Chapter 5 - Mystery Men, And Women

Chapter 5 - Mystery Men, And Women
Emmeline and Esperanza entered la valle proper by high noon. They continued on into town heading for the market.
Esperanza had taken the lines then, judging Em too much a novice should the goats become uneasy.
They skirted about the town avoiding the busy main streets, not that it was a large burg by any means, but on market day many were bustling about buying, selling and browsing.
Esperanza expertly guided her goats behind the shops.  Em could detect marketplace activity through the alleyways and suddenly felt she was ready to emerge from her self-imposed exile and join the throng once more.
Nearing mid-market.Esperanza pulled her goats left with a 'Haw!' and they turned down the alley and came forth into the busy market and Em at once espied the great piles of white, and black wool and deduced this was where Elena purveyed her product to the townsfolk. Indeed, she had her spinning wheel set up behind the wool bundles in large baskets where she sat spinning yarn in between customers; she looked to be somewhat younger than Esperanza and fair where her mentor was dark. Em was surprised to view her somewhat more European complexion and ash colored hair.
'We made it at last!' Announced Esperanza, pulling up beside Elena's stall, and handed the lines to Em. 'Buenas tardes, Elena!' called Em and Esperanza together, waving to the proprietress, who smiled and waved as she arose from her wheel to greet them.Esperanza alighted from the cart and went to unload the back.
Em gazed at the bustle about them. Women and men strolled throughout the marketplace, children dashed madly about  playing with some rather large sticks and knocking small balls along while dogs roamed freely unless caught sniffing too near a cookstall, whereupon both dogs and kids would soon be sent flying, sometimes quite literally, at least for awhile.
That's what has been missing, she thought to herself. There are no children in the Enchanted Village she was beginning to call home. She hadn't thought about it until now. She supposed the residents were all older folk like Carlos and her mentor...she hadn't seen any of the others closely as yet.
'Emmeline, please allow me to introduce my friend, Elena, the mistress of the wonderful village sheep!' Esperanza appeared at her side.
'Es un placer, Dona Elena,'Emmeline nodded to the lady, taking her warm hand.
'Encantada, Emmeline,' Elena answered, smiling.
Esperanza regarded them both. 'Emmeline is mas encantada with your sheeps' cheese.'she informed Elena with a sideways glance at Em.
Elena laughed at this. 'That I can certainly understand! I've brought only wool here today though. Four ply worsted! But, it would be too warm for the cheeses.'
'May we tie up here at your stall? My vegetables, fruit and nuts are all I brought in today. And I've feedbags for the goats of course.'
Elena nodded and while the women were clearing a space for Esperanza's goods, Em unloaded the remainder in the cart.
'That will do,'Esperanza told her. 'I'm saving some especially for my gypsy friends later. Why don't you wander  abit? I'm sure it is reasonably safe. And you'll find Carlos about here somewhere.'
Em thought this a marvellous idea, and bidding the older women farewell, she took to her heels to take in the sights.
                            . . . . .
Meanwhile, back at the ranch...
Jack had been cooling his own heels all morning and it was heading into the afternoon when his patience was about to give out and he was tempted to light out and maybe meet the boys on the road up when old Bizness set up his hound-dog holler and Jack flew out onto the porch, hoping for signs of life at last.
And indeed, Homer and Jethro were riding up the road to home while Bizness greeted them with a creaky tail-wag. Jack would have done the same if he could, but settled for walking to meet them with a grin. As he neared the pair, they looked tired and somber, but were not packing a bear along with them. The hound pack came trailing mostly, with a few of the younger pups still with enough pep to run out and wag a greeting to Jack and Bizness.
'A long day, Jack. A looong old day...' Homer sighed as Jack
patted Homer's horse in sympathy and walked alongside the two back to the house..
Dismounting and dispirited, Homer and Jethro started to unsaddle their mounts. 'I can take care of that, boys,'Jack offered. 'I have a nice stew on the stove and some cornbread, if you like.' He sensed the men would talk about things when they felt like it.
Jethro looked up in gratitude. 'Much obliged, Jack. I'll take you up on that. Go on in, Homer and get some grub. I'll take care of the pack and be in in just a minute.'
Homer just nodded and silently headed in the house, wiping his eyes with his sleeve.
Jethro sighed as he and Jack led the horses to the barn and commenced pumping water for them and the hounds. 'A long old day, indeed, Jack...'
'What happened, Jethro?'
Jethro stood watching horses and hounds guzzle up the cool water awhile. 'Well, we got your bear. It cost Homer his old Blue though.'
'Oh, man...' Jack knew Homer loved his old hound Blue. He had raised him from a pup and he'd been in his prime. 'A good hound.'
'Yes he was.' The men fed the hounds and brought hay to the horses. As they rubbed their sweaty hides down, Jethro continued. 'We tracked the bear out behind your place, he was following the river and sure enough, he was heading towards town.'
'Lord and Lady...'Jack mumbled, looking down.
'Yep. But we found him around daybreak, just before the bridge, wading in the water, fishing...'Jethro sighed, looking out at nothing. '...just minding his own bear business, just trying to make a living like the rest of us...'
'Yes. He probably was,' Jack agreed.
'A young bear. Not big. Well, here he was, in range and not a better time. We were holding back the hounds, they're good dogs and know when to holler and when to keep quiet. Well, I was hunkered down, ready to take the shot, when guess what?--or maybe I should ask, guess who?'
'I can't imagine.'
'Flying out of nowhere, and headin' for the bridge, the goddam idiot Bush boys and their marauding moron friends come a whoopin' and hollerin' up on Mr. Bear, and shit, he lit out...'
'Good gods! Word had gotten out already?'
'Fraid so. Well, dammitol, that set the pack loose. They all charged the bear down and he ran for the trees. But not before he got a good swipe in at Blue.'
'Oh, damn...'Jack looked down, feeling bad.
'Yeah.' Jethro looked like he'd just eaten a lemon. Sighing again, he continued. 'Well the Idiot Gang was just makin' him mad, chasin' their horses around the tree and yellin' and takin' pot shots with pistols like a buncha schoolboys just discoverin' tequila while on holiday in Tijuana,..I was thinkin' now that someone besides the bear and a dog was goin' to get hurt or killed if they kept that up and drove him mad, so...I snuck through the bushes...and got him with one shot.He dropped from the tree then, and Homer came out to tend his dog and yelled at the gang to get the hell out and leveled his double-barrel at them and they finally took the hint and left...'
'My gods, Jethro...I am sure sorry.' Jack was. He somehow felt crazily that it was all his fault.
'Me too. I never like to kill any of mother nature's creatures. And here was our good dog gone too because of some half-wits...' Jethro spat, and rubbed his eyes with his shirt sleeve. Jack put a hand on his shoulder.
'Well,'Jethro blinked and patted his horse and the men led them into pasture. 'What with all the gunshots and noise,
pretty soon folks from West Pank showed up, encluding the Doc and Woody. There was old Judge Beangas with 'em and...'
'--Beangas? Really?' Jack couldn't help interrupting.
'Well, Roy 'Beamus' actually, but he's known as 'Beangas' due to his propensity for farting even during a trial...anyway...
he offered us $50 for the bear and hell, we didn't want any reminders...so...'
'Yea, I can understand that...' Hm, thought Jack. 'Judge Roy Beangas'--perfect.
'Shit. Damn. Well, Woody and the Doc helped to dig a grave for Blue right then and there. Homer said he'd died a hero's death and he deserved to be buried with honor there at the scene of battle.' Jethro sniffed. As did Jack. 'Old Homer took it hard,'he shook his head, 'His pain turned to rage and we all had to hold him back from goin' after the Idiot Gang with both barrels.Homer's no lightweight as you know. Took three of us to hold him down. Finally with ole Blue buried with honors, we went back to the 'Lizard and
Woody applied copious remedies and finally old Homer...well,
it takes alot to knock that big man out, but the stress and lack of sleep and some special 200 proof rum Woody saved from his seafaring friends finally soothed him some and we let him sleep it off awhile in back...'
No one said anything for awhile. 'It's been a long hard day, indeed, my friend,'Jack put an arm about Jethro's shoulder.
'Come on in and have a bite and some rest yourself, eh?'
Jethro nodded. He looked stoved-in. They entered the house to find Homer lying sprawled on the couch snoring...like a bear.
                         . . . . .
Emmeline gladly wandered about gazing at the goods for sale at market; mostly early summer produce which this far south amounted to more than Em was used to seeing this time of year, encluding some interesting fruit and vegetables she was not acquainted with. Weavers,too, had beautiful shawls and sashes and vests and embroidered blouses displayed for sale. Em fingered these feeling stirrings of desire for the lovely flowered designs in rich vibrant colors.
'Que' talla tiene?' A bright young voice asked Emmeline her size.
Em smiled at the pretty young girl behind the counter. 'Quiero mirar no mas,' I'm just looking, Em thought she said. Hm...am I quiero or quiera? These gender specifics are confusing still...
'Le busco otro,'the girl nodded and gestured over to the side of the stall where blouses were hanging. Em politely followed, although she had no dinero, she loved to look.
The girl laid out some dyed blouses with pretty floral patterns, in glorious blues and purples.
'Ah...they're lovely...bellisima!'Em enthused.
'La quiera con flores?' the girl enquired.
'Oh, si...'Em ran a finger lightly over the rich thick embroidery...and sighed. '...ahora, no, gracias...' Not just now, thanks, Em thought she said, and began to reluctantly move away.
The girl didn't mind, she saw she had other customers now.
'Hasta luego!' she called after Em, and Emmeline rounded the side of the stall, stopping to admire some of the sashes...these were nice, but not near Carlos's finely detailed work. But those blouses...those were truly a feast for the eyes. She was thinking she might have Carlos tutor her in some weaving, just enough to make herself a nice strap for her mandolin, maybe....
'See something you like?' It was Carlos.
'Carlos! Yes, you. It is good to find you here!'
'I have been here some time. I'm taking a short lunch break.I have another apprentice watching my stall. Would you
care to join me?'
'That would be lovely, si!' Em and Carlos were about to head out when suddenly the shop girl was at her side, smiling and holding the purple blouse Em had gazed at longingly. 'No, no--es caro!'Em protested it was too dear.
The girl shook her head and thrust the garment toward her. 'Para usted!' she insisted,'Gratis!'She added, folding the blouse and handing it over.The girl turned to Carlos then and spoke to him quickly, pointing into the crowd.
'Apparently, it's yours now, Emmeline! A gentleman bought it for you, it seems.' Carlos eyed her wonderingly.
'Oh!'Em was flustered by this. 'Ah...gracias!' She managed to say to the smiling girl, as she clutched the blouse to her and peered off into the milling throng. 'That's rather odd...'
'Hmmm. Let's head away from here, then.' Carlos took her elbow and took them to the edge of the market where smoke arose from cookfires and the aroma of meats turning on spits announced the food vendor's area.
'Umm, everything looks and smells so good!'Em enthused, her perplexity forgotten and momentarily replaced by hunger. 'I don't know what is what though Carlos. Will you get something for me? ...nothing too rich or fried, though. I am still not up for too much food.'
'Of course.' Carlos assured her as he helped her to a table nearby and held her seat out for her most gentlemanly.'You may trust your tender stomach to me, senorita!' He said with a mock bow, and headed off to the food stalls.
Em studied her new purple blouse. Who in the world would buy such a beauteous garment for her? She knew no one here besides Carlos, Esperanza and now Elena. Carlos mentioned an apprentice, but he must have been at their stall...This was truly a bizarre bazaar she decided, eyes searching the crowd.
True to his word, Carlos returned bearing steaming bowls of stew on a tray with a plate of greens and some cookies for them both. 'Carne Adovada, stew with meat marinated in red chilie sauce, Quelites, or what you know as 'lambs quarters' he said, setting down the greens before her, 'and for dessert, Bizochitos, anise flavored cookies. You do say 'cookies' and not 'biscuits', si?' he asked with a grin.
'Si! That biscuit business is for our English cousins across the pond. Umm, Carlos, this smells incredibly marvellous!
Thank you! And I shall make lunch for us tomorrow, you can be sure!'
Carlos waved away her offer. 'No, nena. You and Esperanza have had my company to dinner very often of late. This is my partial repayment. I shall in return, treat the loco lady of los lobos later...' he answered, as he dipped into his stew. 'Ah, now that is good stew! I know this vendor. He has marinated his lamb just right!'
Emmeline also dug into the aromatic tucker and found it beyond wonderfulness. She finished it all down to the last cookie, a fine flaky lightly anise-flavored delight. 'Ohh, muchas gracias, Carlos! Muy delicioso!'
Carlos bowed his head, 'Da nada. Let's head back to my stall now. There is a place in back where you may change into your lovely shirt.'
Em looked down, and noted she had, despite using her servilletas, gotten some drips upon her shirt. 'Oh, my. Perhaps I should, si?'
Carlos nodded and Em carried their trays back to the food vendor thanking them profusely in her novice Espanol which made them smile. She and Carlos then went behind the shops and took the side streets back to the other end of town rather than fight the crowds through the mercado proper.
They came upon Carlos's stall near the end of the market.
He had a few of his woven goods for sale but mostly he
purveyed his instruments: violins, chiefly. A few of the small requinta guitars and even some wooden flutes were also on display. His young apprentice, Em noted, was indeed young, perhaps 16 at most and certainly not one to be purchasing blouses for strange senoritas. The comely young lad greeted them enthusiastically and launched into  rapid-fire Espanol that Em could catch little of, but seemed to be centered on a violin sale.
'Bien, muy bien!'Carlos nodded, smiling.'Emmeline, allow me to present another of my apprentices, Jose'--he is studying with me to become a maker of musical instruments. Jose', meet Emmeline, who is learning the mandolino.'
'Pleased to meet you, Jose', ah, mucho gusto!' Em corrected herself at last.
'Mucho gusto, Senorita!' Jose' answered with a dimpled grin, and a sidelong glance at Carlos. Carlos kept his dimples dampened and glared at Jose'. 'Jose' tells me he just sold one of my best violins in my absence and considers himself worthy of a great percentage of the sale.' He then began to speak slowly and deliberately to Jose' as if teaching him basic mathematics.He then paused. 'Ah, forgive me, Emmeline! Just behind the curtain here, pase al probador, por favor.'
He gestured to where Em may find a space to change clothes.
'Gracias,'Em left them to their haggling and went behind the curtain to change. Taking off her soiled shirt, (better soak that oily stain in soap and cold water soon, she thought, tsking),she unfolded the lush purple cotton with the bellisima flores embroidered in deep reds, accented in black, with dashes of turquoise and gold. Despite the contrasting colors, it looked wonderful on her and was a perfect fit. It set her crimson locks off beautifully. Having no mirror however, she only knew that it fit well and felt light and lovely.
'No, no, no...'Carlos was saying as Jose' pled his case making gestures of exasperation, when Emmeline emerged from the  back. The men suddenly stopped conversing and stared her way. 'A vision, Rica, truly!' Carlos bowed her way. Jose' smiled and followed with a wide sweep of some non-existent sombrero.
'Gracias, caballeros!' Emmeline smiled demurely and lowered her eyes,making a small curtsy, pleased despite their histrionics and teasing and in fact, she was enamoured of this blouse, although a naggling thought remained...who was her secret admirer? Friend? Or foe in disguise?
                       . . . . .
At last, Jack was en route home to Crowley House. He'd left the men to rest and recuperate after their battle with bear and bullshit to boot. Jack shook his head. Something should be done about those dam fools the Bush boys...but when a dam fools' daddy's a banker...makes it hard to mete out justice. Officially anyway, Jack thought...
Well, best leave those thoughts on back burner for now. The main thing is to make all this up to Aleister somehow, thought Jack.
And, we are getting a dog. A big watch dog. He still couldn't believe that lil' ole Alice cat though. Well, she could teach the dog a thing or two then...
Miles down the road and nearing sundown Jack was advancing upon Crowley Lane, and had Crowley House in sight. Funny it didn't seem quite so ominous and depressing to him now. Guess he felt better about things now that he knew Em was taking care of herself, no doubt, and he had his own business to attend to. About time,too.
He saw a wagon out front, no one he recognized right off. It was about supper time though, he supposed Al might have visitors over. He'd certainly been the center of excitement lately, Jack allowed.
He put Trotsky out to pasture, giving him some extra oats. He felt he 'hadn't been there' for his horse either lately.
Spontaneously he tossed his arms about ole Trots's neck and gave him a good horse-hug. Trots turned his head and rubbed it against Jack's back, then, true to his moniker, trotted off abruptly where green grass awaited.
Well, time to take my medicine, thought Jack, heading up onto the porch. As he neared the screen door, he could hear voices within, female voices; gay, light and laughing, while Aleister's bass rumbled on about something or other. Hmm.
Inside, Jack hung up his hat and headed into the kitchen where the activity seemed to be centered. As he rounded the corner he viewed a merry domestic scene: Aleister, uncharacteristically attired in an apron stirring a pot upon the stove, while Sugar waved a rolling pin about and was chatting animatedly regarding some recent bruhaha which had transpired at Woody's apparently. There was another woman there with whom Jack was unacquainted, somewhat older than Sugar with dark hair and flashing dark eyes and a wry smile.
While Sugar rolled biscuits, the mystery woman was busy
chopping walnuts.
'Jack!' Aleister noticed him, at last. 'You have certainly missed all of the action this time. But, I guess you've come from Jethro and Homer's so you know about most of it.'
'Indeed.'
'Ah. Pardon me, Jack--please allow me to introduce Mrs. Steed. She teaches at the high school here.'
'Pleased to meet you, Ma'am,' said  Jack, bowing slightly.
Mrs. Steed wiped her hands upon an apron, borrowed from Yeats's stock, and offered a fair delicate hand. 'Diana Steed, and I am happy to meet you, Jack...Van Horn, is it?'
The lady had a firm grip.
'Ah, yes, yes it is,'Jack was momentarily flummoxed. He hadn't expected this...party atmosphere when he'd returned.
He was prepared for a heart-to-heart with Al. He'd have to wrap his wee head about all these women in the kitchen and Aleister in an apron, yet.
'Take a seat, Jack! Or better yet, why not get a bottle of that merlot and open it up. Dinner won't be long,'Al advised.'We're having lamb stew and biscuits and Diana is
baking a delicious coffee cake for dessert!'
'Oh, you anticipate beyond my skills, Doctor! I'm sure it will be perfectly edible, however!' Diana shot Al an amused glance. A rather friendly glance, thought Jack.
Jack noted Sugar eyeing the two of them with a satisfied smile. Also in on the proceedings sat Alice on a high stool.
She seemed to have a satisfied smile as well.
'...Wine, Jack?' Al raised an eyebrow as he put the lid upon the stewpot.
'Yes, ah, coming right up. Won't be but a moment. Ladies,..'
Jack bowed himself awkwardly out and headed downstairs to the cellar, the sounds of silvery feminine voices and Al's chuckles followed him. Well, this is good, Jack thought. Al has company now. Yes. A good thing.
Why did Jack feel lonely all of a sudden? He sighed. So this is how Al has been feeling. For too long. He took down two bottles of the good merlot, which he'd re-labeled, having had to remove the 2026 vintage year label from the original. Get used to it, Jacky boy, as Homer would say.
There's certainly bigger problems than yours afoot and you haven't been much help with them lately.
Time for all that to change, Jack decided and putting a good face on things he headed upstairs to be sociable. He guessed there were worse things folks had to face than having dinner with a couple of pretty women.
Yes, indeed.Jack was suddenly glad he'd shaved.
                          . . . . .