Chapter Nine
Chapter Nine
The early nineteen-fifties…
J antzen Milton Madaris studied his son Milton when he came from the back of the house, dressed up for a night in town. He would celebrate his twenty-first birthday with his best friend, Waylon Satterfield. Since Milton and Waylon’s birthdays were just days apart, tonight’s celebration was for them both.
It was hard to believe his first-born was now legally a man and old enough to take his first drink in a bar. There was no doubt in his mind that both Milton and Waylon had good heads on their shoulders regarding the consumption of alcohol, but there was another topic he needed to discuss with his son, and now was the time.
“I’m about to leave, Pa.”
Jantz nodded. “We need to talk first,” he said, pushing a chair back from the table.
Milton sat down in the chair. “What’s wrong? Is Mom okay?” He glanced around the kitchen. “Where is she?”
“Nothing’s wrong, and your mama is alright. She and Victoria are out back taking clothes off the line.”
Milton leaned back in his chair and took note of his father. He’d always thought his father, who stood almost six-three with a muscular frame, was bigger than life. He still did. “So, what do you want to talk about, Pa?”
Jantz stared at his son. “You know I married your mother when I was your age, right?”
Milton gave his father a wide grin. “Yes. But that was back in your day. I doubt I’ll be ready to settle down with a wife before I turn thirty.”
Jantz frowned. “Well, you need to be ready sooner than that. The way things are going, Victoria will be getting married before you,” he said of his only daughter, who was five years younger than her brother. “Earlier today, Waylon asked for her hand in marriage.”
Victoria was barely sixteen and had a lifelong dream to attend nursing school in the East when she graduated next year.
“Waylon has agreed to wait three years. That will give your sister time to finish high school and nursing school before getting married. His father, Kurt, has also given his blessings and has even given Waylon a nice piece of land from his spread near that huge lake. I understand this summer Waylon plans to build a cabin for him and Victoria to live in after they marry.”
Milton nodded. Since he was Waylon’s best friend, he’d known about Waylon’s plan to ask for Victoria’s hand in marriage. He also knew Waylon was eager to start building the cabin, although they wouldn’t occupy it for three years. Waylon had loved Victoria for years, and Milton knew his sister had also loved his best friend for a long time.
“I’m happy for them, Pa.”
His father nodded, eyed him speculatively, and said, “At twenty-one, Waylon has marriage plans. You don’t.”
Milton was fully aware that his parents were getting older and would expect him to take things over one day at the Whispering Pines cattle ranch…with a wife and family.
“I haven’t met a woman I want to be tied down with for the rest of my life, Pa.”
“What about Charlotte Satterfield?”
“Whoa,” Milton said, sitting up straight in his chair, knowing he probably looked as horrified as he felt. Waylon’s sister, Charlotte Satterfield, was a year older than Victoria. Although she was indeed a pretty girl, as far as he was concerned, she was annoying as hell. Her mother, Penny Satterfield, spoiled her rotten and called her Queen Charlotte, sometimes even Queenie. She acted like she thought she was a queen and entitled to anything she wanted.
Charlotte and Victoria were as different as day and night. That was probably why, although their brothers were best friends and had been since birth, the two girls had never been close. Charlotte was snooty, and Victoria didn’t do snooty at all. She was down-to-earth and got along with just about everybody. Charlotte did not. Another thing he’d observed over the years was just how unkind she was to people she felt were beneath her. He would never forget the day he was coming out of the feed store and saw Charlotte deliberately knock over Old Lady Mills’s homemade pie stand, causing all the pies to fall to the ground. He’d said something to Charlotte about it, and she’d sworn it had been an accident. He’d seen what she’d done and knew it hadn’t been. What was even more appalling was when she tried talking him out of reimbursing Mrs. Mills for the pies, saying the woman should not have been selling in front of the feed store anyway. He realized that day just what an unkind person Charlotte was.
“Absolutely not, Pa. I don’t like Charlotte Satterfield’s attitude about many things.”
“A man knows how to be firm with a woman and change her after marriage, Milton,” Jantz said.
“That might be true, but I have no plans to marry Charlotte. Ever. I admit she’s pretty, but she is also annoying as hell. She gets on her brother’s nerves, and I refuse to be shackled with her and let her get on mine. Besides, she’s not a nice person. Definitely no one I’d want as a wife.”
When his father sat there staring at him, Milton rubbed his hand down his face and said, “Look, Pa, I can understand you and Kurt Satterfield wanting to combine the two most prosperous ranches in Houston. You and Mr. Kurt should be happy that Waylon and Victoria are more than happy to oblige. And the good thing is that they are truly in love. That’s what I want for myself. The kind of marriage you and Mom have is one based on love. That means I intend to pick my bride.”
Jantz’s frown deepened. “And when will that be?”
Milton shrugged. “I have no idea. But I’m convinced I will know her when I meet her.” He stood. “Anything else?”
“Yes. Don’t forget you’ll drop your sister off at that summer camp in Tennessee in two weeks. She’s all excited.”
“I know. That’s all she’s been talking about lately.” Milton studied his father’s gaze. He and Victoria were blessed to have the parents they did. Jantzen Milton Madaris, III, was a fair man. He was a good and honest man, and as far as Milton was concerned, he was the best father in the world. Then there was his mother, Etta Madaris, one of the most warm, loving, and generous women he knew. There had never been any doubt in his mind as to why his pa had married her. Pa would always say that she was the love of his life, and he’d known she was the one he wanted as his wife the moment they’d met.
“Is there anything else you want to discuss with me, Pa?”
“No,” Jantz said, standing and placing a hand on his son’s shoulder. “I am proud of the man you’ve become, Milton. Now you and Waylon go out tonight and enjoy your birthdays.”
Milton grinned. “Thanks, Pa.”
***
Victoria Madaris glanced over at the brother she adored. “Will you get me to summer camp on time, Milt?” It seemed they’d been on the roads from Texas headed to Tennessee for months instead of days.
Milton gazed at his sister when he brought the truck to a stop at a railroad crossing. “I told you it would take longer by truck than a bus since we check into a motel every night. Don’t worry. I’ll have you there a day earlier than you need to be there. What’s the rush?”
Victoria smiled brightly. “There are a couple of reasons. First, I’m teaching a history class to ten-year-olds this summer. My first time doing so. I’m excited because I’ll get to tell them about my own family history, which I am super proud of.”
Milton nodded. He knew their family history had been passed down through generations. The Madaris family had settled in Houston, Texas, in the early 1800s after acquiring a ten-thousand-acre Mexican land grant. At the time, when most newly freed Blacks were still waiting for their forty acres and a mule from the United States government, Milton’s great-great-great-grandfather, Carlos Antonio Madaris, half Mexican and half Black, along with his wife, Christina Marie, were shaping their legacy on land they used to raise cattle.
It was a parcel of land they proudly named Whispering Pines. Now Milton and Victoria’s father, Jantzen, was determined to keep it in the family for future generations of Madarises to enjoy. Milton had known from the day he was old enough to understand just what the Madaris legacy meant and had always been proud of it. He thought it was nice that Victoria shared their family history with others.
“And what’s the other reason?” he asked.
“My new best friend. Her name is Felicia Laverne Lee. We met last summer when we were roommates. She’s from Atlanta, Georgia. We’ve been writing to each other, and I can’t wait to see her again.”
Milton could hear the excitement in his sister’s voice, and for the life of him, he couldn’t understand it. He had gone to that same church summer camp years ago and had been bored to tears. For some reason, Victoria loved it and eagerly anticipated attending every summer.
“Tell me about this friend, Felicia Laverne Lee,” he said, more for conversation than any real interest.
“Well, Felicia Laverne and I are the same age, her father is a preacher, and…”
For the next hour or so, his sister went on and on about this girl, saying how smart she was, pretty, kind, had a wonderful singing voice, and that everybody liked her. He would admit, after a while, he stopped listening. Deciding to let Victoria chatter away, he thought of other things. At least she was no longer complaining about how long they’d been on the road.
Already, he was missing Whispering Pines. This was branding week, and he enjoyed working with the ranch hands to get things done. He knew Waylon would be just as busy at his family’s ranch. He would have loved to come along, but Jantz and Etta Madaris would not allow such a thing without another female present as a chaperone. Victoria might be Waylon’s future wife, but when it came to proper behavior, his parents were strict regarding protocol. There had never been a Madaris scandal, and his family was determined there never would be one.
“May I ask you something, Milt?”
Victoria’s question cut into his thoughts. He hadn’t realized she’d stopped talking about her new best friend. “Yes.”
“Do you plan to marry Charlotte someday?”
Milton wondered where in the world that question had come from. “Why do you ask?”
Victoria hesitated, then said, “I overheard her tell a group of girls the last week of school that you were her beau.”
Milton frowned. “I’m nobody’s beau, Victoria, and the answer is no. I have no intention of ever marrying Charlotte Satterfield.”
“Well, Charlotte Satterfield thinks you’re hers. I don’t like her, which is sad since I am marrying into the family. She can be so mean at times and was such a bully around school. I’ve seen her in action with my very eyes.”
Milton frowned. He’d seen her in action before as well. At the time he thought she’d acted worse than a bully but as a mean-spirited, awful person. “Did she bully you?”
“No. I think she figured I would tell you if she did.”
“Have you talked to Waylon about her behavior?”
“Honestly, Milt, when could I do such a thing? Although I’m old enough to take company now that I’m sixteen, Pa hasn’t permitted me yet. That means Waylon and I are never alone. And I cannot discuss anything with him in front of our parents or his. Penny Satterfield thinks the sun rises and shines on Charlotte. I’ve heard Mr. Satterfield chastise her before, but never Mrs. Satterfield. She thinks Charlotte can do no wrong.”
“I think it’s something you and Waylon need to discuss if you think it will cause problems in your marriage.”
Victoria nodded. “I don’t think it will since Waylon and I will have our own place. I couldn’t imagine living under the same roof as Charlotte.”
Although Milton didn’t say anything, he thought the same thing. He couldn’t imagine living under the same roof as Charlotte either.
Milton glanced at Victoria. “Are you looking forward to nursing school?”
“Yes. Then, as my fiancé, it will be appropriate for Waylon to visit me in Savannah. I am hoping those two years go by fast. When I return home with my degree there shouldn’t be a problem with me being hired at the hospital in Houston after we get married.”
She got quiet for a minute and then asked, “How much longer now?”
Milton grinned. The one thing his sister lacked was patience when she was anxious about something. “We’ll spend another night at a motel and should reach your summer camp before noon tomorrow.”
***
They reached the camp around ten in the morning the next day. Milton had planned to unpack Victoria and then haul-tail it back to Houston. He’d missed a week on the ranch getting her here and would be missing another getting back.
“Felicia Laverne!”
“Victoria!”
He was busy getting his sister’s luggage out the back of the truck and had heard the two females’ excited hellos. He didn’t bother to glance up. All he wanted to do was help get his sister settled into her cabin and then return to the road.
“Milton, I want you to meet my best friend, Felicia Laverne Lee.”
He intended to give the girl a cursory nod, but he suddenly went still when he turned to look at her. Then he drew in a ragged, deep breath. At the same time, he felt like he’d been punched in the gut. Standing before him was the most beautiful female he had ever seen. She was a pinup babe whose picture he wouldn’t hesitate to put on his wall.
Milton wasn’t sure what was more appealing: the shape of her finely arched eyebrows, the color of her almond-shaped eyes that reminded him of a copper penny, or those cute freckles that were spread across her nose. Her skin was smooth, creamy, light brown, and seemed to glow. But then he couldn’t discount her lips, which were tilted in such a stunning smile.
He let go of his sister’s luggage, which fell at his feet, while extending his hand to her. “Nice to meet you, Felicia Laverne.” The moment their hands touched, he knew just as sure as he was standing beneath the heat of the Tennessee sun that she was affecting him in a way no other girl had before. He could actually feel his body heating up.
“It’s nice meeting you, too. Milton. Victoria has told me a lot about you.”
He nodded as he continued to hold her hand in his. There was no telling how long he would have continued to do so if Victoria hadn’t cleared her throat while pointedly looking at their joined hands. He let go of her hand and then switched his gaze to his sister. “Where do you want this?” he asked, picking up her luggage.
“Just follow me,” Felicia Laverne said. “I got here yesterday and claimed our room already. I got us one close to the bathroom.”
“That’s great!” was his sister’s reply.
The two girls were walking ahead of him with their arms entwined and heads together. Both were wearing poodle skirts and short-sleeved blouses with bobby socks and black-and-white saddle oxfords on their feet. Their steps appeared in unison as he followed behind, trying hard to recall everything Victoria had said about her new best friend when he’d been trying not to listen. Now he wished that he had. Milton knew she and Victoria were the same age and that Felicia Laverne’s father was a minister. Had Victoria mentioned anything about a boyfriend? College plans? Did she like children?
When they reached the cabin, he entered behind them and gazed around. The room with the two beds wasn’t all that big, but he could see them making it work.
“You can set my luggage over there, Milt,” Victoria said, claiming his attention.
“Sure.”
He crossed the room to the other side, which he figured belonged to Victoria. He made two trips out to the truck before returning and saying, “That’s it.” Both girls had their heads together, looking at a picture, and he knew it was one of Waylon. He’d seen Victoria slip it inside her satchel before leaving home.
“Do you girls need me to do anything else before I leave?” he asked.
Victoria looked over her shoulder just long enough to say, “No. Have a safe trip back to Whispering Pines. Tell Ma and Pa that I promise to write each week.”
He stood there, feeling dismissed, and honestly didn’t like it. After a few minutes, he cleared his throat, and both girls gazed at him. “Is something wrong, Milt?” Victoria asked with curious eyes.
He switched his gaze from Victoria to the girl standing by her side. “No, but I was wondering if the two of you would like to join me for lunch at that restaurant we passed down the street?”
Victoria lifted a brow. “I thought you wanted to get back on the road to make it to Arkansas before dark.”
He checked his watch and then said, “I still have time. So, what about it?”
Victoria smiled at Felicia Laverne. “That would mean we’ll get a good meal before eating the camp’s chow for supper.”
Felicia Laverne grinned, and Milton felt weak in the knees at how her lips had looked when she’d done so. “That sounds good to me.”
He couldn’t help but return her smile. “Alright. Lock up the place, and let’s go,” Milton said.
***
Felicia Laverne Lee couldn’t control the beating of her heart whenever Victoria’s brother looked at her. He was so good-looking that she had to tear her gaze away, or else he would detect she liked him. Worse than that, she was totally into him. He was so handsome. The first thing she’d noticed about him had been his smooth caramel skin and eyes the color of midnight. Then his masculine mouth caught her breath in her throat whenever he smiled. He was taller than her father and had such a pleasant, deep-sounding voice. She was convinced nobody pronounced her name the way he did.
“Felicia Laverne?”
She blinked. He was saying it now. “Yes?”
“Tell me about yourself.”
It was only then that she realized they were alone. “Where’s Victoria?” she asked, looking around.
“She went to the girls’ room.”
“Oh,” Felicia Laverne said softly. “Well, I’m sixteen, attend high school in Atlanta, and will graduate in June next year. I’m part of my church choir and play the piano and clarinet.” She paused and then added, “I am the middle child of three sisters. I love to cook. I think my parents are the greatest, and so are my sisters. Also, I love having Victoria as my best friend.”
Milton leaned back in his chair, wondering if he made her nervous. “One thing you didn’t mention.”
She lifted a brow. Confused. “What?”
“You didn’t say if you have a boyfriend.”
“A boyfriend?”
“Yes, a boyfriend. Do you?”
“No. I just turned sixteen a few months ago, and any guy has to ask my pa’s permission to see me. He’s a pastor, and that scares them off.”
Milton wondered why. He didn’t go to church every Sunday, but he went enough and wasn’t afraid of Reverend Potts. “Can I ask you something else, Felicia Laverne?”
“Yes.”
“I would like to get to know you better. Can I write to you this summer?”
She nibbled on her bottom lip and asked, “Do you have a girlfriend, Milton?”
“No, I don’t have a girlfriend.”
Felicia was glad to hear that. “Then yes, I would love to get letters from you. May I write to you as well?”
He seemed pleased that she had asked. “Yes, I would love to get letters from you.”
***
“My brother likes you.”
Felicia Laverne gazed across the darkened cabin to Victoria’s bed. “That’s good because I like him, too.”
She could hear Victoria pull up in bed. “I knew it! The two of you seemed serious when I came out of the girls’ room. What did he say while I was gone?”
Felicia Laverne pulled up in bed as well. Resting her back against the pillow, her knees propped up, she said, “He asked me about myself. He wanted to know if I had a boyfriend, and I told him no and why. He didn’t seem bothered that other guys found my dad intimidating just because he’s a minister.”
She paused and excitedly said, “Milton asked if he could write to me this summer.”
“He did?” Victoria asked.
“Yes, and I told him he could. I asked if I could write to him, and he said that I could as well.”
“Will you do it, Felicia Laverne?”
“Yes, I’ll do, but only if he writes to me first. I really like him a lot, Victoria. He seems so nice.”
“He is nice. Just like my Waylon. They are best friends. Wouldn’t it be nice if two best friends married two best friends?”
Felicia Laverne chuckled, liking that idea. “I wish that would happen, Victoria, but I’m not sure my father will let me date a guy so much older than I am. He’s twenty-one, right?”
“Yes. That’s only five years.”
“I know, but then there’s also the distance of where we live. I’m not sure Dad will allow me to get serious about someone who lives so far away in Texas.”
“Well, I think Reverend Lee would love Milton if he were to meet him. I’m not saying that because he’s my brother. I’m saying it because he’s a man of honor just like my father. They are Madaris men. To them, that means everything. They work hard and believe their words are their bond. The same thing holds true with Waylon, which is why I love him so much. And thanks for helping me hang his picture on the wall by my bed.”
“You’re welcome, and your Waylon is very handsome.”
“Thanks. I’m counting down to when we can become officially engaged. I can accept his engagement ring after graduating high school next year.”
When Felicia Laverne said nothing for a long while, Victoria asked softly, “What are you thinking, Felicia Laverne?”
That answer was easy. “I’m giddy at the thought that a twenty-one-year-old man could be interested in me. Do you think he will write me?”
“Yes. If Milt says he will do it, then he will. You can count on it.”
Felicia Laverne felt good hearing that. Already, she was envisioning a future with him where she would be his wife, and they would have plenty of babies, both boys and girls. The boys would look after their sisters. She would name their first-born son Milton Jantzen Madaris Jr. after his father.
She and Victoria began talking about other things. Namely, all the fun they would have that summer. Later as she drifted off to sleep, her mind was filled with thoughts of Milton and how he had smiled at her several times that day. She couldn’t wait to receive her first letter from him.