Page 34 of Spilling the Tea

“A man knows how to be firm with a woman and change her after marriage, Milton,” Jantz said.

“That might be true, but I have no plans to marry Charlotte. Ever. I admit she’s pretty, but she is also annoying as hell. She gets on her brother’s nerves, and I refuse to be shackled with her and let her get on mine. Besides, she’s not a nice person. Definitely no one I’d want as a wife.”

When his father sat there staring at him, Milton rubbed his hand down his face and said, “Look, Pa, I can understand you and Kurt Satterfield wanting to combine the two most prosperous ranches in Houston. You and Mr. Kurt should be happy that Waylon and Victoria are more than happy to oblige. And the good thing is that they are truly in love. That’s what I want for myself. The kind of marriage you and Mom have is one based on love. That means I intend to pick my bride.”

Jantz’s frown deepened. “And when will that be?”

Milton shrugged. “I have no idea. But I’m convinced I will know her when I meet her.” He stood. “Anything else?”

“Yes. Don’t forget you’ll drop your sister off at that summer camp in Tennessee in two weeks. She’s all excited.”

“I know. That’s all she’s been talking about lately.” Milton studied his father’s gaze. He and Victoria were blessed to have the parents they did. Jantzen Milton Madaris, III, was a fair man. He was a good and honest man, and as far as Milton was concerned, he was the best father in the world. Then there was his mother, Etta Madaris, one of the most warm, loving, and generous women he knew. There had never been any doubt in his mind as to why his pa had married her. Pa would always say that she was the love of his life, and he’d known she was the one he wanted as his wife the moment they’d met.

“Is there anything else you want to discuss with me, Pa?”

“No,” Jantz said, standing and placing a hand on his son’sshoulder. “I am proud of the man you’ve become, Milton. Now you and Waylon go out tonight and enjoy your birthdays.”

Milton grinned. “Thanks, Pa.”

***

Victoria Madaris glanced over at the brother she adored. “Will you get me to summer camp on time, Milt?” It seemed they’d been on the roads from Texas headed to Tennessee for months instead of days.

Milton gazed at his sister when he brought the truck to a stop at a railroad crossing. “I told you it would take longer by truck than a bus since we check into a motel every night. Don’t worry. I’ll have you there a day earlier than you need to be there. What’s the rush?”

Victoria smiled brightly. “There are a couple of reasons. First, I’m teaching a history class to ten-year-olds this summer. My first time doing so. I’m excited because I’ll get to tell them about my own family history, which I am super proud of.”

Milton nodded. He knew their family history had been passed down through generations. The Madaris family had settled in Houston, Texas, in the early 1800s after acquiring a ten-thousand-acre Mexican land grant. At the time, when most newly freed Blacks were still waiting for their forty acres and a mule from the United States government, Milton’s great-great-great-grandfather, Carlos Antonio Madaris, half Mexican and half Black, along with his wife, Christina Marie, were shaping their legacy on land they used to raise cattle.

It was a parcel of land they proudly named Whispering Pines. Now Milton and Victoria’s father, Jantzen, was determined to keep it in the family for future generations of Madarises to enjoy. Milton had known from the day he was old enough to understand just what the Madaris legacy meant and had always been proud of it. He thought it was nice that Victoria shared their family history with others.

“And what’s the other reason?” he asked.

“My new best friend. Her name is Felicia Laverne Lee. We met last summer when we were roommates. She’s from Atlanta, Georgia. We’ve been writing to each other, and I can’t wait to see her again.”

Milton could hear the excitement in his sister’s voice, and for the life of him, he couldn’t understand it. He had gone to that same church summer camp years ago and had been bored to tears. For some reason, Victoria loved it and eagerly anticipated attending every summer.

“Tell me about this friend, Felicia Laverne Lee,” he said, more for conversation than any real interest.

“Well, Felicia Laverne and I are the same age, her father is a preacher, and…”

For the next hour or so, his sister went on and on about this girl, saying how smart she was, pretty, kind, had a wonderful singing voice, and that everybody liked her. He would admit, after a while, he stopped listening. Deciding to let Victoria chatter away, he thought of other things. At least she was no longer complaining about how long they’d been on the road.

Already, he was missing Whispering Pines. This was branding week, and he enjoyed working with the ranch hands to get things done. He knew Waylon would be just as busy at his family’s ranch. He would have loved to come along, but Jantz and Etta Madaris would not allow such a thing without another female present as a chaperone. Victoria might be Waylon’s future wife, but when it came to proper behavior, his parents were strict regarding protocol. There had never been a Madaris scandal, and his family was determined there never would be one.

“May I ask you something, Milt?”

Victoria’s question cut into his thoughts. He hadn’t realized she’d stopped talking about her new best friend. “Yes.”

“Do you plan to marry Charlotte someday?”

Milton wondered where in the world that question had come from. “Why do you ask?”

Victoria hesitated, then said, “I overheard her tell a group of girls the last week of school that you were her beau.”

Milton frowned. “I’m nobody’s beau, Victoria, and the answer is no. I have no intention of ever marrying Charlotte Satterfield.”

“Well, Charlotte Satterfield thinks you’re hers. I don’t like her, which is sad since I am marrying into the family. She can be so mean at times and was such a bully around school. I’ve seen her in action with my very eyes.”

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