Hi, My Name is Tessee
- Thread starter PacNorWest
- Start date
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#270
It was a glorious morning. Clear, crisp and warming nicely with the rising sun. Breakfast was pancakes, eggs and Elk sausage. The reduced number of people gave Helga more leeway in what she cooked. There were 8 adults and 4 children and the pancakes were much appreciated.
Helga did a unheard of treat for the children. She made their pancakes in the shape of their first initial. It was such an amazing thing that Milo didn't want to eat the pancake. Clora finally coaxed him to butter and put honey on the initial and eat it.
"Thank you Miz Helga, that was very good," Milo went to stand beside the cook and express his satisfaction.
"You are muches welcomes," Helga patted him on the head. Milo turned to give a real pained look to his mother, but Clora merely smiled gently and said nothing.
Mark pinched his cheeks together to keep from chuckling, and Teddy happily announced, "I'm done, boy was that good."
"Ve can today, have muches vork to do. Helmers, he vill start cuttings, ve vill starts the canners."
Ben wiped his mouth and set his napkin on the table. "Good breakfast," he complimented. "Unfortunately work calls. Wayne, do you think I can drive down the track you made last night?"
"Say your prayers, gas it and go," Wayne advised as he stood up and helped clear the table, taking the dishes to the wreck pan. Sas grabbed her plate and downed her coffee. "What's the plan today?" she asked Mark, "stoves?" her voice was hopeful.
"It's really pitiful when a woman starts whining, isn't it?" Wayne joked as Sas practiced sneaking up on his backside with a spoon, ready to konk him on the noggin to restore her superiority. "Brat," she whispered in his general vicinity.
"Well let the coldness of her feet last night be your guide as to the stoves, or something else." Mark joked right back.
"Let's do the stoves," Wayne was ready, pulling his gloves out of his back pocket. Sas was laughing. "I'll help unless the canning ladies need me." she asked Clora.
"We have the three of us, I think we will be OK," Clora made a shooing motion with her hand toward Sas and the woman shot out of the dining tent, happy to be excused from the kitchen chores.
Lainey and Clora were relieved as well. Sas was careless with the food as she tried to help ready the meat or vegetables for canning. Clora was a little fussy when it came to putting food in the jar, and Lainey and herself had a good system going. Helga started smiling more, as the three of then got the first canner loaded.
Helmer cut the elk closest to the door, chunking the meat in jar sized pieces. Helga danced between the propane stoves and the beans she started cooking for supper. "Liver and onions and beans for supper, and elk soup for lunch. Maybe I can do some cornbread, that sounds good."
The ladies worked right along, keeping a eye on their children and trusting that Blackie would help keep track of the kids and the area.
Five stoves and five canners purred right along, and the jars started stacking up on the work table. The hot jars had to be covered with two or three towels to keep then from cooling too rapidly or cracking in the cool outside weather.
Clora spelled Lainey in the wash pan, giving the woman a chance to dry her hands and take over filling the jars. The stove crew came in promptly at quarter of 12, washing up at the station and grabbing a bowl and dishing up their own soup. Mark helped get Milo, Teddy and Tessee seated and a cooling bowl of vegetable Elk soup in front of each one.
The ladies didn't stop to take a break until they had five canner loads ready to go. The canners on the stove were just finishing the processing time and needed to exhaust slowly. Sitting with a groan, Clora rubbed her back. "We need to have two different height tables. One for me and one for Lainey and Helga."
"I have to stoop over way too far to be comfortable, think on a solution for me please," Clora asked Mark.
"Sure enough, I'll fix one up right after I finish lunch. I did notice something I want to ask you about. When you have the jars waiting for filling, it looks like it would be easy to knock one off. Do you want a short lip tacked on the top to act as a barrier?"
"Excellent idea," Clora was enthusiastic, "I will greatly appreciate it."
"Happy wife, happy life," Sas said to Wayne, "remember that gospel truth, and we'll get along just fine." it was a strange thing for her to say, and sounded to all that heard her speak, like a warning to Wayne. In his surprise at the cryptic saying, Mark shot a quick look at Clora to guage her take on the situation.
She gave him a classic shoulder shrug and raised her eyebrows. Lainey looked kinda shocked, but didn't say a word. Helga wasn't as shy. She snorted in a derisive way and got up to check the canner gauges. Turning her back on Sas was the cook's way of disrespecting a person, and she pretended to be busy.
Helmer was off on the far side of the trailer, pretending to be just as busy as his wife.
Milo was the catalyst that saved the moment. "Ma, Tessee has to pee and she won't go to the outhouse." With that, natural work resumed with Mark reaching for his hammer.
It was a glorious morning. Clear, crisp and warming nicely with the rising sun. Breakfast was pancakes, eggs and Elk sausage. The reduced number of people gave Helga more leeway in what she cooked. There were 8 adults and 4 children and the pancakes were much appreciated.
Helga did a unheard of treat for the children. She made their pancakes in the shape of their first initial. It was such an amazing thing that Milo didn't want to eat the pancake. Clora finally coaxed him to butter and put honey on the initial and eat it.
"Thank you Miz Helga, that was very good," Milo went to stand beside the cook and express his satisfaction.
"You are muches welcomes," Helga patted him on the head. Milo turned to give a real pained look to his mother, but Clora merely smiled gently and said nothing.
Mark pinched his cheeks together to keep from chuckling, and Teddy happily announced, "I'm done, boy was that good."
"Ve can today, have muches vork to do. Helmers, he vill start cuttings, ve vill starts the canners."
Ben wiped his mouth and set his napkin on the table. "Good breakfast," he complimented. "Unfortunately work calls. Wayne, do you think I can drive down the track you made last night?"
"Say your prayers, gas it and go," Wayne advised as he stood up and helped clear the table, taking the dishes to the wreck pan. Sas grabbed her plate and downed her coffee. "What's the plan today?" she asked Mark, "stoves?" her voice was hopeful.
"It's really pitiful when a woman starts whining, isn't it?" Wayne joked as Sas practiced sneaking up on his backside with a spoon, ready to konk him on the noggin to restore her superiority. "Brat," she whispered in his general vicinity.
"Well let the coldness of her feet last night be your guide as to the stoves, or something else." Mark joked right back.
"Let's do the stoves," Wayne was ready, pulling his gloves out of his back pocket. Sas was laughing. "I'll help unless the canning ladies need me." she asked Clora.
"We have the three of us, I think we will be OK," Clora made a shooing motion with her hand toward Sas and the woman shot out of the dining tent, happy to be excused from the kitchen chores.
Lainey and Clora were relieved as well. Sas was careless with the food as she tried to help ready the meat or vegetables for canning. Clora was a little fussy when it came to putting food in the jar, and Lainey and herself had a good system going. Helga started smiling more, as the three of then got the first canner loaded.
Helmer cut the elk closest to the door, chunking the meat in jar sized pieces. Helga danced between the propane stoves and the beans she started cooking for supper. "Liver and onions and beans for supper, and elk soup for lunch. Maybe I can do some cornbread, that sounds good."
The ladies worked right along, keeping a eye on their children and trusting that Blackie would help keep track of the kids and the area.
Five stoves and five canners purred right along, and the jars started stacking up on the work table. The hot jars had to be covered with two or three towels to keep then from cooling too rapidly or cracking in the cool outside weather.
Clora spelled Lainey in the wash pan, giving the woman a chance to dry her hands and take over filling the jars. The stove crew came in promptly at quarter of 12, washing up at the station and grabbing a bowl and dishing up their own soup. Mark helped get Milo, Teddy and Tessee seated and a cooling bowl of vegetable Elk soup in front of each one.
The ladies didn't stop to take a break until they had five canner loads ready to go. The canners on the stove were just finishing the processing time and needed to exhaust slowly. Sitting with a groan, Clora rubbed her back. "We need to have two different height tables. One for me and one for Lainey and Helga."
"I have to stoop over way too far to be comfortable, think on a solution for me please," Clora asked Mark.
"Sure enough, I'll fix one up right after I finish lunch. I did notice something I want to ask you about. When you have the jars waiting for filling, it looks like it would be easy to knock one off. Do you want a short lip tacked on the top to act as a barrier?"
"Excellent idea," Clora was enthusiastic, "I will greatly appreciate it."
"Happy wife, happy life," Sas said to Wayne, "remember that gospel truth, and we'll get along just fine." it was a strange thing for her to say, and sounded to all that heard her speak, like a warning to Wayne. In his surprise at the cryptic saying, Mark shot a quick look at Clora to guage her take on the situation.
She gave him a classic shoulder shrug and raised her eyebrows. Lainey looked kinda shocked, but didn't say a word. Helga wasn't as shy. She snorted in a derisive way and got up to check the canner gauges. Turning her back on Sas was the cook's way of disrespecting a person, and she pretended to be busy.
Helmer was off on the far side of the trailer, pretending to be just as busy as his wife.
Milo was the catalyst that saved the moment. "Ma, Tessee has to pee and she won't go to the outhouse." With that, natural work resumed with Mark reaching for his hammer.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Thank you Miz Pac 
Oh I need the short table.
Oh I need the short table.PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#271
Clora and Lainey held their thoughts privately, not wanting to discuss the snarky way Sas treated Wayne in front of Helga and Helmer. Mark had long ago confided his suspicions about Sas and her previous behavior to Clora and Clora had shared that info with Lainey.
Helga and Helmer weren't immune to suspicious behavior, and Clora and Lainey were very much aware they were being surrounded by questionable people. Clora later told Lainey when they took a short walk to work out the kinks, that she had blisters on the inside of her cheeks from biting her tongue.
"I'm beginning to have serious doubts about Sas; but one look at Wayne would tell ya that any mention of her actions would be useless. He's down for the count, and did you notice that Helga hasn't been friendly to Sas, even after that disaster of a Vivian left?"
"Yes, I told Ben the other night that Mark and you had reservations and he said he was glad you both felt that way also. He didn't want to be the only Hanson feeling a reserve about Sas. Ben did say something interesting," Lainey lowered her voice as they had circled around close to the camp. "He said Wayne didn't marry her, and he felt that was clear thinking on Wayne's part. He was also worried about Sas working so closely with Mark. Not that Mark would do anything, but that he thought Sas was a troublemaker."
"Oh, I'll tell him," Clora smirked. "That ought to just about blow his ego up."
Lainey laughed, "I don't think there is any worry. Ben still complains about the goofy way Mark dotes on you, says it is a hard act to follow!"
"Well, there's nothing wrong with Ben having to be a little more romantic," Clora said smartly, "he's so work focused that it wouldn't hurt him to loosen up."
"Heat in the cabins will go a long way toward helping romance," Lainey giggled a little. "It's darn hard to be romantic when you're freezing to death, and the princess is cold and has to sleep with Mommy."
"Yeah," Clora washed her hands and tied her apron on. "I've had problems with Tessee being too cold at night and have had to do the same thing."
"Vhat ting?" Helga was curious, as she unlocked the top of a cooled canner.
"It's so cold at night that the kids want to sleep with us," Clora said in amusement, "really hurts romance."
"Ahh, understood. Ve haf had colds feets, stoves vill be nice." Helga used a folded towel to grab the center jar and line it up on another towel to cool. "If you vill unloads and thens reloads the canner, I vill starts on suppers," Helga proposed.
"Certainly," Clora took the offered towel and efficiently pulled jars from the old Harvest Maid canner. "I wonder how old this canner is? It's an ancient one for sure."
"Probably older than you and I together," Lainey checked the other two canners that were still cooking. 'has anyone checked the propane canisters? This canner is loosing pressure. Let's use the stove the last canner came from."
Helmer lifted the full canner from the middle stove to the third one. Clora lit the burner and watched carefully as the internal temperature started to rise. "We need to re-time this one," she reset the mechanical timer to the full 90 minutes.
"Helga? are there more canisters?" Lainey bent over to look at the blue flame under the pots.
"Nons, I vas hoping ve coulds get done vith vhat ve hads for todays."
"Rats," Clora said with a sour sigh. "Maybe Mark could find more in the hardware store basement tomorrow. I'll get a fire started in the pit, so in case all the canisters run out we can continue." She hurried, and it was a good thing
They did run out, the fire was needed to finish the last canner and cook supper. The two ovens full of cornbread were moved and the other end was full of skillets slowly sweating out the onions.
In less than 10 minutes, Mark's pickup could be seen tearing across the meadow, headed for the camp. Getting out of the cab he did a zombie like imitation with outstretched arms headed for the cooking tent. "We could smell that all the way over at Ev's place. Man that smells great."
Wayne and Sas seemed to be on the outs with each other and definitely weren't speaking. Mark gave Clora an exasperated snort and rolled his eyes, indicating the two workers deserved one another.
If Sas thought she was going to create an uncomfortable situation at supper, she was wrong and most generally ignored. She couldn't even coax the dogs to sit next to her as she scooted way to the end of the table.
The fresh liver had been soaking in milk all afternoon to take the strong taste away. It was thin, crispy on the outside and a perfect match to the softened, sweet onions heaped on squares of cornbread and smothered in pan gravy. The clan ate like they were starving, and Helga beamed as she cooked pan after panful.
Helmer sighed loudly, leaned back and patted his belly. "Very goods," he praised Helga's cooking, "I vill be on time tomorrow morning for breakfast." then he burped. The three youngest kids burst out laughing. The adults were grinning, and Wayne said seriously, "I believe I will join you," he added as he lifted the last chunk of liver.
Clora told Mark all about the day's happenings and he replied with the fight that had happened at Ev's. It seemed Sas had been pretty snoopy through Ev and Cheryl's belongings, and Wayne called her on it. From that point, the fight was on. Mark reported he finally had to go out on the roof and secure the flashing around the stove pipe to escape the turmoil.
Clora whispered in his ear the warnings Ben wanted passed on. "Way ahead of you darling," Mark whispered back. "I've already told Wayne that he has to work with me and Sas, or I don't work. That woman is like a barracuda."
"Ma, what are you and Dad whispering about?" Curious and nosy, Milo didn't want to miss out on anything.
"Milo, your mother and I are discussing adult business, now you go to sleep. You are not included in this talk." Mark was stern. "That little rascal," he whispered back to Clora's ear. "I thought he might have been listening the other night, but wasn't sure. Evidently he was."
The rest of the week was a repeat of the previous days. Canning and installing stoves took priority over every other chore. Naturally the cow gave more milk to deal with, the hens flooded the family with eggs and the kids were rascally and energetic beyond the norm.
Sunday morning during Church service when it was time to give individual thanks, Clora thanked God for his generous bounty, but asked Mark to not go after three at a time. There was so much in undone chores; but the clan was so weary they lounged around the table and made no moves to start working after lunch.
Ben was home for the day, and the only work he agreed to was splitting and carrying wood inside his cabin with no doors or windows.
"It seems kinda silly to heat the great outdoors, but whatever warms Lainey's feet is worth it." he teased, as Anne sat on his lap and snuggled.
Sas asked if it was normal for Ev and Cheryl to stay away for so long.
"I honestly don't expect them to be back until Spring," Mark commented casually. "Ev was in a terrible hurry to get back to Evergreen, but it has been a frustrating strain on him to live as we have had too this past summer. He has been cold, and out of medicine for quite a while."
"Really," Sas seemed unconvinced.
"I suspect Christy being in town has a lot to do with it," Ben said with a smile.
"Yeah, what's up with that?" Sas pushed on, "and how come they don't have more kids than her? You're not saying they are gonna hang out in town cause she's there, are ya?"
Wayne stood up, "That's exactly what we're saying, and you're out of line with prying into their private life. That's enough of the questions, Sas. Let's go." Wayne reached for her hand and pulled her out of the dining tent. Away they went, with him leading and Sas protesting, but being yanked along.
Lainey, Clora and Helga finished the dishes and Helga excused herself and Helmer. "Ve are goings to take a valk, maybe overs to the old town to looks."
Helmer looked mildly surprised, but obediently pickup up his rifle and followed Helga away from camp.
"How long has it been since the four of us have been alone?" Ben asked idly. "Close to a hundred years?"
"Or longer," Mark yawned and looked out toward his valley. "Want to go take a ride and look at the valley? I've been dying to have a look at it."
Everyone agreed and were quickly packed up and bounced over the rutted pasture to the road Wayne had pioneered and the pickup went down the steep track to the valley below.
Clora and Lainey held their thoughts privately, not wanting to discuss the snarky way Sas treated Wayne in front of Helga and Helmer. Mark had long ago confided his suspicions about Sas and her previous behavior to Clora and Clora had shared that info with Lainey.
Helga and Helmer weren't immune to suspicious behavior, and Clora and Lainey were very much aware they were being surrounded by questionable people. Clora later told Lainey when they took a short walk to work out the kinks, that she had blisters on the inside of her cheeks from biting her tongue.
"I'm beginning to have serious doubts about Sas; but one look at Wayne would tell ya that any mention of her actions would be useless. He's down for the count, and did you notice that Helga hasn't been friendly to Sas, even after that disaster of a Vivian left?"
"Yes, I told Ben the other night that Mark and you had reservations and he said he was glad you both felt that way also. He didn't want to be the only Hanson feeling a reserve about Sas. Ben did say something interesting," Lainey lowered her voice as they had circled around close to the camp. "He said Wayne didn't marry her, and he felt that was clear thinking on Wayne's part. He was also worried about Sas working so closely with Mark. Not that Mark would do anything, but that he thought Sas was a troublemaker."
"Oh, I'll tell him," Clora smirked. "That ought to just about blow his ego up."
Lainey laughed, "I don't think there is any worry. Ben still complains about the goofy way Mark dotes on you, says it is a hard act to follow!"
"Well, there's nothing wrong with Ben having to be a little more romantic," Clora said smartly, "he's so work focused that it wouldn't hurt him to loosen up."
"Heat in the cabins will go a long way toward helping romance," Lainey giggled a little. "It's darn hard to be romantic when you're freezing to death, and the princess is cold and has to sleep with Mommy."
"Yeah," Clora washed her hands and tied her apron on. "I've had problems with Tessee being too cold at night and have had to do the same thing."
"Vhat ting?" Helga was curious, as she unlocked the top of a cooled canner.
"It's so cold at night that the kids want to sleep with us," Clora said in amusement, "really hurts romance."
"Ahh, understood. Ve haf had colds feets, stoves vill be nice." Helga used a folded towel to grab the center jar and line it up on another towel to cool. "If you vill unloads and thens reloads the canner, I vill starts on suppers," Helga proposed.
"Certainly," Clora took the offered towel and efficiently pulled jars from the old Harvest Maid canner. "I wonder how old this canner is? It's an ancient one for sure."
"Probably older than you and I together," Lainey checked the other two canners that were still cooking. 'has anyone checked the propane canisters? This canner is loosing pressure. Let's use the stove the last canner came from."
Helmer lifted the full canner from the middle stove to the third one. Clora lit the burner and watched carefully as the internal temperature started to rise. "We need to re-time this one," she reset the mechanical timer to the full 90 minutes.
"Helga? are there more canisters?" Lainey bent over to look at the blue flame under the pots.
"Nons, I vas hoping ve coulds get done vith vhat ve hads for todays."
"Rats," Clora said with a sour sigh. "Maybe Mark could find more in the hardware store basement tomorrow. I'll get a fire started in the pit, so in case all the canisters run out we can continue." She hurried, and it was a good thing
They did run out, the fire was needed to finish the last canner and cook supper. The two ovens full of cornbread were moved and the other end was full of skillets slowly sweating out the onions.
In less than 10 minutes, Mark's pickup could be seen tearing across the meadow, headed for the camp. Getting out of the cab he did a zombie like imitation with outstretched arms headed for the cooking tent. "We could smell that all the way over at Ev's place. Man that smells great."
Wayne and Sas seemed to be on the outs with each other and definitely weren't speaking. Mark gave Clora an exasperated snort and rolled his eyes, indicating the two workers deserved one another.
If Sas thought she was going to create an uncomfortable situation at supper, she was wrong and most generally ignored. She couldn't even coax the dogs to sit next to her as she scooted way to the end of the table.
The fresh liver had been soaking in milk all afternoon to take the strong taste away. It was thin, crispy on the outside and a perfect match to the softened, sweet onions heaped on squares of cornbread and smothered in pan gravy. The clan ate like they were starving, and Helga beamed as she cooked pan after panful.
Helmer sighed loudly, leaned back and patted his belly. "Very goods," he praised Helga's cooking, "I vill be on time tomorrow morning for breakfast." then he burped. The three youngest kids burst out laughing. The adults were grinning, and Wayne said seriously, "I believe I will join you," he added as he lifted the last chunk of liver.
Clora told Mark all about the day's happenings and he replied with the fight that had happened at Ev's. It seemed Sas had been pretty snoopy through Ev and Cheryl's belongings, and Wayne called her on it. From that point, the fight was on. Mark reported he finally had to go out on the roof and secure the flashing around the stove pipe to escape the turmoil.
Clora whispered in his ear the warnings Ben wanted passed on. "Way ahead of you darling," Mark whispered back. "I've already told Wayne that he has to work with me and Sas, or I don't work. That woman is like a barracuda."
"Ma, what are you and Dad whispering about?" Curious and nosy, Milo didn't want to miss out on anything.
"Milo, your mother and I are discussing adult business, now you go to sleep. You are not included in this talk." Mark was stern. "That little rascal," he whispered back to Clora's ear. "I thought he might have been listening the other night, but wasn't sure. Evidently he was."
The rest of the week was a repeat of the previous days. Canning and installing stoves took priority over every other chore. Naturally the cow gave more milk to deal with, the hens flooded the family with eggs and the kids were rascally and energetic beyond the norm.
Sunday morning during Church service when it was time to give individual thanks, Clora thanked God for his generous bounty, but asked Mark to not go after three at a time. There was so much in undone chores; but the clan was so weary they lounged around the table and made no moves to start working after lunch.
Ben was home for the day, and the only work he agreed to was splitting and carrying wood inside his cabin with no doors or windows.
"It seems kinda silly to heat the great outdoors, but whatever warms Lainey's feet is worth it." he teased, as Anne sat on his lap and snuggled.
Sas asked if it was normal for Ev and Cheryl to stay away for so long.
"I honestly don't expect them to be back until Spring," Mark commented casually. "Ev was in a terrible hurry to get back to Evergreen, but it has been a frustrating strain on him to live as we have had too this past summer. He has been cold, and out of medicine for quite a while."
"Really," Sas seemed unconvinced.
"I suspect Christy being in town has a lot to do with it," Ben said with a smile.
"Yeah, what's up with that?" Sas pushed on, "and how come they don't have more kids than her? You're not saying they are gonna hang out in town cause she's there, are ya?"
Wayne stood up, "That's exactly what we're saying, and you're out of line with prying into their private life. That's enough of the questions, Sas. Let's go." Wayne reached for her hand and pulled her out of the dining tent. Away they went, with him leading and Sas protesting, but being yanked along.
Lainey, Clora and Helga finished the dishes and Helga excused herself and Helmer. "Ve are goings to take a valk, maybe overs to the old town to looks."
Helmer looked mildly surprised, but obediently pickup up his rifle and followed Helga away from camp.
"How long has it been since the four of us have been alone?" Ben asked idly. "Close to a hundred years?"
"Or longer," Mark yawned and looked out toward his valley. "Want to go take a ride and look at the valley? I've been dying to have a look at it."
Everyone agreed and were quickly packed up and bounced over the rutted pasture to the road Wayne had pioneered and the pickup went down the steep track to the valley below.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
A big thanks form me also.
Already been a long morning with the potato digger giving DH fits. This makes for a nice break. Pac - I started reading "Oh, For Pete's Sake" to my 14 year old DD while she was working on homework last night. She is begging for more tonight. thank you so much for your stories.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
Moldy,
we had an old chain and slats potato digger. A big potato would cause the chain to jump the sprocket and derail the slats. Frustrating and irksome at best. We usually raised 3 or 4 rows down in a sub irrigated draw that were 100 or so feet long. All red keepers with a small amount of bakers.
Cowhands normally don't eat baked potatoes, if it ain't fried, it ain't spuds and they don't eat rice, noodles or other kind of 'stuff'. They don't eat greens of any kind. I served cooked spinach ONCE a year and got all kinds of complaints about expecting them to eat hog slop.
They will eat carrots and onions, but celery is a no-no. All the stew vegetables occasionally, while talking loudly about how good their Mother's stew was compared to the present day stew with all them 'furrin' things in it.
Story alert: Moldy there is some strong language, if you are reading, you might want to skip over or substitute another word.
I was thinking the other day how far that small band of scared children have come.
we had an old chain and slats potato digger. A big potato would cause the chain to jump the sprocket and derail the slats. Frustrating and irksome at best. We usually raised 3 or 4 rows down in a sub irrigated draw that were 100 or so feet long. All red keepers with a small amount of bakers.
Cowhands normally don't eat baked potatoes, if it ain't fried, it ain't spuds and they don't eat rice, noodles or other kind of 'stuff'. They don't eat greens of any kind. I served cooked spinach ONCE a year and got all kinds of complaints about expecting them to eat hog slop.
They will eat carrots and onions, but celery is a no-no. All the stew vegetables occasionally, while talking loudly about how good their Mother's stew was compared to the present day stew with all them 'furrin' things in it.
Story alert: Moldy there is some strong language, if you are reading, you might want to skip over or substitute another word.
I was thinking the other day how far that small band of scared children have come.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#272
Blackie rode in the back of the pickup, the tailgate down and the topper echoing with his barking. The slow lurching of the rig was bothersome to sore aching bones, but better than walking.
Wayne had cut the pioneer road on the left side of the canyon, crossing the small creek at the top where it was just a small trickle. The track was narrow with sharp hairpin turns and looked to be impassable in wet weather, but it was fine for a Sunday afternoon.
Slowly Mark drove down the somewhat smooth road to the bottom of the valley, joining up with the previous field road.
The waterfall was almost shut off, the small amount of water cascading over the cliff lip evaporating by half before it reached the creek below. They stopped by the pool to check on the fish that might be trapped in the deep water. There were several dark shapes knifing through the cloudy pool bottom and Mark smiled, rubbing his hands together in anticipation.
"On the way back, I think we need to go fishing." He said to the excited kids.
"I remember this" Milo jabbered as he ran around the small clearing, trying to jump over clumps of grass. "Is this the creek we got the fish from when we used the net?" he asked Clora.
"Yes it is," Clora looked at the green, shaded canopy hanging over the water. It looked so inviting she actually didn't need to go any further, but joined the rest of the family trekking back to the pickup to continue.
Past the old homestead that had captured her attention the first time she encountered it, and the pull was still there. They had some of Mark's tools in the back, but no shovel, so she let it pass.
They drove all the way to the valley mouth. The old relic boat had been burned, leaving a heap of scrap metal. The road was so overgrown with grass and brush that had it not rained previously, it would have been a fire hazard.
"Have you been into town?" Mark asked Ben, "Is there anything left? How about the house where you used to live?"
"I haven't seen anyone there," Ben replied as he was busy looking around. "Drive on in," he suggested.
Town was strange; silent and spooky with burned remains of houses and businesses. They drove as close as they could to Ben and Lainey's former house and sat looking at the basement.
"Well that's gross," Lainey finally said. "I often wondered what had happened to the place, but wow, how do you suppose it all burned.?"
"Supposed to have been a band of raiders come through like a herd of bulls through a china shop," Ben rolled down his window. Mark did the same and instantly held up his hand to stop all talking. "Listen!" he commanded, "I hear something."
They all rolled down the windows and were quiet, waiting for the sound to come again. It was the faint, weak cry of a child. Ben and Mark bailed from the pickup with guns drawn, Mark snapping his fingers for Blackie to come with them.
Mark said "find." and the dog trotted off in the direction of the building to their left. Blackie barked as he went over the basement edge, and then there was a scream.
The men carefully approached the block wall, peeking around the destroyed corners. In the basement, next to the obviously decomposed body of a woman was a small child. With hand signals, Ben went down into the open pit while Mark stood guard. The child was terrified of Blackie, but so weak he could not get up and move away from the dog.
Ben went to the child, speaking softly as he bent down and carefully picked the frail and emaciated youngster up. "Dear God, do we have any food or water in the pickup?" he said with a voice tight with emotion.
"My Thermos has a little coffee," Mark replied as he looked the basement over, it was a death trap for the child with it's steep slick walls.
"Lets go!" Ben hissed as he lifted the child for Mark to receive. Lainey cried and was out of the pickup before either man could stop her.
"Dear God," she was crying, "it's a baby." And she held out her hands for the toddler. Mark looked at Ben for the man's reaction before he would hand the whimpering child to Lainey. Ben nodded, Lainey had the child held to her shoulder quicker than anyone thought possible.
Unwrapping her shawl, she covered the dirty, smelly baby and cradled it gently. "Get us home, NOW!," she demanded, and the men hastened to comply.
Clora's BOB bag held a small pint of water and several crackers. Mark smiled at his ever prepared and practical wife. He hadn't seen her slip the duffel in the pickup, but it was there. The baby took a tiny sip of water and promptly choked. His tongue was so swollen and his mouth so dry he couldn't swallow. Lainey kept trying as the pickup bounced and jerked back up the rough road to the camp.
Clora mixed up a tiny amount of sugar water that the child accepted easier. The dark haired baby was bug bitten all over in a mass of red, puss pockets of mosquito fury. In order to help the small dehydrated baby, Clora and Lainey fixed a lukewarm bath and tried to clean the foul mess the child was laying in.
Gradually they warmed the water and used a small plastic glass to press more water on the child. Lainey took the lead on caring for the baby, and glared at Helga when the stout cook made to pick the baby out of the water.
"No," Lainey snapped and shielded the baby with her body. Helga stepped back in surprise, but looked at Clora and nodded when Clora smiled.
Lainey was like a fierce lioness, caring, cleaning and feeding dribbles of water and then milk to the baby. Clora walked over to Ben and patted his arm. "I believe you have a new child," she said softly.
"I had no idea she was so deeply affected," Ben whispered back, "no idea at all." he looked stricken as he realized Lainey was still deeply grieving the loss of their children. This was a present from God. Ben was just as sure of that as Lainey was.
Blackie rode in the back of the pickup, the tailgate down and the topper echoing with his barking. The slow lurching of the rig was bothersome to sore aching bones, but better than walking.
Wayne had cut the pioneer road on the left side of the canyon, crossing the small creek at the top where it was just a small trickle. The track was narrow with sharp hairpin turns and looked to be impassable in wet weather, but it was fine for a Sunday afternoon.
Slowly Mark drove down the somewhat smooth road to the bottom of the valley, joining up with the previous field road.
The waterfall was almost shut off, the small amount of water cascading over the cliff lip evaporating by half before it reached the creek below. They stopped by the pool to check on the fish that might be trapped in the deep water. There were several dark shapes knifing through the cloudy pool bottom and Mark smiled, rubbing his hands together in anticipation.
"On the way back, I think we need to go fishing." He said to the excited kids.
"I remember this" Milo jabbered as he ran around the small clearing, trying to jump over clumps of grass. "Is this the creek we got the fish from when we used the net?" he asked Clora.
"Yes it is," Clora looked at the green, shaded canopy hanging over the water. It looked so inviting she actually didn't need to go any further, but joined the rest of the family trekking back to the pickup to continue.
Past the old homestead that had captured her attention the first time she encountered it, and the pull was still there. They had some of Mark's tools in the back, but no shovel, so she let it pass.
They drove all the way to the valley mouth. The old relic boat had been burned, leaving a heap of scrap metal. The road was so overgrown with grass and brush that had it not rained previously, it would have been a fire hazard.
"Have you been into town?" Mark asked Ben, "Is there anything left? How about the house where you used to live?"
"I haven't seen anyone there," Ben replied as he was busy looking around. "Drive on in," he suggested.
Town was strange; silent and spooky with burned remains of houses and businesses. They drove as close as they could to Ben and Lainey's former house and sat looking at the basement.
"Well that's gross," Lainey finally said. "I often wondered what had happened to the place, but wow, how do you suppose it all burned.?"
"Supposed to have been a band of raiders come through like a herd of bulls through a china shop," Ben rolled down his window. Mark did the same and instantly held up his hand to stop all talking. "Listen!" he commanded, "I hear something."
They all rolled down the windows and were quiet, waiting for the sound to come again. It was the faint, weak cry of a child. Ben and Mark bailed from the pickup with guns drawn, Mark snapping his fingers for Blackie to come with them.
Mark said "find." and the dog trotted off in the direction of the building to their left. Blackie barked as he went over the basement edge, and then there was a scream.
The men carefully approached the block wall, peeking around the destroyed corners. In the basement, next to the obviously decomposed body of a woman was a small child. With hand signals, Ben went down into the open pit while Mark stood guard. The child was terrified of Blackie, but so weak he could not get up and move away from the dog.
Ben went to the child, speaking softly as he bent down and carefully picked the frail and emaciated youngster up. "Dear God, do we have any food or water in the pickup?" he said with a voice tight with emotion.
"My Thermos has a little coffee," Mark replied as he looked the basement over, it was a death trap for the child with it's steep slick walls.
"Lets go!" Ben hissed as he lifted the child for Mark to receive. Lainey cried and was out of the pickup before either man could stop her.
"Dear God," she was crying, "it's a baby." And she held out her hands for the toddler. Mark looked at Ben for the man's reaction before he would hand the whimpering child to Lainey. Ben nodded, Lainey had the child held to her shoulder quicker than anyone thought possible.
Unwrapping her shawl, she covered the dirty, smelly baby and cradled it gently. "Get us home, NOW!," she demanded, and the men hastened to comply.
Clora's BOB bag held a small pint of water and several crackers. Mark smiled at his ever prepared and practical wife. He hadn't seen her slip the duffel in the pickup, but it was there. The baby took a tiny sip of water and promptly choked. His tongue was so swollen and his mouth so dry he couldn't swallow. Lainey kept trying as the pickup bounced and jerked back up the rough road to the camp.
Clora mixed up a tiny amount of sugar water that the child accepted easier. The dark haired baby was bug bitten all over in a mass of red, puss pockets of mosquito fury. In order to help the small dehydrated baby, Clora and Lainey fixed a lukewarm bath and tried to clean the foul mess the child was laying in.
Gradually they warmed the water and used a small plastic glass to press more water on the child. Lainey took the lead on caring for the baby, and glared at Helga when the stout cook made to pick the baby out of the water.
"No," Lainey snapped and shielded the baby with her body. Helga stepped back in surprise, but looked at Clora and nodded when Clora smiled.
Lainey was like a fierce lioness, caring, cleaning and feeding dribbles of water and then milk to the baby. Clora walked over to Ben and patted his arm. "I believe you have a new child," she said softly.
"I had no idea she was so deeply affected," Ben whispered back, "no idea at all." he looked stricken as he realized Lainey was still deeply grieving the loss of their children. This was a present from God. Ben was just as sure of that as Lainey was.
Wow! A very moving chapter that opens up even more questions.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
You sure can make me tear up. thanks pac
DustMusher
Deceased
And, ZOOOOOM from far left field come another Pac Twist!
Thank you so much for the story and for this new little one for us to adopt - or, I mean Lainey.
OOPS, forgot this is not real world . . . . but just seems it.
DM
Thank you so much for the story and for this new little one for us to adopt - or, I mean Lainey.
OOPS, forgot this is not real world . . . . but just seems it.
DM
stjwelding
Veteran Member
Wow Pac!!!!! I just caught up, my wife and I have been away visiting our son, daughter in-law and our grand son, they are the only one of our children that live a way form us, not to bad 635 miles one way better than the 2985 miles away they lived before the last move. Our DGS is 3 1/2 and is growing at an unbelievable rate, but with parents of more than 6' it is not unexpected and like most children an unlimited amount of energy and always wanting to know why. Thank you again for this wonderful story.
Wayne,
Wayne,
beaglemama
Contributing Member
When did Ben and Lainey's children die?
Sammy55
Veteran Member
Without looking back at the story, IIRC their infant son died after heart surgery (he just didn't get better and drifted away). Their baby died when being born, I think she miscarried late in the pregnancy, from what I remember. Both deaths happened at the same hospital either the same day or very close in time. So they lost two children at once. Very much a shock to both of them, especially Lainey.
Am I right or close, Pac?
Anyway..........I am so HAPPY for Lainey that she has a little one again to care for and hold and love! (What is Anne going to do and think, though?!)
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
Sammy,
yes you are correct. It was late summer/early fall when Davie succumbed to complications of heart surgery and Lainey miscarried.
Anne will probably do what all children do when they feel threatened in their family hierarchy. Be a brat.
Lainey had to put aside her grief to care for her immediate family and for the clan as a whole during the difficult winter, the move and the uncomfortable summer they have spent.
This is a difficult life, full of hardships that would bring lesser people to their knees.
yes you are correct. It was late summer/early fall when Davie succumbed to complications of heart surgery and Lainey miscarried.
Anne will probably do what all children do when they feel threatened in their family hierarchy. Be a brat.
Lainey had to put aside her grief to care for her immediate family and for the clan as a whole during the difficult winter, the move and the uncomfortable summer they have spent.
This is a difficult life, full of hardships that would bring lesser people to their knees.
Siskiyoumom
Veteran Member
Having lost our son to death I know how deeply a father's and mother's heart breaks.
I wonder who the deceased mother was?
And why they were in the basement?
I wonder who the deceased mother was?
And why they were in the basement?
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#273
Ben stoked the fire in their new cabin stove, and Lainey sat close to help keep the child warm. She didn't care what the other clan members thought about the way she took over the care and laid claim to the small, bony thin child. The baby needed her and she needed the baby.
Anne sat on the quilt with her mother and watched as Lainey used a spoon to give the child another bit of warm milk. "How come he won't eat?" she wanted to know.
"His tongue is really big in his mouth, that happens to people when they don't get water. As soon as his body gets enough water, the swelling will go down. Also, his stomach has shrunk up and then starting to eat makes it hurt." Lainey gave her daughter the abbreviated version that a child of 5 could understand.
"Is that why you want me to drink water all the time?" Anne watched intently as water dribbled out of the boy's mouth.
"Yes, I try very hard to keep you healthy," Lainey smiled at Anne. "Sometimes you are a full time job." she teased.
"Is this baby going to stay with us? Milo said he thought you and Dad wanted him. Does that mean I have to go somewhere else?" Anne was serious and upset at the thought of being replaced.
"Yes the boy is going to stay with us, and I never want you to go away. You belong to Daddy and me, and we don't want you to think about running away or leaving us. We are a family. A Momma and a Daddy have really big hearts and they can love all the children that God gives to them. Do you have any questions or other worries? I want to have you understand that we don't love you any less, because we have taken this boy in to care for." Lainey looked squarely at Anne, and could practically hear the wheels and gears turning in her child's mind.
"Really," Anne looked real doubtful and mostly unconvinced. "How can you be sure?"
"Well, think about Milo, Teddy and Tessee. Do you think Auntie Clora and Uncle Mark love them all?"
"I suppose, but I don't know why they love Milo. He teases me and pulls my hair when I get bossy." Anne had her idea of what was fair, and being a cousin to Milo wasn't high on her list.
"Hold down your bossiness," Ben walked over to check on the baby. "You tease Milo until he gets so mad he has to do something to get you to stop, so he pulls your hair. It is as simple as, do not tease and your hair is safe. Do you have any questions?"
"No," her reply was sullen, "I think I can do what ever I want to, I'm a girl. I don't have to do like the boys do."
"Well then," Ben was matter of fact, "your hair is going to hurt."
Anne got up and flounced off to her bed and sat down to take her shoes off. "Mommy my feet hurt, I need new shoes." she tried one more time to bring their total attention back to her.
"I will check them tomorrow," Lainey spoke as she put the baby to her shoulder to burp him.
Wayne and Sas walked over to their cabin. "Don't think your going to manhandle me, Mister Wayne. You grab me one more time and I will shoot you right through the heart," she vowed darkly. "Nobody touches me that way."
Wayne, for good measure pushed her up the gangplank into the cabin, before he replied. "I am not man handling you in anger. You are so busy being snarky that you don't realize the bridges you are burning. Look, I don't know your history before you came here; cause you never confide in me, and frankly I'm tired of your nasty disposition."
"If I am so undesirable, then show me how to get to where ever Ev is staying and I won't darken your door ever again." Sas practically spit at Wayne. "I don't do nice, and you can take that any way you want to." she grabbed a bedroll and her small backpack and stomped out of the cabin.
Wayne heaved a big sigh, and started a fire in his stove. He could feel a big fit of depression coming on, he sure had rotten luck with women and figured he might as well be moody and warm. He sat with his back against the cabin wall and thought about how the women he seemed attracted to, first appeared one way and then changed completely later on.
He had been bowled over by Sas and her independent nature, she seemed very competent and self sufficient. Once she met up with Ev, she changed, and for the life of him he couldn't think why. At first he thought Clora and Lainey were snotty to her, but he had watched carefully and his sisters went out of their way to be nice to Sas and she repaid them with disdain. So it wasn't the clan, and it wasn't him, so he had to conclude that Sas was carrying out her own agenda.
Well then, good riddance to her, he decided sourly.
Helga and Helmer had a very interesting walk into town. Helga went straight to the hardware store that Helmer directed her to. "Ve need some specials tings, I vant you to tells me, are theres more propanes?"
"I no knows," he said shortly, "ve vill just have to search."
Clora and Mark put their kids to bed and sat close by the stove. "This has been quite a day," Clora said cryptically, "I'm not sure my heart will take many more like this one. I'm not sure that child will live, he's in very bad shape and I dread what that will do to Lainey if he dies."
"Don't borrow trouble love, if it happens we will take it as it comes." Mark put his arm around Clora and held her close.
Ben stoked the fire in their new cabin stove, and Lainey sat close to help keep the child warm. She didn't care what the other clan members thought about the way she took over the care and laid claim to the small, bony thin child. The baby needed her and she needed the baby.
Anne sat on the quilt with her mother and watched as Lainey used a spoon to give the child another bit of warm milk. "How come he won't eat?" she wanted to know.
"His tongue is really big in his mouth, that happens to people when they don't get water. As soon as his body gets enough water, the swelling will go down. Also, his stomach has shrunk up and then starting to eat makes it hurt." Lainey gave her daughter the abbreviated version that a child of 5 could understand.
"Is that why you want me to drink water all the time?" Anne watched intently as water dribbled out of the boy's mouth.
"Yes, I try very hard to keep you healthy," Lainey smiled at Anne. "Sometimes you are a full time job." she teased.
"Is this baby going to stay with us? Milo said he thought you and Dad wanted him. Does that mean I have to go somewhere else?" Anne was serious and upset at the thought of being replaced.
"Yes the boy is going to stay with us, and I never want you to go away. You belong to Daddy and me, and we don't want you to think about running away or leaving us. We are a family. A Momma and a Daddy have really big hearts and they can love all the children that God gives to them. Do you have any questions or other worries? I want to have you understand that we don't love you any less, because we have taken this boy in to care for." Lainey looked squarely at Anne, and could practically hear the wheels and gears turning in her child's mind.
"Really," Anne looked real doubtful and mostly unconvinced. "How can you be sure?"
"Well, think about Milo, Teddy and Tessee. Do you think Auntie Clora and Uncle Mark love them all?"
"I suppose, but I don't know why they love Milo. He teases me and pulls my hair when I get bossy." Anne had her idea of what was fair, and being a cousin to Milo wasn't high on her list.
"Hold down your bossiness," Ben walked over to check on the baby. "You tease Milo until he gets so mad he has to do something to get you to stop, so he pulls your hair. It is as simple as, do not tease and your hair is safe. Do you have any questions?"
"No," her reply was sullen, "I think I can do what ever I want to, I'm a girl. I don't have to do like the boys do."
"Well then," Ben was matter of fact, "your hair is going to hurt."
Anne got up and flounced off to her bed and sat down to take her shoes off. "Mommy my feet hurt, I need new shoes." she tried one more time to bring their total attention back to her.
"I will check them tomorrow," Lainey spoke as she put the baby to her shoulder to burp him.
Wayne and Sas walked over to their cabin. "Don't think your going to manhandle me, Mister Wayne. You grab me one more time and I will shoot you right through the heart," she vowed darkly. "Nobody touches me that way."
Wayne, for good measure pushed her up the gangplank into the cabin, before he replied. "I am not man handling you in anger. You are so busy being snarky that you don't realize the bridges you are burning. Look, I don't know your history before you came here; cause you never confide in me, and frankly I'm tired of your nasty disposition."
"If I am so undesirable, then show me how to get to where ever Ev is staying and I won't darken your door ever again." Sas practically spit at Wayne. "I don't do nice, and you can take that any way you want to." she grabbed a bedroll and her small backpack and stomped out of the cabin.
Wayne heaved a big sigh, and started a fire in his stove. He could feel a big fit of depression coming on, he sure had rotten luck with women and figured he might as well be moody and warm. He sat with his back against the cabin wall and thought about how the women he seemed attracted to, first appeared one way and then changed completely later on.
He had been bowled over by Sas and her independent nature, she seemed very competent and self sufficient. Once she met up with Ev, she changed, and for the life of him he couldn't think why. At first he thought Clora and Lainey were snotty to her, but he had watched carefully and his sisters went out of their way to be nice to Sas and she repaid them with disdain. So it wasn't the clan, and it wasn't him, so he had to conclude that Sas was carrying out her own agenda.
Well then, good riddance to her, he decided sourly.
Helga and Helmer had a very interesting walk into town. Helga went straight to the hardware store that Helmer directed her to. "Ve need some specials tings, I vant you to tells me, are theres more propanes?"
"I no knows," he said shortly, "ve vill just have to search."
Clora and Mark put their kids to bed and sat close by the stove. "This has been quite a day," Clora said cryptically, "I'm not sure my heart will take many more like this one. I'm not sure that child will live, he's in very bad shape and I dread what that will do to Lainey if he dies."
"Don't borrow trouble love, if it happens we will take it as it comes." Mark put his arm around Clora and held her close.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Thank you very much Pac.
stjwelding
Veteran Member
Great chapter Pac I guess that Wayne is going to be alone again, and fro the sounds of it the better off in the long run. Hopefully you have some one that will be "right for him". If the new found baby dose not make it Lainey Is going to be hart broken. Thanks for sharing your great story.
Wayne
Wayne
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#274
The baby made it through the night on the wings of the powerful prayers Clora and Lainey sent heavenward. Early the next morning the child whimpered with a small kitten sounding noise, and Lainey instantly gathered him closer. To her delight, she found he was wet. That was proof his body was still working, and she got up to spoon in some homemade electrolyte solution. A pinch of salt and sugar and because they didn't have any powdered drink mix; Clora had quartered a vitamin C tablet and then halved one of the quarters and crushed it with the back of a spoon. The powder was mixed a half teaspoon at a time with enough water to make it taste weak.
The child actually slurped the first small amount, and stirred, seeking more. Lainey mixed and spooned until the potion was finally refused, maybe a full quarter cup of liquid. All the while Lainey was softly crooning, "that's it little one, fight for life. Keep trying. Praise the Lord," she said with tears, "Glory to the Almighty."
"Ben could you whistle for Mark? I need Clora for a moment." Lainey looked up to smile a brilliant beam of happiness at her husband.
"Sure," and he stepped to the door opening and whistled in the cold morning air.
Milliseconds later Mark and Wayne were running for the Hanson cabin, rifles in hand and coats in the other.
"I need Clora," Ben hollered, halting Mark halfway across the field. Clora appeared as she shrugged into her coat, both arms around Tessee as she struggled to hold the almost too large for the shawl carry girl. Finally Clora needed to have Mark carry her, she was too heavy for the still recuperating woman to try and run with.
There were prayers all around and excited family hugged other excited family, especially paying attention to Anne. Anne was picked up and held high.
"Look at all these teeth," Lainey was able to part the boy's lips to show almost a full set of teeth. "I need to see Tessee's to compare. Oh I'm so excited. He was wet this morning, and wanted more drink. I think he must be about two, what do you think?"
"Tess is a year and three months and has almost as many, so I would say at least a year and a half or older." Clora tapped her finger lightly on the tip of Tessee's tongue to tease her daughter. Tessee laughed out loud and that caused the baby to turn toward the sound and try to make another noise.
"That's a plus, he can hear," Mark observed as he held Anne upside down and brushed her hair on the floor. "Look, it's Missy Mop and she is going to sweep with her braids." Anne giggled and demanded to be put down. Mark made a dramatic winding down noise as he slowly lowered Anne until her head was touching the floor. "This down?" he inquired.
"No Uncle Mark, my feet down please."
"Oh well sure," he blustered. "You meant that kind of down, certainly, here you go." and he flipped Anne over quickly and set her on her feet, earning another giggle.
"This is so exciting," Clora had her hand over her heart. "Lainey you have done the impossible along with our Father's help, good work."
They went for breakfast, Lainey and Clora walking close and conferring in low tones as they crossed the distance to the dining tent. Mark stopped by to shake Milo and Teddy out of their warm sleeping bags, and Wayne, Ben and then Mark filed in behind the women and headed for the hot coffee.
Teddy snuggled tightly into Mark's shoulder, "Daddy," he whispered, "did you know you took 400 steps to get from our cabin to here."
"I didn't," Mark said low, "thank you for telling me Teddy. Would you like some hot chocolate?" Teddy nodded from his secure position but didn't want to get down. Mark sat down and put Teddy on his knee, curling his arm securely around his middle son as he drank his coffee.
There was the sound of a pickup door slamming and Sas came to the table looking grumpy and unhappy. Wayne said "good morning" to her and got nothing in reply. In an uncharacteristic burst of independence, Wayne said "huh, what a sour pus you turned out to be," and got up to sit closer to Ben and Mark.
Sas turned around and shot daggers with her eyes at Wayne, but he held his head high and ignored her attitude. "Mark," she questioned, "I need to go into town and talk to Ev, can I hire you to take me in?"
That stopped the tent chatter in a hurry. Mark looked like a frozen deer in the headlights, as he swiveled his head to find Clora.
Wayne stepped in and masterfully replied. "We will take you in if you need to go, we have supplies to get. It will be 10-10:30 before we can leave." and he took the plate Helga handed him and started eating like nothing was wrong.
Ben finished his breakfast, "I have to go back down to town and do an investigation, there needs to be a report written and all the associated problems cleaned up." he finished his coffee and went to pick up the child from Lainey's arms.
Lainey started like she had been stung by a bee, tightening her arms and turning away, she prevented Ben from touching the baby.
Gently placing his hand on her shoulder, Ben bent down and whispered in her ear. Lainey looked at him long and hard, before she nodded and let him take the boy.
Lainey was hot on his heels as Ben went to the end of the table and unwrapped the baby. He checked the youngster over for marks, scars or other identifying clues; and when he undid the diaper, it was easy to see the boy had been in a hospital at one time. The darkish hair on the baby's head was straight, thick and the skin was slightly darker than his own.
The baby watched him without moving, dark brown eyes seldom blinking. Slowly Ben bundled the boy, and gave him back to Lainey.
"No identifying marks on the child other than a thousand mosquito bites, arms and legs seem to function and are not broken. What about his clothes? Was there anything that might identify him or his parents?"
"His shirt has a name in it," Helga held up the stained baby undershirt. "You vants me to reads it?"
Ben nodded and Lainey abruptly sat down, clutching the child tightly.
"The vord say Benny," the cook held the shirt out to the Sheriff.
Ben looked like he didn't believe her, and snatched the shirt to examine by himself. "It does," he finally said in a weak voice. "This is spooky coincidental."
The baby made it through the night on the wings of the powerful prayers Clora and Lainey sent heavenward. Early the next morning the child whimpered with a small kitten sounding noise, and Lainey instantly gathered him closer. To her delight, she found he was wet. That was proof his body was still working, and she got up to spoon in some homemade electrolyte solution. A pinch of salt and sugar and because they didn't have any powdered drink mix; Clora had quartered a vitamin C tablet and then halved one of the quarters and crushed it with the back of a spoon. The powder was mixed a half teaspoon at a time with enough water to make it taste weak.
The child actually slurped the first small amount, and stirred, seeking more. Lainey mixed and spooned until the potion was finally refused, maybe a full quarter cup of liquid. All the while Lainey was softly crooning, "that's it little one, fight for life. Keep trying. Praise the Lord," she said with tears, "Glory to the Almighty."
"Ben could you whistle for Mark? I need Clora for a moment." Lainey looked up to smile a brilliant beam of happiness at her husband.
"Sure," and he stepped to the door opening and whistled in the cold morning air.
Milliseconds later Mark and Wayne were running for the Hanson cabin, rifles in hand and coats in the other.
"I need Clora," Ben hollered, halting Mark halfway across the field. Clora appeared as she shrugged into her coat, both arms around Tessee as she struggled to hold the almost too large for the shawl carry girl. Finally Clora needed to have Mark carry her, she was too heavy for the still recuperating woman to try and run with.
There were prayers all around and excited family hugged other excited family, especially paying attention to Anne. Anne was picked up and held high.
"Look at all these teeth," Lainey was able to part the boy's lips to show almost a full set of teeth. "I need to see Tessee's to compare. Oh I'm so excited. He was wet this morning, and wanted more drink. I think he must be about two, what do you think?"
"Tess is a year and three months and has almost as many, so I would say at least a year and a half or older." Clora tapped her finger lightly on the tip of Tessee's tongue to tease her daughter. Tessee laughed out loud and that caused the baby to turn toward the sound and try to make another noise.
"That's a plus, he can hear," Mark observed as he held Anne upside down and brushed her hair on the floor. "Look, it's Missy Mop and she is going to sweep with her braids." Anne giggled and demanded to be put down. Mark made a dramatic winding down noise as he slowly lowered Anne until her head was touching the floor. "This down?" he inquired.
"No Uncle Mark, my feet down please."
"Oh well sure," he blustered. "You meant that kind of down, certainly, here you go." and he flipped Anne over quickly and set her on her feet, earning another giggle.
"This is so exciting," Clora had her hand over her heart. "Lainey you have done the impossible along with our Father's help, good work."
They went for breakfast, Lainey and Clora walking close and conferring in low tones as they crossed the distance to the dining tent. Mark stopped by to shake Milo and Teddy out of their warm sleeping bags, and Wayne, Ben and then Mark filed in behind the women and headed for the hot coffee.
Teddy snuggled tightly into Mark's shoulder, "Daddy," he whispered, "did you know you took 400 steps to get from our cabin to here."
"I didn't," Mark said low, "thank you for telling me Teddy. Would you like some hot chocolate?" Teddy nodded from his secure position but didn't want to get down. Mark sat down and put Teddy on his knee, curling his arm securely around his middle son as he drank his coffee.
There was the sound of a pickup door slamming and Sas came to the table looking grumpy and unhappy. Wayne said "good morning" to her and got nothing in reply. In an uncharacteristic burst of independence, Wayne said "huh, what a sour pus you turned out to be," and got up to sit closer to Ben and Mark.
Sas turned around and shot daggers with her eyes at Wayne, but he held his head high and ignored her attitude. "Mark," she questioned, "I need to go into town and talk to Ev, can I hire you to take me in?"
That stopped the tent chatter in a hurry. Mark looked like a frozen deer in the headlights, as he swiveled his head to find Clora.
Wayne stepped in and masterfully replied. "We will take you in if you need to go, we have supplies to get. It will be 10-10:30 before we can leave." and he took the plate Helga handed him and started eating like nothing was wrong.
Ben finished his breakfast, "I have to go back down to town and do an investigation, there needs to be a report written and all the associated problems cleaned up." he finished his coffee and went to pick up the child from Lainey's arms.
Lainey started like she had been stung by a bee, tightening her arms and turning away, she prevented Ben from touching the baby.
Gently placing his hand on her shoulder, Ben bent down and whispered in her ear. Lainey looked at him long and hard, before she nodded and let him take the boy.
Lainey was hot on his heels as Ben went to the end of the table and unwrapped the baby. He checked the youngster over for marks, scars or other identifying clues; and when he undid the diaper, it was easy to see the boy had been in a hospital at one time. The darkish hair on the baby's head was straight, thick and the skin was slightly darker than his own.
The baby watched him without moving, dark brown eyes seldom blinking. Slowly Ben bundled the boy, and gave him back to Lainey.
"No identifying marks on the child other than a thousand mosquito bites, arms and legs seem to function and are not broken. What about his clothes? Was there anything that might identify him or his parents?"
"His shirt has a name in it," Helga held up the stained baby undershirt. "You vants me to reads it?"
Ben nodded and Lainey abruptly sat down, clutching the child tightly.
"The vord say Benny," the cook held the shirt out to the Sheriff.
Ben looked like he didn't believe her, and snatched the shirt to examine by himself. "It does," he finally said in a weak voice. "This is spooky coincidental."
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Oh man one Benny to another. Thank you pac.
stjwelding
Veteran Member
Thanks for the chapter Pac I believe that the baby will help heal many wounds in the family, I just hope that the child protection agency dose not give them a hard time about keeping and raising him. Thanks again for the wonderful story.
uhoh! Benny...... hmmm.... now I'm wondering if "Ben" gets a good look at the woman's remains.... if he will know her cause he 'knew' her..... oh I'm so bad for going there!!! But my goodness, with the messed up family tree already.... and the problems they all had with Ben before.... I can see it!!! lol! which means it won't be that..... most likely cause Pac always goes in a direction I never saw coming.... hahahaha!
thanks so much!
thanks so much!
ya know, I tell myself I'm going to do just that myself.... and then............. I can't.
lol! the story is just so darn good that I can't help but speculate!!! the mind just won't stop thinking about it unless it's reading moar story!!!
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#275
"Benny, well huh," Ben said as he turned to stare at the child. "Well I have all the information about him I need, so I'm off to work, duty calls. I need 16 penny nails, caulking and rolls of insulation, and a front door. Thank you for putting the windows in, Lainey can give you a list of what she needs for the child." Ben removed his wallet and gave Mark four twenties. "I'll get a draw at the station today and give you the rest of it tonight." With a kiss to Lainey and a tweak on Anne's braids, he got in the SUV and headed toward the valley.
"Get you're lists together," Mark warned, "Helga and Helmer, you too. Wayne is going in with me today, and we may not be home tonight. I want to check out some of the farms we got produce from last fall. and we all need doors. What say you Helga, are we going to have strong storms soon? Phew," Mark garbled his tongue, "try saying that three times fast, and see what it gets ya."
"Not's soon," Helga replied as she looked to the west. "Smalls ones by the next veekend. Ve needs muches propane. Get von of those tanks you can pulls behinds the pickup and what you calls them Helmer? Those rope things?"
"Hoses and adapters to fits the smalls stovers." Helmer looked up as he finished washing the milk pail. "Ve also needs filters for the milk strainer. Grains for the cows vould be goods, meebe somes metal cans for the holdings of the feeds. Vhat evers you tinks ve need." he concluded, looking at Clora who was busy writing down the items. Helmer nodded in satisfaction.
"We need just about everything for a baby. All the infant stuff I had is packed tight away in the front of the trailer and that's no easy task to move floor to ceiling boxes for the gain." Lainey was busy scribbling on a sheet of paper Clora had torn from her tablet.
"What about the holiday's," Clora spelled out the word, trying to be discrete as she asked the adults.
"What are holidays?" Teddy asked as he came to stand by Clora's elbow. "Are they something good to eat?"
"We are thinking ahead to Thanksgiving and Christmas and what we need for special meals and presents," Clora said honestly, watching Teddy as he watched Benny. "Does he talk?" Teddy wanted to know.
"I don't know?" Clora said in surprise. "Want to give it a try Lainey?"
"Benny, can you say MaMa, DaDa?" She repeated the words softly as she brushed the hair off the child's forehead, caressing his cheek. Benny made no opportunity to talk, just looked at Lainey with that almost unblinking stare. Teddy walked close to reach out and touch the boy's hand and the child grabbed his finger tightly. "Ben-ee," Teddy said carefully. He pointed toward the boy and touched his chest. "Ben-ee." Teddy got a smile for his work.
"Progress," Clora said happily. The moment was interrupted by Sas walking into the tent and reaching for a mug on the table. She happened to be close to Clora, and Blackie rumbled and growled low in his throat. Clora put her hand on his head and told the animal to lay down.
Sas walked over and filled the mug with coffee, looking sullenly at Mark and Wayne as the men were busy putting together a list. "They sure are frickin slow," she griped to no one in particular.
"I don't know what to tell you," Clora said with a shrug. "We don't go to town frequently and need to make the most of our trips. Why are you in such a hurry?"
"I ain't comin back," Sas said shortly, "Wayne, he ain't what I want in a man, so it's time to move on."
That announcement got her stares from the ladies in the tent, "Does Wayne know?" Clora demanded. It was none of her business, but Wayne was her business as a brother and she didn't like Sas anyway.
"Now what right have ya got buttin in my business?" Sas was angry. "All of ya gotta know ever last stinkin thing about me and my alltogethers, it ain't necessary, and I ain't tellin. Go suck eggs," and she stormed out of the tent and went back to the pickup.
"She is right, I guess it's none of my business," Clora said slowly, "I honestly didn't mean to cause problems."
"You haven't," Lainey said tartly, "The problems are her's, and she's just looking for excuses to be mean and snotty."
"Ya," Helga made sandwiches for Mark, Wayne and Sas. "Meybee she goes sooner if they noes stay to eats lunches." She warmed a couple of thermos jugs with hot water before she poured in the boiling hot coffee. "The lunches, they are ready's." she stacked them on the end of the table and went to wash the eggs.
Ben got down through the makeshift road and into town. The body of the woman had been torn apart by three big dogs that were snarling and fighting each other in the basement prison they had jumped into. Ben shot all three, and then was accosted by another two that slunk toward him, growling and snapping from around the corner. Shooting the second group of cur's, gave Ben the chills. He was very vigilant from then on as he tried to decide what to do.
The body in the basement was so torn apart that Ben never recognized Tonya, Toby's sister that had gone missing so long ago. All Ben could think of was the hand of God had sent them to town in time to help save Benny. Had they not gone yesterday, the child would have died at the fangs of starving dogs. Ben got back in his SUV and said a devout prayer of thanksgiving before continuing back down the highway toward the Sheriff's office.
Ben filed his report, and talked with the Medical Examiner. The County Attorney was next, and that's when Ben found out how little value the officials put on the life of the rescued child. "If you want him and will care for him, no reason for us to look any further for a place for him." the man said reasonably. "No one will take him cause we have no money to pay for Foster homes, you can have a hundred kids just like him if you want them."
Ben walked away with a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach, how life as he wanted it to be, had changed. The Depression and now 6 years of miserable poverty that followed behind the economic chaos, reduced the value Americans placed on individual life, especially those of homeless and unwanted children. They were nothing more than another mouth to feed that used up resources that were nonexistent to begin with.
Ben drove to Wade's house to ask the lawyer about adoption of Benny, and to let Ev and Cheryl know that Sas was on her way into town. He was too late, Mark and Wayne drove in at a high rate of speed to unload the toxic personality that was Wayne's former girlfriend.
Mark left Wayne at Wade's. He needed to make a run into the bank and see what was left in the account, and do some changing around of his finances. As he went through the safety deposit box, Mark brushed his arm against the small bag of items in his vest pocket. For some reason he drew them out and dropped them in the box and shut the lid.
Hunched over to prevent the security camera from recording what he withdrew, Mark palmed the remainder of the cash in the box into his pocket. The woman at the desk was pleasant and explained that the box rent was due in a couple of months and to not forget to pay.
Mark agreed and went to the next available teller to have the rent withdrawn from his checking account. There had been a sizable deposit made to the account from one of Borg's investment counselors, and Mark made arrangements to have the property taxes paid by automatic with drawl for the valley and for the Evergreen.
Mark notified the teller that he would be writing some sizable checks for supplies in town and to be expecting them. Because there was seldom activity in his account, he liked to give the bank a heads up when he was in a spending mood. The woman was happy to give him the cash he wanted, and Mark tucked it in his vest pocket.
Carefully exiting the bank, he made sure he wasn't followed or robbed of the significant amount of cash. The propane station was full of tanks but few were on trailers. It took some hard negotiations to get two mobile tanks delivered to the valley and up as far as their old homesteads.
Mark looked at a couple of 4-wheelers and was debating hard with himself about buying them when he happened to look up and see the proprioter of the store close to the lodge, drive rapidly around him and hustle into the bank parking lot. It was strange, why would the man come so far into town past many branches of the same bank to use this particular one. A puzzlement for sure.
Mark thought about shadowing the portly man, but he had so many things to do, he decided to go get Wayne and get on with the list.
"Benny, well huh," Ben said as he turned to stare at the child. "Well I have all the information about him I need, so I'm off to work, duty calls. I need 16 penny nails, caulking and rolls of insulation, and a front door. Thank you for putting the windows in, Lainey can give you a list of what she needs for the child." Ben removed his wallet and gave Mark four twenties. "I'll get a draw at the station today and give you the rest of it tonight." With a kiss to Lainey and a tweak on Anne's braids, he got in the SUV and headed toward the valley.
"Get you're lists together," Mark warned, "Helga and Helmer, you too. Wayne is going in with me today, and we may not be home tonight. I want to check out some of the farms we got produce from last fall. and we all need doors. What say you Helga, are we going to have strong storms soon? Phew," Mark garbled his tongue, "try saying that three times fast, and see what it gets ya."
"Not's soon," Helga replied as she looked to the west. "Smalls ones by the next veekend. Ve needs muches propane. Get von of those tanks you can pulls behinds the pickup and what you calls them Helmer? Those rope things?"
"Hoses and adapters to fits the smalls stovers." Helmer looked up as he finished washing the milk pail. "Ve also needs filters for the milk strainer. Grains for the cows vould be goods, meebe somes metal cans for the holdings of the feeds. Vhat evers you tinks ve need." he concluded, looking at Clora who was busy writing down the items. Helmer nodded in satisfaction.
"We need just about everything for a baby. All the infant stuff I had is packed tight away in the front of the trailer and that's no easy task to move floor to ceiling boxes for the gain." Lainey was busy scribbling on a sheet of paper Clora had torn from her tablet.
"What about the holiday's," Clora spelled out the word, trying to be discrete as she asked the adults.
"What are holidays?" Teddy asked as he came to stand by Clora's elbow. "Are they something good to eat?"
"We are thinking ahead to Thanksgiving and Christmas and what we need for special meals and presents," Clora said honestly, watching Teddy as he watched Benny. "Does he talk?" Teddy wanted to know.
"I don't know?" Clora said in surprise. "Want to give it a try Lainey?"
"Benny, can you say MaMa, DaDa?" She repeated the words softly as she brushed the hair off the child's forehead, caressing his cheek. Benny made no opportunity to talk, just looked at Lainey with that almost unblinking stare. Teddy walked close to reach out and touch the boy's hand and the child grabbed his finger tightly. "Ben-ee," Teddy said carefully. He pointed toward the boy and touched his chest. "Ben-ee." Teddy got a smile for his work.
"Progress," Clora said happily. The moment was interrupted by Sas walking into the tent and reaching for a mug on the table. She happened to be close to Clora, and Blackie rumbled and growled low in his throat. Clora put her hand on his head and told the animal to lay down.
Sas walked over and filled the mug with coffee, looking sullenly at Mark and Wayne as the men were busy putting together a list. "They sure are frickin slow," she griped to no one in particular.
"I don't know what to tell you," Clora said with a shrug. "We don't go to town frequently and need to make the most of our trips. Why are you in such a hurry?"
"I ain't comin back," Sas said shortly, "Wayne, he ain't what I want in a man, so it's time to move on."
That announcement got her stares from the ladies in the tent, "Does Wayne know?" Clora demanded. It was none of her business, but Wayne was her business as a brother and she didn't like Sas anyway.
"Now what right have ya got buttin in my business?" Sas was angry. "All of ya gotta know ever last stinkin thing about me and my alltogethers, it ain't necessary, and I ain't tellin. Go suck eggs," and she stormed out of the tent and went back to the pickup.
"She is right, I guess it's none of my business," Clora said slowly, "I honestly didn't mean to cause problems."
"You haven't," Lainey said tartly, "The problems are her's, and she's just looking for excuses to be mean and snotty."
"Ya," Helga made sandwiches for Mark, Wayne and Sas. "Meybee she goes sooner if they noes stay to eats lunches." She warmed a couple of thermos jugs with hot water before she poured in the boiling hot coffee. "The lunches, they are ready's." she stacked them on the end of the table and went to wash the eggs.
Ben got down through the makeshift road and into town. The body of the woman had been torn apart by three big dogs that were snarling and fighting each other in the basement prison they had jumped into. Ben shot all three, and then was accosted by another two that slunk toward him, growling and snapping from around the corner. Shooting the second group of cur's, gave Ben the chills. He was very vigilant from then on as he tried to decide what to do.
The body in the basement was so torn apart that Ben never recognized Tonya, Toby's sister that had gone missing so long ago. All Ben could think of was the hand of God had sent them to town in time to help save Benny. Had they not gone yesterday, the child would have died at the fangs of starving dogs. Ben got back in his SUV and said a devout prayer of thanksgiving before continuing back down the highway toward the Sheriff's office.
Ben filed his report, and talked with the Medical Examiner. The County Attorney was next, and that's when Ben found out how little value the officials put on the life of the rescued child. "If you want him and will care for him, no reason for us to look any further for a place for him." the man said reasonably. "No one will take him cause we have no money to pay for Foster homes, you can have a hundred kids just like him if you want them."
Ben walked away with a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach, how life as he wanted it to be, had changed. The Depression and now 6 years of miserable poverty that followed behind the economic chaos, reduced the value Americans placed on individual life, especially those of homeless and unwanted children. They were nothing more than another mouth to feed that used up resources that were nonexistent to begin with.
Ben drove to Wade's house to ask the lawyer about adoption of Benny, and to let Ev and Cheryl know that Sas was on her way into town. He was too late, Mark and Wayne drove in at a high rate of speed to unload the toxic personality that was Wayne's former girlfriend.
Mark left Wayne at Wade's. He needed to make a run into the bank and see what was left in the account, and do some changing around of his finances. As he went through the safety deposit box, Mark brushed his arm against the small bag of items in his vest pocket. For some reason he drew them out and dropped them in the box and shut the lid.
Hunched over to prevent the security camera from recording what he withdrew, Mark palmed the remainder of the cash in the box into his pocket. The woman at the desk was pleasant and explained that the box rent was due in a couple of months and to not forget to pay.
Mark agreed and went to the next available teller to have the rent withdrawn from his checking account. There had been a sizable deposit made to the account from one of Borg's investment counselors, and Mark made arrangements to have the property taxes paid by automatic with drawl for the valley and for the Evergreen.
Mark notified the teller that he would be writing some sizable checks for supplies in town and to be expecting them. Because there was seldom activity in his account, he liked to give the bank a heads up when he was in a spending mood. The woman was happy to give him the cash he wanted, and Mark tucked it in his vest pocket.
Carefully exiting the bank, he made sure he wasn't followed or robbed of the significant amount of cash. The propane station was full of tanks but few were on trailers. It took some hard negotiations to get two mobile tanks delivered to the valley and up as far as their old homesteads.
Mark looked at a couple of 4-wheelers and was debating hard with himself about buying them when he happened to look up and see the proprioter of the store close to the lodge, drive rapidly around him and hustle into the bank parking lot. It was strange, why would the man come so far into town past many branches of the same bank to use this particular one. A puzzlement for sure.
Mark thought about shadowing the portly man, but he had so many things to do, he decided to go get Wayne and get on with the list.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Thank you pac,