He stormed towards her, trying to contain his anger.
As the lights in the theater dimmed, the stage lights flickered and then beamed brightly. The ambiance was magical. In front of the audience was a large orb of light shining on a crimson velvet curtain. A man—not a man really but a college boy—approached a solitary floor mic. He was dressed in a pre-Depression-era tux, a little worse for wear.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to Drury College’s winter production of George and Ira Gershwin’s Girl Crazy, a musical review. Shall we go now to a dude ranch in Arizona? Sit back and enjoy the show. Maestro, take it away.”
The orchestra began with the overture, hitting notes of joy as well as sadness. The curtain opened, and to the shock and surprise of all except the folks from Glidewell, the horses Breezy and Clean Slate were led in and assumed their positions on stage. The entire Glidewell staff stood and cheered as the horses and handlers found their marks and the review began.
James could see that Mary was waiting anxiously for Maizie to sing. Near the end of act one, from stage left, Maizie suddenly appeared. She looked like a star, smiling at the audience and nodding at the backside fans in the first few rows. She began to sing the duet “Embraceable You” with her male lead. Her next number was a solo. The Gershwins would have loved her interpretation of their music. The phrasing of Ira’s lyrics, the mastery of George’s difficult melodies, her command of the audience were all top notch.
Before her last number, her eyes wandered to the first few rows. There was a young man, nicely dressed, smiling broadly. “Capp,” she whispered under her breath. Then, gathering her emotions, she stepped up to the floor mic and sang the slow beginning of “I’ve Got Rhythm,” the opening words so beautifully phrased that all present were transfixed.
So full of love for Maizie, James felt his fatherly heart might break under the pressure of it.
When Maizie finished, the crowd stood to give her an ovation. The backside crowd yelled loudly, maybe too loudly, and from the back row Sugar, Meadowlark, and Ol’ Jon waved their arms in the air. Maizie bowed briefly, fought back a few tears, and the curtain slid in front of her, signaling intermission.
After the second act was over, the crowd demanded an encore. The director stepped forward, taking a few bows. He knew that it was Maizie they wanted to hear. Grabbing her hand, he led her back to the mic, suggesting that Maizie sing one more song. She asked him if Meadowlark could accompany her. He nodded and then said into the mic, “Yes, Maizie. I think this audience would enjoy another song from you.” The cast standing behind them clapped and said, “Yes, Maizie, sing!”
Maizie stepped up to the mic and said, “Thank you. I guess I’ll sing.” The crowd chuckled and then clapped again. “This is a special evening for me. My family is here. Just about all of them. We are the Glidewell Ranch. My first voice coach was Meadowlark and if he will come play for me, I’ll sing one more song.”
Meadowlark yelled from the back of the room, “I’s a comin’, Maizie Bean.”
James smiled and reached for Mary’s hand, he was proud of Maizie, so proud.
Chapter 100
Firelight Conversation
The rain had moved on, and under a starry sky the Glidewell caravan, led by the Packard, drove back to the ranch. The moon cast shadows on the road, creating a sense of romance and mystery.
Mary was full of the joy a mother feels when her child has done well. She graciously accepted compliments from everyone, forgetting that Maizie wasn’t her biological daughter. Mary had long ago begun to openly show her affection for Maizie. Not as many knew, however, how deeply James loved Maizie. He was more reserved, but his fatherly defenses had been profoundly kindled by the conversation he had had with Dr. Charing. Things had changed. Now being her guardian had more meaning. He would go to war for her.
Everyone ended the evening with a nightcap in the ranch’s grand hall. Leon had quickly lit a fire. Phillipe poured glasses of brandy as Claire and Ruby served. Josie stayed in the kitchen and completed a few tasks that Philippe had given her. At the stroke of midnight, they began to retire to their various rooms, cabins and bunkhouses. Capp, however, remained in the house standing by the fire.
“Capp, when do you leave to go back?” asked Mary.
“Soon. Got to get back. I loved seeing Maizie perform tonight. The crowd sure loved her. Thanks for letting me come.”
“You know I didn’t approve.”
“I know.”
“You do understand how I feel about you and Maizie?”
“Yep, I do.”
“I don’t want her hurt, Capp,” Mary said firmly and turned to go.
“Mrs. Glidewell, wait. May I sit up with Maizie for a while? Here in front of the fire?”
“You’d ask me that after what I just said?”
“We are just friends. I know the rules,” Capp answered.
“I’m hesitant.”
“Please, I want to talk with my friend.”
Mary took a minute to think it through. Then looking straight at Capp, she said, “I’ll go ask Maizie. She’s removing her makeup. She said it had started to itch.” Mary walked down the hall of the Glidewell wing of the house leaving Capp standing there. She found Maizie seated at her dresser. “Maizie, Capp is waiting for you by the fire. He wants to sit with you for a while.” Maizie was silent as she stared into her mirror.
“Mary,” said Maizie quietly, “I’m so happy tonight.”
“I’m glad, Maizie.”
“When I saw all of you out there in the audience, and Capp smiling at me, I nearly cried.”
“It was James’s idea to have Capp come. I did not encourage it.”
Maizie stood and gave Mary a warm embrace. “I know you worry about me and Capp. But we are friends is all. It’s been so long since we talked.”
“I fear you have feelings
