Beatrice and the Beast, page 26
The normally, chatty Lona had remained unusually quiet during Grace’s revelation. She may have thought Beatrice would try to talk the girl out of staying and she became visibly relieved to see, far from trying to change Grace’s mind, the white woman actually considered it to be the best thing for her and wished her well.
By late afternoon Beatrice was beginning to feel much better and even ate a little food with no ill effects. Therefore, when Frank Zelletta approached her and Elina to enquire about her health, she reluctantly, admitted she was fit enough to travel and prepared herself for the heart-rending task of saying goodbye to her Cheyenne friend. However, much to her delight, he informed her, because they would make little progress before sunset, they would be staying another night and hopefully, make up a lot of ground come morning.
Elina was jubilant when, with Lona’s help, Beatrice informed her she would be staying another night.
‘Bitruz,’ she enthused as she launched herself at her white friend and embraced her eagerly. ‘Is good yes?’
‘Yes, it’s very good,’ said the young woman laughingly. ‘I was dreading having to leave so soon.’
After many long moments, she finally extricated herself from Elina’s embrace and smiled broadly at her.
‘The problem is,’ she said with an impudent grin, ‘I’m going to have to help some more with your chores just when I thought I was getting away with it.’
Lona and Grace laughed while Elina looked puzzled until the younger Indian girl translated what Beatrice had said. Then Elina giggled happily and slapped Beatrice playfully, on her upper arm.
Beatrice had earlier, surprised herself, by enthusiastically helping Elina with her chores, some of them she found to be hard work and quite tiring but she derived a wonderful sense of achievement with each chore she successfully completed and it instilled in her, a great feeling of satisfaction that she had actually done something useful.
However, later that day and while there was still plenty of daylight, Elina took Beatrice’s hand and led her away to where the Indian ponies were situated. She cut out two of the mustangs and placed halters with a short rawhide rein on them. Then after throwing a blanket over the back of each horse, she easily mounted one by leaping high and athletically, throwing her leg over the horse’s back. Then after steadying her mount, indicated Beatrice should do the same.
‘I can’t do that,’ protested the white girl. ‘I can barely mount a horse with a saddle and I would never be able to ride bareback.’
Elina frowned and indicated again, Beatrice should mount the horse. So, rather than refuse her friend, she decided to show her how difficult it would be for her. The horse was smaller than her sorrel and she didn’t have to reach up as far to grip its mane and rein, as she prepared to attempt mounting him.
She had watched intently, as Elina leaped aboard her horse and was willing, to at least attempt, to replicate her action. So, with the horse standing perfectly still, she bent her legs and pushed off to leap high and realised, as she threw her leg over the animal’s back, she had previously, been restricted by her underwear and heavy riding clothes, as well as her boots. Now, wearing nothing but the light deerskin dress and moccasins, she found an athleticism she never knew she possessed. The horse skittered a little, when she landed on his back but soon calmed down. However, controlling him with a single rein, proved to be very difficult until Elina showed her how and for a while, they walked the animals until Beatrice felt confident, she would be able to stay in control. Then Elina gave her an enquiring look and pointed to the open prairie. Feeling very daring and adventurous, Beatrice nodded and Elina kicked her pony into action and rode away at breakneck speed. Beatrice didn’t need to urge her pony forward. He simply set off at a fast gallop after the other horse and after a few seconds of shock and surprise, Beatrice leaned forward so that her face was close to his neck and gripped his flanks with her thighs as the pony raced after Elina. The speed she was travelling was faster than she had gone at any time during her lifetime and it was incredibly, exhilarating.
Finally, after nearly two miles, Elina came to a halt and Beatrice’s mount skidded to a halt beside the laughing Indian girl. Beatrice was breathing heavily and felt sure her face must be red from the exertion of riding so hard. But she felt elated that she had done it and was so full of ebullience that she was unable to wipe the huge smile from her face. After dismounting and sitting down amongst the prairie grass, they spoke together in their unique way and embraced often as they enjoyed the solitude. Beatrice had never felt so close to anyone as much as she did to Elina. In the short time she had known her, they had become like inseparable sisters and they loved each just as much.
After a very long time, they reluctantly, remounted and trotted the horses back to give them some respite. But when they arrived at the reservation, they were greeted by Charlie and Zelletta who looked fit to burst.
She was aware that the tight dress was high on her thighs as her legs dangled without stirrups down the animal’s flanks and she was also aware of Both Charlie and Zelletta giving her smooth thighs furtive glances. But she didn’t care any longer. Elina looked exactly the same, except her legs were brown where Beatrice’s were white. So, if her friend was willing to ride that way, she was happy to follow suit and all those eastern rules could go to blazes.
‘What the hell do you think you’re doing?’ Yelled Zelletta. ‘Anything could have happened out there. What the hell’s come over you riding a damned mustang all over the country dressed like an Indian and how the hell did you learn to ride like that?’
She felt great disappointment that he had managed to spoil her wonderful achievement of riding a mustang so fast and so naturally as though she’d been born to it and matched his angry glare with one of her own.
‘Anything could happen any time and has when I have been with you. So, what’s the difference. Nothing happened on this occasion so why are you so angry? I’m still in one piece and you’ll still get your payment. I trust Elina and would do anything she wanted me to. If you can’t handle the fact that somebody else is looking out for me that’s your problem and I’ll thank you to stop frightening her with your unnecessary rages.’
He turned his attention to Elina who looked alarmed and uncertain after witnessing him yelling furiously, at Beatrice. He raised his hands in surrender and muttered his apologies to the Indian girl, before turning and storming off. Beatrice turned to Elina and pointed a forefinger at the side of her own head and twirled it around before pointing to Zelletta’s retreating back using a sign that he was loco. Which caused the young Indian woman to giggle shyly.
Charlie, unlike his friend, simply regarded Beatrice with awe.
‘My god,’ he enthused. ‘If I’d never seen it with my own eyes, I never would have believed it. Is there nothing you can’t do girl? The way you rode that mustang, I swear I couldn’t tell which one of you was the Cheyenne. You both looked magnificent out there. Have you any idea how long it takes to master that kind of horsemanship?’
‘No, I don’t Charlie, but I appreciate your comments. It’s nice to know somebody has something nice to say about me.’
Later in the evening, the girls sat around a fire outside Elina’s tepee eating food and chatting happily. Elina’s daughter was sleeping soundly, inside the tepee and her husband was still away hunting, leaving the four of them to enjoy each other’s company to the full.
During a lull in the conversations, Elina spoke to Beatrice in her native language laced with a smattering of English which naturally, Beatrice was unable to fully understand and which was left to Lona to translate.
‘She said your man is a brave warrior and a good man. Your babies will grow up strong and healthy and you will be a good wife to Zelletta and bear him many children.’
Beatrice looked horrified and began to try and explain her relationship with Frank Zelletta.
‘Oh no,’ she gasped. ‘Mister Zelletta isn’t my man, he is simply my guide.’
Grace, who was sitting beside her, quickly pinched her on the thigh, causing Beatrice to yelp loudly and scowl at the girl.
‘What did you do that for?’
‘Because you don’t have to spoil it for her. She can see as well as any of us, you and Mister Zelletta are a match and should be together. At least let her think you are his woman.’
Beatrice hesitated for a few moments contemplating what Grace had said, then turned and smiled at Elina who had a confused look on her face.
‘Tell her,’ she said to Lona. ‘I was about to deny Frank and I were together because we had words earlier and that’s why Grace tried to stop me. I was angry with him. But we will make up and, in the future, I will bear him many strong and healthy children just like he is.’
Elina brightened up after Lona translated for her and took Beatrice’s hand reassuringly before giving it a warm squeeze. But Beatrice felt guilty of betrayal because she lied to her friend. Poor Elina was completely oblivious of the arrangement she had with Frank Zelletta and she hated keeping it from her. On the other hand, she found it just as difficult to shatter her illusions by informing her she was soon to be married to another man and would never be joined together with Mister Zelletta in the way Elina pictured them.
…
All too soon the night came to an end and it was time for them to retire. Beatrice’s mind was filled with trepidation at thought of spending another evening with Frank Zelletta. The previous evening had been easy because she had been too drunk to know what she was doing or that he was even there. But tonight, she would be sober and fully aware he was in close proximity to her.
Her argument, she realised, was ludicrous in that she had already spent the night alone with Zelletta and everything had been fine. In fact, he’d been a perfect gentleman and she saw no reason for that to change. Then another thought hit her. Maybe it wasn’t a question of being unable to trust him. Perhaps the question should be, would she be able to trust herself?
Don’t be so ridiculous, she rebuked. It is absolutely ludicrous that I would contemplate any kind of relationship with that man, apart from a reliance on him to guide me to my destination.
Despite her self-denial, she decided to take evasive action just to be on the safe side and asked Elina, through Lona, if she could spend the night with her, her reason being, because Frank and her had had words and she didn’t want to be close to him at that particular time.
Elina tried to get her to change her mind and tried to convince Beatrice, it would be unfair on her man to make him sleep alone, especially after an argument and surely, he would come looking for her.
‘I’ll explain to him that I will in all likelihood, never see you again after tonight,’ she explained. ‘So, I want to spend as much time with you and your baby, as possible before I leave. I assure you, Mister Zelletta – um; Frank, will understand perfectly.’
Once Lona had translated for her, Elina’s countenance lit up and she smiled brightly at her white friend before nodding her head furiously and repeating twice over…
‘Yes, Bitruz.’
…
Later, Zelletta, who had spent the rest of the day with Charlie hunting for game to help feed the Indians, came looking for her.
‘I’m staying with Elina this evening,’ she explained. ‘Her husband is away and she will be alone, apart from the baby. So, because I will never see her again, I will sleep in her tepee tonight.’
Zelletta looked at Elina enquiringly and much to Beatrice’s surprise, spoke to her in Cheyenne. After he received a suitable answer, he turned to Beatrice.
‘Be ready to leave by sunup.’
She scowled at him, infuriated by his curt demand and because she felt the need to show her displeasure, curtsied in a mocking way before answering sarcastically.
‘Yes, your majesty, whatever you say your majesty.’
Much to her chagrin, he ignored her superciliousness and turned on his heel before giving her a parting shot as he began to walk away.
‘Make sure you’re ready to go. Don’t make me have to drag you out of bed.’
She squealed and showed her displeasure by petulantly, stamping her foot.
Elina, who hadn’t understood most of what was said, still got the gist of their exchange and giggled softly at seeing Beatrice’s frustration with (her man). Beatrice, looked sharply at Elina and then softened when she saw her friend trying to stifle her mirth with a hand over her mouth, and her face lit up in a broad grin.
‘That man is so exasperating,’ she said in mock annoyance. ‘If only I could make him show some emotion, any emotion, even anger. Then, I would at least, know he was human.’
‘Bitruz stay me?’ Asked Elina.
Beatrice smiled warmly, proud of the smattering of English she had taught her friend.
‘Yes,’ she replied. ‘Beatrice stay with you Elina.’
Elina understood that and beamed happily, at the white woman.
…
The four girls chatted happily well into the night and the time passed quickly. Too quickly for Beatrice who felt terribly disappointed when Lona announced it was time for her and Grace to retire. She hugged both girls one by one and wished Grace all the luck and love in the world.
‘I will pray for you Grace,’ she’d said. ‘And you will always be in my thoughts.’
Grace’s answer was mildly surprising and endeared her to the girl even more.
‘I know I haven’t known you long Beatrice and I don’t really know anything about love. But I’m sure I love you. You are different to any woman I have ever known and you’ve shown me more kindness in the short time we’ve been together than I’ve known in my whole life.’
‘Thankyou Grace, I am very fond of you too and I will miss you immensely.’
Before they let each other go, Grace whispered in Beatrice’s ear.
‘You and Mister Zelletta should be together. He wants you and you want him but both of you are too stubborn to admit it.’
Beatrice was too shocked to speak as Grace kissed her cheek and quickly departed, hand in hand with Lona.
Beatrice shared Elina’s bed simply because there wasn’t another bed in the tepee and she was happy to do so. It meant she would be close to Elina on the last night they would be together. The brief friendship they’d shared had been one of the most wonderful experiences of her life. The young woman was honest and down to earth, a trait that Beatrice realised, had been absent in her friends in Chicago. Even her best friend, who she had stayed with for a few weeks, was very shallow and couldn’t wait to get her shipped off to Wichita.
They lay together and chatted as Beatrice tried to teach Elina more words of English and her friend did the same with Cheyenne and though Beatrice found the native language hard to master, causing many giggles because of her poor pronunciation, there wasn’t so much difficulty with Elina and by the time they slept she was able to string quite a few sentences together and vowed to ask Lona to continue her tutoring.
Finally, they slept and after what seemed to be just a few minutes, Beatrice was rudely awakened by someone yelling. She opened her eyes to daylight and the sound of Frank Zelletta calling her name.
‘Miss Mellowday,’ he yelled. ‘Get the hell out here or I’m gonna come in and get you. Goddamn it you’ve done it again and kept me waiting for you to wake up. You ain’t one bit trustworthy and in future I’m gonna make sure you do as you’re damn well told.’
Elina turned her head and looked at Beatrice with concern on her face. She was rewarded with a smile.
‘I think Mister Zelletta…Frank, is angry.’ She whispered. ‘Good, I’m glad he’s showing some emotion, it might do him good.’
She was suddenly startled into yelping and visibly flinched when Zelletta who she hadn’t seen enter the tepee, yelled again.
‘Are you coming or do I leave you here?’
She quickly recovered her composure.
‘Stop shouting Mister Zelletta there’s a child sleeping in here. You are a very belligerent man and most uncouth with your bad language. Now please leave us so that I may prepare for the journey.’
He hesitated, unsure of how to proceed. He’d hoped to browbeat her into complying with his orders and meekly, hurry to join him and Charlie as they prepared to ride out. But her calm retaliation threw him and he found himself faltering and indecisive. Finally, he cursed and left the tepee before making one more show of bravado by attempting to administer his authority.
‘I ain’t waiting all day.’
Elina sat up and stared at Beatrice with a look of mock horror written on her face causing the white woman to burst out laughing and soon they were both laughing together much to the chagrin of Zelletta who’d paused outside the tepee for a moment while he considered his next course of action.
Damn that woman, he thought. I’d rather face up to a dozen of the worst killers in the west than have an argument with her and her goddamned fancy logic.
THIRTY-ONE
They left the reservation much later than Zelletta had planned much to his dissatisfaction and he naturally, blamed Beatrice for the setback. Her sense of urgency was completely none existent and once again he had found himself, along with Charlie, waiting impatiently while first, she took breakfast with her new friends and then she made the rounds of the encampment saying her farewells to people she had met and become friendly with. Finally, saying goodbye to her close friends, especially Elina who seemed to hold on to Beatrice much longer than he deemed necessary. He found It particularly embarrassing when the two young women finally parted and Beatrice approached him sobbing like a baby. He simply didn’t know how to handle the crying woman and the only reaction he was capable of was to ask gruffly, if she was okay. She clearly wasn’t and he realised as soon as he asked, how foolish he sounded and he silently, berated himself for even contemplating such a ludicrous question.
Their small party had shrunk to just three. Rappo had elected to stay at the reservation a while longer to be sure his leg healed properly and they were all happy about Grace’s plan to live on the reservation, each of them believing it was the safest place for a young female orphan such as her.
