Beatrice and the Beast, page 25
‘You’re loving this aren’t you Mister Zelletta.’
It was a statement rather than a question.
‘Loving what Miss Mellowday?’
‘Making me squirm. Do you want me to beg for the bed? Is that what you want? Well I have no intention of begging you for anything sir, and for your information, I would rather sleep on the ground and share with the bugs than share the bed with you.’
‘You should learn to lighten up a little Miss Mellowday. I have every intention of sleeping on the ground so you can have the bed to yourself.’
She glowered at him for a moment as she tried to gather her thoughts.
‘There is a very immature side to your nature Mister Zelletta and to be brutally honest, it does not become you. Your childish teasing is neither amusing nor endearing and you would do well to cease such frivolous behaviour forth with.’
‘No need to get cranky just ‘cos you rise to the bait so damned easy.’
‘I am not cranky and I’m certainly not a fish. So, stop baiting your hook and maintain a little decorum.’
He found himself laughing loudly at her unintentionally, amusing retort and he began to be aware of the pleasure he derived from simply being in her company. From the first moment she spoke, the day he met her in Wichita, he’d delighted in the sound of her sweet voice and as time passed, found her to be incredibly endearing and charismatic. He hated to admit it, even to himself but she made him happy and without intending to, caused him to laugh readily, something he hadn’t done in years.
‘I really don’t see what you find so amusing Mister Zelletta. You are like a naughty schoolboy the way you make jokes at my expense.’
His countenance turned serious even though he was laughing inside.
‘Alright, I’m sorry I teased you. Do you want the bed or not?’
‘I accept your apology and to show I bear no malice toward you for your unacceptable behaviour, I will also take up your offer of the bed. Now we will say no more on the matter.’
He became aware that her words had a distinct smug ring to them and he began to wonder who was teasing who. It was almost as though she’d cleverly, turned his joke around onto him. He allowed himself a confused frown but held his peace. For even when she bettered him, he found her captivating and charming enough to bewitch. However, he intended to have the last word.
‘I gotta say, Miss Mellowday. You look a picture in that Indian dress and your hair in braids.’
She frowned with indecision.
‘Are you paying me a compliment Mister Zelletta?’
‘Sure, I am Lady. Particularly the way it had rode up around your ass when I first walked in. I almost didn’t want to wake you.’
He turned and exited the tepee, leaving the exasperated girl, too shocked and embarrassed to speak as she stared after him.
…
Later that evening, Beatrice, Elina, Lona and Grace, sat together on the fringes of the circle of warriors along with the other women of the reservation as the men ate, drank and danced around several huge fires over which, roasted huge cuts of beef on spits. Wooden bowls of some kind of home brewed alcoholic drink, were passed around most of the warriors, while Avonaco and a select group, including, Zelletta, Charlie, Rappo who looked much better since his leg had been fixed properly, Mathews the Agent and three of the leading warriors, drank from bottles of cheap whiskey supplied by the agent. It wasn’t the best whiskey, opined Charlie, but better than the foul concoction the other Indians were drinking.
Beatrice, after her initial trepidation about attending the feast, warmed to the events and became deliriously happy to be sitting and laughing with her new-found friends, especially Elina with whom she had become extremely fond and she found herself sitting close to the young Cheyenne woman chatting away as though she fully understood what she was saying. Elina did the same in her language and somehow, they found ways to make one another understand with very little input from Lona who translated only occasionally. She even managed to teach Elina some English words and in return, picked up a few Cheyenne phrases.
The four girls shared a bitter sweet tasting drink which they passed around in, and sipped from, a wooden bowl. Later, Beatrice surprised herself when one of the Cheyenne women passing round food, slapped a huge piece of beef into her hand and she happily tore into it with her strong teeth as she held it with grease covered hands. It was totally out of character for her but she felt so comfortable doing it in the company of her new friends, it simply came naturally as though she had always eaten that way. She briefly, wondered what would go through the minds of her friends in Chicago if they saw her now sitting amongst, what they would consider to be savages, as she laughed and drank along with them, and feeling perfectly at ease and happier than she had ever felt in almost, her entire life. She was even dressed the same way with her legs on show right up to her knees and wearing no underwear. Her so called friends back east, would be horrified, but Beatrice, no longer cared, for it was only now, she realised what true friends really were.
Whatever it was they were drinking became more agreeable to Beatrice’s palate as she acquired a taste for the strange liquid. Unfortunately, it had a quite strong alcoholic content and gradually, went to her head and to her friend’s amusement, she began slurring her words and giggling incessantly. The cheap whiskey the Indians were drinking, was also taking its toll and the chanting and dancing gradually diminished as one by one, the Indians slumped to the ground.
As the festivities came to an end, Elina helped Beatrice to stand and with Lona translating, explained that she needed to check her daughter who was being cared for by an elderly female relative and would help her white friend to find her way to her tepee. When she climbed to her feet, she nearly collapsed as her wobbly legs gave way. Fortunately, Elina who had hardly drank anything, steadied her and allowed the young woman to lean heavily, on her as they staggered away to find her sleeping quarters.
By the time Elina had manipulated Beatrice into the tepee and guided her, in the darkness, to the sleeping palette, the alcohol had almost, rendered her stupefied and it was left to her friend to undress and help her lie down on the buffalo furs, before covering the naked young woman. Then she crept out of the tepee, leaving Beatrice sleeping soundly beneath the buffalo fur.
…
Light streamed into the tepee through the smoke hole and gaps in door flap illuminating the interior and the two people sleeping therein.
Beatrice opened her eyes and tried to focus on the far wall of the tepee that was revolving before her sight and quickly closed them again. It didn’t help much, because it seemed then, that her whole head began revolving and she suddenly felt nauseous and her stomach lurched violently. She quickly leaned over the side of the cot and vomited onto the dirt floor over and over until it seemed there was nothing left to bring up. But that didn’t stop her from retching continuously until her stomach ached and her throat became sore.
Zelletta awoke to the sound of Beatrice retching loudly and turned over to regard her through half closed eyes. From his position on the ground a few feet away, he watched as the young woman leaned over the side of the sleeping palette and retched violently. He climbed to his feet and yawned whilst stretching his back and limbs. Then regarded her through sleep hazed eyes.
‘You don’t sound so good,’ he opined mildly.
She raised her head and stared at him blankly, for a moment before repeating the exersise and began heaving once more. She found lying this way on her stomach with her head hanging over the side of the cot was the most suitable position to be, even though she still couldn’t stop the inside of her head from spinning. So, she simply lay there moaning and groaning and waited to start retching again. She hadn’t as yet, realised she was naked and most of her slender back and part of her buttocks were on show to anybody who happened to be looking. Zelletta was the only other person there, therefore, he was the one who happened to be looking, even though, to be fair to him, he did try very hard, but with no success, to tear his eyes away.
‘Would you like me to cover you?’ He asked mildly.
She daren’t lift her head and simply replied with a single word.
‘What?’
‘You have no clothes on Miss Mellowday and most of you is on show.’
‘What!?’
She reached around her back and slid her hand down to her buttocks, then shrieked loudly whilst trying to pull the fur up over her back. She did, at least, cover her backside which eased a little of her embarrassment. Then dared to lift her head to glare maliciously, at him.
‘How did I? She began. ‘Did you?’
He grinned.
‘Nope, wasn’t me. It must have been that squaw you’re so friendly with.’
She tried to remember the previous evening but couldn’t even remember leaving the party never mind what happened since. However, it could only be Elina who’d undressed and put her to bed for she knew without a doubt, the young Indian girl would never leave her to fend for herself in the state she had gotten into.
‘I think you shouldn’t have been watching me knowing I am in a state of undress Mister Zelletta. A gentleman would have averted his eyes the moment he realised I was exposed.’
‘You know as well as I do Miss Mellowday, I’m no gentleman. But I am a man and, in my defence, I tried very hard to look away. But though the heart was willing, my eyes just wouldn’t do as they were told and try as I might, I couldn’t make ‘em stop looking at your cute ass.’
She shrieked loudly in exasperation, which did nothing to ease the throbbing inside her head and she almost began retching again.
‘Please leave Mister Zelletta you are extremely uncouth and were I feeling better, I would berate you unmercifully for your insolent and lewd remarks.’
He tried hard, but failed, not to laugh which only served to exasperate her further.
‘Are you well enough to ride?’ He asked once his mirth had subsided.
She buried her face into the furs and groaned.
‘No,’ she sobbed. ‘I feel awful. I do believe I am dying and there’s very little hope I will make it through the day. Whatever I drank last night was surely poisoned and has left me with only a short time to live.’
‘Miss Zelletta,’ he replied. ‘You were likely as not, very drunk last night and now you’re suffering with what is called a hangover. You’ll get over it sooner or later. Though looking at you, it will likely be later rather than sooner.’
She groaned again as he turned to leave.
‘I’ll see if the medicine man can rustle up something to make you feel better,’ he said just before he departed. ‘Maybe you’d better stay where you are for a bit. But I’d like to make tracks sometime today, we’re way behind schedule as it is.’
Beatrice allowed her head to rest on the furs again while she luxuriated in her abject misery. But she found comfort eventually, in the knowledge that if she stayed perfectly still, the dizziness and nausea abated somewhat. That didn’t last for long, because she heard someone enter the tent and thinking Frank Zelletta had come back, she remained perfectly still while she spoke.
‘What do you want now Mister Zelletta? Haven’t you embarrassed me enough already?’
‘Bitruz?’
She immediately raised her head and just as immediately, regretted it as the nausea and dizziness claimed her again. However, she was so elated to hear Elina’s sweet voice, she continued to gaze at her friend until gradually, the sickly feeling subsided slightly.
‘I feel terrible Elina,’ she whined. ‘I think I might die here.’
Elina quickly placed a hand to her mouth to stifle a giggle as she took in Beatrice’s ashen face, puffy eyes and pouting lips. Once she had controlled her laughter, she held up a hand palm toward Beatrice indicating she should remain where she was and quickly exited the tepee. Beatrice lay her head down and closed her eyes hoping she would be able to sleep off the terrible feelings she was experiencing. However, on top of feeling ill, she desperately needed to pee but felt sure if she tried to stand, she would surely faint. Therefore, she took the only option available which was to lay still and try to control her bladder in the hope that Elina would soon return with some kind of miracle cure.
She did return fairly soon with a wooden cup containing some liquid and she sat down beside Beatrice before urging her to sit up. The young woman reluctantly struggled with Elina’s help, to raise her shoulders and the Indian girl cradled her head in the crook of her arm before holding the cup to her lips. It had a foul smell and when Beatrice took a sip, she was repulsed by the appalling taste and tried to refuse the drink. But Elina wouldn’t allow it and scolded her in her native tongue as though she were chastising a naughty child, which was so unexpected, it shocked Beatrice into compliance and she drank the nasty tasting liquid for fear of alienating Elina further. Once she had drained the cup Elina allowed her to lie down again and Beatrice did so in the certain knowledge, she would soon be vomiting the awful liquid up again. Strangely though and much to her delight, her stomach seemed to settle and though she still felt ill with the dizziness and headache, it was a vast improvement to be rid of the nauseous feeling.
Elina stayed with her, stroking her hair and murmuring soft gentle, Cheyenne words until Beatrice began to relax and were it not for her bladder problem, would have drifted off to sleep.
Eventually, she became so desperate, she indicated to Elina that she had to go and the young Indian helped her dress once more in the deerskin dress and moccasins. Beatrice had feared standing upright and actually stumbled a little as the dizziness returned. But her stomach was settled thanks to Elina and her magic elixir or whatever it was.
Later the two of them returned to the tepee with Beatrice feeling a little better but not much. She realised she still had to face the prospect of cleaning up her mess but was determined to face it even though such a task was alien to her. It was fortunate her hair had been braided otherwise it would have been covered in vomit had it been loose. She reluctantly turned her eyes to where she had been sick and was shocked to see there was nothing there apart from the marks of a broom where the dirt floor had been swept. She turned to her friend with a surprised frown on her face and was greeted with a broad smile as Elina shook her head briefly and with raised eyebrows, waggled a forefinger at her.
It became clear to Beatrice that Elina had arranged for somebody to clear up while they were away and she showed her gratitude to her friend by embracing her fondly while Elina laughed against her shoulder.
…
It was late afternoon before Beatrice felt she was well enough to travel. Zelletta had enquired about her health on several occasions during the day and had received a negative answer each time. But in his defence, he showed the upmost consideration and didn’t press her to re-commence the journey at any time.
Beatrice and Elina had become inseparable during their stay. The young Cheyenne girl constantly worried about Beatrice’s health and was increasingly concerned that her friend was unable to eat. Beatrice realised she should try to eat something if only a little to charge her empty stomach. But even the thought of food made her feel sick and she reluctantly, declined each offer to eat something.
Beatrice stayed close to Elina whilst she attended to her chores and also helped out whenever she could. While they were together, Elina was a keen and very able pupil and picked up quite a few English words and phrases which helped considerably in the communication between the two young women. For her part, Beatrice tried but only succeeded in learning just a smattering of Cheyenne words, finding the language difficult to master. In between chores such as washing clothing, curing skins and cooking, Elina made regular visits, with Beatrice, to see her little girl who she was totally, devoted to and who Beatrice found to be adorable. Therefore, both girls derived extreme pleasure from playing with the child during their visits.
Beatrice had met Elina’s man just once when he came and embraced his wife before heading out on a hunting trip and she thought he looked quite magnificent if a little underdressed in her opinion, wearing little more than leggings and a breach-clout. However, he was an exact replica of how she had always pictured native Indians to be during her childhood.
She saw little of Zelletta during the day apart from the odd occasion when he enquired about her health. Lona and Grace who had become as inseparable as her and Elina, joined them for something to eat around noon and they chattered to each other like very old friends, even Beatrice, despite not feeling well, managed to get in quite a few sentences.
It was while they were chatting over a meal which Beatrice had declined to touch, that Grace announced she was staying with the Cheyenne when Beatrice and the others left.
‘I’ve never been so happy in my whole life,’ she said. ‘Lona took me to meet her teacher and she told me she would teach me how to read and write if I wanted to stay. I feel at home here with Lona and her ma and I feel as though I belong. Nobody ever treated me so well or was so kind to me, except you but when you get to Texas, I’ll never see you again anyhow. Lona’s ma called me her number two daughter and said I could stay with them if I’ve a mind.’
Beatrice had briefly, met the reservation school ma’am. She was an elderly, English woman who had been teaching around the reservations for many years and was dearly loved by all the children she tutored. She had also met Lona’s mother whose husband had been killed by white men years before. She seemed quite young to have a daughter as old as Lona and was very attractive and incredibly friendly. Therefore, she felt sure Grace would be perfectly safe there, probably safer than if she tried to survive in one of the wild towns of the west where she would be taken advantage of by all kinds of unscrupulous characters.
‘I’ll miss you Grace,’ she said. ‘But I will sleep more soundly knowing you are in a safe place and have found real happiness at last.’
They embraced then for many moments and when they parted, both girls turned away to surreptitiously, wipe their eyes before laughing softly with embarrassment.
