The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1937-12-31
Chapter Four
Leha's plans

her seat beside Uncle Ham. she
helped Herself to more stew as she
continued, "Most nurses won't 90
near the kitchen at all or do any
thing except take care of the pa
tent"
Leila's plump body stiffened and
she looked as If she was about to
say something caustic. Stan nudged
her arm. and she set her lips In a
tight line Of strained patience.
A wave Of nostalgia swept over
Media as she thought of the quiet
peace of her room in the sorority
house that she had shared with
Claire Best. Jewel Campbell was
probably moving her belongings
into that room at this very mo-
ment. Media pictured the girls fit
ting about in bright lounging pa
Jamas, carefree, happy /. talking
about her.
She rose abruptly from the
table, threw on her coat and went
out into the softness Of the wan
ing day. The cool breeze did moth
ing TO ease her harried thoughts.
Her DIRK eyes and the delicate
line of der eyebrows were the only
color b her face. Cinders follow
etsat her heels.
She walked past the tank house
toward the old adobe barn which
somehow had resisted the rigors
Of the countless seasons that had
passed over il. At the corral gate
she paused, for the ground was
soft and muddy where 1t has been
churned by the hoofs Of the COW
since the winter rains.
AS she gazed at the peeling
walls Of the old barn Nelda's inn
agination wandered to that ro-
mantle Gay when her ancestors
had lived on these acres in regal
splendor. The Estrados once own
ed vast stretches Of land. she'd
been told. Their ranges were
stocked with cattle. The men
lived in the saddle. Indians did
most of the heavy work and In re-
turn had only TO be fed and given
a small piece Of coarse cloth and
a belt.
Media drew mental pictures Of
the parties once held here the
feasting the laughter :. the
wine :. the drumming Of string
ed Instruments the dancing
the click Of castanets /. wedding
festivities that lasted a whole
week fascinating senoritas in
e-.4I44<& k.<4s,k>.s .s.s4ts fStrst. s,,.v.l. -,
their hair, flirting behind lace
fans.
II was all gone now. The great
Estrada estate was shrunken to
100 acres and few decaying
buildings. The best paying part of
the ranch was the apple orchard
az the west end. There were 65
acres Of implanted land around
the house.
Divided!
THE sound Of a light step made
4 Media turn. Candy was coming
toward her.
Il got sump'in to tell you" the
child said.
aYes?p
Mother says this places jus
gotta be divided"
"Dividedl'' A fear fiuttered In
Nelda's heart. II seemed to her she
was standing on the rim of q
breaking world.
What's It mean when you're
on your own, Aunt Nelda7"
sWhy?"
Mother says Daddy's jus gotta
80 on his own an you can look
after Grandma and Upcle Jack.
IL means--w well. that you're on
your own. that's all.
oh, the child said bewilder-.
Media turned back to the house
Shed hoped Stan would be Q help
to her In taking care Of her mother
and keeping Jack in college. But
she should have known better Stan
had always been a leaner He'd
never had q lob outside his IA
theirs store. 1t was typical Of him
that he would let some one else
break the news of the proposed
division Of the farm.
Il was hours before Media could
SO 70 sleep. She awoke early and
with a start. Where was she2 Back
at school In q twin bed with Claire
Best In another beside herr
No. those stained walls. those
deep-cut windows where the
morning light was creeping into
the room were home.
At the breakfast table, ever her
second cup Of coffee, Leila fred at
Media the same words Candy had
uttered the night before:
This ranch has 10 be dividedf
but Leila The protest that
snrang up In Media died under the
determination in Leila's square
TEE.