“It is my decision, Josie. This recommendation will help you find employ elsewhere. It says nothing about your work in the barns.”
Blowing her nose, Josie raised her eyes to Mary’s. “Thank you.” When Mary was finished, she opened a drawer to her right and removed an envelope. In that envelope, she placed the hastily written recommendation and a month’s pay. Then she directed her attention back to Josie.
“Do you have any questions?”
“No,” said Josie quietly.
“All right, I’m asking Leon to drive you down to the bunkhouse to get your things. He will take you to the train depot and help you purchase a ticket back to your hometown, which I believe is Tupelo. Is that correct?”
“Yes.”
“And you have family there?”
“Yes, my daddy,” she said.
“And he will take you in?”
“Yes.” Josie wiped away a few stray tears.
Mary picked up a train schedule on her desk. “According to this schedule there is a train this evening headed to Memphis and then on to Tupelo. Do you understand, Josie?”
“Yes.”
“I’m instructing Leon to telegraph your father that you are returning home.” Josie did not respond. “Do you have any questions?”
“No. But it just ain’t fair. It ain’t. All those men and nothin’ happens to them.”
“Josie, Mr. Glidewell and I were made aware that Wil Wembley had asked you to stop your activities a while back. You chose not to stop.”
“I had to keep going. Capp couldn’t come see me unless I had a place.”
“I do feel sorry for you, but you have given us no choice.”
By 6:00 p.m. Leon had put Josie on the train to Memphis, Tennessee. She was on her way back home, or so everyone thought. Josie had not told Mary the truth about her life. Her father would not take her in. Those bridges had been burned years ago. She had no place to go.
When Josie left, her bandanas and hope for a better future remained behind.
Chapter 19
New Rules
Mary lost a night’s sleep over her decision, wondering if it had been harsh to let Josie go. She dismissed her anxiety when she thought about the girl’s attitude toward Maizie. But Josie was right that it wasn’t fair that the men were not held accountable. To that point Mary insisted that James talk with Capp about the inappropriateness of his behavior. “He represents the ranch,” Mary argued. “I will not allow Capp to be with Maizie. He’s too old and can’t be trusted.”
“Mary, you are overreacting. Capp didn’t do anything that bad.”
“Are you serious? He’s obviously experienced and Maizie is not.”
“Mary, you don’t know that. You are acting like her mother.”
“You think Maizie is sexually experienced?”
“I don’t know. Perhaps.”
“Oh James, don’t you see why I’m worried? Capp seems attracted to Maizie.”
“’Cause he wants to teach her to ride? Come on. He’s a boy. She’s a girl. For God’s sake, Mary, you’ve forgotten what it’s like to be young.”
Mary offered no response and left James standing in the hall.
That afternoon Mary and James met to draft the new rules. The rules covered everything from drinking to spitting to fraternizing. It was all there, especially the Glidewells’ demand that all employees be treated with dignity, equality, and respect. At the top of the rule sheet there were the following instructions:
Please read and discuss these rules and come to the meeting with your comments. Your questions will be answered. Your opinions respected.
It became obvious over the course of the days before the barn meeting that most of the backside staff thought the rules fair. Some had to have them read to them and explained. Some just scratched their heads and went about their business. Some questioned the practicality of a few of the rules. Everyone expected that all the employees at the Glidewell Ranch would stand with the Glidewells.
Chapter 20
The Truth
"It’s a hard thing to do, to apologize, Dad, when you don’t see it as wrong.”
“Just be honest. That’s all. Expressing your opinion is a fool’s argument. Gets you nowhere,” said Wil on their way to the ranch house for their Monday dinner.
On the front steps of the ranch house James greeted Will and Capp with an extended hand. Capp felt a sense of relief to know that at least James was friendly. He would do as his dad said: keep his opinions to himself. Once the men were settled in the cowhide chairs, Leon arrived with a tray of three small glasses of freshly poured bourbon and one glass of port for Mary. Capp eyed the glass of port and was a little uneasy knowing that Mary would be joining them. He threw back his shot and waited for Mary to make her entrance. When she finally walked in, a hush fell over the room and the men’s eyes followed her as she took her seat.
“I didn’t mean to start no problems,” Capp said, his head bowed.
Mary took a sip of the red port. Capp felt she enjoyed his discomfort. He sat up straight and said with all the sincerity he could, “See I’m really sorry about it all. I want to start getting ready for match races and the parade and forget about this Josie thing.”
Mary’s disbelieving look told Capp he hadn’t yet said the right thing. He nervously wiped his sweaty palms on his thighs and bravely attempted to change the subject. “They are real pretty these parades. Gets the crowd excited. And the challengers would be riding in the parade too. And you and Mr. Glidewell could ride. Maybe Maizie could ride with me.”
“Sounds great to me, Mary,” James said. “Good for the first match-race day. Gives it all some pomp.”
“I see. All three of you are complicit in our ‘problem’ and you seem dead set to dismiss it. But I will not just drop the discussion about the linen closet and Capp’s role in it.” James quietly took the scolding by downing his whiskey. Wil squirmed a bit and looked at his son, who was waiting for
