Story Grace, Mercy and Blessings
- Thread starter PacNorWest
- Start date
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#43
Donny rode easily, constantly scanning for movement in the woods, proof that he had spooked up some game. Finding nothing, he rode further West than he had explored. The deep woods of hardwoods minus their leaves, and some evergreens were thickly tangled.
Finally, Donny was noticing some deer scrapes, deer beds and tracks. His horse alerted that there was an animal moving, and Donny unsheathed his 30-06.
Moments later a herd of does, Donny counted five, moved from right to left about a hundred feet ahead. Standing still, he caused no undue concern, and drew a bead on a particially fat, fine doe.
He shot the doe, dropping the animal in her tracks and got to see the flash of the buck chasing the uninterested ladies.
Donny felt his jaw drop. That was a buck. A monster with at least 12 or 13 points. He would love to take an animal like that, but Clora had requested does, if he could get them. Just the glimpse of the buck was a fine highlight to his hunt, and Donny smiled. Keeping an eye on his down animal, Donny was startled when the doe herd nervously appeared in front of him. Backtracking from left to right. Chanbering another round as quietly as possible, the deer looked up and spooked at the sound. Donny was mentally kicking himself, that was the first thing Dad said to do after you shot.
Chamber another round in the confusion.
Donny shot the last doe in the lineup, smaller than he really wanted to kill, but it was still meat.
Dad was so right. After the shooting, all the fun is over, Donny grumbled to himself. In order to haul the two deer, he was going to have to gut them and reduce the weight. Might as well get busy, he told himself, it surely wasn't going to get done all by itself.
Getting back toward home was a chore in the tangled thickets, and his horse wasn't impressed with having to carry the three of them. I need a pack animal, he told himself for the umpteenth time, and what I really need is Andy to go with me. He may not know it, but he and Judy need provisions for the winter.
The smaller doe was halved and Andy took a half and the other half went to Dr. Trish and Phoebe..
Andy agreed to go hunting the next day, leaving Judy to stare at the empty jars, the canner and the bowls of venison waiting to be processed. Defeated before she started, Judy took herself to Clora's for help in understanding how to can.
Clora was knee deep in her own canning, plus babysitting her three grandsons from next door. Tess was out hunting, determined to provide for herself and her boys.
Mark was down at the church building, Milo and Toby had gone South to do their hunting and Gary and Chuck were busy making deals with George and Millie, Phoebe and Seamus, and Trish and Bruce. The two men offered to hunt, in return for some goods from the store and some of the canned jars of meat.
Don asked if he could go with Chuck and Gary, so the three men forded the small river and headed East to try their luck.
"I have no money to pay the doc, so gettin them sumthin fer winter is the best that I can do. I'm about healed, and I favor getting back to my regular job with Corbin. This has been a good rest, but I'm gettin itchy feet." Don spoke quietly as the men rode hard and steady into the hills of timber.
It was past noon before the trio found deer sign, and it was an hour later that they had three deer. "We need to get for home," Chuck looked at the heavy, dark clouds forming and said unnecessarily, "the temperture is really dropping, let's get going."
Donny rode easily, constantly scanning for movement in the woods, proof that he had spooked up some game. Finding nothing, he rode further West than he had explored. The deep woods of hardwoods minus their leaves, and some evergreens were thickly tangled.
Finally, Donny was noticing some deer scrapes, deer beds and tracks. His horse alerted that there was an animal moving, and Donny unsheathed his 30-06.
Moments later a herd of does, Donny counted five, moved from right to left about a hundred feet ahead. Standing still, he caused no undue concern, and drew a bead on a particially fat, fine doe.
He shot the doe, dropping the animal in her tracks and got to see the flash of the buck chasing the uninterested ladies.
Donny felt his jaw drop. That was a buck. A monster with at least 12 or 13 points. He would love to take an animal like that, but Clora had requested does, if he could get them. Just the glimpse of the buck was a fine highlight to his hunt, and Donny smiled. Keeping an eye on his down animal, Donny was startled when the doe herd nervously appeared in front of him. Backtracking from left to right. Chanbering another round as quietly as possible, the deer looked up and spooked at the sound. Donny was mentally kicking himself, that was the first thing Dad said to do after you shot.
Chamber another round in the confusion.
Donny shot the last doe in the lineup, smaller than he really wanted to kill, but it was still meat.
Dad was so right. After the shooting, all the fun is over, Donny grumbled to himself. In order to haul the two deer, he was going to have to gut them and reduce the weight. Might as well get busy, he told himself, it surely wasn't going to get done all by itself.
Getting back toward home was a chore in the tangled thickets, and his horse wasn't impressed with having to carry the three of them. I need a pack animal, he told himself for the umpteenth time, and what I really need is Andy to go with me. He may not know it, but he and Judy need provisions for the winter.
The smaller doe was halved and Andy took a half and the other half went to Dr. Trish and Phoebe..
Andy agreed to go hunting the next day, leaving Judy to stare at the empty jars, the canner and the bowls of venison waiting to be processed. Defeated before she started, Judy took herself to Clora's for help in understanding how to can.
Clora was knee deep in her own canning, plus babysitting her three grandsons from next door. Tess was out hunting, determined to provide for herself and her boys.
Mark was down at the church building, Milo and Toby had gone South to do their hunting and Gary and Chuck were busy making deals with George and Millie, Phoebe and Seamus, and Trish and Bruce. The two men offered to hunt, in return for some goods from the store and some of the canned jars of meat.
Don asked if he could go with Chuck and Gary, so the three men forded the small river and headed East to try their luck.
"I have no money to pay the doc, so gettin them sumthin fer winter is the best that I can do. I'm about healed, and I favor getting back to my regular job with Corbin. This has been a good rest, but I'm gettin itchy feet." Don spoke quietly as the men rode hard and steady into the hills of timber.
It was past noon before the trio found deer sign, and it was an hour later that they had three deer. "We need to get for home," Chuck looked at the heavy, dark clouds forming and said unnecessarily, "the temperture is really dropping, let's get going."
Last edited:
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Thank you Pac.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
Yes it should be Tess. LOL, that's what I get for writing so late at night. Thanks, Pac.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#44
The trio was near half way home, when the first spatters of rain started to fall. Facing into the wind with hats pulled low, they rode silently into the leading edge of the storm By the time they reached the river, it was dark twilight. Splashing across the ford, they made for Milo's barn. Cold numbed fingers were only slightly colder than the wet clothes of the riders.
"That is the dumbest thing I've done in a long time, I'm never going out without my slicker again; I don't care if it's August and in the middle of a heat wave." Gary was mumbling as he tried to untie the leather strips the bound the deer carcass to the back of his saddle. All three men had purposely left slickers and gloves home to conserve weight. That was a mistake they wouldn't repeat, ever.
They had the three deer hanging, when the barn door opened and Milo and Toby came in with their horses and a pack horse with three deer. The two men were cheery and warmly dressed, snickering under their breath at the poor showing Gary, Chuck and Don made with their chattering teeth and stiff clothes.
"Chuck, Don, you guys are invited to my place for chili," Gary mentioned. "Especially if you grab some of the first cut slabs from the mill pile as you pass by." Chuck and Don agreed and all three went to the slab pile and each grabbed three or four of the long strips and drug them across the road to the dark cabin.
It was so dark that it took three matches for Gary to find the oil lamp, get the chimney off and get wick lit. Soon the wood stove was going, and the promised supper was heating. The wind drove ice pellets against the windows, and when the wind shifted just right, there was a spooky sounding moaning whistle that settled over the dark night.
Don was actually hurting. The cold had caused his arm and shoulder to ache fiercely. After the bowl of chili, he excused himself to get back over to the clinic. "I need a couple of aspirin, my arm is bothering me more than it should. Thanks guys for having me go along, I was getting stir crazy, but I don't fancy the scolding that I'm going to get from Doc. Tricia."
"Good luck trying to dodge that one," Chuck called out as the door shut on Don. "I'll bet he isn't as healed as he wishes he was," Chuck told Gary. Both men had another bowl of chili, pulling their chairs close to the stove and absorbing the heat before it got out into the room.
"I discovered a jug in the small hole of a tornado cellar, it's pure fire on the inside," Gary went to the cupboard and brought back two glasses and a glass jug.
"Cheers," and the glass of moonshine was everything that Gary said it would be.
Donny did the night chores, and went to check on Tess as she hadn't come for her boys. He knocked and when she didn't answer, Donny went into the cooling house and stoked the stove and lit a lamp and put it in the middle of the table.
He checked the barn, and her horse was still gone. He made sure the water was full and hay in the manger for the goat and horse. He looked at the goat and she stared back, and he finally said, "you need milked, don't you."
It looked like the goat nodded yes, she certainly did. Donny went back to the house for the pail and set about milking the antsy goat. "I'm not going to apologize for being me and not Miss Tess," he stared at the nanny until she settled down and agreed to be milked.
He was almost done, when the barn door opened and in walked Tess, leading her horse. Over the saddle was a giant buck, and Donny swallowed hard. He didn't want it to be the buck he had seen , and out of the corner of his eye, he only counted ten points. Giving a sigh of relief, he was definitely friendlier, as he helped Tess untie the deer and helped hoist it to bleed out.
They trudged through the ice storm to the house, the warmth a welcome to the cold and miserable Tess. "Miss Tess, I think you should come to the house tonight, Your boys are anxiously waiting to see you. Tell you what, I'll take you to the house and I'll come back here and keep the house warm."
Tess didn't want to agree, except she knew Donny was right, so she nodded and they stoked the stove, and Donny grabbed the lamp and the milk pail, and they went out into the night and the storm.
Clora had lights in the windows, a guide for the stragglers to find the back door. Mark was busy pacing the floor, stepping around the triplets as they played cars with matchbox toys as their mother and uncles had done so long ago.
"Grandad," Daniel complained, "your stepping on our road." The other two looked up at Mark and nodded. Mark rounded the table for the fiftyish time, and abruptly sat down at the end of the table.
Ivory woofed that people were coming in, and Mark tried to look nonchalant, and unworried.
Donny and Tess came in ice crusted and with a woosh of cold air. There was the usual hubbub as the triplets Mom got out of her wet coat and went to wash her hands. Donny put the pail of milk on the counter, and sniffed appreciatively at the scent of supper.
"I told Miss Tess she should stay here tonight, I'll go back up to her place and keep the house warm." Donny looked over his shoulder at Mark and smiled at his agreement.
"Good thinking," Mark praised "It's too cold to take the boys out. Fill up on supper, it's really good stew tonight. Donny ate four bowls and five thick cut slabs of bread and jam, three cups of coffee and a huge piece of cake with jam topping.
Tess ate a bowl full and sat back in her chair with a cup of hot coffee to warm her hands. "I'm too tired to eat anything more, Donny can have my seconds."
Donny flashed her a look of thanks and helped himself to another two bowls of stew.
"Good grief," Tess sputtered, "do you ever get full?" She was staring at Donny's spoon as it glinted in the lamplight.
"Sometimes," Donny ducked his head shyly. "Just wait until you have three of them eating like I do."
"Oh heavens," Tess moaned, "don't remind me, I'm not ready for that."
On cue, three little boys yawned in unison. "Sleepy Ma, we go to bed now."
The trio was near half way home, when the first spatters of rain started to fall. Facing into the wind with hats pulled low, they rode silently into the leading edge of the storm By the time they reached the river, it was dark twilight. Splashing across the ford, they made for Milo's barn. Cold numbed fingers were only slightly colder than the wet clothes of the riders.
"That is the dumbest thing I've done in a long time, I'm never going out without my slicker again; I don't care if it's August and in the middle of a heat wave." Gary was mumbling as he tried to untie the leather strips the bound the deer carcass to the back of his saddle. All three men had purposely left slickers and gloves home to conserve weight. That was a mistake they wouldn't repeat, ever.
They had the three deer hanging, when the barn door opened and Milo and Toby came in with their horses and a pack horse with three deer. The two men were cheery and warmly dressed, snickering under their breath at the poor showing Gary, Chuck and Don made with their chattering teeth and stiff clothes.
"Chuck, Don, you guys are invited to my place for chili," Gary mentioned. "Especially if you grab some of the first cut slabs from the mill pile as you pass by." Chuck and Don agreed and all three went to the slab pile and each grabbed three or four of the long strips and drug them across the road to the dark cabin.
It was so dark that it took three matches for Gary to find the oil lamp, get the chimney off and get wick lit. Soon the wood stove was going, and the promised supper was heating. The wind drove ice pellets against the windows, and when the wind shifted just right, there was a spooky sounding moaning whistle that settled over the dark night.
Don was actually hurting. The cold had caused his arm and shoulder to ache fiercely. After the bowl of chili, he excused himself to get back over to the clinic. "I need a couple of aspirin, my arm is bothering me more than it should. Thanks guys for having me go along, I was getting stir crazy, but I don't fancy the scolding that I'm going to get from Doc. Tricia."
"Good luck trying to dodge that one," Chuck called out as the door shut on Don. "I'll bet he isn't as healed as he wishes he was," Chuck told Gary. Both men had another bowl of chili, pulling their chairs close to the stove and absorbing the heat before it got out into the room.
"I discovered a jug in the small hole of a tornado cellar, it's pure fire on the inside," Gary went to the cupboard and brought back two glasses and a glass jug.
"Cheers," and the glass of moonshine was everything that Gary said it would be.
Donny did the night chores, and went to check on Tess as she hadn't come for her boys. He knocked and when she didn't answer, Donny went into the cooling house and stoked the stove and lit a lamp and put it in the middle of the table.
He checked the barn, and her horse was still gone. He made sure the water was full and hay in the manger for the goat and horse. He looked at the goat and she stared back, and he finally said, "you need milked, don't you."
It looked like the goat nodded yes, she certainly did. Donny went back to the house for the pail and set about milking the antsy goat. "I'm not going to apologize for being me and not Miss Tess," he stared at the nanny until she settled down and agreed to be milked.
He was almost done, when the barn door opened and in walked Tess, leading her horse. Over the saddle was a giant buck, and Donny swallowed hard. He didn't want it to be the buck he had seen , and out of the corner of his eye, he only counted ten points. Giving a sigh of relief, he was definitely friendlier, as he helped Tess untie the deer and helped hoist it to bleed out.
They trudged through the ice storm to the house, the warmth a welcome to the cold and miserable Tess. "Miss Tess, I think you should come to the house tonight, Your boys are anxiously waiting to see you. Tell you what, I'll take you to the house and I'll come back here and keep the house warm."
Tess didn't want to agree, except she knew Donny was right, so she nodded and they stoked the stove, and Donny grabbed the lamp and the milk pail, and they went out into the night and the storm.
Clora had lights in the windows, a guide for the stragglers to find the back door. Mark was busy pacing the floor, stepping around the triplets as they played cars with matchbox toys as their mother and uncles had done so long ago.
"Grandad," Daniel complained, "your stepping on our road." The other two looked up at Mark and nodded. Mark rounded the table for the fiftyish time, and abruptly sat down at the end of the table.
Ivory woofed that people were coming in, and Mark tried to look nonchalant, and unworried.
Donny and Tess came in ice crusted and with a woosh of cold air. There was the usual hubbub as the triplets Mom got out of her wet coat and went to wash her hands. Donny put the pail of milk on the counter, and sniffed appreciatively at the scent of supper.
"I told Miss Tess she should stay here tonight, I'll go back up to her place and keep the house warm." Donny looked over his shoulder at Mark and smiled at his agreement.
"Good thinking," Mark praised "It's too cold to take the boys out. Fill up on supper, it's really good stew tonight. Donny ate four bowls and five thick cut slabs of bread and jam, three cups of coffee and a huge piece of cake with jam topping.
Tess ate a bowl full and sat back in her chair with a cup of hot coffee to warm her hands. "I'm too tired to eat anything more, Donny can have my seconds."
Donny flashed her a look of thanks and helped himself to another two bowls of stew.
"Good grief," Tess sputtered, "do you ever get full?" She was staring at Donny's spoon as it glinted in the lamplight.
"Sometimes," Donny ducked his head shyly. "Just wait until you have three of them eating like I do."
"Oh heavens," Tess moaned, "don't remind me, I'm not ready for that."
On cue, three little boys yawned in unison. "Sleepy Ma, we go to bed now."
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Thank you very much Pac.
Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
Very accurate, on all counts
I grew up in Wstn Canada, hunting anything & everything -- those lessons about gear & preparedness still hold true today.
And yes, thank you for more entertainment Mrs Pac
Sammy55
Veteran Member
Thanks for the great chapter, Pac! Brrrrrrrr......! Lots to think about!
I sure hope that we have a normal spring, a nice and warm summer, and a wonderful fall with the Indian summer attached, too. I don't know if we will with this solar minimus happening....and I don't want to think about winter (even though I know we need to be thinking on it and working towards it PDQ!).
I sure hope that we have a normal spring, a nice and warm summer, and a wonderful fall with the Indian summer attached, too. I don't know if we will with this solar minimus happening....and I don't want to think about winter (even though I know we need to be thinking on it and working towards it PDQ!).
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#45
Tess got her boys to bed and came back into the kitchen to sit at the table. "Thanks Ma, for supper and keeping the boys today. One things for sure, today didn't turn out exactly like I planned. All the time I was walking back to the barn in the dark, I had every thought I've ever had, go through my mind. Especially if something happened to me, out there. That wasn't too smart on my part to take out alone, but in my defense, it was that jerk sheriff that made me so late."
Clora was at the sink, and she turned around when Tess started talking. Beautiful Tess had the maddest, most outraged expression on her face.
"That stupid fool, said he was going to arrest me for shooting 'HIS BUCK'. I had to inform him that I hadn't shot 'his buck', that he was such a poor shot that he missed his deer and the durned animal was still out there running around." Tess fairly ground her teeth in frustration.
"Ma, I was half way through gutting my deer, it was getting colder, and that blasted ninny sat on his horse and interrupted my work. I don't think he knew I was a woman, and he started cussing me out good. I listened for a minute and then turned around and gave him the best cussin I could without using a swear word. And,...I'm proud to say, I didn't use a very descriptive word twice."
Clora nodded and turned around to face the sink, trying hard to swallow the smile that was tugging at her lips. At that moment, Mark came in the back door, he and Donny had been out checking on the horses before Donny left to go to Tess's place.
"I had to draw my own pistol and order him away, so I could get finished. He didn't take kindly to that, but I don't care. What really made me the maddest, he sat on his horse like a dumb stump and wouldn't even offer to help me load my deer on the horse. I had to put my rope around that stinkin deer and hoist it on a overhead branch. Then that stupid horse didn't want to back under the deer. I was so mad at the horse and the sheriff, I almost wish it had been his deer, it would make it taste better." Tess finished her mad tirade and sputtered.
"Are you having trouble with our good sheriff?" Mark asked nicely.
Tess was still so mad that her red hair was glowing. "Dad, don't you dare take that jerk's side. I've never met a more egotistical moron. He didn't identify himself as the sheriff until I drew my pistol on him, and then he sure made sure I knew exactly who he was. I hope I scared that idiot, and he stops to think before he tries that trick again. His buck indeed!"
Mark happened to catch a glimpse of Clora's shoulders shaking in silent laughter, and he had to bite his lip and turn away. Tess was still so wrapped in her 'mad', that she wasn't paying any attention to her parents, and it was a good thing she wasn't.
"So your horse wasn't cooperative," he managed to say sympathetically, "do we need to get you another mount?"
"No, I don't believe so. I've already come to the conclusion that was a dumb stunt on my part to go out alone. I was so intent on proving I could do this by myself, that I forgot good sense." Tess sighed and took a sip of coffee.
To his credit, Mark didn't say anything; his daughter had excellent instincts, and if her independent streak didn't override her training, she would come to the correct conclusions. He nodded and focused on his cup of coffee.
"Did you get your hands rope burned? he asked quietly.
"Damn straight, I did. That's that idiot sheriff's fault; by that time I was so mad, I used superhuman strength to hoist that bloody carcass." Tess was starting to wind down.
Mark nodded again, secretly pleased at Tess's response.
The much maligned sheriff managed to get himself out of the tangled thickets and had to make a decision. The weather was so nasty, he didn't think he would be able to make it to the Inn at Bel nap. He mentally flipped a coin and seeking out the old man of the clan to beg a night's lodging won.
Tess got her boys to bed and came back into the kitchen to sit at the table. "Thanks Ma, for supper and keeping the boys today. One things for sure, today didn't turn out exactly like I planned. All the time I was walking back to the barn in the dark, I had every thought I've ever had, go through my mind. Especially if something happened to me, out there. That wasn't too smart on my part to take out alone, but in my defense, it was that jerk sheriff that made me so late."
Clora was at the sink, and she turned around when Tess started talking. Beautiful Tess had the maddest, most outraged expression on her face.
"That stupid fool, said he was going to arrest me for shooting 'HIS BUCK'. I had to inform him that I hadn't shot 'his buck', that he was such a poor shot that he missed his deer and the durned animal was still out there running around." Tess fairly ground her teeth in frustration.
"Ma, I was half way through gutting my deer, it was getting colder, and that blasted ninny sat on his horse and interrupted my work. I don't think he knew I was a woman, and he started cussing me out good. I listened for a minute and then turned around and gave him the best cussin I could without using a swear word. And,...I'm proud to say, I didn't use a very descriptive word twice."
Clora nodded and turned around to face the sink, trying hard to swallow the smile that was tugging at her lips. At that moment, Mark came in the back door, he and Donny had been out checking on the horses before Donny left to go to Tess's place.
"I had to draw my own pistol and order him away, so I could get finished. He didn't take kindly to that, but I don't care. What really made me the maddest, he sat on his horse like a dumb stump and wouldn't even offer to help me load my deer on the horse. I had to put my rope around that stinkin deer and hoist it on a overhead branch. Then that stupid horse didn't want to back under the deer. I was so mad at the horse and the sheriff, I almost wish it had been his deer, it would make it taste better." Tess finished her mad tirade and sputtered.
"Are you having trouble with our good sheriff?" Mark asked nicely.
Tess was still so mad that her red hair was glowing. "Dad, don't you dare take that jerk's side. I've never met a more egotistical moron. He didn't identify himself as the sheriff until I drew my pistol on him, and then he sure made sure I knew exactly who he was. I hope I scared that idiot, and he stops to think before he tries that trick again. His buck indeed!"
Mark happened to catch a glimpse of Clora's shoulders shaking in silent laughter, and he had to bite his lip and turn away. Tess was still so wrapped in her 'mad', that she wasn't paying any attention to her parents, and it was a good thing she wasn't.
"So your horse wasn't cooperative," he managed to say sympathetically, "do we need to get you another mount?"
"No, I don't believe so. I've already come to the conclusion that was a dumb stunt on my part to go out alone. I was so intent on proving I could do this by myself, that I forgot good sense." Tess sighed and took a sip of coffee.
To his credit, Mark didn't say anything; his daughter had excellent instincts, and if her independent streak didn't override her training, she would come to the correct conclusions. He nodded and focused on his cup of coffee.
"Did you get your hands rope burned? he asked quietly.
"Damn straight, I did. That's that idiot sheriff's fault; by that time I was so mad, I used superhuman strength to hoist that bloody carcass." Tess was starting to wind down.
Mark nodded again, secretly pleased at Tess's response.
The much maligned sheriff managed to get himself out of the tangled thickets and had to make a decision. The weather was so nasty, he didn't think he would be able to make it to the Inn at Bel nap. He mentally flipped a coin and seeking out the old man of the clan to beg a night's lodging won.
Nature_Lover
Wait! What?
AND make him help process HIS deer. Ha!
Thank you, Pac!
Thank you, Pac!
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Oh, very nice to come home to, thank you.
Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
I don't think the Sheriff was keen on a ready made family any way so probably best Tess has decided he's an unworthy as a man or a LEO
He'll likely pay a big price for being an ass -- I've found women remember transgressions FOREVER, plus a day!!!
Good chapter ma'am
He'll likely pay a big price for being an ass -- I've found women remember transgressions FOREVER, plus a day!!!
Good chapter ma'am
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#46
Ivory barked once to let the family know there was a human incoming. Mark stood up and his hand automatically went to his side arm. "Get back in the shadows Clora, Tess stay where you are so I know your location." Training kicked in, and family went to do as asked.
Heavy boots thudded across the porch floor and there was a solid knock on the door.
"Who's there?" Mark demanded to know.
"Wyatt Coleman," came the deep reply. "I'm wondering if I could beg a room for the night?"
Mark nodded to the ladies to stand down, and went to unlock the kitchen door. "Come in," he invited.
That was when all hell broke loose.
Wyatt Coleman the sheriff stepped inside just in time to see Tess draw her pistol and point at him. His muscle memory had the sheriff drawing his weapon in a standoff.
"Stand down," Mark barked in his best commander voice. "Wyatt, Tess, holster your pistols."
Tess obeyed, and Wyatt was only a fraction of a second later.
"You!" acid venom dripped from Tess's voice, "the bully that thought I shot 'HIS' buck."
"You!" Wyatt snarled in his best sheriff's voice. ""The hunter that was hunting in my personal area. Who gave you permission to invade my territory."
"I don't need your permission to hunt the fields I own," Tess's hand went to rest on the butt of her pistol. "You were certainly trespassing, if you want to do something, arrest yourself."
"I will do no such thing," Wyatt's tone left no doubt as to his perception of the situtation. "What are you doing here?" he challenged, "why don't you go to your home, where ever that is." he snapped.
"I live here you jerk, these are my parents." Tess was feeling her fingers getting itchy.
"Tess," Mark broke into the name calling kindergarten shouting match; warning his daughter not to push and leave her gun holstered.
"Sheriff Coleman," Mark's tone was a reprimand in itself; and the sheriff stepped back, and got closer to the door.
"Pardon my manners," Wyatt apologized, "I don't know what got into me."
Tess muttered under her breath, and Sheriff Coleman shot her a sharp glance. "I heard that," he said evenly.
Tess at least had the grace to blush and then her attention was diverted by three little boys coming into the kitchen.
"Ma? you OK," Paul asked as the triplets went to stand between their mother and the stranger. "We'll help protect you."
"Thank you boys, Granddad has the situtation under control. How about you guys get back in bed please," and Tess guided the youngsters out of the room without a backward glance.
"She might be your daughter," Wyatt Coleman spoke before he totally thought out what he was saying, or the consequences there of. "But that's one powerfully ornery woman. Your poor son in law, I bet he has regrets."
"She is our daughter," Clora came out of the shadows, startling the sheriff. "She takes after her mother," Clora warned sternly. "She is a widow and was hunting today to feed her family. I believe she was totally correct, being on her own land."
The unspoken inference was that the sheriff didn't know he was trespassing, and he was the person in the wrong and not to be a bully, or he would get called on his behavior.
Once again Mark played peacemaker. "Sheriff, the only room we have available, has a bed that was slept in, but if your not choosy, it's yours for the night."
"Thank you," the sheriff turned toward the door. "May I put my horse in the barn?"
"Certainly, I'll get my coat on and hold the light for you. We have the workhorse mares stabled, so if your horse is a trouble maker, he will have to be put in a stall." Mark offered.
Ivory barked once to let the family know there was a human incoming. Mark stood up and his hand automatically went to his side arm. "Get back in the shadows Clora, Tess stay where you are so I know your location." Training kicked in, and family went to do as asked.
Heavy boots thudded across the porch floor and there was a solid knock on the door.
"Who's there?" Mark demanded to know.
"Wyatt Coleman," came the deep reply. "I'm wondering if I could beg a room for the night?"
Mark nodded to the ladies to stand down, and went to unlock the kitchen door. "Come in," he invited.
That was when all hell broke loose.
Wyatt Coleman the sheriff stepped inside just in time to see Tess draw her pistol and point at him. His muscle memory had the sheriff drawing his weapon in a standoff.
"Stand down," Mark barked in his best commander voice. "Wyatt, Tess, holster your pistols."
Tess obeyed, and Wyatt was only a fraction of a second later.
"You!" acid venom dripped from Tess's voice, "the bully that thought I shot 'HIS' buck."
"You!" Wyatt snarled in his best sheriff's voice. ""The hunter that was hunting in my personal area. Who gave you permission to invade my territory."
"I don't need your permission to hunt the fields I own," Tess's hand went to rest on the butt of her pistol. "You were certainly trespassing, if you want to do something, arrest yourself."
"I will do no such thing," Wyatt's tone left no doubt as to his perception of the situtation. "What are you doing here?" he challenged, "why don't you go to your home, where ever that is." he snapped.
"I live here you jerk, these are my parents." Tess was feeling her fingers getting itchy.
"Tess," Mark broke into the name calling kindergarten shouting match; warning his daughter not to push and leave her gun holstered.
"Sheriff Coleman," Mark's tone was a reprimand in itself; and the sheriff stepped back, and got closer to the door.
"Pardon my manners," Wyatt apologized, "I don't know what got into me."
Tess muttered under her breath, and Sheriff Coleman shot her a sharp glance. "I heard that," he said evenly.
Tess at least had the grace to blush and then her attention was diverted by three little boys coming into the kitchen.
"Ma? you OK," Paul asked as the triplets went to stand between their mother and the stranger. "We'll help protect you."
"Thank you boys, Granddad has the situtation under control. How about you guys get back in bed please," and Tess guided the youngsters out of the room without a backward glance.
"She might be your daughter," Wyatt Coleman spoke before he totally thought out what he was saying, or the consequences there of. "But that's one powerfully ornery woman. Your poor son in law, I bet he has regrets."
"She is our daughter," Clora came out of the shadows, startling the sheriff. "She takes after her mother," Clora warned sternly. "She is a widow and was hunting today to feed her family. I believe she was totally correct, being on her own land."
The unspoken inference was that the sheriff didn't know he was trespassing, and he was the person in the wrong and not to be a bully, or he would get called on his behavior.
Once again Mark played peacemaker. "Sheriff, the only room we have available, has a bed that was slept in, but if your not choosy, it's yours for the night."
"Thank you," the sheriff turned toward the door. "May I put my horse in the barn?"
"Certainly, I'll get my coat on and hold the light for you. We have the workhorse mares stabled, so if your horse is a trouble maker, he will have to be put in a stall." Mark offered.
Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
Bang on -- Power does corrupt doesn't it? It will be very interesting to see how this little conflict plays out although I'm getting a hint of Mama Lion set to protect a precocious offspring -- Wyatt may have stepped in it.
Mrs Pac -- this is why I check this thread every morning THX
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
His horse might be like the sheriff lol, thank you Pac.
Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
a possibility -- opposites do attract, although drawing & aiming sidearms generally doesn't bode well for long term anything.
I guess Pac will let us in the secret anon -- well, I hope so anyway.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#47
Gary and Chuck were rip-roaringly drunk. The 'shine went down smoother than water and the cold temperature outside called for a large amount of fortification against the weather.
"I just know I'm gonna feel real terrible in the morning." Chuck garbled. "Right now I can't even think if I had to do anything tomorrow. If it's still storming, the mill won't run, so I guess I'm good." the 'shine and the heat from the stove finally warmed the frozen men, and Chuck stumbled over to Gary's bunk and hit the pillow fast asleep.
Gary thought it was funny, until he tried to get Chuck out of his bed and couldn't budge the passed out man. Grabbing the other blanket, Gary sat in the easy chair and tried to arrange the blanket over himself.
He might as well been fighting with an unseen assailant, the tangled mess he was making; finally he just gave up and slipped into sleep.
Don walked in the clinic door, and was met with the stares of the family that were gathered around the stove. Doc. Trish definitely didn't look happy, and good ole doctor Bruce was greatly amused at the state of the nearly frozen hunter.
"Got a deer," he mumbled, "had a bowl of chili at Gary's. Doc Trish, you got any aspirin? My arm is really bothering me." Don was really hoping that by giving Trish an immediate task, she might forget to lecture him about his unhealed foolishness.
"Probably not," Bruce chuckled, reading Don's intent as a natural thing that men might do to deflect a potential problem.
"I hope not," Don mumbled, "I'm so tired and man am I hurting."
Trish came in the room in time to hear he was hurting. "I'm not surprised, are you?" she questioned. Shaking her head, Trish placed two aspirin in Don's hand, and passed him a glass of water.
"You're cold," Eddie blurted out, "I can feel it from here. Why don't you get warm?" the curious logic from a teenager already sitting by the stove.
"Move over Eddie, let him get close to the stove," Bruce used his father voice, and it was a sign to Eddie to get right up and do what he was told. Eddie moved, slowly, and Don muscled right in to get close to the heat.
"That feels really good, thanks for moving Eddie. We just about froze out there, we had a hard time locating game. They felt the impending storm and were all holed up in the brush and not moving around. Since I have no money, I wanted to repay you in the only way I knew how. This is a good sized buck, and should bone out a fair amount of meat. When the weather breaks, I'll try for another one, now that I know where the deer bed down."
Trish just nodded, confident that by tomorrow Don would be feeling the muscle pain enough, that he would behave for several days.
"Maybe the boys and I will go with you," Bruce casually mentioned, and Trish's head shot up like she had been electrified. "Oh, I don't think so." was her final opinion on the subject.
Eddie looked up to protest and Bruce caught his eye and shook his head no, and put his finger to his lips in a shushing motion. Bruce smiled and Eddie grinned, nodding his head yes, as part of the secret the three of them were involved in.
Trish seemed blissfully unaware of what was going on; when in reality, her mother radar was pinging loudly. Tony shook his head, deciding that his Dad and brother were idiots, if they thought Ma didn't know what was going on. He guessed he would have to let those two clueless guys in on the cold, hard facts.
Don hoped he was warm enough, the family dynamic was getting hotter than the stove and he wanted out before it started boiling.
Meanwhile, up in the big barn, Sheriff Wyatt Coleman unsaddled his horse, wiped the animal down, gave him a flake of hay, and turned around to apologize to his host. "I don't know what got into me, growling at your daughter like I done. First of all. I didn't know she was a she. I watched her take aim and drop that buck right in his tracks."
"Tess is a dedicated sniper, if she shoots, she hits. Don't rile her." Mark was stern. "And my wife, is just a notch below our daughter in her shooting abilities."
"What is this, a nest of people with super human traits?" Wyatt smarted off.
"You don't know the half of it," Mark came right back. "Let's get to the house, it's been a long day. Just don't get up and wander around the house at night. We set the dog on guard, and both Clora and Tess are light sleepers. They tend to shoot first and ask questions later."
"That, I'll remember," Wyatt held the door for Mark and they headed for the house.
Gary and Chuck were rip-roaringly drunk. The 'shine went down smoother than water and the cold temperature outside called for a large amount of fortification against the weather.
"I just know I'm gonna feel real terrible in the morning." Chuck garbled. "Right now I can't even think if I had to do anything tomorrow. If it's still storming, the mill won't run, so I guess I'm good." the 'shine and the heat from the stove finally warmed the frozen men, and Chuck stumbled over to Gary's bunk and hit the pillow fast asleep.
Gary thought it was funny, until he tried to get Chuck out of his bed and couldn't budge the passed out man. Grabbing the other blanket, Gary sat in the easy chair and tried to arrange the blanket over himself.
He might as well been fighting with an unseen assailant, the tangled mess he was making; finally he just gave up and slipped into sleep.
Don walked in the clinic door, and was met with the stares of the family that were gathered around the stove. Doc. Trish definitely didn't look happy, and good ole doctor Bruce was greatly amused at the state of the nearly frozen hunter.
"Got a deer," he mumbled, "had a bowl of chili at Gary's. Doc Trish, you got any aspirin? My arm is really bothering me." Don was really hoping that by giving Trish an immediate task, she might forget to lecture him about his unhealed foolishness.
"Probably not," Bruce chuckled, reading Don's intent as a natural thing that men might do to deflect a potential problem.
"I hope not," Don mumbled, "I'm so tired and man am I hurting."
Trish came in the room in time to hear he was hurting. "I'm not surprised, are you?" she questioned. Shaking her head, Trish placed two aspirin in Don's hand, and passed him a glass of water.
"You're cold," Eddie blurted out, "I can feel it from here. Why don't you get warm?" the curious logic from a teenager already sitting by the stove.
"Move over Eddie, let him get close to the stove," Bruce used his father voice, and it was a sign to Eddie to get right up and do what he was told. Eddie moved, slowly, and Don muscled right in to get close to the heat.
"That feels really good, thanks for moving Eddie. We just about froze out there, we had a hard time locating game. They felt the impending storm and were all holed up in the brush and not moving around. Since I have no money, I wanted to repay you in the only way I knew how. This is a good sized buck, and should bone out a fair amount of meat. When the weather breaks, I'll try for another one, now that I know where the deer bed down."
Trish just nodded, confident that by tomorrow Don would be feeling the muscle pain enough, that he would behave for several days.
"Maybe the boys and I will go with you," Bruce casually mentioned, and Trish's head shot up like she had been electrified. "Oh, I don't think so." was her final opinion on the subject.
Eddie looked up to protest and Bruce caught his eye and shook his head no, and put his finger to his lips in a shushing motion. Bruce smiled and Eddie grinned, nodding his head yes, as part of the secret the three of them were involved in.
Trish seemed blissfully unaware of what was going on; when in reality, her mother radar was pinging loudly. Tony shook his head, deciding that his Dad and brother were idiots, if they thought Ma didn't know what was going on. He guessed he would have to let those two clueless guys in on the cold, hard facts.
Don hoped he was warm enough, the family dynamic was getting hotter than the stove and he wanted out before it started boiling.
Meanwhile, up in the big barn, Sheriff Wyatt Coleman unsaddled his horse, wiped the animal down, gave him a flake of hay, and turned around to apologize to his host. "I don't know what got into me, growling at your daughter like I done. First of all. I didn't know she was a she. I watched her take aim and drop that buck right in his tracks."
"Tess is a dedicated sniper, if she shoots, she hits. Don't rile her." Mark was stern. "And my wife, is just a notch below our daughter in her shooting abilities."
"What is this, a nest of people with super human traits?" Wyatt smarted off.
"You don't know the half of it," Mark came right back. "Let's get to the house, it's been a long day. Just don't get up and wander around the house at night. We set the dog on guard, and both Clora and Tess are light sleepers. They tend to shoot first and ask questions later."
"That, I'll remember," Wyatt held the door for Mark and they headed for the house.
Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
So here I was, thinking of sitting out on the deck w/ a pipe of 965 wannabe and a wee dram of Maker's & I thought 'what the heck; check GM&B'
Yeah she blessed us w/ another little set of hints & clues -- oh well if I can smoke a pipe & sip a little whiskey, I must be a big boy now so I'm sure I can stay up a little longer.
Thank you ma'am; you never fail to deliver & yes, we like it when you spoil us.
G
Yeah she blessed us w/ another little set of hints & clues -- oh well if I can smoke a pipe & sip a little whiskey, I must be a big boy now so I'm sure I can stay up a little longer.
Thank you ma'am; you never fail to deliver & yes, we like it when you spoil us.
G
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sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Thank you Pac, grinning here to find another chapter. Lillie dog got me up earlier today then I wanted to, but when a great Pyrenees wants out, she wants out.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#48
Robert urged the horses to pull. "Stop being slackers, you lazy oatburners." and they did their best until the way got so steep they had to stop. Now Robert had a sure fire problem. He couldn't go forward, he couldn't turn either right or left without turning over, and so, carefully backing up was his only option.
That proved disasterous after he had backed a thirty foot slide back. The heavy wagon drug the horses backward and they lost their footing, going down in a tangled jumble of broken harness, flailing legs and horse screams.
Faster and faster the wagon rushed backwards, the harness breaking and turning horses pulled on top of one another. It was a wreck like Robert had never been in a chaos fueled wreck before. He finally jumped to try and clear the certain death waiting when the bulk of the wagon and horses hit a stopping place.
When he jumped, Robert fell and tumbled, hitting the steep ground and rolling like a bowling ball into the wild tangle of paniced horses and their flailing feet. Clipped in the temple by a shod workhorse foot, Robert went limp, and was crushed by the mass of horse bodies as the horses struggled to regain their footing.
Veering off to the right as they were drug backwards, the wagon and team of six horses fell off the cliff into the deep and long gully. The horses and driver died in the foothills of the Front Range, the trail from Denver to Rawlins a half mile to the east of where Robert tried to pull a shortcut.
The next morning, Mark and Clora were having coffee at the table, when Clora said, "Robert has died."
Mark nodded, "what happened?"
"The wagon turned over and rolled on him and all are dead." Clora rubbed her temple, the horrible scene in her mind made her sick to her stomach. "God rest his soul." Clora whispered, "he had a tortured heart, perhaps now he will have peace."
Tess came rushing in the room, "Ma, it's Robert, he has died."
"Yes," Clora answered sadly. "I wish it were different, but it is a horrible ending."
Tess was in her nightgown and robe, her long red hair floating around her shoulders. Sitting in a chair with her feet tucked up under her, Tess sipped coffee and enjoyed a quiet talk with her parents.
That's the sight that greeted Wyatt Coleman when he came from the guest room. Dumbstruck by the sight of the beautiful woman, he stumbled forward and nearly nosedived right in front of Tess's chair.
Tess gave him a frosty, disgusted look and flounced out of the room.
"Once again, I'm sorry." Wyatt gathered himself up and managed to get in the chair that Tess vacated, without further mishap.
Mark offered the sheriff a cup of coffee and Clora went to stir the oatmeal that was beginning to bubble on the stove.
"Grandma," three young voices and thudding feet announced the arrivial of the triplets. "We're hungry, can we have breakfast?"
"Wash up please," Clora directed, and stirred the oatmeal. Quicker than a good wash up for six hands should have happened, the boys were back at the table, sitting quietly but grinning at the sheriff.
"Hi," one of the boys piped up. "Who are you?"
"Are you gonna have breakfast with us?: the second voice asked.
"We have goat milk with our oatmeal, do you like goats?" the third voice asked and all three boys stared hard at the suddendly nervous sheriff.
Clora put three bowls on the table with cereal.
"Grandma, that's not enough. We eats way mores than that. We're growing big and strong, just ask Ma, she'll tell ya we are bottomless pits." All three boys giggled and folded their hands. "Grandad, we're waiting for you to say the blessing, hurry, the oatmeal is getting cold."
Prescedence set, the blessing was said and Mark and Wyatt got their bowls of oatmeal with a little sugar. More coffee and Tess came in dressed, to supervise the boys and breakfast.
Chuck actually felt worse than he suspected he would. Gary must have put him to bed last night, as that's where he was, and Gary was in the chair, snoring like an asmatic cape buffalo's dying bellow.
Chuck thought that was a very correct description of Gary. The strange man was as tempremental and moody as a 'dugga boy', and about as friendly. Chuck decided to stop thinking, as it caused a screeching sound inside his skull. If he held real still and breathed very shallow, he could almost stand the woozy pain he was experiencing. There wasn't anything to do, but go back to sleep.
Robert urged the horses to pull. "Stop being slackers, you lazy oatburners." and they did their best until the way got so steep they had to stop. Now Robert had a sure fire problem. He couldn't go forward, he couldn't turn either right or left without turning over, and so, carefully backing up was his only option.
That proved disasterous after he had backed a thirty foot slide back. The heavy wagon drug the horses backward and they lost their footing, going down in a tangled jumble of broken harness, flailing legs and horse screams.
Faster and faster the wagon rushed backwards, the harness breaking and turning horses pulled on top of one another. It was a wreck like Robert had never been in a chaos fueled wreck before. He finally jumped to try and clear the certain death waiting when the bulk of the wagon and horses hit a stopping place.
When he jumped, Robert fell and tumbled, hitting the steep ground and rolling like a bowling ball into the wild tangle of paniced horses and their flailing feet. Clipped in the temple by a shod workhorse foot, Robert went limp, and was crushed by the mass of horse bodies as the horses struggled to regain their footing.
Veering off to the right as they were drug backwards, the wagon and team of six horses fell off the cliff into the deep and long gully. The horses and driver died in the foothills of the Front Range, the trail from Denver to Rawlins a half mile to the east of where Robert tried to pull a shortcut.
The next morning, Mark and Clora were having coffee at the table, when Clora said, "Robert has died."
Mark nodded, "what happened?"
"The wagon turned over and rolled on him and all are dead." Clora rubbed her temple, the horrible scene in her mind made her sick to her stomach. "God rest his soul." Clora whispered, "he had a tortured heart, perhaps now he will have peace."
Tess came rushing in the room, "Ma, it's Robert, he has died."
"Yes," Clora answered sadly. "I wish it were different, but it is a horrible ending."
Tess was in her nightgown and robe, her long red hair floating around her shoulders. Sitting in a chair with her feet tucked up under her, Tess sipped coffee and enjoyed a quiet talk with her parents.
That's the sight that greeted Wyatt Coleman when he came from the guest room. Dumbstruck by the sight of the beautiful woman, he stumbled forward and nearly nosedived right in front of Tess's chair.
Tess gave him a frosty, disgusted look and flounced out of the room.
"Once again, I'm sorry." Wyatt gathered himself up and managed to get in the chair that Tess vacated, without further mishap.
Mark offered the sheriff a cup of coffee and Clora went to stir the oatmeal that was beginning to bubble on the stove.
"Grandma," three young voices and thudding feet announced the arrivial of the triplets. "We're hungry, can we have breakfast?"
"Wash up please," Clora directed, and stirred the oatmeal. Quicker than a good wash up for six hands should have happened, the boys were back at the table, sitting quietly but grinning at the sheriff.
"Hi," one of the boys piped up. "Who are you?"
"Are you gonna have breakfast with us?: the second voice asked.
"We have goat milk with our oatmeal, do you like goats?" the third voice asked and all three boys stared hard at the suddendly nervous sheriff.
Clora put three bowls on the table with cereal.
"Grandma, that's not enough. We eats way mores than that. We're growing big and strong, just ask Ma, she'll tell ya we are bottomless pits." All three boys giggled and folded their hands. "Grandad, we're waiting for you to say the blessing, hurry, the oatmeal is getting cold."
Prescedence set, the blessing was said and Mark and Wyatt got their bowls of oatmeal with a little sugar. More coffee and Tess came in dressed, to supervise the boys and breakfast.
Chuck actually felt worse than he suspected he would. Gary must have put him to bed last night, as that's where he was, and Gary was in the chair, snoring like an asmatic cape buffalo's dying bellow.
Chuck thought that was a very correct description of Gary. The strange man was as tempremental and moody as a 'dugga boy', and about as friendly. Chuck decided to stop thinking, as it caused a screeching sound inside his skull. If he held real still and breathed very shallow, he could almost stand the woozy pain he was experiencing. There wasn't anything to do, but go back to sleep.
Texican
Live Free & Die Free.... God Freedom Country....
The sheriff has it bad for Tess and Tess will come around.
To bad about Robert, but he is at peace.
A good writer brings the characters to life for the readers and an excellent writer keeps them coming back.
Thanks Pac.
Texican....
To bad about Robert, but he is at peace.
A good writer brings the characters to life for the readers and an excellent writer keeps them coming back.
Thanks Pac.
Texican....
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