The Jewels of Nebraska, Episode 7 -Not a Daughter

Click to start this series from the beginning.

“Oh, there he is!” said Polly.

A figure limped along the road towards the waylaid troupe of players. Janet and Bernard sat on the running board of the long car, sharing a cigarette and singing a song, Kenneth was throwing rocks down the embankment trying to hit a particular tree. Jean Francois stood beside the car, trimming his immaculate eye brows and mustache in the rear view mirror. Jules sat reclined in the third row seat with the door open, one ham-like leg hung out of the car. He occasionally nipped from a flask when no one was looking, though everyone knew. Polly had been picking wild flowers when she saw Herman.

“What's wrong with your leg? I thought you went for help?” Janet said when Herman reached the car and leaned on it for support.

“The leg is the price for what I hope will be good advice. It is thought our trouble is a matter of air mixture and perhaps dust.

“I told you we weren't out of gas,” Kenneth said. He shook the car and put his ear to the open gas inlet.

“Good heaven's boy!” Jules supported himself from slouching further with one arm, while replacing the flask in his vest pocket.

“Kenneth, do you know of this air mixing doodad. It seems we have to give it more air and less fuel.”

“I'm an scenic artist, not a mechanic.”

“You're a stage hand,” said Janet.

“A lazy one,” said Jean Francois.

“You read Jules Vern, that makes you more a mechanic than the rest of us,” said Herman.

“I just know you can fix it Kenneth,” said Polly. She clasped her hands behind her and twisted back and forth causing her skirt to swirl.

“Fine,” Kenneth said throwing one more rock at the tree and missing, “I'll take a look.”

William was so thirsty he had stopped thinking about being hungry. He could hear the stream from the road. It was a long steep gulley. He guided himself along the trees until he reached a bare patch of gravel. He dug his heels in which sent a small avalanche of stones plummeting down towards the bottom of the gulley. One rolled under his foot and soon he was rolling down the side himself, gaining speed and loosing control.

The sun pierced William's vision when he opened his eyes. What had happened? His head hurt and was swimming in dizziness. His hand was lying in the stream. He remembered rolling down the steep slope then... He felt his sore head. It was wet. He looked at his hand.

Blood.

William managed to roll up onto all fours. His mouth was still dry as brown paper. He scooped a couple of handfuls of water from the stream, drank some and washed the blood off his head. He started to drink from his hands again but plunged his face in like and animal and began gulping. It was the best, coolest water he ever tasted. He drank and drank. His gulping and snorting was the sort of thing that would get him walloped by me, his papa, and later his sister. It was when he stopped drinking that he noticed the snorting wasn't coming from him.

He carefully looked up. Across the stream and down some, just a few yards all told, was a mountain of chestnut fur. The bear stopped drinking and looked up as though it could sense William's open jaw. It sniffed the air and snorted loudly. William fell back on his britches and clamored backwards like a crab. The bear walked into the stream towards him.

 

“Don't run ya,” said a voice from the top of the gulley. “Run and she will think you taste better.”

William froze, but did not take his eyes off the bear. The bear froze as well.

“Gud ya, now you stand,” the voice said. “On feet. Go, do.”

William hesitated, the bear's nose probed the air, sniffing.

“Taller eez less tasty. Go do, go do.”

William eased to his feet. He was a might unsteady, what with the incline and his dizziness. The bear took a step back and made a belch-like grunt.

“Gud, now you walk, go.”

William didn't like the idea of turning his back to the bear and climbing up the bank. He liked the idea of going anywhere else even less.

“Where?” William said as loud as he dared.

“To bear. Look eyes ya.”

“Whaaat?”

The bear took a step into the water.

“Go do, look eyes. No run.”

William swallowed and took a step down the slope and another into the stream. The bear backed up onto the opposite bank.

“Gud, gud, keep walk. Look eyes.”

Williams slowly crossed the stream towards the beast. Looking into its small dark eyes. The bear turned on its haunches and lumbered away with a snort.

William started breathing again. He looked up towards the voice. He recognized the large black hat from the man on the road the other day. The bad man, Ruby had called him. William started making his way up the steep bank.

At least he wasn't a bear.

The climb up was arduous. The fall down was quick but the climb up, especially where there were no trees to hang on to, seemed to take forever. When William reached the top. Kohn was sitting in his truck. The passenger door was open. William did the only thing there was to do. He got in.

The man had in his hand a large leaf. Spread on it was a gooey green substance. Kohn handed William the leaf. William looked down at it, dumbfounded. Kohn took the boy's hand and brought it up to the wound on his head.

“OOOW!”

The green goo burned against the bloody spot high on his forehead. William allowed his hand to drop but Kohn plastered it back.

“Ow.”

William noticed a rifle sticking up from behind the seat.

“Why didn't you shoot him? I coulda been kilt.”

Kohn started the engine and clicked off the parking brake. He had shifted through the gears before he bothered to respond.

“Walking towards bear eez work better than gun ya. Mato go on and be mato, boy go on and be boy. Eez better.”

“Mato?”

“Ja mean Bear.”

“You injun or somthin?”

“Depending is on who you ask.”

“I'm askin' you.”

“Ya. Born in Sverige, but yes, injun I think, ya.”

Ruby looked at the twine tied to her ankle and the other end tied to the bumper of the truck a few feet from the rock she was sitting on. Caleb muttered to himself and he extracted the tent from the back of the truck. He talked constantly whether or not there was anyone listening 'praise be oh Lord'. He especially couldn't keep his trap shut about Brother Tobias. 'Brother Tobias said this, Brother Tobias said that, Brother Tobias' word, his truth, his disciples, of which Caleb fervently counted himself as one.

'Brother Tobias's, wives.'

They had never even met the man, just answered an ad in a magazine, purchased some books and bibles and written a bunch a letters back-n-forth. They were on there way to live with him in some sort a village or community or somethin.

Ester was sitting in the shade reading the Tobias 'bible'.

Even though it kinda hurt, Ruby made a game of jerking her leg and snapping the twine taut. It made a sound like a washtub bass.

“Quit that girl,” Ester said, “we don't wanna get up Caleb's ire.”

“Why's this thing necessary?” Ruby said giving the line one more defiant tug.

“Girl, you run off three times.”

“'My right. This here's kidnappin.”

“You'd starve out there.”

“Like my brother!”

“Keep your voice, girl. Why you always gotta do evil, you better learn to behave.”

Ruby kept playing with the twine but stopped short before it made a sound.

“Ester, how do you know what's evil and what isn't. Some German killed my papa and that was evil sure enough, but if my papa killed some German girl's papa does that make him evil too.

“God puts a conscience in us to tell us what's evil and what's not. If it feels bad, that means evil is in you, and you should get on your knees and pray for forgiveness.”

“So if it feels good, then it's okay?”

“Good heaven's no girl! That's what is specially evil! You should pray right straight for even thinking such things."

“I ain't yer daughter. You should just turn me loose for the law catches you."

"We answer to God's law and God has told Caleb you belong with him.

It's a shame-n-all you if you got no kids y'own but...”

Ester laughed.

“What'd I say so funny?”

“Girl, You ain't gunna be a daughter.”

Ruby looked puzzled.

“An don't you forget. I'm the one in charge so don't be getting' no ideas otherwise. I had him first girl. I'm the one in charge.”

Ruby felt the blood drain from her face. Suddenly the rope around her ankle felt like a thick, heavy chain. 

She would try again tonight, and this time she could not fail.

Continued in episode 8

The Jewels of Nebraska Episode 6 -One Tear

Click to start this series from the beginning.

I was hard to live with in those days, the spring of 1905. There was only one thing on my mind: Charlotte, the girl from the train station. I fool talked about her to anyone that would listen, poor souls. I tried to find out anything I could about her, but she was behind walls a regular young man like me couldn't see over. Papa and Bill gave me an awful hard time being smitten over a society girl. Bill told the story of my bold introduction over and over to the guys at the flour mill and soon they were funnin' at me too.

I suppose they were right. It was crazy. It's a right fine thing I wasn't sane, not about Charlotte anyhow. Sacks of flour weren't near so heavy when I thought of those hazel eyes.

“Excuse me sir,” I said at the ticket counter.

“You again huh? Listen kid, why don't you just call me Harry.”

“Uh, sure Harry. Say, did you happen to see a girl leave outta here, lotsa trunks, private car maybe...”

“No. No girl left here like that,” Harry adjusted his visor and rubbed his brow, “not with trunks, not in a private car or with a white hat, auburn hair and dreamy hazel eyes.”

“You're sure, you haven't been out sick or nothing?”

“Listen kid, write down your address here.” He handed me a card. “If your dream girl comes through here, I'll send you a telegram, no charge.”

“Gee mister, I mean Harry...”

“On one condition: you don't come round and bother me with this no more.”

I took a night job as a waiter at the Omaha Country Club in the hopes that I might catch a glimpse of her. I saw an a whole lot of hats and gloves, but no Charlotte.

A waiter overhears a lot serving the rich. I got to know who was who and what was what. Some of them people was more depraved than sinnin' workin' folks, if that talk was to be believed. They lied, gossiped, fornicated, and got drunk; they just had prettier words for it.

I listened close for only one word: “Charlotte”.

William's behind was sore from sittin' on the floor of that truck for hours. He felt around the Huette's belongings and was able to work loose a padded embroidered footstool. It said somethin' gospel-like, but he got it under him too quick to do any readin'.

In the front, Ruby rode silently between the Huettes. Caleb went on and on about God's blessings as if he had not struck the girl. She wondered if it really happened.

On a privy break, Ester and Ruby took to the bushes on one side of the road, while Caleb headed off the other. William began to follow.

“Who's gunna watch the truck, praise be oh Lord? Don't worry boy, you'll get your turn.” He disappeared behind a clump of greenery a respectable distance from the road.

The women had returned long before Mr. Huette. Billy wondered if he should just use their side of the road, then he thought of Caleb's temper.

Caleb finally came from the brush, glowing with perspiration.

“Alright boy,” Caleb said wiping his brow.

Billy took him a different path, so he wouldn't run into anything unpleasant. He heard the truck engine start. He wanted to run back, but he was indisposed. I believe that's the polite way to put it. When he heard the engine rev up and pull away, he ran regardless, holdin' up his drawers with one hand.

“Wait! Wait!”

When he reached the road he saw a cloud of dust and the truck growing smaller in it's midst. He ran with all his might but the distance grew. He thought he could hear his sister crying out his name and Mr. Huette's bellowing in return. The truck weaved in the road. The hollering ceased and the truck straightened, shifted into third gear and disappeared over a hill.

He stood frozen in place for a spell, hoping for some thought, some voice from somewhere to tell him what to do. A lone tear streaked down his face. He wiped it quickly away. It was the only one he would allow. He knew he was going to have to become a man, and right quick. The breeze whispered the pines, the buzz of a bee, the call of a bird close by, and one further away. A hawk sounded high overhead.

There was only one direction to go: after his sister, and only one way to get there. William swallowed hard, picked up the small case that Caleb had tossed out of the truck and started walking down the road.

Kohn's stolen truck was running a little better after he stopped and adjusted the carburetor lean to match the thin air. He much preferred traveling by horse, but he had to match the speed of the kids. It had occurred to him that the ten thousand dollars Bodene Kruger was payin' him to bring back a couple kids was the same amount he claimed to be into the family farm, which he would just foreclose on anyway. Why all the trouble for two poor farm kids leavin' town?

Over a hill he saw a figure walking along the road. When he got close the figure turned and waved him down.

“Trouble you have?”

“My car seems to be broken down,” said the man, “about two miles back.”

“Slowly she looses power till she stops and no starts, no?”

“Why yes, that's precisely correct sir.”

“Is no gasoline, is förgasare... where air mix.”

“We go.” Kohn motioned to the large man with the mustache to get in the truck.

“You're a rather large, tall individual,” said Herman. He closed the door and set his silver tipped walking stick between his knees. He glanced at Kohn's thimbles. “And such fascinating attire.”

Kohn let out the clutch and the truck rumbled on. The engine puttered through the gears.

“My name is Herman Jones, I am a theatrical director and proprietor of The Jones Theatrical Review, a company of players. We were on our way to Grand Junction when our auto stalled. What sort of work do you do?”

Kohn's little finger gave the steering wheel one decisive tap.

“I see,” Herman said. “If you ever find yourself out of work my good man, you might consider lending your extraordinary attributes to show business; colorful individual like yourself.”

Kohn shifted in his seat and placed his arm out the window. He allowed himself the indulgence of imagining himself on the stage before a large adoring audience.

“No business of show, my English, not so gud.”

Herman gave half a snicker before he stopped himself. “There are other shows beside the stage. I was thinking, more exactly for you, of the circus.”

Herman reached for his hanky and wiped his face. He noticed something pale blue in the corner of his eye. He slowly turned to see Kohn staring at him with those burning orbs.

“Say there good fellow, I didn't mean any... The circus you see is a fine... Sir, I believe we may just drive off into a tree if you don't turn your attention to...”

Kohn's thimbles began slowly drumming on the wheel. Herman glanced out his window at the passing gravel.

“Shall I just step out then?”

Kohn neither blinked nor wavered. Herman opened his door, tipped his hat, hugged his stick and stepped out of the moving truck. When he hit the ground, he rolled like lop-sided medicine ball. He stood with some difficultly, placed his top hat back on his head, gave his suit vest a couple dusty smacks and began walking, not too evenly, down the road.

It was no easier sleeping the tent and in the cot with Mrs. Huette than it was the first night. All Ruby could think about was her brother William, out there somewhere, alone. Then there was the twine tied to her ankle and tethered to Mr. Huette's on the other side of the tent. She had tried to run off a bunch since they left her brother and Caleb had seen to it. Mrs. Huette would know if she reached down to work on the large knot, and Caleb would be woke up by any pull on the twine. As it was, Caleb had gotten up in the night to do his business, forgotten about the twine in his grogginess and nearly towed Ruby clean off the cot.

Many Miles away, William lie next to a stream. He had no flashlight, no bedroll or blanket, no dinner, and no one to talk to.

The mountains and tall pines around him were only visible as black shadows against stars in the moonless sky. They made him feel small, as did the task before him. Yet, he had followed the tire tracks of the Huette's truck--distinct by the tread being wore on one side more than t'other--for over ten miles. He found some wild blue berries and some grubs to eat and came close to starting a fire. There was a small, but important sense of accomplishment.

He'd taken several pictures with his new camera. He couldn't wait to see how they'd turned out, though he had no idea how to get the pictures out.

Critters moved in the forest around him, how big or how far he could not tell and didn't want to. He might have been scared to death, but he was too busy planning what he was fix'in to do to that Caleb Huette when he caught up to him.

Continued in Episode #7

The Jewels of Nebraska, Episode 5 -Out of Nowhere

To start this series from the beginning.

Ben didn't waste his trip into town without stocking up on supplies. Chicken feed, nails, ax handle, sugar, coffee, beans, salt, flour, soap, and bailing wire. Even though the hay harvest was a ways off, it came in handy for a number of things and he was fresh out.

He was just fixin' to pay when the door of the store rang open so loud both Ben and George behind the counter looked up.

“Call the sheriff,” panted Lukas, “someone just drove off with my truck!”

“Betty says there's no answer,” George said putting the phone back on the hook.

“He was headed up into the pass, fella just got in and drove her off, that truck is as good as gone, fraid.”

“Did you see who took it?” Ben asked.

“Stranger, odd looking man, had silver fingers.”

“Silver what?” said George.

Ben's cheek burned where Nebraska girl had gone and kissed him. He looked out at the wash of daylight coming in through the door.

“Lukas, can to see to my farm for a few days, if I get your truck back?”

“Yeah, sure I 'spose, how few?” Lukas said.

“Week or two at the most. George, hold my order till I get back.”

“Week or two? Hey Ben!”

The screen door of the dusty general store had already slammed.

“That boy get deputized or sumptin?” Lukas said. “He coulda given me a ride home before he ran off.”

Ben's truck began to sputter when the grade in the pass got steep. The gasoline wasn't flowing up hill from from the tank to the engine. He turned the Model T truck around and backed up the hill as fast as he dare, his head stuck out the window and his arm out against the door. It was already getting dark and those headlights weren't going to do much good pointing down hill as they were.

Not a problem we ever had in Nebraska, especially since it wasn't too long ago, most transportation was horse and wagon.

“What'r you lookin at, c'mon I want to get home, I'm starving,” said Bill, my brother.

“You see that girl, the one in white?”

We lifted his trunk into the back of the wagon. I craned my neck to see if she had come out of the train station.

“What girl?” Bill said.

“The one in the private car.”

“Oh my Lord, you've gone looney. You could never even get that girl to look at you, and if she did... Hey, where you goin'!”

“I bet I could,” I said without looking back. I saw her leaving the station with a small army of servants and a cart loaded with trunks and hat boxes stacked-up like a wedding cake. I walked straight towards the procession.

I've never been a particularly brave man, especially when it came to the fairer sex. My mouth would always get too dry for words to come out proper and I would stammer like a fool. I had no reason to think this time would be any different. I was drawn, given a notion that any failure or humiliation would not smart near as bad as if I let her go without... well I wasn't sure what I was going to do. I didn't have any better idea when I stepped in front of her and stopped the whole parade. Several pairs of wide but narrowing eyes stared me down. Her's just remained wide. She was the loveliest girl, the loveliest anything I had ever seen. No sunset, no sunrise, no stained glass window would ever look the same to me.

One of the servants, a butler lookin' sort of fellow cleared his throat. I snapped out of my trance. I removed my hat with speed that forgave its tardiness, but created a small cloud of flour dust. She put her hanky to her face. Her eyes shone like a sparkling lake.

“Excuse me miss,” I began. The butler fellow fumbled for some coins, no doubt to pay a toll past my intrusion. I held up my hand to stop him. “I would like to welcome you to Nebraska. If there is anything, anything I can do for you to make your stay in Omaha more pleasant, my name is...”

“Yes, yes young man, we have all the help we need and the young lady does not desire to be bothered. Off with you then.”

“I will be able to sleep again one day, but only if I knew your name.”

The young woman was taken aback at my inquiry. The butler extended his walking cane and gently brushed me away that the entourage may proceed to their red motor car and accompanying carriage for the overflow of personnel and baggage. I complied but did not take my eyes from her. Her cream skin pinked at my attention as she passed. I stood there, I expect with some sort of fool smile on my face, ignoring the glares from her attendants. She tried to maneuver her immense hat that she might inspect me without my knowing, but I knew.

As the driver turned over the motor. I stepped boldly beside where she was seated. “Please, miss, I am not normally so offensive and forward, your name is all that desire. I must...”

The motor sputtered and idled. The driver took to his seat and released the brake. She looked straight ahead like an arrow that she might be whisked away from this bold stranger, sweat stained covered in flour dust, but her chin lowered as the motorcar throttled up.

“Charlotte” she said.

Her voice was stronger than I had expected. If I wasn't already smitten, I knew I would be haunted by the memory of that beautiful sound forever.

I still am.

The place the travelers stopped to camp was an ideal setting. A flat area not too far from the road and near a stream that had the sweetest water Ruby had ever tasted, once the dust from her lips had been washed away.

Mr Caleb Huette and Billy set up the tent while Mrs. Ester Huette and Ruby prepared dinner. The Huette's were older, almost like grandparents. Ester didn't say much besides a yes or no to Mr Huette's many directives and suggestions on how she might carry them out.

He ended nearly every sentence with “praise be O'Lord.” Ruby took comfort in this at first, but it began to seem odd how he used it for everything. It seemed right enough for: “What a glorious view this is, praise be O'Lord,” but seemed a bit funny following: “Pass me that thermos of coffee Ester, praise be O'Lord,” or especially when he simply passed gas... “praise be O'Lord!”

The insects sounded a chorus outside that was strange to Ruby's ear that night, different bugs in the mountains than the high plains. She recalled Mr. Huette's bible reading by the campfire later on her cot. The bible seemed different too. She didn't know it backwards and forwards like some folks, but what he read... well it didn't sound like any bible readin' she'd ever heard. All that talk of wives.

She had to lie on her side, the cot she shared with Mrs. Huette, thin and frail as she was, only offered her that much room. She wanted to talk, she asked Ester if she had ever been to Hollywood. The woman didn't stir. She listened hard to hear for her breathing to be sure she hadn't died. Sleepin' on the hard floor of a box car was easier.

Billy didn't sleep much better in the back of the truck. Mr. Huette told him to bed down there under the tarp.

My Billy's a good boy, minds his elders, mostly. It wasn't manners this time that cause him to obey without question.

The next day Mr. Huette decided it wasn't very ladylike for Ruby to be ridin' in the back of the truck, that she should set up between them in the front.

“That's alright Mr. Huette, I wouldn't want Billy to get lonesome back there.” Ruby said in a breezy tone.

The slap came out of out of nowhere. Her cheek felt ice cold and and burning hot all at once. She made a furious fist.

“Unclench your hand,” Mr. Huette said.

The world was spinning around her, it was as if the words made no sense.

“Unclench your hand willful girl, an git in the damn truck, praise be O'Lord.”

Ruby placed her case in the back of the truck and walked to the front where Mrs. Huette was already  holding the passenger door for her.

She flinched when Mr. Huette got in on his side and slammed the door.

Continue to the next episode

The Jewels of Nebraska, Episode 4 -A fix

To start this series from the beginning.

William's legs dangled off the tailgate of the truck. The road was dappled stripes of sunlight shining through pines. He looked up the sun through the trees and closed his eyes, still he could feel the sunlight flashing on his face.

Ruby rode up next to Ben.

“Hollywood?” Ben said, “never heard of it.”

“It's where they make the pictures.” Ruby said.

“Pictures of what?”

“Moving pictures silly.”

“I seen a Kino at a nickelodeon once, didn't care for it.”

“Not those, pictures tell a whole story. Plus they have stars.”

“Stars?”

“Surely you heard of Charlie Chaplin.”

“He some sort of preacher?”

Ruby couldn't help but laugh out loud.

“You could stay.” Ben said after a while. “It's just me, lots of room.”

“This place is more podunk than the place I jumped a train to escape. Really pretty though.” Ruby looked up at the trees and the mountains in the distance. “Nah, it's Hollywood for me.”

Up ahead, a man stepped onto the road. His fingertips glistened in a spot of sun. Ben sensed Ruby's tension.

“You know that fella?” he said.

“I sure don't.”

Ben stopped the truck and click off the engine. The tree tops whispered in a breeze that did not reach the ground.

“Mornin'” Ben said to the stranger.

“Your keeds?”

“Y'up, my little brother and sister.” Ben said looking straight ahead. “You missin' some.”

Ruby looked down but held her posture erect that Ben's barrel chest and hat might block her from the stranger's view. Her curiosity got the better of her and she glanced around Ben. A pair of blazing blue eyes hit her from inside the shade of a wide black hat.

“Their mother. Cries she does, cries for her missing babies.” Only his mouth moved. His silver-tipped hands hung at his sides, occasionally twitching as if he were receiving small electric shocks.

“Quite a shame,” said Ben. “hope she finds 'em.”

“Ya, shame.”

Ben touched the brim of his hat and turned over the engine. From the back of the truck, William watched the dark figure recede until they turned a corner.

“I think maybe that man was lookin' for Billy and me,” Ruby said.

“Yeah, I know it,” said Ben.

“Thanks for lyin' for us mister.”

“How many times do I gotta tell you, the name's Ben.”

“Thank you for everything... Ben, feedin' us, putting us up for a couple days,” Ruby said giving his arm a playful hug.

Ruby wished Ben was taking them all the way to California, not just to the next town where he figured he could get them a ride with another family headed West.

El Dorado Springs was a town nestled in a deep valley as if a bunch of miniature houses on a piece of paper had gathered at the center when it was folded in a “V”. The main drag that made up the long slender town climbed into the pass and the mountains on the other side.

There were a number of cars and trucks stacked high with chairs, tables and trunks sometimes children perched at the top of it all like a crow's nest. El Dorado Springs was a good place to stop for supplies before heading into the mountains. It was the only place.

Ben had to leave the truck a quarter mile from where they were headed so they walked down the dusty street.

“Why didn't you say nuthin' to that man Ruby?” Billy said. “What about Mama? he said she's cryin'.”

“You know Mama ain't cryin' for us. She barely knew we was there, how's she gunna know we're gone from that asylum. That man is a bad man William, just like at the picture shows. He even got a black hat. We're on our own now, we don't have a Mama and Papa no more.”

Billy didn't argue with his sister but his fists were clenched. A tear rolled down his cheek, he wiped it quickly away.”

“I'm lost of my parent's too.” Ben said quietly after a while.

“You an orphan?” said Billy.

“I'm twenty-two. My father died when I was 'bout your age, but I was already grow'd up when my Mama got sick. That ain't an orphan, far as I know.”

In the general store Ben stopped each person who looked like a traveler, which meant anyone he didn't didn't recognize readily.

“Sir, do you have any room for a couple kids in your car to take over the pass and possibly to California? They're without kin and need to make it to their Uncle's.”

“We got no room. Especially fer orphans.” A red-haired man said. A red haired girl hid behind him. She stuck her tongue out at Ruby.

He repeated the plea to many travelers without hint of luck. No one wanted more mouths to feed, no one had room for kids that weren't theirs.

“I'm not very convincing I guess,” Ben said.

“You look like a farmer, and you're doin' it all wrong.” She straightened his collar, licked her hand and smoothed his hair.

“I am a farmer, don't fuss o're me.”

“If we're going to get a ride from a nice Christian family... That's it, you need to use the word 'Christian'. And don't be talkin' to the men, ask the women folk. Go like this,” Ruby turned her face into sadness and worry. “Excuse me kind madam, could you find it in your Christian heart to give these two poor orphan children assistance getting to their Uncle in California or even just through the mountains?”

“That's really good. You're good at that.”

“Nobody’s going to listen to a girl. We need an advocate.”

“Avo-cat, what's that?”

“Someone to speak on our behalf, an adult. You gotta do it.”

Ben started to replace his hat.

“No, no silly, hold your hat in front of you, like this.” She took his hat and held it by the brim with both hands in front of her. “Now go try again.”

Ben hobbled through his speech with Ruby standing just behind him looking sad an pathetic.

“Kid's? said one lady. I only see the one.”

“Where's Billy?”said Ruby looking around the busy store.

William's feet clomped on the wooden sidewalk. He passed by the different shops, and motor repair/gasoline stations. He was sad and all those people were making him sadder. Something he saw in a store front made him stop in his tracks. There were cameras of all sorts. Large plate cameras on tall wooden tripods, purse-size cameras that folded out with black bellows and small Brownies, 'bout the size of a pound of butter. Inside the store was all sorts-a camping and outdoor gear, tents, outdoor wear. There was a man at the counter talking to the shop keeper.

“Well if you can't fix it, I guess I'll have to buy a new one.”

“I have a Brownie Three, it's the newest of this type.” the shop keeper took one of the square boxy cameras from the glass display case.

“Five dollars.”

“Five dollars? I bought this other one for four in Chicago.”

“This a long way from there.”

“I guess so.”

“Say mister,” William found the courage to say, following the customer out of the shop.

“Yes son?”

“What are you going to do with that camera?”

“Take pictures of the mountains, and my family.”

“No, the broken one.”

“Throw it away I guess.”

“Could I have a look at it?”

“Sure thing sonny, you can have it if you'd like.”

“Gee, thanks mister.” Billy took the black box and turn it over in his hands. He sat right there on the walk examining every side and feature.

Even when he was only five, my son showed a certain aptitude fer fix'n this and that. After my death he was repairing all sorts of things.

He soon found the release and separated the cardboard camera into it's two sections. He could see how the film went from the top, down around the back and to a little roller at the bottom. The roller had come apart from one side. He maneuvered it back into place and turned the winding knob. It looked to be fixed.

Billy saw the man across the street gathering his family into their car. He ran across, dodging honking cars.

“Say mister!”

“Yeah sonny?”

“I fixed your camera. See, works fine now.” Billy handed the camera back to him.

“It appears I met you ten minutes too late young man. I've already got a new camera. It was good of you to fix it and offer it back though.” The man took out his billfold and handed William a dollar. “Get yourself some film, take some pictures of your old ma and pa. It's not hard, just look at that little window in the top and click the little lever on the side.

William pretended not to be sad at the thought of his 'old ma and pa'. “Thanks mister.”

Billy looked back at the camera store and at the dollar in his hands. My son was in a fix himself now.

“Billy! Where you been?” Ruby scolded. “Ben found us a ride with a nice Christian couple going through the mountains.”

Ben hoisted Ruby into the back of the truck. Billy had already found a spot to sit amongst the furniture. He got his new camera out of his satchel. He was excited about his new treasure but felt guilty he had spent his dollar on having the man at the store load his camera with film.

“Well... I guess we'll seeing you.” Ruby said. Holding on to Ben's hand in a long handshake.

“Yup, I guess,” said Ben without lookin' up from the ground.

The motor started. The dust beneath the exhaust pipe stirred. Ruby leaned out of the back of the truck and kissed Ben on his cheek. Ben turned red. He didn't look up until the truck was pulling away.

“I ain't so skinny you know.” She called back to him with a smile.

Continued in episode 5