Headed to Arkansas to see the grands. Back in the Vallley on Monday am. Have a great fall weekend!
Chapter Thirty-Nine
James David opened the note that the Headmaster brought on Western Union paper. It made no sense to him but his mother had sent it according to the man. He had kept every other note from her away from him—-"The man had no idea of the tens of letters I picked up all term from the Underground and the visits with Mr. Springer at the cafe. She must have won custody."
He was afraid to ask the man who had been deceptive so many times since the beginning of school.
He was already packed, "Thank you, sir. I am ready."
"I like your promptness. Here is the train ticket. The train leaves at lunch. We can get your trunk there and still have time to purchase a sandwich for the train." as he nervously hurried him along.
"Yes sir."
We settled the guardianship. I will meet you at the ranch for the holidays. All is finally well between your grandfather and myself. Your Mother
He read it three times, put the train ticket in his pocket, and picked up his valise and trunk.
"Let's go."
—&—
The headmaster grabbed him a sandwich, "There will be beverages on the train. Tell your grandfather I said hello—-uh, and your mother."
"Will do." He handed the first ticket to the porter and he punched it. He took the trunk and James David tipped him well.
"It will be in the baggage car; just have a porter match the ticket when you arrive."
James David found his first-class seat easily and devoured the sandwich before the train left the tracks.
"Should have bought several," the fifteen-year-old grumbled, "Will eat at the ranch at least."
An apple seller came through and he quickly bought two, "for a snack—-hold me over."
The headmaster headed to the telegraph office at the station. "On train for Lathrop." to Peterson waiting at the station there."
—-&—
James David took the Jules Verne book out of his valise and unbeknownst to him knocked the tickets out of his satchel in haste. One of them flew to the back of the car.
The porter brought coffee and he sipped some as he read. He dropped his napkin and reached down. He saw the envelope and put it back into the bag. James David read for a while and drifted off to sleep.
"NEXT STOP MARTINSVILLE" awakened the fifteen-year-old and he stretched his long legs. He closed the book in his lap and watched out of the window to the brown prairie land with the mountains in the distance.
—&—-
James looked up at his mother and gave her a grin that enveloped his whole face. The bumps on the road made him giggle and gurgle. Lila's heart was full of joy.
"I love you little man and I do this for you. You are my world. Your father adores you and he will make you a very rich man. I will make you a good man. I watched Maris from afar. James David is a fine son. She never even noticed me, I am sure. I was just the wife of a manager. Ladies like her don't leave their station. I shan't either and I hope to make your Father proud of me. I know he didn't want to marry me but he wanted you. I shall be content with that."
Lila rocked and held her son as they entered the drive of their mansion. It was the largest home on Grant Street, Capitol Hill. An iron gate surrounded the home with its impeccable gardens and fountains, now drained for winter. The footman opened the carriage door and helped her out.
JD had sent them on from the train station. He stayed at his office to catch up on business. He distractedly kissed her on the cheek and said goodbye.
"I will be very late. There is much to do and news I am waiting on. A shipment I hope is on the way."
—-&—
Maris dressed and anxiously awaited for the men and ladies to return. She played with each of the children and rocked little Benjamin after his nap. He had woken up very grouchy without his mother at home. She loved being with the children just as she had in Stockton.
"It's been just me and James David for so long—-until this summer. Children are so delightful."
She looked as the clock chimed four o'clock and Grover was announced to pick her up.
She was so anxious to see James David—it had been months of only letters—- and Nick had set it up, "Well, I will go on and go. Grover will take care of me. Nick trusts him and so do I. I just wanted to see everyone before and find out the details of last night. Nick and I haven't decided on Thanksgiving. I know James David will ask too. Oh I wish they were home but we will head straight back here."
Grover opened the door of the closed carriage and helped her, "Let's go get your boy."
—&—
Nick, Jarrod, and Nate were detained after getting out of Chinatown. An overturned cart of chickens in the intersection caused a multi-wagon pileup. Their rig was stuck in the long lines with no way to get out.
"Let's get out here and walk. We still have time to make it," Nate said looking at his pocket watch, "I want to go to PineCrest with Maris."
"I would feel better about that myself," Nick answered, "I want to be there myself but the court thinks I abandoned her. Don't want to mess that up until that son of a —- sees the wedding announcement in the papers and James David is with us. Can't throw a shoe now."
"We will be just across campus if she needs something. They moved James David to the dormitory furthest from our hooligans. I won't sleep well until we are all back in Stockton myself."
"Did you decide if you are bringing Maris to the ranch for Thanksgiving or she is staying with us? We would love to have her and James David. I think with old JD in Denver and a year time frame on the court, it's a moot point. That blonde wig was a good investment."
"We are going to talk about it tonight."
They got out of the rig and tipped the driver. They worked their way through the throng of traffic, all thinking about "heading to PineCrest."
—-&—
