Memories of the Past
By
This story ties in with the “Heartache and Recovery” storyline, my series about Captain Hank Stanley and his wife Louisa Martin Lopez Stanley. Background: Maria Lopez has just died and her children and their families are reminiscing about her and how Louisa ended up with the Lopez family.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
“I can't believe Mami is really gone, Marco,” Louisa Stanley said to her brother, wiping away her tears. “I thought she would be around forever.”
“So did I, Lou,” answered Marco. “But she led a good, long life, full of laughter and love.”
The siblings followed their mother's casket as it was carried from the church. Louisa's husband, Hank, and their children, Emma, Matthew, Hannah, and Robert, walked behind them. Among the mourners were Hank's crew from Station 51 and their families. As she got into the car, Louisa chuckled at a long-forgotten memory.
“Do you recall the first time Mami and Papi brought us all here as a family, right after the adoption was final, Marco? I sure caused a ruckus that day, didn't I?”
The Latino man smiled. “You sure did, little sister,” he answered. “But once Father Herrera gave you that stern look he always had, you settled down pretty fast.”
They fell silent as the procession reached the cemetery. Emma, Louisa's oldest daughter came to stand beside her mother, her pretty face wet with tears. “Mama,” she whispered, “are you all right? You look so lost.”
“I will be, sweetheart, as long as I have my family here with me.” Louisa turned to smile at her other children, who were standing with their father. “Your Abuela Maria is with Abuelo Armando and Tía Consuela now. I wish you kids had known your grandfather. He was a wonderful man.”
The assembled mourners fell silent as Father Sullivan, the family's priest stepped to the side of Maria's gravesite.
“Maria Lopez touched the lives of many people in this community,” he said. “Everyone who knew her loved her dearly. She always said that all the souls she helped over the years were part of her family. Her work with the poor and homeless of Los Angeles will never be forgotten. Let us pray. Lord, take the spirit of Maria Gracíela Lopez to your breast and let her fill Your Kingdom with all the love, kindness, and warmth she had here on Earth. Be with her family and many friends during their time of grief. Comfort them, oh Father, and strengthen their hearts as the mourn the passing of this great woman. Allow them to remember her with laughter and joy, rather than tears and regret. In Your name and the name of Your son, we pray. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Amen.”
Louisa and Marco stepped forward, both tossing a handful of earth over their mother's coffin. The rest of the crowd followed, each person saying a silent prayer as they committed their loved one to the ground.
As the siblings returned to their car, John Gage, their long time friend, approached. Johnny had traveled all the way from Montana when he had heard that Maria had passed away. The former paramedic's cheeks were damp but he was smiling, his familiar crooked grin firmly in place.
Louisa reached out to hug her friend. “Thank you for coming, Johnny. Mami would have been pleased.”
“She was quite a lady,” answered Gage with a catch in his gruff voice. “I'm really gonna miss her, you know. She certainly had a way of making a person feel like a member of the family.”
“To her, you were family, John,” replied Marco, shaking his friend's hand. “Just like everyone else at the Station.”
“Good to see you, Gage,” said Hank, coming up behind them. “How's the cattle business treating you?”
“Pretty good, Cap.” Johnny shook his head, chuckling softly. “I mean, Chief. I guess I'll never get used to calling you that.” He turned as Hank and Louisa's children joined them. “Hey, kids. How about a hug for your old Uncle Johnny?”
Hannah smiled faintly as she hugged the man. “You'll never be old,” she teased. “Even with all that gray hair.”
“Thanks, Hannah. Pay you later. Matt, Rob, how you doing, boys?”
Matthew nodded a greeting, but thirteen-year-old Robert looked down at his feet, hiding the tears that were streaming down his cheeks. His mother wrapped an arm around the teenager's shoulders, pulling him to her. “It's okay to cry, baby,” she whispered huskily. Robert clung to his mother, sobbing loudly as he buried his face in her neck.
“We're all going back to the ranch,” said Emma. “Daddy, would you like me to drive?”
“Yeah, kitten, that would be nice,” said Hank, smiling proudly at his eldest daughter. “We'll meet you there, John.” He turned and led his family away, his own eyes misty with unshed tears.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The Stanley Home, Two Hours Later
“That's really the only time I can remember Mama being flustered,” Marco was saying, his dark eyes twinkling. “What in the world ever possessed you to tell Father Herrera that you preferred Hell to Heaven anyways, Lou?”
“I was still in my rebellious phase, Marco,” answered Louisa with a grin. “I was mad at the whole world back then. It's a good thing Mami had patience to spare; otherwise I would have been in deep trouble.”
“How did you end up with Grandma and Grandpa, Mama?” asked Robert, leaning against his father's shoulder. “I've never heard you talk about it.”
“I wouldn't mind hearing that myself,” called Chet Kelly from across the room. “What made Maria and Armando want to adopt a hellion like you, Louisa?”
Louisa laughed. “Oh, come on. You all don't want to hear what a pain in the butt I used to be, do you?” she asked.
“Used to be?” grinned Louisa's half-brother, Mike Stoker, chuckled. “Seems to me, you're still a pain in the ass, little sister!”
“Like you're an angel, Michael,” teased his sister. “Being a Captain hasn't tamed your wild streak any.”
“I'll go along with that,” answered Chris Desoto, Roy and Joanne's oldest son. “Cap pulls more pranks than anyone else in our station.”
“See? What did I tell you?” grinned Louisa. “Okay, if you really want to know, I'll tell you. It all started a little over thirty years ago, when I was eleven,” she recalled. “I had just arrived at the orphanage in St. Louis . My foster family at the time had brought me there because they couldn't control me.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
“We didn't know where else to turn, Mr. Blakely,” said Ronald Shaw. “We just can't get through to her.”
“I'm sure we can find a place for her,” answered Mr. Blakely, head of the orphanage. “Come here, child.”
Eleven-year-old Louisa stepped forward, a sullen expression on her face. She stared up at the man, her eyes full of defiance. She ignored her foster father, pulling away when Ronald tried to take her arm.
“There's no need to be afraid, Louisa,” said Blakely. “I'm not going to hurt you.”
“Why should you be any different than he is?” spat the girl, jerking a thumb at Shaw. “All he ever does is tell me I've done something wrong, or that I'm bad.”
“You're not bad, dear, just maybe a little misunderstood. She'll be well taken care of, Mr. Shaw. If you'll just sign here, you can be on your way.”
“Good riddance to bad rubbish,” sniffed Ronald. He signed the papers Blakely handed to him and stood up. “Goodbye, Louisa, and good luck.” He turned on his heel and walked out of the room.
Mr. Blakely sighed and smiled down at the girl standing before him. “I know this is hard for you to understand, Louisa, but my staff and I will do everything we can to find you a good home. Would you like that?”
Louisa refused to answer, instead staring down at the carpet under her worn shoes. Finally, she looked up at Blakely, a faint smile crossing her lips. “I guess so,” she whispered. “And I understand a lot more than you think I do. Ronald and Tina were just the last in a long line of people who didn't want me.”
Blakely chuckled. “Let's get you settled, young lady. You'll be sharing a room with Lisa, who is about your age. Come along now. We'll get your things put away and then get you something to eat.” He stretched out a hand to the child, smiling when she put her small, delicate hand in his palm.
Later that day, Louisa was sitting on her bed when Lisa, her roommate, approached. “So you're the new kind, huh?” asked the girl. “Welcome to Hopeless Alley, as we call it. What's your name?”
“Louisa,” whispered the smaller girl. “How long have you been here?”
“A couple years,” answered Lisa. “After my parents died, no one in their family wanted the responsibility, so they dumped me here. What's your story?”
“My last foster family said they couldn't handle me, so they brought me here,” replied Louisa. “Just the last in a long line of creeps who didn't give a crap.”
“Get used to it, kid. Did Blakely give you the grand tour?”
“What there was of it,” said Louisa with a grin. “At least this dump is better than my last home. That place sucked.”
The other girl laughed. “Sounds like you and me are gonna get along just fine,” she said. “You know the score. I'll fill you in on who to avoid. Most of the people here are okay, but there's a few you need to watch out for. Especially some of the boys. Don't worry, though; I'll watch your back if you watch mine.”
Over the next fourteen months, Louisa saw other kids at the orphanage come and go. Her friend, Lisa, was adopted six months after she arrived, leaving her alone. By then, the little girl had learned very well how to protect herself from the other children. She had developed a reputation as someone to be reckoned with when she had fended off an attack by one of the other girls on her floor. Louisa had used her wits, along with her fists, to ensure that no one ever tried to take advantage of her again.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Present Day
“Sounds like you were a scrapper, Louisa,” chuckled Roy Desoto.
“I kind of had to be, Roy , if I wanted to survive,” replied Louisa. “But after that, none of the other kids messed with me. I guess I earned their respect.”
“So, what happened after that, Mama?” asked Matthew.
“I was getting to that, son. After I had been at the orphanage about a year and a half, some priests visited from all over the country. I guess Mr. Blakely had asked them to come and see if any of us could be sent out to families in their respective parishes.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
“As you can see, we're incredibly overcrowded here,” said Mr. Blakely as he led the way down a long hallway. “The trustees and I have asked you here in hopes that some of these children could be placed in other facilities.”
“Our place in Los Angeles has room for a few children,” replied Father Herrera. “Some of the Latino families in my parish are considering adopting children. Maria and Armando Lopez spoke to me a few days before I left. They want to adopt a little girl about eleven or twelve years of age. They have two children already, but wish to add to their family.”
“I think I have just the girl, Father,” answered Blakely. “Her name is Louisa Martin. She's been here with us for a little over a year. She can be a handful at times, but she's a very sweet, precocious child.”
Blakely and the priests entered what was known as the “common area”. Several children of various ages were clustered together in little groups. Blakely pointed across the room to a girl with long dark hair sitting in the corner, reading to some of the younger children. “That's Louisa right there, Father,” he said. “Follow me and I'll introduce you.”
The girl looked up as the men approached. Father Herrera smiled at her, bending down to shake her hand.
“Louisa, this is Father Miguel Herrera, from Los Angeles . He wanted to meet you.”
“How do you do, Father?” said Louisa politely, looking up at the black-clad priest. “I'm pleased to meet you, sir.”
“Hello, Louisa. How old are you, child?” asked Herrera.
“I just turned thirteen,” answered the girl. “I've never been to California . What's it like?”
“Well, it's warm and sunny, with lots of places for children like yourself to play. Would you like that?”
“Yes, sir. I don't really like cold weather all that much, so it sounds wonderful,” replied Louisa, a bright smile lighting up her pretty face. “Are there beaches, too?”
The priest laughed. “Yes, we have lots of beaches. Do you like to swim, dear?”
“Yes, Father! Very much! Some of the matrons here took us swimming in the river a few months ago, when it was warm. It was fun!” she replied. Louisa looked up at the man. “Are you here to adopt, Father?”
“No, child. I'm here to visit. But a family in my parish is looking to adopt a little girl,” said the priest. “Would you like to meet them?”
“Are they nice? Some of my families weren't, so I don't want to live with people who aren't nice to me.”
Blakely laughed. “We can talk about that another time, Louisa. Run along now and get washed up. It's almost time for dinner.”
“Yes, sir.” Louisa followed some other girls out of the room. At the doorway, she turned back and waved at Father Herrera. The priest waved back, his eyes sparkling.
“Like you said, Mr. Blakely, she's a very precious child. I'd like to bring Maria and Armando here to meet her themselves, if that's all right.”
“It would be excellent, Father,” answered Blakely. “Louisa has had a very rough time of it over the past few years. Nothing would make me happier than to see her placed with a loving family.”
“I'd like to talk to the social worker handling Louisa's case, if I may,” said Father Herrera. “Maybe she could give me some information to take back to Maria and Armando.”
“We don't really know that much about her, actually,” answered the director. “Her mother placed her in a home in San Diego when she was three. Other than that, there's not much background information to work with.”
“What about her father? Any record of him?”
“No. According to the facility in San Diego , Louisa's mother claimed that her father was deceased,” said Blakely sadly. “Here we are. Miss Sutton, this is Father Herrera. He would like to see Louisa Martin's file.”
“Certainly,” answered Katherine Sutton. “As we can see, there's not much here. I can make copies for you if you like.”
“Yes, that would be appreciated,” answered the priest. “A couple in my parish back on Los Angeles , Maria and Armando Lopez, expressed a desire to adopt a young girl. They have two children now, a boy and a girl, but they want to add another child to the family.”
Miss Sutton smiled. “A family is what that girl needs, Father,” she said. “I don't know if Mr. Blakely has told you, but Louisa had a hard time fitting in with some of her foster families. One couple in particular, if I remember correctly. I'm not sure of the circumstances, but Social Services had to get involved and remove Louisa from their custody.” She shook her head sadly. “It's really a shame how badly some of these children are treated.”
“I'm sure Louisa will be well treated by the Lopez family, Miss Sutton. I've known Armando since he was a young boy and Maria is a very loving woman. Thank you for making copies of these records for me. I'll speak to Maria and Armando as soon as I return home and let you know what they decide to do.”
Blakely showed the priest out. As he walked to his car, Father Herrera noticed Louisa watching him from a window. He waved to the girl, smiling when she repeated the gesture.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Los Angeles , California , One Week Later
“She sounds perfect,” said Maria Lopez, after Father Herrera had described Louisa to her and her husband. “You said she was thirteen?”
“Yes, and very pretty. When I first saw her, she was reading to some of the younger children,” answered the priest. “I told Mr. Blakely and Miss Sutton that I would call them as soon as you reached a decision.”
“What about you and Consuela, Marco?” Armando asked, turning to his children, who were sitting at the table listening as the priest spoke. “Would you welcome this girl into our family?”
Marco bit his lip, mulling over his father's question. At seventeen, he was involved in many major decisions affecting the family. After looking at his fifteen-year-old sister to gauge her reaction, he smiled. “I think it's a wonderful idea, Papa,” he said. “I've always wanted another sister. I'll do everything I can to make her feel at home here.”
“I will, too,” put in Consuela. “But I just have one concern. Does she speak Spanish?”
“According to these records, she does,” replied Maria. “Of course, she can always learn. Now, if we do decide to take Louisa in, I'm counting on both of you to help her adjust to the change, not only here at home, but at school as well.”
“We will, Mama,” they answered.
“All right, then,” smiled Maria. “If your father agrees, I think we should give this girl a chance. I'm not saying it will be easy, but if we all work together, things will work out.”
“I do, querida ,” said Armando. “So, Father, what do we need to do?”
“First, I'll need to contact Mr. Blakely and inform him of your decision. After that, we fly to St. Louis and bring Louisa back here. I'm sure that you will take to her as quickly as I did.”
The priest stood up and picked up the telephone. After a brief conversation with Mr. Blakely, he hung up. “He'll be expecting us,” he said. “He told me that Miss Sutton will have all the necessary paperwork ready for you to sign when you get there.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Present Day
“It happened that quickly, Mama?” asked Emma.
Louisa smiled. “Yes. Once Father Herrera made his phone call, Miss Sutton started filling out the paperwork. I'll never forget the first time I laid eyes on your grandparents. I knew right away that they were who I had been waiting for all those years.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
“Here she is,” said Miss Sutton, leading Louisa into the room. “Louisa, this is Mr. and Mrs. Lopez. Go ahead, dear; don't be shy.”
The girl looked up at the couple, her eyes revealing her apprehension. “Hello,” she whispered.
Armando knelt down and smiled at her. “ Hola, querida . Would you like to go home with us?” he said kindly.
Louisa's eyes widened. “Now I'm glad that I took all those Spanish classes,” she chuckled. “Did your children come with you?” she asked, looking over the man's shoulder.
“No, they are at home, waiting for us to bring you back,” answered Armando. “They are looking forward to meeting you.”
“Everything is in order, Mr. Lopez,” said Miss Sutton, closing the file she was carrying. “Louisa, I wish you good luck. If you ever need anything, please feel free to contact me.”
“Thank you, Miss Sutton,” replied the girl. She stared up at Maria. “ Hola, Mami ,” she said with a shy smile. “¿Cómo está Ud?”
“ Muy bien ,” answered Maria. “You speak Spanish very well, Louisa. I am impressed.”
“ Gracias, Mami ,” replied the girl. “I guess that would be useful if I'm going to live with a Mexican family.”
Armando laughed. “ Sí, it would be,” he chuckled. “Mr. Blakely, Miss Sutton, thank you. I wish we could stay longer, but we have a flight to catch. Come along, hija ,” he said, taking Louisa by the hand.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Present Day
“You mean, they treated you like their daughter from day one?” asked Joanne.
“That's how it works, Jo,” answered Marco. “Mama and Papa thought that Lou was their daughter, even if she wasn't theirs biologically. Even though the adoption wouldn't be official for another year, she was already considered part of the family.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Los Angeles
“Here we are,” said Maria as they pulled up in front of a small house. Sitting on the front porch, Louisa saw two young adults. They stood up as the car stopped, nervous smiles on their faces.
“Marco, Consuela, this is Louisa,” said Armando, making the introductions.
“¡Bienvenido!” called Marco as he approached. “I'm Marco and this is my sister Consuela.”
“Hello,” whispered Louisa shyly. Her hand tightened on the handle of her battered suitcase as a small group of teenagers watched from next door. A tall, heavy-set boy eyed her with an amused expression. The girl's face burned with embarrassment as the boy turned to whisper to one of his friends.
“Hey, Julio!” shouted Consuela. “Watch what you say about my new sister. Don't make me come over there and teach you not to mess with the Lopez kids!” She turned to Louisa, an apologetic smile on her lips. “Just ignore him. He thinks he's better than everyone else just because he's starting college this fall.”
“Going to college doesn't make you better than anyone else,” replied Louisa. “By the looks of him, he could use a good bath to go with that education.”
Marco stared at her open-mouthed for an instant before bursting into rolling laughter. “ Madre de Dios !” he snorted. “I can already tell you can take care of yourself, little sister. Come on; I'll show you where your room is.” He threw an arm around the girl's shoulders, still laughing.
“And you were worried about bringing her into this neighborhood, ‘Mando,” Maria teased her husband.
“I think we might have our hands full with that one, querida ,” answered the Latino man. “Mark my words; no one will be able to push her around.”
Over the next few weeks, Louisa shed her cloak of shyness and blossomed into a happy, well-adjusted young lady. After a few scuffles with the neighborhood bullies, including the young man who had jeered at her the day she arrived, she became known as a person who stood up for herself, no matter what the circumstances. Marco and Consuela were there beside her, defending their new sister as if she had been born into their family.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Present Day
“Whatever happened to that guy, Marco?” Louisa asked. “Is he still around?”
Her brother chuckled. “After he tangled with you, he moved away. I guess you scared him good when you punched him in the nose for teasing you about not being Latina .”
Hannah gasped and stared at her mother in surprise. “You really socked him, Mama? But I thought you hated violence?!?”
“I do, honey, but, in some cases, it has its advantages,” replied Louisa with a giggle. “I just got fed up with being tormented and just reacted. But,” she cautioned, pointing a stern finger at her children, “don't any of you follow my bad example.”
Matthew grinned. “We won't have, too. We'll let you handle all the bullies, Mama.”
Hank chuckled. “Believe me, in that arena, your mother is a champion. Don't forget how she dealt with your fifth grade teacher when she tried to make you stay after school for speaking Spanish in class. I'm sure that woman ever won't.”
Emma giggled. “Poor Mrs. Dunbar. She was never the same after Mama gave her a piece of her mind!”
Louisa shrugged nonchalantly. “No one messes with my children and gets away with it,” she joked. “Not even their father,” she said, smiling at her husband affectionately.
“So, Mama is the one who really wears the pants in this family, huh, Pop?” grinned Robert.
“I plead the fifth, son,” answered Hank. “I learned a long time ago not to get in your mother's way when she's defending her family.”
“I'll go along with that,” put in Mike with a laugh. “Lou's like a mother bear when it comes to her kids, not to mention the rest of her family. Do you remember how you dealt with Mandy's boyfriend that time he showed up, little firebrand?”
“You mean Angelo?” returned Louisa with a grin. “I sure do, Michael. What did you expect me to do after he was messing with her head the way he was? To this day, he watches his step around me.”
“Well, you did go after him with a buggy whip, sweetheart,” chuckled Hank. “Any man would run from that.”
“I don't remember that, Mama,” said Hannah. “When was this?”
“A long time ago, honey, when I was pregnant with you,” answered her mother. “You don't really want to hear that, do you?”
“I do, Mama,” said Robert, leaning against his mother's shoulder. “What made you so mad at him?”
Hank laughed. “He called your Aunt Amanda a bad name in front of your mother,” he replied. “She told him to knock it off, and then he called her the same name. That lit the fuse on your mother's temper.” He winked at his wife. “She drove him off the property and told him not to come back until he could speak to women respectfully. I've never seen her so angry in my life.”
“Because you know your place, hose jockey,” smiled Louisa sweetly.
“Come on, Louisa,” cut in Chet. “Go on with your story.”
“All right, Chester . You twisted my arm. After I had been with the Lopez family about a year, Mami and Papi called Miss Sutton in St. Louis and told her that they wanted to finalize the adoption. I didn't understand why at the time, but she tried to talk them out of it. After I found my birth mother, I finally understood why.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
“Are you sure you want to adopt her, Mr. Lopez?” said Miss Sutton, nervously tapping her fingernails on her desk blotter.
“Yes, positive,” replied Armando. “Maria and I adore Louisa and we want her to be our legal daughter. Is there a problem?”
“No, no, of course not. But I'll need to speak to Louisa and make sure it's what she wants.”
“Fine, ask her yourself. She's right outside.” The Latino man got up and went to the door. “Louisa, querida , could you come in here for a moment? Miss Sutton would like to speak with you.”
“Yes, Papi . What do you want, Miss Sutton?”
“Please sit down, dear. I'm sure you know that Mr. and Mrs. Lopez have expressed the desire to adopt you. How do you feel about that?”
The girl's smile lit up her face. “I think it's awesome!” she answered. “I love them very much and want nothing more than to be there daughter.” Her brow furrowed. “Why? Is there a problem?”
“No, Louisa, there's not; I just wanted to be sure there wasn't any misunderstanding. There will have to be a hearing before the Family Court judge, but since you're so adamant about it, I don't foresee any major issues.”
“Then schedule the appointment. I finally have a family that really and truly cares about me. I'm not about to give that up just because some old fart of a judge thinks it's not a good idea.”
Mr. Blakely smiled from his seat by the office window. “I've never heard Judge Phillips described quite that way, young lady, but once he sees how happy you are, he'll gladly expedite the adoption. I'm very pleased that Mr. and Mrs. Lopez have decided to make you a permanent member of their family.”
“So am I, “agreed Louisa. “So, what do we do now? Do I have to sign any paperwork?”
“No, dear, you're still considered a minor, so that won't be necessary,” said Miss Sutton. “I'll call the court this afternoon and arranged for the hearing. You'll have to stay here in St. Louis until then. Are you able to do that?”
“I would walk on hot coals if that's what it takes,” said Maria, speaking for the first time since their arrival. “I've grown very attached to this young lady, and I'm not about to give her up without a fight!” she continued, smiling at Louisa.
The social worker picked up the phone and dialed a number. She spoke for several minutes then hung up. “The hearing is set for a week from this coming Tuesday. Louisa, the judge will want to speak to you privately in his chambers, so that he can be positive of your wishes.”
“Then I won't be in there that long because I know exactly what I want!” emphasized Louisa. “I want to be a Lopez!”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Tuesday Morning
“All rise. The Family Court of the City of St. Louis is now in session,” intoned the bailiff. “The Honorable Judge Ronald Phillips presiding.”
Louisa stared up at the bench as the judge took his seat. “Be seated,” he said. “We are here to determine the future of a minor child, Louisa Nicole Martin. Are all parties present?”
“Yes, Your Honor,” answered Miss Sutton, getting to her feet.
“I've read over Miss Martin's file and I am very disturbed by her past problems with one of her foster families,” said Judge Phillips sternly. “Why did it take the State so long to intervene in this case, Miss Sutton?”
“Uh, be-because we weren't aware of any problems, Your Honor,” stammered the social worker. “It wasn't until Mr. and Mrs. Shaw brought her to our facility that we became aware of the girl's past difficulties.”
“That's hardly any excuse, Miss Sutton!” roared the judge angrily. “Someone must have seen what was going on! Why wasn't the abuse reported?!?”
The social worker hung her head in shame. “I'm sorry, Your Honor,” she whispered. “If I had known….”
“You didn't know because you didn't take the time to find out,” replied the judge. He sighed heavily, pressing his hands against the top of the bench. “But that's all in the past now, isn't it? Let's get on with getting this girl into a good, stable home.” He looked down at a paper in front of him. “I have here a report from a Father Miguel Herrera, who identifies himself as the Lopez family's priest. Is the Father present here today?”
“Yes, Your Honor,” said the priest, standing up.
“Good, good. Father Herrera, from what you've written here, I can tell that you hold Armando and Maria Lopez in very high regard. I am well aware of their feelings regarding this adoption, but I would like to speak to Miss Martin about how she feels. Louisa, would you please accompany me back to my chambers?”
“Yes, sir,” answered Louisa, following the judge into the small room. She sat down in a chair, twisting her hands together nervously.
“Louisa, there is no reason to be nervous,” said Phillips, flashing her a friendly smile. “You've been living with the Lopez family for over a year now, haven't you? Do you like it there?”
“Yes, sir, very much!” gushed the girl, her face lighting up. “ Mami and Papi have been very good to me, and I love them a lot!”
“And how do you get along with their children, Marco and Consuela?”
“They treat me like I'm already their sister. It was a little uncomfortable at first, but once we got to know each other better, it was smooth sailing all the way.”
Judge Phillips chuckled. “Now the most important question. Would you like to remain with the Lopezes permanently? I know that you're only fourteen, but I feel that at that age, you are mature enough to know what you want.”
Louisa smiled. “I'd like nothing more, sir,” she replied. “Since I went to live with them, they've treated me better than anyone ever has before.”
“Fine, then that's all I need to hear. Come along, dear. Let's go join your new family.”
After hearing the judge's decision, Maria burst into happy tears. She thanked the man over and over, clearly overjoyed by his ruling. “You won't regret this, Judge Phillips. I promise you that Louisa will never want for anything or be made to feel that she is an outsider.”
“I'm going to hold you to that, Mrs. Lopez,” answered Phillips. “Louisa, will you promise to write to me and let me know how things are going?”
“You have my word, sir. And thank you. You've made me the happiest girl in the world today!”
“You're most welcome, Miss Lopez ,” he emphasized with a grin. “Miss Sutton, I'm counting on you to make this adoption go as smoothly as possible.”
“Yes, Your Honor. All that's needed now is for Mr. and Mrs. Lopez to sign the necessary paperwork.”
“See that it is taken care of as soon as possible. Louisa, congratulations. I wish you a happy life. This court is now in recess.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Present Day
“Did you know then that Miss Sutton was your aunt, Mama?” asked Hannah.
“No, sweetheart. I didn't learn that until many years later,” answered Louisa.
“What happened after that, Mama?” asked Matthew, smiling at his mother.
“After your grandparents brought me back to Los Angeles , they threw a fiesta to ‘officially' welcome me into the family,” said Louisa. “What a party that was!” she grinned. “Do you remember, Marco?”
The Latino man laughed. “How could I forget? There had to be well over a hundred people there. I'll never forget the look on your face when you saw everyone.”
“It was a little overwhelming at the time, you know,” replied Louisa. “Aunts, uncles, grandparents, and a whole army of cousins. It took me a long time just to keep all their names straight! And you weren't much help, big brother,” she said, gently punching Marco's arm. “All you did, all day long, was tease me about writing names down on a notepad.”
“Good thing you had Jamie there to help you,” said Marco slyly, making his sister blush. “Of course at that time, you weren't involved with him yet; you two were just acquaintances.”
“Who's Jamie?” asked Hank, raising an eyebrow.
Louisa's blush deepened as she answered. “His full name was Jamie Castillo Jiménez,” she said softly. “He was a boy that lived in our neighborhood. I didn't really get to know him until we both started going to the same piano teacher.”
“Wow, this is getting good!” interjected Robert, drawing laughter. “Come on, Mama, tell us more.”
“Hold your horses, young man,” teased Louisa gently, ruffling her youngest son's hair. “After a few months, I decided that I wanted to be a concert pianist. Of course, that took money, so I had to get a job to pay for the lessons.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
“Please, Mami . I really want to do this,” pleaded Louisa. “I talked to Mr. Sanchez and he said he would hire me to be a bag girl after school and on weekends. I can pay for my piano lessons out of the money I'll be making.”
“What about your studies, young lady?” asked Maria. “Your Papi and I will expect you to keep your grades up.”
“I promise. I know that I can do both.” Seeing that her words weren't convincing her parents, the girl tried again. “I'll make you a deal. If after six months, I get below a B in any of my classes, I'll quit the job and concentrate on school.”
“All right,” said Armando, giving in. “But,” he cautioned, raising a stern finger, “anything below a B, you find another way to pay for your lessons. Is that understood?”
Louisa grinned. “Yes, Papi . Thank you so much,” she squealed, hugging her father joyously.
“Okay, then,” put in Maria. “Have you spoken to Mrs. Patterson about taking lessons from her yet?”
“No, Mami ,” answered Louisa. “I wanted to make sure I had your permission first.”
The Latino woman laughed. “That's my girl,” she teased. “What would you have done if we had said no?”
“Well, there's always drama club,” replied the girl with a giggle. “If I can't be a musician, I can always be an actress!”
“Even an actress needs culture, querida ,” smiled Armando. “Go on; call Mrs. Patterson and arrange your lessons. And don't forget your promise to me and your Mami .”
“I won't, Papi ! You can count on it!” said Louisa, her smile stretching from ear to ear.
Two months Later
“I'm very impressed with your progress, Louisa,” said Mrs. Patterson, standing behind her student as she played scales. “I think you're more than ready to move on to the next level.”
“Thank you, ma'am,” grinned Louisa. “Father Herrera has been letting me practice on the church's piano after Mass. ”
The door to the small house opened and a young man walked in. Louisa's eyes widened as she saw the new arrival, thinking that he looked familiar.
“I'm sorry,” said the boy. “Am I interrupting?”
“Not at all, Jamie,” answered Mrs. Patterson. “Louisa and I are just finishing with her lesson. Have you two met?”
“No, ma'am, not formally, but I'd sure like to,” flirted Jamie, smiling at Louisa, who blushed crimson and looked down at the piano keys.
“Louisa Lopez, meet Jamie Castillo Jiménez. Jamie, meet Louisa.”
“Hello,” whispered the girl, reaching out to take his hand. Jamie squeezed her fingers gently, his eyes lighting up in appreciation.
“Pleased to meet you. We've met before, haven't we? Right after Maria and Armando brought you back from St. Louis ?”
“That's right!” grinned Louisa. “You were at my party. How long have you been talking lessons?”
“Not long,” replied Jamie. He looked up as Marco came into the room. “Hey, Marco.”
“Hi, Jamie. Louisa, are you ready to go? Mama is waiting to take you to your doctor's appointment.”
“Yes,” answered Louisa, getting to her feet. “It was nice to see you again, Jamie. Same time next week, Mrs. Patterson?”
“Yes, dear. I'll expect you right after school.”
“Bye, Louisa,” said Jamie, sitting on the bench. “See you around.”
Marco frowned when he saw the moonstruck expression on his sister's face. “Don't even think about it, Lou. He's too mature for you.”
Louisa laughed merrily. “Relax, big brother,” she teased. “It's not like I'm planning to run away with him. I just think he's cute.”
Her brother rolled his eyes. “Just keep walking. You've got enough on your plate between school, your job, and your lessons. You can worry about boys later.”
“Uh huh, so you say. With you around, it's lucky I even get to talk to any boys, let alone get to know one,” grumbled the girl. “I'm fifteen years old, Marco. If you have your way, I'll never fall in love and get married.”
Marco chuckled. “Don't forget about Papa,” he joked. “He'd like nothing better for you to stay innocent until you're thirty.”
“Heaven forbid,” shot back Louisa. “Don't get all bent out of shape, big brother. I have a lot of things I want to do before I settle down and start having babies.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Present Day
Hank laughed. “If Marco would have had anything to say about it, I never would have stood a chance with you, honey,” he said to his wife. “Good thing you didn't take a shine to Kelly, or he would have been in deep trouble!”
“Hey!” protested Chet to much laughter. “Who says Lou didn't ?” he joked. “You just got there first, Cap.”
“Lucky for me,” teased Louisa affectionately. “Chet, you're a great friend, but if we had gotten together, I have the feeling our children would be insatiable pranksters, just like you.”
“Well, what about Gage over here?” persisted the Irishman. “What would your kids have been like with him for a father?”
“Gullible,” put in Roy .
Johnny glared at him, then laughed. “Yeah, but they'd be gorgeous, just like their mother,” he grinned, winking at Louisa.
“Good answer, Johnny,” giggled Louisa. “But I found the man I was looking for in Hank. Even though he can drive me nuts sometimes, I love him with all my heart.”
“Ditto,” smiled Hank. “And you drive me nuts sometimes, too, sweetheart. But in a good way,” he amended, seeing the look in his wife's eyes.
“Just because you're a Chief at work, Hank, doesn't mean you're Chief at home,” teased Louisa, giving him a playful swat.
“Tell us more about Jamie, Mama,” interrupted Emma. “Were you in love with him?”
Her mother smiled dreamily. “I thought I was, but I was only fifteen years old at the time. Jamie and I started spending time together, at first just to practice our piano scales, but after a few weeks, it developed into more than that.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
“Are you going to the dance Saturday night, Lou?” asked Jamie, smiling at her. The teens were walking home from school, holding hands and enjoying their time together.
“Maybe. Are you asking me?” returned Louisa, matching his smile.
“Depends. Will your brother hunt me down if I do?”
The girl laughed. “Let me handle Marco. You worry about convincing my Papi .”
Jamie groaned. “You think he'll let you go with me?”
“I don't see why not,” answered Louisa. “He knows your family pretty well.”
“Okay, but back me up, okay? I don't want to end my budding musical career by having your father break my fingers.”
“Hey, lovebirds!” jeered Manuel Vega, a boy a few years older. “When's the wedding?” he joked.
Louisa glared at him. “What's the matter, Vega? You jealous cuz I turned you down when you asked me out?”
“Why would I be? It's not like I was serious anyhow,” shot back Manuel. “I wouldn't date a little white bitch like you on a bet!”
Jamie dropped Louisa's hand and started after the boy. “Watch what you say, Manny,” he growled. “Maybe she just didn't want to date a piece of trash like you.”
Manuel grinned smugly and approached the couple, a menacing gleam in his dark eyes. “Don't let your mouth write a check your butt can't cash, piano boy. I might have to break those delicate fingers of yours.”
“Bring it on, slime. I'm not afraid of you.”
Vega shot out a fist, impacting with the younger boy's jaw. Jamie stumbled backwards and fell. Manuel laughed, then turned his gaze on Louisa. “What do you say about your boyfriend now, white girl? He ain't as tough as he thinks he is.”
Louisa stared up at Manuel and, without thinking, threw a punch. Her small fist hit the bully square in the nose. Manuel screamed in pain as blood spurted everywhere.
“Looks like you're not so tough yourself,” she sneered. She bent down and helped Jamie to his feet. Manuel reached out and tried to grab her arm, but she moved away, easily avoiding his hand away. She shot out her arm and punched him in the stomach as hard as she could. Vega doubled over, a look of surprise flashing across his face. “Come on, Manny. Stand up and fight like a man!” taunted the girl. “Or are you afraid of getting beaten up by a white girl?”
“I'll get you for this, Lopez. You better watch your back from now on,” grumbled Manuel as he staggered away. “That goes for you, too, Jiménez.”
“Get out of here!” shouted Jamie, grabbing Louisa's hand and walking away. “You okay, baby?” he asked with concern.
The girl grinned. “Fine. What about you? Did you hurt yourself when you fell?”
“Naw, just scraped my elbow a little.” Jamie chuckled, his eyes lighting up in admiration. “You sure taught him a thing or two. Where did you learn to fight like that?”
“I have no idea,” answered Louisa. “I didn't even think; I just reacted.”
“Remind me never to make you mad, sweetie. I value my good looks.”
“Uh oh, here comes Marco,” said Louisa, looking down the block. “I wonder if he saw what happened?”
Her question was answered when Marco reached them. “Lou, I saw what you did,” he said, his eyes shining with mirth, belying his stern expression. “Way to go, little sister!” he crowed, throwing an arm around her shoulders.
“You're not mad?” asked Louisa, completely bewildered.
“Of course not,” beamed the older boy. “Manny's been asking for it for years. I bet he never expected a girl to clean his clock like that !”
“Just don't tell Mami and Papi that I've been fighting. I'd never hear the end of it.”
“I won't say a word,” promised Marco. “You might want to clean your knuckles up before we go home, though. Otherwise, I won't have to tell them.”
Louisa looked down at her hand, just noticing the blood on her fingers. She giggled softly. “Yeah, that would be a good idea. Jamie, I'll call you later, okay?”
“Okay, honey,” replied Jamie, kissing her on the cheek. “Don't beat anyone else up on the way home, all right?” he teased.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Present Day
Johnny, Chet, and Roy burst out laughing. “So you were a spitfire even before we met you, huh?” grinned the Irishman.
“She sure was, amigo ,” agreed Marco. “Once word got out that she stood up to Manuel, no one else had the nerve to push her around again. That is, until we went to Montana to visit Antonio.” He laughed, shaking his head. “He challenged her to a fist fight, never imagining that she'd beat him.”
“My wife the boxer,” joked Hank. “I'm glad I never had to fight her.”
“True, but if we had , hose jockey, making up afterwards would have been a lot of fun,” grinned Louisa, making her husband blush.
“Eww, gross, Mama,” moaned Robert. “There's kids in the room. Besides, you and Dad are too old to, um, well, you know,” he went on, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment.
Louisa laughed. If your father and I hadn't ‘you know', none of you kids would even be here!” she reminded him. “And the older the violin, the sweeter the music, young man.”
Robert blushed even redder. “That's an image I really don't need to see, Mama,” he muttered. “Tell us more about that Jamie guy.”
“If you insist,” smiled Louisa. “We were together until Jamie's father got transferred to Virginia . Mr. Jiménez was with the Navy, so their family moved around a lot. I was really sad to see him go. Jamie was, after all, my first serious boyfriend.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Sixteen-year-old Louisa gasped when her boyfriend told her the news. “Transferred? Are you kidding me?” she wailed.
“No, sweetheart,” said Jamie, tears welling in his coffee-colored eyes. “Pop told us this morning. The Navy is transferring him, and us, to Virginia .”
The girl covered her face with her hands. “But why? Things were just starting to work out for us! Can't your Dad just refuse?”
“That's not how it works, Lou. I don't like it any more than you do, but we don't have any choice. Pop has to report to the base in three weeks.”
“I'll never see you again,” answered Louisa, beginning to cry. “You'll find some other girl and forget all about me.”
“Honey, don't talk like that,” replied Jamie, biting his lip. “I'll be eighteen in a couple months, and I'll come back for you. I promise.” He slid his arm around her shoulders. “Lou, please don't cry. We can still write to each other and talk on the phone.”
Louisa pulled away, angrily throwing off his arm. “It's not the same!” she yelled. “Can't you see that?!? You'll still be three thousand miles away!”
The boy stepped back, startled by his girlfriend's shout. “Yeah, I will be, but that doesn't change how I feel about you. I love you, Lou. Distance won't change that.”
“Until you find some other girl to go out with,” protested the girl. “Why don't we just save each other the pain and break up now? You'll make new friends and start dating other girls and soon I'll just be a distant memory for you.”
Jamie rolled his eyes, losing his temper. “Fine! If that's the way you wanna act, goodbye. Have a nice life. Glad to know I actually meant something to you!” He walked away, not looking back.
Louisa wiped her cheek with the back of her hand. She sighed, her eyes revealing the deep hurt settling into her young heart. “I'll never forget you, Jamie Castillo Jiménez,” she whispered softly. “Not ever.” Giving her former boyfriend's retreating back one final glance, she turned around and headed for home.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Present Day
“So, it was over, just like that, Mama?” asked Emma, her face sad. “Did you ever see him again?”
“No, Em, I didn't. We wrote for a while, but like I predicted, Jamie found another girlfriend and forgot all about me. Even now, all these years later, I still think about him from time to time. I guess it's true what they say. A girl never forgets her first love.”
“Do you know where he is now, Uncle Marco?” persisted Emma.
Marco frowned. “Jamie enlisted in the Army and was killed when an explosive shell he was transporting exploded.” The Latino man shook his head sadly. “His mother told me that there wasn't even enough left to bury.”
Hannah sniffled and leaned against her mother's shoulder. “That's so tragic, Mama. Almost like what happened to Daddy before you two met.”
Hank smiled wryly. “It is kind of funny how our lives paralleled, Lou, when you think about it. Sarah was my first love, and I lost her, just like you lost your first love.”
Louisa chuckled. “When did you become so philosophical, hose jockey?” she teased gently. “Don't tell me you actually were listening when Gray Eagle used to talk about fate and destiny?”
“Of course I did, honey,” grinned Hank. “It explains a lot, you know. Didn't you ever wonder why you chose to visit Los Angeles at that particular time? I couldn't explain it at the time, but the first time I met you, something told me that you would wind up being someone important in my life.”
The woman's mouth gaped open. “You never told me that!” she exclaimed. She started to laugh. “I had no idea you felt that way. Otherwise, I would have made my move a lot sooner,” she giggled, raising an eyebrow.
“Mama always said you moved fast, little sister,” put in Marco with a grin. “If you recall, you didn't pine for Jamie that long after he left, either.”
Matthew laughed. “ Now the truth comes out!” he joked. “Mama isn't the sweet, innocent young thing we thought she was.”
His mother shot him a dark look. “Careful, sonny boy. You may be considered an adult, but you're never too old for me to put you across my knee,” she teased, affectionately patting her son's cheek. “I was far from innocent when I met your father. My experience with Tom Parker killed that long before I came home.”
“How did you meet him, Mama?” asked Hannah, changing the subject.
“He came to work for the Johnsons after I had been there about a year or so,” remembered Louisa. “If your grandmother had had her way, we never would have met, either. But I'll go into that chapter of my life later.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
One Year Later
“Are we almost there, Papi ?” groaned Louisa from the backseat of her parents' car. “We've been driving forever !”
“It's about another ten miles, querida ,” answered Armando. He turned his attention back to the road, nodding when his wife pointed out the turn-off just ahead.
Louisa sat back, sighing in frustration. Marco grinned at her. “What's your hurry, Louie?” he teased. “Anxious to see a real cowboy?”
“No,” she replied sarcastically. “I'm just sick of being squished next to a big ape like you.”
The siblings argued for several minutes, until Maria turned in her seat and fixed them with a steely glare. “Both of you, stop that this instant!” she growled. “ Aye carumba ,” she muttered. “I should have gagged you two at the last rest stop.”
Consuela laughed. “You want me to smack them for you, Mama? It might settle them down a little.”
“That won't be necessary, because we're here,” said Armando, stopping the car in front of a large, white ranch house. Louisa scrambled to open her door, eager to stretch her legs. Her face lit up when she saw her cousin, Antonio, speeding towards the vehicle.
“'Tonio!” she shouted, running to meet him. The girl burst out laughing when Antonio swept her up in a tight hug and swung her around in a circle. “Take it easy, you big lug! You're crushing me!” She wriggled out of his arms and stepped back. “It's so good to see you, cousin!”
Antonio whistled in appreciation as he looked her up and down. “Looks like you've grown up since I last saw you, little one. I bet you've got boys following you all over the place!”
“With Marco around? No way! He guards me like Fort Knox !”
“ Tío Armando, Tía Maria!” said the man, turning to greet his relatives. “It's good to see you again. Did you have a nice trip? Hey, Marco. Hello, ‘Suela.”
“Other than wanting to tape the peanut gallery's mouths shut, it was just fine,” answered Armando with a chuckle. He looked around, slightly overwhelmed by all the open space spread out around him. “This place is exactly as you described.”
The Latino cowboy laughed. “Come on in. I want you to meet the rest of the folks.” He reached down and picked up a suitcase, then led the way to the house.
Shortly, the Lopez family stood in the large, airy living room of the main house, sipping lemonade and getting acquainted with Phillip, Dorothy, and Richard Johnson, the owners of the ranch. Several of the ranch hands, including Buck Red Deer, the foreman, and Gray Eagle, a tall, imposing Native American man, joined them. Louisa stared in awe at the raw-boned Indian, fascinated by his elaborately beaded clothing and long, gray-streaked braids.
Marco nudged his sister, whispering, “Lou, it's not polite to stare, you know.”
The girl blushed. “I'm sorry. It's just that I've never seen a real Indian before.” She smiled charmingly at Gray Eagle. “What tribe are you, sir?”
“Lakota Sioux,” he answered. “Would you like to learn more about my people?”
Louisa's face lit up. “Yes, sir, very much! May I, Mami ?”
Maria chuckled. “Go ahead, dear. But don't get too close to the horses.”
Louisa grinned and linked her arm with Gray Eagle's. The Native American man led her outside, explaining what the beadwork on his tunic meant. The girl listened raptly, absorbing the new information like a sponge. After several minutes, Gray Eagle stopped and looked at his new friend.
“Have you ever ridden a horse, Louisa?” he asked.
The girl shook her head. “No, I never had the opportunity. Some of my classmates have horses, but we're not exactly friendly. They think I'm stuck up just because I get good grades.”
Gray Eagle smiled warmly. “If it's all right with your parents, I'll be happy to teach you, if you're willing to learn, that is.”
“I'd love that!” shouted Louisa. “I'll go ask; be right back.”
The Lakota man laughed softly as she ran back into the house. After a moment, she returned, her father and brother in tow. Armando smiled as they reached Gray Eagle. “My daughter tells me that you've volunteered to teach her to ride. Is that correct?”
“Yes, Mr. Lopez,” answered the man. “I taught my grandson to ride when he was even younger than Louisa is now. I promise to be careful.”
“Please, Papi ?” begged Louisa.
Armando smiled, stroking his daughter's cheek. “All right, querida . But do whatever Gray Eagle tells you. And don't try to jump before he says you're ready.”
The girl squealed with delight and hugged her father tightly. “I guess I'll need to change. Unless it's easy to ride in a skirt,” she giggled.
“Some women still ride dressed like that, but I think you will be more comfortable in jeans and cowboy boots,” replied Gray Eagle with a grin. “I just happen to know that your cousin bought a pair of boots for you last week, after he learned you were coming to visit. Why don't you go find him and ask him for them?”
After speaking to Antonio and changing her clothes, Louisa followed her new friend out to the barn. Marco grinned at his cousin as they leaned against the corral fence.
“Louisa certainly has grown into a very attractive young lady,” commented Antonio, lighting a cigarette. “Last time I saw her, she still had braces on her teeth and scabs on her knees.”
Marco chuckled. “She seems to have developed a gift for charming men, too,” he said. “She have most of the neighborhood boys wrapped around her dainty little fingers.”
The cousins watched as Gray Eagle led a gleaming chestnut mare out of the barn. “That's Esmeralda,” Antonio told Marco. “She's very gentle, so don't worry. Little Louie will be just fine.”
“Now, the first thing you must remember, Louisa, is when you dismount, never leave a foot in the stirrup,” instructed Gray Eagle. “If your horse decides to bolt, you could be seriously hurt if you get dragged.”
“Okay,” answered Louisa, taking a firm grip on the saddle horn as the Lakota man boosted her into the saddle. She squirmed for a moment, finally finding a comfortable position on the horse's back.
“Now, very gently, tap her with your heels. And don't pull back too roughly on the reins.”
The girl laughed out loud as she guided the mare around the corral. Her eyes shone with excitement as she felt the movement of the animal's muscles beneath her. “This is great!” she called. “Marco, you've got to try this!”
“I will, once you're done, little sister. I have to say, you like right at home up there!” answered her brother.
By the end of the week, Louisa was riding as if she had been born in the saddle. One afternoon, Gray Eagle and Antonio took her with them when they rode out to check the pasture fences. The girl was awestruck by the natural beauty of the land and the variety of wild beasts she saw. “Is that a wolf, Gray Eagle?” she asked, pointing to the animal as it streaked away over a bluff.
“No, little one, that's a coyote,” he replied. “There aren't many wolves around here anymore. When my grandfather was a boy, wolves were common in this area. But once the big ranches came in, the wolves moved higher into the mountains.”
“We have our share of trouble with the coyotes, nevertheless,” put in Antonio. “Sometimes, we lose a few of the weaker cows to them. Luckily, that doesn't happen very often, though.” He stopped, distracted by something on the edge of the woods several yards ahead. “Look there, Louisa. Right on the edge of the trees. Do you see it?”
Louisa gasped when she saw what her cousin was referring to. A mother bear, with two half-grown cubs, was foraging for food under a fallen log. The carnivore ignored the humans, busy feeding herself and her offspring.
“Come on. Let's not disturb her,” said Gray Eagle softly. He turned his horse, Louisa and Antonio following. The mother bear lifted her head and watched them go, grunting to her cubs to alert them. The trio melted back into the trees, searching for a safer place to feed.
“Are there a lot of bears up here, Antonio?” Louisa asked nervously, looking around at the landscape.
“Enough, cousin. But as long as you don't bother them or get between a mother bear and her cubs, you're safe,” chuckled the cowboy, hiding an amused smile behind his hand.
The girl frowned in annoyance at her cousin's condescending tone. “You probably think I'm just a naïve city slicker, don't you?” she questioned bluntly. “I'll have you know, that before Mami and Papi adopted me, I spent some time in the backwoods of Georgia .”
“Doing what, querida ?” teased Antonio. “Wrestling alligators?” He stopped when he saw the growing anger on his cousin's face. “Okay, okay, chill out, Lou. I was just teasing you.” He shook his head, muttering under his breath, “Now I know what Marco meant when he said you had a temper.”
“Ignore him, little one,” cut in Gray Eagle calmly. “He teases everyone , especially Buck. How do you like Montana so far?”
“It's absolutely beautiful,” enthused the girl. “So different from the city. I'm glad we decided to spend our vacation here , instead of going to visit Tía Carmen. Every time she sees me, she pinches my cheek and tells me how much I've grown,” she grumbled, rolling her eyes expressively.
“That's Mama for you,” grinned Antonio. “ I couldn't help but notice that Consuela didn't look all that happy to be here,” he commented.
Louisa smiled wryly. “She's not happy about anything, unless she had something to complain about. I've learned that the best way to deal with that is to just leave her alone and let her grumble until she gets it out of her system.”
A distant rumble reached their ears. Seconds later, a small herd of elk came over the rise, running towards a stand of trees several yards away. Louisa sat on her horse, completely transfixed by the majestic sight. “They're so beautiful,” she breathed softly, unable to turn her eyes away.
“Let's get back to the house,” said Gray Eagle. “I don't know about you two, but I'm starving!”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Present Day
Chet burst out laughing. “I knew the Gage tapeworm had to come from somewhere!” he chortled. “Guess it runs in the family, huh, Johnny?”
“Just like playing lame pranks runs in yours, Kelly,” shot back Johnny, to much amusement.
“I never knew you spent time in Georgia, Lou,” said Mike Stoker with a grin.
“I did, Mikey, but my Southern accent only comes back when I'm mad or excited,” answered Louisa.
“Knock it off, you twits!” ordered Hank. Before his wife could comment, he held up his hand. “Yes, honey, I know. They're neither pregnant nor goldfish!”
Louisa giggled. “You've gotten pretty good at reading my mind after all these years, sweetheart. But I've been pointing out that fact long enough, so you should know it chapter and verse by now.”
“What are you talking about, Mama?” asked Matthew, confusion clouding his eyes.
“A twit, according to Webster's dictionary, is a pregnant goldfish, son,” answered his mother, her eyes twinkling. “It also happens to be your father's word of choice for anyone being a royal pain in the butt.”
“John and Chet filled that role often enough,” said Roy with a grin. “Between the prank wars and all the squabbling, I was surprised Cap didn't make them sit in the corner every shift!”
“It crossed my mind, pal, believe me,” chuckled Hank. “Go on, honey. Tell us more.”
“Okay. After we returned home, I told Mami that after I graduated from high school, I wanted to go work on the ranch. She wouldn't hear of it, but after Papi died, a lot of things changed.”