Mystics of the Tuolumne

Halcyon #

"I painted you this picture for your St, Valentine's day.  See this....."  Albert was interrupted by Dahlia.

"Yes, I see the large branch of them cottonwood makes one side of a heart and my body, the way I am leaning is the other side and then we merge together at the bottom like we are both from the same trunk."  She was bubbling over with excitement.

"You know that this weekend I travel to Stockton to obtain my equipment for the California Volunteer State Guard."  He was of his decision to become more of a man.  When I graduate from high school I will be sworn in as a second lieutenant."

"You don't have to do this to prove anything to me"  She was frowning.

"Nothing is going to happen.  The Apache and the Sioux are on their reservations and Mexico has a very strong government."  Albert tried to assuage her fears.  "It's my chance to prove I am a man.  Besides, I will only have to ride my horse at the head of my patrol with the sunlight glinting from my saber while I tip my hat to all the comely senoritas."

"I love you.  I see who you are and what you are with my eyes and my gifts.  I know you and you know me."  Dahlia looked at him with her eyes so large and brown that it melted him.

"Do you have to do this to prove yourself to your father and brothers?"  Dahlia still wasn't smiling.

"And my mother."  He was glum now.

"We will talk."  Dahlia took the painting to her room and Albert rode home.

"Father, Mother, look at my new uniform."  Albert was excited by his weekend in Stockton.

"You look like a child playing dress up.  That uniform will never do.  We'll have the Chinaman tailor it to fit you perfectly." Albert's shoulder sagged.  The air was taken out of him again.  But, he knew the perfect cure.

"Dahlia, walk with me, please."  Albert held out his arm for Dahlia to take.

"Where are we going?"  Dahlia looked back at her house to see if her Mamma knew she was out for a walk.  She saw Ericia nod.

"The river road.  I just need you."  Albert was still a little crestfallen. 

They sat on a cottonwood branch that grew out over the river bank and a shallow swimming hole.  They scooted out until they were over the water.  "What did you do in Stockton?"

"They had me do some paperwork, gave me a uniform and taught us how to march."  Albert was beginning to feel little better.  He knew he would.  "Will you make love to me?"

"Not on this cottonwood limb."  Dahlia was quick to point out the poor logistics. "We need to talk about that."

"You don't want to do it anymore, I'm sorry."  Albert was hurt and afraid he had hurt Dahlia.

"No, You didn't hurt me.  I love you.  I enjoy making love to you.  We need to make plans to be more careful.  Mamma is teaching me ways." Dahlia was kicking her dangling feet and smiling at him. " I don't want to be with child and never have a chance to follow my dream and the dream of my people."

"I would marry you." Albert meant that.  I could be a good father."

"I know you would marry me."  Dahlia placed her hand on his arms,  "I do not want to get pregnant and have to think about the baby instead of my studies.  It would not be fair to any of us."  Dahlia paused and looked at him.  "We need to be responsible and think before we allow lust to destroy our lives and the life of the baby."

"You are right.  I learned about a device men can use called condoms.  We must be not be overcome by animal passion."

By Easter, the spring season was well underway.  Albert's family left the day unnoticed.  Out of personal respect for Ericia, her family helped her celebrate all the Roman Catholic rituals. "Have you ever had borrego from the pit?"

"No, I've seen it buried, though.  Is that what we are having?"  Albert loved anything cooked in Dahlia's house.  "What can I bring?"

"You can bring your piano."  Dahlia laughed.

"I will bring a small barrel of the Basque wine they make."  Albert was getting heady just thinking about that delicious liquid

The borrego went well with the tempranillo wine made by the basques.  "Dahlia, it's getting time to think about moving to Berkeley and finding a place to live."  Albert was nervous about the coming change in their lives and how it would affect him and Dahlia.

"I can't live in the ladies residence halls.  It would be convenient but I have to find someplace that will let a place to Miwoks."  She faced the racial divide calmly and realistically.

"I hate that but there is nothing I can do now."  Albert was righteously wrathful.

Albert and Dahlia received their High School diplomas.  "Congratulations on becoming a lieutenant Albert.  But I still don't like it and now there is a war with Spain."  Dahlia was more upset with the war than thew fact that she had found nowhere to live.  This also frustrated and disgusted Robert Sr.  Racial discrimination was a waste of time and resources.  It was bad for business.

"Dahlia, I have solved, at least partially, your, Albert's, and Robert Jr. and his wife's housing problem."  Robert Sr. was not divulging how.  "Now let's look at wheat prices."

The telegraph office downtown by the depot received the  news and distributed orders to all involved with the 1st Volunteer Infantry Regiment and the Naval Militia.  "BJ, did youm hear the whole twon is going to war, are you?"  Joel was excited but afraid for the loss of BJ.

"No, son only a few will go.  We'll see who they are soon."  He was worried about Albert.  He was still just a boy.  Dahlia would be devastated if Albert became a war causalty.  Meanwhile the entire town was holding its breath.