Story Grace, Mercy and Blessings
- Thread starter PacNorWest
- Start date
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#214
George spoke up loudly, "Kids, meet me at the candy counter; you may each choose one piece of candy. If you take the candy, you have to sit down on the floor over there and quietly enjoy your treat. No exceptions."
Naturally, there was a thundering herd of feet headed for the glass showcase displaying the rare treats. Children, even Donny's kids lined up for the prize. There were so many kinds of candy, it was hard to choose; but the agonizing decisions took quite a bit of time, which was George's objective.
Rennie shuddered, thinking of her children eating candy on an empty stomach, but she put on a game day face and went to help with the cooking. Four ladies went upstairs with Millie, toting jars of canned venison and canned potatoes.
Millie's small kitchen was as short of room as the downstairs. Ladies bumped into each other, but smiled and did their best. The food slowly came together, and Chuck and Toby were called to take the heavy stockpots down the stairs. There were ten bowls and spoons, and when the youngest kids had eaten the bowls and spoons had to go back upstairs to be washed.
It took a long time for everyone to get food, the women sat down to have a rest and eat themselves. "What about Corbin's men?", Millie happened to look out the window and see several of the men walking around in the woods. "They will need to be fed."
To a lady, they all gave a deep sigh and went downstairs to get more jars.
George spoke up loudly, "Kids, meet me at the candy counter; you may each choose one piece of candy. If you take the candy, you have to sit down on the floor over there and quietly enjoy your treat. No exceptions."
Naturally, there was a thundering herd of feet headed for the glass showcase displaying the rare treats. Children, even Donny's kids lined up for the prize. There were so many kinds of candy, it was hard to choose; but the agonizing decisions took quite a bit of time, which was George's objective.
Rennie shuddered, thinking of her children eating candy on an empty stomach, but she put on a game day face and went to help with the cooking. Four ladies went upstairs with Millie, toting jars of canned venison and canned potatoes.
Millie's small kitchen was as short of room as the downstairs. Ladies bumped into each other, but smiled and did their best. The food slowly came together, and Chuck and Toby were called to take the heavy stockpots down the stairs. There were ten bowls and spoons, and when the youngest kids had eaten the bowls and spoons had to go back upstairs to be washed.
It took a long time for everyone to get food, the women sat down to have a rest and eat themselves. "What about Corbin's men?", Millie happened to look out the window and see several of the men walking around in the woods. "They will need to be fed."
To a lady, they all gave a deep sigh and went downstairs to get more jars.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
He's still in that closet lol. Thank you Pac.
Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
He's way safer in there than running about lose while the clan is being attacked, never mind some peoples' anger management issues; right about now, woe betide anyone falling into Dory's clutches
Didn't you see? When the raiders returned fire on the bunkhouse, seemed like most of the rounds went through that closet. Only Pac knows if he is dead, huddle in a repentant ball on the urine covered floor, or somewhere between.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#215
Millie took one look at the tired ladies and the number of Corbin's men that would need to be fed. She made an executive decision. "Ladies, let's make chili; we have canned beans downstairs and if a couple of you will start opening meat and start it cooking in the stockpot, the rest of us will bring up the beans.
When Millie declared, that's the way it happened.
Corbin's men out in the woods, helped themselves to the meal that had been cooking in the mess tent of the attackers. They didn't often get steak, and to a man they weren't going to pass up the opportunity.
"What high on the hog eating," was the most often uttered phrase. They were all pleased, except the de facto leader who had the smashed mouth. "Cut small pieces," the man dishing out the meat advised with a grin, "I saved you a nice tender hunk," and he shoved a plate toward the starving defender.
There was plenty of canned fruit that disappeared quickly, and the potatoes weren't completely cooked, so they were set aside to take back to the main group. "The ladies may want to come get the cooking things here; I'll mention it to Corbin and see what he says."
"We probably should go get Corbin and the guy that's the head of the clan, I know what I would do with all these bodies, but we had better get the official Ok." The assistant commander gave his opinion.
"He'd better go along with your idea," there was a growl from a man with his mouth full of steak. "I ain't digging that many graves." There were nods and assents in the group.
"To the victors go the spoils," the 'cook' laughed, "I ain't goin nowhere or doing any talking until all this meat is gone. This must have been some outfit, to eat like this. Say, ...I'm thinking we should go get the men and have them round up all these horses; theirs and the attackers, no sense in letting good horses and rigging go to waste."
With full bellies, men in good spirits walked back to the sad, remaining buildings.
Corbin and Mark went to view the 'killing field.' and the rest of the men went to gather up the loose horses.
Upstairs in the grocery, the ladies looked at the amount of chili they had made, sighed and made small jokes about being ready for supper.
Bruce and Donny were left to provide security in the store. Donny was propped up to look out the big store window, and Bruce walked a security beat as best he could. They were fulfilling a basic need for themselves, to be needed and useful.
The horses were a big problem, where to keep them and how to keep them corralled. It was Andy who said, "we should harness the work horses and hitch them to the wagons, circle the wagons out in a field and put the horses inside the circle."
"Brilliant," Toby approved, and the men went to see if they could rescue enough harness from the piles near the smoldering barns. When the men went to their respective barns, the horses sorted themselves out, many going to group around their familiar owners.
It was difficult to scratch and find harness that the leather hadn't been damaged by the fire. Slowly, teams were put together and walked up to the pasture that held the wagons. Hitched to their respective wagons, they were moved back down to the pasture behind the store and circled.
It wasn't difficult to get the clans horses captured, it was the mounts from the vanquished attackers that were snorty and unwilling to be handled.
"Scumbag horses," Gary growled as he tried to lead a pair of bays toward the wagon enclosure. The pair were tail swishing and twisting, shying sideways, and generally attempting to run over him. "I outta shoot you," he yelled when one of the horses clipped his heel. "We need dog meat, and you're the first to volunteer."
Chuck looked over and said, "don't hold them so tight, give them another foot or so of lead rope and they'll relax."
Gary looked up and gave the helpful suggestion a dark and dirty look, but he eased his grip and the bays settled down. The men worked all afternoon to harness and fix the makeshift corral. Corbin's men brought all the cups, bowls, plates, pots and pans and dumped them in a big pile outside the store's back door.
Ladies picked through the pile, taking items to their wagons, somberly understanding that they would probably be back on the road again.
Millie took one look at the tired ladies and the number of Corbin's men that would need to be fed. She made an executive decision. "Ladies, let's make chili; we have canned beans downstairs and if a couple of you will start opening meat and start it cooking in the stockpot, the rest of us will bring up the beans.
When Millie declared, that's the way it happened.
Corbin's men out in the woods, helped themselves to the meal that had been cooking in the mess tent of the attackers. They didn't often get steak, and to a man they weren't going to pass up the opportunity.
"What high on the hog eating," was the most often uttered phrase. They were all pleased, except the de facto leader who had the smashed mouth. "Cut small pieces," the man dishing out the meat advised with a grin, "I saved you a nice tender hunk," and he shoved a plate toward the starving defender.
There was plenty of canned fruit that disappeared quickly, and the potatoes weren't completely cooked, so they were set aside to take back to the main group. "The ladies may want to come get the cooking things here; I'll mention it to Corbin and see what he says."
"We probably should go get Corbin and the guy that's the head of the clan, I know what I would do with all these bodies, but we had better get the official Ok." The assistant commander gave his opinion.
"He'd better go along with your idea," there was a growl from a man with his mouth full of steak. "I ain't digging that many graves." There were nods and assents in the group.
"To the victors go the spoils," the 'cook' laughed, "I ain't goin nowhere or doing any talking until all this meat is gone. This must have been some outfit, to eat like this. Say, ...I'm thinking we should go get the men and have them round up all these horses; theirs and the attackers, no sense in letting good horses and rigging go to waste."
With full bellies, men in good spirits walked back to the sad, remaining buildings.
Corbin and Mark went to view the 'killing field.' and the rest of the men went to gather up the loose horses.
Upstairs in the grocery, the ladies looked at the amount of chili they had made, sighed and made small jokes about being ready for supper.
Bruce and Donny were left to provide security in the store. Donny was propped up to look out the big store window, and Bruce walked a security beat as best he could. They were fulfilling a basic need for themselves, to be needed and useful.
The horses were a big problem, where to keep them and how to keep them corralled. It was Andy who said, "we should harness the work horses and hitch them to the wagons, circle the wagons out in a field and put the horses inside the circle."
"Brilliant," Toby approved, and the men went to see if they could rescue enough harness from the piles near the smoldering barns. When the men went to their respective barns, the horses sorted themselves out, many going to group around their familiar owners.
It was difficult to scratch and find harness that the leather hadn't been damaged by the fire. Slowly, teams were put together and walked up to the pasture that held the wagons. Hitched to their respective wagons, they were moved back down to the pasture behind the store and circled.
It wasn't difficult to get the clans horses captured, it was the mounts from the vanquished attackers that were snorty and unwilling to be handled.
"Scumbag horses," Gary growled as he tried to lead a pair of bays toward the wagon enclosure. The pair were tail swishing and twisting, shying sideways, and generally attempting to run over him. "I outta shoot you," he yelled when one of the horses clipped his heel. "We need dog meat, and you're the first to volunteer."
Chuck looked over and said, "don't hold them so tight, give them another foot or so of lead rope and they'll relax."
Gary looked up and gave the helpful suggestion a dark and dirty look, but he eased his grip and the bays settled down. The men worked all afternoon to harness and fix the makeshift corral. Corbin's men brought all the cups, bowls, plates, pots and pans and dumped them in a big pile outside the store's back door.
Ladies picked through the pile, taking items to their wagons, somberly understanding that they would probably be back on the road again.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Big thank you.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#216
Clora took a meager amount of utensils to her wagon and climbed inside. Setting on a wooden box that had been left, she closed her eyes and tried to shut out and calm her racing heart and thoughts.
She was tired, dear Lord in heaven she was tired; and now heartsick for the destruction that had happened. Pray, she needed to pray, to thank God for the blessings of safety and no loss of life in the clan. Sitting quietly, Clora talked with her God
Soon, three sets of little boy hands were patting her arm and face. Grouped tightly around their favorite Grandma, the triplets were softly whispering, "Grandma, are you Ok? we are worried 'bout you; you look so very tired. Are you talkin to God, you look like you are. Is He talkin back to you? What is He sayin?"
Clora opened her eyes to smile gently at her three grandboys. "Yes I am tired, yes I am talking to God, and no, He hasn't answered me. Would you boys like to pray and help me by talking to God along with me?"
Three little boys nodded yes and folded their hands. Clora folded her hands and closed her eyes. There was only a few moments of silence, before Paul whispered loudly "Grandma, what are we supposed to be prayin for? I want cookies, is that what you want?"
With her eyes still closed, Clora nodded yes, and that seemed to satisfy the boys. Clora got lost in her prayer, until Peter whispered as loudly as Paul had done, "Grandma, really, how many cookies are you prayin for?"
"More cookies than you boys can eat," Clora almost yawned in her tiredness. She was praying that the Lord lift the oncoming feeling of her old illness, rheumatic fever. Clora understood, that if God wanted her to go through another bout of fever, she would go through it with prayer.
Tess walked up to the open door of Ma's wagon and watched as her boys prayed with Clora.
"Hi Ma, we're prayin for cookies, Grandma said we could, more than we could eat. How many is that gonna be?" Luke questioned. "Grandma's resting, she's tired." he tattled with importance.
"A lot," Tess tried to be solemn, befitting the occasion, but she was laughing inside. "Grandma's tired huh, well I guess she has a good right to be tired; she does more work than anyone else."
"Yeah, we know, she don't hardly have time to play, it's always some kinda work that has to be done." Three little boys were sad that Grandma couldn't drop everything and play with them.
"Your the only one that plays gooder than Grandma," Luke quickly thought about bringing Ma into the prayer fest. "You wanna pray with us?" he asked his mother.
"What if I prayed that three little boys came back to our wagon for a wash-up?" Tess questioned, "I think they look grubby."
"Ahh Ma, do we haff-to?"
"Yes you do, Grandma needs a little rest."
"We don't need no naps," Peter said instantly, "we gots too grown up for naps."
"Oh really," Tess almost laughed when three little boys yawned in unison, right after Clora. Tess would have liked a nap, but with three little livewires, she had to be alert. She didn't sense any more danger, so a little quiet downtime wouldn't hurt.
Mark and all the men gathered for a cup of coffee and a rest. Corbin was busy off talking to his men, actually, he and George were trying to work out a way to pack up the store inventory and move it with the clan.
Clora took a meager amount of utensils to her wagon and climbed inside. Setting on a wooden box that had been left, she closed her eyes and tried to shut out and calm her racing heart and thoughts.
She was tired, dear Lord in heaven she was tired; and now heartsick for the destruction that had happened. Pray, she needed to pray, to thank God for the blessings of safety and no loss of life in the clan. Sitting quietly, Clora talked with her God
Soon, three sets of little boy hands were patting her arm and face. Grouped tightly around their favorite Grandma, the triplets were softly whispering, "Grandma, are you Ok? we are worried 'bout you; you look so very tired. Are you talkin to God, you look like you are. Is He talkin back to you? What is He sayin?"
Clora opened her eyes to smile gently at her three grandboys. "Yes I am tired, yes I am talking to God, and no, He hasn't answered me. Would you boys like to pray and help me by talking to God along with me?"
Three little boys nodded yes and folded their hands. Clora folded her hands and closed her eyes. There was only a few moments of silence, before Paul whispered loudly "Grandma, what are we supposed to be prayin for? I want cookies, is that what you want?"
With her eyes still closed, Clora nodded yes, and that seemed to satisfy the boys. Clora got lost in her prayer, until Peter whispered as loudly as Paul had done, "Grandma, really, how many cookies are you prayin for?"
"More cookies than you boys can eat," Clora almost yawned in her tiredness. She was praying that the Lord lift the oncoming feeling of her old illness, rheumatic fever. Clora understood, that if God wanted her to go through another bout of fever, she would go through it with prayer.
Tess walked up to the open door of Ma's wagon and watched as her boys prayed with Clora.
"Hi Ma, we're prayin for cookies, Grandma said we could, more than we could eat. How many is that gonna be?" Luke questioned. "Grandma's resting, she's tired." he tattled with importance.
"A lot," Tess tried to be solemn, befitting the occasion, but she was laughing inside. "Grandma's tired huh, well I guess she has a good right to be tired; she does more work than anyone else."
"Yeah, we know, she don't hardly have time to play, it's always some kinda work that has to be done." Three little boys were sad that Grandma couldn't drop everything and play with them.
"Your the only one that plays gooder than Grandma," Luke quickly thought about bringing Ma into the prayer fest. "You wanna pray with us?" he asked his mother.
"What if I prayed that three little boys came back to our wagon for a wash-up?" Tess questioned, "I think they look grubby."
"Ahh Ma, do we haff-to?"
"Yes you do, Grandma needs a little rest."
"We don't need no naps," Peter said instantly, "we gots too grown up for naps."
"Oh really," Tess almost laughed when three little boys yawned in unison, right after Clora. Tess would have liked a nap, but with three little livewires, she had to be alert. She didn't sense any more danger, so a little quiet downtime wouldn't hurt.
Mark and all the men gathered for a cup of coffee and a rest. Corbin was busy off talking to his men, actually, he and George were trying to work out a way to pack up the store inventory and move it with the clan.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Thank you Pac. always a joy to read.
Sammy55
Veteran Member
My heart hurts for all of the ladies, but especially for Clora. I thank God that He warned Clora who then warned Mark to get ready. Without the warning, the whole clan would have probably been wiped out.
Pac, please give my (((hugs))) to Clora! And tell her that she's a strong woman with a very strong faith in an extremely strong and awesome Father!
(And thank you, Pac, for another chapter in this saga.)
Pac, please give my (((hugs))) to Clora! And tell her that she's a strong woman with a very strong faith in an extremely strong and awesome Father!
(And thank you, Pac, for another chapter in this saga.)
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
Folks;
just got in from chasing wayward cows, I think they were ready to go to Florida. It's warmed today, up to 15 with a 20mph wind. We hit -18 with a 23 mph wind. Oh, that's right, it's Kansas.
See ya tomorrow.
just got in from chasing wayward cows, I think they were ready to go to Florida. It's warmed today, up to 15 with a 20mph wind. We hit -18 with a 23 mph wind. Oh, that's right, it's Kansas.
See ya tomorrow.
Sammy55
Veteran Member
You got higher temps than we did, Pac! We were only 13-14 above. But it sure was still dang cold in the house! Now we're back to below zero again. I can't wait until the cold front leaves.
Glad you got your cows back. They probably are tired of the cold, too. Stay warm and we'll see ya tomorrow!
Glad you got your cows back. They probably are tired of the cold, too. Stay warm and we'll see ya tomorrow!
Siskiyoumom
Veteran Member
I just watched an incredible micro documentary on the last log run down the Clearwater River in Idaho. And it made me think of Clora. The cooks insisted that each logger had to wash up before eating to prevent typhus and other diseases. There was a long table. On it was a huge galvanized wash tub. Each logger had their own wash basin, they would walk up, dip a ladle into the tub for hot water, fill their basin, wash up, dump their basin into a waste water tub, rinse their basin and add clean water then rinse their hands and then dump that water, then rinse their basin again and be served their meal in it. Amazing.
Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
It probably worked well; limit disease spread and feed the peeps. Considering the era, it might have been the only time hands were washed in a day.
Thank you Ma'am; hope the cows stay home.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
That log drive took place in my back yard. The river drivers used long poles and rode the floating logs down the river. The 'kitchen' was called a Wannigan' and it was a raft with a crude house on it. The majority of the logs were floated on the Clearwater, and a couple of it's feeder rivers; the Northfork and Middlefork.
The Southfork and it's feeder Crooked river were heavily dredged.
The Southfork and it's feeder Crooked river were heavily dredged.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#217
Clora managed a rest, a deep prayer and a quiet contemplation before Mark came walking in to talk to her. "Are you Ok? You disappeared so quickly I got concerned, but couldn't get away." Mark tried to hide his troubled worry.
Looking at Clora, he could see the tired lines around her eyes and mouth. Her most beautiful reddish brown hair had turned gray and now was almost snow white. Clora was sitting so still, her fatigue was alarming. "Are you well?" Mark asked loudly, almost pushing Clora to reply.
"Very tired," Clora replied honestly, "I just don't seem to have much energy. In one way, I'm worried about a reoccurrence of my rheumatic fever. I haven't had it in so long, I had kinda forgotten about it as a problem."
"I hope not," Mark said fervently, "is there any thing I can do to help?"
"I was hoping to get some extra rest; there was no sleep last night or as of yet today. Heavens knows we have enough ladies down there to take command and see that the work gets done. Is there any chance that you might stay around and guard the wagon while I get a quick nap?
"You know I will," Mark pledged, "What do we have in the storm cellar? Anything I can get you as bedding?"
"I'm not sure that I can remember, what I did put down there, let me sleep a bit and I'll go help you."
"Sleep, I'll Ok, but no help, you need to rest. We'll talk about this later." Mark spoke firmly, closing the door on the wagon cabin, cutting off Clora's weak protest.
Tess walked over, her three young men had fallen under the spell of the nap fairy, and she stood talking quietly with her Dad.
"We can go to the Inn that Abby worked at, it has room for us all, but not much in the way of food. Dad, I have a little money to spend, will George sell his inventory? Frankly, I'm ready to move on, in fact I'm planning on going far away from here, even if everyone wants to stay at the Inn. I don't.
Clora managed a rest, a deep prayer and a quiet contemplation before Mark came walking in to talk to her. "Are you Ok? You disappeared so quickly I got concerned, but couldn't get away." Mark tried to hide his troubled worry.
Looking at Clora, he could see the tired lines around her eyes and mouth. Her most beautiful reddish brown hair had turned gray and now was almost snow white. Clora was sitting so still, her fatigue was alarming. "Are you well?" Mark asked loudly, almost pushing Clora to reply.
"Very tired," Clora replied honestly, "I just don't seem to have much energy. In one way, I'm worried about a reoccurrence of my rheumatic fever. I haven't had it in so long, I had kinda forgotten about it as a problem."
"I hope not," Mark said fervently, "is there any thing I can do to help?"
"I was hoping to get some extra rest; there was no sleep last night or as of yet today. Heavens knows we have enough ladies down there to take command and see that the work gets done. Is there any chance that you might stay around and guard the wagon while I get a quick nap?
"You know I will," Mark pledged, "What do we have in the storm cellar? Anything I can get you as bedding?"
"I'm not sure that I can remember, what I did put down there, let me sleep a bit and I'll go help you."
"Sleep, I'll Ok, but no help, you need to rest. We'll talk about this later." Mark spoke firmly, closing the door on the wagon cabin, cutting off Clora's weak protest.
Tess walked over, her three young men had fallen under the spell of the nap fairy, and she stood talking quietly with her Dad.
"We can go to the Inn that Abby worked at, it has room for us all, but not much in the way of food. Dad, I have a little money to spend, will George sell his inventory? Frankly, I'm ready to move on, in fact I'm planning on going far away from here, even if everyone wants to stay at the Inn. I don't.
Siskiyoumom
Veteran Member
Thank you PAC and Lili, I love knowing history. At one time our local River was so full of salmon they clogged the river at spawning time.
Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
This place sounded good, opportunity for a sustainable life seemed abundant but .... was it the volves or the urns? Something evil is in the caboose of the Linderman Train and, once again, a trek to somewhere looms ...
Lake Lili
Veteran Member
I believe that the last log booms went down the river about 1972, ahead of when the salmon came back. The log runs were in April/May and the salmon runs were in June/July. There was still an active sports fishery on the river until about 5-years ago and then suddenly the fish stopped coming. The halt of a market for seals skins [not looking for a political debate here] has resulted in an over abundance of seals in the Gulf of St Lawrence, but it is the burgeoning population of harbour seals which has impacted the salmon fishery, as the seals are selective in eating juvenile salmon... meanwhile the grey seals are indulging in cod. There is no winning We do traditionally eat seal here, but it has a consistency, texture and taste of a rubber tire. I would have to be well down in the patry to be eating jarred seal.
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sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Thank you Pac.
Old Gray Mare
TB Fanatic
Or was it a plan to smoke the clan out of the town where they were dug in? The clan might be more vulnerable on the open road.
Only PAC knows for sure.
Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
What a devious strategist .... are you two related?
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#218
Mark held his promise. He guarded the wagon with his precious Clora inside sleeping. Deep down, he was well pleased that she had asked for his help. She so seldom asked for anything at all, that he felt like the mighest prince, guarding his fair lady.
Tess let her boys sleep for over an hour, and finally they woke hungry. She conferred with Mark, and they decided to wait until Clora was awake, and they they would make a trek up to their storm cellars.
"Tess, I've never asked for future information, but ....... I have a need to know if there are any further attacks in the immediate future?"
"I don't feel any immenent danger; but I need to cross reference with Ma. Her sense is still the strongest and most highly developed. Mine, well I'm still working on getting it back; you know there was a time that my problems with Ben almost erased my ability." Tess was frank and direct.
"No, I wasn't aware. Did Ma know?" Mark was curious.
"Yes, and we decided that it was best to keep the 'knowing' under the radar. Sometimes people get all weirded out when they figure you can read their thoughts, and at other times, the more people know about the ability, the weaker it becomes. It's like they sap energy away, a draining, you might call it."
"I'm getting the itch to sleep here in the wagon tonight. I need sleep without 90 other people." Mark was firm. "I'm definately feeling anti-social, in fact down right crabby with the lack of sleep. It must be my age," he joked.
"I'm right there with you Dad, I love everyone, but need my space. Especially with the boys, I'm not happy to expose them to the behavior of some of my nephews."
"Oh, you've noticed," Mark deadpanned with a chuckle. "I was hoping that Gary would get some 'Ranger type' training started, but the attack has put that notion by the wayside. Tell me Tess, have you thought how far and long you intend to travel?"
"This is going to sound crazy, but West. I intend to travel far out of Wyatt's territory, I am so dissapointed in the character of that man, and he failed so miserability, and now I'm wondering if I'm going to run every time I have a setback." Tess looked far off towards the timber.
"You weren't raised that way," Mark midly retorted, feeling unsettled at Tess's revelations. As a father, he wanted the best for his daughter, but he didn't want to father a quitter, either. "We can't just up and move every time you need to put distance between yourself and something. That's definately not good for the boys."
"I know," whatever Tess was going to say, was postponed by the door of her wagon cabin easing open and bright, inquiring eyes sparkling with michief peeked out.
"Ma, Grandad, where's Grandma?" Luke wanted to know.
"I guess that tells you where we stand, way behind the importance of Grandma," Tess smarted off with a grin.
Clora opened the door to her cabin, and stepped down. "Oh, I needed that sleep, I feel much better."
"Us too Grandma, we slept gooder than ever."
Mark held his promise. He guarded the wagon with his precious Clora inside sleeping. Deep down, he was well pleased that she had asked for his help. She so seldom asked for anything at all, that he felt like the mighest prince, guarding his fair lady.
Tess let her boys sleep for over an hour, and finally they woke hungry. She conferred with Mark, and they decided to wait until Clora was awake, and they they would make a trek up to their storm cellars.
"Tess, I've never asked for future information, but ....... I have a need to know if there are any further attacks in the immediate future?"
"I don't feel any immenent danger; but I need to cross reference with Ma. Her sense is still the strongest and most highly developed. Mine, well I'm still working on getting it back; you know there was a time that my problems with Ben almost erased my ability." Tess was frank and direct.
"No, I wasn't aware. Did Ma know?" Mark was curious.
"Yes, and we decided that it was best to keep the 'knowing' under the radar. Sometimes people get all weirded out when they figure you can read their thoughts, and at other times, the more people know about the ability, the weaker it becomes. It's like they sap energy away, a draining, you might call it."
"I'm getting the itch to sleep here in the wagon tonight. I need sleep without 90 other people." Mark was firm. "I'm definately feeling anti-social, in fact down right crabby with the lack of sleep. It must be my age," he joked.
"I'm right there with you Dad, I love everyone, but need my space. Especially with the boys, I'm not happy to expose them to the behavior of some of my nephews."
"Oh, you've noticed," Mark deadpanned with a chuckle. "I was hoping that Gary would get some 'Ranger type' training started, but the attack has put that notion by the wayside. Tell me Tess, have you thought how far and long you intend to travel?"
"This is going to sound crazy, but West. I intend to travel far out of Wyatt's territory, I am so dissapointed in the character of that man, and he failed so miserability, and now I'm wondering if I'm going to run every time I have a setback." Tess looked far off towards the timber.
"You weren't raised that way," Mark midly retorted, feeling unsettled at Tess's revelations. As a father, he wanted the best for his daughter, but he didn't want to father a quitter, either. "We can't just up and move every time you need to put distance between yourself and something. That's definately not good for the boys."
"I know," whatever Tess was going to say, was postponed by the door of her wagon cabin easing open and bright, inquiring eyes sparkling with michief peeked out.
"Ma, Grandad, where's Grandma?" Luke wanted to know.
"I guess that tells you where we stand, way behind the importance of Grandma," Tess smarted off with a grin.
Clora opened the door to her cabin, and stepped down. "Oh, I needed that sleep, I feel much better."
"Us too Grandma, we slept gooder than ever."
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#219
"I believe I'll go ask George if I may borrow his wheelbarrow, that's easier than just carrying an armfull of stuff." Basically, Mark wanted to get Clora away from the impending press of people. He had several important thoughts he wanted to talk to her about, and they needed to be alone to discuss the entireity of the matter.
Returning with the wheel barrow, Mark and Clora walked up the road to their lane, Tess and boys trailing along until they went to their driveway. All over the compound, people were walking toward their burned houses and barns, curious to find what they could in the wreckage.
Clora had two blankets and extra shoes, along with a couple of coats; the home canned jars of food and most of Mark's inventory of weapons and ammo. There were hats, of course Mark's favorite one, and two changes of clothes for each of them. That was the sum of their worldly goods, a more sparce collection than they had ever had before.
Taking a rest on the cellar stools, Mark opened the serious discussion. "Clora, we have money, in fact I have a good deal left from the metal money. It's enough to parcel out to everyone to buy a satisfactory grubstake to take us away from here. Where ever we go, as long as we stop by the first to middle of July and prepare for winter, we will be Ok. I do have some concerns about some of the people; I don't see that every one is suitable to travel." There, he said it, letting the 800 pound elephant appear in the room.
Clora simply nodded, she understood all to well that they were a fractured bunch. In fact, she also understood there wouldn't be many of them leaving.
"I don't mind sharing," she said softly, "but we do need to have some money in reserve. There is a place waiting for us, and Tess also, but they will be expensive. Mark, not every one will consider going on the move again. I feel that Toby and his family, perhaps Milo and his family will go with us, Gary, and thats about it. George and Millie are serious about bringing Donny and all his family into their family. I see them operating the Inn with all the help that will provide. "
"If Donny stays, I'm betting Andy will also. If Andy and Judy stay, I'm sure Corbin and Clara will stay.
I don't see the doctors moving, and if they stay, so will Seamus and Phoebe and family. Chuck, who knows." Mark mused, as he thought out the future. "So that will be four families, will that be enough to travel safely and defend ourselves?"
"If we go, then I guess it will have to be enough," Clora was practical, calm and unafraid. She reached over and patted Mark's arm. "How much are you thinking of investing in each family?"
"A couple of thousand each. Gary and Chuck, I'm thinking I might see which way their winds will blow, before I dump a lot of cash in them. I'm also not planning on gifting Corbin and George. Both those men and families are have their own wealth and didn't earn a portion of our pain and suffering. I believe the three ladies will stay with the families they work for, so actually, it turns out to be tidy and uncomplicated." Mark was happy to have worked out a plan to his relief, that he felt they would be leaving behind the majority of problems that would happen.
Mark was so deep in his planning, that he didn't hear Clora chuckle. She patted his arm once again and proposed they get a move on, it was late afternoon and they still needed to help Tess gather up enough to spend the night in her wagon.
"I believe I'll go ask George if I may borrow his wheelbarrow, that's easier than just carrying an armfull of stuff." Basically, Mark wanted to get Clora away from the impending press of people. He had several important thoughts he wanted to talk to her about, and they needed to be alone to discuss the entireity of the matter.
Returning with the wheel barrow, Mark and Clora walked up the road to their lane, Tess and boys trailing along until they went to their driveway. All over the compound, people were walking toward their burned houses and barns, curious to find what they could in the wreckage.
Clora had two blankets and extra shoes, along with a couple of coats; the home canned jars of food and most of Mark's inventory of weapons and ammo. There were hats, of course Mark's favorite one, and two changes of clothes for each of them. That was the sum of their worldly goods, a more sparce collection than they had ever had before.
Taking a rest on the cellar stools, Mark opened the serious discussion. "Clora, we have money, in fact I have a good deal left from the metal money. It's enough to parcel out to everyone to buy a satisfactory grubstake to take us away from here. Where ever we go, as long as we stop by the first to middle of July and prepare for winter, we will be Ok. I do have some concerns about some of the people; I don't see that every one is suitable to travel." There, he said it, letting the 800 pound elephant appear in the room.
Clora simply nodded, she understood all to well that they were a fractured bunch. In fact, she also understood there wouldn't be many of them leaving.
"I don't mind sharing," she said softly, "but we do need to have some money in reserve. There is a place waiting for us, and Tess also, but they will be expensive. Mark, not every one will consider going on the move again. I feel that Toby and his family, perhaps Milo and his family will go with us, Gary, and thats about it. George and Millie are serious about bringing Donny and all his family into their family. I see them operating the Inn with all the help that will provide. "
"If Donny stays, I'm betting Andy will also. If Andy and Judy stay, I'm sure Corbin and Clara will stay.
I don't see the doctors moving, and if they stay, so will Seamus and Phoebe and family. Chuck, who knows." Mark mused, as he thought out the future. "So that will be four families, will that be enough to travel safely and defend ourselves?"
"If we go, then I guess it will have to be enough," Clora was practical, calm and unafraid. She reached over and patted Mark's arm. "How much are you thinking of investing in each family?"
"A couple of thousand each. Gary and Chuck, I'm thinking I might see which way their winds will blow, before I dump a lot of cash in them. I'm also not planning on gifting Corbin and George. Both those men and families are have their own wealth and didn't earn a portion of our pain and suffering. I believe the three ladies will stay with the families they work for, so actually, it turns out to be tidy and uncomplicated." Mark was happy to have worked out a plan to his relief, that he felt they would be leaving behind the majority of problems that would happen.
Mark was so deep in his planning, that he didn't hear Clora chuckle. She patted his arm once again and proposed they get a move on, it was late afternoon and they still needed to help Tess gather up enough to spend the night in her wagon.