He was more than met the eye. “Yes, of course I would,” I said.
He went to get the tractor, it was equipped with an aircraft hitch. He pulled it over and backed it in the hanger. He said, “Perhaps you would like to get your overnight bags, I will take you to the main house and introduce you to the Senora. She will be glad to have you stay with them.”
“Are you sure, we could just bunk here in the hanger?” Dad said.
“That would hurt her feelings, you must come to the main house,” he said.
“Okay, sure, we’ll come, we’re sorry for suggesting otherwise.” Dad said. We retrieved our bags. Jake still hadn’t said a word. There was an old 47 Chevy pickup parked beside the hanger, Dad and Miguel got in the cab, Jake and I, jumped in the back. Jake mumbled, “I guess we’re going to miss that Rodeo in Santa Fe.”
“I do believe you’re right. But I guess we need the rest anyway.” I said. The main house was a mile up a tree lined lane. This sure was a fancy place. I could see Dad and Miguel laughing and talking in the cab. They seemed to hit it off pretty good.
The main house was a classic Mexican Villa, in the Santa Fe style. We pulled up and as we were getting out, the main door opened; a women stood there smiling. Miguel said, “This is my wife, Ester. She’s the Home Manager for the Senora. I run the Ranchos.” Turning to his wife, he said, “Ester is the Senora ready to receive visitors?”
“Of course, she heard their plane land; she is expecting them. Come in please, Juan will take your bags to your rooms.” A young boy appeared and took our bags and hurried off down a cool hallway. The walls in the house must have been three foot thick.
She showed us into a parlor where a woman was bending over a fancy antique crib. She stood up and turned to face us. She was in her middle forties or so, she said, “Welcome to our home. My name is Felicia Cortez,” she held her hand out, Dad took it and bowed low over it. I couldn’t believe it; I had never seen him do something like that. He kissed the back of her hand, she did a little curtsy. What was more, he had taken his hat off at the first sight of her. Jake and I grabbed our hats off and mumbled a greeting of some kind.
Dad said, “My name is Karl Bronson, these are my son’s Clay and Jake. She turned to us and smiled. She was beautiful, not that Jake and I were interested, but Dad sure was.
She said, “My Hacienda is yours as long as you need it, I heard your plane coming from a long ways off and knew you would land here. We’ve already had our noon repast; can I have the cook bring a snack before supper?”
“Uh, no we’re alright, perhaps just something to drink?” Dad said. She clapped her hands, a young girl scurried in. “Juanita, some ice tea please?” The girl turned and scooted off. Miguel and Ester had disappeared. Felicia showed us to some overstuffed cowhide leather chairs. She settled into her chair like a queen setting down. Which I guess she was; queen of this place anyway.
The girl came back with a pitcher of ice tea and glasses along with some scones or something. She poured our glasses full. When she passed the bread, both Jake and I took a handful. Dad didn’t.
There came a whimper from the crib. Felicia said, “Oh, my Grand Daughter is waking up. She wants fed.” Felicia looked directly at me. She said, “Clay, if you would be so kind, please take the baby to my Daughter-in-law, she will nurse her. It’s down the hallway the second door on the left, just knock lightly and go right in.”
I was stunned, too stunned to protest. I went over and picked up a four or five months old baby girl, she had dark brown hair, she gurgled at me and smiled. It was strange; I picked her up, just like I had been doing it from her birth. Dad and Jake were staring at me, that’s okay, I was staring at myself.
I knocked, turning the knob, I went in. There was a young women sleeping in a big old style bed. She had blond hair. I went over and stood beside her, I cleared my throat. “Uh, Miss, your Mother sent me in with the baby, she’s awake.”
She opened her eyes; they were blue, she looked at me, her eyes focusing. Suddenly she was wide awake. She sat up, “What time is it?”
“Uh, I believe its somewhere around three in the afternoon.” I said, as she sat up in bed. She had on a light night gown, open at the throat. “Shit, she let me sleep too long again. Alita was colicky all night; I guess I was just tired out. Here, give her to me.” She said as she opened her night gown. It fell off of her shoulders, exposing both breasts! She didn’t even blink. Alita locked on to her left breast, sucking mightily. “My name is Faith, what’s yours?
“It’s Clay, look I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be in here, but your Mother sent me in. I guess I was just too surprised to protest. Besides, when I picked the Baby up, it, it just seemed like she was mine, weird huh?”
“My Mother-in-law, not my Mother. Her son, my husband was killed along with her husband in a plane crash about a year ago.” She was looking at me with a small smile on her face; as her eyes twinkled at my discomfort.
She glanced down at the baby and then her other breast. “Nice huh?” she said, indicating her right breast. “They sure are bigger with all of this milk.”
“Uh, yes, I should be embarrassed and you know what? I am. But anyway; may I set down beside you?”
“Yes, sure. I’m not this way with everybody. But it seems like, I don’t know, I have been expecting you. I know I’ve seen you in my dreams.”
I sat down, she reached over and took my hand. It fit naturally into mine. I leaned over as she raised her lips to mine. The baby burped. We both laughed. “I guess I had better get up, here take her, she needs changed, there is a changing table over there. I’m going to take a shower.” Faith got up, I took the baby. She dropped her gown and walked toward the bathroom. My eyes followed her all the way till she pulled the shower curtain.
I didn’t have any trouble changing Alita; although I had never changed a baby before in my life. The shower turned off, Faith stepped out, grabbing a towel she smiled at me. I stood there with Alita in my arms, still staring. She got dressed in a peasant skirt and blouse, she didn’t bother putting on underwear.
“Come on, let’s join the others. Felicia’s daughter should be home anytime. She took some stock to town; a few old cows. Her name is Alona, she’s sixteen. A regular pistol.” Faith grabbed my hand, I followed along.
As we came in, Jake and Dad turned to look, they both stood up. I said, “Dad this is Faith and Alita, the baby’s name is Alita.” Then I introduced them to her. I was still holding the baby. Jake was looking back and forth between Faith and me. Dad had politely greeted Faith, then turned his attention back to Felicia.
Faith said, “Is Alona back yet?”
“No, not yet, I’m sorry I hadn’t told them about Alona; she is my daughter, she took some stock to market, we’re expecting her anytime. Jake, perhaps you could meet her at the barn and tell her we have company?”
It was Jake’s turn to be stunned. He nodded numbly, and left. Faith come up and took my elbow, “Would you like to see the barn? We can go along.”
“Sure, I think maybe Alita would like the fresh air.” Now how would I know if the baby would like fresh air?
Faith said, as we closed the massive front door, “I think Felicia and your Father would like some time alone. Did you see how her eyes sparkled? I think she likes your Dad.”
“Wow! I don’t understand what’s happening. But I like it.” I said. We heard Miguel’s old pickup coming down the lane. He stopped beside us. “I had some time, so I checked the right engine on your plane; I can find nothing wrong with it, Senor.”
“Huh? Not even some oil on the engine from a leak? There was smoke coming out from under the cowl.”
“No Senor, I even started it up; the oil pressure was normal. I could find nothing wrong. But yes, when you were landing I seen the smoke you speak of, but now it is fine.”
Faith