Blossoms of Love (26 page)

As he drove her to the airport he said, ‘Understand I’m not blaming you all together. It’s my fault too. Maybe being separated will help us.” Just before she went out the gate to get on the plane, she looked up at Lamont. Their eyes met, “This isn’t the end for us is it Monty?” He answered, “I hope not. It’s entirely up to you but don’t come back if you can’t be happy with this kind of life.” With tears in her eyes, “Do I have to go?” Lamont said, “Yes. We’re still friends. I don’t want us hating each other.”

The plane taxied around, Natalie said, “I’ll be back. After the holidays, I’ll be back.” Lamont said, “Make sure I’ll be enough for you. We may never have a baby.” She put her arms around his neck, “I do love you Monty.” His arms tightened around her. He kissed her very tenderly. Once again she sat on the plane and looked at her husband standing among the crowd as the plane began to move. She thought, “What am I doing here. There’s the man I love.”

It was several days before Lamont’s family learned Natalie was gone. Not even David knew. It was snowing hard. David came over to get Lamont to go hunting with him. Since David and Carolyn had a baby girl, they stayed close to the house. David looked around the house. Dirty dishes were piled in the sink, clothes were lying everywhere, the drapes were all closed. David asked Lamont as he dressed, “Where’s Nat?” Lamont answered, “In Alabama.” David asked, “When did she go?” He answered, “Three days ago.” David said, “That sister of mine just won’t grow up. When will she be coming back?” Lamont said, “I don’t know.” David looked at Lamont, “Hey buddy, did she leave you?” Lamont sighed, “Not exactly. Don’t blame her. I sent her home. It’s no good for us Dave.” David sank down on the over-stuffed chair in the bedroom, “Oh god no. It isn’t right. I know you both love each other.” Lamont said, “Yes, I guess we do. But just loving each other doesn’t make a marriage work. All those other things that make a marriage work, we don’t have. I didn’t want us hating each other and believe me Dave, it was heading that way fast.” David said, “Natalie is spoiled rotten.” Lamont said, “It’s not all her fault. I guess I’m not the marrying kind. She was too possessive of me. I just can’t stand the clinging. I couldn’t give her the baby she wanted so much. Just having me wasn’t enough for her.” David said, “Monty I’m not so sure she really wanted a baby. Natalie could never stand for someone to have something she didn’t. If all the others didn’t have children, I don’t believe she would want one. Maybe I should call her and talk some sense into her head.” Lamont said, ‘No Dave. She’s got to make up her own mind.” David asked, “What are you gonna do?” Lamont said, “I’m gonna stay here.” David asked, “Live alone?” Lamont said, “Yes.”

After a few days, everyone knew about Natalie and Lamont. They felt sorry for both of them. Once a week Mrs. Ellman would clean house for her son. It wasn’t much trouble to clean. Lamont shut off all the house except the den, kitchen, and bedroom. By Christmas, Lamont was beginning to show the strain of Natalie being gone. Christmas day as they gathered at the Ellman table, they noticed Lamont was drinking.

By Christmas night, Lamont passed out. Mrs. Ellman covered him with a blanket. He was lying on the couch. New Years’ Day when David, Carolyn, and their daughter came to see Mrs. Ellman, they found her in tears. David asked, “What’s wrong Mom?” Mrs. Ellman said, “It’s Monty. He’s getting ready to go up in the mountains to that old cabin. He could get snowed in for weeks up there. He’s drinking heavy. Dave, you’re the only one who can make him listen.” David said, “I’ll try Mom.”

Lamont was saddling his horse when David went to the stables. Lamont looked terrible. David asked, “Going hunting?” Lamont said, “Yea.” David said, “Need any company?” Lamont said, “Not this time. I’ll be gone a few days. You can’t stay that long, you have a wife and baby.” David said, “Monty, you know you shouldn’t go hunting. You know you’re about drunk.” Lamont said, “I’m not drunk, I’ve just had a few drinks.” David said, “Monty, if it snows you’ll be snowed in.” Lamont laughed, “Don’t worry bud. I’ve got food in the cabin and there is firewood stacked under the shed.” He winked at David, “I’ve got my booze to keep me warm.”

David had been to the cabin before. It was miles in the mountains. An old miners cabin. Lamont fixed it up and spent a lot of time there when he was hunting. There was nothing there but the old cabin, snow the year around, trees and wild animals. In the winter, it could be weeks before anyone could get in or out because of the snow. David begged, “Don’t go today Monty. The radio weather is predicting snow for tonight.” Lamont got the saddle on his horse, “I’ve got to go Dave. I’ve got to get away, I’ve got to be alone to think things out.” David said, “Then there’s nothing I can say or do to keep you from going today” Lamont said, “Nothing. Don’t worry, I’ll be back in a few days. Watch after Mom while I’m gone.” David sighed, “You be careful.” David asked, “Leave the booze off until you get there will you?”

David watched Lamont ride off. Mrs. Ellman and Carolyn watched Lamont lead his horse to the gate. Carolyn said, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a lonely person.” David came into the room, “That damn sister of mine. She’s destroying the values of two people. She doesn’t have sense to realize it. She’s been gone three months and she hasn’t called or wrote to Monty. Well she’s gonna hear from me.” Carolyn said, “Dave do you think that’s wise?” David said, “I’ve kept quiet long enough, Carolyn. The best friend I’ve got is in living hell waiting for her to decide what she wants to do. Well, she’s had long enough to decide.”

David called the Agar house. Natalie wasn’t home. She had gone to a party with her parents. Della told him she was out a lot going to parties and night clubs. Then Della asked, “When is Monty coming?” David said, “I didn’t know he was coming.” Della said, “Natalie said he would be after her before long.” David knew Natalie hadn’t told them the truth, “Della tell Natalie to call me tomorrow morning. Tell everyone hello. Goodnight.

When he hunt up, he was so angry he was fit to be tied, “Do you know where she is right now? She’s at a party having a big time.” Carolyn had never seen David so angry.

It snowed that night and was still snowing when David got up. As he and Carolyn ate breakfast he said, “Monty is snowed in up there. You know I don’t think he cares anymore. I’m worried about him.” Carolyn knew David and Lamont were very close but she didn’t know until now how deep David really cared for Lamont. She doubted if any of Lamont’s brothers loved him more than David did. She said trying to reassure David, “He’ll be alright darling. Monty knows how to take care of himself. He’s lived in these mountains all his life.” David said, “I know he does honey but when he left yesterday he was drinking heavily. A man can’t think clear when he’s full of booze. Don’t let Mom Ellman know he was drinking, she’s worried enough about him.”

It was just past noon when Natalie called David. She asked, “Is anything wrong?” David answered, “Would you care if there was?” Natalie said, “Now what’s that suppose to mean?” David asked, “Natalie are you coming back?” Natalie answered, “Look Dave, I spent a week here thinking about me and Monty. I’ve decided I’d come back when Monty comes after me. He sent me away you know.” David said, “Little sister, I once thought you were level headed, I’ve changed my mind. You’re a damn fool.” Natalie said, “I don’t have to listen to you talk to me this way.” David was trying to keep calm, “You better listen to me. You better swallow your pride and grow up.” Natalie argued, “Well why doesn’t Monty swallow his pride? You know Dave he is so stubborn.” David said, “Look Nat, I’m not saying Monty hasn’t been wrong in some things but he’s tried a hell of a lot more than you have. The least you can do is let him know if you’re coming back or not.” Natalie said, “I don’t know if I’m coming back or not. Let me talk to Monty. Is he there by any chance.” David answered, “No he’s not here. He’s in the mountains snowed in, maybe for weeks.” Natalie laughed sarcastically, “Same old Monty, got his horse and his gun and went to the mountains. Don’t you see Dave, he doesn’t need me. All he needs is the damn mountains and wild animals to keep him company.” David said, “Listen to me Nat and listen good. You better come home soon or you won’t have anyone to come home to.” Natalie sighed, “He loves me. He’ll come after me when he finds out I’m not gonna bow down to him.” David knew there was no need talking to her any more so he hung up.

After four days, Mrs. Ellman was getting frantic because Lamont hadn’t come back. The next day, David, Johnny, Berry, and Leon saddled their horses and went to look for him. They had traveled a good ten miles in deep snow when David pointed to the west, “Look, isn’t that a man walking this way?” Johnny said, ‘Yes, it looks like it.” They rode toward the figure of a man. When they got closer, they saw that it was Lamont. All their faces lit up and they gave a sigh of relief. Lamont looked like a mountain man with his long beard. Berry said, “Man are we glad to see you.” Leon said, “We sure are, Mom is real worried.” Lamont said, “When I started off the slopes, my horse fell. It broke both front legs. I had to put him out of his misery. It knocked me out. I don’t know how long I was out but I was almost froze. Damn! I hated to shoot that horse. He was one of my best ones.” Leon took the saddle from Lamont and Johnny helped Lamont on the horse with him.

Mrs. Ellman was so happy to see her son, she hugged him, “Son I’ve been so worried.” Lamont kissed his mother, “I’m sorry I worried you Mom.” She said, “You stay here tonight. Your house is cold, besides I’m more lonesome than usual.”

To please his Mother, he agreed to spend the night with her. His brothers stayed for a while and so did David. When they left, Lamont shaved his beard and mustache off. Then he took a shower. As they ate Lamont said, “Mom, she’s not coming back. It’s all too much for her.” Mrs. Ellman said, “I’m sorry son. I was afraid Natalie couldn’t adjust to our way of living.” Lamont drank some of his coffee, “She could have. If she had loved me enough, she would have. You did Mom because you loved Dad and wanted to be with him.” Mrs. Ellman surprised Lamont when she asked, “Could you change your life and live in Alabama? Do you love her enough?” Lamont thought about what she said, “Yes, I guess I could but here is where I can make us a good living. We talked this over before we got married. She said she could live anywhere as long as we were together. I believed her. When I talked to her about buying the ranch she was all for it. Why didn’t she tell me then she didn’t want to live here?” Lamont drank the rest of his coffee, “I did a lot of thinking in the cabin. I’ve decided it’s best for us to go our separate ways. I don’t think we can live together and be happy.” Mrs. Ellman said, “Monty don’t make a quick decision.” He said, “I’m not. I’m leaving it up to her about a divorce. I don’t ever intend to marry again anyway.” Mrs. Ellman said, ‘Monty, don’t let this destroy you.” He smiled and patted his Mother’s hand, “It won’t Mom. It will take a while to get her out of my system but I’ve made my first step. I’ve been hurt before and I always manage to get back up when I’m down. I’ve accepted the fact that she won’t be back.”

Three weeks later Lamont got a letter from Natalie:

Dear Monty,

After six months I guess you’re surprised to get this letter. I thought once about calling then I decided I could write what I want to say better. So here goes. You really surprised me. I thought by Christmas you would come to me but, of course, you didn’t. You didn’t even call. Monty, you sent me away remember? I’ve thought about us constantly in the last few weeks. Where do we go from here? A divorce won’t solve anything because I love you and I really want us to be happy together. About a baby, I no longer think about it. I’ve decided that it is one treasure neither one of us can have. Monty we do have each other, don’t we? I want you but there are a few conditions. I just cannot come there to live again. I can’t take the loneliness that goes with living there. I have to be with people, go to parties, and clubs. That is what I enjoy. I guess I’m that much like my mother. I’m sorry you built that beautiful house for me. I should have told you how I felt before you started the house. I love all your people. They were all nice to me. Monty I miss you terribly. I loved you the first day I saw you and I love you now. I’ll love you as long as I live. Monty, I’m begging you to come here to live. We can make a good life here. Once you said you weren’t enough for me. You are, oh darling you’re all I need in life. Please give me an answer soon.

Love you,

Natalie

Lamont wadded the letter in his hand. He thought, “She still wants her cake and eat it too.” David came in, “Hey buddy, fishing is good today.” Then he saw Lamont sitting in a chair holding an envelope and a crumbled letter. “From Natalie?” he asked. Lamont handed him the letter, “Your sister said she wanted me only on her terms. She wants to mold me into the kind of person she wants me to be.” David read the letter. When he was finished, he also crumbled the letter in his hand.

David surprised Lamont when he said, “Forget her Monty. She doesn’t want a man, she wants a puppet. She wants someone she can pull strings and make then do what she wants. We already have one puppet in the family. I bet Ralph never makes a decision unless he gets Dora’s consent. Get Natalie out of your system. You’ll find someone who will really love you and make you happy. There’s a real good life here with the right woman to share it with you.”

That night Lamont went to town. The bar was the first and only place he went. He got just drunk enough to fight and almost beat a man to death with his fists. Johnny and David went to town the next day and got him out of jail. His hands were so swollen he couldn’t make a fist. He was lucky, the man didn’t press charges against him because he was drunk too and had hit Lamont first. For a week, Lamont stayed home and didn’t touch a drop of anything to drink. Then he called David to come to his house. When David got there, Lamont made them some coffee. He poured them a cup. He asked, “Will you look after the stock for a few days?” David answered, “You know I will.” Lamont said, “I’m flying to Alabama for a few days. Dave, I’ve got to see her. I’ve got to try this last time.” David asked, “You’re not gonna fly your plane that far are you?” Lamont said, “No. I’m using Bo Nobles’ plane.” David sighed, “Good luck Monty.” Lamont halfway grinned, “I’ll need it.”