Story Grace, Mercy and Blessings
- Thread starter PacNorWest
- Start date
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#171
Don and Wyatt were attended to, Dory went to help at the Doctor's household and had a severe temper tantrum over the piggish way the 'boys' were behaving. Dory was mad enough to pick up a switch and 'impart' a general sense of proper behavior upon Eddie.
The smirking and arrogant Eddie rapidly lost his feelings of entitled superiority, each time the limber little switch swatted the back of his legs. Trish was busy with the wounded men, and for once Bruce sat back in silence and watched Eddie's 'education.'
"Dad!" Tony hissed under his breath, "Miss Dory is whipping Eddie something fierce, aren't you gonna stop it?"
"Nope," Bruce was very definite. "This is something Eddie has been needing for a long time. Just sit back and see what is going to happen."
"He's kinda yelling like a mashed cat, ain't he?"
"A switch like that stings, but he's yelling far more than necessary for the amount of hurt. I suspect that it's the shock of actually getting a punishment that's causing the hollering. Actually it's a lesson more for me, than Eddie. One I have been avoiding and now that I see the why of why it's necessary, it may be 'applied' by myself again." Bruce said more to himself, than to Tony.
"Watcha mumbling about Dad, I didn't understand you" Tony asked Bruce in all seriousness.
"It's just an adult's way of bringing themselves to their senses. Something I should have done a long time ago, and this now is the consequence of me shirking my duty as a dad."
"You sure don't make any sense Dad, could you please tell me something I can understand."
"Granddad Mark straightened you out, and I didn't think Eddie was old enough, and was I ever wrong. He's turned into a monster with the most despicable manners, he reminds me of myself. That's no prize in my history, for sure."
"More mumbo jumbo," Tony stammered, "what bunk."
Miss Dory the 'teacher', finally wore herself out applying the education to Eddie, and for the first time, Eddie seemed to understand that he had gone way over the line.
Dory was still mad, and she walked back in the kitchen and raised the switch to Bruce and the shaking Tony.
"Don't make me 'educate' you both. You get your sorry hides in the kitchen along with that little brat Eddie and clean up that pig sty mess all three of you had the delightful experience of creating.
If you don't clean up, there will be no food prepared. Reva works here and she can't enforce a few rules. I DON'T WORK HERE, AND I'M GOING TO MAKE YOU'RE LIVES MISERABLE, DO YOU UNDERSTAND?"
Three masculine heads nodded in unison, and then filed obediently into the kitchen.
Dory marched into the exam room, where all four people were very quiet, and pretending to be very absorbed in the treatment of Don and the Sheriff. Reva's eyes were big and she looked at Dory in horror.
"Dory," she whispered, "you can't do that, I mean he's the boss and all."
"Wrong," Dory shouted, "I've already done it. And you're next Mr. Don, so wipe that supercilious, smug, crap eating grin off your face. You're a disgrace to the image of a man, treating Reva as you do. Now I don't know about you Sheriff, but if I find out you've been a 'user', I'll come after you also."
Mark, Clora and Tess were standing with averted faces, wanting badly to snicker. Tess had to cough when Wyatt jerked his head up and started to protest. She squeezed his hand hard, and Trish cleaned the top of his wound with an almost not so gentle swipe of the gauze.
Wyatt had to shut his mouth and grit his teeth, to keep from crying out.
Little Miss firecracker Dory, ricocheted through the clinic and apartment, cleaning up stupefied people.
Don and Wyatt were attended to, Dory went to help at the Doctor's household and had a severe temper tantrum over the piggish way the 'boys' were behaving. Dory was mad enough to pick up a switch and 'impart' a general sense of proper behavior upon Eddie.
The smirking and arrogant Eddie rapidly lost his feelings of entitled superiority, each time the limber little switch swatted the back of his legs. Trish was busy with the wounded men, and for once Bruce sat back in silence and watched Eddie's 'education.'
"Dad!" Tony hissed under his breath, "Miss Dory is whipping Eddie something fierce, aren't you gonna stop it?"
"Nope," Bruce was very definite. "This is something Eddie has been needing for a long time. Just sit back and see what is going to happen."
"He's kinda yelling like a mashed cat, ain't he?"
"A switch like that stings, but he's yelling far more than necessary for the amount of hurt. I suspect that it's the shock of actually getting a punishment that's causing the hollering. Actually it's a lesson more for me, than Eddie. One I have been avoiding and now that I see the why of why it's necessary, it may be 'applied' by myself again." Bruce said more to himself, than to Tony.
"Watcha mumbling about Dad, I didn't understand you" Tony asked Bruce in all seriousness.
"It's just an adult's way of bringing themselves to their senses. Something I should have done a long time ago, and this now is the consequence of me shirking my duty as a dad."
"You sure don't make any sense Dad, could you please tell me something I can understand."
"Granddad Mark straightened you out, and I didn't think Eddie was old enough, and was I ever wrong. He's turned into a monster with the most despicable manners, he reminds me of myself. That's no prize in my history, for sure."
"More mumbo jumbo," Tony stammered, "what bunk."
Miss Dory the 'teacher', finally wore herself out applying the education to Eddie, and for the first time, Eddie seemed to understand that he had gone way over the line.
Dory was still mad, and she walked back in the kitchen and raised the switch to Bruce and the shaking Tony.
"Don't make me 'educate' you both. You get your sorry hides in the kitchen along with that little brat Eddie and clean up that pig sty mess all three of you had the delightful experience of creating.
If you don't clean up, there will be no food prepared. Reva works here and she can't enforce a few rules. I DON'T WORK HERE, AND I'M GOING TO MAKE YOU'RE LIVES MISERABLE, DO YOU UNDERSTAND?"
Three masculine heads nodded in unison, and then filed obediently into the kitchen.
Dory marched into the exam room, where all four people were very quiet, and pretending to be very absorbed in the treatment of Don and the Sheriff. Reva's eyes were big and she looked at Dory in horror.
"Dory," she whispered, "you can't do that, I mean he's the boss and all."
"Wrong," Dory shouted, "I've already done it. And you're next Mr. Don, so wipe that supercilious, smug, crap eating grin off your face. You're a disgrace to the image of a man, treating Reva as you do. Now I don't know about you Sheriff, but if I find out you've been a 'user', I'll come after you also."
Mark, Clora and Tess were standing with averted faces, wanting badly to snicker. Tess had to cough when Wyatt jerked his head up and started to protest. She squeezed his hand hard, and Trish cleaned the top of his wound with an almost not so gentle swipe of the gauze.
Wyatt had to shut his mouth and grit his teeth, to keep from crying out.
Little Miss firecracker Dory, ricocheted through the clinic and apartment, cleaning up stupefied people.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
The blessings of the deer are finished. I am so happy, as several times it seemed like I was never going be get finished. We have sent out generous amounts of meat to people down on their luck, and some that weren't. It is very important to help people save their dignity, by not pointing them out.
Prayerfully, if you have friends and neighbors that need help, do so please. Pac.
Prayerfully, if you have friends and neighbors that need help, do so please. Pac.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#172
Dory, when she thought about it, circled back into the clinic kitchen and proceeded to give more orders. "You," she addressed Bruce, "you wash, if you can't stand, sit on a stool. "You," she pointed her finger at Tony, "you dry." Dory turned sideways and caught Eddie trying to sneak out of the room.
"Ok," she looked daggers at Bruce, "you call it, you or me?"
"Me," Bruce owned up to his responsibility.
"Eddie, get over here and lean over the table." Bruce ordered. Bruce struggled to get his belt loose but finally got the job done and administered three solid whacks.
It was a completely subdued Eddie that sorted and brought the dishes to Bruce to wash, being very careful not to look at Dory or his Dad.
Dory nodded in satisfaction, dusted off her hands and told Bruce she was going next door to make sure all was going well there. "I expect these dishes to be finished when I return." and the three men nodded agreement; happy to see their tormenter move on.
Chuck finished his chores and saddled his horse, waiting impatiently for his sidekick to get his act together. "I've checked my ammo and provisions, and it's time for me to head back to town. You're welcome to come along."
"Why shore, I'd be plumb honored, give me a minute and I'll be happy to join up with ya."
Chuck had to grit his teeth to keep from giving a totally sarcastic reply. instead he nodded and drummed his fingers on his knee.
Dory, when she thought about it, circled back into the clinic kitchen and proceeded to give more orders. "You," she addressed Bruce, "you wash, if you can't stand, sit on a stool. "You," she pointed her finger at Tony, "you dry." Dory turned sideways and caught Eddie trying to sneak out of the room.
"Ok," she looked daggers at Bruce, "you call it, you or me?"
"Me," Bruce owned up to his responsibility.
"Eddie, get over here and lean over the table." Bruce ordered. Bruce struggled to get his belt loose but finally got the job done and administered three solid whacks.
It was a completely subdued Eddie that sorted and brought the dishes to Bruce to wash, being very careful not to look at Dory or his Dad.
Dory nodded in satisfaction, dusted off her hands and told Bruce she was going next door to make sure all was going well there. "I expect these dishes to be finished when I return." and the three men nodded agreement; happy to see their tormenter move on.
Chuck finished his chores and saddled his horse, waiting impatiently for his sidekick to get his act together. "I've checked my ammo and provisions, and it's time for me to head back to town. You're welcome to come along."
"Why shore, I'd be plumb honored, give me a minute and I'll be happy to join up with ya."
Chuck had to grit his teeth to keep from giving a totally sarcastic reply. instead he nodded and drummed his fingers on his knee.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Thank you so much. Got my knee cap removed today had to be there at 10.30 am got home at 8.30 PM. I have a pain pump inserted but it doesnt do much good so far,
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#173
"Ralph, I'm leavin in 10 minutes. If you ain't ready, you're stayin." Chuck had made up his mind and he was through with Ralph's fiddling and flopping around. Chuck looked out at the prairie and the allure of the wide open, untamed spaces had stopped calling his name.
The change in his attitude brought a frown to his face. When and how, had he lost the siren song of the wild untamed spaces. Chuck thought he might blame Ralph and all his fumbling, but that wasn't the sum total of it all.
Chuck tightened his lips in annoyance, that was the only outside sign that he felt contrary and sideways inside.
When he figured he had spent 15 minutes, Chuck turned his horse around and started back toward the Linderman compound.
Ralph stood there with his mouth agape, shocked that Chuck would leave him. Snapping his mouth shut, Ralph shrugged his shoulders and gave a fatalistic sigh. So be it, he was thinking. At least I got a good saddle horse out of the deal. Now he had to think of where he might ride too next. Actually, heading back to where he had lost his stake in the poker game sounded good. After all, he had a much better horse to put up as collateral.
Without having to pull the most time reluctant pack horse, Chuck made good time back toward civilization. In a week he was back as far as when he started up the river. He estimated he was two good hard days ride away from Linderman town.
Clora was standing beside the wagon with the bodies of Abby's attackers. She was looking hard at the man that the men claimed had been the original robber. There was something about the man that tickled the edges of her conscience, but nothing that she could put a name too. What was left of the man's head gave no clue; but Clora felt she was missing some important information.
Mark was keeping track of Clora, and watched as she reached her hand toward the corpse several times. Obviously something was troubling Clora, and Mark was anxious for any information she might gather to help them make sense of the attack.
Corbin and Clara were walking up the road toward the clinic, talking quietly between themselves.
Corbin got up to the wagon and glanced at the jumble of bodies.
"Good grief, what happened here?" he wondered aloud, "are all of them brothers?" he was categorizing the number of red haired men. "That guy looks familiar, but I don't know where I've seen him before."
"Bingo," Clora said aloud. "The market back in St. Louis. This is one of the dandy's that Abby interacted with. I wasn't there, so I'm not familiar with their faces, but this guy is also a brother to the ferryman that almost drowned Gary and his family."
Mark walked over to hold Clora's hand, and it was ice cold.
Corbin had a frowning, puzzled expression. "And you know this how?" he asked sharply.
"I don't know," Clora spoke honestly, "just a flash of intuition, I guess."
Corbin cut an even sharper glance at Clara, and she was nodding in agreement.
Tess came outside and touched the hem of Raul's coat. "Mom, they are, I mean were, killers. I mean the really depraved sort," she stressed, "the kind like Ted."
Clora's sorrowful face nodded yes. "It's unusual that they said nothing about the fourth brother, but he has dyed his hair black, so we have to suppose he was up to no good either."
Heartsick, Clora turned to walk back to her home, Mark walking with her, his arm around her shoulders.
"Ralph, I'm leavin in 10 minutes. If you ain't ready, you're stayin." Chuck had made up his mind and he was through with Ralph's fiddling and flopping around. Chuck looked out at the prairie and the allure of the wide open, untamed spaces had stopped calling his name.
The change in his attitude brought a frown to his face. When and how, had he lost the siren song of the wild untamed spaces. Chuck thought he might blame Ralph and all his fumbling, but that wasn't the sum total of it all.
Chuck tightened his lips in annoyance, that was the only outside sign that he felt contrary and sideways inside.
When he figured he had spent 15 minutes, Chuck turned his horse around and started back toward the Linderman compound.
Ralph stood there with his mouth agape, shocked that Chuck would leave him. Snapping his mouth shut, Ralph shrugged his shoulders and gave a fatalistic sigh. So be it, he was thinking. At least I got a good saddle horse out of the deal. Now he had to think of where he might ride too next. Actually, heading back to where he had lost his stake in the poker game sounded good. After all, he had a much better horse to put up as collateral.
Without having to pull the most time reluctant pack horse, Chuck made good time back toward civilization. In a week he was back as far as when he started up the river. He estimated he was two good hard days ride away from Linderman town.
Clora was standing beside the wagon with the bodies of Abby's attackers. She was looking hard at the man that the men claimed had been the original robber. There was something about the man that tickled the edges of her conscience, but nothing that she could put a name too. What was left of the man's head gave no clue; but Clora felt she was missing some important information.
Mark was keeping track of Clora, and watched as she reached her hand toward the corpse several times. Obviously something was troubling Clora, and Mark was anxious for any information she might gather to help them make sense of the attack.
Corbin and Clara were walking up the road toward the clinic, talking quietly between themselves.
Corbin got up to the wagon and glanced at the jumble of bodies.
"Good grief, what happened here?" he wondered aloud, "are all of them brothers?" he was categorizing the number of red haired men. "That guy looks familiar, but I don't know where I've seen him before."
"Bingo," Clora said aloud. "The market back in St. Louis. This is one of the dandy's that Abby interacted with. I wasn't there, so I'm not familiar with their faces, but this guy is also a brother to the ferryman that almost drowned Gary and his family."
Mark walked over to hold Clora's hand, and it was ice cold.
Corbin had a frowning, puzzled expression. "And you know this how?" he asked sharply.
"I don't know," Clora spoke honestly, "just a flash of intuition, I guess."
Corbin cut an even sharper glance at Clara, and she was nodding in agreement.
Tess came outside and touched the hem of Raul's coat. "Mom, they are, I mean were, killers. I mean the really depraved sort," she stressed, "the kind like Ted."
Clora's sorrowful face nodded yes. "It's unusual that they said nothing about the fourth brother, but he has dyed his hair black, so we have to suppose he was up to no good either."
Heartsick, Clora turned to walk back to her home, Mark walking with her, his arm around her shoulders.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
SSSara,
my goodness what an operation. Out of curiosity, did you have a plate inserted? I'm sitting here wondering what is holding your knee together.
my goodness what an operation. Out of curiosity, did you have a plate inserted? I'm sitting here wondering what is holding your knee together.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Nope, no plate, he took out the knee cap and sewed the bottom and top tendons together. Have to keep this brace on straight legged for six weeks, then the brace will be adjusted 30% to start slowly bending it and stretch the tendons again.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#174
"Mark,"
"Yeah,",
"I have a feeling that there are additional brothers, maybe not from the same mother; but more of them than we know about." Clora's voice was low with hurt.
"To be honest, I've wondered about that possibility; it's something that might be a fact for all of us." Mark was equally subdued. "It's always bothered me more than I care to admit, that I was never able to totally reach Ted. Even as a child, there was always a barrier, and yet he was so young when he came to live with us. He was so single minded about numbers, and I don't find anything that would cause such a response in his upbringing."
"The DNA reported that Milo and Ted were twins, but I've never felt that to be true." Clora was caught up in the self-introspection. "They are so different in personalities, morals and life outlook. As a matter of fact, I've never accepted the fact of Milo and Ted were twins. I've always felt that Charles and Ted were the twins; and that we were fed a long list of misinformation about that whole situtation. Not to my credit, I've swept a lot of the troubles in our lives under the rug, the day to day survival effort of living overshadowed those problems. We were at the time, just falling out of one crisis into another. Look at TJ; that's a hurt that squeezes my heart hard enough to stop my breathing."
"Clora, I've thought hard about TJ; and it always comes down to the fact that we tried to raise our family according to God's directions. It's the people that marry into the family; aside from Ben and Ted; that eventually start causing us problems. I know," Mark held up his hand to stop the protest he could see forming in Clora. "we can't control 'everything', it's just that I'd like too."
"Oh, is that your OCD showing," Clora teased gently; "I haven't thought about that in a long time. Do you think it's becoming less gripping as you age?"
"No, I don't think so, I believe I've learned to shut a lot of it off. I was so stricken when we lived in Applewood farm, I thought I'd go crazy with the pressures. As for falling out of one crisis into another, you are sure right about that. I believe that living here is actually the less stressed we've been in many, many years." Mark was truthful in his recollections.
"Mark, this upcoming 'conference' seems not to be totally legitimate. I want you to be extremely careful. I'm being selfish, I hate to see you be away for such a long time. If there were any other way that that you could continue to be a patriot, and not go, I would beg you to consider it."
Mark walked them into the house, and seated Clora while he stoked the stove. "Clora, are you telling me that I won't return?" he asked gravely, troubled by her response.
"No, not exactly." Clora held his eyes with her own. "I feel danger, and I can't tell if it's you, Tess or Wyatt."
"Then I won't go," Mark said instantly, "I can't put family in danger. We will have to figure another way to gain pasture. When I say that, do you feel anything?"
"Relief," Clora said with conviction, "deep relief."
"Then it's settled, I will see about informing Wyatt. What about Tess, what does she feel about this?"
"We have the same thoughts, except that she intends to protect Wyatt and you." Clora was watching Mark as he poured coffee and set two cups on the table. Coming over to sit down close to Clora, they held hands. Work worn and scarred, hands that had worked hard to stay alive and raise children, gloried in the feel of one another.
"I really don't like the thought of that," Mark admitted slowly, "It goes against my inner core to have a woman to ride herd over me."
"You have a daughter that is a carbon copy of you. I'm afraid that it will happen, no matter what you think about it, and actually you have no say so about the situtation."
That much like me, huh?" Mark said dryly.
Yes, an apple still hanging on the branch," Clora chuckled and took a drink of coffee. "Would you feel better if you had a cookie?"
"I would, that is, if that louse Wyatt hasn't eaten them all."
"For you, I always have cookies," Clora smiled as she went to the cupboard next to where she told Wyatt to find the treats.
"Mark,"
"Yeah,",
"I have a feeling that there are additional brothers, maybe not from the same mother; but more of them than we know about." Clora's voice was low with hurt.
"To be honest, I've wondered about that possibility; it's something that might be a fact for all of us." Mark was equally subdued. "It's always bothered me more than I care to admit, that I was never able to totally reach Ted. Even as a child, there was always a barrier, and yet he was so young when he came to live with us. He was so single minded about numbers, and I don't find anything that would cause such a response in his upbringing."
"The DNA reported that Milo and Ted were twins, but I've never felt that to be true." Clora was caught up in the self-introspection. "They are so different in personalities, morals and life outlook. As a matter of fact, I've never accepted the fact of Milo and Ted were twins. I've always felt that Charles and Ted were the twins; and that we were fed a long list of misinformation about that whole situtation. Not to my credit, I've swept a lot of the troubles in our lives under the rug, the day to day survival effort of living overshadowed those problems. We were at the time, just falling out of one crisis into another. Look at TJ; that's a hurt that squeezes my heart hard enough to stop my breathing."
"Clora, I've thought hard about TJ; and it always comes down to the fact that we tried to raise our family according to God's directions. It's the people that marry into the family; aside from Ben and Ted; that eventually start causing us problems. I know," Mark held up his hand to stop the protest he could see forming in Clora. "we can't control 'everything', it's just that I'd like too."
"Oh, is that your OCD showing," Clora teased gently; "I haven't thought about that in a long time. Do you think it's becoming less gripping as you age?"
"No, I don't think so, I believe I've learned to shut a lot of it off. I was so stricken when we lived in Applewood farm, I thought I'd go crazy with the pressures. As for falling out of one crisis into another, you are sure right about that. I believe that living here is actually the less stressed we've been in many, many years." Mark was truthful in his recollections.
"Mark, this upcoming 'conference' seems not to be totally legitimate. I want you to be extremely careful. I'm being selfish, I hate to see you be away for such a long time. If there were any other way that that you could continue to be a patriot, and not go, I would beg you to consider it."
Mark walked them into the house, and seated Clora while he stoked the stove. "Clora, are you telling me that I won't return?" he asked gravely, troubled by her response.
"No, not exactly." Clora held his eyes with her own. "I feel danger, and I can't tell if it's you, Tess or Wyatt."
"Then I won't go," Mark said instantly, "I can't put family in danger. We will have to figure another way to gain pasture. When I say that, do you feel anything?"
"Relief," Clora said with conviction, "deep relief."
"Then it's settled, I will see about informing Wyatt. What about Tess, what does she feel about this?"
"We have the same thoughts, except that she intends to protect Wyatt and you." Clora was watching Mark as he poured coffee and set two cups on the table. Coming over to sit down close to Clora, they held hands. Work worn and scarred, hands that had worked hard to stay alive and raise children, gloried in the feel of one another.
"I really don't like the thought of that," Mark admitted slowly, "It goes against my inner core to have a woman to ride herd over me."
"You have a daughter that is a carbon copy of you. I'm afraid that it will happen, no matter what you think about it, and actually you have no say so about the situtation."
That much like me, huh?" Mark said dryly.
Yes, an apple still hanging on the branch," Clora chuckled and took a drink of coffee. "Would you feel better if you had a cookie?"
"I would, that is, if that louse Wyatt hasn't eaten them all."
"For you, I always have cookies," Clora smiled as she went to the cupboard next to where she told Wyatt to find the treats.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Very big thank you Pac.
Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
OK
IF there's another branch of the family, i.e. a flock of evil love children from Ted's loins, obviously all triplets or variants thereof, being brought into full play at this stage in the tale, you realize I'm going to have to upgrade my VIZIO, right?
I might even have to increase my RAM; that app is a real resource hog.......
IF there's another branch of the family, i.e. a flock of evil love children from Ted's loins, obviously all triplets or variants thereof, being brought into full play at this stage in the tale, you realize I'm going to have to upgrade my VIZIO, right?
I might even have to increase my RAM; that app is a real resource hog.......
Last edited:
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
LOL and hee, hee. Anything to stretch my readers. You know I always have your best interests at heart.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#175
Clora and Mark had almost 45 minutes to themselves, before the sounds of wagon wheels sounded in the driveway. Andy was bringing Tess, Wyatt, Corbin and Clara to the house.
"I'd like to ride with you down to your place to pick up the boys," Tess told Andy.
"I'll go with you," volunteered Wyatt, "I don't want you out in the night with young kids." He went to stand up and got very wobbly kneed, teetered and went swaying from side to side.
Tess pushed him down in the chair and looked at Corbin. "May I borrow you as an escort? We won't be long." Corbin nodded and Wyatt sputtered his resistance to the idea.
Clora smoothly intervened, telling Wyatt that he needed to sit and conserve energy and start healing. or he wouldn't be attending the conference.
That bit of news startled Wyatt, he had obviously forgotten that the impending trip was less than two days away.
"Oh crap," he said distinctly under his breath, "I completely spaced that out."
Tess and Corbin along with Andy, lit out for Andy's place and were back in short order with three sleepy boys.
Clora had people and rooms sorted out in a hurry, Tess bunking with her boys so the other two rooms downstairs could be used by the adults. It fell to Wyatt to sleep in the room Tess had vacated, and he collapsed in bed, smelling her perfume on the pillow slip, smiling.
Mark, Clora, Corbin and Clara sat up talking for hours, enjoying each others company.
Clora and Mark had almost 45 minutes to themselves, before the sounds of wagon wheels sounded in the driveway. Andy was bringing Tess, Wyatt, Corbin and Clara to the house.
"I'd like to ride with you down to your place to pick up the boys," Tess told Andy.
"I'll go with you," volunteered Wyatt, "I don't want you out in the night with young kids." He went to stand up and got very wobbly kneed, teetered and went swaying from side to side.
Tess pushed him down in the chair and looked at Corbin. "May I borrow you as an escort? We won't be long." Corbin nodded and Wyatt sputtered his resistance to the idea.
Clora smoothly intervened, telling Wyatt that he needed to sit and conserve energy and start healing. or he wouldn't be attending the conference.
That bit of news startled Wyatt, he had obviously forgotten that the impending trip was less than two days away.
"Oh crap," he said distinctly under his breath, "I completely spaced that out."
Tess and Corbin along with Andy, lit out for Andy's place and were back in short order with three sleepy boys.
Clora had people and rooms sorted out in a hurry, Tess bunking with her boys so the other two rooms downstairs could be used by the adults. It fell to Wyatt to sleep in the room Tess had vacated, and he collapsed in bed, smelling her perfume on the pillow slip, smiling.
Mark, Clora, Corbin and Clara sat up talking for hours, enjoying each others company.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Thank you Pac. Doing a happy dance at least in my mind.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#176
The topic of the patriot meeting was uppermost in everyone's mind.
"We sure never heard anything about such a meeting." Corbin leaned back in his chair and watched Mark's reaction. "course we don't live in Iowa either; but thats pretty big news not to get spread around some. So the lure is a thousand acres apiece, what are they gonna do; displace the people that own the land now?"
"We don't believe so, supposedly the end of our current pastures are the dividing line between claimed and wilderness land. As much as I'd like to have more land, I'm not about to pull a type of eminent domain." Mark was definite and met Corbin's gaze head on with clear eyes.
"But, if there is land for the claiming, I'm certainly going to do that. We are starting out this Spring behind the eight ball concerning the amount of grass the workhorses are eating. If we can't find more pasture, we'll have to reduce our herds by more than half. That really puts a pinch in our ability to provide jobs and income for the family. According to Wyatt," and Mark gestured toward the hall and the bedrooms to include the Sheriff, "as soon as we get there, he can apply for the land transfers. Of course, there is danger, but I am seriously considering going long enough to get the land paperwork started."
"When are you going?" Corbin was curious.
"Day after tomorrow, right after church." Mark replied.
"Really, what do you think about some company? This just has my curiosity in a high itch." Corbin was grinning in anticipation of some excitement. "How about it Clara, do you have anything going on at home that you have to be right back?"
"No," Clara looked up and smiled at Clora, "nothing at all. How long are you men anticipating being gone?"
"A week's worth of travel to the meeting, a couple of days there and a week's travel back home. To be safe, probably add another week's worth of private investigation if we find anything interesting. Now Wyatt is required to go, and Tess was our choice to accompany me," Mark explained.
"That's no problem for me," Clara acquiesced with a smile at Corbin's eagerness, "it would take an act of congress, to keep you from going along." she laughed at her own cleverness.
Both men were grinning and looking very interested in the upcoming adventure.
"Such eagerness," Clora tisked, "that's really rather unseemly for gentlemen of your age."
The men looked puzzled when Clora and Clara laughed hard, and got up to wash the coffee cups. "I need to go to bed, tomorrow is here already and the threesome will be up early"
The men exchanged a very self satisfied smile and got up to accompany their ladies down the hall.
Dory didn't find much to holler about in Seamus and Phoebe's house. Pricilla was stirring a big pot of soup, and boys were busy setting the table. She popped her head in the bedroom to admire the newborn twins, and spoke with Phoebe, asking if there was anything she could do for the resting mom.
"Praise the Lord for Pricilla, I didn't know how much she did, until she was gone. That sounds like quite an adventure, you'all enjoyed."
"I'm not sure 'enjoy' is the word I would use," Dory said drolly, "whatever that growler is, it plain scares a person to death. Thank goodness we had the men with rifles to defend us."
Phoebe nodded and turned to look at a fussy baby.
"I've got more work to do," Dory gave Phoebe and her babies a soft hand clap, and backed out of the room with a smile. Giving Pricilla a pat on the shoulder, Dory walked back to the clinic to check on the progress of the doctor and his wayward boys.
Bruce was about to the end of his ability, and Dory sent him to his chair and stepped in to finish washing the dishes. She did that, until she happened to think that Eddie should be washing, instead of standing on the opposite side of Tony.
"The water is too hot, it hurts my hands," he whined, looking to get a pass from the detested job.
"Tough cookies," Dory immediately snapped, "get busy."
There was a large and loud sigh, Eddie expressing his put upon nature, but he picked up the dish rag and gingerly fished around in the soapy water to find a plate. Dory stood close to enforce her edict that the young man clean up his responsibility, and it was obvious that Eddie was irritated at her closeness.
The topic of the patriot meeting was uppermost in everyone's mind.
"We sure never heard anything about such a meeting." Corbin leaned back in his chair and watched Mark's reaction. "course we don't live in Iowa either; but thats pretty big news not to get spread around some. So the lure is a thousand acres apiece, what are they gonna do; displace the people that own the land now?"
"We don't believe so, supposedly the end of our current pastures are the dividing line between claimed and wilderness land. As much as I'd like to have more land, I'm not about to pull a type of eminent domain." Mark was definite and met Corbin's gaze head on with clear eyes.
"But, if there is land for the claiming, I'm certainly going to do that. We are starting out this Spring behind the eight ball concerning the amount of grass the workhorses are eating. If we can't find more pasture, we'll have to reduce our herds by more than half. That really puts a pinch in our ability to provide jobs and income for the family. According to Wyatt," and Mark gestured toward the hall and the bedrooms to include the Sheriff, "as soon as we get there, he can apply for the land transfers. Of course, there is danger, but I am seriously considering going long enough to get the land paperwork started."
"When are you going?" Corbin was curious.
"Day after tomorrow, right after church." Mark replied.
"Really, what do you think about some company? This just has my curiosity in a high itch." Corbin was grinning in anticipation of some excitement. "How about it Clara, do you have anything going on at home that you have to be right back?"
"No," Clara looked up and smiled at Clora, "nothing at all. How long are you men anticipating being gone?"
"A week's worth of travel to the meeting, a couple of days there and a week's travel back home. To be safe, probably add another week's worth of private investigation if we find anything interesting. Now Wyatt is required to go, and Tess was our choice to accompany me," Mark explained.
"That's no problem for me," Clara acquiesced with a smile at Corbin's eagerness, "it would take an act of congress, to keep you from going along." she laughed at her own cleverness.
Both men were grinning and looking very interested in the upcoming adventure.
"Such eagerness," Clora tisked, "that's really rather unseemly for gentlemen of your age."
The men looked puzzled when Clora and Clara laughed hard, and got up to wash the coffee cups. "I need to go to bed, tomorrow is here already and the threesome will be up early"
The men exchanged a very self satisfied smile and got up to accompany their ladies down the hall.
Dory didn't find much to holler about in Seamus and Phoebe's house. Pricilla was stirring a big pot of soup, and boys were busy setting the table. She popped her head in the bedroom to admire the newborn twins, and spoke with Phoebe, asking if there was anything she could do for the resting mom.
"Praise the Lord for Pricilla, I didn't know how much she did, until she was gone. That sounds like quite an adventure, you'all enjoyed."
"I'm not sure 'enjoy' is the word I would use," Dory said drolly, "whatever that growler is, it plain scares a person to death. Thank goodness we had the men with rifles to defend us."
Phoebe nodded and turned to look at a fussy baby.
"I've got more work to do," Dory gave Phoebe and her babies a soft hand clap, and backed out of the room with a smile. Giving Pricilla a pat on the shoulder, Dory walked back to the clinic to check on the progress of the doctor and his wayward boys.
Bruce was about to the end of his ability, and Dory sent him to his chair and stepped in to finish washing the dishes. She did that, until she happened to think that Eddie should be washing, instead of standing on the opposite side of Tony.
"The water is too hot, it hurts my hands," he whined, looking to get a pass from the detested job.
"Tough cookies," Dory immediately snapped, "get busy."
There was a large and loud sigh, Eddie expressing his put upon nature, but he picked up the dish rag and gingerly fished around in the soapy water to find a plate. Dory stood close to enforce her edict that the young man clean up his responsibility, and it was obvious that Eddie was irritated at her closeness.
Bidadisndat
Contributing Member
I've only just latched on to this yarn but I can see be the little I've read so far I've got a lot to learn about writing a captivating story.
Good Stuff, Pac!
Good Stuff, Pac!
ted
Veteran Member
RememberGoliad
Veteran Member
Bid, I hope you started with "Oh, For Pete's Sake", which is NINE VOLUMES ago! (Nine? Maybe more. One of them would take three redwood trees' worth of paper to print out.) Clora was seven years old, I think, when this storyline started. So yeah, Ted's right.....LONG way to go!
Here's the list, published in 2016, there's more since this, but these are the "early days" of Clora... Story - PacNorWest/Stories series/ links in order #1 to now
...Just don't let it get too much between you and the clan on the Australian coast
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Many thanks pac 
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#177
"Corbin, tell me, what's your interest in the convention?" Mark and Corbin were out in the barn checking over the hay situtation.
"Looks to me that your hay and grass are going to run out about the same time, ya got a plan?" Corbin was assessing the amount of horses, pasture and hay and it was very uneven. "Most of my interest has to do with a thousand acres," he gestured with a sweep of his arm westward.
"A change of scenery?" Mark guessed.
"Well, yes. If I can apply and get awarded that much ground, I'm interested in changing scenery. I know Clara would very much like to be closer to Judy and Clora, and to be perfectly honest, there's something very satisfying about getting something for your woman that she won't ask for."
"You got that right," Mark pushed his hat back and scratched his forehead. "Are you thinking of retiring?"
"Sort of, a man with a thousand acres isn't very retired. I'm old enough, getting tired enough of the freight business and all the assorted problems, that getting out of the business sounds tempting. My farm has been in our family for five generations, I'm the only one that was interested in keeping the history alive. Now, it's just a place to live. The Dufus family manages everything to a perfection, he has way more attachment to the place than I have, as he's been there 30 plus years. Frankly, I have just about made up my mind to sell it to him. Depending on how this land sale comes about, I just might be your new neighbor." Corbin scuffed at the pipe end of a stall box.
"You'd be mighty welcome," Mark spoke quietly, "come with us and let's see what happens."
Dory went home. Tired of all the drama of the families and the interactions, she closed herself behind the door to her home and went to start a fire. The quiet solitude was soothing, the crackling of the rising flames the only sound. Opening a window, there was the faint sound of the river, more balm to her disturbed, fragile heart.
Making herself a cup of tea, sitting at the table with the river noise in the background, gave her the solitude she craved. Ever since she had made her way back to her parents place after the cleansing wind, Dory had been in the center of her sister's comings and goings, and now she craved downtime and a chance to mourn.
Dory had been married for two weeks when the 'wind' scoured the earth. She lost a husband that she loved very much and who had deceived her into thinking he had been saved. Dory thought she had been careful in vetting her husband to be, and to have him disappear tore her heart.
Sipping the scalding hot tea, she harrumphed at the ruse she had pulled using Chuck as a smokescreen. She felt it had worked well, but that little voice inside was nagging at her,..... are you sure you didn't appreciate what you saw? No, she told herself firmly. I did not.
Neither Pricilla or Reva knew that she had been married, and Dory let the information die with her husband.
"Corbin, tell me, what's your interest in the convention?" Mark and Corbin were out in the barn checking over the hay situtation.
"Looks to me that your hay and grass are going to run out about the same time, ya got a plan?" Corbin was assessing the amount of horses, pasture and hay and it was very uneven. "Most of my interest has to do with a thousand acres," he gestured with a sweep of his arm westward.
"A change of scenery?" Mark guessed.
"Well, yes. If I can apply and get awarded that much ground, I'm interested in changing scenery. I know Clara would very much like to be closer to Judy and Clora, and to be perfectly honest, there's something very satisfying about getting something for your woman that she won't ask for."
"You got that right," Mark pushed his hat back and scratched his forehead. "Are you thinking of retiring?"
"Sort of, a man with a thousand acres isn't very retired. I'm old enough, getting tired enough of the freight business and all the assorted problems, that getting out of the business sounds tempting. My farm has been in our family for five generations, I'm the only one that was interested in keeping the history alive. Now, it's just a place to live. The Dufus family manages everything to a perfection, he has way more attachment to the place than I have, as he's been there 30 plus years. Frankly, I have just about made up my mind to sell it to him. Depending on how this land sale comes about, I just might be your new neighbor." Corbin scuffed at the pipe end of a stall box.
"You'd be mighty welcome," Mark spoke quietly, "come with us and let's see what happens."
Dory went home. Tired of all the drama of the families and the interactions, she closed herself behind the door to her home and went to start a fire. The quiet solitude was soothing, the crackling of the rising flames the only sound. Opening a window, there was the faint sound of the river, more balm to her disturbed, fragile heart.
Making herself a cup of tea, sitting at the table with the river noise in the background, gave her the solitude she craved. Ever since she had made her way back to her parents place after the cleansing wind, Dory had been in the center of her sister's comings and goings, and now she craved downtime and a chance to mourn.
Dory had been married for two weeks when the 'wind' scoured the earth. She lost a husband that she loved very much and who had deceived her into thinking he had been saved. Dory thought she had been careful in vetting her husband to be, and to have him disappear tore her heart.
Sipping the scalding hot tea, she harrumphed at the ruse she had pulled using Chuck as a smokescreen. She felt it had worked well, but that little voice inside was nagging at her,..... are you sure you didn't appreciate what you saw? No, she told herself firmly. I did not.
Neither Pricilla or Reva knew that she had been married, and Dory let the information die with her husband.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#177b
Jerry shut the Inn door and went to the kitchen to brew a strong cup of tea with sugar for Abby. Seating the un-composed woman so she had her back to the wall, but could 'see' in all directions, even into the kitchen, he poured hot water into the huge sink and put dishes in to soak.
Cleaning every dish and pan he could find in the kitchen first, he then took a tray and began gathering up table service from the dining room. The noise of the plates and bowls seemed to jar Abby out of her mental fog, and silently she began to gather up the condiment bowls and take them to the kitchen.
Abby's third trip into the dining room, she took an old afghan and covered the bodies of Carol and Al, vaguely wondering why the clan hadn't removed all of the bodies. She frowned at the shrouded bodies, wondering what would happen next to her dreams.
It took an hour and a half to wash all the dishes and set the kitchen, dining room and the front room to rights and sit with drinks to rest a bit.
"Thank you," Abby said softly, "I appreciate the help. Especially since you sent all those people on their way; I didn't have the ability to deal with them after all this."
"Tell me about the couple over there; that's a sure fire way; do they have relatives we need to notify, and are there more people coming through that need to stay here? What about the rooms and sheet laundry?" Jerry was running down a mental list of problems he had thought out.
"I'm not sure, Carol always handled the reservations, so I suppose that information is on or in her desk. I also don't know about any relatives, neither she nor Al ever mentioned kids or brothers or sisters. Usually, tours like the one that just left were scheduled a week apart and that gives me time to get the rooms cleaned and the wash done." Abby got a thick tone to her voice, feeling the sorrow of loosing her friends and bosses.
"You do all the work?" Jerry had a angry question to his voice. "Abby, that's too much, you are going to work yourself into a early grave."
Abby was slightly nodding, heaving a huge sigh. "I'm already bone tired, I know that's the reason I had delayed reflexes when that creep burst in the door."
"I'd like you to take a nap, I'll certainly wake you immediately when the sheriff returns."
Jerry shut the Inn door and went to the kitchen to brew a strong cup of tea with sugar for Abby. Seating the un-composed woman so she had her back to the wall, but could 'see' in all directions, even into the kitchen, he poured hot water into the huge sink and put dishes in to soak.
Cleaning every dish and pan he could find in the kitchen first, he then took a tray and began gathering up table service from the dining room. The noise of the plates and bowls seemed to jar Abby out of her mental fog, and silently she began to gather up the condiment bowls and take them to the kitchen.
Abby's third trip into the dining room, she took an old afghan and covered the bodies of Carol and Al, vaguely wondering why the clan hadn't removed all of the bodies. She frowned at the shrouded bodies, wondering what would happen next to her dreams.
It took an hour and a half to wash all the dishes and set the kitchen, dining room and the front room to rights and sit with drinks to rest a bit.
"Thank you," Abby said softly, "I appreciate the help. Especially since you sent all those people on their way; I didn't have the ability to deal with them after all this."
"Tell me about the couple over there; that's a sure fire way; do they have relatives we need to notify, and are there more people coming through that need to stay here? What about the rooms and sheet laundry?" Jerry was running down a mental list of problems he had thought out.
"I'm not sure, Carol always handled the reservations, so I suppose that information is on or in her desk. I also don't know about any relatives, neither she nor Al ever mentioned kids or brothers or sisters. Usually, tours like the one that just left were scheduled a week apart and that gives me time to get the rooms cleaned and the wash done." Abby got a thick tone to her voice, feeling the sorrow of loosing her friends and bosses.
"You do all the work?" Jerry had a angry question to his voice. "Abby, that's too much, you are going to work yourself into a early grave."
Abby was slightly nodding, heaving a huge sigh. "I'm already bone tired, I know that's the reason I had delayed reflexes when that creep burst in the door."
"I'd like you to take a nap, I'll certainly wake you immediately when the sheriff returns."