An Immigrant’s Tale
The weeks had passed and winter had turned into spring as the warm April sunshine melted the snow away. Carl had not called even though both Ingrid and Alfred had hoped he would. Kangas was satisfied that Carl had been warned away. He was convinced that his new soft approach was working, as Ingrid seemed less hostile lately. He was sitting in his cabin one evening after work sipping on his jug, when he saw Ingrid head to the barn to milk the solitary milk cow that Alfred kept. When he was sober, Kangas could contain his feelings for Ingrid, however liquor fuelled his desire for her. He took one last hearty swallow and headed for the barn also. He was going to press the issue with Ingrid and convince her to be his bride.
Ingrid was just about to start milking the cow when Kangas came through the doorway.
"Kangas," she gasped in fear, dropping the milk bucket. She could see that his bloodshot eyes were glazed with alcohol and filled with desire.
"I would like to talk to you Ingrid Erlander," he said in Swedish.
"Yes Kangas,’ Ingrid trembled as she began to back toward the wall.
"I would like to talk about us."
"U-us?" Ingrid quivered.
"We should stop beating around the bush you know. It is time we thought about marriage," Kangas continued, as he advanced toward her.
"M-marriage to you," Ingrid stuttered as she was now against the wall. She could feel the handle of a pitchfork behind her and she clutched it firmly.
"I would make you a good strong husband and give you many children."
"M-marry you? No Kangas, I don’t love you, now please leave. You are scaring me."
"What has love got to do with it?" Kangas continued, as he moved toward her. "I love you and in time you will learn to love me. You are a woman and I am a man."
Suddenly Ingrid swung the pitchfork around pointing the tines at Kangas, "Don’t come any closer Kangas or I’ll stick this in your belly."
"Oh, a woman with spirit," he laughed heartily, undeterred by the pitchfork waving in his face. "You would make a fine wife for Kangas the Finn."
"Marry you? Never!" Ingrid exclaimed. She felt more confident now that she was armed. "I despise you Kangas the Finn, you’re drunk and you’re an animal."
"Maybe you want that big Swede who was here last winter," Kangas sneered as he moved closer.
"Don’t come any nearer!" Ingrid cried, waiving the pitchfork in his face. "I’ll stick it in you."
"You’ll what," Kangas laughed as he snatched the pitchfork from her and flung it aside.
"Don’t come near me!" Ingrid cried in desperation as Kangas moved closer.
Just then the door burst open and in walked Carl Lindstrom.
"Carl Lindstrom!" Ingrid exclaimed with great relief.
Kangas whirled around and said with a growl. "What are you doing here Lindstrom? There is no more lumber for you."
"I came to see Ingrid," Carl replied evenly. Then to Ingrid, he said, "I am sorry I didn’t call on you sooner, but I finally got up my courage tonight."
"Came to see Ingrid?" Kangas snarled. "I told you to stay away from Ingrid. She’s mine!"
"I’m not yours!" Ingrid screamed. "I hate you!"
"Well then, I guess she’s not yours," Carl challenged.
Kangas’ huge fist sprang out at Carl but Carl caught it in mid-air as if it were a baseball
Kangas’s other fist also shot out and Carl caught it as well. The two of them locked hands and began a titanic struggle of trying to arm wrestle each other down.
"Nobody can beat Kangas the Finn at arm wrestling," Kangas gasped as beads of sweat stood out on his forehead.
"There is always a first time," Carl gasped. Ingrid could see his face beginning to turn purple from the powerful struggle.
Ingrid watched with awe and anxiety as the two powerful men grappled for physical and psychological supremacy. They grunted and groaned, pushing each other back and forth. "Come on Carl," she cried.
As Carl was taller than Kangas, with longer arms, he was given a slight advantage as both men were of about equal strength. Slowly, but surely he was bending Kangas down. Suddenly with one mighty groan of defeat, Kangas collapsed to his knees with his hand bent over the back of his head. Carl released him and collapsed against a centre post in the barn to catch his breath. Kangas remained on his knees putting his sore, red hands on his thighs.
He looked up and smiled, then in a gasping voice, he said, "You know something Swede. You are the first person to ever beat Kangas the Finn at arm wrestling." He looked at both Ingrid and Carl then added. "I guess she’s yours."
"She’s not mine," Carl replied. "But she has the right to let me court her if she wants. Without any interference from you."
"Well Ingrid," Kangas said with a smile while still remaining on his knees. "Do you want this big Swede to court you?"
"Yes, I would like that very much." Ingrid gave Carl her most beautiful smile.
Kangas crawled to his feet and looked at both of them. "I am sorry for all the foolishness. I’ll be leaving in the morning."
"You don’t have to," Ingrid said. She was now feeling sorry for the big Finn whose personality seemed to fluctuate from being a villain to a gentleman. "If you promise to leave me alone and accept the fact that Carl and I are courting, I won’t tell Papa about tonight."
"You’re a fine lady, Ingrid Erlander," Kangas smiled. "I hope this big dumb Swede appreciates this."
"Oh I do, I do," Carl laughed. "I care for her so much that I was even willing to face Kangas the Finn."
"You beat Kangas the Finn," Kangas replied. "Things will never be the same."
"I’ll tell no one of this if you leave Ingrid and I alone," Carl offered.
"No you won, I’ll be leaving in the morning. Esa or the old man can do the sawing."
Kangas turned and walked out the door. Ingrid let out a sigh of relief and threw herself into Carl’s arms. He held her for a long moment until the cow bawled, telling them that it needed to be milked. Carl volunteered to do the job for her.
When they headed back to the house with the bucket of milk, they could see smoke curling from the chimney of the sauna room of Kangas’s cabin. They laughed as Carl said. "Poor Kangas he must be sweating his troubles away."
"I am surprised how easily he gave in," Ingrid said. "I would have thought that a man of his reputation would have challenged you to an outright fight to the finish."
"Yes, I expected that," Carl said gravely. "But I think that under that rough exterior is a man of honour. In his heart he knew you would never accept him as a beau or husband, no matter what he did to me. He knew also that if he had beaten me to a pulp you would have hated him even more. This way he could walk away and hope that you might one day respect him."
"Yes that’s true," Ingrid sighed. "He’s a very unpredictable person. But I think he is, as you say, a man of honour."
"He’ll probably be true to his word and leave in the morning," Carl said. "He was, as the saying goes, defeated in both love and war."
"Let’s not say anything about the confrontation in the barn," Ingrid said. "No harm came of it."
"It is yours to tell or not to tell. I will stand by your decision." Carl smiled at her. "You are truly a remarkable woman."
Ingrid smiled radiantly at him and slipped her hand in
his.
Index About the Author Ginny – A Canadian Story of Love & Friendship Ginny Excerpt
Ingrid – An Immigrant’s Tale Anna – Her Odyssey to Freedom Anna Excerpt The Promise