Old Gray Mare
TB Fanatic
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Story Up On Hartford Ridge
- Thread starter Kathy in FL
- Start date
This link really needs a warning label. fictionpress has a lot of Mother Hen's work in progress.
Sigh. Well, off I go!!
ETA: Love this tale so far. Once again, Kathy Stories = INSOMNIA.
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Lol, y'all are funny. I have another chapter written but it is in need of serious editing before posting. I'll try and get it up tonight.
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Chapter 122
When they would have simply drug Bud away with the others, all of whom had met the end such acts generally caused, I got a little testy. Not over them dragging him away but the results they would leave behind.
“Please don’t leave drag marks that I am going to have to erase. If you have to drag him, make it toes up so the furrows aren’t as deep. Bad enough I’m still going to have these smelly pigs to figure out what to do with so that it doesn’t come back on any of us.” That last sentence was due to not a few of the cousins throwing their hands up like it wasn’t their problem and being willing to walk away. Knotheads. There was a deal to be made but they couldn’t see beyond the end of their embarrassed noses, just like Bud likely planned it. Well I wasn’t having it.
The “leader” of the trolls … or at least the leader of the trolls of that group … asked, “Where’s this sinkhole you mentioned?”
The terrain over that way is an area I stay out of unless absolutely forced to travel. It was way too good a place for me to turn my foot or hip. I looked at Cutter. “You know the place?”
He nodded. “Up around the bend a piece, tucked in a corner with erosion and scrabble. Heard Sawyer say it might not be a sink hole but an old mine or well that collapsed.”
“Yeah, that’s it.” Turning to Burt I told him, “Help Cutter get them there. Follow behind their trail and cover up any scuff or drag marks. Can you do that and stay out of trouble in the process?”
“Yes’m,” he said. “And I’ll show him how.” “Him” was the boy troll.
“Assuming he has permission; it isn’t a bad skill to have. Just make sure none of them eat stuff they shouldn’t. Especially those mushrooms up there. And don’t you go kicking them either. I don’t care if they do make a satisfyingly cloud of puff when you do it. The way things are drying up I don’t want the spores being transferred all over. Understand?”
I looked at “Leader Troll” and asked, “Good enough?”
“Better than. As for these pigs, sooner dealt with the better just in case they send drones out this way. Your worries are valid. We overheard a National Guard unit that said they had been ordered to use drones to check the area. It is going to take two days to have the correct ones arrive to do the job so say a little less than 48 hours before they are swarming us with their own types of inspections.”
He and I looked at each other. Uncle Mark cleared his throat and without looking at him I said, “Fair trade. They are doing the dirty work. We split the … contraband … that is left behind. But regardless of how things are split, I get enough to take care of my people and they have to help us dismantle this enclosure and try and put it to rights so that it isn’t visible by drones. Burt can help with that as well.” Then I asked the Troll Leader directly, “Is this the only ‘contraband storage’ location on my land?”
The Troll Leader slowly grinned. “Found some chickens in a coop right on the corner of this land and some we hold. We’ll bring you a percentage of them. Might be another location or two with less lively contents. We’ll … share out after taking a … let’s call it a finder’s fee.”
I responded, “No need to go to all the trouble. Just bring stuff here and I’ll get it home.” I was not having someone I didn’t know track all over the homesite. It would have been as bad as the Inspectors and Harvesters.
His grin widened ‘cause he knew exactly what I was saying without having to spill the words. He nodded in agreement for his side.
Uncle Mark cleared his throat again in a tone that told me he was trying to communicate something rather than control me. I looked at him and he cut his eyes to Uncle Ned who was looking at the pigs speculatively. “Uncle Ned?”
“Hm?”
“Watcha thinking?”
“That we ain’t got the feed to cover this many more hawgs, a few mebbe but not this many. And it should be getting just cold enough ta’nite and tomorry. And that the hole might be good fur more than one thing. These men can put the first problem down in there deep. The second problem is ony gonna be a problem if’n we let it. We can butcher there and leave the blood and offal back with the first problem … what isn’t going to be hauled off to feed the dawgs. Then Cutter can spring one of his pranks and bring down the rear of that hole. It’ll keep the carrion eaters from drawing attention to what we done.”
I left the planning to the uncles and Leader Troll, with the cousins looking on like some of them had never gotten a good look at their fathers before. I left the bartering to Uncle Mark, not that I couldn’t have done it myself. Sometimes you have to delegate those types of things to get more accomplished. And just listen to me sounding like I’m somebody. What Sawyer is going to have to say on all of it I’m not sure I even want to think about. But life hands you a full chamber pot and you don’t have any choice but to empty it.
Finally things were moving forward. I knew I needed to get word to Barbara but I really did have chores that needed doing. I wished for Burt, but I’d already promised his help in another direction. I sighed. The night just got a lot longer.
“Anyone who has an empty canteen put it on my sled and I’ll take it back to the house and fill it up and bring it back. I need to check on Barbara and …”
Someone jogged up and made me jump. “Already let her know things are okay. I met the group taking care of Davis. Your place was closer so we took him there until we could patch him up enough to haul him back to the home place. Barbara has things in hand. She already threatened to wrap a mop around Davis’ head so tight it would take a new-ro surgeon the get it undone if he didn’t stay still for Linda and Mom who insisted on us bringin’ ‘em there on the mules.”
“Mules.”
“Yeah … oh, you don’t mean the mules you mean Mom and Linda being there.”
I sighed. “Tommy …”
He snickered even though it looked a little strange under the circumstances. “They’ll keep an eye on Barbara ‘til you can get back. Um … Linda wants to see you.”
“Don’t turn this into something it isn’t but I’ve got work I have to do before I can get back to the house.” A little in general I said to whoever was listening, “This isn’t a feud, but I have to feed those under my roof and that means that I can’t just drop everything and run to have fun. Anyone is free to explain that so that no one gets their feelings hurt.”
Tommy patted my arm. “It’ll be okay Kay-Lee. Barbara told us you’d heard from Sawyer and Huely.”
“I heard from them, but we still don’t know when we are going to see them for any length of time. That means I need to do what I need to do. Just … try and get Linda to understand that if I don’t get back to the house before she needs to leave.”
He nodded then turned to help put the pigs on lead ropes through the rings in their noses. They’d already eaten the bag of feed that had been tossed in and were not in the mood to go anyplace. Especially as they’d be following the smell of death. Didn’t do a whole lot for the rest of us either.
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Chapter 122
When they would have simply drug Bud away with the others, all of whom had met the end such acts generally caused, I got a little testy. Not over them dragging him away but the results they would leave behind.
“Please don’t leave drag marks that I am going to have to erase. If you have to drag him, make it toes up so the furrows aren’t as deep. Bad enough I’m still going to have these smelly pigs to figure out what to do with so that it doesn’t come back on any of us.” That last sentence was due to not a few of the cousins throwing their hands up like it wasn’t their problem and being willing to walk away. Knotheads. There was a deal to be made but they couldn’t see beyond the end of their embarrassed noses, just like Bud likely planned it. Well I wasn’t having it.
The “leader” of the trolls … or at least the leader of the trolls of that group … asked, “Where’s this sinkhole you mentioned?”
The terrain over that way is an area I stay out of unless absolutely forced to travel. It was way too good a place for me to turn my foot or hip. I looked at Cutter. “You know the place?”
He nodded. “Up around the bend a piece, tucked in a corner with erosion and scrabble. Heard Sawyer say it might not be a sink hole but an old mine or well that collapsed.”
“Yeah, that’s it.” Turning to Burt I told him, “Help Cutter get them there. Follow behind their trail and cover up any scuff or drag marks. Can you do that and stay out of trouble in the process?”
“Yes’m,” he said. “And I’ll show him how.” “Him” was the boy troll.
“Assuming he has permission; it isn’t a bad skill to have. Just make sure none of them eat stuff they shouldn’t. Especially those mushrooms up there. And don’t you go kicking them either. I don’t care if they do make a satisfyingly cloud of puff when you do it. The way things are drying up I don’t want the spores being transferred all over. Understand?”
I looked at “Leader Troll” and asked, “Good enough?”
“Better than. As for these pigs, sooner dealt with the better just in case they send drones out this way. Your worries are valid. We overheard a National Guard unit that said they had been ordered to use drones to check the area. It is going to take two days to have the correct ones arrive to do the job so say a little less than 48 hours before they are swarming us with their own types of inspections.”
He and I looked at each other. Uncle Mark cleared his throat and without looking at him I said, “Fair trade. They are doing the dirty work. We split the … contraband … that is left behind. But regardless of how things are split, I get enough to take care of my people and they have to help us dismantle this enclosure and try and put it to rights so that it isn’t visible by drones. Burt can help with that as well.” Then I asked the Troll Leader directly, “Is this the only ‘contraband storage’ location on my land?”
The Troll Leader slowly grinned. “Found some chickens in a coop right on the corner of this land and some we hold. We’ll bring you a percentage of them. Might be another location or two with less lively contents. We’ll … share out after taking a … let’s call it a finder’s fee.”
I responded, “No need to go to all the trouble. Just bring stuff here and I’ll get it home.” I was not having someone I didn’t know track all over the homesite. It would have been as bad as the Inspectors and Harvesters.
His grin widened ‘cause he knew exactly what I was saying without having to spill the words. He nodded in agreement for his side.
Uncle Mark cleared his throat again in a tone that told me he was trying to communicate something rather than control me. I looked at him and he cut his eyes to Uncle Ned who was looking at the pigs speculatively. “Uncle Ned?”
“Hm?”
“Watcha thinking?”
“That we ain’t got the feed to cover this many more hawgs, a few mebbe but not this many. And it should be getting just cold enough ta’nite and tomorry. And that the hole might be good fur more than one thing. These men can put the first problem down in there deep. The second problem is ony gonna be a problem if’n we let it. We can butcher there and leave the blood and offal back with the first problem … what isn’t going to be hauled off to feed the dawgs. Then Cutter can spring one of his pranks and bring down the rear of that hole. It’ll keep the carrion eaters from drawing attention to what we done.”
I left the planning to the uncles and Leader Troll, with the cousins looking on like some of them had never gotten a good look at their fathers before. I left the bartering to Uncle Mark, not that I couldn’t have done it myself. Sometimes you have to delegate those types of things to get more accomplished. And just listen to me sounding like I’m somebody. What Sawyer is going to have to say on all of it I’m not sure I even want to think about. But life hands you a full chamber pot and you don’t have any choice but to empty it.
Finally things were moving forward. I knew I needed to get word to Barbara but I really did have chores that needed doing. I wished for Burt, but I’d already promised his help in another direction. I sighed. The night just got a lot longer.
“Anyone who has an empty canteen put it on my sled and I’ll take it back to the house and fill it up and bring it back. I need to check on Barbara and …”
Someone jogged up and made me jump. “Already let her know things are okay. I met the group taking care of Davis. Your place was closer so we took him there until we could patch him up enough to haul him back to the home place. Barbara has things in hand. She already threatened to wrap a mop around Davis’ head so tight it would take a new-ro surgeon the get it undone if he didn’t stay still for Linda and Mom who insisted on us bringin’ ‘em there on the mules.”
“Mules.”
“Yeah … oh, you don’t mean the mules you mean Mom and Linda being there.”
I sighed. “Tommy …”
He snickered even though it looked a little strange under the circumstances. “They’ll keep an eye on Barbara ‘til you can get back. Um … Linda wants to see you.”
“Don’t turn this into something it isn’t but I’ve got work I have to do before I can get back to the house.” A little in general I said to whoever was listening, “This isn’t a feud, but I have to feed those under my roof and that means that I can’t just drop everything and run to have fun. Anyone is free to explain that so that no one gets their feelings hurt.”
Tommy patted my arm. “It’ll be okay Kay-Lee. Barbara told us you’d heard from Sawyer and Huely.”
“I heard from them, but we still don’t know when we are going to see them for any length of time. That means I need to do what I need to do. Just … try and get Linda to understand that if I don’t get back to the house before she needs to leave.”
He nodded then turned to help put the pigs on lead ropes through the rings in their noses. They’d already eaten the bag of feed that had been tossed in and were not in the mood to go anyplace. Especially as they’d be following the smell of death. Didn’t do a whole lot for the rest of us either.
Jeepcats27
Senior Member
Thank you so much for the new chapter!!!!!!!!!
beaglemama
Contributing Member
Thank you, Kathy!
Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
YeahThank You, Kathy!!
(Now will someone hurry up and get Bud's stinkin' carcass thrown in that sink hole - I'm getting tired of the stench..)
Keep Amerca Beautiful and all that. .....
Sammy55
Veteran Member
Here I was about to yell at someone for making me look........ and now I'm saying "Thank you all for making me look!!" LOL!!
And thank you, Kathy, for another chapter! Muches happy to read some more! And happy that they are finally doing something with Bud. But...question...is he alive or dead??
I read this sentence in this chapter - "Finally things were moving forward." - and figured that maybe your "where do I go next" has lifted?? At least for now?? 'Cause we love this story (all of them, actually) and want to keep reading and reading and reading. (hint, hint, hint)
And thank you, Kathy, for another chapter! Muches happy to read some more! And happy that they are finally doing something with Bud. But...question...is he alive or dead??
I read this sentence in this chapter - "Finally things were moving forward." - and figured that maybe your "where do I go next" has lifted?? At least for now?? 'Cause we love this story (all of them, actually) and want to keep reading and reading and reading. (hint, hint, hint)
Chapter 123
It took me a moment but I finally located my rake in the dark. The stack of bushel baskets was even harder to find as it had rolled to the back of the forsythia and looked like an overturned log half covered by the Autumn leaves that were crunching under my feet. Uncle Ned was correct as usual when it came to natural things including weather changes. The temperature was dropping, and I prayed that if God intended on it getting much colder he’d stop it before it actually froze.
I walked over to the persimmon trees that had been out of reach of the stupid hogs and had to goose a couple of the cousins to get them out of my way. “Do you mind?”
“Kay-Lee, you can’t move pigs with a rake.”
I snorted, probably sounding about like a pig at that point. “The pigs are y’alls to mess with. What you are about to trample is mine.”
Uncle Ned chuckled then asked, “Watcha gonna do with all these persimmons Sugar?”
Not in the mood to be overly nice about it I answered, “Feed us as long as we can get by. Assuming people don’t squish them all. Doggone pigs … and I mean the hogs, not the cousins … have already trampled too many and have likely killed a quarter of the grove which means even less next year. I don’t know how I’m going to explain this to Sawyer.”
The last might have been taken wrong by some but Uncle Ned said, “Sugar, Sawyer isn’t the kind to get mad over this.”
“He won’t be mad at me. He’ll wind up getting mad at himself for not being here even though he couldn’t be. I’m already worried that …” I tried not to sigh where anyone could hear me. “We’ll get by. I won’t let it be any other way. Sawyer left me in charge to take care of things and Huely asked me to take care of Barbara and that’s just the way it is going to happen. Bud can kiss pig butt from now to eternity. His evil is not going to win. Just get out of my way, I’ve got work to do. And y’all do too so git,” I told the knotheads that were still in my way. “Uncle Ned? We can’t feed any live ones. And try and talk them out of turning them loose on the Ridge for later use. I can’t afford to run up on one that has gone feral, I don’t want Burt to get caught by one either, and Barbara surely don’t need the danger if one comes into the homesite looking to get into what little bit we have. The blasted bear was bad enough.”
“Bear?!”
“Yes Sir. It was after the last of the apples where the Harvesters hadn’t cleaned up the falls yet.”
“They didn’t even leave you any falls?” he said outraged on my behalf … and trying to impress some knowledge on any of the Cousins that might still have wrongheaded ideas.
“No Sir. I don’t know what they were like at other places but here they were … thorough. They even took off any bruised fruit to feed the stock animals in town or the animals used by the National Guard compound. The only thing I can say for certain is they gave me a paper that says the property taxes are paid in full as a result. Has the raised seal and everything so I have to trust they aren’t forgeries.”
“I’ll be having a talk with Mark later but for now, if you don’t want live ‘uns what do you want?”
“Some meat I can raw pack in a jar and process. Any of the bones that can be spared that I can boil for broth. I wouldn’t say no to a couple of hams and shoulders either, but I understand that can’t happen until they are cured. Maybe some hog jowl that we can put aside for when Saywer and Huely come back. They’ll need meat.”
“And you don’t?” Uncle Ned asked in exasperation … not at me but some of the cousins that were still milling about like they’d lost their brains at some point in the last few hours and couldn’t figure out how to operate without someone standing over them with a flaming whip and chair and a long list of instructions.
After watching Uncle Ned threatening to kick a couple of the youngest of the cousins in the backside for having to be told what to do, their older brothers finally did the job of taking them in hand and putting them to hard labor to save their heads from being banged together by the uncles who were getting irritated by them.
“Kay-Lee …”
I sighed thinking I had been hoping not to have another Uncle up in arms. I turned to Uncle Carl and said, “Yes Sir?”
He was going to say something then stopped and sighed as well. “I can’t ask you to stop. I wish I could but … I cain’t. It is going to take all of us to get them hogs slaughtered. Uncle Ned and I will see what can be held back for you. Mark will have a thing or three to say about it also. It’ll be more than what little bit you asked for, but it might not be much more.” He shook his head sorrowfully. “Dump has had words with a lot people in the family. I want you to know she never did think … well what some have thought.” Looking embarrassed as only a man can he started to say, “I …”
“Uncle Carl just let it go. I don’t mean to be nasty about it but … I just don’t have the energy to get all emotional. The kids have needed feeding and Barbara doesn’t always have good days. There are days I’m scared that … that the same thing that stole Delly from us could take Barbara. I make her rest as much as possible, sit with her feet propped up, but she won’t, and I quote, let me turn her completely useless.” I gave a small smile. “She’s nearly as hardheaded as I am.”
Uncle Ned had come over to make sure I wasn’t being interrogated I suspect and he said, “Now that’s saying something right there. Sugar …”
“I know Uncle Ned. Just please try and do what you can and make sure Uncle Mark uses some sense and lets the Aunts fuss over him a bit even though I know it kinda makes him sad and regretful about what he doesn’t have.” When both men looked at me with surprise I said, “Just because I didn’t grow up in the middle of a big family doesn’t mean I didn’t watch from the outside looking in. He is so foul at females because he misses Davis’ mother even after what she was going to do to him.”
“How’d you figure that out? He never talks about it far as I know.”
“Listening. Putting two and two together. Fact that he is the only Uncle of his age that there’s no Aunt attached to and finding out they were just getting back together and starting to live together again when she got sick and then died so fast. There wasn’t time to … to fix the hurt and learn to trust again. How he’s raised Davis traying to fix things for him and make him stronger … only not always until lately having it quite work out the way he meant it to. Just … just look after him. He’s a smart man. Maybe too smart sometimes. And knows how awful mean people can be. But I think this thing with Bud has him upset because of how easy Bud led some of the cousins off yet again. And someone needs to keep an eye on Jamison too. He’s appears to be feeling so guilty at this point he might just throw himself on a sword for the family and he’s got a wife and kids that he needs to think of first.”
I turned away and started to rake up persimmons and the other two men finally walked away, having to get back to what needed doing on their end.
I loaded six bushel-baskets of persimmons on my sled and was grateful that the going was down hill as I took them back to the house. Got there just in time to see Linda ride off.
“Kay-Lee, tell me you ain’t going to hide in the bushes for much longer.”
I pulled the sled out and over to the porch. “I wasn’t hiding. Exactly.”
Barbara snorted. “You were avoiding Linda having a drama moment.”
I sighed. “Pretty much.”
“Are you still angry at them?”
“Not … really. But I’m too tired to deal with it right now. I don’t know if I could keep my teeth together over the way she made me feel. I’m going to slide these inside and …”
“Kay-Lee …”
“You say it like it is going to change things.”
She shook her head. “Guess not but at least drink some broth and tell me what has been happening before you go back out.”
While I put the baskets on the porch and then drug them into the kitchen I explained about the pigs and Bud and the rest of the soap opera. Then I asked, “No one upset you did they?”
“Not really. Got a message from my sister by way of Linda’s mother.”
That made me stop and look at her closely. “Good news or bad?”
“The family got permission to move out to my uncle’s property. He’s gonna be in jail for more than a few years since he wouldn’t take the draft option. My sister’s husband would have but he didn’t pass the physical. He lost a couple of toes in an accident when he was a kid and for whatever reason, it’s the wrong toes or something. The land is out in Idaho. They had to sell the farm here to pay for the emigration permits and supplies to make the move … that area isn’t accepting residents unless they come self-sufficient for a minimum of twelve months. I don’t know who they sold the farm to except they aren’t from this area originally. Only other thing she said was that she was sorry that they couldn’t ask me, but they didn’t have any more money for another permit but maybe I could bring my money and buy in, help the family out, and smooth things over, then I could come out later … maybe … with Huely. Like that would happen before Hades flooded and froze over.”
“Uh … what money?”
She snorted. “That was more than likely her husband trying to see if I had any. She didn’t ask about the baby or anything, just checking to see if I had any money to help them out with the move.”
“Um …”
“No. Even if I had money like they think, I’m not leaving. I love ‘em but it’ll be better off one of those ‘from afar’ type loves I think. Not even my parents asked … about anything.”
I could see she was getting upset, or was still upset and had started to have trouble hiding it. “Maybe they’ll get some clarity ‘from afar” too,” I said. “Sometimes that is just how it is,” I added, thinking that was how it might have to be for me and most of the Hartfords. I’d do what I could for Sawyer’s sake, but I wasn’t ready to commit to anything else, not even for the sake of the way things used to be with certain people.
“You need to rest,” I told her.”
“You looked in the mirror lately?”
I could have answered in several different ways, but they all made me sound pathetic and wanting attention I didn’t actually need and would just bring problems.
“Fine, be that way,” she said with an understanding look that was nearly my undoing. “I … I do need to lay down for a bit.”
“I’ll take Jolene in the pack.”
“No need. She woke up while they had Davis here. Linda was upset when Jolene wouldn’t come to her. And weren’t they surprised when she stood up in the playpen and said, ‘Bay-biss. Be good o’ no tookie.’ It broke the tension and everyone was surprised at how Uncle Mark laughed. And then he grimaced and nearly doubled over. I think he might be bruised up more than he wanted to admit.”
“Probably,” I said with an eye roll. “But that’s a Hartford male for you and that particular Hartford male can be about twice as cranky as the rest of them put together.” I grabbed a couple more empty bushel-baskets and said regretfully, “We better make the most of what I bring in tonight. I thought we’d have more time but we’re about to get a frost, but I don’t think it is going to be a hard freeze. At least not for a few days. It’ll get cold enough that it will trim back all but the hardiest of greens. Before you lay down can you fill a large boiler with water? I’ll just keep dumping whatever greens I can cut along with the persimmons and acorns in the pot and then I’ll set them to simmer when I collect Burt and bring him back.”
“You think he will be okay?”
“With what he saw tonight?” At her nod I answered, “After what he saw the night Burt Sr. was killed this might just close that circle. He’s worried about you you know.”
“What?”
“He sees you, and sees Delly and what happened with her. I see … I see you are under a lot of stress too. And I can’t keep it all from you.”
She shook her head. “I knew something was going on. Kay-Lee I’m a lot younger than Delly was. And in a lot better shape than she was. I’m tired and yeah, I’m stressed but I’ve been keeping an eye on my blood pressure.”
“Promise?” I asked and hated how pathetic I sounded.
“Promise. I’m raising this baby. You won’t have to.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“I know. But it amounts to the same thing. Delly could have taken better care of herself. She and Burt Sr. could have shared the load of what was going on in their lives better. You’ll see. Now stop worrying about it before I start worrying about you. Maybe with the cold weather our workload will … well not slow down but at least mean you don’t have to go out nearly every night.”
“Maybe.”
“Hopefully?”
“Yeah, hopefully.”
And it was time for me to limp my way back out into the night. There was lots still to do. And bravado was only going to get me so far.
It took me a moment but I finally located my rake in the dark. The stack of bushel baskets was even harder to find as it had rolled to the back of the forsythia and looked like an overturned log half covered by the Autumn leaves that were crunching under my feet. Uncle Ned was correct as usual when it came to natural things including weather changes. The temperature was dropping, and I prayed that if God intended on it getting much colder he’d stop it before it actually froze.
I walked over to the persimmon trees that had been out of reach of the stupid hogs and had to goose a couple of the cousins to get them out of my way. “Do you mind?”
“Kay-Lee, you can’t move pigs with a rake.”
I snorted, probably sounding about like a pig at that point. “The pigs are y’alls to mess with. What you are about to trample is mine.”
Uncle Ned chuckled then asked, “Watcha gonna do with all these persimmons Sugar?”
Not in the mood to be overly nice about it I answered, “Feed us as long as we can get by. Assuming people don’t squish them all. Doggone pigs … and I mean the hogs, not the cousins … have already trampled too many and have likely killed a quarter of the grove which means even less next year. I don’t know how I’m going to explain this to Sawyer.”
The last might have been taken wrong by some but Uncle Ned said, “Sugar, Sawyer isn’t the kind to get mad over this.”
“He won’t be mad at me. He’ll wind up getting mad at himself for not being here even though he couldn’t be. I’m already worried that …” I tried not to sigh where anyone could hear me. “We’ll get by. I won’t let it be any other way. Sawyer left me in charge to take care of things and Huely asked me to take care of Barbara and that’s just the way it is going to happen. Bud can kiss pig butt from now to eternity. His evil is not going to win. Just get out of my way, I’ve got work to do. And y’all do too so git,” I told the knotheads that were still in my way. “Uncle Ned? We can’t feed any live ones. And try and talk them out of turning them loose on the Ridge for later use. I can’t afford to run up on one that has gone feral, I don’t want Burt to get caught by one either, and Barbara surely don’t need the danger if one comes into the homesite looking to get into what little bit we have. The blasted bear was bad enough.”
“Bear?!”
“Yes Sir. It was after the last of the apples where the Harvesters hadn’t cleaned up the falls yet.”
“They didn’t even leave you any falls?” he said outraged on my behalf … and trying to impress some knowledge on any of the Cousins that might still have wrongheaded ideas.
“No Sir. I don’t know what they were like at other places but here they were … thorough. They even took off any bruised fruit to feed the stock animals in town or the animals used by the National Guard compound. The only thing I can say for certain is they gave me a paper that says the property taxes are paid in full as a result. Has the raised seal and everything so I have to trust they aren’t forgeries.”
“I’ll be having a talk with Mark later but for now, if you don’t want live ‘uns what do you want?”
“Some meat I can raw pack in a jar and process. Any of the bones that can be spared that I can boil for broth. I wouldn’t say no to a couple of hams and shoulders either, but I understand that can’t happen until they are cured. Maybe some hog jowl that we can put aside for when Saywer and Huely come back. They’ll need meat.”
“And you don’t?” Uncle Ned asked in exasperation … not at me but some of the cousins that were still milling about like they’d lost their brains at some point in the last few hours and couldn’t figure out how to operate without someone standing over them with a flaming whip and chair and a long list of instructions.
After watching Uncle Ned threatening to kick a couple of the youngest of the cousins in the backside for having to be told what to do, their older brothers finally did the job of taking them in hand and putting them to hard labor to save their heads from being banged together by the uncles who were getting irritated by them.
“Kay-Lee …”
I sighed thinking I had been hoping not to have another Uncle up in arms. I turned to Uncle Carl and said, “Yes Sir?”
He was going to say something then stopped and sighed as well. “I can’t ask you to stop. I wish I could but … I cain’t. It is going to take all of us to get them hogs slaughtered. Uncle Ned and I will see what can be held back for you. Mark will have a thing or three to say about it also. It’ll be more than what little bit you asked for, but it might not be much more.” He shook his head sorrowfully. “Dump has had words with a lot people in the family. I want you to know she never did think … well what some have thought.” Looking embarrassed as only a man can he started to say, “I …”
“Uncle Carl just let it go. I don’t mean to be nasty about it but … I just don’t have the energy to get all emotional. The kids have needed feeding and Barbara doesn’t always have good days. There are days I’m scared that … that the same thing that stole Delly from us could take Barbara. I make her rest as much as possible, sit with her feet propped up, but she won’t, and I quote, let me turn her completely useless.” I gave a small smile. “She’s nearly as hardheaded as I am.”
Uncle Ned had come over to make sure I wasn’t being interrogated I suspect and he said, “Now that’s saying something right there. Sugar …”
“I know Uncle Ned. Just please try and do what you can and make sure Uncle Mark uses some sense and lets the Aunts fuss over him a bit even though I know it kinda makes him sad and regretful about what he doesn’t have.” When both men looked at me with surprise I said, “Just because I didn’t grow up in the middle of a big family doesn’t mean I didn’t watch from the outside looking in. He is so foul at females because he misses Davis’ mother even after what she was going to do to him.”
“How’d you figure that out? He never talks about it far as I know.”
“Listening. Putting two and two together. Fact that he is the only Uncle of his age that there’s no Aunt attached to and finding out they were just getting back together and starting to live together again when she got sick and then died so fast. There wasn’t time to … to fix the hurt and learn to trust again. How he’s raised Davis traying to fix things for him and make him stronger … only not always until lately having it quite work out the way he meant it to. Just … just look after him. He’s a smart man. Maybe too smart sometimes. And knows how awful mean people can be. But I think this thing with Bud has him upset because of how easy Bud led some of the cousins off yet again. And someone needs to keep an eye on Jamison too. He’s appears to be feeling so guilty at this point he might just throw himself on a sword for the family and he’s got a wife and kids that he needs to think of first.”
I turned away and started to rake up persimmons and the other two men finally walked away, having to get back to what needed doing on their end.
I loaded six bushel-baskets of persimmons on my sled and was grateful that the going was down hill as I took them back to the house. Got there just in time to see Linda ride off.
“Kay-Lee, tell me you ain’t going to hide in the bushes for much longer.”
I pulled the sled out and over to the porch. “I wasn’t hiding. Exactly.”
Barbara snorted. “You were avoiding Linda having a drama moment.”
I sighed. “Pretty much.”
“Are you still angry at them?”
“Not … really. But I’m too tired to deal with it right now. I don’t know if I could keep my teeth together over the way she made me feel. I’m going to slide these inside and …”
“Kay-Lee …”
“You say it like it is going to change things.”
She shook her head. “Guess not but at least drink some broth and tell me what has been happening before you go back out.”
While I put the baskets on the porch and then drug them into the kitchen I explained about the pigs and Bud and the rest of the soap opera. Then I asked, “No one upset you did they?”
“Not really. Got a message from my sister by way of Linda’s mother.”
That made me stop and look at her closely. “Good news or bad?”
“The family got permission to move out to my uncle’s property. He’s gonna be in jail for more than a few years since he wouldn’t take the draft option. My sister’s husband would have but he didn’t pass the physical. He lost a couple of toes in an accident when he was a kid and for whatever reason, it’s the wrong toes or something. The land is out in Idaho. They had to sell the farm here to pay for the emigration permits and supplies to make the move … that area isn’t accepting residents unless they come self-sufficient for a minimum of twelve months. I don’t know who they sold the farm to except they aren’t from this area originally. Only other thing she said was that she was sorry that they couldn’t ask me, but they didn’t have any more money for another permit but maybe I could bring my money and buy in, help the family out, and smooth things over, then I could come out later … maybe … with Huely. Like that would happen before Hades flooded and froze over.”
“Uh … what money?”
She snorted. “That was more than likely her husband trying to see if I had any. She didn’t ask about the baby or anything, just checking to see if I had any money to help them out with the move.”
“Um …”
“No. Even if I had money like they think, I’m not leaving. I love ‘em but it’ll be better off one of those ‘from afar’ type loves I think. Not even my parents asked … about anything.”
I could see she was getting upset, or was still upset and had started to have trouble hiding it. “Maybe they’ll get some clarity ‘from afar” too,” I said. “Sometimes that is just how it is,” I added, thinking that was how it might have to be for me and most of the Hartfords. I’d do what I could for Sawyer’s sake, but I wasn’t ready to commit to anything else, not even for the sake of the way things used to be with certain people.
“You need to rest,” I told her.”
“You looked in the mirror lately?”
I could have answered in several different ways, but they all made me sound pathetic and wanting attention I didn’t actually need and would just bring problems.
“Fine, be that way,” she said with an understanding look that was nearly my undoing. “I … I do need to lay down for a bit.”
“I’ll take Jolene in the pack.”
“No need. She woke up while they had Davis here. Linda was upset when Jolene wouldn’t come to her. And weren’t they surprised when she stood up in the playpen and said, ‘Bay-biss. Be good o’ no tookie.’ It broke the tension and everyone was surprised at how Uncle Mark laughed. And then he grimaced and nearly doubled over. I think he might be bruised up more than he wanted to admit.”
“Probably,” I said with an eye roll. “But that’s a Hartford male for you and that particular Hartford male can be about twice as cranky as the rest of them put together.” I grabbed a couple more empty bushel-baskets and said regretfully, “We better make the most of what I bring in tonight. I thought we’d have more time but we’re about to get a frost, but I don’t think it is going to be a hard freeze. At least not for a few days. It’ll get cold enough that it will trim back all but the hardiest of greens. Before you lay down can you fill a large boiler with water? I’ll just keep dumping whatever greens I can cut along with the persimmons and acorns in the pot and then I’ll set them to simmer when I collect Burt and bring him back.”
“You think he will be okay?”
“With what he saw tonight?” At her nod I answered, “After what he saw the night Burt Sr. was killed this might just close that circle. He’s worried about you you know.”
“What?”
“He sees you, and sees Delly and what happened with her. I see … I see you are under a lot of stress too. And I can’t keep it all from you.”
She shook her head. “I knew something was going on. Kay-Lee I’m a lot younger than Delly was. And in a lot better shape than she was. I’m tired and yeah, I’m stressed but I’ve been keeping an eye on my blood pressure.”
“Promise?” I asked and hated how pathetic I sounded.
“Promise. I’m raising this baby. You won’t have to.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“I know. But it amounts to the same thing. Delly could have taken better care of herself. She and Burt Sr. could have shared the load of what was going on in their lives better. You’ll see. Now stop worrying about it before I start worrying about you. Maybe with the cold weather our workload will … well not slow down but at least mean you don’t have to go out nearly every night.”
“Maybe.”
“Hopefully?”
“Yeah, hopefully.”
And it was time for me to limp my way back out into the night. There was lots still to do. And bravado was only going to get me so far.
Jeepcats27
Senior Member
Another Great chapter!!!!!!
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
JOY, JOY, Thank you. After pulling rhubarb on our 2 patches it is nice to sit down and read. 
Wonderful chapter, Kathy; thank you!!
It just amazes me sometimes how stupid people can be - only seeing the big things - pigs - and not paying attention to the largess under their feet - persimmons. All too willing to take what they want; not thinking a thing about who else might need it.
It just amazes me sometimes how stupid people can be - only seeing the big things - pigs - and not paying attention to the largess under their feet - persimmons. All too willing to take what they want; not thinking a thing about who else might need it.
Chapter 124
I was so tired. Pulling the bushel-basket of acorns made me hurt in places that had me running through all the options that Dr. Carruthers had given me. Which one could I use that would mean I wouldn’t have to use any of the others which would in turn mean that there would be one of them there for the next time I hurt.
“I got it Aunt Kay-Lee.”
I struggled to stand. “Burt. You look three-quarters frozen.”
“Just about,” he admitted. “Guess what?”
“I’m not sure I want to know what you have likely gotten up to or into this time,” I said giving him the eye but in such a way as he knew I was grateful for his help and worried about him at the same time.
He grinned. “Hobs and I found a stash.”
“A what? And who is Hobs?”
“Hobs is the other guy, you know, the one that is my age. It is what we came up with to stay out of hot water with his adults. Guess what he calls me.”
“I’m honestly afraid to.”
He grinned. “Ridge. Hobs and Ridge. Isn’t that cool?”
“Cooler than I ever had in school.”
He nodded. “And the stash is a still.”
“A what?!”
“A still. And Uncle Ned said he thinks that might be how Bud was getting along without having a paying job. But he had a funny look on his face too when he looked at some other stuff that was back in the alcove where the still was.”
“Is it still cooking?”
“Huh?”
Uncle Ned walked up. He answered the question that Burt couldn’t. “No. Looks like the last run had been pulled off a few days back. Might be how Bud got caught. Could be he was runnin’ some shine some place and got caught betwixt and between. National Guard might have suspected somethin’ … and there you go.”
I looked at Burt and asked, “I know you are tired but do you mind grabbing those last two bushels of acorns and sliding them on the sled for me? I’m about done in.”
“Yes’m,” he answered like he’d just gotten his second wind.
I turned back to Uncle Ned who said, “You about to ask about Bud.”
“Not ‘cause I really want to know.”
“I’d feel the same way if it wasn’t for Forrester.” He shook his head sorrowfully. “Never would have thought it of him. They boy just couldn’t fight his mother’s people I reckon.”
“His mother’s people?”
“Some of the jars had their mark on ‘em.”
Trying to tippy toe through the mine field I said, “You mean it is like some kind of signature that it was made by a particular person? Maybe they were old jars.” I had no idea why I was trying to make excuses for someone that threatened … never mind.
“Marks on the jars aren’t the only thing I seen. I recognized a coat and some boots and bed roll. Dud – Bud’s grandfather on his momma’s side – was seen around here for a few months, even came trying to look me up though after … never mind, let’s leave it he wasn’t one of the good ‘uns more than half the time. He drank as much as he sold, and he wasn’t averse to selling pie-son rot gut if he was hard up. Now I hear tell he’s missing. Not even his sister knows where he is ‘cause their preacher came out asking if I’d seen or heard from him. I’m thinking Bud might know but … I ain’t gonna be the one to ask him. Don’t want to know if you want the truth.”
Reading between the lines I just nodded.
“As for Bud … he’s gonna get sent overseas. Don’t know which theater yet.” That I didn’t understand so he explained it. “We’re leaving it to God to decide his fate. He’ll have the same chances as any draftee at this point. It’s what happens to most troublemakers that come out of interrogation. And he run off and is considered AWOL, we got that much out of him then had to tape his mouth shut again as he was baiting the others too much. If we don’t send him off and the Guard catch ‘im, he’ll wind up on one of the prison barges down in the Gulf. At least this way he has a chance to change his ways before … God decides for him one way or the other.”
“I know you aren’t willing if you get drafted but his is … uh …”
“He won’t be a draftee. He’ll be what amounts to a civilian contractor, but it will be in a zone that he either follows the rules of his commander or he’ll be on his own and will be marked an enemy combatant or something sounding like that. If he falls in line and follows orders, he’ll have some protection … if he chooses the other road …” He shook his head. “Either way, he’ll be too busy surviving to stay on the path he has been on.”
“And afterwards? If he comes back to this area?”
When he hesitated I suspected the family was unwilling to take things further. Uncle Ned confirmed it when he said, “Wish I could give you the answers you’re looking for. This is as much as anyone could agree to.”
“They still believe Bud,” I said in resignation.
“Not really Sugar. They just don’t know how to untangle what they do believe. It is a bitter pill for them to swallow.”
I shrugged. “They should try it from my side some time. Oh well. They better just keep themselves to themselves. And figure out how to keep Sawyer from hearing their opinions until things calm down. I don’t want Sawyer to suffer any more than he is and will already. He never would have done their wives the way they’ve done Barbara and me. I’ll do what I can to help, but whatever plan that Gramps had thought to make for the family? Sawyer might not fall in line anymore. Support goes both ways. I wasn’t the one to tell him how things stand … apparently last time he was home some of them let slip some things that he wasn’t happy about. I know he kept some of it from me but even a blind man could see how disgusted he was.”
“Aunt Kay-Lee? I have the baskets loaded.
I turned and asked, “You outta steam yet? Need a ride?”
He looked offended until he figured out I was playing with him. He looked at Uncle Ned. “Didja tell her?”
“No. We was speaking on other things.”
“Oh. Bud.” He made a face. “I reckon he’ll be okay Aunt Kay-Lee. Bud is like Ol’ Mr. Barsted’s barn cat. Never mattered how far he fell, he always landed on his feet.” As I knew Mr. Barsted to be from a family that had lived over near the Penny land I just nodded. Burt rarely talks about the time before Jolene was born. When he does I let him but didn’t make a stink about whatever it was, good or bad.
“Go on ahead boy before your hair catches fire.”
Burt grinned hugely. “Hobs knew what that stuff was because his people run stuff with it … like tractors and things. I figured a trade and instead of them taking a finder’s fee out of the bags of corn to feed their biodiesel set up with, we’ll get all the corn and they can have that stuff from the still already made.” His new friend “Hobs” called him over to confab on something and I turned to Uncle Ned.
“Is it a good trade?”
“As such things go. Everyone gets some of what they need and make concessions in other areas.”
“Meaning the family needs the corn?”
“Do, but we’ve decided we ain’t lettin’ the boys take all of it. Not even most of it. And whether they know it yet or not, they aren’t feeding it into the still we already got set up for that purpose. It’s gonna get ground into meal for food and if there is any left, it will be cracked to keep the animals fed until Spring. We’re done listening to them moan and groan about cars and trucks and the rest of it. Ain’t no place they need to be that they can’t walk to, especially once they hear about the new taxes on biodiesel. They’s daddies are done having them traipse all over looking for trouble to get into. They’ll either fall in line and help prep for what we ain’t gonna have much of come planting season … or they’s gonna find themselves cut off. A few of ‘em might just find they selves cut off sooner than that if they don’t knock it off. O’ ‘course nature may take care of some of it.”
“Nature?”
He chuckled. “Some are about to find out they’s gonna have to pay the piper for the bed they’ve made.”
“Uh …”
He just chuckled some more. “Ya play ya pay sooner or later and some of them girls are startin’ to glow.”
“Oh brother. They’re going to be running around like a chicken with their head cut off.”
“You’ll get your turn.”
“Will I?” I said, not really meaning for the question to come out. To cover my thoughts I shrugged and said, “I’ll leave it up to God but it sure isn’t anything I have to worry about right now.”
It was about that time that a funny looking buggy … a cross between a dune buggy and a golf cart … pulled up. It was also part dump truck as a guy got out and pulled a lever and several large feed bags slid to the ground. The man said to Uncle Ned, “These are yours. We’ll take the other off your hands.” Then he gave a nod of some sort of message and Uncle Ned gave a nod of acknowledgment back.
When the man got back in the buggy and took off I asked, “Uncle Ned?”
“They already knew where the house was. The other bags of corn is in the bushes near the barn. It will take you and the boy both to move ‘em into the barn but they’ll be well enough there until you can find containers to bring it inside. Be easier to clean it out there anyway. Wouldn’t leave ‘em for long. Air feels damp.”
I sighed. “That’s all we need.”
“Some will be saying thanks for it. Water barrels are gettin’ low and not everyone has a workin’ hand pump. And even if they does, the water might not be sweet drinkin’ water.”
There is that message from Sawyer again … good drinking water is valuable.
One of the younger cousins jogged up and told Uncle Ned, “First one is finished and being divided up. Second one is already started. Uncle Ben says we need to set up at least two more work areas or we’ll never get them all finished. Them other people said they can send hands but no equipment. Some of the aunts and wives are coming to help do the small work so the men can do the heavy work.”
He jogged back the way he’d come and Burt came dragging over. “Hobs had to go back with his people.”
“Might be another time … but we’ll have to be careful no one gets in trouble.”
“Really?” Burt asked hopefully.
“I’m … not against it. But his people have to be agreeable and so does your uncle when he comes home. Unfortunately …”
“This isn’t a playground. Hobs and I talked it out. Even if we don’t get to see each other maybe we can be friends other ways like leaving signs and stuff. That could be cool too.”
I was too tired to impress how careful he would have to be and not be disappointed just in case. I turned back to Uncle Ned but he shook his head. “Go on back to the house Sugar. Ain’t nothin’ you can do. We’ll brung ya some fresh soon as we have it to bring.”
I was so tired. Pulling the bushel-basket of acorns made me hurt in places that had me running through all the options that Dr. Carruthers had given me. Which one could I use that would mean I wouldn’t have to use any of the others which would in turn mean that there would be one of them there for the next time I hurt.
“I got it Aunt Kay-Lee.”
I struggled to stand. “Burt. You look three-quarters frozen.”
“Just about,” he admitted. “Guess what?”
“I’m not sure I want to know what you have likely gotten up to or into this time,” I said giving him the eye but in such a way as he knew I was grateful for his help and worried about him at the same time.
He grinned. “Hobs and I found a stash.”
“A what? And who is Hobs?”
“Hobs is the other guy, you know, the one that is my age. It is what we came up with to stay out of hot water with his adults. Guess what he calls me.”
“I’m honestly afraid to.”
He grinned. “Ridge. Hobs and Ridge. Isn’t that cool?”
“Cooler than I ever had in school.”
He nodded. “And the stash is a still.”
“A what?!”
“A still. And Uncle Ned said he thinks that might be how Bud was getting along without having a paying job. But he had a funny look on his face too when he looked at some other stuff that was back in the alcove where the still was.”
“Is it still cooking?”
“Huh?”
Uncle Ned walked up. He answered the question that Burt couldn’t. “No. Looks like the last run had been pulled off a few days back. Might be how Bud got caught. Could be he was runnin’ some shine some place and got caught betwixt and between. National Guard might have suspected somethin’ … and there you go.”
I looked at Burt and asked, “I know you are tired but do you mind grabbing those last two bushels of acorns and sliding them on the sled for me? I’m about done in.”
“Yes’m,” he answered like he’d just gotten his second wind.
I turned back to Uncle Ned who said, “You about to ask about Bud.”
“Not ‘cause I really want to know.”
“I’d feel the same way if it wasn’t for Forrester.” He shook his head sorrowfully. “Never would have thought it of him. They boy just couldn’t fight his mother’s people I reckon.”
“His mother’s people?”
“Some of the jars had their mark on ‘em.”
Trying to tippy toe through the mine field I said, “You mean it is like some kind of signature that it was made by a particular person? Maybe they were old jars.” I had no idea why I was trying to make excuses for someone that threatened … never mind.
“Marks on the jars aren’t the only thing I seen. I recognized a coat and some boots and bed roll. Dud – Bud’s grandfather on his momma’s side – was seen around here for a few months, even came trying to look me up though after … never mind, let’s leave it he wasn’t one of the good ‘uns more than half the time. He drank as much as he sold, and he wasn’t averse to selling pie-son rot gut if he was hard up. Now I hear tell he’s missing. Not even his sister knows where he is ‘cause their preacher came out asking if I’d seen or heard from him. I’m thinking Bud might know but … I ain’t gonna be the one to ask him. Don’t want to know if you want the truth.”
Reading between the lines I just nodded.
“As for Bud … he’s gonna get sent overseas. Don’t know which theater yet.” That I didn’t understand so he explained it. “We’re leaving it to God to decide his fate. He’ll have the same chances as any draftee at this point. It’s what happens to most troublemakers that come out of interrogation. And he run off and is considered AWOL, we got that much out of him then had to tape his mouth shut again as he was baiting the others too much. If we don’t send him off and the Guard catch ‘im, he’ll wind up on one of the prison barges down in the Gulf. At least this way he has a chance to change his ways before … God decides for him one way or the other.”
“I know you aren’t willing if you get drafted but his is … uh …”
“He won’t be a draftee. He’ll be what amounts to a civilian contractor, but it will be in a zone that he either follows the rules of his commander or he’ll be on his own and will be marked an enemy combatant or something sounding like that. If he falls in line and follows orders, he’ll have some protection … if he chooses the other road …” He shook his head. “Either way, he’ll be too busy surviving to stay on the path he has been on.”
“And afterwards? If he comes back to this area?”
When he hesitated I suspected the family was unwilling to take things further. Uncle Ned confirmed it when he said, “Wish I could give you the answers you’re looking for. This is as much as anyone could agree to.”
“They still believe Bud,” I said in resignation.
“Not really Sugar. They just don’t know how to untangle what they do believe. It is a bitter pill for them to swallow.”
I shrugged. “They should try it from my side some time. Oh well. They better just keep themselves to themselves. And figure out how to keep Sawyer from hearing their opinions until things calm down. I don’t want Sawyer to suffer any more than he is and will already. He never would have done their wives the way they’ve done Barbara and me. I’ll do what I can to help, but whatever plan that Gramps had thought to make for the family? Sawyer might not fall in line anymore. Support goes both ways. I wasn’t the one to tell him how things stand … apparently last time he was home some of them let slip some things that he wasn’t happy about. I know he kept some of it from me but even a blind man could see how disgusted he was.”
“Aunt Kay-Lee? I have the baskets loaded.
I turned and asked, “You outta steam yet? Need a ride?”
He looked offended until he figured out I was playing with him. He looked at Uncle Ned. “Didja tell her?”
“No. We was speaking on other things.”
“Oh. Bud.” He made a face. “I reckon he’ll be okay Aunt Kay-Lee. Bud is like Ol’ Mr. Barsted’s barn cat. Never mattered how far he fell, he always landed on his feet.” As I knew Mr. Barsted to be from a family that had lived over near the Penny land I just nodded. Burt rarely talks about the time before Jolene was born. When he does I let him but didn’t make a stink about whatever it was, good or bad.
“Go on ahead boy before your hair catches fire.”
Burt grinned hugely. “Hobs knew what that stuff was because his people run stuff with it … like tractors and things. I figured a trade and instead of them taking a finder’s fee out of the bags of corn to feed their biodiesel set up with, we’ll get all the corn and they can have that stuff from the still already made.” His new friend “Hobs” called him over to confab on something and I turned to Uncle Ned.
“Is it a good trade?”
“As such things go. Everyone gets some of what they need and make concessions in other areas.”
“Meaning the family needs the corn?”
“Do, but we’ve decided we ain’t lettin’ the boys take all of it. Not even most of it. And whether they know it yet or not, they aren’t feeding it into the still we already got set up for that purpose. It’s gonna get ground into meal for food and if there is any left, it will be cracked to keep the animals fed until Spring. We’re done listening to them moan and groan about cars and trucks and the rest of it. Ain’t no place they need to be that they can’t walk to, especially once they hear about the new taxes on biodiesel. They’s daddies are done having them traipse all over looking for trouble to get into. They’ll either fall in line and help prep for what we ain’t gonna have much of come planting season … or they’s gonna find themselves cut off. A few of ‘em might just find they selves cut off sooner than that if they don’t knock it off. O’ ‘course nature may take care of some of it.”
“Nature?”
He chuckled. “Some are about to find out they’s gonna have to pay the piper for the bed they’ve made.”
“Uh …”
He just chuckled some more. “Ya play ya pay sooner or later and some of them girls are startin’ to glow.”
“Oh brother. They’re going to be running around like a chicken with their head cut off.”
“You’ll get your turn.”
“Will I?” I said, not really meaning for the question to come out. To cover my thoughts I shrugged and said, “I’ll leave it up to God but it sure isn’t anything I have to worry about right now.”
It was about that time that a funny looking buggy … a cross between a dune buggy and a golf cart … pulled up. It was also part dump truck as a guy got out and pulled a lever and several large feed bags slid to the ground. The man said to Uncle Ned, “These are yours. We’ll take the other off your hands.” Then he gave a nod of some sort of message and Uncle Ned gave a nod of acknowledgment back.
When the man got back in the buggy and took off I asked, “Uncle Ned?”
“They already knew where the house was. The other bags of corn is in the bushes near the barn. It will take you and the boy both to move ‘em into the barn but they’ll be well enough there until you can find containers to bring it inside. Be easier to clean it out there anyway. Wouldn’t leave ‘em for long. Air feels damp.”
I sighed. “That’s all we need.”
“Some will be saying thanks for it. Water barrels are gettin’ low and not everyone has a workin’ hand pump. And even if they does, the water might not be sweet drinkin’ water.”
There is that message from Sawyer again … good drinking water is valuable.
One of the younger cousins jogged up and told Uncle Ned, “First one is finished and being divided up. Second one is already started. Uncle Ben says we need to set up at least two more work areas or we’ll never get them all finished. Them other people said they can send hands but no equipment. Some of the aunts and wives are coming to help do the small work so the men can do the heavy work.”
He jogged back the way he’d come and Burt came dragging over. “Hobs had to go back with his people.”
“Might be another time … but we’ll have to be careful no one gets in trouble.”
“Really?” Burt asked hopefully.
“I’m … not against it. But his people have to be agreeable and so does your uncle when he comes home. Unfortunately …”
“This isn’t a playground. Hobs and I talked it out. Even if we don’t get to see each other maybe we can be friends other ways like leaving signs and stuff. That could be cool too.”
I was too tired to impress how careful he would have to be and not be disappointed just in case. I turned back to Uncle Ned but he shook his head. “Go on back to the house Sugar. Ain’t nothin’ you can do. We’ll brung ya some fresh soon as we have it to bring.”
I will continue to add to the stories in progress like Hartford and Gus, as well as editing MJOTZY but I am also getting a little wiggy about the stuff I have at FF and FP. Found another corrupted story file over there and I am worried about losing things. I am going to be moving all my stories here (except for maybe the CSI ones that don't particularly fit here). That is going to take some work and time because there are several stories that no one has seen like Coralie and a few others. As soon as I get them here, I will create a post with all of the stories in alphabetical order. I'll try and not repeat that too much. LOL
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Much thanks to you.
One of the reasons I enjoy your stories so much is that you think differently than I do. Always some twist or alley you go down I would never have thought of. Thank you so much for giving us some closure with the tension on this story while opening up new areas to explore when you are ready to write more here. Happy Fourth of July to you and your family!
Old Gray Mare
TB Fanatic
Mother Hen one of the many reasons I like your stories is because they seem to start with the premise Robert A. Heinlein used with his stories. To paraphrase: "If things keep going the way they have been...". Unlike many of his stories your main characters can be flawed and maybe slightly broken. It makes them more relatable and the scenarios that much more plausible.
223shootersc
Veteran Member
Ms. Kathy thanks for the fine writing!
Chapter 125
“You better wake her up or else. Wouldn’t you want to be?”
“She … she looks so … frail.”
Barbara said, “You don’t exactly look like sunshine and roses.”
“Barbara …”
Barbara snorted but with more understanding in her voice she said, “She’s strong but she’s tired. A lot has been going on the last few weeks. And the cold weather has been awful for her. She had to take something stronger than she normally does and I think it hit her harder than she expected. That woman friend of yours hasn’t made things any easier.”
“What woman friend?” I heard real puzzlement in the tone.
“That Mizz Groff.”
“What the …? What has Groff been doing coming here? She was only supposed to come ‘round the one time.”
“I think Kay-Lee has been pumping her for information on what is going on out in the world in exchange for filling their drinking water. And trying to find out how Huely and you were doing. When she found out the two of you were going to be sent home on sick leave due to damages sustained in battle … and then when that Groff woman didn’t come back with more information like she promised … she’s barely slept Sawyer. Barely ate and would only do that to keep the painkillers but tearing her stomach up worse than they already did. Then after hearing about Dr. C …” I could hear Barbara sigh. “You know you’re the only one she really listens to. She may have been born a Baffa but I swear she is as stubborn as any Hartford ever born and is even a match for Uncle Mark. And if you don’t believe me, ask Uncle Ned.”
“Gawd. She’s so … so … pale.” The guy sounded stricken with grief or something that my brain was having trouble puzzling out.
“Just wake her up if you can. Prove you’re here. I’m going to go back to Huely before he takes it into his head to try and get up. Burt and I will cover things while everyone rests for a while. I’ll keep the kids quiet if I can. Burt will take Jolene down to the basement once the sun starts to set. It stays warmer down there than up here. Why she insisted on napping up here in y’alls room I can’t even guess. Lay down with her at least. Pull the extra quilt over you.”
“I’m fine.”
“Maybe. But you need to be with Kay-Lee and try and do something with her before the family descends on you to put you back to work. They all seemed to think you’ve been on some kind of vacation or something, that you’ve been eating three squares of good food and just fooling around with trucks and stuff. Or our knotheaded cousins do. Most of ‘em. Davis doesn’t. Cutter has gotten into with some of them over it from what we’ve heard. And Jamison is wandering around looking like a ghost. When you start taking care of business, start with him. The guilt is eating him alive. He finally got a job working at the Depot over near the National Guard outpost. Tommy says he sends everything to his wife and kids and only eats what he can hunt or earn some other way. He’s looking bad and about the only time he gets any color in his face is when he comes over here to chop wood. He irritated Kay-Lee so much by refusing to at least drink some green broth that she lost her temper and pitched the broom at him. I swear it is the only time in months I’ve seen him smile. But he still won’t turn loose of the guilt. And most of the family are letting him bear a burden that isn’t all his to bear. Mostly the uncles are going to expect you to step back up. And most of the others are going to expect you to have brought them some presents.”
“They can expect all they want; don’t mean they are going to get jack crap. In particular the ones that were in cahoots with Bud. And Bud better be glad he was already at death’s door ‘cause I sure as hell would have sent them there after Huely got what has been going on around here out of him.”
A little hesitantly Barbara asked, “Is Bud really dead?”
I heard a deep sigh. “Yeah. Dumbass even died being called a hero even though he didn’t run over the IED on purpose to save all those men. He was trying to go AWOL in the middle of battle. Coward.”
“That’s going to complicate things.”
“No. It won’t. The truth is going to come out and I’ve got an unredacted copy of the report to prove it. I would have let him have the glory until some of the things he said about the family … and after what he was threatening to do to Kay-Lee and you. And the smuggling ring they connected him to – apparently connected to some big wig around here – killed people who didn’t pay up … or worse. He … and I think it is the Chief Inspector … is being accused of killing his own people to bury his guilt.”
“You better talk to Kay-Lee … and Uncle Mark now that he is over being sick … about that.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m not getting in the middle of this one. Just … talk to her before you pop your cork at the family. It would be the wise thing to do.”
“Alright,” he grunted. “What’s going on that I should know about.”
“Hear it from Kay-Lee. I suspect she knows more, or suspects more, than she’s been sharing with me. She keeps calling it plausible deniability. And believe me, she knows how to keep things close to the vest.”
Then the door closed softly.
# # # # # #
I’d heard the conversation, but it was like being in twilight, like when I would come around in Recovery after a surgery. Nearly felt that way too. I wasn’t sure if what I was hearing was real or not. I did know I was cold which meant the fireplace needed more wood so whether what I was hearing was real or not, I needed to wake up and feed the ever hungry beast.
I was setting my arms to lever myself up when I heard, “Where do you think you’re going? I just got home and you wanna run off.”
The voice had a gentle quaver to it I didn’t expect. My eyes popped open, and I finally managed to get them focused. “Sawyer?” I wasn’t sure what I was seeing was real or a result of the pain meds.
“Hey Beautiful.”
I snorted in disappointment. “Definitely a dream doggone it.”
He chuckled. “I’ve been gone too long if I can’t sweet talk you even a little bit.”
Then a flame of hope lit my insides. “S…s…s…Sawyer?”
“Yeah Babe, I’m home.”
It hurt to struggle to sit up, but I had to be sure. “She said you … you and Huely … had been hurt bad and were in a field hospital.”
“Hurt? Yeah. Bad? No. Well, Huely got banged around when he got thrown out of the back of the truck when we rolled but I just got a little bruised … and … er … a little fried.”
“Fried?! You mean you got burnt?!”
“Easy Babe, I’m a lot better now.”
I wouldn’t be held down. “Meaning you weren’t at one point.”
“Er …” I got a look at him and what I saw nearly made my heart come out of my chest. One side of his face looked like it was recovering from a 3rd degree sunburn. His eyebrow looked like it was just growing back from being shaved off. And his hair was a lot shorter than it had ever been and the “sunburn went into his hairline.
“Oh Sawyer,” I said. If I hadn’t been so tired I might have cried but instead I sniffed my feelings back in check and said, “Let me look in the first aid book and see what we have to put on that. And you need some electrolyte drink. I know that much.”
“I’m fine Babe. And I’ve already got both. Got more than that too. They’ve disbanded the civilian draftees and Huely and I come home with the last of our pay.”
“Really?” I asked hopefully. I meant him being home, not that he brought stuff home, but thankfully he understood.
“They’ve got too many people begging to sign up willingly. Real skilled labor types that are willing to work for the digital currency the feds are using now.” He looked at me closely then said, “We can talk about that later. Just know I’m home. And home I’m staying. Any of those in the family want to go sign up they can have at it. But I’m not leaving you and the kids again.”
I sighed. In relief. In joy. In emotions there is no name for.
“Can I hold you?”
“You can have anything you want.”
He chuckled nervously. “I … I did stick to our stipulations. No matter what anyone else has said.”
“I know you did. I never doubted it.”
“You didn’t?” he asked in painful need to be believed.
“We have stipulations. And no, I never did believe Mizz Groff though she actually never came out and said anything. She was smart enough not to get caught in a lie.”
“Don’t worry about her. And she won’t be coming ‘round here either. She … she was injured on assignment.”
“Will she be okay?” I asked, knowing she’d been his friend, or at least friend of a sort.
“Maybe. She … played the wrong man. She and her crew were ambushed. Don’t really want to talk about the rest of it. Not fit for your ears no how.”
I figured out what he wasn’t saying. Having learned that some people are just animals while in foster care it didn’t surprise me. “Oh. Well, just in case you wonder at some point, no matter what I wouldn’t have wished something like that on her.”
Sawyer hugged me gently. “No. Not you.” After a moment he said, “I was sorry to hear about Dr. C. Barbara said even knowing she was sick, it was a shock.”
“I got word a couple of days ago. The people she was with gave her what they call a Christian burial and wanted me to know she’d … she’d asked for Brother Don and come to have a peace she’d been missing. That’s between her and God but … but if it’s true, I’m glad. They say she got weak real fast after that and … and just …”
“I’m sorry Babe.”
“I’m not. I mean I’m sorry a doctor like Dr. C wasn’t allowed to fulfill her calling anymore but … the rest of it? It was better she faded away so fast rather than she lingered and suffered. That would not be a reward for all she gave to other people. Maybe she’s in Heaven and getting to see the kids she couldn’t help. Something like that.”
Sawyer seemed to understand I had to keep it in check rather than making my relationship with the woman all about me rather than about her.
“Kay-Lee?”
“Hm?”
“When’s the last time you ate … really ate. I … I can feel your bones and I’m not even holding you tight.”
“Don’t worry about it Sawyer. I know I look …”
He stopped whatever I was going to say with a careful kiss. Between his burn and him being afraid of hurting me I knew I’d have to be the one to move things along.
“Babe?”
“I’m not made of glass Sawyer Hartford. And I sure have missed you.”
“Thank gawd. I never meant to be away so long.”
“I know that. And I know you’re tired. Would you mind at least holding me? I’m desperate for you.”
“Shouldn’t that be my line?”
“Then say it. Mean it. And do something about it. Prove to me you’re here. Prove I’m … I’m not alone.”
“Uh … what’s the calendar say?”
“It says look in the nightstand drawer and stop worrying about it. I knew there was a reason I came upstairs instead of falling asleep in the kitchen like normal.”
In response Sawyer gave that special surprised chuckle he reserved for me and me alone and the rest was just nature taking its course.
“You better wake her up or else. Wouldn’t you want to be?”
“She … she looks so … frail.”
Barbara said, “You don’t exactly look like sunshine and roses.”
“Barbara …”
Barbara snorted but with more understanding in her voice she said, “She’s strong but she’s tired. A lot has been going on the last few weeks. And the cold weather has been awful for her. She had to take something stronger than she normally does and I think it hit her harder than she expected. That woman friend of yours hasn’t made things any easier.”
“What woman friend?” I heard real puzzlement in the tone.
“That Mizz Groff.”
“What the …? What has Groff been doing coming here? She was only supposed to come ‘round the one time.”
“I think Kay-Lee has been pumping her for information on what is going on out in the world in exchange for filling their drinking water. And trying to find out how Huely and you were doing. When she found out the two of you were going to be sent home on sick leave due to damages sustained in battle … and then when that Groff woman didn’t come back with more information like she promised … she’s barely slept Sawyer. Barely ate and would only do that to keep the painkillers but tearing her stomach up worse than they already did. Then after hearing about Dr. C …” I could hear Barbara sigh. “You know you’re the only one she really listens to. She may have been born a Baffa but I swear she is as stubborn as any Hartford ever born and is even a match for Uncle Mark. And if you don’t believe me, ask Uncle Ned.”
“Gawd. She’s so … so … pale.” The guy sounded stricken with grief or something that my brain was having trouble puzzling out.
“Just wake her up if you can. Prove you’re here. I’m going to go back to Huely before he takes it into his head to try and get up. Burt and I will cover things while everyone rests for a while. I’ll keep the kids quiet if I can. Burt will take Jolene down to the basement once the sun starts to set. It stays warmer down there than up here. Why she insisted on napping up here in y’alls room I can’t even guess. Lay down with her at least. Pull the extra quilt over you.”
“I’m fine.”
“Maybe. But you need to be with Kay-Lee and try and do something with her before the family descends on you to put you back to work. They all seemed to think you’ve been on some kind of vacation or something, that you’ve been eating three squares of good food and just fooling around with trucks and stuff. Or our knotheaded cousins do. Most of ‘em. Davis doesn’t. Cutter has gotten into with some of them over it from what we’ve heard. And Jamison is wandering around looking like a ghost. When you start taking care of business, start with him. The guilt is eating him alive. He finally got a job working at the Depot over near the National Guard outpost. Tommy says he sends everything to his wife and kids and only eats what he can hunt or earn some other way. He’s looking bad and about the only time he gets any color in his face is when he comes over here to chop wood. He irritated Kay-Lee so much by refusing to at least drink some green broth that she lost her temper and pitched the broom at him. I swear it is the only time in months I’ve seen him smile. But he still won’t turn loose of the guilt. And most of the family are letting him bear a burden that isn’t all his to bear. Mostly the uncles are going to expect you to step back up. And most of the others are going to expect you to have brought them some presents.”
“They can expect all they want; don’t mean they are going to get jack crap. In particular the ones that were in cahoots with Bud. And Bud better be glad he was already at death’s door ‘cause I sure as hell would have sent them there after Huely got what has been going on around here out of him.”
A little hesitantly Barbara asked, “Is Bud really dead?”
I heard a deep sigh. “Yeah. Dumbass even died being called a hero even though he didn’t run over the IED on purpose to save all those men. He was trying to go AWOL in the middle of battle. Coward.”
“That’s going to complicate things.”
“No. It won’t. The truth is going to come out and I’ve got an unredacted copy of the report to prove it. I would have let him have the glory until some of the things he said about the family … and after what he was threatening to do to Kay-Lee and you. And the smuggling ring they connected him to – apparently connected to some big wig around here – killed people who didn’t pay up … or worse. He … and I think it is the Chief Inspector … is being accused of killing his own people to bury his guilt.”
“You better talk to Kay-Lee … and Uncle Mark now that he is over being sick … about that.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m not getting in the middle of this one. Just … talk to her before you pop your cork at the family. It would be the wise thing to do.”
“Alright,” he grunted. “What’s going on that I should know about.”
“Hear it from Kay-Lee. I suspect she knows more, or suspects more, than she’s been sharing with me. She keeps calling it plausible deniability. And believe me, she knows how to keep things close to the vest.”
Then the door closed softly.
# # # # # #
I’d heard the conversation, but it was like being in twilight, like when I would come around in Recovery after a surgery. Nearly felt that way too. I wasn’t sure if what I was hearing was real or not. I did know I was cold which meant the fireplace needed more wood so whether what I was hearing was real or not, I needed to wake up and feed the ever hungry beast.
I was setting my arms to lever myself up when I heard, “Where do you think you’re going? I just got home and you wanna run off.”
The voice had a gentle quaver to it I didn’t expect. My eyes popped open, and I finally managed to get them focused. “Sawyer?” I wasn’t sure what I was seeing was real or a result of the pain meds.
“Hey Beautiful.”
I snorted in disappointment. “Definitely a dream doggone it.”
He chuckled. “I’ve been gone too long if I can’t sweet talk you even a little bit.”
Then a flame of hope lit my insides. “S…s…s…Sawyer?”
“Yeah Babe, I’m home.”
It hurt to struggle to sit up, but I had to be sure. “She said you … you and Huely … had been hurt bad and were in a field hospital.”
“Hurt? Yeah. Bad? No. Well, Huely got banged around when he got thrown out of the back of the truck when we rolled but I just got a little bruised … and … er … a little fried.”
“Fried?! You mean you got burnt?!”
“Easy Babe, I’m a lot better now.”
I wouldn’t be held down. “Meaning you weren’t at one point.”
“Er …” I got a look at him and what I saw nearly made my heart come out of my chest. One side of his face looked like it was recovering from a 3rd degree sunburn. His eyebrow looked like it was just growing back from being shaved off. And his hair was a lot shorter than it had ever been and the “sunburn went into his hairline.
“Oh Sawyer,” I said. If I hadn’t been so tired I might have cried but instead I sniffed my feelings back in check and said, “Let me look in the first aid book and see what we have to put on that. And you need some electrolyte drink. I know that much.”
“I’m fine Babe. And I’ve already got both. Got more than that too. They’ve disbanded the civilian draftees and Huely and I come home with the last of our pay.”
“Really?” I asked hopefully. I meant him being home, not that he brought stuff home, but thankfully he understood.
“They’ve got too many people begging to sign up willingly. Real skilled labor types that are willing to work for the digital currency the feds are using now.” He looked at me closely then said, “We can talk about that later. Just know I’m home. And home I’m staying. Any of those in the family want to go sign up they can have at it. But I’m not leaving you and the kids again.”
I sighed. In relief. In joy. In emotions there is no name for.
“Can I hold you?”
“You can have anything you want.”
He chuckled nervously. “I … I did stick to our stipulations. No matter what anyone else has said.”
“I know you did. I never doubted it.”
“You didn’t?” he asked in painful need to be believed.
“We have stipulations. And no, I never did believe Mizz Groff though she actually never came out and said anything. She was smart enough not to get caught in a lie.”
“Don’t worry about her. And she won’t be coming ‘round here either. She … she was injured on assignment.”
“Will she be okay?” I asked, knowing she’d been his friend, or at least friend of a sort.
“Maybe. She … played the wrong man. She and her crew were ambushed. Don’t really want to talk about the rest of it. Not fit for your ears no how.”
I figured out what he wasn’t saying. Having learned that some people are just animals while in foster care it didn’t surprise me. “Oh. Well, just in case you wonder at some point, no matter what I wouldn’t have wished something like that on her.”
Sawyer hugged me gently. “No. Not you.” After a moment he said, “I was sorry to hear about Dr. C. Barbara said even knowing she was sick, it was a shock.”
“I got word a couple of days ago. The people she was with gave her what they call a Christian burial and wanted me to know she’d … she’d asked for Brother Don and come to have a peace she’d been missing. That’s between her and God but … but if it’s true, I’m glad. They say she got weak real fast after that and … and just …”
“I’m sorry Babe.”
“I’m not. I mean I’m sorry a doctor like Dr. C wasn’t allowed to fulfill her calling anymore but … the rest of it? It was better she faded away so fast rather than she lingered and suffered. That would not be a reward for all she gave to other people. Maybe she’s in Heaven and getting to see the kids she couldn’t help. Something like that.”
Sawyer seemed to understand I had to keep it in check rather than making my relationship with the woman all about me rather than about her.
“Kay-Lee?”
“Hm?”
“When’s the last time you ate … really ate. I … I can feel your bones and I’m not even holding you tight.”
“Don’t worry about it Sawyer. I know I look …”
He stopped whatever I was going to say with a careful kiss. Between his burn and him being afraid of hurting me I knew I’d have to be the one to move things along.
“Babe?”
“I’m not made of glass Sawyer Hartford. And I sure have missed you.”
“Thank gawd. I never meant to be away so long.”
“I know that. And I know you’re tired. Would you mind at least holding me? I’m desperate for you.”
“Shouldn’t that be my line?”
“Then say it. Mean it. And do something about it. Prove to me you’re here. Prove I’m … I’m not alone.”
“Uh … what’s the calendar say?”
“It says look in the nightstand drawer and stop worrying about it. I knew there was a reason I came upstairs instead of falling asleep in the kitchen like normal.”
In response Sawyer gave that special surprised chuckle he reserved for me and me alone and the rest was just nature taking its course.
Jeepcats27
Senior Member
Thank you what a wonderful surprise to wake up to--- a new chapter! Sorry about Dr C but as you say it is better to go quickly than linger on and on with no quality of life.