Story Grace, Mercy and Blessings
- Thread starter PacNorWest
- Start date
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
And the move is on again. Thank you.
Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
That clanking you hear? The urns are bringing up the rear, rolling along, just waiting ..... but, who knows what the trigger will be???
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#226
Ricky had a plan. He was congratulating himself for quick thinking on the fly. He stood and let Rennie drive by, he wasn't anxious to deal with her. She gave off a vibe that she really didn't care for him, and she acted like her two kids were too important to play with him, so to heck with her.
Ricky fully intended to ride with Gary; and when the scowling man started to drive right on past, Ricky stepped up and windmilled his arms for the last wagon to stop. That spooked the horses and they wanted to bolt.
Ricky yelled that he wanted to ride with him, and what he got was a "get the hell away from me" snarl.
"I don't care who you ride with, but it's not gonna be me." and once he got his horses under control, Gary didn't stop or look back.
Suddenly, Ricky was standing all alone on the open prairie, and the wagons were slowly pulling away from him. He had a fleeting thought about walking back to the rest of the clan, but that went away in a hurry. So he had to run.
By the time Ricky had run to catch the wagons, and run up the line to catch Miss Dory, he was seriously out of breath. Gasping, he asked for a ride. Dory nodded, "I'm not stopping, you're going to have to find a way to get on."
Ricky waited for the front wheel to pass, then he dashed in to grab the side, and hung on like a monkey. It took all his strength to work his grip up to latch onto the side of the seat and haul himself up to fall into the front space under the seat.
Ricky lay there for several minutes, catching his breath. Revitalizing, he crawled up on the seat and began telling Dory his long, drawn out tale of sorrow and woe.
"Shut up," Dory said harshly. "If you intend to ride with me, you won't say a word. If you do, I will throw you off the wagon seat."
Ricky's mouth snapped shut and tears welled in his eyes. Folding his arms across his belly, Ricky scowled but kept quiet. Dory looked sideways at her passenger, smiled at the sullen little lump, and went back to humming and driving.
Ricky had a plan. He was congratulating himself for quick thinking on the fly. He stood and let Rennie drive by, he wasn't anxious to deal with her. She gave off a vibe that she really didn't care for him, and she acted like her two kids were too important to play with him, so to heck with her.
Ricky fully intended to ride with Gary; and when the scowling man started to drive right on past, Ricky stepped up and windmilled his arms for the last wagon to stop. That spooked the horses and they wanted to bolt.
Ricky yelled that he wanted to ride with him, and what he got was a "get the hell away from me" snarl.
"I don't care who you ride with, but it's not gonna be me." and once he got his horses under control, Gary didn't stop or look back.
Suddenly, Ricky was standing all alone on the open prairie, and the wagons were slowly pulling away from him. He had a fleeting thought about walking back to the rest of the clan, but that went away in a hurry. So he had to run.
By the time Ricky had run to catch the wagons, and run up the line to catch Miss Dory, he was seriously out of breath. Gasping, he asked for a ride. Dory nodded, "I'm not stopping, you're going to have to find a way to get on."
Ricky waited for the front wheel to pass, then he dashed in to grab the side, and hung on like a monkey. It took all his strength to work his grip up to latch onto the side of the seat and haul himself up to fall into the front space under the seat.
Ricky lay there for several minutes, catching his breath. Revitalizing, he crawled up on the seat and began telling Dory his long, drawn out tale of sorrow and woe.
"Shut up," Dory said harshly. "If you intend to ride with me, you won't say a word. If you do, I will throw you off the wagon seat."
Ricky's mouth snapped shut and tears welled in his eyes. Folding his arms across his belly, Ricky scowled but kept quiet. Dory looked sideways at her passenger, smiled at the sullen little lump, and went back to humming and driving.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Thank you Pac. 
Sneaker 11
RECONDO
While we all create our own reality...........it really smarts to be introduced to actuality.
Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
Better they learn from you; those lessons, taught later, can be way more painful
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#227
Toby as wagon master and Milo as scout had agreed that they would stop the trek mid afternoon, as they had made good time; and it was the first day out. The early stop made the ladies happy, every one except Ricky, appreciated the treat.
Dory bluntly told the young man to go home, she wasn't feeding him, nor could he stay in her wagon.
Ricky was acting like her banishment was the end of the world, but he did manage to mumble,"thanks for the ride." Dory nodded her acceptance and waved him goodbye. She and Tess had made an agreement that they would cook together, and Dory would help watch and care for the triplets.
"I'm trying to do everything to keep Ma from working." Tess smiled and gave the steaming pot of chili a stir.
At Dory's quizzical look, Tess explained. "Ma gets reoccuring bouts of rheumatic fever, and we're hoping to hold this one off by restricting her activities."
"Ah, I was wondering why your Dad was driving, he seems to be such a hand's on person to be content driving the wagon."
"He is," Tess chuckled, "but he takes very good care of Ma, so as a warning, don't get inbetween the two of them. Dad has old war injuries, and he functions on a solid plane if he can see Ma, if that gets interupted, he gets very unpredictable, if you know what I mean?" Tess included a warning in a lighthearted way, but she meant every word. Tess also understood Mark was very unhappy that single woman Dory was complicating the trip in his estimation.
Dory nodded, she took the warning for what it was worth. "I know he wasn't pleased that I came along. But, I needed to take myself away from my sisters. I don't have a clue what I'm looking for, or what I need, but I will know it when I see it. How far are we going and to or towards where?" Dory asked, wondering where they might wind up.
Toby as wagon master and Milo as scout had agreed that they would stop the trek mid afternoon, as they had made good time; and it was the first day out. The early stop made the ladies happy, every one except Ricky, appreciated the treat.
Dory bluntly told the young man to go home, she wasn't feeding him, nor could he stay in her wagon.
Ricky was acting like her banishment was the end of the world, but he did manage to mumble,"thanks for the ride." Dory nodded her acceptance and waved him goodbye. She and Tess had made an agreement that they would cook together, and Dory would help watch and care for the triplets.
"I'm trying to do everything to keep Ma from working." Tess smiled and gave the steaming pot of chili a stir.
At Dory's quizzical look, Tess explained. "Ma gets reoccuring bouts of rheumatic fever, and we're hoping to hold this one off by restricting her activities."
"Ah, I was wondering why your Dad was driving, he seems to be such a hand's on person to be content driving the wagon."
"He is," Tess chuckled, "but he takes very good care of Ma, so as a warning, don't get inbetween the two of them. Dad has old war injuries, and he functions on a solid plane if he can see Ma, if that gets interupted, he gets very unpredictable, if you know what I mean?" Tess included a warning in a lighthearted way, but she meant every word. Tess also understood Mark was very unhappy that single woman Dory was complicating the trip in his estimation.
Dory nodded, she took the warning for what it was worth. "I know he wasn't pleased that I came along. But, I needed to take myself away from my sisters. I don't have a clue what I'm looking for, or what I need, but I will know it when I see it. How far are we going and to or towards where?" Dory asked, wondering where they might wind up.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Big thank you. The west should have been re-done. Just like the rest of the world.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#228
Milo and Toby had chosen well for the night camping spot, water from a small creek and a former lush grove of trees that had been toppled by the previous years tornado. The wood was twisted and difficult to cut, and Gary put his back into cutting enough for the night's supper fires.
The wagons were circled for the night, the horses in the center. To make the circle wide enough, Gary had to build his fire in the space between his wagon and Mark's, in order to have enough room for the animals.
Gary, purposely kept his back to the rest of the wagons, fiddling with his fire and coffee, frying a couple of pieces of meat from George's store. He fully intended to decline the plea he expected from high and mighty Miss Dory, as he expected her to need help unharnessing her team.
In order to stay casual, Gary had to keep his back to the rest of the group, staying busy with his own supper and then dishes.
Dory, with a smile on her lips, silently blew a raspberry at the ornery Gary, his motives all to transparent in her estimation. Dory had many hidden talents, and being capable of driving, unharnessing and caring for her animals was a long acquired professionalism.
Gary, thinking that he had waited long enough, turned around slowly, expecting to see Dory hurrying to come plead with him to help her.
Instead, Dory's team was unhitched, she and Tess were sitting close to the fire, savoring an after supper cup of coffee, talking and occasionally laughing.
Muttering under his breath, Gary spun around and went to do a last, night check of his animals. He was going to bed; tomorrow couldn't help but be better than this day had been.
Mark and Clora walked over to Tess's fire, asking where they were headed.
"I want to head for Ottumwa, there is a ford across the Des Moines river there. We haven't had much rain, so the river shouldn't be flooding ... yet. I've heard that there is a road that paralells the river heading Northwest, easy, fast traveling."
"How far West and North do you think we should go?" Mark was curious.
"There's a town called Belle Plaine; it came to me in a dream. The hills are rolling and the soil is deep. A good place; a place that needs good people like us." she said dreamily.
"Well, " Mark said philosophically, "we are getting further West all the time."
Milo and Toby had chosen well for the night camping spot, water from a small creek and a former lush grove of trees that had been toppled by the previous years tornado. The wood was twisted and difficult to cut, and Gary put his back into cutting enough for the night's supper fires.
The wagons were circled for the night, the horses in the center. To make the circle wide enough, Gary had to build his fire in the space between his wagon and Mark's, in order to have enough room for the animals.
Gary, purposely kept his back to the rest of the wagons, fiddling with his fire and coffee, frying a couple of pieces of meat from George's store. He fully intended to decline the plea he expected from high and mighty Miss Dory, as he expected her to need help unharnessing her team.
In order to stay casual, Gary had to keep his back to the rest of the group, staying busy with his own supper and then dishes.
Dory, with a smile on her lips, silently blew a raspberry at the ornery Gary, his motives all to transparent in her estimation. Dory had many hidden talents, and being capable of driving, unharnessing and caring for her animals was a long acquired professionalism.
Gary, thinking that he had waited long enough, turned around slowly, expecting to see Dory hurrying to come plead with him to help her.
Instead, Dory's team was unhitched, she and Tess were sitting close to the fire, savoring an after supper cup of coffee, talking and occasionally laughing.
Muttering under his breath, Gary spun around and went to do a last, night check of his animals. He was going to bed; tomorrow couldn't help but be better than this day had been.
Mark and Clora walked over to Tess's fire, asking where they were headed.
"I want to head for Ottumwa, there is a ford across the Des Moines river there. We haven't had much rain, so the river shouldn't be flooding ... yet. I've heard that there is a road that paralells the river heading Northwest, easy, fast traveling."
"How far West and North do you think we should go?" Mark was curious.
"There's a town called Belle Plaine; it came to me in a dream. The hills are rolling and the soil is deep. A good place; a place that needs good people like us." she said dreamily.
"Well, " Mark said philosophically, "we are getting further West all the time."
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
NIce, thank you
Orion Commander
Veteran Member
I grew up in the Ottumwa area. Not to far from Belle Plain now. Lots of good glacial till soil here. Good for the clan's food production.
Don't let anyone tell you Iowa is flat.
Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
Last seen patting himself on the back for not being the only paranoid attendee
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#229
Gary went to sleep thinking how little miss Dory would definitely need his help in the morning, and it gave him a smile.
Early the next morning, his smile was forced and his mood down right cantankerous. When Gary poked his head out the wagon door, Dory was just finishing buckling the last traces. Gone in a puff of cooking fire smoke was his grandiose plan to be the swashbuckling hero. Gary would have kicked the wagon wheel, but instead he comforted himself with pulling his coffee pot over the fire to warm up last night's brew. He decided his new mantra would be, 'leave the women alone, leave the women alone.'
It took three days to reach Ottumwa; it was starting to sprinkle rain when the clan got to the ford and Milo urged them to go across in a hurry. Already there were muddy streaks showing in the sluggish, slow moving water. The rain upstream was starting to swell the river.
Gary went to sleep thinking how little miss Dory would definitely need his help in the morning, and it gave him a smile.
Early the next morning, his smile was forced and his mood down right cantankerous. When Gary poked his head out the wagon door, Dory was just finishing buckling the last traces. Gone in a puff of cooking fire smoke was his grandiose plan to be the swashbuckling hero. Gary would have kicked the wagon wheel, but instead he comforted himself with pulling his coffee pot over the fire to warm up last night's brew. He decided his new mantra would be, 'leave the women alone, leave the women alone.'
It took three days to reach Ottumwa; it was starting to sprinkle rain when the clan got to the ford and Milo urged them to go across in a hurry. Already there were muddy streaks showing in the sluggish, slow moving water. The rain upstream was starting to swell the river.
Last edited:
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Many thanks.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#230
Gary was stuck in the river ford mire, and he was swearing to keep himself from exploding. He was absolutely positive that it was Dory fault. When it was her turn to cross, she pulled out of the line to the right, circled around and hit the water with her horses at a trot. They went zipping across.
Now, Gary was stuck and the river was rising rapidly. Milo rode back and untied the three horses Gary was trailing and their colts, taking them to the other side. Mark unhooked his wheel team and walked the pair of heavy horses through the water to be additional help.
There was shouting and yelling at the teams, as they strained and slipped their footing in the mud slick bottom. Milo and Toby had been in the water, using their strength to try and move the wheels. and now the water was waist high. High enough that the men lost their strength and footing, the situtation was becoming more dangerous by the minute, as the water swirled and pulled at them.
Just as the water was about to float and then push the wagon downstream, the horsepower broke it loose from the mud and they went lumbering for the bank. Not a moment too soon. A foot high rush of water came roaring down the normally placid river, bringing with it branches, sticks and tall grass. A sure fire way to be broadsided and swept downstream.
Listening to the sound, had all the drivers moving to higher ground.. Wet with sweat and mud, Gary's team stood with heaving sides, resting to catch their breath.
"Get in," Toby ordered Gary, "we are going for higher ground immediately. We'll go slow, but your team will just have to do their best."
Mark motioned for the rest of the group to pull ahead and follow Toby while he re-hitched his wheelers. Clora had climbed down and was standing with the reins to the lead and pull team, the two working together with practiced ease.
Dory had tied the three mares from Gary's wagon to her own, and she went slowly up the bank to the somewhat flat area that was the 'road'. She, Tess, Rennie and Robbie drove slowly up the road, exiting the small town for the comforts of the open prairie. They drove for almost an hour before Tess sighted a grove of trees with a creek.
The camp site was empty, so Tess pulled in and the rest followed. Soon, half the wagons were circled and the cooking fires started.
Nearly two hours later, the other two wagons ambled into sight. Milo and Toby looked distinctly uncomfortable sitting their saddles with wet jeans and boots, dismounting gingerly with chafed and rubbed raw spots.
If any one of the clan snickered, they kept it to them selves. Gary was the most unhappy of the group, he just knew it was Dory's fault that he got stuck, and he slowly drove into the circle and parked. Gary completed his chores and then went looking for that irresponsible, trouble making woman.
Dory, not mistaking the black looks and permanent scowl of the oncoming man, checked her pocket for her knife and gun. She had already played several possible scenarios over in her mind, and each conclusion ended with her having to shoot Gary. She sighed hard and backed herself up to the side of her wagon for strength and security.
Gary was stuck in the river ford mire, and he was swearing to keep himself from exploding. He was absolutely positive that it was Dory fault. When it was her turn to cross, she pulled out of the line to the right, circled around and hit the water with her horses at a trot. They went zipping across.
Now, Gary was stuck and the river was rising rapidly. Milo rode back and untied the three horses Gary was trailing and their colts, taking them to the other side. Mark unhooked his wheel team and walked the pair of heavy horses through the water to be additional help.
There was shouting and yelling at the teams, as they strained and slipped their footing in the mud slick bottom. Milo and Toby had been in the water, using their strength to try and move the wheels. and now the water was waist high. High enough that the men lost their strength and footing, the situtation was becoming more dangerous by the minute, as the water swirled and pulled at them.
Just as the water was about to float and then push the wagon downstream, the horsepower broke it loose from the mud and they went lumbering for the bank. Not a moment too soon. A foot high rush of water came roaring down the normally placid river, bringing with it branches, sticks and tall grass. A sure fire way to be broadsided and swept downstream.
Listening to the sound, had all the drivers moving to higher ground.. Wet with sweat and mud, Gary's team stood with heaving sides, resting to catch their breath.
"Get in," Toby ordered Gary, "we are going for higher ground immediately. We'll go slow, but your team will just have to do their best."
Mark motioned for the rest of the group to pull ahead and follow Toby while he re-hitched his wheelers. Clora had climbed down and was standing with the reins to the lead and pull team, the two working together with practiced ease.
Dory had tied the three mares from Gary's wagon to her own, and she went slowly up the bank to the somewhat flat area that was the 'road'. She, Tess, Rennie and Robbie drove slowly up the road, exiting the small town for the comforts of the open prairie. They drove for almost an hour before Tess sighted a grove of trees with a creek.
The camp site was empty, so Tess pulled in and the rest followed. Soon, half the wagons were circled and the cooking fires started.
Nearly two hours later, the other two wagons ambled into sight. Milo and Toby looked distinctly uncomfortable sitting their saddles with wet jeans and boots, dismounting gingerly with chafed and rubbed raw spots.
If any one of the clan snickered, they kept it to them selves. Gary was the most unhappy of the group, he just knew it was Dory's fault that he got stuck, and he slowly drove into the circle and parked. Gary completed his chores and then went looking for that irresponsible, trouble making woman.
Dory, not mistaking the black looks and permanent scowl of the oncoming man, checked her pocket for her knife and gun. She had already played several possible scenarios over in her mind, and each conclusion ended with her having to shoot Gary. She sighed hard and backed herself up to the side of her wagon for strength and security.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Thank you. Gary needs some comeupons.