Mystics of the Tuolumne

Provenience #

During supper at Dahlia's table, the talk turned to Ericia's heroics in saving the Harrison baby. Which naturally brought up the subject of sharing some of the wonderful treats that were delivered.

"I was not sure that I would like this chocolate but this is so good and smooth. I think I like it better that Albert." Dahlia was grinning boldly. Everyone else laughed.

"Try an orange." Albert playfully threw an orange at her.

What was in the leather pouch, Mamma?" Joel was running his finger over the fine supple leather.

"Hand it to me and we will see." Ericia reached out to receive the parcel from Joel. "Oh, Dios mio! mirale," Ericia's hands were trembling as she held a short but wide piece of paper with handwriting on a few lines.

"What is it?" Dahlia snapped it from her mother's hand." I did not see this coming. I am so sorry."

BJ was next. He politely and calmly removed it from Dahlia's hand. "It is a bank note mad out to you for two thousand dollars."

"Si, I know. But why." Ericia was dumbfounded.

"For saving the life of his child," All for spoke almost a Cappella.

"Do you know what this means to us?" Ericia exclaimed more than asked.

"Nothing," BJ calmly smiled. "Nothing but appreciation for the woman I love." He looked down at his large gentle hands. "We have everything we could ask for."

Ericia threw herself into BJ's lap and threw her arms around his neck and gave him a kiss like the three children had never seen before and probably should never see again.

"You have to take this to the bank tomorrow and set up a saving account," BJ instructed.

ERricia wasted no time in getting to the bank and taking care of her business. she went to see BJ at his smithy. They sat at the table and drank coffee and talked about all the things that made them happy.

As the days grew warmer and longer the new leave is bright yellow-green burst from the cottonwood trees, alamos in Spanish, grayish-green from the willows, los sauces in Spanish, the bright green from the ash trees, lo fresnos in Spanish. The river rose and ran clean as the snow melted in the lower reaches of the Sierra Nevadas.

"Albert, I am going to be gone for the few weeks it takes to run the Rome plows prior to planting. I'll sleep in my office. I will expect you to be responsible for things here in town," Robert Sr. smiled at his boy grown into young adulthood. "Try not to irritate your mother."

"I will be circumspect, father," Albert replied. "When may I expect to hear from the art gallery?"

"With the business of arranging for the extra crews and horses for the plows, I forgot to tell you that two hundred fifty dollars had been deposited into my Wells Fargo account." Mr. McKinley beamed with pride.

Albert's eyes opened wide and he was speechless for a while. "You must tell my brothers, they will not believe it from me. And I must go tell Dahlia."

The planting season was tedious work and required almost as many men as harvesting did. Mr. McKinley had decided, based on Dahlia's gifted vision, to plant over one hundred acres of watermelon for the San Francisco market for this year. Dahlia and Albert would have a share of the profits if there were any.

"You and BJ need to catch a lot of fish. So we can plant our garden." Ericia believed in planting in the old way. She did not want to use anything she thought was unnatural as she used her herbs to cure.

"Why do you need fish in a garden?" BJ was baffled.

"I use fish when I plant for starting fertilizer," Ericia said warmly as she thought about her lush garden.

"Business is going to pick up for me. The spring rush, doncha know.? I am going to need Joel as a helper. But, we will fish every morning. Maybe set a trotline." BJ was contemplating all the repair that the ranchers would need doing as they scrambled to get their property ready for the growing season.

"May I help with the garden this year?" Albert was enthusiastic about painting the plants as they grew.

"Of course," Ericia chirped. She enjoyed this strange boy's company.

"May I bring my paints and easel?" Ericia gathered the boy to her and hugged him while shaking her head yes.

The garden was a major project. It was now 20 acres, twice as large as last year. Business was brisk for everyone in the family. BJ and Joel repaired more farm implements than they knew existed in the whole country.

Ericia's patient load had tripled over the winter. She was bustling here and there from sunup to sunset. The demand for her herbal remedies had grown to such a degree, she considered setting up a shop. She would need a shopkeeper and an herbal cure assistant. The hustle and bustle were challenging.

Dahlia had to take over moist of the domestic chores like cooking, laundry, and cleaning. These were in addition, her regular job of going to school, and overseeing the garden and animals. She did not complain at all. She was up to the challenge which impressed and surprised Albert even more."

"Albert, I need some help" Dahlia cried out.

Albert came from across the field to the pig pen, "What do you want me to do?" He was gazing at her near knee deep in mud and pig feces.

"I'm stuck and I need you do pull me out" She was wearing her knee high wellingtons.

Albert laid down some boards on the mire and walked gingerly out a too Dahlia by the waist. He lifted and she came out of the boots into his grasp as he lifted her high above his head in a show of bravado. He retreated from his boards to solid ground.

After turning around to make sure she was on dry land, he started slowly lowering her. She reached out to steady herself. As she touched Albert's shoulders, every electron and proton reached a critical stage of excitation. They both burst into raging mental apperception. Her fingers came to take root in his shoulders. They grew deeply into his chest. Albert felt as if his hands were an extension ot Dahlia's waist. Albert eased her down and brought her to him. They kissed fully and deeply. The excitement was almost too much to bare as they both became so aroused it was as if their blood was running through each other's veins. They wanted each other they were swelling in heat but, they didn't quite know how.