Mary and James would be attending a jazz concert at the Colonial Hotel and spending the night before James left for the Preakness. Some of their favorite jazz performers would be there, including drummer and band leader Jelly Roll Morton. As she reflected on the past few years, she marveled at all she and James had accomplished. The reward of an evening of jazz, old friends and a night in the Colonial Hotel was well deserved.
Breaking into Mary’s thoughts was the sound of footfalls coming down the hall. It was James.
“Capp wishes to speak to us in private. Do you have time?”
“Right now?”
“Yes dear, now. Capp’s waiting in my office. Come, please.” There was a seriousness in James’s voice and a sadness in his eyes.
Capp sat in a side chair near James’s desk. Mary could see that Capp looked less than happy himself. Dear God, Mary thought. Please, not bad news. She slipped into the chair to the left of James’s desk. James poured himself a glass of water and sat down in his office chair.
Capp squirmed. Clearing his throat, he began: “I want permission to officially court Maizie when I get back from the Preakness and the Belmont. I want to marry her.”
Mary felt her face tighten and eyes grow wide. She looked at Capp quickly and then back to James. “Did you know this, James? Did you choose not to tell me?”
“Capp and I have spoken about the complexities of the relationship.”
“The complexities? Now there’s an understatement. They can’t marry. It’s against the law. There is no chance for a happy life, the two of them.”
“We’ve discussed it, yes.”
“If you discussed it, why is Capp here now asking to marry her?”
“Mary, Capp is right here. Please include him in this conversation.” Mary fell back into her chair and crossed her arms tightly to her breasts.
“Go ahead, Capp. Talk,” said James. Capp glanced at Mary and began.
“I love her. I realize that now.”
Mary jumped from her seat, “Have you touched her? Because if you have—”
“Mary, please. Let the boy talk,” demanded James.
“This isn’t good. Maizie is fragile.”
“She isn’t fragile,” said Capp. “Not anymore. She’s grown up. My god, she is twenty years old.”
“I have plans for her. I may take her to Europe to continue her education,” Mary said.
“Does she want that? Why do you push her so? Let her be,” said Capp.
“Of course she wants an education. She’s intellectually curious. In fact, one of my concerns besides the fact that you can’t legally marry her is that she is educated. You’re not. No, I will not allow this. A friendship is fine, but no marriage.”
“Are you saying I’m not smart enough for Maizie?”
“James, say something,” pleaded Mary.
James looked down at his hands and laced his fingers together. “You are a smart kid, Capp. We know that. But I personally don’t approve of the way you have conducted yourself with other women. I would not want that for Maizie. Running off with someone like you, well, it isn’t what we want for her.”
Capp’s face was sullen. He cradled his head in his hands and said, “Someone like me? I wouldn’t run off with her, we would stay here in Glidewell. We both talk about how much we love it here and how much you both have done and—”
“Capp, there’s something I haven’t told you,” James interrupted. “When the Belmont is over, I plan for you to stay in New York. I’m sending some horses with you to train there. Maybe race them. Perhaps by then, Tommy can jockey for you. I think it will be good for Glidewell to have a presence on the East Coast. You’ll be Glidewell’s ambassador. I support you, Capp, but Maizie and you—”
“You’re sending me away? You’re givin’ me a job to get me out of here?”
“I think it best for everyone,” said James. “Consider it a promotion, an opportunity.”
“Capp, it isn’t that we don’t like you,” said Mary. “We do, but you and Maizie… it just won’t work out.”
Capp looked at both of them with his soft brown eyes. He stood, nodded at Mary and reached to shake James’s hand. He left without saying another word.
Chapter 109
A Heart Endures
A moonbeam lit the old wagon trail as Maizie and Capp progressed on their ride to the castle. The air was light, the mood dispirited. The two horses snorted and nickered in a cadence of hoof syncopation. As Capp listened to the sounds around him, he felt weary and forlorn. Mary had been clear. She would not support Capp’s wishes to be with Maizie. He wondered what his chances were without Mary’s support. He reached to his horse’s neck and stroked the stallion lovingly. He always missed Running Wild while he was away, but that was not all he’d miss this time. He looked over at Maizie, sitting tall and confident in Breezy’s saddle. She smiled softly, her face aglow in the moonlight. He’d never loved anyone before Maizie. Love was a wonderful feeling, but he felt wounded after his encounter with the Glidewells. They only had Maizie’s best interest at heart; he knew that, but he wanted to envision a life with Maizie. Now he wasn’t sure if that was possible.
Maizie lightly kicked Breezy and urged her into a gallop. Capp held Running Wild to a trot giving her a chance to get her horse out in front. When he released his pull, the stallion moved quickly to catch up. Capp tipped his hat to Maizie and rode past her, smiling as he did. Maizie grinned. It was a brief happy moment.
“Dang you, Capp. Breezy and I were trying to race ahead!”
“Well, race then!” he yelled. “To the bend in the road. I’ll give you a head start.”
Maizie encouraged Breezy to a fast clip and pulled around Capp as he had Running Wild hold his
