Capp would be riding Running Wild. Wil felt that Running Wild, given the horse’s winning spirit and great endurance, would pull off a win despite Capp’s size. The four top Glidewell horses and riders would compete with the rest of the field on Saturday.
A few days later, prior to the match races, Sugar Jackson arrived on the train from Kentucky. She was a charming, wiry, strong woman full of goodwill and determination. She had a smile that could light up a room and the hug of a bear. She loved people and it showed in everything she did. Sugar wore her hair wrapped in a white piece of cloth which gave her a distinguished and proud appearance. The head cloth wasn’t the triangle of the enslaved but a turban-like wrap of the queens of Africa.
Leon picked up Sugar in the Glidewells’ Packard coupe at the Springfield train station. When they arrived back at the ranch, Leon drove her to the backside cottage where she and her staff of three other women would be living. After Sugar had put her few things away in the drawers, Leon then drove her to the ranch house for a meeting with Mary.
“Sugar, I’m so happy to meet you. I feel like I know you. Wil speaks so highly of you,” Mary said and led Sugar to her office.
“I do appreciate Wil talking good of me. This job was an answer to my prayers. Figure God’s been listenin’.”
“This is Maizie, my office assistant.”
Maizie stood and smiled. “Sugar, welcome, Capp told me about you.”
Sugar laughed. “Why, that little darlin’ child was a handful, but I could make him laugh and smile. He was a sourpuss when his mama left. Barely four years old. Why I’ve missed my Wembley boys every day. Been prayin’ to get together with them again. They’s been behavin’? ’Cause if they ain’t, Sugar here will get after them.”
Mary thought about tattling on Capp and all the trouble he’d gotten into recently but refrained. “Your Wembleys behave most of the time. Every day my husband and I are thankful they are here.”
“Oh they’s good boys for sure, Wil and Capp. Never give me a lick of trouble… much.” Sugar looked serious for one minute and then she broke into a big smile, her face, full of joy. Mary was happy she’d had a hand in reuniting the Wembleys and Sugar at the Glidewell Ranch.
“Did you see your cottage?”
“I sho’ did. Just fine for me. Seems I’ll be real busy this summer, but I sho’ do like havin’ my own bed and don’t mind the company of others.”
“Well, let’s walk back down there. I’ll show you around, introduce you, talk about your responsibilities.”
“A walk would be just what I need. Been sittin’ since I left Kentucky. I want to see those horses for sure.”
“Let’s go then.” Mary ran to her bedroom and slipped on her boots.
Entering the backside mess hall, they found Thelma in the kitchen making big pans of chicken, vegetables, and biscuits topped with gravy. Thelma looked up from her work and appeared shocked to see Sugar standing between Maizie and Mary.
“This is Sugar Jackson, Thelma. She and her crew will be handling all the housekeeping.” Sugar reached to shake Thelma’s hand, but Thelma just shook her head and held up her dough covered palm as if to apologize that she couldn’t return the gesture.
“She Maizie’s momma?” Thelma said, looking sideways at Mary.
“No Thelma, she isn’t.”
“Well, she could be, couldn’t she?”
“Sugar is like family to the Wembleys.”
“Sure don’t look like family, if you ask me.”
“Thelma, may I remind you that we expect our employees to be respectful to all,” Mary asserted. Thelma remained quiet but angrily rolled out her biscuit dough. The end of Thelma’s nose was covered with flour, and Mary found it difficult not to laugh. Mary turned to leave before she let out a giggle, when Thelma asked, “Why, Miss Maizie, is that a new dress? Bet that cost a good bit of money. Or did you steal it?”
Mary turned back around sharply, her urge to laugh having been completely dampened by Thelma’s hostile remarks. “Thelma, you will report to my office tomorrow morning immediately following your breakfast service.”
Sugar looked at Thelma, smiled, and then calmly remarked, “Seems someone with a mouth like yours should spend more time smilin’ and less time talkin’.” Thelma stared at Sugar and tapped her rolling pin on the edge of the counter.
This could be trouble, Mary thought. “We have to get going. Maizie, Sugar, come with me. Thelma, I’ll see you tomorrow.” The three women walked out of the mess hall on their way back up the hill to the ranch house. “I’m sorry, Sugar. I forgot about showing you the horses.”
“I can do that,” said Maizie.
“That would be nice of you, Maizie,” Mary said and then added, “Sugar, don’t take Thelma’s remarks personally. She is a difficult and sometimes a mean-spirited person.”
“I sho’ know about those. Been around ’em all my life.”
Looking at Sugar with kindness, Mary said, “You two take your time. Meet some of the others. Most folks here aren’t like Thelma.”
Chapter 29
Getting to the Point
Mary, looking out her office window, could see Thelma huffing and puffing as she climbed the incline to the ranch house; Maizie was jogging down gracefully. When
