Bella Comes To Caballo Loco

#122 - Jimmy Swann #19 - She came in like a whirlwind, a blast of color on the arid desert with her scarves and skirts catching the uplift in the morning breeze.

Welcome to Before I Forget . .

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Prev. Chap #18 – Chap. 1 - Contents

Our Story: Jimmy’s homestead is taking shape. Susie, the pup, has arrived. Bella, who Jimmy met in New Orleans, is coming for a visit. Two young Latinas were liberated from the man and woman who had them. Jimmy has just had another episode.’

Bella Comes To Caballo Loco

It’s morning, early, overcast. Moma has already gone to work. She left oatmeal on the stove for me to heat up.

It’s cold though, well into spring and the radiator is banging it’s best to keep up with the building’s demands.

I must go to school. Can’t skip, anymore!

First, I have to exercise Jerry’s pigeons. He sure did rope me in. It was easy enough though, it’s worth the few bucks he’s paying.

Except I messed up. Well, not really. Others are flying their pigeons, also. It’s not unusual for different flocks to intermix while flying with a few being lost or gained from another flock.

Yesterday, I gained two and lost two. Today, I'll try to get things square.

Jeez, it’s cold up here on the roof, I can --

- -

Carla rushed outside and put her hand on Jimmy’s shoulder. He came to, as if waking up, and said, “I had another dream.”

“I was in a city, maybe Baltimore, Detroit. Back in the 50’s. Inner city, tenement buildings all around. It was Spring but cold, I had to fly Jerry’s pigeons and Moma left oatmeal for me to eat before school.”

“What the heck??” Jimmy said half-smiling questioningly to Carla.

“Well, I sure don’t know. You appear none the worse for it,” she said, looking for any more ‘signs’ of his episode.

“I’ll be back in a few minutes,” Jimmy said, backing up, then heading up the road to the dumpster.

The Ranch settled down from the police activity and the week before Bella was to arrive passed fast.

On Wednesday morning, Bella was at the Caballo Loco. Jimmy and Carla met her at the crossbar.

She came in like a whirlwind, a blast of color on the arid desert with her scarves and skirts catching the uplift in the morning breeze. She was full of life.

She and Carla got along fine, and she caught on that Carla and Jimmy were together. It was of no matter, Bella was fine.

She followed Jimmy and Carla up to Jimmy’s hilltop. She would stay with Carla in the Airstream and Jimmy would stay in Robert’s almost completed house on wheels.

It was before noon, and they sat for a while in the shade of the tree and enjoyed a cool glass of lemonade.

Barbara joined them bringing a plate of grilled cheese and peanut butter banana sandwiches.

LJ and Susie ran around under foot and table, LJ shielding his sandwich from Susie’s pursuit.

A hint of an early Fall was in the air. The air was clear and the view west toward Kitt Peak was picture worthy.

After the refreshments, Jimmy took Bella on a tour of The Ranch in the side by side. Carla and Barbara put together a vegetable salad and some soup for the evening’s potluck.

At the bottom of the hill, Robert was tending the horses at Fred’s place. After meeting Bella, Robert said Fred would be back soon, he was out buying hay.

“We’ll be back around soon, if Fred hasn’t returned, we’ll see him this evening.” Jimmy continued down the road.

Bella was delightfully at home at the ranch. Fit right in, an open book with those she met.

The latest from the Border Patrol regarding the two young girls was that the youngest was reunited with her Venezuelan family and they were at the Phoenix holding facilities mired in paperwork in their attempt to remain in the States.

It didn’t look good for them at the moment. How they were separated from the girl was a suspicious event that happened before they entered the country.

Alejandra, the older of the two girls, from El Salvador, took the younger one under her wing as they crossed into the country at Jacumba, east of San Diego.

Where and what went on in the ensuing three months, until they were found at CLR, was unclear. Alejandra was closemouthed about it.

She was at the Nogales facility.

The man and woman who had them were in the Tucson jail with multiple charges pending.

Regarding the trailer, no one had claimed it. It would remain at the site for the time being. Owner Jim might well end up with it.

Barbara discovered that a foster program existed that allowed her to house Alejandra until her family members were found.

She and Alejandra were excited and making arrangements with Customs for her to come to the ranch. They might be able to pick her up in a few days.

Alejandra would be glad to get away from the detention center.

Robert had mixed feelings about it. ”We’ll manage,” he said. Barbara was happy. She was also about due for her little one’s arrival.

At the potluck dinner, Fred Loomey and Bella met. Sparks flew. Crazy how they seemed such a match, reserved old Fred and outgoing Bella.

There were more people attending the potluck dinner this week. It wasn’t their usual slow-paced quiet get-together.

Bella was pretty much the life of the party. Some people can just do that.

She gave Tarot readings and fund-raised for a new Wi-Fi upgrade at the Ranch and reminded everyone about Friday night’s poker and bingo games and Saturday night’s live band, the last of the season.

By the end of the evening, Fred and Bella had decided that she would stay at Fred’s. “I have more room, and it would alleviate the crowded quarters at your place,” Fred said to Jimmy, smiling, “And it will be nice having a woman around the place.”

Fred was happy. Bella was happy. Jimmy was happy.

Over the next couple of days, Fred and Bella decided Fred would accompany Bella to Santa Cruz. They would drop off Bella’s rental in Tucson and continue to California and Santa Cruz in his camper. Fred called it his “Last chance adventure. How long, what then, who knows?”

Fred was excited. They would leave the following Sunday.

Robert would look after the horses and property.

By Saturday afternoon Fred and Bella were ready to go. Robert and Barbara and LJ were back at the CLR with Alejandra and settling her in.

A late season rainstorm was blowing in from California producing strong winds, thunderstorms, and lightning. Warnings were up for areas south of Tucson.

A lightning storm moved into the area and delayed the evening’s festivities. Folks hadn’t arrived yet; they were riding out what they were sure was a just brief storm. The band delayed its start.

Jimmy and family and several others who’d already arrived at the rec center milled about the windows watching the winds blow and the lightning’s flash. Several strikes were close by.

They saw smoke. It was rising in torn windblown plumes.

Harlen Hebert came speeding up the dirt road on his motor bike, pulled into the center and ran into the hall - “The supplies lot is on fire! Lightning hit it! The wind is blowing sparks through the thatch! It’s spreading! Our site is close by!”

Everyone scattered. The band started packing up.

Residents were notified by text of the fire and to access their situation.

Jimmy and Robert headed for the fire area while Fred and the gals went back home to make ready to move if need be.

The burning lumber at the supply lot provided the wind an ongoing flow of sparks to canvass the nearby camping sites and desert floor.

People in those nearby sites were gathering their things and moving away from the fire. Caballo Loco Ranch was on alert. The front entrance was open, out of the fire’s path. Some people were leaving.

The worst of the wind and lightning passed, and the sky was constantly spitting rain but never really letting go. People prayed for rain. The fire’s red glare on the rolling low-hanging rain filled clouds and roiling smoke was surreal.

The fire spread on the downslope hill just north of the ranch. The fire would flare up and explode upon coming up to cacti and brush, or a tree, but in the dead and moldy grass thatch, it would just crawl along.

It burned steadily northeast. The Swann Song stood a good chance of getting hit. Fred and Bella’s place, less so.

Jimmy and Carla and Barbara were finishing up putting whatever they could from the Airstream into Carla’s camper. Robert’s camper shell was loaded onto his pickup and his trailer was hitched up.

By sunset, their belongings had been gathered and loaded into vehicles.

They would have to leave the Airstream and hope for the best. Jimmy had never thought about having to tow it. It was to stay on the hill.

Robert drove LJ and Susie and Alejandra down the hill to Fred’s. He hoofed it back up the hill to Jimmy’s.

The fire climbed the steep slope toward the hilltop.

They were about to head down the hill when Robert arrived. Barbara abruptly stopped, her hands on her belly, and called out.

“The baby’s coming!”

Thanks to Sharron Bassano and Leaves for the use of Bella. Her story with Bella, Haylene, Marla, and Jimmy in New Orleans is here. Jimmy’s account of the same event is here.

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