sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
You ALWAYSSSSSSSS leave me wanting more. Thank you.
Hi, My Name is Tessee
- Thread starter PacNorWest
- Start date
bad_karma00
Underachiever
The roots of that tree are cross threaded!
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#40b
Ben and Wayne turned around to stare at Gertie. "An explanation please," he requested, but everyone could hear the steel in his voice.
"I have four sisters," Gertie started hesitantly. "Now what happened was a subject not talked about in times past, but everyone knew and gossiped. I am the oldest by almost 16 years, and my sisters came along after a long illness my mother had. Three of those girls ran wild and took up with the neighbor boy. He got all three of them in a family way and they were disowned by my Father. It took a short time and our fourth sister fell under this boy's spell and she got with a wood's colt. The three of you are my sisters children."
Ben and Wayne turned around to stare at Gertie. "An explanation please," he requested, but everyone could hear the steel in his voice.
"I have four sisters," Gertie started hesitantly. "Now what happened was a subject not talked about in times past, but everyone knew and gossiped. I am the oldest by almost 16 years, and my sisters came along after a long illness my mother had. Three of those girls ran wild and took up with the neighbor boy. He got all three of them in a family way and they were disowned by my Father. It took a short time and our fourth sister fell under this boy's spell and she got with a wood's colt. The three of you are my sisters children."
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Wow thanks Pac.
So ... same rapscallion father, all different mothers ... or so Gertie thinks. LOL! If it was a local boy then perhaps the Hanson family knew their story all along and didn't tell them or only suspected and didn't speak of it to protect them.
bad_karma00
Underachiever
Well, as I said before; of course they are. I guess they'll finally get at least some answers. And this one's got pics to back it up!
Pac, you're gonna make me pass out from stress one of these days.
Bad
Pac, you're gonna make me pass out from stress one of these days.
Bad
juco
Veteran Member
LOL, and my fingernails are chewed down to nubs!
Thank you Pac. You are THE master of twists and turns.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#40c
Gertie shook her head, it had been a nightmare so many years ago, and still was. It was easy to tell the people weren't satisfied. "Now as for knowen who was mother to who, I don't, cause I think you kids were the second batch. That Pete, he was a real smooth talker and had quite a way with the ladies. He strung my sisters along until they had gone plumb over the edge of decency. The way they done was the death of our Ma. The sisters, and they was Sarah, Donna and Katharine and then the baby Sylvia they had babies like rabbit litters."
Wayne snorted, but you could have heard a pin drop in the house.
Clora had a question, but postponed it as Gertie continued. "It's a wonder you knowed to come here," she spoke to Clora, " but then you have knowed a lot of things, haven't ye."
Clora felt an awful frustration on being called out in such a way, but she nodded and said to Gertie,"well, how does some guy by the name of Ariat figure in this family?"
Now it was Gertie's turn to be uncomfortable. "That old ba.........," she stopped and swallowed her swear word. "He is my mother's father. The guy has to be close to 100, the meddling old fool."
"Yes, it is a meddling situation, he is the buyer of our place, he is furnishing the money to buy this one." the talk was like a personal conversation between Clora and Gertie.
"Nice trick on his part," the old woman spat in a can by her chair. "He's been trying to give me money for years and I want nutthin to do with him."
"Well then, I guess you had better let us know if you will accept his money, coming through us so to speak. He seemed like a genteel, proper old man," Clora concluded.
"He's got the pinched propers, he does. He disowned Ma for taken up with Pa, him being some sort of a mucky muck Basque and all, and then tried to make it up to us kids with money. Them other fools took it from him, but not me. I ain't got much, but I've got pride." Gertie spoke to Clora like the rest of the family wasn't there. "I suppose I could take his money through you, he ain't stiffin ya, is he?"
Clora tried to be smart with the information she let Gertie have. "He's paying our asking price," Clora allowed, not ready to get into a squabble with the old gal as of yet.
"I'm supposin you're a wantin to know how much I want for my diggins," Gertie got a crafty look in her eye, and peeked at Clora.
"We need to know before we go much further, it's a shame to take up you're time if we can't swing it. We need to be finding a place, our days are ticking away," Clora said with a smile.
"You'ns want the cows 'n horses?" Gertie had her fingers tented in front of her, thinking
Clora had Mark and Wayne in her peripheral vision and they were nodding yes. Ben was a little to far off to the right for Clora to see him without turning around and losing the eye contact with the old woman.
"Yes, we do. They are good looking stock," Clora said honestly.
"You a little blind in one eye and can't see out of the othern?" Gertie cackled, enjoying her joke.
"Most of the time," Clora shot back. "It's a necessary skill with kids and a messy husband."
"You got it gal," Gertie approved as she cackled again. "You want the whole thing?" she meant the entire ranch.
"Yes, all of it," Clora was definite.
Gertie got a sad, forlorn look on her face, a defeated, out of options demeanor. "Well then, I want ....I want ... I will sell for two hundred and fifty thousand cash." It all came out in a rush with Gertie's voice breaking with emotion.
"We accept," Clora saw Wayne, Mark and Ben nod agreement. Lainey had such a horrified look on her face that Clora almost laughed.
"We do have a couple of conditions," Clora said to Gertie. Once again the house got real quiet and the clan seemed to hold their collective breath, what was Clora up to now?"
"We will buy only if you stay and live here for the first condition, and the second condition, we would like you help us write down our history." Clora wasn't smiling and Gertie felt her absolute intent.
"Ah...ah..." Gertie floundered. "Why?"
"You are family; we don't have much but pride and family, and we take care of both of them." Clora said sternly.
Gertie sat still, looking at each of the family in the room. They were open and curious about her, friendly and sympathetic acting. The guy in the wheel chair and his wife and daughter hadn't said a word, but Gertie watched as they gently reached out to hold hands with each other. The brother with the baby and the city wife, edged closer to his wife until they were touching. Clora had her lap ful of children and they were lounging on her like she was a soft pillow. Her husband was close, his hand close to her shoulder. The last brother and the family friend sat between them all, ringed by the closeness Gertie could actually feel.
Suddenly it was real important to Gertie that she be included in that strength and caring.
"Alright, do you want me to move into one of them other houses?"
"No, this has been your home for a long time, no need for you to move." Clora replied.
Gertie felt such a rush of relief, she hadn't realized how knotted up inside she was. "Agreed," she got up and shook hands with them all, that made it official in her eyes.
Clora said "we do need a favor from you Gertie, we need to start moving right away and want to start bringing stuff in."
"Help yourselves," Gertie said almost gaily, "It's your place."
The clan shook hands among themselves and Clora made sure to give Lainey a special hug. Lainey looked a little panicy, but was holding it in well. As the family trooped out side, Clora stopped to give Gertie a hug.
"You know, don't you" Gertie said quietly.
"Yes," Clora replied. "I know."
Gertie shook her head, it had been a nightmare so many years ago, and still was. It was easy to tell the people weren't satisfied. "Now as for knowen who was mother to who, I don't, cause I think you kids were the second batch. That Pete, he was a real smooth talker and had quite a way with the ladies. He strung my sisters along until they had gone plumb over the edge of decency. The way they done was the death of our Ma. The sisters, and they was Sarah, Donna and Katharine and then the baby Sylvia they had babies like rabbit litters."
Wayne snorted, but you could have heard a pin drop in the house.
Clora had a question, but postponed it as Gertie continued. "It's a wonder you knowed to come here," she spoke to Clora, " but then you have knowed a lot of things, haven't ye."
Clora felt an awful frustration on being called out in such a way, but she nodded and said to Gertie,"well, how does some guy by the name of Ariat figure in this family?"
Now it was Gertie's turn to be uncomfortable. "That old ba.........," she stopped and swallowed her swear word. "He is my mother's father. The guy has to be close to 100, the meddling old fool."
"Yes, it is a meddling situation, he is the buyer of our place, he is furnishing the money to buy this one." the talk was like a personal conversation between Clora and Gertie.
"Nice trick on his part," the old woman spat in a can by her chair. "He's been trying to give me money for years and I want nutthin to do with him."
"Well then, I guess you had better let us know if you will accept his money, coming through us so to speak. He seemed like a genteel, proper old man," Clora concluded.
"He's got the pinched propers, he does. He disowned Ma for taken up with Pa, him being some sort of a mucky muck Basque and all, and then tried to make it up to us kids with money. Them other fools took it from him, but not me. I ain't got much, but I've got pride." Gertie spoke to Clora like the rest of the family wasn't there. "I suppose I could take his money through you, he ain't stiffin ya, is he?"
Clora tried to be smart with the information she let Gertie have. "He's paying our asking price," Clora allowed, not ready to get into a squabble with the old gal as of yet.
"I'm supposin you're a wantin to know how much I want for my diggins," Gertie got a crafty look in her eye, and peeked at Clora.
"We need to know before we go much further, it's a shame to take up you're time if we can't swing it. We need to be finding a place, our days are ticking away," Clora said with a smile.
"You'ns want the cows 'n horses?" Gertie had her fingers tented in front of her, thinking
Clora had Mark and Wayne in her peripheral vision and they were nodding yes. Ben was a little to far off to the right for Clora to see him without turning around and losing the eye contact with the old woman.
"Yes, we do. They are good looking stock," Clora said honestly.
"You a little blind in one eye and can't see out of the othern?" Gertie cackled, enjoying her joke.
"Most of the time," Clora shot back. "It's a necessary skill with kids and a messy husband."
"You got it gal," Gertie approved as she cackled again. "You want the whole thing?" she meant the entire ranch.
"Yes, all of it," Clora was definite.
Gertie got a sad, forlorn look on her face, a defeated, out of options demeanor. "Well then, I want ....I want ... I will sell for two hundred and fifty thousand cash." It all came out in a rush with Gertie's voice breaking with emotion.
"We accept," Clora saw Wayne, Mark and Ben nod agreement. Lainey had such a horrified look on her face that Clora almost laughed.
"We do have a couple of conditions," Clora said to Gertie. Once again the house got real quiet and the clan seemed to hold their collective breath, what was Clora up to now?"
"We will buy only if you stay and live here for the first condition, and the second condition, we would like you help us write down our history." Clora wasn't smiling and Gertie felt her absolute intent.
"Ah...ah..." Gertie floundered. "Why?"
"You are family; we don't have much but pride and family, and we take care of both of them." Clora said sternly.
Gertie sat still, looking at each of the family in the room. They were open and curious about her, friendly and sympathetic acting. The guy in the wheel chair and his wife and daughter hadn't said a word, but Gertie watched as they gently reached out to hold hands with each other. The brother with the baby and the city wife, edged closer to his wife until they were touching. Clora had her lap ful of children and they were lounging on her like she was a soft pillow. Her husband was close, his hand close to her shoulder. The last brother and the family friend sat between them all, ringed by the closeness Gertie could actually feel.
Suddenly it was real important to Gertie that she be included in that strength and caring.
"Alright, do you want me to move into one of them other houses?"
"No, this has been your home for a long time, no need for you to move." Clora replied.
Gertie felt such a rush of relief, she hadn't realized how knotted up inside she was. "Agreed," she got up and shook hands with them all, that made it official in her eyes.
Clora said "we do need a favor from you Gertie, we need to start moving right away and want to start bringing stuff in."
"Help yourselves," Gertie said almost gaily, "It's your place."
The clan shook hands among themselves and Clora made sure to give Lainey a special hug. Lainey looked a little panicy, but was holding it in well. As the family trooped out side, Clora stopped to give Gertie a hug.
"You know, don't you" Gertie said quietly.
"Yes," Clora replied. "I know."
2ndEviltwin
Inactive
Evil Cliff. Pac you are too nice to us 
bad_karma00
Underachiever
ARRGGHHHHH!
ARGH!!!!!! OK, so Pete really is the father ... stinker man. But what is it that Clora knows? What is right in our face but we haven't seen it?!!
Jeepcats 3
Contributing Member
I think Pac is reeling us in again!
She and Cliff are real good at that!
I can hardly wait till the next chapter!
Jeepcats3
She and Cliff are real good at that!
I can hardly wait till the next chapter!
Jeepcats3
Oh, Pac, now we're going to be wearing out the reload key again. 
juco
Veteran Member
Is Gertie her mother? Wayne's mother?
I say again...Arrrgh!!!
And why do I have the feeling that Pac is sitting at her keyboard cackling at us?
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#40d
"Later," Gertie said with no emotion, and Clora agreed. They walked into the kitchen, and Clora went to stand at the sink and look out the window.
"Would you like a down payment?" Clora thought to ask.
"Not necessary, I'm fine with your word," the ancient horsewoman stepped to the door and gave a sharp whistle. Dogs showed up, waiting for orders.
Clora turned from the sink and walked out side with Gertie. "We whistle like that, especially during times of attack. We are just coming into modern times with cell phones, so we keep our expenses low."
"You've got a good family, but what's with the others's, they sponging off you?" Gertie was curious.
Clora reached down and picked up Teddy, he had come running up looking cranky and in need of a lift. Clora wound him up in the shaw and he snuggled in. "They are good friends. They looked after us when we were little, now they need looking after. It comes easy Gertie, we wouldn't have it any other way."
"Figured," Gertie allowed slowly. "Figured."
Lainey was sitting with Ev while Cheryl and Christy ran around in the barns and buildings. The two ladies played with the dogs and finally walked over to their pickup and opened the door so Ev could pet the black and white border collie. "Good dog," Ev said thickly, his arm reaching slowly toward the dog. Cheryl held her breath, Ev was using his paralyzed arm without realizing it. Bless those dogs, she was praying, Bless those dogs.
The men walked up the trail toward the farm fields. It was a nightmare during the day, the sheer amount of work would take all of them, all year to rehabilitate the fields, buildings and fences. Ben, Wayne, Mark and Will strolled back toward the house; and they spotted a couple of deer, pheasants, and doves. The small creek was a couple of feet deep and a couple wide, Wayne checked it carefully and then pointed to the carcass of a spent salmon that had spawned, hidden in the tall grass drooping over the water.. "Looking up," he said aloud. "Definite possibilities."
"I don't think the ladies are very impressed with the houses, as a matter of fact I don't think I am either," Ben said aloud. "Are you guys cool with the deal? If you have any doubts, let's hear'em. I mean Clora charged ahead, but we still have a say." Ben was thinking of the work ahead.
"It's secluded, a private world. Good if you're happy where you are, a death trap if a sniper wants to pin the farm down," Will reminded the men.
Mark took a sweep, looking at the valley with the eye of a sniper. Will noticed and watched as the ex military man checked distance, fall and cover. Mark's practiced eye told him the the distance of the valley from side to side was vulnerable to a sniper, if the gunman was exceptionally good at his craft. Hopefully if they moved, they wouldn't have to deal with any more gun battles.
"No lie, that's a problem," he said. "We should check on how easy it is to access the sides of the valley, and what's on either side up top. We also need to find out if this creek ever floods, or how deep the snow gets,...cause those barn roofs are built to shed snow."
"Good point," Ben approved of the observation. "Let's go check out the houses, I have a feeling that's gonna be a number one priority."
"Later," Gertie said with no emotion, and Clora agreed. They walked into the kitchen, and Clora went to stand at the sink and look out the window.
"Would you like a down payment?" Clora thought to ask.
"Not necessary, I'm fine with your word," the ancient horsewoman stepped to the door and gave a sharp whistle. Dogs showed up, waiting for orders.
Clora turned from the sink and walked out side with Gertie. "We whistle like that, especially during times of attack. We are just coming into modern times with cell phones, so we keep our expenses low."
"You've got a good family, but what's with the others's, they sponging off you?" Gertie was curious.
Clora reached down and picked up Teddy, he had come running up looking cranky and in need of a lift. Clora wound him up in the shaw and he snuggled in. "They are good friends. They looked after us when we were little, now they need looking after. It comes easy Gertie, we wouldn't have it any other way."
"Figured," Gertie allowed slowly. "Figured."
Lainey was sitting with Ev while Cheryl and Christy ran around in the barns and buildings. The two ladies played with the dogs and finally walked over to their pickup and opened the door so Ev could pet the black and white border collie. "Good dog," Ev said thickly, his arm reaching slowly toward the dog. Cheryl held her breath, Ev was using his paralyzed arm without realizing it. Bless those dogs, she was praying, Bless those dogs.
The men walked up the trail toward the farm fields. It was a nightmare during the day, the sheer amount of work would take all of them, all year to rehabilitate the fields, buildings and fences. Ben, Wayne, Mark and Will strolled back toward the house; and they spotted a couple of deer, pheasants, and doves. The small creek was a couple of feet deep and a couple wide, Wayne checked it carefully and then pointed to the carcass of a spent salmon that had spawned, hidden in the tall grass drooping over the water.. "Looking up," he said aloud. "Definite possibilities."
"I don't think the ladies are very impressed with the houses, as a matter of fact I don't think I am either," Ben said aloud. "Are you guys cool with the deal? If you have any doubts, let's hear'em. I mean Clora charged ahead, but we still have a say." Ben was thinking of the work ahead.
"It's secluded, a private world. Good if you're happy where you are, a death trap if a sniper wants to pin the farm down," Will reminded the men.
Mark took a sweep, looking at the valley with the eye of a sniper. Will noticed and watched as the ex military man checked distance, fall and cover. Mark's practiced eye told him the the distance of the valley from side to side was vulnerable to a sniper, if the gunman was exceptionally good at his craft. Hopefully if they moved, they wouldn't have to deal with any more gun battles.
"No lie, that's a problem," he said. "We should check on how easy it is to access the sides of the valley, and what's on either side up top. We also need to find out if this creek ever floods, or how deep the snow gets,...cause those barn roofs are built to shed snow."
"Good point," Ben approved of the observation. "Let's go check out the houses, I have a feeling that's gonna be a number one priority."
juco
Veteran Member
Same here. I savored every word, but still don't know what it is that Gertie knows that Clora knows and it's making me crazy wanting MOAR!
You're toying with us, aren't you Pac?
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Thank you for sure .
.PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#41
As they inspected the houses the clan moved from place to place. Finally Lainey could hold it in no longer, "This is the most disgusting mess I have ever seen." The buildings were a derelict delight, every possible item that could be broken, was. From the sinks ripped from the walls to the toilets jerked up and demolished with hammers.
Standing around the cars, talking, the family was demoralized by the status of the buildings.
"All of them are basically uninhabitable, and I don't think Gertie's place is far behind," Clora said dishearted. "They need to be torn down. I guess we could move in some trailers, that would give us instant living quarters while we concentrate on fixing fences and gardens.
We've still got two months of bad weather before anything out side can be done, so we could get mobiles in here and get them hooked up to the existing water and septic. One thing I forgot to look for, is each house fed by an individual well, or is it one system?"
"I'd say individual wells, each place appears to have a well house." Mark reported, referring to his nerdy and ever present pocket note book.
Wayne grinned at Mark behind his brother in law's back. Shaking his head, he mimiced the flipping open a note book and checking the pages.
"I have eyes in the back of my head," Mark warned, "I can see you."
"Not a chance," Wayne teased, the light hearted banter a tremendous change from his recent runner of deep seated terror. What Wayne hadn't noticed was his reflection in the pickup window, and Mark was taking full advantage of the quasi mirror.
Ben thoughtfully allowed that trailer's would be possible, and for the first time Lainey seemed to manage a smile in her concern. Ev smiled his eyes wandering around the hills and thick brush cover, he felt the calmness he always craved when he was near the hills.
Gertie stood in the window watching the group, they seemed to be deep in discussion and it was polite and each member was listened too with respect. So much different than her autocratic and often times wrong Father, who's word was law. Gertie reflected on the life changer she had just negotiated and felt a deep peace that had been missing in her life for a long, long time.
As they inspected the houses the clan moved from place to place. Finally Lainey could hold it in no longer, "This is the most disgusting mess I have ever seen." The buildings were a derelict delight, every possible item that could be broken, was. From the sinks ripped from the walls to the toilets jerked up and demolished with hammers.
Standing around the cars, talking, the family was demoralized by the status of the buildings.
"All of them are basically uninhabitable, and I don't think Gertie's place is far behind," Clora said dishearted. "They need to be torn down. I guess we could move in some trailers, that would give us instant living quarters while we concentrate on fixing fences and gardens.
We've still got two months of bad weather before anything out side can be done, so we could get mobiles in here and get them hooked up to the existing water and septic. One thing I forgot to look for, is each house fed by an individual well, or is it one system?"
"I'd say individual wells, each place appears to have a well house." Mark reported, referring to his nerdy and ever present pocket note book.
Wayne grinned at Mark behind his brother in law's back. Shaking his head, he mimiced the flipping open a note book and checking the pages.
"I have eyes in the back of my head," Mark warned, "I can see you."
"Not a chance," Wayne teased, the light hearted banter a tremendous change from his recent runner of deep seated terror. What Wayne hadn't noticed was his reflection in the pickup window, and Mark was taking full advantage of the quasi mirror.
Ben thoughtfully allowed that trailer's would be possible, and for the first time Lainey seemed to manage a smile in her concern. Ev smiled his eyes wandering around the hills and thick brush cover, he felt the calmness he always craved when he was near the hills.
Gertie stood in the window watching the group, they seemed to be deep in discussion and it was polite and each member was listened too with respect. So much different than her autocratic and often times wrong Father, who's word was law. Gertie reflected on the life changer she had just negotiated and felt a deep peace that had been missing in her life for a long, long time.
Great addition but I have to admit I am still sitting on pins and needles waiting for whatever the big reveal is. LOL
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Thank you for this mornings chapter, these are folks one would love to have for neighbors.
That's one thing we miss, the one set of good neighbors we had (they were 4 miles away) moved away 5 years ago
. We did things for them and they for us, helped each other out as possible.
We have lived here 9 years and the locals still don't consider us as neighbors.
That's one thing we miss, the one set of good neighbors we had (they were 4 miles away) moved away 5 years ago
. We did things for them and they for us, helped each other out as possible.We have lived here 9 years and the locals still don't consider us as neighbors
.223shootersc
Veteran Member
good stuff, what is the secret
stjwelding
Veteran Member
Pac you have done it again you have managed to bring most all of the different threads of your story together and reviled the answers to the questions that your story has kept us in suspense to know the answers to, while at the same time presenting more questions. This is one of the best story's I have ever read, I hope it goes on for a long time. Thanks for your gift of time to write and post this story for us.
Wayne
Wayne
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#41b
Teddy was restless and fussy, grabbing at his ear and whimpering, squirming in his carrier. Clora looked at his ear and sniffed at it, smelling the 'off' musty scent indicating Teddy had an ear infection. She looked at Mark, catching his eye and motioning him to come close.
"Teddy has a ear infection, we need to find a rapid care clinic, probably Longview? Would Will know anything about the town?" Clora whispered so as not to disturb Ben who was talking.
Mark caught Will's eye and the older man edged over to where the Linderman's were standing. "Is there a rapid care clinic in Longview?" he said low.
"Yes, associated with the hospital, is the little tyke sick?" Will answered.
"Yeah, could we get you to lead us there? It would be quicker." Mark tugged on his own earlobe, remembering previous ear aches.
Ben finished speaking and they all had turned to listen to what was going on with Mark, Clora and Will.
"We need a Doc." Clora said as she wrapped her arms around Teddy. "Will is going to help us find the hospital. Do you guy's want to stop and check out some trailers on the way home?"
Clora got in the Jeep getting Teddy and Milo out of the wind and blustery weather, waiting for Mark to finish. Will got in his car, but the rusted old bucket of bolts wouldn't start, so he joined Mark and they headed for town. The wait in the clinic was long, Teddy and Milo were finally checked over and pronounced with earaches.
The nurse practitioner was reluctant to prescribe an antibiotic, saying they didn't like to over medicate young children as it led to a resistance to the drugs.
"Obviously you don't have young children at home," Clora said exasperated, as she rocked the whimpering Teddy. "May I call you about 3am. when he's screaming in pain, then we can discuss this again."
The woman shot her a dry look, and pulled out the prescription pad from her smock pocket. Scribbling furiously, she thrust the watermarked paper at Clora, and Clora smiled and said "thank you."
The script was filled at the hospital's pharmacy, the first dose given and the group on their way.
They stopped for a quick bite of supper, Will directing them to a small Mexican restaurant that was a local favorite. "Are their any trailer businesses around here, just to have a look?" Mark questioned Will. "How come you know so much about Longview?"
"Oh, a lot of prisoner exchanges, and such. Turn here," he directed and they moved slowly along the street past the several Mobil Home lots.
"They don't look too bad," Clora remarked as Mark stopped to check them out. "Better than a tent, although many times I have threatened to live in a tent so we could just pick it up and move it over. Now that it might be a fact, I want to chicken out." she laughed a little, patting Teddy on the back as he stirred.
Clora, Teddy and Milo went to sleep on the way back to the farm, leaving Mark and Will to entertain each other. Mostly they discussed the pro's and con's of protecting the valley. "It's a statical mess," Mark said flatly, "a hill would make better sense, but all the farm ground is down, so I guess we take a chance."
"I've got to hunt Wayne down, maybe we could double up in a trailer, that would save a little money," Will offered.
"If I know Clora, she's going to want to fix up the Kemp house; it's large enough to have you and Wayne to stay with us, just as you've been doing, if that's your pleasure," Mark chuckled as Clora nodded in her supposed sleep that was what she wanted to do.
Teddy was restless and fussy, grabbing at his ear and whimpering, squirming in his carrier. Clora looked at his ear and sniffed at it, smelling the 'off' musty scent indicating Teddy had an ear infection. She looked at Mark, catching his eye and motioning him to come close.
"Teddy has a ear infection, we need to find a rapid care clinic, probably Longview? Would Will know anything about the town?" Clora whispered so as not to disturb Ben who was talking.
Mark caught Will's eye and the older man edged over to where the Linderman's were standing. "Is there a rapid care clinic in Longview?" he said low.
"Yes, associated with the hospital, is the little tyke sick?" Will answered.
"Yeah, could we get you to lead us there? It would be quicker." Mark tugged on his own earlobe, remembering previous ear aches.
Ben finished speaking and they all had turned to listen to what was going on with Mark, Clora and Will.
"We need a Doc." Clora said as she wrapped her arms around Teddy. "Will is going to help us find the hospital. Do you guy's want to stop and check out some trailers on the way home?"
Clora got in the Jeep getting Teddy and Milo out of the wind and blustery weather, waiting for Mark to finish. Will got in his car, but the rusted old bucket of bolts wouldn't start, so he joined Mark and they headed for town. The wait in the clinic was long, Teddy and Milo were finally checked over and pronounced with earaches.
The nurse practitioner was reluctant to prescribe an antibiotic, saying they didn't like to over medicate young children as it led to a resistance to the drugs.
"Obviously you don't have young children at home," Clora said exasperated, as she rocked the whimpering Teddy. "May I call you about 3am. when he's screaming in pain, then we can discuss this again."
The woman shot her a dry look, and pulled out the prescription pad from her smock pocket. Scribbling furiously, she thrust the watermarked paper at Clora, and Clora smiled and said "thank you."
The script was filled at the hospital's pharmacy, the first dose given and the group on their way.
They stopped for a quick bite of supper, Will directing them to a small Mexican restaurant that was a local favorite. "Are their any trailer businesses around here, just to have a look?" Mark questioned Will. "How come you know so much about Longview?"
"Oh, a lot of prisoner exchanges, and such. Turn here," he directed and they moved slowly along the street past the several Mobil Home lots.
"They don't look too bad," Clora remarked as Mark stopped to check them out. "Better than a tent, although many times I have threatened to live in a tent so we could just pick it up and move it over. Now that it might be a fact, I want to chicken out." she laughed a little, patting Teddy on the back as he stirred.
Clora, Teddy and Milo went to sleep on the way back to the farm, leaving Mark and Will to entertain each other. Mostly they discussed the pro's and con's of protecting the valley. "It's a statical mess," Mark said flatly, "a hill would make better sense, but all the farm ground is down, so I guess we take a chance."
"I've got to hunt Wayne down, maybe we could double up in a trailer, that would save a little money," Will offered.
"If I know Clora, she's going to want to fix up the Kemp house; it's large enough to have you and Wayne to stay with us, just as you've been doing, if that's your pleasure," Mark chuckled as Clora nodded in her supposed sleep that was what she wanted to do.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
kids and ear aches yuck. Thanks pac.PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#41c
As they were getting ready for bed, Mark said quietly, "Now, do you want to tell me what's bothering you. You and Gertie had a private talk, is she bothering you?"
Clora grabbed his hand and they sat on the side of the bed. "I'm going to tell you something that you can't 'know' about, until Gertie decides to make it public." Clora took a deep breath. "Gertie is my Grandmother."
"Hummm," Mark made a low noise in his throat, non committal in hopes Clora would explain.
"Gertie's sister's weren't the only ones to fall under Pete's spell, Gertie did also. Her daughter was my mother. Remember when the FBI said Wayne and Ben were closer related than I was to any of them? That's because I had a different mother. The one picture you didn't see was the family portrait with all the girls together. They were so identical that it was hard to tell them apart. Gertie was older, that's all." Clora patted Mark's hand.
"That's where all the princess crap comes from. Gertie's mother was Basque royalty, so in that reasoning, Gertie as the oldest girl, was also. Then her oldest girl...my mother..and then me, and so shall be our daughter." Clora was afraid to look at Mark, and when he laughed out loud, she did also.
"Seriously, that why there is so much fighting. There are two camps in the Basque political movement, with very different goals. And I guess one side doesn't like princesses. Now Stannous comes in because several of the sisters got themselves into hock with his organization by their gambling and wild ways. He's looking to recoup his money by kidnapping a likely victum...[me]...and regain the money from the deep pockets of the grandfather. Aren't you glad you signed on to such a problem?" Clora sniffed, and leaned against Mark, enjoying the special closeness.
"Believe me, I didn't have a clue but it's OK, I can handle it." Mark teased. "Seriously Honey, I'm glad you confided in me. This makes it easier to plan security, protect my girls, and keep us all alive. Besides, I always knew you were a princess, my princess" he kissed her cheek.
As they were getting ready for bed, Mark said quietly, "Now, do you want to tell me what's bothering you. You and Gertie had a private talk, is she bothering you?"
Clora grabbed his hand and they sat on the side of the bed. "I'm going to tell you something that you can't 'know' about, until Gertie decides to make it public." Clora took a deep breath. "Gertie is my Grandmother."
"Hummm," Mark made a low noise in his throat, non committal in hopes Clora would explain.
"Gertie's sister's weren't the only ones to fall under Pete's spell, Gertie did also. Her daughter was my mother. Remember when the FBI said Wayne and Ben were closer related than I was to any of them? That's because I had a different mother. The one picture you didn't see was the family portrait with all the girls together. They were so identical that it was hard to tell them apart. Gertie was older, that's all." Clora patted Mark's hand.
"That's where all the princess crap comes from. Gertie's mother was Basque royalty, so in that reasoning, Gertie as the oldest girl, was also. Then her oldest girl...my mother..and then me, and so shall be our daughter." Clora was afraid to look at Mark, and when he laughed out loud, she did also.
"Seriously, that why there is so much fighting. There are two camps in the Basque political movement, with very different goals. And I guess one side doesn't like princesses. Now Stannous comes in because several of the sisters got themselves into hock with his organization by their gambling and wild ways. He's looking to recoup his money by kidnapping a likely victum...[me]...and regain the money from the deep pockets of the grandfather. Aren't you glad you signed on to such a problem?" Clora sniffed, and leaned against Mark, enjoying the special closeness.
"Believe me, I didn't have a clue but it's OK, I can handle it." Mark teased. "Seriously Honey, I'm glad you confided in me. This makes it easier to plan security, protect my girls, and keep us all alive. Besides, I always knew you were a princess, my princess" he kissed her cheek.
Golly gee willikers ... what a tangled web. And now we now Clora comes by some of her ... uh ... personality traits from the genetic end of things. LOL.
bad_karma00
Underachiever
At the risk of becoming predictable, of course she is.
Those kids are going to need a complete family tree to make sure they don't marry a cousin, or half uncle or aunt, when they grow up.
What a story, Pac. What a story. I repeat again, get this wrote up and present it to an agent. If there's not a television series in here, I'll. . .well, anyway. I'm serious.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Boy tangled family for sure thanks pac.