Mystics of the Tuolumne

Ecstacy denied #

"It's getting hotter every day.  I noticed the Tuolumne is extremely turbid.  Is it OK to water the plants we eat with that stuff?  It stinks."  Albert had noticed for the first time how people who were not born to money had to live at the mercy of the wealthy.

"We have for many years now.  You father does dry land farming so he doesn't have to worry about stinking water,"  Dahlia said with some pique as she minded the acequias.

Albert walked up to Dahlia from behind he encircled her in his arms.  She leaned her head back against his chest almost purring with contentment.  "I can barely control myself," he whispered in er ear.  She shivered with excitement.  Both of them were breathing heavily.  Albert moved his right hand up and cupped her breast.  She moaned lightly and turned toward him.  They kissed.  The feeling was so intense it caused Dahlia to curl her toes and gave her a spasm in her foot.  Albert's knees started shaking and he almost dropped, his passion was fervent.  

"Someday soon," she murmured to him.  They walked to the house so that Dahlia could cook supper.

"What are you making tonight," Albert inquired.

"Carne Asada, you'll like it.  I have been marinating it all day."  She wasn't going to tell him where it came from yet.  I also have scarlet runner  beans and green rice.

"Sounds great,"  Albert's family's cook was a Californio's wife and cooked many vaquero dishes.  But, not as well as Ericia and Dahlia.

"Dahlia, your cooking gets better every day.  Are you practicing to be Albert's wife?"  BJ teased them both so he could watch them turn red.  Everybody at the table laughed except Ericia who glared at BJ.

School was boring to Albert because he wanted to study more complex subject.  The teachers could never answer his questions.   Albert, in turn, taught Dahlia.  Both of them were still looked upon as odd ducks and something to be shunned.  They were also considered dangerous.

Summer came in with blazing heat.  School was out so the children could help out on the farms and shops around the town.  In the garden vegetables and fruit needed picking, pickling, and canning.  Then work was hot and heavy, but necessary to avoid hunger in the winter.

The time to visit Berkely finally came.  "My mother is going to chaperon us on our trip.  I wish it was your mother," Albert was little downcast because of this.  The boy had plans.

"I don't think you want my mother if I am right about what you have planned."  Dahlia looked at him with raised eyebrows.

"I have never ridden on the railroad before,"  Dahlia was showing childlike excitement.

"Try to contain yourself, young missy,  behave with dignity  if you know how."  Mrs. McKinley was cold and haughty.

Ericia stared daggers at her. "My daughter knows how to behave with dignity.  She knows better than to insult others in public."

"Harumph!"  was all that came from Mrs. McKinley.

"Open the window and see how fast we are really going,"   Albert teased Dahlia knowing she had never experienced speed faster than a gallop.

"Alright, help me.  Make sure I don't fall out."  Dahlia was so excited but a little afraid.  Mrs. McKinley looked askance with utter disgust to the scene playing out between Albert and Dahlia.

The rush of hot air was exhilarating and desiccating at the same time.  "Isn't this amazing?"  Albert was thrilled from showing Dahlia a whole new world.  "Would you like to see it from the rear platform?"

"Oh, yes that sound exciting too,"  Dahlia was exuberant.  

"Would you like to come, mother?" Albert tried to include her in their happiness.

"I'm fine right here."  Mrs. McKinley murmured venomously.

Good Albert thought as he escorted Dahlia down the aisle to the rear platform of their coach. "Isn't the scenery grand, the bread of the world as far as you can see."

"It takes my breath away.  It..." She was stopped amid sentence as Albert spun her and kissed her solidly but gently.  "That takes my breath away too," Dahlia smiled and kissed him again.  They looked up to encounter Mrs. McKinley's angry visage through the glass pane of the rear door.

"You will take separate seats in front of me until we reach the station," Mrs. McKinly was stern and observant.  She would not be tricked into losing her boy to this sly vixen.

The hotel was an elegant Prince Edward style with balconies surrounding each floor.  Alberts mi9nd was in full steam ahead planning mode. Dahlia was aware of every thought and kept breaking into a smile.  Mrs. McKinley assigned rooms with Albert and Dahlia next door to each other.  Albert was delighted.  Dahlia had to giggle at his thoughts.

It was late.  All traffic except a few night owls had ceased.  Albert, in his night clothes, quietly opened the door to the balcony, silently closed it and crept toe heel style down the balcony to the next room's balcony's doors.  With utter stealth,  he opened the latch and sneaked into the room.  He pulled back the covers and slipped into the bed.  He reached for his true love.  To his shock and horror, he found his mother in the bed that he thought was occupied by Dahlia.

"You took me for a fool, young man,"  he could feel his mother's glare through the darkness,

"I'm...mmm...sorry.  I didn't know."  Albert stammered.

"Obviously, now go back to bed and leave my balcony door open,"  Mrs. McKinly was not a novice at boys.

The following morning at breakfast Dahlia was bright and charming. "I slept so well, I did not expect to."

"Yes, Dahlia I know what you expected."  Mrs. Mckinley responded.  Albert remained silent.

A carriage came for Dahlia and Albert  to take them to the university.  On the way to the school, Albert told her what had happened last night. Dahlia laughed until tears were coming from her eyes.  "Maybe you shouldn't be such a scheming tomcat."  Tha remark miffed Albert.  Dahlia only laughed more.

"This is such a rich environment for learning."  Dahlia was fantasizing about all she could learn.  Albert saw such beauty that he had never imagined here by the San Francisco Bay.     

The carriage arrived to take them back to the hotel.  They would meet with their professors tomorrow. The dinner was hot and delicious.  The atmosphere was icy cold and  the demeanor was unyielding. 

"Do you speak, read, and write English?" The dean of the Veterinary School asked Dahlia.    

"Yes, I do. I also speak Miwok, speak read and write Spanish and Latin."  Dahlia was eager to please the dean.

"Very impressive, young lady,"  The dean leaned back in his chair, lowered his reading glasses and examined the young lady sitting before him.  He stood, put his glasses away and put out his hand and said, "Welcome to the Veterinary program.  Your classes will start next year after your graduation from high school.  We will be in touch by mail."         

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I am starting to get the idea here.  I would like to hear from the readers what needs improvement.

When are these two starry-eyed young lovers going to finally do it?

When is Mrs. McKinley going to lighten up?  

Will she ever accept Dahlia?  

A year is a long way off.  What could happen in a year?