‘But sometimes fear is an emotion that can be overcome by another; the emotion of determination and I am determined to overcome my fear and not allow those men to see me as just another weak woman. If you also use determination to overcome your fear, I’m sure you will find the confidence to succeed.
Grace gave her a dewy-eyed look and forced a weak smile.
‘I ain’t sure what you talking about ma’am,’ she said softly. ‘But I’m afeared if I try to make that jump, I’ll come off the hoss and fall in the damned river and I cain’t swim.’
Beatrice regarded the girl sympathetically.
‘Would it help if I made the jump first?’ she asked. ‘I’m not much bigger than you, so if I can do it, I know you will be able to.’
The girl appeared to relax a little and her shoulders slumped.
‘Can you swim?’ she asked.
‘Yes, but it wouldn’t help in that fast-flowing river. If I lost my grip on my horse, I would be swept away just like you. As long as we hold on to our horses, they will get us to the shallows before they are swept too far downstream.’
‘Do you really think I could do it ma’am?’
Beatrice gently squeezed her hand and gave her a reassuring smile.
‘I know you can and please call me Beatrice.’
Grace giggled nervously. She felt privileged that the beautiful lady would allow a girl such as she, to address her by her given name.
Alright,’ she allowed. ‘I’ll do it if you do.’
‘Good girl. I’ll go now while I still have a little confidence left.’
Beatrice turned her horse to face the river and took a deep breath. Then she spurred him into action and the animal took off at a gallop. His speed became faster and faster until he was galloping at full pelt and the distance between rider and horse and the bank diminished rapidly. As she came closer to making the horse jump, an urge came over her to rein him in and stop before it was too late. But then she saw the astonished Zelletta with a look of indecision on his face and her mind turned back to Grace who needed her to show it could be done by the physically, weaker sex. Zelletta realised she was trying to instil confidence in the girl and decided not to intervene and try to stop her. But that didn’t stop the anxiousness he felt as Beatrice rode her horse at incredible speed to the bank’s edge and when the horse took off, his worry for the woman became intense as he saw her lean forward so her upper body was stretched along the horse’s neck as the animal soared into the air and when he saw her like that, he thought he’d never seen a more magnificent sight and never would again as the horse left the bank to rise into the air with the beautiful girl, her long hair flying behind her, clinging to his back as though she were part of him.
Because of Beatrice’s lighter weight the animal was able to jump farther than had a much heavier, man been riding him. Therefore, when they plunged into the river, they landed just a few feet from the shallow water and the horse quickly found firm ground with his hooves. Beatrice didn’t even need to leave his back as he quickly carried her to safety. When the horse finally came to a halt, she gratefully hugged his neck and whispered her gratitude in his ear. She had never in her entire life felt such exhilaration as she felt in that moment coupled with pride in herself for discovering another ability, she never knew she possessed.
Both Charlie and Rappo looked on in awe unable to contain their admiration for the way the young woman had ridden the horse as though she were a part of him and the distance they had covered when the horse made the leap, was almost unbelievable.
‘Sonofabitch,’ whooped Charlie unable to contain his ebullience. ‘If I never saw it with my own eyes, I never would-a believed it.’
Beatrice’s elation was short lived when she remembered Grace and her dilemma, the reason she had elected to make the leap ahead of the girl in the first place. She looked back to see what course of action the girl was considering and was filled with disappointment when she saw in the distance, Grace still sat on the bay, either unwilling, or unable, to move. She also saw that Zelletta was riding his horse toward the hapless child and involuntarily, yelled after him.
‘Don’t say anything to hurt her Mister Zelletta.’
She didn’t know if he heard her. But if he did, he gave no indication nor any kind of acknowledgement. He simply carried on riding to where the child sat on the grazing horse. When he arrived by her side, he didn’t speak immediately. He simply sat and looked down at the girl while she remained too frightened to lift her head and return his gaze. Eventually, he spoke.
‘As I see it kid,’ you have three choices. You can ride the horse and make the jump which will be your best choice considering the hoss won’t even know you’re on his back you’re so damned small. Or you can climb up behind me and let my horse carry us both over the river, which won’t be easy for him considering how big and heavy I am and little as you are, you’ll still add weight on top of mine. Your last choice is to stay where you are and take your chances on surviving Indians and wild animals on your own.’
There remained a silence between them for many moments while the girl sat sullenly looking down at her hands gripping the saddle horn and the man watched her intently.
‘We ain’t got all day kid,’ he said finally. ‘What’s it to be?’
She lifted her head but averted her eyes from his face.
‘I’ll try,’ she mumbled softly.
‘What’s that?’
‘I’ll give it try,’ she said a little more audibly.
‘giving it a try ain’t good enough girl. You gotta do it and do it well. No hesitating; you gotta ride him like you got the devil his-self on your skinny little tail and when you get to the edge, use your heels and yell in his ear to make sure he knows who’s boss savvy?’
She nodded her head uncertainly.
‘Ok, pull his head up. If he eats any more grass, he’ll be too damned fat to even run never mind jump.’
She hauled on the reins but the horse was enjoying the grass and had no intention of succumbing to her weak efforts. Zelletta sighed and dismounted before taking the bridle of the chestnut and bringing his head up.
‘Now shorten the reins,’ he ordered. ‘And ride him like the wind.’
She did as she was told and leaned forward as she gripped the reins on either side of the animal’s neck.
‘Ready?’
She nodded nervously. Then, without any warning, he suddenly roared like a lion and gave the horse a hard slap on the rump. The startled animal jumped forward and broke into a gallop with the frightened girl clinging onto him like a burr. Zelletta quickly remounted and followed on as fast as his horse would carry him.
Grace held on as best she could as her mount galloped at breakneck speed toward the river bank. She could see the river looming before her and her heart felt as though it had jumped up into her mouth when she saw how quickly they were approaching the river and the dreaded leap into the deep, fast flowing water. She desperately wanted to rein in the horse and halt their progress for she felt she would surely die if she carried on and made the jump at that pace. She closed her eyes tightly and wished she were any other place than where she was at that particular time.
That lady - Beatrice, told me to overcome my fear with termination, whatever that means. It’s easy for somebody like her, somebody who’s had schooling, to use them fancy words. But I’m just a kid and I’m scared to death goddamn it.
She opened her eyes and saw the river rapidly approaching just yards in front of her and realised too late, that she couldn’t face going into the water, especially at that speed. She tried desperately, to turn the horse away from the river but was too close and furthermore, the animal sensed her panic which in turn, alarmed him and instead of turning he planted his hooves and came to a skidding stop at the water’s edge. The hapless child was shot forward over the horse’s head and though she frantically tried to hold on to his neck and mane, she was unable to and slid over his head and into the water.
Beatrice watched, horrified as the girl fell into the torrent and without even thinking about the danger, began wading into the deeper water as she saw Grace being swept away downstream. Then a deep voice yelled to her.
‘Stay where you are.’
She looked up to see Frank Zelletta riding like a mad man along the bank trying to get ahead of the girl who was thrashing her arms in a vain effort to stay afloat. On the opposite bank Charlie and Rappo had instantly mounted when they witnessed what happened and were also, riding like mad to keep up with the action and try to do what they could to help save Grace.
Beatrice walked along the sandbar as far as she was able without getting in too deep and peered into the distance just in time to see the magnificent sight of Frank Zelletta leap from his horse before it had even come to a complete halt. Then she gasped in admiration as he ran at top speed to the edge of the bank and launched himself in a full stretch dive into the river.
TWENTY-THREE
Zelletta drew ahead of the weakening child who still tried with feeble movements of her arms, to stay afloat, just as she disappeared below the surface. He ran as fast as his legs would carry him and launched himself from the bank and into the river. His aim was true and the power in his dive propelled him beneath the surface and straight to where the child was sinking into the deep. He reached out and immediately touched the material of her dress, which he instantly grabbed a hold of with his big fist and pulled the girl into his powerful arms. Then kicked to the surface holding her close to him with a thick arm around her thin torso.
When they broke the surface, his main concern was to keep the child’s head above the water. No matter what else happened, he would not allow her to die even if it meant him perishing in his attempt to keep her alive. Luckily, she hadn’t swallowed enough water to cause her to pass out and though extremely weak and coughing violently, she clung to him with her arms folded tightly around his neck, like a vine clings to a tree.
The swift flowing river carried them rapidly downstream with Zelletta using one arm and kicking furiously to carry them to the bank while holding on to the girl with his other arm. But he found it extremely difficult to make any progress in that direction, so concentrated on simply keeping Grace’s head above the water.
Chancing a quick glance to the bank, he was able to make out Charlie and Rappo racing parallel with them. He saw they were making up ground and were slowly pulling ahead but wasn’t sure how they could help. However, it heightened his spirits to know they were there and making an attempt to at least, do something. It was clear they were trying to get ahead so they would be able to toss a rope in his direction, but they would only get one chance and if they missed or he failed to grab it, they would need to ride along the bank and try to get ahead of him again and there were only so many times they could do that. But riding hard, they gradually managed to gain on him and began to pull ahead and put some distance between them. The problem was, Frank wasn’t just battling one element. There were battles to be won on all sides. His boots and clothing were heavy with water and threatened to pull him under and it became a constant battle to keep the girl’s head above the surface as he fought to stay afloat. On top of that, he felt himself weakening from the extreme effort of holding her high with one arm while he tried to swim with the other and several times his head went under. Another problem was the width of the river and the almost impossible task of swimming against the current to reach one of the banks. But to the child’s credit. Although she was clearly terrified as she clung tightly to him, she seemed to realise, remaining as still as possible in his arms and trying not to panic, would be a help in his efforts to save them both. Therefore, though she whimpered whenever her face connected with the water or Zelletta’s head went under, she tried not hinder his efforts to bring about their salvation.
