Hi, My Name is Tessee
- Thread starter PacNorWest
- Start date
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#37b
Mark stopped the Jeep close to the front door, telling Clora to take the children inside. By the time all of Mark got unfolded out of the SUV, the Deputy felt threatened by the simple size of the man. Mark made no sudden moves, not wanting to alarm the lawman. He greeted Will and the Deputy, asking if there was anything he could do for them.
There were a thousand questions to be answered, most having to do with 'who authorized him to shoot an unarmed man'.
Mark replied "I didn't know if he was unarmed. There was no reason to think he didn't have a gun if he was going to ram my house with the dozer. I shot twice and missed him both times, the second time my shot went wild and unfortunately hit something in the shop that exploded."
Mark looked over the damage of the burned shop, milking shed and chicken coop. "Look how much we have lost," he said reasonably to the Deputy. "Most of our food was here, now gone, and we are in desperate straits. I wouldn't destroy our supplies deliberately."
The Deputy thought the man was intelligent and reasonable, his logic was plausible but his Captain was hounding his heels for an arrest, the farm and it's members under constant suspicion for stretching the law to suit themselves.
"Deputy," Mark looked frustrated, "how many times have you men been called out here, every day we have people shooting at us, trying to destroy our lives and houses; we have the place up for sale so we can move on and get away from this. Just what is it you suggest we can do to get away from here?" Mark was very convincing and persuasive.
Between Will and Mark, the lawman didn't stand a chance. It's almost impossible to be mad and refute cold, hard facts. He left without arresting a soul, actually sporting a new found respect fot the clan.
The fence boss was still mad, stomping and snarling orders as he finished the fence work. Mark walked over and drew the man away from the crew, earning him the gratitude of the working men.
"Who ever started that cat had prior knowledge of the sequence needed to get it going, is there anyone on your crew missing?" Mark interrogated the construction boss.
"No, the boy's 'er all here." the chunky red headed, multi freckled man growled. "Wern't none 'o my guys, they knowed I'd skin'em alive iffen I caught them joyriding."
"Have you looked in the cab, anything unusual in there or around the cat?" Mark persisted questioning. "I'd like to go over there and look if you don't mind." and without waiting for the man to agree, he started walking. The wreckage was warm, hot in places even, the low bubbling sound of burning grease and oil hissing as it burned pockets of watery snow dripping into the fire.
It was a stinking smelly mess. The cab and the person in it was nothing but grey ash. The human long destroyed. Mark shook his head, it was such a waste of a person and a piece of equipment. "God rest his soul," he murmured, there wasn't much else to say.
Kelly, the construction boss said "thanks for the check and the work. This'n gonna hep some mighty hungry people."
Mark turned to scan the fence line, "thank you Kelly, I wanted this fence to protect our family's and I guess it didn't work. It's a good job you've done here, I appreciate it. Do you have time to bury the barn mess?"
Mark stopped the Jeep close to the front door, telling Clora to take the children inside. By the time all of Mark got unfolded out of the SUV, the Deputy felt threatened by the simple size of the man. Mark made no sudden moves, not wanting to alarm the lawman. He greeted Will and the Deputy, asking if there was anything he could do for them.
There were a thousand questions to be answered, most having to do with 'who authorized him to shoot an unarmed man'.
Mark replied "I didn't know if he was unarmed. There was no reason to think he didn't have a gun if he was going to ram my house with the dozer. I shot twice and missed him both times, the second time my shot went wild and unfortunately hit something in the shop that exploded."
Mark looked over the damage of the burned shop, milking shed and chicken coop. "Look how much we have lost," he said reasonably to the Deputy. "Most of our food was here, now gone, and we are in desperate straits. I wouldn't destroy our supplies deliberately."
The Deputy thought the man was intelligent and reasonable, his logic was plausible but his Captain was hounding his heels for an arrest, the farm and it's members under constant suspicion for stretching the law to suit themselves.
"Deputy," Mark looked frustrated, "how many times have you men been called out here, every day we have people shooting at us, trying to destroy our lives and houses; we have the place up for sale so we can move on and get away from this. Just what is it you suggest we can do to get away from here?" Mark was very convincing and persuasive.
Between Will and Mark, the lawman didn't stand a chance. It's almost impossible to be mad and refute cold, hard facts. He left without arresting a soul, actually sporting a new found respect fot the clan.
The fence boss was still mad, stomping and snarling orders as he finished the fence work. Mark walked over and drew the man away from the crew, earning him the gratitude of the working men.
"Who ever started that cat had prior knowledge of the sequence needed to get it going, is there anyone on your crew missing?" Mark interrogated the construction boss.
"No, the boy's 'er all here." the chunky red headed, multi freckled man growled. "Wern't none 'o my guys, they knowed I'd skin'em alive iffen I caught them joyriding."
"Have you looked in the cab, anything unusual in there or around the cat?" Mark persisted questioning. "I'd like to go over there and look if you don't mind." and without waiting for the man to agree, he started walking. The wreckage was warm, hot in places even, the low bubbling sound of burning grease and oil hissing as it burned pockets of watery snow dripping into the fire.
It was a stinking smelly mess. The cab and the person in it was nothing but grey ash. The human long destroyed. Mark shook his head, it was such a waste of a person and a piece of equipment. "God rest his soul," he murmured, there wasn't much else to say.
Kelly, the construction boss said "thanks for the check and the work. This'n gonna hep some mighty hungry people."
Mark turned to scan the fence line, "thank you Kelly, I wanted this fence to protect our family's and I guess it didn't work. It's a good job you've done here, I appreciate it. Do you have time to bury the barn mess?"
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#37c
Kelly muttered, "I'll dig the hole myself, right now," he made for the second cat and hit the preheat to begin the start sequence.
Two of the laborers saluted Mark for giving the volatile Kelly a job so he would stay off their backs. The fence was in the last stages of completion, the fence stretchers straining to keep the wire tight. It was a beautiful sight, the berm and the five plank fence with wire where it went through the mounds of blackberry bushes. A fence that would make an owner proud, especially if the owner was going to be there to run stock against it.
The fence was finished and the barn torn down, the trucks and lowboys came and carted the equipment away. It was past dark when Mark knocked on Ben's door. Wayne was there and Mark got the bank cards signed, and the receipt of deposit admired. Wayne got up and cleared the table, earning a grateful thank you from Lainey.
Anne sat holding court in her father's lap. Mark said "she sure looks like Clora when she sits like that." Ben bent down and studied his daughter's face, frowning as he could only agree. "She sure does, Lainey, how did we let that happen? I don't know if the world can handle two Clora's."
Lainey was laughing, "what's going to happen when Clora has a Clora, then there will be three. Say Mark, has she said anything about that supposed Grandfather that was here this afternoon?"
Mark said "no, she claims that their's probably a hundred more out there just waiting to harass her the minute they get a chance. She's not putting much stock in it, she's much more worried about moving her jars than anything else."
"That's Clora for you," Lainey was still chuckling. "What about your house Mark, how big is it? Would it actually hold us all?"
"It's a six bedroom, four bath with a complete downstairs. The only thing we can't have is the stock. How about it Wayne? Would you want to scout a pasture and or barns to rent?"
Wayne perked up, "well yeah, I can do that. As a matter of fact, I think I know a place we might be able to rent, there's this girl, I mean lady at work that has pastures but I think the fences might be poor."
"We've got close to 30 days to fix them and get the animals moved, we can work at that," Mark was thinking out loud. "What say you, Ben?"
"Sounds alright to me, Christy said she would double her efforts to find the place we need. Lainey and I are going to go out tomorrow and look at a place down the road that's been for sale. Unless you think we need to get further away from the area? And, by the way, how did the talk with the law come out?" Ben was curious.
"Well he came out here ready to haul my ...er tail to jail, you might say, probably under orders to stop all the nonsense out at our place. When he left, I hope Will and I gave him a stark dose of reality. He seemed satisfied when he left, we'll see if his superiors are."
Ev lay awake in bed, fretting about the survival of his beloved Highlanders. He knew if at all possible that the stock would be taken care of, but he was still concerned about the tannish brown shaggy haired, wide horned cattle. Cheryl turned over and patted his arm, she could easily feel his restlessness. "Ev," she spoke quietly, "what's wrong?"
"Cows," he managed to say, "my cows."
"Listen to me," Cheryl emphasized, "We still have money from the diamonds, we can buy the cows from the family, we can rent pasture for them somewhere, we can take them to Evergreen as soon as you are better, there are many options for us. Will that put you at ease enough to sleep?"
Ev nodded yes, and Cheryl could seel his face relax in the dim light of the bedroom. She reached over to give him a quick hug and then fell asleep before her head hit the pillow.
Christy worked hard during the night. There was one place that was beginning to stand out in her search, but it was so far away.
Kelly muttered, "I'll dig the hole myself, right now," he made for the second cat and hit the preheat to begin the start sequence.
Two of the laborers saluted Mark for giving the volatile Kelly a job so he would stay off their backs. The fence was in the last stages of completion, the fence stretchers straining to keep the wire tight. It was a beautiful sight, the berm and the five plank fence with wire where it went through the mounds of blackberry bushes. A fence that would make an owner proud, especially if the owner was going to be there to run stock against it.
The fence was finished and the barn torn down, the trucks and lowboys came and carted the equipment away. It was past dark when Mark knocked on Ben's door. Wayne was there and Mark got the bank cards signed, and the receipt of deposit admired. Wayne got up and cleared the table, earning a grateful thank you from Lainey.
Anne sat holding court in her father's lap. Mark said "she sure looks like Clora when she sits like that." Ben bent down and studied his daughter's face, frowning as he could only agree. "She sure does, Lainey, how did we let that happen? I don't know if the world can handle two Clora's."
Lainey was laughing, "what's going to happen when Clora has a Clora, then there will be three. Say Mark, has she said anything about that supposed Grandfather that was here this afternoon?"
Mark said "no, she claims that their's probably a hundred more out there just waiting to harass her the minute they get a chance. She's not putting much stock in it, she's much more worried about moving her jars than anything else."
"That's Clora for you," Lainey was still chuckling. "What about your house Mark, how big is it? Would it actually hold us all?"
"It's a six bedroom, four bath with a complete downstairs. The only thing we can't have is the stock. How about it Wayne? Would you want to scout a pasture and or barns to rent?"
Wayne perked up, "well yeah, I can do that. As a matter of fact, I think I know a place we might be able to rent, there's this girl, I mean lady at work that has pastures but I think the fences might be poor."
"We've got close to 30 days to fix them and get the animals moved, we can work at that," Mark was thinking out loud. "What say you, Ben?"
"Sounds alright to me, Christy said she would double her efforts to find the place we need. Lainey and I are going to go out tomorrow and look at a place down the road that's been for sale. Unless you think we need to get further away from the area? And, by the way, how did the talk with the law come out?" Ben was curious.
"Well he came out here ready to haul my ...er tail to jail, you might say, probably under orders to stop all the nonsense out at our place. When he left, I hope Will and I gave him a stark dose of reality. He seemed satisfied when he left, we'll see if his superiors are."
Ev lay awake in bed, fretting about the survival of his beloved Highlanders. He knew if at all possible that the stock would be taken care of, but he was still concerned about the tannish brown shaggy haired, wide horned cattle. Cheryl turned over and patted his arm, she could easily feel his restlessness. "Ev," she spoke quietly, "what's wrong?"
"Cows," he managed to say, "my cows."
"Listen to me," Cheryl emphasized, "We still have money from the diamonds, we can buy the cows from the family, we can rent pasture for them somewhere, we can take them to Evergreen as soon as you are better, there are many options for us. Will that put you at ease enough to sleep?"
Ev nodded yes, and Cheryl could seel his face relax in the dim light of the bedroom. She reached over to give him a quick hug and then fell asleep before her head hit the pillow.
Christy worked hard during the night. There was one place that was beginning to stand out in her search, but it was so far away.
that may be what they need: far away! But I think Ev would miss Evergreen even more, unless that gets "out of his system".
thank you!!! I've been trying to figure out just what than "land" may be hiding and I can't come up with anything. I figure if there was some secret cave, Wayne would have found it since he goes out and about a lot. They already explored that tunnel. Maybe they should go over the land with a metal detector! LOL!
then the "bad Kellie" thinks "what if they find some mass grave"?????? eewwww! (yeah, my brain goes there)
thank you!!! I've been trying to figure out just what than "land" may be hiding and I can't come up with anything. I figure if there was some secret cave, Wayne would have found it since he goes out and about a lot. They already explored that tunnel. Maybe they should go over the land with a metal detector! LOL!
then the "bad Kellie" thinks "what if they find some mass grave"?????? eewwww! (yeah, my brain goes there)
kyrsyan
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Get everyone in a group. Liquidate all assets. Scatter everyone with a new identity and then meet back up at the new farm. Don't let anyone know the new identities or the location of the new farm.
I'm not sure it would work but if I were in their shoes I'd be trying it. Also maybe use Lainey's Dad to "break the news" on the news of everything they've found and where it ended up at so that certain parties would stop hunting them (the cold fusion plans).
I'm not sure it would work but if I were in their shoes I'd be trying it. Also maybe use Lainey's Dad to "break the news" on the news of everything they've found and where it ended up at so that certain parties would stop hunting them (the cold fusion plans).
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#37d
As they got ready for bed, Clora hesitated and then asked Mark, "what would you think about taking a quick trip to a ranch that I know about?" Serious, she stopped brushing her hair to stare at her husband.
"How far and when do you want to go," Mark hopped around on one foot as he tried to pull up his sweat pants. "My toe is caught," he whimpered,"boy that hurt. I think I ripped my toenail."
"And there's no reason to sit on the side of the bed and do that?" Clora had to laugh at his outraged expression. "that's for girls," he said smugly. "Real men jump up and land inside their pants before their feet hit the floor."
"I see," Clora was harrumphing as she bit her lip to keep from laughing. "What do they do with the furniture that's broken, or holes in the floor?"
"Ah, that's not gonna happen, this old place is pretty strong. Now the barracks, that place suffered when we all tried to do that at the same time," Mark really laughed, it was a great sound for Clora to hear.
"Tell me, where do you want to go," Mark reappeared in the doorway brushing his teeth.
"Up the coastline toward where Lainey and I taught school. There might be too much tsunami destruction, but there is a farm up there that was a fantastic place. It's actually not that far from where we used to live, closer to the water but it had a couple of houses and maybe there will be others nearby. One of my students had an uncle that owned the place, and we had a field trip out there. I can only hope that it didn't have a lot of damage."
"I don't see why not, let's go Saturday. I wonder if there are any motels functioning? Would you like to spend the night?" Mark offered .
Clora automatically said, "oh that's way too expensive, it's really not all that far and the kids can nap in the car."
"Clora, honey, we can afford it," Mark protested. "I hate to tell you this but Borg left me...I mean us wealthy."
"Well that's no reason to spend it all in one place. I didn't say anything about the fence, but we really need to set a budget." Clora said primly. "We're going to have some medical bills with the baby and education for all the kids, and who knows what all this moving is going to cost us."
"Ok, we will set a budget. Lets do it when we get home from the trip," Mark promised. He full well knew Clora wouldn't sleep a wink tonight if he didn't agree. That woman pinched a nickle until the buffalo peed in her hand.
Mark winked at his love and said, "do you want to see me jump in bed?"
"Mark! what a thing to say," and Clora shut off the light.
Saturday morning the Linderman's loaded up the Jeep and headed North. It was the first time Clora had been off the farm except for short trips to town. The morning was cold, grey clouded with a touch of rain. The kids were strapped in car seats Mark had bought the day before, Clora had made sandwiches and brought carrots and cookies. There was a thermos of coffee and one of milk and one of water. Mark made no comment, he had already figured out Clora never went anywhere unprepared.
The suitcase of clothes made him raise his eyebrow, as did the extra boots for them all. She had insisted they have a chain, jumper cables and a small tool box. She also made sure he had protection in the center console. Her gun was in her pocket along with Sandy's knife.
Clora dusted her hands off and got in the Jeep with a smile. She and Lainey had an excited talk about the Kemp property and Lainey was encouraging with a wave as they pulled out of the driveway.
"Would you like to drive?" Mark asked as they turned on Interstate 5 North. The road was rutted and in very poor condition. It was a road to nowhere now, the flood damage had obliterated everything north of Longview.
"Oh, I'm not driving," Clora said quickly.
"You need to learn, if for nothing more than the ability to take me or the children in for emergency care. It's a survival thing," Mark hit Clora's panic button with what he knew would cause her to reconsider. She might not do it for her own comfort, but she would for him or the kids.
Clora gave him a suspicious stare, "Talk about manipulation, that's uncool mister."
Mark laughed, and Milo said 'whatcha laughing 'bout, I want outta here. This thing is tight, I don't like it."
"Hey Sport, we talked about this. If you want to go with us, you have to be in a car seat." Mark spoke over his shoulder. Clora looked in the back and Teddy was sound asleep, his head bouncing as the road was so rough.
"It's not far driving this route," Clora said as she leaned forward to look at the familiar landmarks. "We need to turn here, to the right." As the small valley opened, the fences of the farm were leaning, toppled over and the pasture close to the road was overgrown with brush and small trees.
"Oh my, what a disappointment from what I remembered," Clora said sadly.
As they got ready for bed, Clora hesitated and then asked Mark, "what would you think about taking a quick trip to a ranch that I know about?" Serious, she stopped brushing her hair to stare at her husband.
"How far and when do you want to go," Mark hopped around on one foot as he tried to pull up his sweat pants. "My toe is caught," he whimpered,"boy that hurt. I think I ripped my toenail."
"And there's no reason to sit on the side of the bed and do that?" Clora had to laugh at his outraged expression. "that's for girls," he said smugly. "Real men jump up and land inside their pants before their feet hit the floor."
"I see," Clora was harrumphing as she bit her lip to keep from laughing. "What do they do with the furniture that's broken, or holes in the floor?"
"Ah, that's not gonna happen, this old place is pretty strong. Now the barracks, that place suffered when we all tried to do that at the same time," Mark really laughed, it was a great sound for Clora to hear.
"Tell me, where do you want to go," Mark reappeared in the doorway brushing his teeth.
"Up the coastline toward where Lainey and I taught school. There might be too much tsunami destruction, but there is a farm up there that was a fantastic place. It's actually not that far from where we used to live, closer to the water but it had a couple of houses and maybe there will be others nearby. One of my students had an uncle that owned the place, and we had a field trip out there. I can only hope that it didn't have a lot of damage."
"I don't see why not, let's go Saturday. I wonder if there are any motels functioning? Would you like to spend the night?" Mark offered .
Clora automatically said, "oh that's way too expensive, it's really not all that far and the kids can nap in the car."
"Clora, honey, we can afford it," Mark protested. "I hate to tell you this but Borg left me...I mean us wealthy."
"Well that's no reason to spend it all in one place. I didn't say anything about the fence, but we really need to set a budget." Clora said primly. "We're going to have some medical bills with the baby and education for all the kids, and who knows what all this moving is going to cost us."
"Ok, we will set a budget. Lets do it when we get home from the trip," Mark promised. He full well knew Clora wouldn't sleep a wink tonight if he didn't agree. That woman pinched a nickle until the buffalo peed in her hand.
Mark winked at his love and said, "do you want to see me jump in bed?"
"Mark! what a thing to say," and Clora shut off the light.
Saturday morning the Linderman's loaded up the Jeep and headed North. It was the first time Clora had been off the farm except for short trips to town. The morning was cold, grey clouded with a touch of rain. The kids were strapped in car seats Mark had bought the day before, Clora had made sandwiches and brought carrots and cookies. There was a thermos of coffee and one of milk and one of water. Mark made no comment, he had already figured out Clora never went anywhere unprepared.
The suitcase of clothes made him raise his eyebrow, as did the extra boots for them all. She had insisted they have a chain, jumper cables and a small tool box. She also made sure he had protection in the center console. Her gun was in her pocket along with Sandy's knife.
Clora dusted her hands off and got in the Jeep with a smile. She and Lainey had an excited talk about the Kemp property and Lainey was encouraging with a wave as they pulled out of the driveway.
"Would you like to drive?" Mark asked as they turned on Interstate 5 North. The road was rutted and in very poor condition. It was a road to nowhere now, the flood damage had obliterated everything north of Longview.
"Oh, I'm not driving," Clora said quickly.
"You need to learn, if for nothing more than the ability to take me or the children in for emergency care. It's a survival thing," Mark hit Clora's panic button with what he knew would cause her to reconsider. She might not do it for her own comfort, but she would for him or the kids.
Clora gave him a suspicious stare, "Talk about manipulation, that's uncool mister."
Mark laughed, and Milo said 'whatcha laughing 'bout, I want outta here. This thing is tight, I don't like it."
"Hey Sport, we talked about this. If you want to go with us, you have to be in a car seat." Mark spoke over his shoulder. Clora looked in the back and Teddy was sound asleep, his head bouncing as the road was so rough.
"It's not far driving this route," Clora said as she leaned forward to look at the familiar landmarks. "We need to turn here, to the right." As the small valley opened, the fences of the farm were leaning, toppled over and the pasture close to the road was overgrown with brush and small trees.
"Oh my, what a disappointment from what I remembered," Clora said sadly.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Thank you Pac, hope they find a good defenceable home,
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#38
"Hold on Clora, this isn't all that bad," Mark remarked as he slowed down and stopped at the pasture gate. "It's not been pastured in a while, lot's of brush and the fences are terrible; but let's not write it off quite yet."
They drove slowly along the two lane blacktop, looking and discussing what they saw. The small narrow valley opened to a wide center and then started narrowing once again. There was a small stream on the left side, meandering through the tall grass to play hide and seek with them. There were driveways on the right with battered and mashed mailboxes stand sentinel, but the overgrown brush and trees prevented peeks at the houses themselves.
"I remember the house being almost to the end of the valley on the left. Pastures ran up the sides of the hills, but I don't know how large they were. The house was an older two story, much like we have now." Clora looked at the farm and felt a tingle of excitement.
"That must be it ahead, there's no signs, no gate preventing us from driving in, what is your call?" Mark paused before driving in the overgrown driveway.
"I don't mind going up and knocking on the door," Clora was staring hard at the dilapidated looking house.
"Oh HELL NO," Mark was stern. "No way am I letting you go up there, that's what you have a husband for."
Clora frowned as she changed her focus to stare at Mark's cheek. "Now see hear buddy, I've always done my share." Clora was angry.
"Maybe, but you've never been pregnant with my baby before," Mark didn't turn around, he was scanning the area for threats. "You're just going to back down on this one Clora, it's just not gonna happen your way," he mentally categorized the potential danger and found nothing more that tall grass and emptiness.
Clora had her mouth puckered up with a twist in the corner, "That's not very becoming of you,' she said quietly. "when did you change and get all wonky about us being pregnant?"
"Since I found out I was going to be a father," Mark finally turned around to gaze deep into her eyes. "Clora, honey...we don't know everything about each other, we are on a journey and it happens one day, one week at a time. All I know is I want you there to walk with me. I hope you can understand that this is bringing out the caveman in me, and I can't help it." Mark was all wound up, reaching for Clora's hand in a touching, romantic moment.
Clora got all emotional and started to say..."
"I gotta pee, are you ever gonna let us out of here," Milo interrupted, as he squirmed in his car seat.
The spell was broken.
"Just a moment," Mark was out of the car and ran up on the porch, banging on the door. There was no answer after several minutes.
He got Milo out and they disappeared around a group of trees. Teddy started fussing, and Clora took him to the boy's who were being boy's. Teddy was giggling and laughing about peeing outside. Lainey and Clora had tried very hard to install 'proper manners' in the children and it was all thrown on the ground so to speak in one afternoon.
Sighing a huge sigh, she wandered back to the front of the car and leaned against the fender. She let her senses hear, feel and absorb the aura of the place. Closing her eyes Clora could feel the fine mist falling, the freshness of the air. There was the smell of spring, of dirt waiting to be turned and the call of seeds needing to be planted. She knew already she could live here.
While Clora was busy communing with nature, Mark was inventorying the buildings that he could see. There was a detached garage with double doors, the two rows of small glass in the door missing several panes and the right side was obviously off it's track.
There was a woodshed, a couple of open fronted buildings like a machine shed, a well house, a garden shed like structure and a barn off in the misty distance. The plank corrals looked rickety, and the large tin roof of the barn rusty galvanized metal.
Mark didn't dare let go of the boy's hands, they were pulling him one way and then the other, so he yelled for Clora. "Come with us, we're going to walk around back."
Clora gathered up her skirt and hurried to catch up. The back of the house faced toward the barn, a full length screened porch with a Maytag washer leaned forlornly in the corner. There were boxes of old newspapers and a couple of black garbage bags full of something off the side of the back door. A long row of coat hooks held the tattered remains of a chore coat, and several stiff rags. A mop hung from one of the hooks and a leaf rake had fallen to the floor.
Milo pushed on the screen door, wanting to go in. "Nope,' Mark was firm. "this house belongs to somebody and we have to ask before we go in."
Teddy dropped down to sit on the cement step. Clora reached over to touch his forehead and he was very warm. Too much activity too soon after being sick. "How about I carry you?" she whispered in his ear, "you will be up higher so you can see better." A little man to his core, Teddy looked at her, considered and then agreed. Clora wrapped him in her shawl and they set out for the barn. She hadn't taken a dozen steps, before Teddy was asleep.
Milo was batting at the tall grass, trying to keep up with Mark, when Mark picked him up and set him on his shoulders. Milo took a handful of coat collar on each side and said,"this is really neat. I can see way ahead."
The corral system was shot, the timbers rotted at the ground. The squeeze chutes, head gate and calf table were there, but as rusty as the barn roof. Mark scuffed the ground in several places, looking at the dirt. It was dark with reddish streaks of clay, passable growing soil. The sides of the canyon were shrouded in fog and clouds, so it was impossible to check on the status of the fence lines.
The barn was incredibly cold and musty smelling. The dark interior took a bit of adjusting to be able to see what it contained. The usual; stalls for the long gone workhorses, worn and cribbed on planks, the mangers filled with wisps of old bird nests and uneaten hay.
On the other side of the wide center alley, there were six stanchions for milking, several large old wooden boxes for feed and a loafing shed area open to the outside.
"What a great old barn," Mark enthused as he stared up at the hay mow and the peaked roof. "Look, there's an owl up there, Milo can you see it?"
"A really big bird up there, he's looking at us. He's got really big eyes." Milo said in awe. "He can't get me?" he asked frightened.
"No, I won't let him. We need to just look at him and then let him be. He eats mice and snakes, kind of like a bird vacuum cleaner."
Clora and Mark walked slowly back to the Jeep. "Shall we drive up to the end of the valley, and see how far the place extends." she asked, ready to be back in the warm car.
"Hold on Clora, this isn't all that bad," Mark remarked as he slowed down and stopped at the pasture gate. "It's not been pastured in a while, lot's of brush and the fences are terrible; but let's not write it off quite yet."
They drove slowly along the two lane blacktop, looking and discussing what they saw. The small narrow valley opened to a wide center and then started narrowing once again. There was a small stream on the left side, meandering through the tall grass to play hide and seek with them. There were driveways on the right with battered and mashed mailboxes stand sentinel, but the overgrown brush and trees prevented peeks at the houses themselves.
"I remember the house being almost to the end of the valley on the left. Pastures ran up the sides of the hills, but I don't know how large they were. The house was an older two story, much like we have now." Clora looked at the farm and felt a tingle of excitement.
"That must be it ahead, there's no signs, no gate preventing us from driving in, what is your call?" Mark paused before driving in the overgrown driveway.
"I don't mind going up and knocking on the door," Clora was staring hard at the dilapidated looking house.
"Oh HELL NO," Mark was stern. "No way am I letting you go up there, that's what you have a husband for."
Clora frowned as she changed her focus to stare at Mark's cheek. "Now see hear buddy, I've always done my share." Clora was angry.
"Maybe, but you've never been pregnant with my baby before," Mark didn't turn around, he was scanning the area for threats. "You're just going to back down on this one Clora, it's just not gonna happen your way," he mentally categorized the potential danger and found nothing more that tall grass and emptiness.
Clora had her mouth puckered up with a twist in the corner, "That's not very becoming of you,' she said quietly. "when did you change and get all wonky about us being pregnant?"
"Since I found out I was going to be a father," Mark finally turned around to gaze deep into her eyes. "Clora, honey...we don't know everything about each other, we are on a journey and it happens one day, one week at a time. All I know is I want you there to walk with me. I hope you can understand that this is bringing out the caveman in me, and I can't help it." Mark was all wound up, reaching for Clora's hand in a touching, romantic moment.
Clora got all emotional and started to say..."
"I gotta pee, are you ever gonna let us out of here," Milo interrupted, as he squirmed in his car seat.
The spell was broken.
"Just a moment," Mark was out of the car and ran up on the porch, banging on the door. There was no answer after several minutes.
He got Milo out and they disappeared around a group of trees. Teddy started fussing, and Clora took him to the boy's who were being boy's. Teddy was giggling and laughing about peeing outside. Lainey and Clora had tried very hard to install 'proper manners' in the children and it was all thrown on the ground so to speak in one afternoon.
Sighing a huge sigh, she wandered back to the front of the car and leaned against the fender. She let her senses hear, feel and absorb the aura of the place. Closing her eyes Clora could feel the fine mist falling, the freshness of the air. There was the smell of spring, of dirt waiting to be turned and the call of seeds needing to be planted. She knew already she could live here.
While Clora was busy communing with nature, Mark was inventorying the buildings that he could see. There was a detached garage with double doors, the two rows of small glass in the door missing several panes and the right side was obviously off it's track.
There was a woodshed, a couple of open fronted buildings like a machine shed, a well house, a garden shed like structure and a barn off in the misty distance. The plank corrals looked rickety, and the large tin roof of the barn rusty galvanized metal.
Mark didn't dare let go of the boy's hands, they were pulling him one way and then the other, so he yelled for Clora. "Come with us, we're going to walk around back."
Clora gathered up her skirt and hurried to catch up. The back of the house faced toward the barn, a full length screened porch with a Maytag washer leaned forlornly in the corner. There were boxes of old newspapers and a couple of black garbage bags full of something off the side of the back door. A long row of coat hooks held the tattered remains of a chore coat, and several stiff rags. A mop hung from one of the hooks and a leaf rake had fallen to the floor.
Milo pushed on the screen door, wanting to go in. "Nope,' Mark was firm. "this house belongs to somebody and we have to ask before we go in."
Teddy dropped down to sit on the cement step. Clora reached over to touch his forehead and he was very warm. Too much activity too soon after being sick. "How about I carry you?" she whispered in his ear, "you will be up higher so you can see better." A little man to his core, Teddy looked at her, considered and then agreed. Clora wrapped him in her shawl and they set out for the barn. She hadn't taken a dozen steps, before Teddy was asleep.
Milo was batting at the tall grass, trying to keep up with Mark, when Mark picked him up and set him on his shoulders. Milo took a handful of coat collar on each side and said,"this is really neat. I can see way ahead."
The corral system was shot, the timbers rotted at the ground. The squeeze chutes, head gate and calf table were there, but as rusty as the barn roof. Mark scuffed the ground in several places, looking at the dirt. It was dark with reddish streaks of clay, passable growing soil. The sides of the canyon were shrouded in fog and clouds, so it was impossible to check on the status of the fence lines.
The barn was incredibly cold and musty smelling. The dark interior took a bit of adjusting to be able to see what it contained. The usual; stalls for the long gone workhorses, worn and cribbed on planks, the mangers filled with wisps of old bird nests and uneaten hay.
On the other side of the wide center alley, there were six stanchions for milking, several large old wooden boxes for feed and a loafing shed area open to the outside.
"What a great old barn," Mark enthused as he stared up at the hay mow and the peaked roof. "Look, there's an owl up there, Milo can you see it?"
"A really big bird up there, he's looking at us. He's got really big eyes." Milo said in awe. "He can't get me?" he asked frightened.
"No, I won't let him. We need to just look at him and then let him be. He eats mice and snakes, kind of like a bird vacuum cleaner."
Clora and Mark walked slowly back to the Jeep. "Shall we drive up to the end of the valley, and see how far the place extends." she asked, ready to be back in the warm car.
stjwelding
Veteran Member
It looks like the family may have found a new homestead as long as the rest of the family agrees to it. I hope that it is far enough away form the trouble that has been there constant companion and that there will be no one that wants this land also, if it is really the land that someone is after in the first place. Not just to unsettle them from there strong hold and cause them to drop there gauard and make them vulnerable to kidnapping or being killed. I could go on all day trying to figure out where you are going to take this story, where ever it is we are all fowling you. Thanks for the chapter Pac
Wayne
Wayne
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#38b
As they strapped the kids in, the faint barking of a dog could be heard far off in the distance. "There must be somebody around," Mark said, listening to the sound.
"Maybe they will have an idea where Mr. Kemp went too, " Clora arranged the shawl over Teddy.
Back in the Jeep, they turned slowly around and headed back up the valley. It was so quiet, secluded and remote feeling, it was a relaxing moment to simply drive slowly through the mist now turning into rain.
"We didn't go any further than that house," Clora jerked her thumb back at the old clapboard two story, "so I have no idea of what's up here."
"Then we have a new adventure together," Mark teased as he slowly drove over the pavement turned into gravel. They traveled another mile and a half to the end of the road. A huge wooden gate barred the way, covered with 'no trespassing signs, pictures of pistols and rifles saying 'protected by Smith and Wesson, a sign that said 'my dog can make it to the fence in 5.8 seconds, can you?' and one very small old 'For Sale' sign.
Among the hand lettered signs that warned 'Go away, this means you," 'don't even ask,' and 'I belong, NRA proud,' was a crayon message that said 'honk if you want in.'
Mark looked at Clora and shrugged,"do you feel like giving it a try?"
"Certainly," the adventurous Clora was ready.
Mark honked four times long and loud. He timed out 20 minutes and honked again. They had lunch and he honked again. Clora got out and walked behind the Jeep for a personal moment and Mark honked again. Suddenly out of the misty storm came riding a thou rally spitting mad horseman.
"What the Hell DO YOU WANT?" the hunched over, slicker coated hat roared, as several dogs snarled and growled on the other side of the gate.
"Your place is for sale, how many acres and what do you want for it?" Mark shouted through his open window. The noise woke Teddy and he howled.
That made the dogs bark louder, until a word from the horseman stopped their racket.
"What's in there?" He demanded, drawing a 30-30 to rest it across the saddle horn.
"Our kids," Mark shouted back. "We're looking for a farm to buy, are you selling?"
As they strapped the kids in, the faint barking of a dog could be heard far off in the distance. "There must be somebody around," Mark said, listening to the sound.
"Maybe they will have an idea where Mr. Kemp went too, " Clora arranged the shawl over Teddy.
Back in the Jeep, they turned slowly around and headed back up the valley. It was so quiet, secluded and remote feeling, it was a relaxing moment to simply drive slowly through the mist now turning into rain.
"We didn't go any further than that house," Clora jerked her thumb back at the old clapboard two story, "so I have no idea of what's up here."
"Then we have a new adventure together," Mark teased as he slowly drove over the pavement turned into gravel. They traveled another mile and a half to the end of the road. A huge wooden gate barred the way, covered with 'no trespassing signs, pictures of pistols and rifles saying 'protected by Smith and Wesson, a sign that said 'my dog can make it to the fence in 5.8 seconds, can you?' and one very small old 'For Sale' sign.
Among the hand lettered signs that warned 'Go away, this means you," 'don't even ask,' and 'I belong, NRA proud,' was a crayon message that said 'honk if you want in.'
Mark looked at Clora and shrugged,"do you feel like giving it a try?"
"Certainly," the adventurous Clora was ready.
Mark honked four times long and loud. He timed out 20 minutes and honked again. They had lunch and he honked again. Clora got out and walked behind the Jeep for a personal moment and Mark honked again. Suddenly out of the misty storm came riding a thou rally spitting mad horseman.
"What the Hell DO YOU WANT?" the hunched over, slicker coated hat roared, as several dogs snarled and growled on the other side of the gate.
"Your place is for sale, how many acres and what do you want for it?" Mark shouted through his open window. The noise woke Teddy and he howled.
That made the dogs bark louder, until a word from the horseman stopped their racket.
"What's in there?" He demanded, drawing a 30-30 to rest it across the saddle horn.
"Our kids," Mark shouted back. "We're looking for a farm to buy, are you selling?"
stjwelding
Veteran Member
This may be a vary good day IF it is for sale, THERE is enough land and the REST of the family agree that this is the right place. Thanks for the story Pac
Wayne
Wayne
Wow! I just got caught up on what you've posted the past couple of days. Excellent, Pac, you just keep making this story better and better!
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#38c
Ben watched Mark and Clora pull out. He looked over the parking yard toward the cleaned up barn and suddenly realized 'THEY HAD TO MOVE,' There was nothing in the shop or barn left to move, the restaurant building held nothing but some pans and dishes Clora and Lainey wanted. The locker plant was the fullest, but if they canned the meat it could go anywhere.
Ben considered what they had in terms of items that needed boxed up to move and he was startled to discover they didn't have much in the way of possessions. In fact they probably would be considered poor, under privileged, by the lack of 'stuff'. Curious, he went back into the house to ask Lainey if she was disgruntled with their lifestyle, and felt disadvantaged.
"Honestly, at times yes. Especially when I know there are 'things' that make the work load easier. When we move, we need to consider a dishwasher. The rest of it is just fine, but when we can, all those jars to wash really get me down."
Lainey smiled and kissed at her husband.
Ben was frowning, "why didn't you say something?"
"Well the electricity has been off more than on, so a dishwasher was a moot point," Lainey pointed out. "I don't mind living simply, I have food and a warm house, clothes and a loving husband, every thing I need....except for one thing." Lainey paused, waiting for Ben to listen to what she was saying.
"OK, I bite, what is the last thing you need," he teased.
"I need you to take care of yourself. You used that night machine one time and now it sits. You get up and go 100% all day long without a rest, I'm telling you this because I don't want to have to find another man to raise your children."
Ben looked like he had been kicked in the belly. "well...I.."
"Well nothing." Lainey flat out said. "You were born with heart trouble, and now it is raising it's ugly head once again. You have to learn to balance it out, I'm not suggesting you lay down and never lift a finger, I want you to keep the three things on an equal level, Food, rest and exercise. You also have to control your stress and anger. This is under your control, you can make it happen." she said sadly, "Please make it happen," she pleaded.
"You know I could never deny you anything, anything you want, anytime you want," Ben promised. "I will, it's gonna be tough getting ready to move, but I'll help. We need to start thawing meat and canning it. How are we doing with the potatoes and carrots, apples etc in the storeroom?"
"Probably good for another three months. If they get canned, a year. It's a real pain to move all those jars, but that's the only way to protect the larder unless we go for a dehydrator." Lainey replied as she finished the dishes and put beans on to soak.
"Let's get started," she suggested. "You go get a basket of meat for us and one for Ev and Cheryl. Get one put together for Clora. If we do a canner's worth twice a day, it won't take long." Ben perked up, Lainey was right, that was being proactive. He went to the locker and lugged a wirebasketful over to Ev's, telling Cheryl they needed to get started. She smiled and arranged the packaged meat in the sink to thaw. "Thanks Ben, do you need help?" she offered Christy's services.
"Not today, maybe Monday if we get cranked up and on a roll," Ben thanked them.
Hearing her name, Christy came into the kitchen with papers full of hand written notes. "Hey do you want to hear what I've found?"
"Tell ya what," Ben countered, "why don't you come up and tell both of us. Anne just went down for a nap, and I know Lainey would like the company."
"Sure," the teen answered. "Be there in ten."
Christy opened the door for Ben as his hands were full of meat basket. Lainey and Christy off loaded the packages in the largest dishpan Lainey had, and Christy put water on for tea.
"Thank you," Lainey said,"my feet hurt today, but let's hear what you have found."
Christy explained how she found several web sites that dealt with foreclosed properties, the county web site of tax delinquent ground and several national companies that had listings.
"So far, only two properties seem close to our needs. One is in southern Nebraska, full of heat, humidity and rattlesnakes, but it's a couple of thousand acres of wheat and cow ground and has seven houses on it. But the houses are in poor repair, and the well needs a new pump." Christy made no secret she didn't think much of the ranch.
"The other place is south of us near Medford, Oregon. It has three houses, 200 acres of fruit trees, row irrigation and hay fields and some pasture. Probably better than the Nebraska place, but more money. It's kinda slim pickings to fit our needs. The best way seems to be advertise in an area to flush out prospective sellers to our specifications. So.... do you have any places or states you might like to live?" Christy poised with the pen to write down the suggestions.
"Probably the Pacific northwest," Ben suggested and looked to Lainey for her agreement.
"Not California," Lainey said decisively, "and I'm not crazy about the other border states either."
"Ok," Christy started a list of preferred areas. "This is great, it makes it easier to look. Say,....I hesitate to bring this up, but if you guys need any help, I have a couple of friends that need work. Jeff is my age, splits wood, is pretty strong and would do most anything outside. Tonya does a lot of babysitting, and has worked as a mother's helper. About anything I do, she does."
"The wood splitting for sure," Ben sounded interested, "can he come this afternoon?"
"I'll call and see if he has a job for today, you might have to go in and get him. Tonya is his sister and usually comes along, it would be neat to have them come. I'll be right back. I have their number in Dad's phone."
Ben went in with Christy to pick up Jeff and Tonya. Their mother wasn't too friendly when she found out where the kids were going and settled the pay issue before she would let the kids go.
"Sorry about that Mr. Hanson, our Mom is pretty strict," Jeff did the talking for the two Jepson's. "Her cousin was married to the little boy's mother's sister. She wouldn't have let us go, but we really need the money."
Ben just nodded, it wasn't anything he hadn't really expected. He sawed and Jeff split the wood, Tonya and Christy washed jars by the dozens and Lainey made a huge pot of chili and got biscuits ready to cook. Ben and Jeff went to make wood for Ev and Cheryl and then some for Clora and Mark.
After supper, Ben paid them and said "we could use you both next Saturday, at 8am.? " he questioned. "I'll pick you up then." Both teens agreed, and were deeply thankful when Ben sent a large roast home with them. The mother met them at the door with her hand out for the pay they had earned for the day. She didn't even wave a thank you when Tonya gave her the meat. Ben drove home thinking about the poverty he had seen in town.
Lainey had enjoyed the help, Ben didn't overstress himself, Ev got more firewood and Clora got a boost, so the whole farm benefited by the teen's work.
Wayne had been AWOL since the fire, he hadn't been home and the clan presumed he was working. Wayne wasn't working; he was far up in the fringes of Mt. Hood, running the woods to out distance himself from the demons brought on by the horrific conflagration. Fire of that magnitude gave Wayne the shakes he couldn't rid himself of.
When he had run as far and as long as possible, Wayne crafted a debris hut, made tea for his parched body and soul, and dug himself in. During the cold night it started to snow, covering the hidey hole with a blanket of white.
Clora and Mark with Milo and Teddy, sat in Gertie Samuels kitchen drinking coffee and water. "Whatcha want to buy a stinkin farm for, ain't no way to make enough money to live?" Gertie was as outspoken as a rough cob and she lived her life accordingly.
"There are eleven of us, and we need to get out of where we are. We LIKE farming and ranching," he said stubbornly. "We raise what we eat, don't need money except for taxes and and a few incidentals and like good neighbors and tight fences."
"You're in luck," she cackled. "Aint none of that here." Gertie was Kemp's sister that refused to leave when Kemp pulled out. She had a few blistering words about her no good brother being chased off and being scared out by a little water and a few good shakes.
"Water didn't get up this high, and only a few rocks fell down, so I stayed. Take a lot more than that to scare this old gal out of her boots. That there sign out there was put up years ago. I don't think I'm of a mind to do any selling. I done reconsidered." that was her final word on the subject.
Clora took up some small talk, asking Gretie about her family, especially interested in Jace's whereabouts. As she explained she had been his teacher and was interested to know how he was getting along, there was a change in Gertie. "He's with his other Grandmother," Gertie wouldn't explain any further. "You sure did a fine job gettin him to read. We all's thought he was a mite teched in the head, it took him so long."
"Nonsense," Clora said sternly. "He had been babied and needed more time to grow up. As soon as he discovered he had to make the effort and do it himself, it all fell into place. He was doing a fine job of his schooling. I'm only sorry it got interrupted by the earthquake and tsunami. Gertie, we thank you for your hospitality, and apologize for taking you away from your chores, but we need to get our littles home." Clora started to get the boys ready to travel. Milo was almost asleep on Mark's lap and Teddy was wanting up in the shawl.
"Them ain't your youngins, is they." Gertie looked hard at Clora and then Mark.
"No, not by blood, but they are ours," Clora watched Gertie steadily. "Our baby will be here in August." she finished wrapping Teddy to her.
"I would like to invite you to come visit us," Clora held out her hand to Gertie. "Here's our number and a map of how to find us. We will be there another 30 day's, so if you have a mind, come visit soon. We have plenty of room and bring the dogs." Clora draped Milo's coat over him and opened the door for Mark. "Thank's for the visit, I enjoyed meeting you," she finished with a smile and went out the door.
"She's a keeper,'" Gertie said to Mark, as he exited.
"Don't I know it," Mark shook her hand and followed Clora.
That night as she unsaddled her horse and did her chores, Gertie thought about the young couple. They had asked, she denied, and they didn't push it. She liked that about them.
Ben watched Mark and Clora pull out. He looked over the parking yard toward the cleaned up barn and suddenly realized 'THEY HAD TO MOVE,' There was nothing in the shop or barn left to move, the restaurant building held nothing but some pans and dishes Clora and Lainey wanted. The locker plant was the fullest, but if they canned the meat it could go anywhere.
Ben considered what they had in terms of items that needed boxed up to move and he was startled to discover they didn't have much in the way of possessions. In fact they probably would be considered poor, under privileged, by the lack of 'stuff'. Curious, he went back into the house to ask Lainey if she was disgruntled with their lifestyle, and felt disadvantaged.
"Honestly, at times yes. Especially when I know there are 'things' that make the work load easier. When we move, we need to consider a dishwasher. The rest of it is just fine, but when we can, all those jars to wash really get me down."
Lainey smiled and kissed at her husband.
Ben was frowning, "why didn't you say something?"
"Well the electricity has been off more than on, so a dishwasher was a moot point," Lainey pointed out. "I don't mind living simply, I have food and a warm house, clothes and a loving husband, every thing I need....except for one thing." Lainey paused, waiting for Ben to listen to what she was saying.
"OK, I bite, what is the last thing you need," he teased.
"I need you to take care of yourself. You used that night machine one time and now it sits. You get up and go 100% all day long without a rest, I'm telling you this because I don't want to have to find another man to raise your children."
Ben looked like he had been kicked in the belly. "well...I.."
"Well nothing." Lainey flat out said. "You were born with heart trouble, and now it is raising it's ugly head once again. You have to learn to balance it out, I'm not suggesting you lay down and never lift a finger, I want you to keep the three things on an equal level, Food, rest and exercise. You also have to control your stress and anger. This is under your control, you can make it happen." she said sadly, "Please make it happen," she pleaded.
"You know I could never deny you anything, anything you want, anytime you want," Ben promised. "I will, it's gonna be tough getting ready to move, but I'll help. We need to start thawing meat and canning it. How are we doing with the potatoes and carrots, apples etc in the storeroom?"
"Probably good for another three months. If they get canned, a year. It's a real pain to move all those jars, but that's the only way to protect the larder unless we go for a dehydrator." Lainey replied as she finished the dishes and put beans on to soak.
"Let's get started," she suggested. "You go get a basket of meat for us and one for Ev and Cheryl. Get one put together for Clora. If we do a canner's worth twice a day, it won't take long." Ben perked up, Lainey was right, that was being proactive. He went to the locker and lugged a wirebasketful over to Ev's, telling Cheryl they needed to get started. She smiled and arranged the packaged meat in the sink to thaw. "Thanks Ben, do you need help?" she offered Christy's services.
"Not today, maybe Monday if we get cranked up and on a roll," Ben thanked them.
Hearing her name, Christy came into the kitchen with papers full of hand written notes. "Hey do you want to hear what I've found?"
"Tell ya what," Ben countered, "why don't you come up and tell both of us. Anne just went down for a nap, and I know Lainey would like the company."
"Sure," the teen answered. "Be there in ten."
Christy opened the door for Ben as his hands were full of meat basket. Lainey and Christy off loaded the packages in the largest dishpan Lainey had, and Christy put water on for tea.
"Thank you," Lainey said,"my feet hurt today, but let's hear what you have found."
Christy explained how she found several web sites that dealt with foreclosed properties, the county web site of tax delinquent ground and several national companies that had listings.
"So far, only two properties seem close to our needs. One is in southern Nebraska, full of heat, humidity and rattlesnakes, but it's a couple of thousand acres of wheat and cow ground and has seven houses on it. But the houses are in poor repair, and the well needs a new pump." Christy made no secret she didn't think much of the ranch.
"The other place is south of us near Medford, Oregon. It has three houses, 200 acres of fruit trees, row irrigation and hay fields and some pasture. Probably better than the Nebraska place, but more money. It's kinda slim pickings to fit our needs. The best way seems to be advertise in an area to flush out prospective sellers to our specifications. So.... do you have any places or states you might like to live?" Christy poised with the pen to write down the suggestions.
"Probably the Pacific northwest," Ben suggested and looked to Lainey for her agreement.
"Not California," Lainey said decisively, "and I'm not crazy about the other border states either."
"Ok," Christy started a list of preferred areas. "This is great, it makes it easier to look. Say,....I hesitate to bring this up, but if you guys need any help, I have a couple of friends that need work. Jeff is my age, splits wood, is pretty strong and would do most anything outside. Tonya does a lot of babysitting, and has worked as a mother's helper. About anything I do, she does."
"The wood splitting for sure," Ben sounded interested, "can he come this afternoon?"
"I'll call and see if he has a job for today, you might have to go in and get him. Tonya is his sister and usually comes along, it would be neat to have them come. I'll be right back. I have their number in Dad's phone."
Ben went in with Christy to pick up Jeff and Tonya. Their mother wasn't too friendly when she found out where the kids were going and settled the pay issue before she would let the kids go.
"Sorry about that Mr. Hanson, our Mom is pretty strict," Jeff did the talking for the two Jepson's. "Her cousin was married to the little boy's mother's sister. She wouldn't have let us go, but we really need the money."
Ben just nodded, it wasn't anything he hadn't really expected. He sawed and Jeff split the wood, Tonya and Christy washed jars by the dozens and Lainey made a huge pot of chili and got biscuits ready to cook. Ben and Jeff went to make wood for Ev and Cheryl and then some for Clora and Mark.
After supper, Ben paid them and said "we could use you both next Saturday, at 8am.? " he questioned. "I'll pick you up then." Both teens agreed, and were deeply thankful when Ben sent a large roast home with them. The mother met them at the door with her hand out for the pay they had earned for the day. She didn't even wave a thank you when Tonya gave her the meat. Ben drove home thinking about the poverty he had seen in town.
Lainey had enjoyed the help, Ben didn't overstress himself, Ev got more firewood and Clora got a boost, so the whole farm benefited by the teen's work.
Wayne had been AWOL since the fire, he hadn't been home and the clan presumed he was working. Wayne wasn't working; he was far up in the fringes of Mt. Hood, running the woods to out distance himself from the demons brought on by the horrific conflagration. Fire of that magnitude gave Wayne the shakes he couldn't rid himself of.
When he had run as far and as long as possible, Wayne crafted a debris hut, made tea for his parched body and soul, and dug himself in. During the cold night it started to snow, covering the hidey hole with a blanket of white.
Clora and Mark with Milo and Teddy, sat in Gertie Samuels kitchen drinking coffee and water. "Whatcha want to buy a stinkin farm for, ain't no way to make enough money to live?" Gertie was as outspoken as a rough cob and she lived her life accordingly.
"There are eleven of us, and we need to get out of where we are. We LIKE farming and ranching," he said stubbornly. "We raise what we eat, don't need money except for taxes and and a few incidentals and like good neighbors and tight fences."
"You're in luck," she cackled. "Aint none of that here." Gertie was Kemp's sister that refused to leave when Kemp pulled out. She had a few blistering words about her no good brother being chased off and being scared out by a little water and a few good shakes.
"Water didn't get up this high, and only a few rocks fell down, so I stayed. Take a lot more than that to scare this old gal out of her boots. That there sign out there was put up years ago. I don't think I'm of a mind to do any selling. I done reconsidered." that was her final word on the subject.
Clora took up some small talk, asking Gretie about her family, especially interested in Jace's whereabouts. As she explained she had been his teacher and was interested to know how he was getting along, there was a change in Gertie. "He's with his other Grandmother," Gertie wouldn't explain any further. "You sure did a fine job gettin him to read. We all's thought he was a mite teched in the head, it took him so long."
"Nonsense," Clora said sternly. "He had been babied and needed more time to grow up. As soon as he discovered he had to make the effort and do it himself, it all fell into place. He was doing a fine job of his schooling. I'm only sorry it got interrupted by the earthquake and tsunami. Gertie, we thank you for your hospitality, and apologize for taking you away from your chores, but we need to get our littles home." Clora started to get the boys ready to travel. Milo was almost asleep on Mark's lap and Teddy was wanting up in the shawl.
"Them ain't your youngins, is they." Gertie looked hard at Clora and then Mark.
"No, not by blood, but they are ours," Clora watched Gertie steadily. "Our baby will be here in August." she finished wrapping Teddy to her.
"I would like to invite you to come visit us," Clora held out her hand to Gertie. "Here's our number and a map of how to find us. We will be there another 30 day's, so if you have a mind, come visit soon. We have plenty of room and bring the dogs." Clora draped Milo's coat over him and opened the door for Mark. "Thank's for the visit, I enjoyed meeting you," she finished with a smile and went out the door.
"She's a keeper,'" Gertie said to Mark, as he exited.
"Don't I know it," Mark shook her hand and followed Clora.
That night as she unsaddled her horse and did her chores, Gertie thought about the young couple. They had asked, she denied, and they didn't push it. She liked that about them.
bad_karma00
Underachiever
Wow great chapters here. Judging by the teen's mother's attitude, it really is a good idea to get away from that place. Maybe they can still strike a deal with Gertie.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
thank you and some people always bite the hands that feed them, Gerties a keeper to lol.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
38d
"Well what do you think?" Mark asked as they drove home.
"She'll come," Clora said confidently. "I could see it in her eyes."
She came by the end of the new week. The ancient old Scout International chugged up the drive, it drove smoother when Gertie remembered to shift, but as she figured, it wasn't always necessary. Dogs were sticking out every open window, barking and yapping as the apparition advanced toward the main house.
Clora had warned the family, so they thought they were ready for Gertie. The sad truth, they were not.
Clora prepared a family supper while Mark showed Gertie around the farm. She was introduced to the clan and then during the middle of supper, Wayne showed up. The skinny man was skinnier than ever, brush scratched, dirty and sunken eyed. He looked like a caricature of a human.
Tenderly, he was put in the bathtub, cleaned up and brought to the table to eat. Gertie watched the proceedings with a sharp eyed disinterest, carefully keeping track of the way Wayne was tended too.
Gertie ate her bowl of stew and biscuits by the handful. She was a little heavy handed with the butter and honey, but nobody was keeping track.
"How come you ain't fat?" she joshed Mark, who by her count was three biscuits ahead of her.
"Good genes, I guess," he said with a twinkle in his eye.
"Your Daddy as narrow and lean as you?" she wanted to know.
"Don't know," he said calmly, looking at Clora and they strengthened each other. "don't know who he is." and he smiled that special smile at Clora. Gertie noted that she smiled back.
Everything Gertie talked about, mentioned, observed was a vetting of the clan. Clora was well aware of what the old lady was doing, and watched her with interest. More than once Gertie felt the tall woman's eyes watching her, whipping around to meet her unashamed stare.
Gertie stayed over night, walking down with Ev and Cheryl as Ben and Mark helped move the wheelchair bound man back to his home. She stopped and talked with them, watching as Ev cried when one of her dogs took an instant liking to the infirm man. The border collie licked his hand as he awkwardly tried to pat her head.
"I, Ruby, died, miss her;" he said in his garbled shorthand talk, eyes misting as he took comfort in the black and white dog's attention.
Gertie nodded, understanding the bond between a man and a dog. Her Elvin had been the same way. Gertie also watched as the teen Christy lovingly helped her father. She was being raised right.
Gertie stayed for tea and cookies at Ben's place. His wife was kinda quiet, but she cared for her baby well and set a good tea time. The brother was as thin as all the men, a hallmark of hard physical work.
Back in the main house, she opened the front door to be streaked by a wet and naked Milo as he ran laughing through the living room. She was barely over that shock when Teddy went between the dining room and the hall in his birthday suit. "Boy's," Clora called,"Please come in here."
Now Gertie figured Clora didn't know she had come in, and she eavesdropped as Clora toweled off and dressed the boy's in nightclothes. Pleased, she listened to the love that was apparent in their voices.
She had just about made up her mind, when the front door opened and a large, older man walked in and headed to the kitchen. He grabbed a plate and filled it with stew, uncovered a plate of biscuits that Clora had put back for him and sat at the kitchen table. Getting up, he got a glass of water and started shoveling in his supper.
Busy eating, Will didn't notice they had company until the bird like woman came in the kitchen. "Hello," he said after he swallowed, "who are you? Did you get supper? There's plenty more if you're hungry." He halfway stood up, and Gertie waved him to sit down.
He's got manners, she was thinking. "I'm Gertie," she introduced herself, "and who might you be?" There were more people in and out of this house than Gertie had seen in two years. She didn't get many visitors, and muchly preferred it that way.
"I'm Will, friend of the family. I've been at my son's ball game and couldn't last all night on that one expensive hot dog I bought." Will continued eating. "Would you like a cup of coffee, I think there's some left," he offered.
Gertie agreed, it would be nice to have a cup. Will got up and filled a cup and sat it in front of her. "Have you had one of Clora's secret weapons? she makes the best cookies I have ever eaten." Will put the plate on the table and Gertie barely got a cookie in hand before the two little wild ones came racing into the kitchen and hopped up in their chairs. Smiling angelically at the grownups, they kept their eyes on the cookie plate.
Clora came swishing into the kitchen, placing small glasses of milk and a cookie for a bedtime snack, Milo was critically looking at the size of Teddy's cookie and complaining his was smaller. "Life is not fair," Clora admonished gently, "maybe tomorrow your's will be bigger than Teddy's. Do you think you would like it if he complained."
"But he's younger than me, he don't need a big one."
"Doesn't need," Clora corrected, as she mopped up a spill. "You boys have six minutes before bedtime, you need to finish and go brush your teeth."
Cookie size forgotten, Milo stuffed it in. Slurping down his milk, he jumped down and headed for the bathroom. Teddy carefully finished his cookie, drank his milk and got down. There were childish giggles from the room as the boy's balanced on their stools and cleaned their teeth.
Clora swished out as quickly as she came in, rounding up her charges and popping them in bed. Gertie could hear snatches of night prayers and then Clora came in to clear the table. She asked after Willie's game, teased Will about sitting on the narrow benches and finally invited Gertie into the living room for the end of the night rest.
Sinking into the old arm chair, Clora sighed in relief. "Those two have an exhaustible source of energy. Gertie I have to warn you not to go outside tonight. We have snipers," she said so matter of factly that Gertie wasn't sure what she said.
"Huh?" the old woman stammered.
"We have snipers, someone is trying to run us off this place. We do have a offer to buy us out, and we have accepted. It's a reasonable offer, that's why we were up your way looking. There is another place further on down the coast, and Will and Mark are going to check it out tomorrow. So Gertie," Clora invited, "tell me how long you have lived at your place.?" Clora smoothly changed the subject, she didn't want to scare Gertie.
Gertie told Clora about the early Kemp's that had homesteaded there, and her Ervin and how long they had been married. "Over 50 years," Gertie said with a sad smile, "and we had a boy like that one," she indicated Wayne upstairs. "He got killed in the war."
"Our Wayne is a brother in our confused family history, but he hasn't had a easy life. Fire triggers deep reactions from his childhood, and he needs to go off by himself at times. We just had a fire, well... you could see the burned cat... and it was pretty bad. Mark was our hero on this one. The guy in the cat was going to doze the house and Mark stopped him." Clora looked up as Mark came in the room.
"Wayne's finally asleep," he announced. "He might sleep all day tomorrow, he's definitely on the fringe tonight. Clora, I don't need to go tomorrow,' he offered, "if you think there might be problems."
"We will be OK," she smiled at him.
"Gertie, I'm so sorry to hear about your husband and boy. Do you have other relatives?" Clora gently interrogated Gertie so masterfully that Gertie couldn't help but enjoy it. Before she knew it, Clora had her life's story, laughing at the fun parts and sad during the life happens parts.
Mark and Will excused themselves, heading for bed. "Me too," Gertie said tiredly, "Driving is a real pain for me, I hate it with a passion." "Hey, I couldn't agree more." Clora said with a shudder.
The men were reasonably quiet when they left in the morning. Standing at the window, Gertie approved when Clora loaded the Jeep with coolers and Thermos's and sleeping bags. It had been a difficult night for Gertie, she wasn't used to people in the house, and the kids downstairs and the man in the next room were noisy. Her dogs had whined and whimpered at every little sound, keeping her awake.
Now they wanted out, so Gertie dressed quickly and creaked down the stairs as carefully as she could. Clora was sitting at the table and waved Gertie in to have a cup of coffee.
They passed the morning pleasantly, the kids playing with the dogs and having a grand time. They went to Lainey's for lunch. and once again Gertie got to interact with the brother and his wife.
The weather was changing, another storm. It charged in at early afternoon, snowing and blowing like crazy. Inside, the huge Monarch slurping wood at a alarming pace, keeping the house warm. Gertie got her chance to grill Clora during the boy's nap time. It was turn about is fair play.
"So Evie Hanson was your Grandmother," she commented. "I knew who she was, but because of the distance didn't often see her.
I did however read the papers, you had it tough." Gertie was referring to Pete and the media coverage.
"Most of the time it was a nightmare, but whatever we went through made us stronger, I only wish it were over so the boy's were safe. Lainey is more upset than we are, she's having a hard time waiting. The guy's do have a good lead though, it will be interesting to see what they think of the Oregon place.
"Hello Wayne, com'on in and meet out guest Gertie Samuels," Clora looked up and warmly greeted the gaunt, bushy haired brother.
Now that she had a good look at the man, Gertie had a rude shock. He looked just like her long dead son.
"Well what do you think?" Mark asked as they drove home.
"She'll come," Clora said confidently. "I could see it in her eyes."
She came by the end of the new week. The ancient old Scout International chugged up the drive, it drove smoother when Gertie remembered to shift, but as she figured, it wasn't always necessary. Dogs were sticking out every open window, barking and yapping as the apparition advanced toward the main house.
Clora had warned the family, so they thought they were ready for Gertie. The sad truth, they were not.
Clora prepared a family supper while Mark showed Gertie around the farm. She was introduced to the clan and then during the middle of supper, Wayne showed up. The skinny man was skinnier than ever, brush scratched, dirty and sunken eyed. He looked like a caricature of a human.
Tenderly, he was put in the bathtub, cleaned up and brought to the table to eat. Gertie watched the proceedings with a sharp eyed disinterest, carefully keeping track of the way Wayne was tended too.
Gertie ate her bowl of stew and biscuits by the handful. She was a little heavy handed with the butter and honey, but nobody was keeping track.
"How come you ain't fat?" she joshed Mark, who by her count was three biscuits ahead of her.
"Good genes, I guess," he said with a twinkle in his eye.
"Your Daddy as narrow and lean as you?" she wanted to know.
"Don't know," he said calmly, looking at Clora and they strengthened each other. "don't know who he is." and he smiled that special smile at Clora. Gertie noted that she smiled back.
Everything Gertie talked about, mentioned, observed was a vetting of the clan. Clora was well aware of what the old lady was doing, and watched her with interest. More than once Gertie felt the tall woman's eyes watching her, whipping around to meet her unashamed stare.
Gertie stayed over night, walking down with Ev and Cheryl as Ben and Mark helped move the wheelchair bound man back to his home. She stopped and talked with them, watching as Ev cried when one of her dogs took an instant liking to the infirm man. The border collie licked his hand as he awkwardly tried to pat her head.
"I, Ruby, died, miss her;" he said in his garbled shorthand talk, eyes misting as he took comfort in the black and white dog's attention.
Gertie nodded, understanding the bond between a man and a dog. Her Elvin had been the same way. Gertie also watched as the teen Christy lovingly helped her father. She was being raised right.
Gertie stayed for tea and cookies at Ben's place. His wife was kinda quiet, but she cared for her baby well and set a good tea time. The brother was as thin as all the men, a hallmark of hard physical work.
Back in the main house, she opened the front door to be streaked by a wet and naked Milo as he ran laughing through the living room. She was barely over that shock when Teddy went between the dining room and the hall in his birthday suit. "Boy's," Clora called,"Please come in here."
Now Gertie figured Clora didn't know she had come in, and she eavesdropped as Clora toweled off and dressed the boy's in nightclothes. Pleased, she listened to the love that was apparent in their voices.
She had just about made up her mind, when the front door opened and a large, older man walked in and headed to the kitchen. He grabbed a plate and filled it with stew, uncovered a plate of biscuits that Clora had put back for him and sat at the kitchen table. Getting up, he got a glass of water and started shoveling in his supper.
Busy eating, Will didn't notice they had company until the bird like woman came in the kitchen. "Hello," he said after he swallowed, "who are you? Did you get supper? There's plenty more if you're hungry." He halfway stood up, and Gertie waved him to sit down.
He's got manners, she was thinking. "I'm Gertie," she introduced herself, "and who might you be?" There were more people in and out of this house than Gertie had seen in two years. She didn't get many visitors, and muchly preferred it that way.
"I'm Will, friend of the family. I've been at my son's ball game and couldn't last all night on that one expensive hot dog I bought." Will continued eating. "Would you like a cup of coffee, I think there's some left," he offered.
Gertie agreed, it would be nice to have a cup. Will got up and filled a cup and sat it in front of her. "Have you had one of Clora's secret weapons? she makes the best cookies I have ever eaten." Will put the plate on the table and Gertie barely got a cookie in hand before the two little wild ones came racing into the kitchen and hopped up in their chairs. Smiling angelically at the grownups, they kept their eyes on the cookie plate.
Clora came swishing into the kitchen, placing small glasses of milk and a cookie for a bedtime snack, Milo was critically looking at the size of Teddy's cookie and complaining his was smaller. "Life is not fair," Clora admonished gently, "maybe tomorrow your's will be bigger than Teddy's. Do you think you would like it if he complained."
"But he's younger than me, he don't need a big one."
"Doesn't need," Clora corrected, as she mopped up a spill. "You boys have six minutes before bedtime, you need to finish and go brush your teeth."
Cookie size forgotten, Milo stuffed it in. Slurping down his milk, he jumped down and headed for the bathroom. Teddy carefully finished his cookie, drank his milk and got down. There were childish giggles from the room as the boy's balanced on their stools and cleaned their teeth.
Clora swished out as quickly as she came in, rounding up her charges and popping them in bed. Gertie could hear snatches of night prayers and then Clora came in to clear the table. She asked after Willie's game, teased Will about sitting on the narrow benches and finally invited Gertie into the living room for the end of the night rest.
Sinking into the old arm chair, Clora sighed in relief. "Those two have an exhaustible source of energy. Gertie I have to warn you not to go outside tonight. We have snipers," she said so matter of factly that Gertie wasn't sure what she said.
"Huh?" the old woman stammered.
"We have snipers, someone is trying to run us off this place. We do have a offer to buy us out, and we have accepted. It's a reasonable offer, that's why we were up your way looking. There is another place further on down the coast, and Will and Mark are going to check it out tomorrow. So Gertie," Clora invited, "tell me how long you have lived at your place.?" Clora smoothly changed the subject, she didn't want to scare Gertie.
Gertie told Clora about the early Kemp's that had homesteaded there, and her Ervin and how long they had been married. "Over 50 years," Gertie said with a sad smile, "and we had a boy like that one," she indicated Wayne upstairs. "He got killed in the war."
"Our Wayne is a brother in our confused family history, but he hasn't had a easy life. Fire triggers deep reactions from his childhood, and he needs to go off by himself at times. We just had a fire, well... you could see the burned cat... and it was pretty bad. Mark was our hero on this one. The guy in the cat was going to doze the house and Mark stopped him." Clora looked up as Mark came in the room.
"Wayne's finally asleep," he announced. "He might sleep all day tomorrow, he's definitely on the fringe tonight. Clora, I don't need to go tomorrow,' he offered, "if you think there might be problems."
"We will be OK," she smiled at him.
"Gertie, I'm so sorry to hear about your husband and boy. Do you have other relatives?" Clora gently interrogated Gertie so masterfully that Gertie couldn't help but enjoy it. Before she knew it, Clora had her life's story, laughing at the fun parts and sad during the life happens parts.
Mark and Will excused themselves, heading for bed. "Me too," Gertie said tiredly, "Driving is a real pain for me, I hate it with a passion." "Hey, I couldn't agree more." Clora said with a shudder.
The men were reasonably quiet when they left in the morning. Standing at the window, Gertie approved when Clora loaded the Jeep with coolers and Thermos's and sleeping bags. It had been a difficult night for Gertie, she wasn't used to people in the house, and the kids downstairs and the man in the next room were noisy. Her dogs had whined and whimpered at every little sound, keeping her awake.
Now they wanted out, so Gertie dressed quickly and creaked down the stairs as carefully as she could. Clora was sitting at the table and waved Gertie in to have a cup of coffee.
They passed the morning pleasantly, the kids playing with the dogs and having a grand time. They went to Lainey's for lunch. and once again Gertie got to interact with the brother and his wife.
The weather was changing, another storm. It charged in at early afternoon, snowing and blowing like crazy. Inside, the huge Monarch slurping wood at a alarming pace, keeping the house warm. Gertie got her chance to grill Clora during the boy's nap time. It was turn about is fair play.
"So Evie Hanson was your Grandmother," she commented. "I knew who she was, but because of the distance didn't often see her.
I did however read the papers, you had it tough." Gertie was referring to Pete and the media coverage.
"Most of the time it was a nightmare, but whatever we went through made us stronger, I only wish it were over so the boy's were safe. Lainey is more upset than we are, she's having a hard time waiting. The guy's do have a good lead though, it will be interesting to see what they think of the Oregon place.
"Hello Wayne, com'on in and meet out guest Gertie Samuels," Clora looked up and warmly greeted the gaunt, bushy haired brother.
Now that she had a good look at the man, Gertie had a rude shock. He looked just like her long dead son.
bad_karma00
Underachiever
Of course he does.
Yet another nice twist Pac. I'm getting whip lash, lol.
Bad
Yet another nice twist Pac. I'm getting whip lash, lol.
Bad
Holy Mackeral. What next?
DustMusher
Deceased
Didn't see THAT one comin' -- If indeed that is what PAC has in store. Thanks for the ride, Pac, love one of your chapters for a good night story.
DM
DM
juco
Veteran Member
I wondered that too Rabbit, but then I recalled that Wayne came to the Hansons as a child and didn't Gertie say her son was killed in the war?
ok, hold that thought...I went back and re-read and she did not say her adult son was killed in the war...so does that indeed leave the door open for Wayne to be her son? I'm sure Pac will fill us in when she's good and ready...after we are all about to perish from the suspense.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
The son would have been older, but as another said, OF course he does lol.
Could Wayne be a grandson of this woman? We know too little about Gertie's son. Perhaps the reason why he was traumatized is because he "lost" his wife and child?
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#39
Clora watched as Gertie recoiled in shock. Her mouth tightening as her eyes never let up her laser inspection. Looking more and more angry, was the word Clora supposed was happening.
Wayne mumbled around and left to find something to eat in the kitchen. Gertie whipped her head around to meet Clora's steady gaze.
"Don't start, don't go there," Clora cautioned. "That man would be better off NOT knowing, than have you stir up a can of worms and then toss the can out." Clora folded her hands but did not let go of Gertie's eyes.
"In case you want to know, I didn't know until I saw those pictures in your living room. The Kemp's have a very strong resemblance to each other. You and your three sisters look like triplets or quads, were you?" Clora questioned.
"No...." Gertie lingered her syllables as she contemplated what Clora was saying. "We were a year apart, we had a brother and then Mother passed away in childbirth. The Kemp you know about was our half brother from my Father's second wife. Three of my sisters were disowned by our father and we never knew what happened to them. They left after a terrible fight and we never heard from them. I can't hardly believe this, this is too much."
"Gertie, I do want you to know one thing, If you sell to us it has to be your decision. I can see you had about made up your mind, now with this as a complication you will need to contact us if you wish to proceed. Just be aware that this is not all, there is more."
Clora let Gertie sit there and absorb the shock. No words were exchanged, the terrific confusion on Gertie's face made Clora's heart ache.
Finally, Clora said gently, "Gertie, I don't want to be the cause of so much hurt. We welcome you here anytime and I'm sorry we couldn't have concluded our business before you made the connection. We have no intention of influencing you."
"I believe I need to go upstairs and rest." Tough as nails and twisted whang leather, Gertie felt weak in the knees and dizzy. It was hard to think, so many thoughts were bombarding her from all angles and none of them made any sense. Slowly she stood up and walked up stairs. Her slow measures steps speaking to her bewilderment.
Clora sat staring out the window. That woman was her brother's Aunt, also her Aunt if the DNA analysis were correct. It made Clora want to cry with the uselessness of it all. They had been so close mile wise to 'PEOPLE' to tie them into this life, it was hard to get over.
Clora was crying without realizing it. Pretty quick she had Milo and Teddy sitting in her lap comforting her, Wayne was hovering so close by that he was practically there also. "Auntie C, Auntie C, don't cry, we're here, don't be sad, we don'ts want you to cry." Milo was upset with tears welling in his eyes and lower lip trembling. Teddy was patting her arm in a true Clora response. Wayne was sitting on a footstool with his arm around her, nearly crying himself.
That's where Ben found them when he came in the back door. At first he was nonplussed, then concerned and then looking for the perpetrator that would make Clora cry. Heads would roll, if he caught whomever was behind the weeping.
"Ben, Ben," Clora forestalled the purge she could see gathering in his eyes. "I just suddenly got overwhelmed, I don't know what came over me I'm usually not this way." It was a calculated risk on her part, both men would automatically assume it was because she was pregnant, and for right now, Clora wanted to leave it that way. It was an easier route than explaining.
Gertie walked silently down the stairs, wanting to listen to what was happening in the living room. She had worked up a righteous anger and was preparing to give a blast of scorn and ridicule to what she had concluded was a blatant attempt to scam her ranch away from her.
That the calm and cool woman was crying, was a puzzlement. In her experience, Gertie thought that Clora would have been celebrating. A scam usually caused the people to be jubilant, not sad.
Clora watched as Gertie recoiled in shock. Her mouth tightening as her eyes never let up her laser inspection. Looking more and more angry, was the word Clora supposed was happening.
Wayne mumbled around and left to find something to eat in the kitchen. Gertie whipped her head around to meet Clora's steady gaze.
"Don't start, don't go there," Clora cautioned. "That man would be better off NOT knowing, than have you stir up a can of worms and then toss the can out." Clora folded her hands but did not let go of Gertie's eyes.
"In case you want to know, I didn't know until I saw those pictures in your living room. The Kemp's have a very strong resemblance to each other. You and your three sisters look like triplets or quads, were you?" Clora questioned.
"No...." Gertie lingered her syllables as she contemplated what Clora was saying. "We were a year apart, we had a brother and then Mother passed away in childbirth. The Kemp you know about was our half brother from my Father's second wife. Three of my sisters were disowned by our father and we never knew what happened to them. They left after a terrible fight and we never heard from them. I can't hardly believe this, this is too much."
"Gertie, I do want you to know one thing, If you sell to us it has to be your decision. I can see you had about made up your mind, now with this as a complication you will need to contact us if you wish to proceed. Just be aware that this is not all, there is more."
Clora let Gertie sit there and absorb the shock. No words were exchanged, the terrific confusion on Gertie's face made Clora's heart ache.
Finally, Clora said gently, "Gertie, I don't want to be the cause of so much hurt. We welcome you here anytime and I'm sorry we couldn't have concluded our business before you made the connection. We have no intention of influencing you."
"I believe I need to go upstairs and rest." Tough as nails and twisted whang leather, Gertie felt weak in the knees and dizzy. It was hard to think, so many thoughts were bombarding her from all angles and none of them made any sense. Slowly she stood up and walked up stairs. Her slow measures steps speaking to her bewilderment.
Clora sat staring out the window. That woman was her brother's Aunt, also her Aunt if the DNA analysis were correct. It made Clora want to cry with the uselessness of it all. They had been so close mile wise to 'PEOPLE' to tie them into this life, it was hard to get over.
Clora was crying without realizing it. Pretty quick she had Milo and Teddy sitting in her lap comforting her, Wayne was hovering so close by that he was practically there also. "Auntie C, Auntie C, don't cry, we're here, don't be sad, we don'ts want you to cry." Milo was upset with tears welling in his eyes and lower lip trembling. Teddy was patting her arm in a true Clora response. Wayne was sitting on a footstool with his arm around her, nearly crying himself.
That's where Ben found them when he came in the back door. At first he was nonplussed, then concerned and then looking for the perpetrator that would make Clora cry. Heads would roll, if he caught whomever was behind the weeping.
"Ben, Ben," Clora forestalled the purge she could see gathering in his eyes. "I just suddenly got overwhelmed, I don't know what came over me I'm usually not this way." It was a calculated risk on her part, both men would automatically assume it was because she was pregnant, and for right now, Clora wanted to leave it that way. It was an easier route than explaining.
Gertie walked silently down the stairs, wanting to listen to what was happening in the living room. She had worked up a righteous anger and was preparing to give a blast of scorn and ridicule to what she had concluded was a blatant attempt to scam her ranch away from her.
That the calm and cool woman was crying, was a puzzlement. In her experience, Gertie thought that Clora would have been celebrating. A scam usually caused the people to be jubilant, not sad.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#39b
Gertie came down stairs ready to blast that deceitful liar and brand her a cheat and a scoundrel. Gertie didn't let anyone take advantage of her, much less some trollop that was pretending to be a relative. The two men were bent over Clora, patting her shoulder and smoothing her hair when Gertie walked in the room. They both looked up and Gertie got the second bad shock of the day. Those two looked so much like her father it was a paralyzing moment.
A Gertie's suddenly white face, Ben rushed over to assist the older woman to the couch. "Have you two ladies eaten something that isn't agreeing with you today?" he brought a pillow for Gertie to lean against. "Do you want me to go get Lainey?" he blurted, "do you think it might be catching?" his second thought was for Anne.
"I believe she should be here," Gertie said in a faint whisper, what tantrum she intended to have was forgotten at the new revelation.
It was a nervous 10 minutes waiting in the strained silence for Lainey to appear. She had been feeding Anne and had thrown a blanket over herself. Half asleep, it had been difficult to come awake firing on all cylinders as Ben had come in the house shouting for her to come immediately.
With Anne squalling at her rudely interrupted meal, Lainey rushed in the living room and sat down on the far end of the couch from that strange woman. With Anne quiet, the silence got unbearable as the clan looked at each other for a clue as to what was happening.
Finally Gertie cleared her throat, "Ummn, every one please sit down. I wanted to say while you are all here, I have decided to sell my place."
Clora jerked her head up, nearly bumping Wayne in the nose. Now what was Gertie up to. Looking straight at Clora, Gertie dared her to say a word. A haughty twist to her neck had the weatherbeaten woman looking down her nose as she announced she was willing to sell.
Gertie came down stairs ready to blast that deceitful liar and brand her a cheat and a scoundrel. Gertie didn't let anyone take advantage of her, much less some trollop that was pretending to be a relative. The two men were bent over Clora, patting her shoulder and smoothing her hair when Gertie walked in the room. They both looked up and Gertie got the second bad shock of the day. Those two looked so much like her father it was a paralyzing moment.
A Gertie's suddenly white face, Ben rushed over to assist the older woman to the couch. "Have you two ladies eaten something that isn't agreeing with you today?" he brought a pillow for Gertie to lean against. "Do you want me to go get Lainey?" he blurted, "do you think it might be catching?" his second thought was for Anne.
"I believe she should be here," Gertie said in a faint whisper, what tantrum she intended to have was forgotten at the new revelation.
It was a nervous 10 minutes waiting in the strained silence for Lainey to appear. She had been feeding Anne and had thrown a blanket over herself. Half asleep, it had been difficult to come awake firing on all cylinders as Ben had come in the house shouting for her to come immediately.
With Anne squalling at her rudely interrupted meal, Lainey rushed in the living room and sat down on the far end of the couch from that strange woman. With Anne quiet, the silence got unbearable as the clan looked at each other for a clue as to what was happening.
Finally Gertie cleared her throat, "Ummn, every one please sit down. I wanted to say while you are all here, I have decided to sell my place."
Clora jerked her head up, nearly bumping Wayne in the nose. Now what was Gertie up to. Looking straight at Clora, Gertie dared her to say a word. A haughty twist to her neck had the weatherbeaten woman looking down her nose as she announced she was willing to sell.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
I think the rest of the family needs to know they have an aunt still alive At least we know who the kids moms were now don't we, and what a bad end they came to 
.
At least we know who the kids moms were now don't we, and what a bad end they came to .
I think the rest of the family needs to know they have an aunt still alive
Well, we don't know maybe what we think we know. Sure there is a connection but there are several great big giant pieces missing. LOL! But that is Pac's way. Those poor kids ... can you imagine trying to unscramble their family tree? Do they have the same mother or is it the same father? Are they all from different mothers with the same father or different fathers by the same mothers. Now two of them are definitely full blooded siblings ... or maybe not if they are actually double first cousins by brothers marrying sisters which could give a DNA read out of siblings.
I've untangled some screwy family ties but this takes the cake. ROFL
bad_karma00
Underachiever
Ya know, I used to think my family tree was complicated. Had an ancestor who married a woman, had three kids, and then when his wife died, married her first cousin, and had three more. See what I mean?
After all this, I feel plumb normal.
Bad
After all this, I feel plumb normal.
Bad
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#39c
The silence didn't get any better. The clan looked at each other and thought 'so what. She wants to sell,....sell what?"
Finally, Clora said "Gertie, we don't have any idea what it is you want to sell."
Gertie tightened her lips, acting like Clora and the rest were daft. "My ranch, that's whats for sale."
Ben looked interested. "How many acres, any farm ground, is there housing, is it strictly a cow ranch or how might it be diversified?
Don't forget, we have never seen the place but we are interested. We would like to arrange a visit, right?" he visually polled the family.
Gertie looked kinda defeated. She had gotten herself so worked up over the prospect that these people were blood relatives, that she forgot only Clora had seen the place. Now she had to figure out how to backtrack enough for it all to make sense.
"I own the entire valley, some willed to me, some I bought off that no good cheat of a half brother of mine. I have the deed," she said proudly. "It took me till two years ago to get it paid. There's some more than 800 acres of ground and some mountain pasture. The pastures are a might cluttered with brush, but the grass is good. Whatcha gonna do, run some of them cute tan cows like you got here?
"Livestock yes, or we would hope to," Ben continued as he floundered, looking to Clora for help.
"The layout of the valley has a narrow entrance, widens in the center and then narrows again. There looked to be 4 houses plus Gertie's, but the cloud deck was so low, we couldn't tell how steep or high the sides of the mountains were. Now at Jerry Kemp's house." and Clora looked at Gertie to confirm the name and got her nod,"there is a barn in fair condition, corrals in poor condition and the house I don't know about. Gertie, where is the farm ground you were talking about?"
Gertie kept her eyes on Clora, ignoring the men as she spoke. "Up past the gate into my house; it widens out and them fields are on both sides of the crik." Ben and Clora nodded in time, Wayne just closed his eyes and seemed to sleep. "I wouldn't let them do no logging," Gertie reinforced her contempt for the clear cutting practices currently done by logging companies. "So there's timber for building iffen your inclined. The houses ain't the best, I keep running the hippies out, but they come in when I'm busy and don't notice."
Clora agreed that the whole outfit was dilapidated, and in need of much repair.
Gertie sighed and nodded, she had been fighting for the land for so long, that now there seemed to be a new generation interested she was drained of the spirit. She had no intention of telling this family how old she actually was, but she was a long way north of 80.
"I want you to come visit and look'er over, once you do that, we'll talk price. Fair?" she proposed.
Clora and Ben agreed it was fair and Ben tugged on Wayne's sleeve to get his attention. "Hey bro, you listening?"
"OK " Wayne muttered, I'll go look as long as it has woods."
"It does," Clora assured him, "It looks like the pastures go up the mountain pretty close to where Grandma and Grandpa Hanson lived. Maybe we could connect up to the ground at home. That would please Ev."
"Gertie," Clora addressed the wizened up horsewoman,"how about if we all come Monday. We honor the Sabbath, so wouldn't be interested tomorrow. You are most welcome to stay and attend service with us,..." the talk was interrupted by Anne's crying and Teddy's squabbling with Milo.
Gertie shuddered, she was not used to the children's continuous racket, and that settled the score for her. "No thank you," she said in her raspy voice, "I need to leave early in the morning and get to my chores. I'll look for you on Monday." That ended the meeting as far as Gertie was concerned and she went upstairs to her room.
"How run down, is run down?" Lainey wanted to know, burping Anne over her shoulder.
"Sad, bad, and more than likely cheaper to demolish and rebuild. We didn't get to see any of the other houses, but the Kemp house had a May tag wringer washer on the porch, so you can imagine from there. Her house looked like a 1800 special, and I'm not even sure it has running water." Clora shrugged her shoulders, it was what it was.
"Oh boy," Lainey said softly. "How far off the main road are you talking about?"
"I'm guessing 5 miles and the road is a badly kept two lane blacktop. Gertie says the water didn't get up there, and only a few rocks came down in the earthquake. I'm guessing," she repeated herself again, "that the place is 5 to 7 miles south of Longview. There doesn't seem to be any road north of the town, so it's not busy like it once was." She grabbed at her pocket for her handkerchief and sneezed into the floral square.
"Bless you," Lainey automatically said. "What was your impression of the ground?"
"It was lush looking, growing the green jungle we have around here. Lot's of brush, trees, overgrown pasture grasses. The fences are in terrible shape, and the corrals in the Kemp place are just sitting on the top of the ground. I would say it would be a year before anything but a small herd of cattle could be run. The big question, do we have that much energy left in us? To start again?" Clora looked tired, but redirected Milo with a whisper to the schoolroom.
"Let's wait till Mark and Will get back tonight, and get their impressions of the Oregon place," Ben said, "and how they would stack one against the other."
"Yeah, let's do it that way," a sleepy Wayne yawned and shuffled out of the room, heading for food. Ben thought it would be a good idea and followed.
"Now what aren't you saying that's going on?" Lainey probed and Clora looked up the stairs and put her finger to her lips and shook her head no. Shrugging her shoulders, she moved to the couch and whispered in Lainey's ear. Lainey's eyes got big and there was a "Oh my God' that slipped out. "Are you kidding?"
Clora shook her head negatively. "Seems pretty sure, you should see the pictures in her living room. She knows, but didn't want to bring it up for some reason, So, I guess we wait."
"I don't think we want to say anything right yet," Lainey looked in the kitchen at Ben munching a cookie, "I hope this doesn't cause real problems."
"Yeah," Clora fanned herself with her hand, "I'm pretty confused myself."
Mark and Will made it to Medford and drove out to the farm for sale. "What a rip off," Mark clenched his teeth and surveyed the barren hills and sagebrush stumps the agent was trying to pass off as orchard. The house was a sagging single wide with tires on the roof, and rusted car hulks lining the driveway.
"We are not interested in this, do you have any other properties for sale?" he questioned the Agent. Of course he did have, all in the three quarters of a million range and up. Mark and Will were back in the Jeep and headed for home within the hour.
It was late when they pulled into the farm driveway, the lights were still on at the main house and Mark was a little surprised that Gerties rig was still there, and said so.
"Did you notice she hasn't licensed that old crate for several years?" Will chuckled. "There must not be much in the line of law enforcement up there, cause I'd bet there's no insurance either."
Mark had filled Will in on the status of the Kemp place, he basically reserved his opinion until he could see it in person.
Early Sunday morning Gertie took off in a cloud of blue smoke and barking dogs. She wouldn't take time for breakfast and seemed more than happy to be gone.
It was Sunday evening before Clora had a chance to talk to Mark about Gertie, and she laid out the problems she had discovered.
"Well crap, what's the matter with that old gal," Mark was incensed out loud, and Clora had to shush him so Wayne couldn't hear.
"I'd say it all depends if she lets us in the house tomorrow or not. Those pictures are a dead giveaway, and the guy's couldn't help but notice the resemblance to themselves. Mark, that makes her an Aunt to me also, and she didn't seem to catch on to that fact. But..." and Clora turned off the light, "I'd as soon believe her as that goofy bunch of old men that have been out here."
The silence didn't get any better. The clan looked at each other and thought 'so what. She wants to sell,....sell what?"
Finally, Clora said "Gertie, we don't have any idea what it is you want to sell."
Gertie tightened her lips, acting like Clora and the rest were daft. "My ranch, that's whats for sale."
Ben looked interested. "How many acres, any farm ground, is there housing, is it strictly a cow ranch or how might it be diversified?
Don't forget, we have never seen the place but we are interested. We would like to arrange a visit, right?" he visually polled the family.
Gertie looked kinda defeated. She had gotten herself so worked up over the prospect that these people were blood relatives, that she forgot only Clora had seen the place. Now she had to figure out how to backtrack enough for it all to make sense.
"I own the entire valley, some willed to me, some I bought off that no good cheat of a half brother of mine. I have the deed," she said proudly. "It took me till two years ago to get it paid. There's some more than 800 acres of ground and some mountain pasture. The pastures are a might cluttered with brush, but the grass is good. Whatcha gonna do, run some of them cute tan cows like you got here?
"Livestock yes, or we would hope to," Ben continued as he floundered, looking to Clora for help.
"The layout of the valley has a narrow entrance, widens in the center and then narrows again. There looked to be 4 houses plus Gertie's, but the cloud deck was so low, we couldn't tell how steep or high the sides of the mountains were. Now at Jerry Kemp's house." and Clora looked at Gertie to confirm the name and got her nod,"there is a barn in fair condition, corrals in poor condition and the house I don't know about. Gertie, where is the farm ground you were talking about?"
Gertie kept her eyes on Clora, ignoring the men as she spoke. "Up past the gate into my house; it widens out and them fields are on both sides of the crik." Ben and Clora nodded in time, Wayne just closed his eyes and seemed to sleep. "I wouldn't let them do no logging," Gertie reinforced her contempt for the clear cutting practices currently done by logging companies. "So there's timber for building iffen your inclined. The houses ain't the best, I keep running the hippies out, but they come in when I'm busy and don't notice."
Clora agreed that the whole outfit was dilapidated, and in need of much repair.
Gertie sighed and nodded, she had been fighting for the land for so long, that now there seemed to be a new generation interested she was drained of the spirit. She had no intention of telling this family how old she actually was, but she was a long way north of 80.
"I want you to come visit and look'er over, once you do that, we'll talk price. Fair?" she proposed.
Clora and Ben agreed it was fair and Ben tugged on Wayne's sleeve to get his attention. "Hey bro, you listening?"
"OK " Wayne muttered, I'll go look as long as it has woods."
"It does," Clora assured him, "It looks like the pastures go up the mountain pretty close to where Grandma and Grandpa Hanson lived. Maybe we could connect up to the ground at home. That would please Ev."
"Gertie," Clora addressed the wizened up horsewoman,"how about if we all come Monday. We honor the Sabbath, so wouldn't be interested tomorrow. You are most welcome to stay and attend service with us,..." the talk was interrupted by Anne's crying and Teddy's squabbling with Milo.
Gertie shuddered, she was not used to the children's continuous racket, and that settled the score for her. "No thank you," she said in her raspy voice, "I need to leave early in the morning and get to my chores. I'll look for you on Monday." That ended the meeting as far as Gertie was concerned and she went upstairs to her room.
"How run down, is run down?" Lainey wanted to know, burping Anne over her shoulder.
"Sad, bad, and more than likely cheaper to demolish and rebuild. We didn't get to see any of the other houses, but the Kemp house had a May tag wringer washer on the porch, so you can imagine from there. Her house looked like a 1800 special, and I'm not even sure it has running water." Clora shrugged her shoulders, it was what it was.
"Oh boy," Lainey said softly. "How far off the main road are you talking about?"
"I'm guessing 5 miles and the road is a badly kept two lane blacktop. Gertie says the water didn't get up there, and only a few rocks came down in the earthquake. I'm guessing," she repeated herself again, "that the place is 5 to 7 miles south of Longview. There doesn't seem to be any road north of the town, so it's not busy like it once was." She grabbed at her pocket for her handkerchief and sneezed into the floral square.
"Bless you," Lainey automatically said. "What was your impression of the ground?"
"It was lush looking, growing the green jungle we have around here. Lot's of brush, trees, overgrown pasture grasses. The fences are in terrible shape, and the corrals in the Kemp place are just sitting on the top of the ground. I would say it would be a year before anything but a small herd of cattle could be run. The big question, do we have that much energy left in us? To start again?" Clora looked tired, but redirected Milo with a whisper to the schoolroom.
"Let's wait till Mark and Will get back tonight, and get their impressions of the Oregon place," Ben said, "and how they would stack one against the other."
"Yeah, let's do it that way," a sleepy Wayne yawned and shuffled out of the room, heading for food. Ben thought it would be a good idea and followed.
"Now what aren't you saying that's going on?" Lainey probed and Clora looked up the stairs and put her finger to her lips and shook her head no. Shrugging her shoulders, she moved to the couch and whispered in Lainey's ear. Lainey's eyes got big and there was a "Oh my God' that slipped out. "Are you kidding?"
Clora shook her head negatively. "Seems pretty sure, you should see the pictures in her living room. She knows, but didn't want to bring it up for some reason, So, I guess we wait."
"I don't think we want to say anything right yet," Lainey looked in the kitchen at Ben munching a cookie, "I hope this doesn't cause real problems."
"Yeah," Clora fanned herself with her hand, "I'm pretty confused myself."
Mark and Will made it to Medford and drove out to the farm for sale. "What a rip off," Mark clenched his teeth and surveyed the barren hills and sagebrush stumps the agent was trying to pass off as orchard. The house was a sagging single wide with tires on the roof, and rusted car hulks lining the driveway.
"We are not interested in this, do you have any other properties for sale?" he questioned the Agent. Of course he did have, all in the three quarters of a million range and up. Mark and Will were back in the Jeep and headed for home within the hour.
It was late when they pulled into the farm driveway, the lights were still on at the main house and Mark was a little surprised that Gerties rig was still there, and said so.
"Did you notice she hasn't licensed that old crate for several years?" Will chuckled. "There must not be much in the line of law enforcement up there, cause I'd bet there's no insurance either."
Mark had filled Will in on the status of the Kemp place, he basically reserved his opinion until he could see it in person.
Early Sunday morning Gertie took off in a cloud of blue smoke and barking dogs. She wouldn't take time for breakfast and seemed more than happy to be gone.
It was Sunday evening before Clora had a chance to talk to Mark about Gertie, and she laid out the problems she had discovered.
"Well crap, what's the matter with that old gal," Mark was incensed out loud, and Clora had to shush him so Wayne couldn't hear.
"I'd say it all depends if she lets us in the house tomorrow or not. Those pictures are a dead giveaway, and the guy's couldn't help but notice the resemblance to themselves. Mark, that makes her an Aunt to me also, and she didn't seem to catch on to that fact. But..." and Clora turned off the light, "I'd as soon believe her as that goofy bunch of old men that have been out here."
Very interesting twist! Thanks, Pac!
stjwelding
Veteran Member
Thanks for the new chapters, it seems that there is no end to the directions you are taking this great story. I hope that this works out, it sounds like a wonderful place to raise a family and grow old.
Wayne
Wayne
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#40
Monday morning the clan went trekking up the interstate to Gertie's place. Carefully and methodically as the entered the valley mouth, they inventoried their impressions of the place.
At each of the driveways they stopped and walked in far enough to look at the houses. It was depressing. The houses had been fine places to live, but not any more. They needed renovation from the roof on down. They walked in the Kemp house and it was as Mark and Clora suspected. A old two story that had been marginally remodeled to include running water and a bathroom.
The weather had been cold and blustery when they left their current farm, but inside the small valley it was breezy but protected. The cloud ceiling was above the valley sidewalls, but the tree and brush cover was thick and not much could be seen.
The status of the many barns was discussed, Ben noted they were poor at the best. Gertie's gate was open when they got that far, and Clora joked nervously that she expected Gertie to jump out with a rifle and waylay them at any moment.
It was a tight fit to get all the rigs parked in the small parking area in front of Gertie's house. She was no where to be found when they knocked on the door and hollered for her. At last the dogs could be heard barking off in the distance and then the mooing of cattle as they were pushed down into the corral.
Gertie was in her usual getup. Dark brown ratty slicker that no longer turned the rain, cowboy hat pulled so low you couldn't tell if she was a she, stained gloves, muddy boots and a big chew in her lower lip. Her horse was a bony looking bay with a few burrs in his tail, Roman nosed and plow horse footed.
"He don't like people," she snarled at Mark when he approached the gelding, the reins looped over rail fence effectively ground tied the animal.
Mark extended his fingers for the horse to smell and then the horse pushed his nose into Mark's hand, looking for the human's touch.
It was impossible to see Gertie's face, but her posture gave little doubt that she was disgusted with the nag.
The milling cattle settled down when they discovered the hay in the feed bunks, Ben stood with one foot on the bottom corral log as he looked them over. There was at least 20 mother cows and fall calves, one Angus bull and a couple of replacement heifers and several yearling steers.
They were good looking Hereford stock, not rolling fat, but efficient looking animals. The remuda wandered in, all similar to the bay. Kinda large and raw boned and definitely not over fat. Because of the horses's condition, Mark thought they needed their teeth floated, and when he checked he was correct. None of the horses were young, almost as ancient as Gertie herself.
Gertie unsaddled, refusing Mark's offer of help, and invited the clan inside. It was a tussle to get Ev and his wheelchair up the back steps and into the kitchen. The kitchen was not the best part of the house for sure. It did have running water, but the rest was old and worn out.
Sitting in the painfully stiff and formal parlor with it's faded carpet and honest to goodness old curved back Chesterfield, Clora looked for the pictures. Ben and Wayne were staring in spellbound fascination, it was like they were looking in the mirror at themselves.
Monday morning the clan went trekking up the interstate to Gertie's place. Carefully and methodically as the entered the valley mouth, they inventoried their impressions of the place.
At each of the driveways they stopped and walked in far enough to look at the houses. It was depressing. The houses had been fine places to live, but not any more. They needed renovation from the roof on down. They walked in the Kemp house and it was as Mark and Clora suspected. A old two story that had been marginally remodeled to include running water and a bathroom.
The weather had been cold and blustery when they left their current farm, but inside the small valley it was breezy but protected. The cloud ceiling was above the valley sidewalls, but the tree and brush cover was thick and not much could be seen.
The status of the many barns was discussed, Ben noted they were poor at the best. Gertie's gate was open when they got that far, and Clora joked nervously that she expected Gertie to jump out with a rifle and waylay them at any moment.
It was a tight fit to get all the rigs parked in the small parking area in front of Gertie's house. She was no where to be found when they knocked on the door and hollered for her. At last the dogs could be heard barking off in the distance and then the mooing of cattle as they were pushed down into the corral.
Gertie was in her usual getup. Dark brown ratty slicker that no longer turned the rain, cowboy hat pulled so low you couldn't tell if she was a she, stained gloves, muddy boots and a big chew in her lower lip. Her horse was a bony looking bay with a few burrs in his tail, Roman nosed and plow horse footed.
"He don't like people," she snarled at Mark when he approached the gelding, the reins looped over rail fence effectively ground tied the animal.
Mark extended his fingers for the horse to smell and then the horse pushed his nose into Mark's hand, looking for the human's touch.
It was impossible to see Gertie's face, but her posture gave little doubt that she was disgusted with the nag.
The milling cattle settled down when they discovered the hay in the feed bunks, Ben stood with one foot on the bottom corral log as he looked them over. There was at least 20 mother cows and fall calves, one Angus bull and a couple of replacement heifers and several yearling steers.
They were good looking Hereford stock, not rolling fat, but efficient looking animals. The remuda wandered in, all similar to the bay. Kinda large and raw boned and definitely not over fat. Because of the horses's condition, Mark thought they needed their teeth floated, and when he checked he was correct. None of the horses were young, almost as ancient as Gertie herself.
Gertie unsaddled, refusing Mark's offer of help, and invited the clan inside. It was a tussle to get Ev and his wheelchair up the back steps and into the kitchen. The kitchen was not the best part of the house for sure. It did have running water, but the rest was old and worn out.
Sitting in the painfully stiff and formal parlor with it's faded carpet and honest to goodness old curved back Chesterfield, Clora looked for the pictures. Ben and Wayne were staring in spellbound fascination, it was like they were looking in the mirror at themselves.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Lol Kathy, what a tangled web she weaves lol. Umm My family is kinda like this, dads, step dads, mom, step moms, half sisters, steps, brothers, my step mother is also my cousin so my half sisters are also my cousins and its goes on from there and gets worse. Doing genealogy is reallllllly interesting and very confusing lol.