Heaven Sent (30 page)
COFFIN OF YOUR BROTHER-IN-LAW HARJO TO ARRIVE ON
KATY FREIGHT STOP WIFE AND I TO ATTEND FUNERAL STOP H.L. WATSON
Outwitting the law was not the only concern that made Henry Lee nervous. Tonight he was going to take Hannah to his bed. Finally. He had spent two days listening to the drip of whiskey from the coiled condenser and planning the total and complete seduction of the woman he'd married. No more crazy loss of control and wallowing with her on the floor or the ground. He was going to make careful, exquisite love with her in the best bed in
Muskogee
.
Thinking about it, he turned to give her a teasing smile. She looked wonderful in her new dress. He'd thought the bright blue would do more for her than the washed-out pastels or the severe blacks and browns that seemed to comprise the bulk of her wardrobe. Her clothes seemed too matronly, almost as if she had thrown her corset across the armoire years ago. He couldn't imagine why. Twenty-six was not such a great age, and today, smiling and giggling, high color in her cheeks, she didn't look a day over twenty. He vowed that he'd see that she had more clothes that flattered her. Her looks were not typical, but, he decided, she was no less pretty as a result.
Although Hannah had traveled a good bit in the
Indian Territory
and she was both surprised and pleased by the difference in the scenery. While the
Indian Territory
was more wooded, hilly and less suited to farm life. As the train wound its way through the hills and valleys beside the
Arkansas River
, she commented on the contrast. "It's so different from the farmland across the border."
"They sent scouts out here, when it became obvious that the government was going to move the tribes west of the
"This land doesn't look very good for farming," Hannah agreed.
Henry Lee nodded.
"They made their choice more on sentiment than good business sense," he said. "My mother was a half-breed Cherokee," he said tentatively, and watched with pleasure as she easily accepted this piece of information. "Mama said that when the scouts saw the foothills of the Ozarks around Tahlequah, it reminded them of the Great Smokies and so they chose it, even though you can barely grow a weed in those rocky hills!"
The two shared a laugh together. The impracticality of choosing a home based on the beauty of the land, rather than its ability to provide a living, was something that neither would have done. Both of them, however, secretly admired the spirit that maintained the courage to do that.
They arrived in
Tulsa
a little before
. They were to change trains with a layover of about two hours.
Tulsa
was a sleepy little village of a little over a thousand people.
"It's not much of a town," Henry Lee told her as they left the train. "Its only reason for existing is to be a railroad junction for the
Atchison
,
Topeka
and
Santa Fe
and the Frisco."
Hannah glanced around unimpressed by the few little dismal buildings. "Ingalls is more of a town than this," she said.
Her husband agreed. "
Tulsa
was laid out by the Frisco Railroad Company and is as efficient as a train schedule," he said. "The streets running east and west are numbered,
Hannah agreed with a throaty giggle.
"All the avenues east of
Hannah nodded her understanding.
"All avenues west of
Tulsa
, you can always figure out where you are."
Laughing at his joke Hannah asked him, "Well, Mr. Watson, you seem to be perfectly sober today. I suppose you know exactly where you are. But do you know where you're going?"
Henry Lee smiled down at her. He enjoyed teasing her and he was beginning to love it when she teased right back.
"Yes, ma'am. I know exactly where I'm going. I'm taking my bride out for a bite to eat."
"We're going to a restaurant?" Hannah was delighted by the adventure.
"I have some friends who run the best restaurant
in
Tulsa
." With a grin he added, "It's also the only restaurant in
Tulsa
!"
Marco and Rosa Morelli were getting on in years, but still maintained the love of life and adventure that had brought them from
Naples
, through
Chicago
, clear across the plains to this desolate little town. They had tried farming, sheep, and cattle, but had ultimately found their niche in cooking good hot food for train passengers passing through.
"My friend, Mr. Watson!" Morelli called out, raising his hands as a gesture of welcome. "Rosa and I have missed you. You stay away too long."
Henry Lee grasped the man's hand as a screech was heard from the doorway.
"You!" the woman yelled at him. "Don't you know that you cannot live without good food, but do you come in to eat? No, not for months we don't see you, and I ask my husband, I ask him why. Is he hurt? Is he in trouble? What kind of busy does he have that he can't pass this way and let me fix him an antipasto?"
Hannah was taken aback by the woman's strange manner, but Henry Lee didn't seem to take it seriously and grabbed the handsome older woman around her ample waist for a big hug.
"I have been busy, and you will approve, I know," he told her. He turned and gestured to Hannah. "Rosa, Marco, I'd like you to meet my wife, Hannah."
Rosa
screamed again and pushed Henry Lee away. "Why do I waste my breath on a man who lets his wife stand starving in the doorway? Come in! Come in!" she said to Hannah hugging her like a long lost friend and then holding her at arm's length and taking a good long look at her.
"Is she pretty, Marco?" she said in a way that conveyed that she definitely was. "A good, strong girl he picks," she spoke secretively to Hannah touching her finger to her brow, "I knew he was a smart one, learn from my Marco. When you pick a wife, you pick one that don't look like the wind would knock her over."
Rosa
placed her hands on Hannah as if measuring the width of her pelvis. "Look at these hips, Marco. The boy will get plenty of babies from this one, no trouble."
Hannah's face flamed scarlet. Such plain speaking was embarrassing, but she could tell the woman had meant her words for the best. Besides, Hannah thought, it wouldn't hurt for Henry Lee to be aware of his wife's more practical advantages.
Rosa
fixed them a wonderful meal of some of the strangest dishes that Hannah had ever tasted. Everything from the pickled onions, through the spaghetti and on to the dessert custard was unique. Marco gave them lessons on spaghetti twirling and
Rosa
promised that she would teach Hannah everything she needed to know about cooking for a new husband. When Henry Lee declared that his wife already was the best cook in the territory,
Rosa
raised her hands to heaven.
"Thank God, at last he is truly in love! When a man believes that his wife cooks best, you know that his stomach has become as blind as his eyes!"
The Morellis were busy serving customers and Hannah and Henry Lee laughed and talked. When the last of the customers had headed out the door the two came and joined them at the table.
"I have a business proposition for you," Morelli told him. "It is something for the future, to set aside now. A young husband like yourself should think of the future, I know. Next time you look, you'll see the house full of bambinos and say, 'How this happen?'" he joked.
Henry Lee gave a startled glance at Hannah. He wondered when they would start telling people about the baby. Morelli was right, the future was here with them and a good husband and father would be making plans.
"What kind of business do you have in mind?"
"It's not business, not yet, it's
investment,"
the older man told him. "The old Indian whose allotment sets just south of town here, he comes in to eat
Rosa
's cooking sometimes. He tells me he no like to live so near the town, make him crazy he says. So he go to live nearer his son. He want to sell his land, sell it fast."
Henry Lee nodded, interested.
"I think I should buy it. The town gonna grow I think, and it has nowhere to grow this side of the river except that way."
"Well, if you think you should buy it, why mention it to me?"
"Ah," Morelli dragged the sound out almost mournfully. "My Rosa and me, we got good sense and hard work, but we got no money." He gestured comically pulling the insides of his pockets out to show that they were empty.
"My good friend, Henry Lee, he got good sense and hard work, too. But, he's got money."
Hannah looked at Henry Lee, surprised. She hadn't been aware that Henry Lee was doing any better than the other farmers, but she was proud to hear otherwise. A fine man like her husband certainly deserved to do well.
Henry Lee saw the look on Hannah's face and immediately worried that she had heard enough to become suspicious.
"We don't want to bore you ladies with this business talk," he said. "Hannah, maybe you could get
Rosa
to show you the kitchen?"
Rosa
wasn't buying any flimsy excuses. "Men!" she said. "They don't want us to hear their business talk, you know why? 'Cause we are so smarter than them, and they are afraid that we will find out!"
Hannah laughed.
"Come, little new bride,"
Rosa
urged her, "I have new dress I've been making for my granddaughter, you must
see
it."
The two women disappeared through the door that led to the living quarters upstairs and Henry Lee turned to Morelli.
"How much does the old Indian want?" Henry Lee asked.
"He is not greedy," Morelli answered.
Henry Lee was sure that even if the city did not prosper and grow into the land, it was still fairly good bottom ground land that could be farmed and the trees on it, alone, would be worth the asking price. Morelli could come up with about a third of the money needed, if Henry Lee could make the rest.
"I have a little business deal going in
Muskogee
," Henry Lee said. "I expect to make a good bit of profit fairly quickly. Tell the Indian he can have his payment in cash tomorrow, if he'll come down five percent on the price."
"You can have that money by tomorrow?" Morelli's face clouded with concern. "It is dangerous to make so much money so fast, my friend."
"I'm careful," Henry Lee assured him.
"That's good. 'Cause now you have family to worry about," he said gravely. Then lightening the mood he added, "And an old business partner who is going to help make you a very rich man!"
