Blossoms of Love (59 page)

The next day, which was Sunday, three of Lamont’s brothers and their families came over after church. Lamont didn’t go to church but the others did. He was at the stables polishing his and Barbara’s saddles when they came. When dinner was ready Barbara said to Susan, “Would you go tell Monty to come and eat.” Susan asked, “Where is he?” Barbara said, “At the stables.”

As Susan walked to the stables, Barbara whispered to Ellen, “I thought this would be a good time for Monty to talk to Susan.” Ellen said, “It will be.” Barbara said, “Honest Ellen, Susan is such a pretty girl.” Ellen said, “Yes she is. She is larger than I ever was. She wears a size larger in a bra than I do. She has a very nice figure. I think she looks like Mom Ellman.” Barbara said “She does, of course, Johnny looks like her too.”

Lamont didn’t hear Susan come in the stable. She stood looking at him for a second she thought, “If only he wasn’t my uncle. Even though he is forty years old, he’s so very handsome and masculine.” Lamont felt the presence of someone and looked around. Susan said, “Dinner is ready.” Lamont put his polish up, “Good, I think I could eat a whole chicken.” Susan went over closer to Lamont and touched his arm, “Is it so wrong to love you so much?” Lamont smiled, “I hope not. You’re suppose to love your aunts and uncles.” Susan said, “I don’t mean that kind of love. I’m talking like the love a woman has for a man.” Lamont looked at Susan, “Hey honey, you got to be kidding.” Suddenly, she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him with such passion, it really shook Lamont before he could tear loose from her. Lamont was so surprised, he just stood trying to get over the way Susan was carrying on with him. Susan said, “I do love you. You’re so mature, so good looking.” Lamont was angry now, “You know what you need Susan? You need an old fashioned spanking. I’m just a good notion to do just that.” She giggled, “Go ahead, that will be fun if you do it. I bet you can really make love. I bet you could make a woman feel like a queen.” Lamont said, “Don’t you ever kiss me that way again.” Susan smiled, “What’s the matter, did it get to you?” Susan started to unbutton her dress, Lamont slapped her hard. He grabbed her wrist and led her out of the stable. She was crying. He said, “You have to respect yourself if you want men to respect you.”

On their way to the house Susan begged, “Please don’t tell Mom and Dad. Dad would just about kill you.” Lamont said, “Alright I won’t tell them, but don’t you ever try that on me again.”

Ellen met them at the door, “I was beginning to think you two were lost.” Lamont said, “We just had a long talk.”

All evening Barbara noticed Lamont was unusually quiet. Then, as they got ready for bed, Lamont told Barbara about what had happened in the stables. Lamont said, “I promised Susan I wouldn’t tell Ellen and Johnny so don’t you say anything to them either.” Barbara said, “Really darling, they should know.” Lamont said, “No, I promised.” Barbara asked, “Did you talk to Susan?” Lamont answered, “Yes I talked to her but I don’t think she listened. She’s already got her mind made up about life.” Barbara began combing her hair, “Oh, she probably listened more than you think she did.” Lamont looked at Barbara, “I’m glad we have boys. Johnny and Ellen really have a problem with Susan. Do you know if I had given her just a slight bit of encouragement she would have willingly went all the way and not been sorry. She kissed me with such passion I actually felt excited. She knew what she was doing.” Barbara asked, “Did she undress in front of you?” Lamont said, “No, she didn’t undress. I wouldn’t have let her. I’m surprised you even asked. She just started to unbutton her blouse.” Lamont got into bed, “I wish there was something we could do for Susan but I be damned if I know what it is. I do know she is headed for trouble. She’s wild.”

Summer passed and Lamont made sure he wasn’t ever alone with Susan when they came over for a visit. Mrs. Ellman came over for a while one Sunday. As they drank coffee Mrs. Ellman said to Barbara, “Ellen said the talk Monty gave to Susan a few weeks ago must have helped. She seems a lot quieter and grown up. Maybe our troubles with her weren’t as bad as we all thought.” Barbara smiled, “I’m glad he could help her. You know Monty is wonderful with kids.” Mrs. Ellman said, “Susan is such a pretty girl. Being extra pretty is hard for a young girl. They get more attention from the opposite sex.” Barbara said, “She looks very much like you Mom.” Mrs. Ellman laughed, “No, I never was as pretty as Susan.” Barbara smiled, “Don’t be so modest Mom. I’ve seen some of your pictures when you were young.”

Labor Day the mayor of the town gave a barbecue for the whole community. David came over to Lamont’s house and said to Lamont, “Monty, let Carolyn and the kids go with you to the barbecue.” Lamont asked, “What’s wrong?” David said, “I just came from the stables. I think Silver Star is going into labor.” Lamont said, “She’s not due for a little over two weeks.” David said, “Never the less, she sure acts like she’s in labor.”

Lamont went down to the stables and examined her. He looked up at David, “You’re right, she is going into labor. Dave you go with Carolyn. I can handle this alone. She will have an easy time.” David said, “Are you sure?” Lamont laughed, “Yea I’m sure. I was trying to think of a way to get out of going. You know how I hate crowds.”

Jesse offered to stay and help Lamont but his hand was burned from the branding irons. Lamont told him to go on to the barbecue. Barbara kissed Lamont, “Shouldn’t I stay and help you?” Lamont said, “No, one of us needs to be with the children.” So everyone left for the day.

Lamont went back to the stable. He looked at the horse, “Old girl you sure picked a hell of a time to have your baby.” He patted her on the neck. He knew it would be some time yet before she would have her colt. He walked around the back of the stables to the wooded section at the back. The day was beautiful, a bit chilly but the sun was warm. The leaves had all fallen from most of the trees. He thought to himself, “This is much better than going to a barbecue with all those people.” In the last year, Lamont hadn’t got to enjoy having time alone. He wondered where the time had gone. He use to ride in the mountains at least once a week just to be alone and think. Now if he wasn’t on the range, the boys kept him occupied or Barbara needed him for something. He thought, “Next week the boys will be in school, maybe he and Barbara could ride up in the mountains.”

An hour later Lamont delivered a cold, “Silver Star you have got you a prize. He’s a beaut.”

The next day, Lamont and Barbara did go riding in the mountains. They took a lunch. Lamont found just the place for them to eat. As they ate Barbara said, “I bet there isn’t a human being within twenty miles.” Lamont took his last bite, “Further than that. We’re up high.” He laid back and stretched out on the ground, “Umm, this is living. It’s quiet and peaceful. You can look around and see God’s work everywhere.” He watched the clouds gathering far in the north, “We’ll have snow in twenty four hours.” Barbara said, “That’s hard to believe.” Barbara looked over at Lamont. He was so utterly breathtaking, he was so very handsome, and he certainly didn’t look over forty. He caught her looking at him, “Why are you looking at me so hard?” She said, “Monty Ellman, you are so damn good looking. Why do you have to be so beautiful?” He chuckled, “You’re not fooling me. It’s not my looks you’re so crazy about. It’s what I’ve got. She grinned, “How did you know?” He asked, “What about it babe? Could you make love to your old man now?” Barbara said, “I can make love to you anytime or anywhere.” They made love on the ground of fallen leaves under the September sky. Afterwards, he held her in his arms and she said, “I hope we live to celebrate fifty years of married life.” Lamont chuckled, “If we do, don’t expect me to make love on a mountain.” Barbara said, “Well I sure will.” He held her closer, “Oh second thought, maybe I could do that.” They both laughed. Barbara said, “You know Monty, when you think about life, it’s really like everything else. Life is a cycle. You’re born, you grow up, you change into being an adult, and there is sex staring you in the face. Then you find your mate, if your lucky, get married, and begin to start another generation. Have babies, raise them, and before you know it, you’re old and you die. Wouldn’t it be nice if you’d be wiser when you’re young? Lamont said, “No. God planned life for us. He knew what he was doing. When you’re young, you’re care free. No worries, no responsibilities. You wouldn’t be that way if you were wiser. Then God decided when you’re older you should be wiser and then you become an adult. God gave us, or I should say, a woman, so many years to have children because he knew when she got older she wouldn’t have the patience or the strength to raise them.” Looking up in the sky Barbara asked, “Monty, do you really believe there is a God up there?” Lamont answered, “Yes, not only up there but everywhere. If you can’t believe the Bible, just look around you honey. God is all over this mountain. All his works of creation. How can you not believe? When I was flying on our missions, I always silently talked to God because I felt like I’d never be any closer to him while I was alive.” Barbara raised up on one elbow and looked down at Lamont. She had never heard him talk this way. She said, “I didn’t know you were this religious.” Lamont said, “Well, I don’t know if you’d say I was religious or not. I don’t go to church like I should but I do believe in him.” Barbara said, “You know, I think I like the age we are now.” Lamont said, “You do. I think I’d like to be younger. I wish we could have had our boys younger.” Barbara said, “Oh I don’t know. You are very active with them now.” He chuckled, “Yes I am, and it takes all the energy I’ve got.” Barbara asked, “Don’t you think after a man and woman are married for a few years they are closer and love each other more? I know I love you more.” He looked at her, “I think so too.”

It was late evening when they started back home. When they got on their horses Lamont said, “One of these days I will die. If I die before you do, I want to be buried here.” Barbara looked at Lamont, “You’re kidding.” Lamont said, “No, I’m not. You can have my funeral in the church or chapel and I could be brought up here by wagon. It isn’t that rough coming up here.” Barbara said, “But Monty you’d be miles from anyone.” Lamont said, “Baby you don’t need anyone after you’re dead except God.” Barbara promised, “Alright darling, if that’s what you want. So if I die before you, just have me put up here too but you got to promise me that you will visit me often.” He smiled, “It’s a promise.”

That night when they were in bed Barbara said, “Do you know who my first love was?” Lamont said, “I thought it was me.” Barbara laughed, “I was thirteen years old. He was my science teacher. He wasn’t even good looking and he was married. Of course, I didn’t even let my best girl friend know how I felt. It lasted about half the year.” Lamont laughed, “My first love was a pretty blond girl. I was fourteen. I remember one Sunday afternoon I asked her for a date. My first date. I think it was hers too. I think she was thirteen. Her parents wouldn’t let her date boys yet. We secretly met down by the river. I remember how grown up I felt. I was almost six foot tall and weighed one hundred and forty pounds. She was developed very well for a thirteen year old.” Barbara said, “Monty, you didn’t make love?” Lamont said, “I remember I waited nearly an hour throwing stones in the water. The longer I waited, the more I wanted her. Finally she came. Her blond hair hung loose around her face. She was wearing a pink dress. She asked, ‘Monty are you mad because I’m late.’ “I grinned like an idiot and told her I wasn’t mad. I was nervous and hot. I went over to her and boyishly kissed her. To my surprise, she kissed me like she’d been kissing a long time. She said, ‘I really do like you Monty.’ Lamont said, “You won’t believe this Barbara but suddenly I got cold feet and decided I wouldn’t try to make love but she had different ideas. I sat down on the grass and she sat down beside me. She asked me, ‘Do you like me?’ “Of course I told her I did. She unbuttoned her dress all the way to her waist. Then she pulled the dress over her head and laid it by a tree. She was wearing a bra. He small breasts didn’t fill the bra. She slipped the bra off and for my first time I saw a girls naked breasts. I put my hand on one of her breasts. She laid back on the grass. She told me, if I wanted her, I would have to finish undressing her. I’ll have you know, I wasn’t her first. She taught me how to love a girl. Where to touch and kiss her to make her passion rise.” Lamont chuckled, “We spent hours in her fathers barn on the hay. I must have pleased her because she dated me all the time. She would slip out of her house when her parents were asleep and I would slip out of my house and walk four miles to her barn. Sometimes we were together until three or four in the mornings. We dated each other until she moved away. I was seventeen and she was sixteen. She was smart. She would make me use protection so she wouldn’t be taking a chance on getting pregnant. When she moved away, I thought my world had ended until I found out loving other girls was just as much pleasure.” Barbara asked, “Do you know where she is now?” Lamont said, “No, I never saw her again or even heard from her.” Lamont chuckled, “It’s a damn good thing she moved away. I wasn’t interested in no other girl. She gave me what I wanted and satisfied me.” Barbara kissed him on the cheek, “I’m glad she moved too.”

Two weeks later, Barbara was in the study putting up drapes when Ellen came in the room crying. Barbara got down off the ladder and asked, “What on earth is wrong?” Ellen said, “Susan—she’s pregnant.” Barbara put her arms around Ellen, “Are you sure?” Ellen said, “Yes, I caught her sick in the bathroom. I had heard her before. I took her to see Dr. Morris. She is almost three months. With her clothes off, she really shows.” Barbara got them some coffee. Ellen said, “That’s not all. I came here because—Barbara, Susan said the baby belongs to—Monty.” Barbara said, “Surely you don’t believe that.” Ellen said, “No, I know Monty can’t father a child but knowing Johnny, when he finds out, he is gonna wonder why she even said that.” Barbara looked at Ellen, “Surely you’re not saying Monty has tried to make love to her.” Ellen said, “I’m not. I know Monty wouldn’t do that.” Barbara said, “You mean his own brother would say he did?” Ellen said, “At first he might. He will have to be told tonight. He adores Susan and when she tells him, he will be wild with anger.” Ellen ran out the door and got in her car and drove off.