sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Doing okay, it will never be the same without a kneecap or bend as far but at least I can walk around.
Story Grace, Mercy and Blessings
- Thread starter PacNorWest
- Start date
Doing okay, it will never be the same without a kneecap or bend as far but at least I can walk around.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#251
By 10 am the next morning, it was still darn cool, but the clan bravely went out to secure their future. The ladies and kids to the garden and the men and older boys to the woodlot.
"I believe the ground is too cool for some of the seeds to germinate," Dory was holding a fistful of soil. "We have so few tomato seeds, I think we should start them in the house, if nothing else, we can rig up some kind of a greenhouse in the mean time."
Clora nodded, agreeing with the assessment. All the ladies thought both Tess and Clora looked horrible; deep worry lines etched in their faces and pain always lurking around their eyes. Honey, Rennie and Dory had already sent thanks heavenward that they didn't have the 'gift,' such as Tess and Clora had. Even in the best of times, it was a heavy burden.
The wood fence around the garden was almost devoid of planks in the front, facing the house.
"What happened here?" Dory asked as she looked at the twisted path leading out of the enclosure.
"The high wood walls are for our protection when we're in the garden. Sometimes they work too well, especially when we have attackers that hide behind them," Honey explained the situtation. "The crooked pathway slows raiders down when they exit the protection of the walls. They become better targets," she said matter of factly. Honey stopped closing the seeded row with her hoe, baby Mila was demanding attention.
"Huh," Dory shrugged and went back to seeding the carrots. "There's no way this is going to be enough to get us through until Spring. We need more ground plowed, probably half again as much. And what about potatoes, squash and that sort of stuff?"
"We've already come to the conclusion that we needed to stop eating potatoes and save that which we do have for planting. We have people coming," Tess said in an absent sounding way, "we need to figure food for seven more."
"Who's coming?" Dory demanded, "tell me."
"No," Tess looked at Clora and got the agreement she expected. "They will be a long time getting here, if they don't make it, then we will already have mourned them."
It was clear that the answer didn't satisfy Dory, but she said no more.
The men in the woodlot had marginal success. One of the downed trees was dry enough to cut for wood and the pulling pair from Milo's team were handled by Gary and went to the open driveway with the log length oak. The other tree wasn't as dry and Toby used his team to take it to the right of the cabins, to be piled and worked up later.
Going to work on the dry wood, the men used cross cut saws and axes to ready wood for the stove. Although they worked all day at a steady pace, there was an astonishing small amount of wood in the wood boxes of the three houses.
"It's gonna take us forever," Ricky was stacking his last armful of limb wood off to the side of the kitchen door. "This is too much work."
"Save yer bitchin for later, when you really have something to piss and moan about," Robbie was totally unsympathetic, and tired of listening to his brother.
"Robbie, we don't use that kind of language," Milo admonished, hiding his grin from all, and failing.
"Yeah, well Dad you think it's funny," Rickey tattled. "Sometimes we men just gotta let out a few words like that. They get to hurting if they stay bottled up inside for a long time."
"Hey," Milo managed to say with a straight face. "go work on the wood by yourself and you can say what ever you please, but you have to be busy with the wood, and you can't be saying it loud."
"What kind of a deal is that?" Ricky beat Robbie to the complaint, both boys looking disgusted at their father.
"The only one your gonna get," Milo was neutral. "take it or leave it."
"Brother, that's no kinda deal, I can't believe you'd think that was fair at all." Ricky just didn't want to let go of the injustice.
"Tough," was Milo's reply.
By 10 am the next morning, it was still darn cool, but the clan bravely went out to secure their future. The ladies and kids to the garden and the men and older boys to the woodlot.
"I believe the ground is too cool for some of the seeds to germinate," Dory was holding a fistful of soil. "We have so few tomato seeds, I think we should start them in the house, if nothing else, we can rig up some kind of a greenhouse in the mean time."
Clora nodded, agreeing with the assessment. All the ladies thought both Tess and Clora looked horrible; deep worry lines etched in their faces and pain always lurking around their eyes. Honey, Rennie and Dory had already sent thanks heavenward that they didn't have the 'gift,' such as Tess and Clora had. Even in the best of times, it was a heavy burden.
The wood fence around the garden was almost devoid of planks in the front, facing the house.
"What happened here?" Dory asked as she looked at the twisted path leading out of the enclosure.
"The high wood walls are for our protection when we're in the garden. Sometimes they work too well, especially when we have attackers that hide behind them," Honey explained the situtation. "The crooked pathway slows raiders down when they exit the protection of the walls. They become better targets," she said matter of factly. Honey stopped closing the seeded row with her hoe, baby Mila was demanding attention.
"Huh," Dory shrugged and went back to seeding the carrots. "There's no way this is going to be enough to get us through until Spring. We need more ground plowed, probably half again as much. And what about potatoes, squash and that sort of stuff?"
"We've already come to the conclusion that we needed to stop eating potatoes and save that which we do have for planting. We have people coming," Tess said in an absent sounding way, "we need to figure food for seven more."
"Who's coming?" Dory demanded, "tell me."
"No," Tess looked at Clora and got the agreement she expected. "They will be a long time getting here, if they don't make it, then we will already have mourned them."
It was clear that the answer didn't satisfy Dory, but she said no more.
The men in the woodlot had marginal success. One of the downed trees was dry enough to cut for wood and the pulling pair from Milo's team were handled by Gary and went to the open driveway with the log length oak. The other tree wasn't as dry and Toby used his team to take it to the right of the cabins, to be piled and worked up later.
Going to work on the dry wood, the men used cross cut saws and axes to ready wood for the stove. Although they worked all day at a steady pace, there was an astonishing small amount of wood in the wood boxes of the three houses.
"It's gonna take us forever," Ricky was stacking his last armful of limb wood off to the side of the kitchen door. "This is too much work."
"Save yer bitchin for later, when you really have something to piss and moan about," Robbie was totally unsympathetic, and tired of listening to his brother.
"Robbie, we don't use that kind of language," Milo admonished, hiding his grin from all, and failing.
"Yeah, well Dad you think it's funny," Rickey tattled. "Sometimes we men just gotta let out a few words like that. They get to hurting if they stay bottled up inside for a long time."
"Hey," Milo managed to say with a straight face. "go work on the wood by yourself and you can say what ever you please, but you have to be busy with the wood, and you can't be saying it loud."
"What kind of a deal is that?" Ricky beat Robbie to the complaint, both boys looking disgusted at their father.
"The only one your gonna get," Milo was neutral. "take it or leave it."
"Brother, that's no kinda deal, I can't believe you'd think that was fair at all." Ricky just didn't want to let go of the injustice.
"Tough," was Milo's reply.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Big thank you Pac.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#252
"What I'd like to know." Dory straightened up from finishing her row of beet seeds, looked hard at Clora, and challenged the older woman. "If the devil was supposed to have taken his 'people' off the earth; why are we having to deal with all these raiders and the unspeakable violent and evil deeds that they do?"
"A couple of reasons," Clora returned unperturbed, motioning to Tess that she wanted to answer the question. Tess was looking a little hot, at the challenge, but clamped her lips shut.
"First of all, do you realize there isn't one single solitary crime that 'good Christian' people haven't committed after they were saved?" Clora looked calmly at Dory.
"Phffft," was Dory's rude reply. "How can you be a good 'Christian', quote/unquote, if you do evil on purpose."
"Because every human has a 'sin nature' and 'free will'. Are you familiar with either or both?" Clora leaned against the fence, but didn't take her eyes off Dory.
"Well yeah, free will I do."
"Ok, here's what the Bible says," and Clora gently and with firm purpose 'educated' Dory as to the reason that evil will never be eradicated from the earth. "Not until the Rapture will those of us that have accepted Jesus's salvation be free of earthly evil. That salvation is free and the hardest idea to get people to accept." Clora smiled sweetly. "I've always wondered if a person had to pay for salvation, if most people wouldn't bust their backs to save enough money for their individual price. Free salvation is easy to ignore or postpone until later, but like everything good, there is no promise it will be here tomorrow."
The ladies held a spirited and lively debate on the subject as they worked; and suddenly, all the seed they had available was safely tucked in the ground, and it was past lunch time and hungry men were walking toward the house.
"What I'd like to know." Dory straightened up from finishing her row of beet seeds, looked hard at Clora, and challenged the older woman. "If the devil was supposed to have taken his 'people' off the earth; why are we having to deal with all these raiders and the unspeakable violent and evil deeds that they do?"
"A couple of reasons," Clora returned unperturbed, motioning to Tess that she wanted to answer the question. Tess was looking a little hot, at the challenge, but clamped her lips shut.
"First of all, do you realize there isn't one single solitary crime that 'good Christian' people haven't committed after they were saved?" Clora looked calmly at Dory.
"Phffft," was Dory's rude reply. "How can you be a good 'Christian', quote/unquote, if you do evil on purpose."
"Because every human has a 'sin nature' and 'free will'. Are you familiar with either or both?" Clora leaned against the fence, but didn't take her eyes off Dory.
"Well yeah, free will I do."
"Ok, here's what the Bible says," and Clora gently and with firm purpose 'educated' Dory as to the reason that evil will never be eradicated from the earth. "Not until the Rapture will those of us that have accepted Jesus's salvation be free of earthly evil. That salvation is free and the hardest idea to get people to accept." Clora smiled sweetly. "I've always wondered if a person had to pay for salvation, if most people wouldn't bust their backs to save enough money for their individual price. Free salvation is easy to ignore or postpone until later, but like everything good, there is no promise it will be here tomorrow."
The ladies held a spirited and lively debate on the subject as they worked; and suddenly, all the seed they had available was safely tucked in the ground, and it was past lunch time and hungry men were walking toward the house.
Sammy55
Veteran Member
Just like with almost everything in life, if you have to work for something you appreciate it more than if you got something for free, as a gift. Sad, huh?!? That God's greatest gift to all of us - His Son Jesus - is treated about the same as obamaphones and free housing. Not good, according to those on the dole. Destroy it if you want. Throw it away if you want. There's another one waiting.
Only thing.... God has only One Son and He gave His One Earthly Life. Yet, if you destroy your relationship with God now, He's still there waiting for you...even waiting to your last breath. If you have the chance to accept Him before your last breath.
Sober thoughts but good discussion. Thank you, Pac!
Only thing.... God has only One Son and He gave His One Earthly Life. Yet, if you destroy your relationship with God now, He's still there waiting for you...even waiting to your last breath. If you have the chance to accept Him before your last breath.
Sober thoughts but good discussion. Thank you, Pac!
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#252b
The men were sitting at the table after lunch, drinking twice perked coffee as they rested. No one said a word about the weak but almost acidy tasting brew. They had been in the throes of tight food rations before. To have food was a blessing; a blessing to be carefully managed, and wasteful children chastised in front of the entire group.
Ricky especially needed to learn his lessons the most difficult and hard way. The rice with gravy was played with, intensely disliked and Ricky was waiting for his opportunity to clean his plate into the scrap bowl.
Dad Milo was also keeping an eagle eye on the 'entitled' feeling young man; and when Rickey went to get up from the table, Milo firmly pushed his son's hand down, thumping the plate with the horrible food back on the table.
"But Dad," Ricky whined, "I don't like it."
"Then you aren't hungry enough, because you will eat it before you are served anything else." Milo snapped at his youngest son. "If you don't want rice and gravy, say so, but there is nothing else until the next meal. If you take it and don't eat it, then what is happening right now is your fate. Whatever supper will be, the cold plate of rice and gravy will be eaten first."
At the first whiney tone of Ricky's complaints, Robbie got up and motioned to Barry to come help him start washing the dishes. The two young men could see that the ladies were tired from the unaccustomed work in the garden, and with Lyric picking up the dishes and Dory taking the coffee around, there were smiles of appreciation. The triplets wanted to help, and Robbie had them pick up the spoons and bring them to the sink.
Robbie and Barry were discussing Ricky's stupid behavior in low tones as they washed and dried. "It really feels good to help in any way we can," they assured one another. "I don't know why Ricky is being such a jerk, but he's just digging himself in deeper." Robbie whispered to Barry. "I appreciate you helping, it's just the right thing to do; and you too Lyric, thanks for helping."
Rennie was closest to the sink, listening to the boys. For as much as she disliked that beastly Ricky, Robbie actually sounded like he was a good kid. When the triplets handed over the last of the spoons, Robbie dried his hands and shook hands with Peter, Paul and Daniel, thanking them.
Nothing that was happening at the sink escaped notice by the adults, and there were secret smiles of approval sent all around the table.
Everyone took an hour's rest after lunch, and Clora gratefully went to sleep, intending to only rest for a short time. Mark kept the noise down and Clora slept until suppertime.
The men were sitting at the table after lunch, drinking twice perked coffee as they rested. No one said a word about the weak but almost acidy tasting brew. They had been in the throes of tight food rations before. To have food was a blessing; a blessing to be carefully managed, and wasteful children chastised in front of the entire group.
Ricky especially needed to learn his lessons the most difficult and hard way. The rice with gravy was played with, intensely disliked and Ricky was waiting for his opportunity to clean his plate into the scrap bowl.
Dad Milo was also keeping an eagle eye on the 'entitled' feeling young man; and when Rickey went to get up from the table, Milo firmly pushed his son's hand down, thumping the plate with the horrible food back on the table.
"But Dad," Ricky whined, "I don't like it."
"Then you aren't hungry enough, because you will eat it before you are served anything else." Milo snapped at his youngest son. "If you don't want rice and gravy, say so, but there is nothing else until the next meal. If you take it and don't eat it, then what is happening right now is your fate. Whatever supper will be, the cold plate of rice and gravy will be eaten first."
At the first whiney tone of Ricky's complaints, Robbie got up and motioned to Barry to come help him start washing the dishes. The two young men could see that the ladies were tired from the unaccustomed work in the garden, and with Lyric picking up the dishes and Dory taking the coffee around, there were smiles of appreciation. The triplets wanted to help, and Robbie had them pick up the spoons and bring them to the sink.
Robbie and Barry were discussing Ricky's stupid behavior in low tones as they washed and dried. "It really feels good to help in any way we can," they assured one another. "I don't know why Ricky is being such a jerk, but he's just digging himself in deeper." Robbie whispered to Barry. "I appreciate you helping, it's just the right thing to do; and you too Lyric, thanks for helping."
Rennie was closest to the sink, listening to the boys. For as much as she disliked that beastly Ricky, Robbie actually sounded like he was a good kid. When the triplets handed over the last of the spoons, Robbie dried his hands and shook hands with Peter, Paul and Daniel, thanking them.
Nothing that was happening at the sink escaped notice by the adults, and there were secret smiles of approval sent all around the table.
Everyone took an hour's rest after lunch, and Clora gratefully went to sleep, intending to only rest for a short time. Mark kept the noise down and Clora slept until suppertime.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Thank you very much.
Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
Definitely but perhaps some of the blame lies w/ the parents. Exerting parental control against 'juvenile entitlement' as soon as its identified is always a good thing. Of course in our current, modern world that could lead to complaints being lodged w/ local CPS offices.
I learned a long time ago, good rules make for good, strong relationships.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#253
Chuck and Wyatt basically started retracing the journey to North Carolina; that the clan had used. They were in no particular hurry, and often times stopped to help people broke down along the trail. Everyone was headed South, no one going North. The weather was always the main topic, no one could understand why it was July and still so cold.
As the duo got closer and closer to the valley where the horse trading Scots lived; Chuck talked about the work horses purchased, and the prices paid. Once at the valley, they rode up to the settlement just to see if there were any horses left.
There were old mares in the corral, and no people. "That's just wrong, you don't leave horses captured in a place where they can't get to water and feed. "Chuck was spitting mad. "Those men should be horse whipped."
Wyatt looked around at the abandoned settlement. "I guess we can either turn them loose, or trail them with us. They'll slow us down, but might be useful trading material later; seeing how we don't have a penny to our name. I've been wondering how we were going to afford the river crossing you've been talking about."
"Very possible they will be our ticket," Chuck looked around the pastures. "Let's get them caught and get gone."
Donny drove until his mangled belly demanded he stop and rest. He had been thinking about the time and road they had traveled to Iowa. They didn't have two dollars between the three of them, and the cost of the river crossing was heavy on his mind.
Donny had to rest before he had the energy to start a fire and attempt to make camp. Bruce was useless, sitting in the wagon in a stupefied state, taking no notice of his situtation. Pricilla sat on the ground with her back against the back wagon wheel. Donny thought she was stupid. Sitting on the cold ground and risking drawing dampness to her clothes, was a real dumb idea.
With all three of them sitting still in sleep, the small game slowly started moving. When Donny woke, there were rabbits hopping. He had his hand tucked under his side, and to move would scare supper into running. Golly he was hungry, and those nice plump rabbits would be tasty.
Slowly, inch by inch, Donny pulled his hand loose and moved it toward his pistol. Pricilla stirred and the rabbits froze. The young man didn't dare speak to her, and so it was now or never. Donny grabbed his pistol and shot.
The rabbit squealed and jumped high in the air, and the second shot put meat in the pot.
Priss jumped as high as the rabbit, the retort startling her into gasping in fright. "Are we being attacked?" she screamed, scaring any game within a three mile radius.
Donny was so sore, he couldn't bend over to pickup up the rabbit. Pricilla was blubbering and he finally had to boot her in the rump to get her attention.
"Oww, what didya do that for?" Priss rubbed her posterior. "Don't you hit me again, or I'll beat your little head against a tree." she snarled.
"Then stop fussing and help me get the rabbit, or have you given up eating today? If you prefer, you can skin and gut the bunny, I could use the rest."
"Ack, you mean me?"
"Well, if I gut, skin and cook it, I suppose you will want to eat some of it?"
"That's the idea, isn't it? I'm hungry." Priss commanded with a haughty look.
"Well fine, get me the rabbit, I can't bend over, so you're gonna have to help, no matter if you want to or not."
Chuck and Wyatt basically started retracing the journey to North Carolina; that the clan had used. They were in no particular hurry, and often times stopped to help people broke down along the trail. Everyone was headed South, no one going North. The weather was always the main topic, no one could understand why it was July and still so cold.
As the duo got closer and closer to the valley where the horse trading Scots lived; Chuck talked about the work horses purchased, and the prices paid. Once at the valley, they rode up to the settlement just to see if there were any horses left.
There were old mares in the corral, and no people. "That's just wrong, you don't leave horses captured in a place where they can't get to water and feed. "Chuck was spitting mad. "Those men should be horse whipped."
Wyatt looked around at the abandoned settlement. "I guess we can either turn them loose, or trail them with us. They'll slow us down, but might be useful trading material later; seeing how we don't have a penny to our name. I've been wondering how we were going to afford the river crossing you've been talking about."
"Very possible they will be our ticket," Chuck looked around the pastures. "Let's get them caught and get gone."
Donny drove until his mangled belly demanded he stop and rest. He had been thinking about the time and road they had traveled to Iowa. They didn't have two dollars between the three of them, and the cost of the river crossing was heavy on his mind.
Donny had to rest before he had the energy to start a fire and attempt to make camp. Bruce was useless, sitting in the wagon in a stupefied state, taking no notice of his situtation. Pricilla sat on the ground with her back against the back wagon wheel. Donny thought she was stupid. Sitting on the cold ground and risking drawing dampness to her clothes, was a real dumb idea.
With all three of them sitting still in sleep, the small game slowly started moving. When Donny woke, there were rabbits hopping. He had his hand tucked under his side, and to move would scare supper into running. Golly he was hungry, and those nice plump rabbits would be tasty.
Slowly, inch by inch, Donny pulled his hand loose and moved it toward his pistol. Pricilla stirred and the rabbits froze. The young man didn't dare speak to her, and so it was now or never. Donny grabbed his pistol and shot.
The rabbit squealed and jumped high in the air, and the second shot put meat in the pot.
Priss jumped as high as the rabbit, the retort startling her into gasping in fright. "Are we being attacked?" she screamed, scaring any game within a three mile radius.
Donny was so sore, he couldn't bend over to pickup up the rabbit. Pricilla was blubbering and he finally had to boot her in the rump to get her attention.
"Oww, what didya do that for?" Priss rubbed her posterior. "Don't you hit me again, or I'll beat your little head against a tree." she snarled.
"Then stop fussing and help me get the rabbit, or have you given up eating today? If you prefer, you can skin and gut the bunny, I could use the rest."
"Ack, you mean me?"
"Well, if I gut, skin and cook it, I suppose you will want to eat some of it?"
"That's the idea, isn't it? I'm hungry." Priss commanded with a haughty look.
"Well fine, get me the rabbit, I can't bend over, so you're gonna have to help, no matter if you want to or not."
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Big thank you pac, good on the rabbit.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#254
It took forever to do the rabbit chores and lay a fire. Pricilla helped as much as she could, finally understanding that Donny was in total misery. "I'm sorry," she apologized. "I just feel so wound up and jittery, this seems like such a bad dream. I keep praying that I'll wake up from this nightmare. I know that's not an excuse, but this is worse than being stranded in Mexico and having to walk home."
"We all feel that way," Donny returned quietly, as he carefully stirred the cooking rabbit. "You understand that if we live or die, depends on how we handle the next few days. Shock will have us making bad decisions, unless we are very aware of what's happening. It's like ole Doc here. He's wallowing in pity; determined to starve himself to death as a weird sort of punishment for not making his wife and kids leave with the Lindermans."
Bruce didn't bat an eyelash at what Donny was pronouncing. No visible, outward sign that he even heard the harsh words.
"What the ole Doc here doesn't realize is, I lost a wife and seven kids. Does his wife, because she was a doctor, trump my wife? Do his two kids count more than my seven kids? How about you Pricilla? Do you feel ashamed because you managed to live and not die with the majority?"
"I honestly don't know how I feel, I...………..feel blank and numb. So many friends and Reva, gone. Just gone," she finished weakly, bewildered sounding.
"This is what I'm talking about. We have to be careful in our thoughts and decisions. Doc Bruce should have trained and soldiered under Mark Linderman long enough to know that acting as foolish as he is, won't get him anywhere."
Bruce might have curled his lip slightly, but that was all.
Slowly, the rabbit cooked. Donny had a Dakota hole dug, not wanting to announce to any stray raiders that they were alive and perhaps worth attacking. After supper, Donny sat the tin cup with rabbit pieces on the wagon bed next to Dr. Bruce. The man was acting indifferent to the tantalizing smell, and frankly Donny didn't give a fig if ole Doc Bruce lived or died. "I'll just bury you when you die," he told the frozen lump of human. "don't make me no never mind, one way or the other."
"That's a terrible thing to say," Priss scolded, "why hound him so?"
"Because he's listening, and he's in no different shape than I am. If we're going to make it to safety, it's gonna take all three of us working together, we don't have the time or the ability to coddle his ass. The sooner he dies, the better it will be for us."
Donny took his blanket and pulled it around his shoulders and sat down to lean against the wagon wheel. A long, low groan of pain escaped his lips as he leaned back.
It took forever to do the rabbit chores and lay a fire. Pricilla helped as much as she could, finally understanding that Donny was in total misery. "I'm sorry," she apologized. "I just feel so wound up and jittery, this seems like such a bad dream. I keep praying that I'll wake up from this nightmare. I know that's not an excuse, but this is worse than being stranded in Mexico and having to walk home."
"We all feel that way," Donny returned quietly, as he carefully stirred the cooking rabbit. "You understand that if we live or die, depends on how we handle the next few days. Shock will have us making bad decisions, unless we are very aware of what's happening. It's like ole Doc here. He's wallowing in pity; determined to starve himself to death as a weird sort of punishment for not making his wife and kids leave with the Lindermans."
Bruce didn't bat an eyelash at what Donny was pronouncing. No visible, outward sign that he even heard the harsh words.
"What the ole Doc here doesn't realize is, I lost a wife and seven kids. Does his wife, because she was a doctor, trump my wife? Do his two kids count more than my seven kids? How about you Pricilla? Do you feel ashamed because you managed to live and not die with the majority?"
"I honestly don't know how I feel, I...………..feel blank and numb. So many friends and Reva, gone. Just gone," she finished weakly, bewildered sounding.
"This is what I'm talking about. We have to be careful in our thoughts and decisions. Doc Bruce should have trained and soldiered under Mark Linderman long enough to know that acting as foolish as he is, won't get him anywhere."
Bruce might have curled his lip slightly, but that was all.
Slowly, the rabbit cooked. Donny had a Dakota hole dug, not wanting to announce to any stray raiders that they were alive and perhaps worth attacking. After supper, Donny sat the tin cup with rabbit pieces on the wagon bed next to Dr. Bruce. The man was acting indifferent to the tantalizing smell, and frankly Donny didn't give a fig if ole Doc Bruce lived or died. "I'll just bury you when you die," he told the frozen lump of human. "don't make me no never mind, one way or the other."
"That's a terrible thing to say," Priss scolded, "why hound him so?"
"Because he's listening, and he's in no different shape than I am. If we're going to make it to safety, it's gonna take all three of us working together, we don't have the time or the ability to coddle his ass. The sooner he dies, the better it will be for us."
Donny took his blanket and pulled it around his shoulders and sat down to lean against the wagon wheel. A long, low groan of pain escaped his lips as he leaned back.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Hard way for Donny to grow up but he did. Thank you Pac.
Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
True ... and Bruce has always seemed a bit of a waste-of-skin to me ....
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#255
The night on the prairie was long and cold. Sometime during the night, Donny felt the wagon move as Bruce got down; and the young man smiled to himself and said nothing.
Hunkered down under the cover of the front of the wagon, Pricilla heard the boards creak as Bruce moved. Listening to the man's footsteps walk away, Cilla hissed at Donny to wake him up.
"Don't say a word," Donny growled back. "If he comes back, he'll be human. If he doesn't, well, all wounded things want to crawl off by themselves and die. He's just saving us the trouble."
"You sure have a rotten attitude," Cilla snarked in a frosty tone.
"No, just a realistic attitude. I've known Doc Bruce for a long time; and he's just about milked every drop of sympathy possible out of the whole clan. He's not recovered from his surgery, because he doesn't want to be recovered. Look at it this way, everyone excuses his behavior and waits on him hand and foot. His kids are, or were, two of the rottenest kids in the whole family, and his wife acted like she didn't care if he recovered or not. That's a bunch of mixed up garbage to live with. It ain't gonna fly here, I can tell ya."
Donny had heard Bruce walk back to the wagon, and he knew full well Bruce heard every word.
"You're a piss ant," Bruce growled in a deep voice full of anger.
"Yup," Donny agreed, "you're driving tomorrow, so you'd better get some sleep."
The night turned extremely cold and frosty, and it didn't have anything to do with the wind and temperature.
Bruce did drive the next morning, not saying a word, but simply climbing up on the wagon seat and picking up the reins. The trio stopped for a water break close to noon, and were greeted by several wagon load of settlers coming from the East.
Howdy's were exchanged, and any news passed on. Donny told about the two raids on Belnap and Linderman town; urging the families to avoid the area at all costs.
The West bound pioneers had information about a toll bridge across the Mississippi river, if a person went straight East.
"They's tolerable reasonable on the charges, 'special if ya have any skills that can be bartered with, they lets ya pass fer free." the old man reported. "Ya need to head fer Fort Madison, and the closer ya get, the more signs 'ell point the way. Ya gotta cross the Des Moines at Farmington an then get on over to Fort Madison. They charged us a hunnert apiece and my boy here, he got us across by shoeing all their horse stock. Not bad folks at all."
Instantly, Donny had the revelation of how they would get their crossings paid. Good ole doctor Bruce was gonna go to work and pull his weight.
Goodbyes were exchanged, and the wagons parted. Donny sat on the seat with Bruce and outlined his plan.
"Mark paid the toll when we crossed the Mississippi at St. Louis," he explained to Pricilla. "But that was over a thousand each wagon. I've been worried sick, trying to figure out how we were gonna raise that kinda money. Then God dropped the perfect opportunity in our laps. We'll get across the rivers by the work Doc Bruce is gonna do along with Miss Pricilla as his nurse."
The night on the prairie was long and cold. Sometime during the night, Donny felt the wagon move as Bruce got down; and the young man smiled to himself and said nothing.
Hunkered down under the cover of the front of the wagon, Pricilla heard the boards creak as Bruce moved. Listening to the man's footsteps walk away, Cilla hissed at Donny to wake him up.
"Don't say a word," Donny growled back. "If he comes back, he'll be human. If he doesn't, well, all wounded things want to crawl off by themselves and die. He's just saving us the trouble."
"You sure have a rotten attitude," Cilla snarked in a frosty tone.
"No, just a realistic attitude. I've known Doc Bruce for a long time; and he's just about milked every drop of sympathy possible out of the whole clan. He's not recovered from his surgery, because he doesn't want to be recovered. Look at it this way, everyone excuses his behavior and waits on him hand and foot. His kids are, or were, two of the rottenest kids in the whole family, and his wife acted like she didn't care if he recovered or not. That's a bunch of mixed up garbage to live with. It ain't gonna fly here, I can tell ya."
Donny had heard Bruce walk back to the wagon, and he knew full well Bruce heard every word.
"You're a piss ant," Bruce growled in a deep voice full of anger.
"Yup," Donny agreed, "you're driving tomorrow, so you'd better get some sleep."
The night turned extremely cold and frosty, and it didn't have anything to do with the wind and temperature.
Bruce did drive the next morning, not saying a word, but simply climbing up on the wagon seat and picking up the reins. The trio stopped for a water break close to noon, and were greeted by several wagon load of settlers coming from the East.
Howdy's were exchanged, and any news passed on. Donny told about the two raids on Belnap and Linderman town; urging the families to avoid the area at all costs.
The West bound pioneers had information about a toll bridge across the Mississippi river, if a person went straight East.
"They's tolerable reasonable on the charges, 'special if ya have any skills that can be bartered with, they lets ya pass fer free." the old man reported. "Ya need to head fer Fort Madison, and the closer ya get, the more signs 'ell point the way. Ya gotta cross the Des Moines at Farmington an then get on over to Fort Madison. They charged us a hunnert apiece and my boy here, he got us across by shoeing all their horse stock. Not bad folks at all."
Instantly, Donny had the revelation of how they would get their crossings paid. Good ole doctor Bruce was gonna go to work and pull his weight.
Goodbyes were exchanged, and the wagons parted. Donny sat on the seat with Bruce and outlined his plan.
"Mark paid the toll when we crossed the Mississippi at St. Louis," he explained to Pricilla. "But that was over a thousand each wagon. I've been worried sick, trying to figure out how we were gonna raise that kinda money. Then God dropped the perfect opportunity in our laps. We'll get across the rivers by the work Doc Bruce is gonna do along with Miss Pricilla as his nurse."
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Thank you very much Pac.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#256
Chuck and Wyatt were each trailing three mares, the ladies all set to foal within a short time. "Slow isn't the word for this," Wyatt plodded along, feeling perturbed that they weren't making better time.
"Do you have any idea what each one of these old mares is worth, and then how much more with colts? If you come any where close, I'll cook supper tonight." Chuck challenged.
"I dunno, say maybe a thousand each and five hundred for each colt?" Wyatt guessed.
"Wrong by at least half," Chuck laughed. "Figure 2500 per mare and a 1000 per colt.. especially if it is a filly. Stud colts have to be gelded and that's not easy, some danger involved even if the person is experienced. So you're responsible for supper and what ever that might be."
"I'm surprised that they would go off and leave these mares if their worth that much. Of course, I'm not sure we can legally claim these horses. We don't have a bill of sale or any proof of ownership." Wyatt was kinds stiff in his duties, remembering that horse thieving was still a major crime.
"That's why we rub ourselves all over these mares and give them names and treat them exceptionally well. In the end, they will claim us, and we won't have to say a word about who owns who."
"Oh. Say, don't you have a little venison left? All I've got is jerky and there sure hasn't been much in the line of game out and around. The way my shoulder feels, I'm not certain I could even hold my rifle steady." Wyatt had to hold Joe's reins with his disabled arm and hold the lead ropes to the mares in the other.
Chuck was watching the sky, judging that they were in the mid to late afternoon. "The next place we get to that has water and grass, we'd better stop; the mares have walked a good patch today. Walking will help them stay healthy, but if they start foaling, we need to stop for a day or two, that's just good insurance for our investment." Chuck grinned at the impatient look Wyatt threw his way.
"I suppose. How long do you think it will take to get where ever we are going?"
"At this pace, a good three months, barring any problems. Now listen, if anybody asks about the mares and colts, only the mares with stud colts are for sale. The mares with fillies, we're gonna keep. If push comes to shove, we can always say we have them under contract and are delivering them to new owners." Chuck had been thinking about the problems they might encounter.
"That's lying," Wyatt spit out angrily. "I am an officer of the law, I won't comprise my integrity."
"Ok," Chuck agreed suspiciously quick. "I would lie to stay alive, so you'd better think that over and have your decision in mind beforehand."
Chuck and Wyatt were each trailing three mares, the ladies all set to foal within a short time. "Slow isn't the word for this," Wyatt plodded along, feeling perturbed that they weren't making better time.
"Do you have any idea what each one of these old mares is worth, and then how much more with colts? If you come any where close, I'll cook supper tonight." Chuck challenged.
"I dunno, say maybe a thousand each and five hundred for each colt?" Wyatt guessed.
"Wrong by at least half," Chuck laughed. "Figure 2500 per mare and a 1000 per colt.. especially if it is a filly. Stud colts have to be gelded and that's not easy, some danger involved even if the person is experienced. So you're responsible for supper and what ever that might be."
"I'm surprised that they would go off and leave these mares if their worth that much. Of course, I'm not sure we can legally claim these horses. We don't have a bill of sale or any proof of ownership." Wyatt was kinds stiff in his duties, remembering that horse thieving was still a major crime.
"That's why we rub ourselves all over these mares and give them names and treat them exceptionally well. In the end, they will claim us, and we won't have to say a word about who owns who."
"Oh. Say, don't you have a little venison left? All I've got is jerky and there sure hasn't been much in the line of game out and around. The way my shoulder feels, I'm not certain I could even hold my rifle steady." Wyatt had to hold Joe's reins with his disabled arm and hold the lead ropes to the mares in the other.
Chuck was watching the sky, judging that they were in the mid to late afternoon. "The next place we get to that has water and grass, we'd better stop; the mares have walked a good patch today. Walking will help them stay healthy, but if they start foaling, we need to stop for a day or two, that's just good insurance for our investment." Chuck grinned at the impatient look Wyatt threw his way.
"I suppose. How long do you think it will take to get where ever we are going?"
"At this pace, a good three months, barring any problems. Now listen, if anybody asks about the mares and colts, only the mares with stud colts are for sale. The mares with fillies, we're gonna keep. If push comes to shove, we can always say we have them under contract and are delivering them to new owners." Chuck had been thinking about the problems they might encounter.
"That's lying," Wyatt spit out angrily. "I am an officer of the law, I won't comprise my integrity."
"Ok," Chuck agreed suspiciously quick. "I would lie to stay alive, so you'd better think that over and have your decision in mind beforehand."
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Many Thank 
Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
Yeah, I keep wondering how many time he's going to try to mess himself up.....Wyatt
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#257
"Listen Abby, we need to have an agreement on where we're going and how we're gonna get there. We're headed South, and you keep pushing more West all the time. So, --- where DO you want to go? I'll tell ya this, in another couple of miles, we're gonna come smack dab up against the Missouri. The other problem, -- any tributary to the Missouri is big, wide and deep where it joins in. Way too dangerous to cross. So what do you have in mind?"
"Well, I had in mind to go West." Abby started out slowly. "I'm not familiar with the country, obviously, and now the way the land is so impossible, and the weather even more so, I'm not sure of anything."
"Will you take some observations from a guy that has been all over this part of the states?" Jerry asked cautiously. He still was unsure of Abby's reactions. She was such a strong minded person.
"Yes."
"Major Linderman had us scout all the military installations for availability. It took us a year to investigate, and I met you at the very tail of our trip. In the upper tier of the United States, there were no bases that survived. Some people, and those that didn't die the first winter, started moving South. The thing is, all the infrastructure that helped people move around so easily, is gone. We are stuck living and moving around natural made obstacles. Now we can go South until we hit the Keg, and then we'll have to turn East and go above the swampy area. All the rivers and creeks in this area drain into the Missouri, just too much to cross. To make any time, we need to go North East and plan to cross the rivers at a more narrow point."
Jerry took a drink of coffee, he waited patiently for Abby to process what he had said. They were camped for the night, in a not very secure location, but it had grass and water, so it became the camp of choice.
"I didn't realize Mark still had military connections." Abby was thoughtful.
"I don't know if he does or not, I'm talking about Gary."
"Gary?!" Abby acted astonished. "Really?"
"Don't discount his hap hazard act. The man saved my life and the lives of every other man in our group. I owe him, and would follow his instincts." Jerry looked at Abby. She was staring at the fire.
"The way he acts, I wouldn't have thought it of him, he's so loose in the mind. I know both Reva and Dory were attracted to him, and I couldn't see what interested them." Abby lifted her head and stared out into the night.
"Ok, Jerry. I have a question. What I need to know, do you have blind allegiance to Gary and or Mark; or would the safety and concerns of your family be your greatest concern?" There, she had said it. The sharp edge cut that caused them to come unraveled before.
"Listen Abby, we need to have an agreement on where we're going and how we're gonna get there. We're headed South, and you keep pushing more West all the time. So, --- where DO you want to go? I'll tell ya this, in another couple of miles, we're gonna come smack dab up against the Missouri. The other problem, -- any tributary to the Missouri is big, wide and deep where it joins in. Way too dangerous to cross. So what do you have in mind?"
"Well, I had in mind to go West." Abby started out slowly. "I'm not familiar with the country, obviously, and now the way the land is so impossible, and the weather even more so, I'm not sure of anything."
"Will you take some observations from a guy that has been all over this part of the states?" Jerry asked cautiously. He still was unsure of Abby's reactions. She was such a strong minded person.
"Yes."
"Major Linderman had us scout all the military installations for availability. It took us a year to investigate, and I met you at the very tail of our trip. In the upper tier of the United States, there were no bases that survived. Some people, and those that didn't die the first winter, started moving South. The thing is, all the infrastructure that helped people move around so easily, is gone. We are stuck living and moving around natural made obstacles. Now we can go South until we hit the Keg, and then we'll have to turn East and go above the swampy area. All the rivers and creeks in this area drain into the Missouri, just too much to cross. To make any time, we need to go North East and plan to cross the rivers at a more narrow point."
Jerry took a drink of coffee, he waited patiently for Abby to process what he had said. They were camped for the night, in a not very secure location, but it had grass and water, so it became the camp of choice.
"I didn't realize Mark still had military connections." Abby was thoughtful.
"I don't know if he does or not, I'm talking about Gary."
"Gary?!" Abby acted astonished. "Really?"
"Don't discount his hap hazard act. The man saved my life and the lives of every other man in our group. I owe him, and would follow his instincts." Jerry looked at Abby. She was staring at the fire.
"The way he acts, I wouldn't have thought it of him, he's so loose in the mind. I know both Reva and Dory were attracted to him, and I couldn't see what interested them." Abby lifted her head and stared out into the night.
"Ok, Jerry. I have a question. What I need to know, do you have blind allegiance to Gary and or Mark; or would the safety and concerns of your family be your greatest concern?" There, she had said it. The sharp edge cut that caused them to come unraveled before.