“It’ll be fine. Don’t worry.”
Mary could hear the sincerity in Maizie’s voice. “You are a wonder, Maizie. You bring so much enjoyment and recognition to my life. I was so proud of you tonight. Please know that I just want the best for you.”
Maizie was quiet for a moment. “I know. You are my mentor, my guardian angel. You helped me weave new dreams. You educated me. I love what you’ve done for me, but please, Mary, you must learn to trust me.”
Mary held back tears as Maizie took her hand. “You are my protector. I know that.”
“Even if I don’t approve of Capp?”
“Yes Mary, but please let me grow up.”
Mary was rocked with emotion. She grabbed Maizie’s arm to steady herself. After a moment she remarked quietly, “You know, I loved you from the first day I saw you, so alone. I fear I selfishly thought of you as my own. Perhaps that was wrong.”
“I needed a mother,” Maizie said softly. “Thank you for that, but I’m nearly a woman now. I’m not that little girl anymore.”
Mary smiled, nodded, and hugged Maizie back.
“Thank you for everything,” Maizie said and put her head on Mary’s shoulder as Mary held her tightly.
When Maizie entered the great hall, she found Capp on the couch in front of the fireplace. He was drinking a brandy and appeared deep in thought, his blond curly hair catching bits of light from the fire. When he sensed Maizie was near, he looked up and motioned for her to sit beside him.
Maizie sat down and then scooted close so there was no distance between them. “Want a brandy?” asked Capp. “Leon left a tray.”
“No thank you.”
“Maizie, that was some performance tonight. I’ll never forget it. You had that crowd. I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.”
“Thank you. I loved doing it. Being in a show sure is something.”
“I’m wondering if life on a horse ranch would even be a life you’d be interested in now. Seems you might want to be on the road, performing all the time. Maybe you’d want to move from here.”
“I love to sing, but no, I could never leave Glidewell. Maybe I’d leave for a few months like Meadowlark does, like you do with the horses, but this is home.”
“So you have thought about being a professional performer?”
“A little. But Capp, I never had a home or felt safe until I came here. I had no future either. I realize that now. I’ll never throw that away.”
“I guess we both consider Glidewell our home.”
“Yes.”
“You know I’ve been thinking a lot about you,” said Capp putting down his glass of brandy.
Maizie grabbed Capp’s callused, hardworking hand. “I’ve been thinking about you too. When I looked into the crowd and saw you there, I wanted to run to you. Right then.”
“It was worth the long train ride to surprise you.”
“Thank you for coming.”
“After the Derby, I’ll be headed to Maryland for the Preakness, then on to New York for the Belmont. We are certain Glory Be will qualify. But after that I’ll be back here. I want to talk to you about the future when I get back.”
“By then, I’ll be through with school. We can talk about how we want our lives to be?”
Capp looked back into the fading fire. His brow set with sadness. “Yeah, about how our lives will be. I’ll be working with horses. Who knows what you’ll do?”
“Mary is talking about taking a trip to Europe. She wants me to come with her.”
“Do you want to go?”
“I’m not sure. It depends.”
“Maizie, if I hadn’t met you, I probably would have settled on another type of girl. But I’ve gotten older. I think, you’re like a woman my dad would have wanted but never found.”
“That’s nice. That you like me.”
Capp smiled and watched the dying flames flicker.
“I like you a lot, Maizie.”
“Capp?”
“Yes.”
“I have liked you since the day I tripped on the rug and fell with that tray of cheese and crackers. There was something about you that made me feel safe. Everything was so new and unfamiliar. You helped me.”
“I’ll always protect you, Maizie. You’re precious to me.”
“Like a sister?”
“Yeah, maybe like a sister.”
“Are you sure? Like a sister?” Maizie removed her hand from Capp’s.
Capp held his breath as he looked into her eyes. “That’s not exactly true. I want to be more than friends. I do care for you, Maizie. A whole lot.” Capp waited a moment and slowly put his arm around her. “Maizie, I can’t believe I’m sounding like this. Sentimental-like.” The two laughed softly as Maizie grabbed his hand again and put her head on his shoulder, her heart pounding.
Chapter 101
The Meeting
February 1935
The following Wednesday Leon drove James into Springfield for a prearranged appointment at Drury College with Dr. Charing, Mr. Thomas Washington, and James’s attorney, Thaddeus Wells. It was a chilly and blustery February day and James was fired up and ready for battle. He was confident that he and Thad made a formidable team.
“Wait here for me, Leon. I won’t be longer than I have to be to make a point.”
James found Thad waiting for him outside Charing’s office. “Thad, do you have the paperwork done?”
“I do, James. We’re ready.”
Dr. Charing’s assistant showed the two into the office. Seated next to Charing was a pale, balding man wearing a grim expression. James immediately smiled broadly and extended his hand, “I’m James Glidewell and this is my attorney, Thaddeus Wells. And you must be Mr. Washington?”
“Forgive me Mr. Glidewell, where are my manners?” said Charing. “Yes, this is Mr. Washington, one of our board members. He has come here to explain his position. And Mr. Wells, I’m Dr. Charing.” The men all exchanged handshakes and then sat down. “Gentlemen, should we begin?” asked Dr. Charing.
“If I may, my attorney and I have business elsewhere and have little time,” said James. “We have discussed at length your feelings, Mr. Washington. Have you decided that Maizie Freedman may continue her
