Story Grace, Mercy and Blessings

PacNorWest

Veteran Member
#203

Early Sunday morning under the cover of the deep night; men scattered to their houses to 'relocate' valuable items to their storm cellars. Loading the wood stoves with as much wood as they would hold and shutting down the drafts to create tendrils of thick smoke, the men made it look like each house was occupied.

Returning to the clinic before dawn, the men watched as the day warmed and the stoves ran out of wood. A common happening in the warming weather, it gave the appearance that life was normal and each individual house was occupied.

Mark had church in the regular manner, and afterwards, as Wyatt was preparing to leave, Tess appeared and sadly told Wyatt 'to be careful.'

"Thank you, I will," he graciously replied, and made good his escape. As he rode away, the Sheriff didn't have to turn around and look; to feel the censure from the clan.



Jerry and Abby had their discussion; it ran from early morning breakfast, through mid morning coffee break and down through lunch. Abby found Jerry's answers were honest but sadly lacking in depth and staying power.

"You say you don't know why you left, and how do I know you will stay?" the question was asked several times, and with each answer, Abby was more and more convinced that Jerry might stay, until he didn't.

Abby cleaned the lunch dishes and set the kitchen in order. She had just about made up her mind, there was no future with Jerry, and she was tired of 24 hour a day work. Walking out to the barn, she hitched the horse to the small wagon, went to the house for a small suitcase of clothes and a coat and hat. Throwing her slicker on the wagon bed, Abby dumped whatever she thought would be necessary to camp her way North. She had just turned out on the road when Wyatt came traveling by.

Wyatt took one look at the wagon seat and felt a glimmer of hope. "Miss Abby, would you take on a hurting fella as a passenger?"

Abby nodded and Wyatt tied his horse to the back of the wagon. It took three tries for him to climb up into the seat, the strain on his throbbing arm enough to make him weak.

Abby was the very best kind of a traveling companion. She said not a word.
 

PacNorWest

Veteran Member
#204

"How far do you think the attackers will expect Wyatt to travel; before they really get interested in us. I'm guessing at least two days travel at the least, they will want the group going North to be well out of earshot." Toby was sitting at the grouped together tables in the one waiting room turned dining room.

"Sounds about right," Corbin nodded, "I wish I was confidant that they weren't observing us, but that might be too much to ask. I'd like to suggest that we keep the shades drawn on the woods facing windows."

"Good call, I think the ladies have already taken care of that, but everyone, keep the ideas coming; we can't afford the slightest slip up." Milo was uncomfortable in the beastly hard chair he was using."There's no danger of napping on guard duty, these feel like any Doctor's office chairs, I've ever sat in."

Bruce snickered, "we do that on purpose, it cut's down on people wanting to loiter." That brought a much need bit of amusement to the hard muscled men in enforced captivity, also known as lockdown.

The other large room was used as a playroom for all the children. There was a lot of bickering and squabbling going on, the energy pulsing into the kitchen.

Rennie was standing in the small space between the back door and the end of the counter, "it's difficult to tell which room has the most whining floating out under the door," she observed tartly, and that of course brought a laugh from all the ladies present.

There was a sound from the hallway, and who should appear but Phoebe and her two brand new babies. Cries of "welcome, and pass those beautiful babies around," filled the air. Phoebe was ensconced in a chair at the table and asked for a cup of tea.

"We have black, green and mint." Clara paused at the cupboard, waiting for Phoebe to say.

"I'm really thirsty," Phoebe commented, "could I have a large mug with one green and one mint?"

In the background, Trish was nodding her approval. and the babies were passed around and loved on.




Jerry watched Abby drive away. The sheriff caught up with her wagon, and the man transferred himself to the wagon and they drove out of sight. There wasn't anything to do but give a big sigh.

Abby was correct, he couldn't say the words; … that he would commit to her and not leave if the going got tough. He loved her, but he just couldn't say if it was strong enough to be 100%. Jerry spent a long, silent afternoon sitting in the kitchen of the Inn, thinking.

The day clouded over and the grey shadows of evening filled the Inn. Jerry lit a lamp and went exploring, going through the rooms and living quarters, as he slowly put together an idea. There was enough in the way of supplies to put together a solid grubstake. He brought those items he needed and wanted down to the kitchen table, and with military precision, befitting his many years of service, he stocked his plan.

Early the next morning, Jerry took a case of Al's distilled 'medicine' to town and traded for a four up team, wagon and good harness. Jerry filled his wagon with everything he felt necessary, to start a new life. The next morning, he harnessed and drove off, intending to go West. How far, he didn't care.
 

Texican

Live Free & Die Free.... God Freedom Country....
Jerry kissed Abby permanently goodby. May he find peace and what he is looking for.

The bad guys are out there and waiting. What surprises does the klan have for them?

Thanks Pac for the chapters.

Texican....
 

Sammy55

Veteran Member
Thanks, Pac!! A triple cliff this time! You have outdone yourself!!

I'm ready whenever you are to get off the cliff, onward and forward.... LOL!!
 

PacNorWest

Veteran Member
#205

Early Monday morning, just as the men were assembling to go to their respective houses and start the chimney smoke subterfuge; The first bullet hit the back window of George and Millie's apartment.

The shattering glass was loud in the quiet of the morning, and all the men standing in the kitchen instinctively ducked. "Well, I guess the attack has located it's self and time. They must be in a real hurry." Bruce spoke up and all the men nodded.

The bullets started coming fast and furious, all the houses were losing windows. Who ever started the attack was spending a lot of ammunition, "trying to soften us up," Gary observed, "well let them bring it on, it's been a good while since we've had a fight and my trigger finger is itchy."

The bullets fell like rain. and only one sniper answered from the clinic. Gary was the first shift sniper, and this time he didn't try to hide his battle rifle. Mark was interested in the weapon that was a slight upgrade from his beloved and trusty rifle.

In the dark, Gary was using his thermal optics, patiently waiting for muzzle flashes to help pinpoint possible targets. He shot twice, rather than pace himself with a single here and there. "That's two," he called out. "They're just inside the tree line, well hidden and I can't tell if they are just laying down a blanket of fire to advance men on the ground."

It wasn't hard to find a broken window to be able to fire from. Mark, Milo, Toby, Gary and now Tess showed up with night vision, infra-red and a couple of thermals.

"Well, I'd say they have some sort of night optics," Chuck gave his opinion. "Other wise they wouldn't be able to target so many windows." He was busy inspecting the weapons the clan had in hand. "Where'd you guys get such weapons, those don't come from the local gun store."

"Long, long story; too involved to tell it here and now. When we get done with this, we'll clue you in." Toby came back from helping the last of the women and children down stairs to the storm shelter. "We haven't always been the calm and loveable, meek and mild mannered men you see here," he deadpanned.

"What a load of horse pucky," Chuck sputtered out; ""it seems to me that this is serious, maybe a little more serious than joking about it, is going to cover."

"Do you feel like you are in immediate danger?" Mark joined the conversation. "I don't see the need to expend our ammunition's in the first thirty minutes. We need daylight to do an estimation of how large a force we're dealing with."

"Yeah," Don chimed in nervously, "but you guys are still acting awful cool, for the predicament we're in."

"Just don't go outside," Milo grinned, "You gents cover the windows in the front and other rooms, I suggest you stay to the side, but you don't have to." His jest was punctuated by the sound of another window breaking.

Don and Chuck were moving to the suggested outposts and they shook their heads in dismay.
 

PacNorWest

Veteran Member
#206

"Hey, they set my barn afire!" Chuck was yelling as he went for the front door.

"Do you want to be dead stupid?" Mark snarled as he yanked on Chuck's arm. "That's exactly what they are looking for, some half crazed idiot to go running out and either get shot or captured. If you look with eyes that aren't filled with rage, you can see by the firelight that your horse is saddled and being led away from the barn. Be prepared, your house will be next." Chuck took a deep breath and leveled a shot at the dark shadow fading into the night. It felt good to do something positive, but it brought a hail of bullets from outside the fiery light to impact the front of the clinic.

"By now, they know the houses are empty, and that we are all grouped here," Mark addressed the clan. "The attackers obviously want the horses and wagons, so I believe those items are relatively safe. Know this, they mean to kill the men and take the women and children prisoner. So, from now on, our concern is to stay alive and prevent their capture."

Hardened men nodded agreement, it was sobering to feel the scope of what was happening. As bad as the attackers might treat the men, the women and children were spoils of war, and used accordingly.

The next place to be fired was Donny's house and barn. As he lay on the gurney and listened to the men talk, he mourned the loss of the only stability that Sally and her brothers and sisters knew. All the hard work they had done, gone to ashes. Donny had never felt so defeated in his young life.
There might have been a scalding tear or two in the corner of his eye.

Gary's rifle barked twice, "that's four," he intoned. "I've been choosing outlines against the fire's light, I'm not anxious for them to know we have night vision."

"Good call," Milo approved, "no reason to tip our hand too early."

The hour wore on, and it was plain to see that Tess's house and barn was burning. The empty cabin at the end of the row suddenly caught fire.

"What about your guys in the building next to George's, how are you going to start them shooting?" Toby asked.

Corbin laughed and held up the ooga horn that Chuck had installed on the front of his second hand store.

"That should do it," Andy looked at the old horn and managed a half smile. "It's surprising what we have come up with to get by."

Slowly, the dawn started lightening the eastern sky; aided by the fire in Don's cabin and shed.

Almost immediately, the sawmill flamed high in the sky, and Milo and Honey's house and barn was torched.

As each house and barn burned; all the security and substance inside was sounding the death knell for heartsick clan's men and their families.

Suddenly, all sorts of gunfire erupted from the building housing Corbin's men. Suddenly, bodies started piling up on the ground between the burning sawmill and the bunkhouse.
 

Sammy55

Veteran Member
This chapter was a hard one to read. I don't know if I could have stayed as cool as they did. My heart is hurting for the family....
 

Texican

Live Free & Die Free.... God Freedom Country....
Suddenly, all sorts of gunfire erupted from the building housing Corbin's men. Suddenly, bodies started piling up on the ground between the burning sawmill and the bunkhouse.

Put sufficient scum down permanently on the ground and wounded and the scum will run.

Thanks Pac for the chapter.

Texican....
 

Griz3752

Retired, practising Curmudgeon
Dang, so much destruction :(

Hopefully there will be just as much destruction hitting the bad guys!
Any surviving raiders can become:
1. Labour
2. Fertilizer

Realistically they could progress from 1 to 2, based on situational requirements. Time will tell.
 

PacNorWest

Veteran Member
#206

Standing in the still dark room of the clinic, Mark had the flash of understanding of why Clora brought her treasured frying pan with her.

He could see the outline of his house in the flame light of Tess's burning house. It wasn't long before tongues of fire began licking at his place, the barn erupting all at once. "They must be using some sort of accelerant, barns don't burn that fiercely when they first catch on fire." he observed with suppressed anger.

"I notice that they are careful not to burn the storm cellars. I suppose the leaders have rightly figured that we would have moved all of our valuables to them. Either that or they have been observing us."

"Probably both," Toby watched as Andy's house went up in flame. "I don't believe we are dealing with stupid people. They hope to be creating frozen fear in us."

"I don't know about fear, but I'm so angry I could spit nails." Any walked in the room. He had been standing next to Donny, and looked out the broken window to see his house torched. "So I guess Toby, your house is next."

"Nope," Chuck interrupted, "Gary's, my place, Dory's and Reva's just went up."

Toby coughed, "they must have quite a crew to be firing all the buildings at once. There goes my place."

Gunfire erupted from the bunkhouse, and another pile of bullet fodder fell to the ground around Reva's cabin and another pile around Toby's.

"Ok, now we get ready to defend Seamus's place. If it goes up, this place will go also. That's their plan, to force us out and that's when the men get cut down and the remainder of the women and children captured." Mark gave the go ahead to shoot at will.

"Who ever the mastermind is, is tricky. None of the horses, or anything of value to them, has been harmed. I notice that there are piles of harness on the ground outside of the barns, and the wagons are not burned, they think they will need a way to carry off the plunder."

In the silence, Corbin leaned near a broken window and blew on the horn with all his might. There were shouts of approval and a volley of gunfire rained toward the woods. There was return fire, and those inside the clinic used their night vision to pick off individuals they could see in the distance.

The day started happening in earnest, and light overtook the shadows. Smoldering ruins dotted the landscape, the stench and burning haze roiling with the light breeze that swirled and eddied across the ground.

If there had been marksmen among the attacking force, they were over shadowed by the sheer volume of bullets fired at the clan and the wagon train men.

"This is it," Gary called out, "this is the push, they will try to overwhelm and overtake us. Seamus, get to praying; we need all the help we can get."

"Don't waste ammo, pick a target and shoot to kill," Mark called out seconds later.

Three hours later, the incoming fire power stopped. Don nearly jumped out of his skin when the face of one of Corbin's men appeared right beside him in the broken window.

"We're going after them, don't shoot us," he hastily yelled, and disappeared. Several minutes later a horrific gunfight erupted in the dense cover of the trees and brush. This time, there was a lot of screaming and shouting, flying bullets impacting trees and raising puffs of dust in the ground.

An hour later, the sounds of fighting had slowed to the occasional pop sound, and the screaming reduced to low moans of agony.

"I'm going to go out and check," Corbin announced, and was nixed by Don and Chuck. "We'll go, we're not married, so let us circle around and nobody take any shots at us."

The two men made it out the front door and got to the bunkhouse. There was a echo of a whizzing retort and Don crumpled to the ground. Corbin flattened himself against the wall, and felt a bullet come close to the side of his head.
 

PacNorWest

Veteran Member
#207

Tess heard the shots that surrounded the two scouts and she watched carefully at the ruins of Chuck's burned out buildings. Patiently she held her rifle until a head popped up to take another pot shot at Chuck.

With careful aim, she dispatched the attacker, and earned a wave from Chuck.

"Good shooting Sis," Milo said from behind her, "I get dibs on you being on my side and team."

"I dunno," Tess pretended to think the statement over seriously, "I'm pretty expensive and come with high maintenance."

"Yeah, but you're worth it," Toby chimed in with the compliment, "If Milo's not to your liking, you can join up with me."

"I suppose someone had better go get Don and tell Chuck he can move, it's a DOA for Don, that's gonna be a tough patch for Reva." Tess spoke low.

"Reva? Huh, really?" Milo acted like he had no idea the middle sister was interested in the perennially wounded Don.

"Where have you been?" Toby acted like he was up to date on all the local gossip, when he didn't have a clue either, but passed himself off as astute and on top of things. He nodded sagely.

Tess snorted. "You might as well have Chuck come back into the clinic. Corbin's men are taking no prisoners. They have orders to find the head man and bring him in, but that's the only one."

"I'm thankful that he has ordered that, but Dad won't be pleased." Toby commented.

"Don't be too sure, Ma shared with him that she was to be killed, not captured, and you know how he gets when she is in danger," Milo was looking at Mark as the head lion stood chatting with Corbin. "It's hard to believe he's the age he is, Ma also."

"This is going to be a major problem with so many houses destroyed, I may consider moving on," Milo said the words casually, but he was carefully watching Toby and Tess's reactions.

"Might as well," Tess said offhand, "there's nothing here, for sure."

The two brothers flashed a telling glance at each other. Without being asked, Tess let them know she had no attachments to the area, that Wyatt was a non person for the future.

"Let's have a meeting when this is all shook down," Toby added, "we can talk to everyone and let them be thinking on what they want to do."
 

Texican

Live Free & Die Free.... God Freedom Country....
The battle has been won, but not yet over. Caution is still necessary.

The near town has a hotel that needs new ownership and probably farm homesteads.

There is Missouri which is not as bad winter wise.

Where will the klan go?

Thanks Pac for the chapter.

Texican....
 

Griz3752

Retired, practising Curmudgeon
Well all this supposition is fine but .... I'm really keen on learning if the other branch of the family is fully involved or just pawns, are there any 'volve' pups hanging about in the woods and who is this 'head guy'? And does any or all of it relate back to the urns?

Oh, yeah; which of the sisters is going to save the reprobate from himself?

Only one person in this thread knows .... Mrs PAC?

Hopefully you're going to shine some light on this, right?

Please?

I'm too old & fat to hang by my finger nails like this .......

And by the way .....:applaud:
 
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