Chapter 30
Chapter Thirty
Felix packed the trunk with things to remind him of Joey.
The clothes Joey wore when he died, and the boots he had on his feet that day.
Joey’s favorite hat. The horseshoes they found in the farrier stall.
The ribbons they won at the Fourth of July rodeo, and the photographs the man took that day.
And the horse blanket the two of them used for intimate moments in the loft.
He placed the ribbons in the last page of the diary and wrapped it in the horse blanket.
He put it on top of the other belongings before closing the trunk. “Joey, I love you,” he whispered.
The following day, he packed his own belongings in the carpet bag he had brought at the beginning of summer and went downstairs. Ma had fixed his favorite breakfast, biscuits and gravy with sausage patties and fried potatoes. Felix sat down with Ma and Pa to enjoy his last meal at Sterling Ranch.
Felix stared at the empty chair across from him. “It pains me to see his empty place, but Jacob will be back soon, and he’ll fill one of these two seats. You two won’t be alone for long.”
“We have each other, Felix.” Grover patted Felix on the shoulder. “We’ll be fine. You worry about yourself.”
“Yes, Pa. I’ll be fine too. I’m excited about going to the university in Austin.”
“We’re excited too, Felix.” Mabel smiled at him. “It’s a big step, but you’re up to the challenge.”
They finished breakfast, and Grover helped Felix carry the trunk down and secure it to the back of the carriage.
“Goodbye, Ma.” Felix hugged Mabel. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Felix. Promise you’ll come back and see us.”
“I promise. I know I was here only a couple of months, but this is more like home to me than any place.”
“I’m glad, Felix. You do good in college, and you write to me.” Mabel smiled.
“Ready, Felix?” Grover climbed into the carriage.
“Ready, Pa.” He gave Mabel one last quick hug before checking that Sparkle’s lead was secured to the carriage, then climbed aboard.
As the carriage approached Blackfield, Grover reached into his vest pocket and handed Felix an envelope.
“This envelope contains three hundred dollars. Felix. That will get you through your first year of college. I’ll keep paying for your college as long as you keep going. You do us proud, now, son.”
Felix looked at the envelope Pa offered, then took it.
This was the key to an education he never thought he would have.
In one way, it was due to his father. After all, he sent him to Sterling Ranch for the summer.
Had he not done that, Felix would have been trapped in a thankless existence doing a job he didn’t like.
“Thanks, Pa. I’ll do good and make you proud. ”
“You already made us proud, Felix. I watched you grow over the summer, and you became a man.”
“Thanks, Pa.” This had been a monumental summer in so many ways, and now he was ready to face the rest of his life.
* * *
When they arrived at the Bonner home in Blackfield, Helen rushed out to greet the carriage.
“Felix. I’m so glad to see you.” She opened the front gate.
“Hi, Helen. I missed you, too.” Felix hopped out of the carriage. “You remember Mr. Sterling?”
“Why yes.” She wore a big smile. “How are you, Mr. Sterling?”
“I’m doing fine, Helen. Thank you for asking.” He climbed out of the carriage and walked back to help Felix with the trunk.
Helen stepped back. “My…such a big trunk.”
“It’s a few keepsakes I collected over the summer.” Felix and Grover carried the trunk to the wide porch.
Grover glanced around the porch. “Where do you want this, Felix?”
“Here will be fine, Pa.” Felix nodded toward a spot by the door.
Hattie Bonner appeared at the door. “Felix, you’re home.”
“Hello, Mother.” Felix smiled. “How have you been?”
“I am doing very well, thank you.”
“Do you remember Mr. Sterling?”
“Of course. How are you, Grover?”
“I’m fine, thank you.”
“I’m so sorry about the situation with Cornelius. I feel terrible about what he did.” Hattie opened the wide screen door and joined them on the porch.
“It’s all in the past now, Hattie.”
“The sheriff says he will be in prison for at least ten years. I’m not sure what happened to him. He went crazy.”
“At least nobody got seriously hurt,” Grover said.
“Yes. For that, we are thankful. Helen and I have been running the store and have stayed quite busy. I even had to hire another clerk.”
“I am pleased to hear you have been successful, Hattie.”
“And Felix, my, how you changed.” She placed her hand on his arm and turned him to get a good look at her son. “You became a strong, caring man over the summer.”
“Aw, Mother.” Felix blushed.
She turned to their guest. “Can I offer you a glass of cold tea, Grover?”
“Thank you, no, Hattie. I need to get back to the ranch. You may have heard our Joseph died two weeks ago, and I don’t like leaving Mabel alone by herself too long.”
“The Bowdens came into the store and shared the news, Grover. I’m so sorry.”
“We’ve all been moping around the house since we buried him. Felix was emotionally drained. He and Joey became very close this summer.”
“I could tell when I watched them at the Fourth of July rodeo.” Hattie gazed at her son. “Felix showed talents and abilities we didn’t know he had.”
“The two talented young men helped each other grow. It was amazing to watch. I’m sorry you missed it.”
“It was the best thing for Felix to separate from his father,” Hattie said. “Those two never had a connection.”
“Felix did have a connection with the Sterlings,” Grover said. “He became our third son.”
“That’s wonderful.” A sad smile crossed Hattie’s face.
“Mother, Pa Sterling is sending me to the university.”
“What?” Hattie’s eyes widened, and her mouth dropped open.
“Yes…all his sons go to college. He was going to send me and Joey together, but now that Joey is gone, he made me promise to go. I’ll leave tomorrow for Austin.”
“Oh, I think that’s wonderful, Felix. I know you wanted to go.”
Grover smiled at Felix. “He’s a smart man, Hattie. He’ll do well.”
“It is very generous of you to send him, Grover.”
He looked back at Hattie. “Felix is very special to Mabel and me. Our Joey became a man this summer, too, and we want to see Felix help others. Education is the best way he can do that.”
“I always thought he was smarter than his father gave him credit for.” Hattie patted Felix on the shoulder.
“Well, I need to get back to the ranch.” Grover grabbed Felix in a big hug. “Felix, remember we love you.”
“I love you too, Pa. And thanks.” Felix clung to Grover, not wanting to let go.
Grover released his hug, then touched Felix’s face, giving him a light kiss on the forehead. “You write to Ma, Felix. We want to hear from you.”
“I will.” Felix’s voice trembled.
“Bye, ladies.” Grover stepped off the porch. “Bye, Felix.”
“Bye, Pa.” Felix wiped a tear from his face. He had trouble letting go, but he knew college was approaching and looked forward to the new adventure.
* * *
After settling Sparkle in a stall, Felix spent the afternoon telling stories about his summer adventures.
Winston was fascinated by the tales of life on the ranch.
Margaret was intrigued by the spring, thinking it would be wonderful to have a swimming hole.
Helen didn’t find much about it that was fascinating, but she was becoming a proper young lady, accustomed to the finer things in life.
To her, the thought of living in a house without a bathroom was simply horrid.
After supper, Felix pulled Helen aside. “Is that locking cabinet in the basement still empty?”
Helen looked at him. “You mean that old safe? Father had a few things in it, but it’s empty now.”
“Could you help me get this trunk down into the basement so I can store it in that cabinet?”
“It looks heavy, Felix.”
Felix shook his head. “It’s not heavy. It contains memories from my summer on the ranch.”
“Well, okay. Let’s wait until Mother retires for the night. Then we can move it downstairs without her knowing anything about it.”
That night, they moved the trunk into the basement and slid it into the locking cabinet in the dark corner.
Felix left on the three-day ride to Austin the following day, marking the beginning of his future outside Blackfield.