stjwelding
Veteran Member
Pac I don't know how you keep all of this story's many webs straight and bring them to light when appropriate but you do an amazing job of it. I again thank you for one of the best story's ever.
Wayne
Wayne
Hi, My Name is Tessee
- Thread starter PacNorWest
- Start date
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
hee hee
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#51
"Clora," Ben hesitated and then went ahead, "Clora why did you say John beat up Aunt Inga, I thought Doc Inghram was the guy that hurt her?"
Clora tilted her head to the side and looked puzzled. "I don't know why I said that, you're right, I think we all thought Doc did it. But, remember the time Inga was brought back to the cafe by someone we never saw, I'm sure now that was John." She rubbed her fingers together. "Remember how he was always giving Brett mints? I tried one and they were horribly strong tasting, so I never wanted another. Brett however, seemed addicted to them and John always had some ready."
"Just as a curiosity, did anyone find a name other than John that they were familiar with? I was looking for Borg or Stannous, but truthfully, I didn't get all the way down the list," Mark observed.
Everyone agreed, nobody had made it all the way down the hard to read scripted list of spies. Most of the names were Asian, Russian or something close to Russian.
"I wonder who wrote that?" Lainey said aloud. She had kept close track of the sack of diamonds Clora had placed in her pocket, and was about to say something when Ben lightly touched her hand and then shook his head 'no' when she looked up at him. This time Lainey stared at him long and hard before she gave her consent.
"It looks like the type of writing I see nuns use when they write home once a year," Mark offered his opinion. "They use a thin, spidery script as to get the maximum amount of words on the one page they are alloted. So that really adds a different layer to all this intrigue."
"How in the world do you know all of these things?" Wayne asked as he shifted slightly, his backside was feeling numb from sitting so long.
"I was educated to the max," Mark replied, "no bit of knowledge was to obscure to be installed in my mind. I've got to tell you guys, the one name I was looking for the hardest, was my own. I was trained to do or be something that I haven't a clue about, and I was terrified I would find my name on there."
"Clora," Ben hesitated and then went ahead, "Clora why did you say John beat up Aunt Inga, I thought Doc Inghram was the guy that hurt her?"
Clora tilted her head to the side and looked puzzled. "I don't know why I said that, you're right, I think we all thought Doc did it. But, remember the time Inga was brought back to the cafe by someone we never saw, I'm sure now that was John." She rubbed her fingers together. "Remember how he was always giving Brett mints? I tried one and they were horribly strong tasting, so I never wanted another. Brett however, seemed addicted to them and John always had some ready."
"Just as a curiosity, did anyone find a name other than John that they were familiar with? I was looking for Borg or Stannous, but truthfully, I didn't get all the way down the list," Mark observed.
Everyone agreed, nobody had made it all the way down the hard to read scripted list of spies. Most of the names were Asian, Russian or something close to Russian.
"I wonder who wrote that?" Lainey said aloud. She had kept close track of the sack of diamonds Clora had placed in her pocket, and was about to say something when Ben lightly touched her hand and then shook his head 'no' when she looked up at him. This time Lainey stared at him long and hard before she gave her consent.
"It looks like the type of writing I see nuns use when they write home once a year," Mark offered his opinion. "They use a thin, spidery script as to get the maximum amount of words on the one page they are alloted. So that really adds a different layer to all this intrigue."
"How in the world do you know all of these things?" Wayne asked as he shifted slightly, his backside was feeling numb from sitting so long.
"I was educated to the max," Mark replied, "no bit of knowledge was to obscure to be installed in my mind. I've got to tell you guys, the one name I was looking for the hardest, was my own. I was trained to do or be something that I haven't a clue about, and I was terrified I would find my name on there."
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#51b
That revelation brought the background conversation to an immediate halt. All eyes were on Mark as it was an uncomfortable truth that couldn't be denied.
"Welllll," Ben spoke for himself, "Clora put her ring on you, that's good enough for me." The rest of the family, sans Paula, gave their agreement of support. Right in the middle of the drama, Teddy yawned long and loud. It was long past nap time and the boys were getting cranky. Anne had given up and gone to sleep an hour ago, snoring softy as only an exhausted baby can sleep.
"What can we do to help you guys move to the garden house?" Cheryl spoke up, "you know, if we each took an armful and made two trips, it would be over and done with."
"I'm not going to turn down an offer like that," Mark smiled at the gang busy grabbing up their personalbles from the bedroom and Clora led the way with the frying pan. Christy carried a half asleep Teddy and Milo walked with Danny who was coming to give his doggy inspection to the new abode.
Wayne and Ev shared a laugh about the sudden silence, as they were left behind to look at the walls. Ev struggled to say "Congratulations," and had to settle for "happy-happy."
Wayne understood, and thanked his friend for caring. In rapid succession, the gang was back for another armful and the moving was almost complete. Clora spooned out half her casserole on a plate and left it on the counter for Wayne and Paula, she was tired and intended to use the rest of it for her own meal. Christy was sitting with the boy's, and Clora started moving wood in for the fancy little parlor stove that was going to be their only source of heat. The tiny top cooking surface smaller than the Griswold she used for cooking.
"Tomorrow, maybe we can look at using the tractor to lift the Monarch out of the basement and see if it is useable," Mark said from his kitchen chair. His arms were propped on the table, holding his aching head and he looked drug out. Clora stood behind him massaging his neck and shoulders, working out kinks and sore spots.
Christy wandered in and offered a treat worth more gold than she weighed. "You guy's look beat, why don't you take a nap, I'll stand guard while you rest."
Clora, after giving Christy many thanks, sank down on the mattress and covered herself with a blanket. Mark got out his rifle and left it on the counter by the door, saying, "if you see something, give me a holler." He was down and out for the count by the time his head hit the pillow.
Christy kept the fire going and later at night when exhausted Mark and Clora were still sleeping soundly, she fed Milo and Teddy and kept them entertained. When it was bedtime, the three of them curled up on the kids mattress and went to sleep.
That revelation brought the background conversation to an immediate halt. All eyes were on Mark as it was an uncomfortable truth that couldn't be denied.
"Welllll," Ben spoke for himself, "Clora put her ring on you, that's good enough for me." The rest of the family, sans Paula, gave their agreement of support. Right in the middle of the drama, Teddy yawned long and loud. It was long past nap time and the boys were getting cranky. Anne had given up and gone to sleep an hour ago, snoring softy as only an exhausted baby can sleep.
"What can we do to help you guys move to the garden house?" Cheryl spoke up, "you know, if we each took an armful and made two trips, it would be over and done with."
"I'm not going to turn down an offer like that," Mark smiled at the gang busy grabbing up their personalbles from the bedroom and Clora led the way with the frying pan. Christy carried a half asleep Teddy and Milo walked with Danny who was coming to give his doggy inspection to the new abode.
Wayne and Ev shared a laugh about the sudden silence, as they were left behind to look at the walls. Ev struggled to say "Congratulations," and had to settle for "happy-happy."
Wayne understood, and thanked his friend for caring. In rapid succession, the gang was back for another armful and the moving was almost complete. Clora spooned out half her casserole on a plate and left it on the counter for Wayne and Paula, she was tired and intended to use the rest of it for her own meal. Christy was sitting with the boy's, and Clora started moving wood in for the fancy little parlor stove that was going to be their only source of heat. The tiny top cooking surface smaller than the Griswold she used for cooking.
"Tomorrow, maybe we can look at using the tractor to lift the Monarch out of the basement and see if it is useable," Mark said from his kitchen chair. His arms were propped on the table, holding his aching head and he looked drug out. Clora stood behind him massaging his neck and shoulders, working out kinks and sore spots.
Christy wandered in and offered a treat worth more gold than she weighed. "You guy's look beat, why don't you take a nap, I'll stand guard while you rest."
Clora, after giving Christy many thanks, sank down on the mattress and covered herself with a blanket. Mark got out his rifle and left it on the counter by the door, saying, "if you see something, give me a holler." He was down and out for the count by the time his head hit the pillow.
Christy kept the fire going and later at night when exhausted Mark and Clora were still sleeping soundly, she fed Milo and Teddy and kept them entertained. When it was bedtime, the three of them curled up on the kids mattress and went to sleep.
Last edited:
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Thank you Pac, and I bet Brett was indeed kept drugged.
Pac, I don't know how you manage to keep this story so good and fresh, but you do it wonderfully! Thanks!
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#51c
Early morning was brought into being by Roscoe P. Coltrane, the P. standing for Plymouth rooster. Clora sat up in bed like she had heard a ghost, bringing Mark to battle ready awareness in an instant.
"That's a rooster," she said in amazement. "I know I heard a rooster. Oh my goodness, it's morning," was the next exclamation out of her mouth. "I slept all night."
More astounded than Clora, Mark was flummoxed that he had shirked his duty by sleeping. "I can't believe I did this," he castigated himself.
"Today is a new day," Clora soothed, as she struggled to get up. She was thick enough around the waist so that she didn't bend in the middle anymore, and finally had to turn her stiff back over and go to her knees and then ask Mark for a hand up. Their mattress was flat on the floor, and while it was fine for sleeping, it wasn't much for a set of super sized people to regain their feet.
The boys were up, the rooster alarm had sounded for them also. With their boots, coats and hats over their jammies, they were running in the empty dining room, playing airplane as they zoomed and swooped in circles. Christy came struggling into the kitchen, rubbing sleep from her eyes. "I don't think those two ever run down, how do you stand it?" she complained. "They kick like old cows at night.
Clora built as hot a fire as she dared in the small stove, and set the coffee pot on tip. On the stone fire mat, she set a pot of water to warm and the Griswold to begin warming.
"Thank you Christy, I can't believe how tired we were. We deeply appreciate your help." Clora thanked the teen once again.
"Hey if you don't mind, I think I'll scoot home, Mom usually needs help with Dad about now." In truth, Christy had seen the meager amount of food that was brought in the night before, and the sack of oatmeal looked like slim pickings for breakfast, so she smiled, waved and headed down the hill.
Christy reported to her mother about the lack of food, and Cheryl raided her pantry once again. Ev approved by nodding his head and saying,"more."
"I'll take it up after breakfast," Cheryl dished out three large steaming bowls of oatmeal with brown sugar and recon milk with thick slabs of whole wheat toast. Ev got honey on his, and Christy and Cheryl favored strawberry jam.
"Ev and Christy, I want to ask a question," she began. "Where do you suppose we would be, if we hadn't come with the Hanson's to here. Do you suppose we would still be targets of some nut job out to kill anyone associated with Pete, or would we be living in the city, or say perhaps would we be back in Evergreen living in a tent?" They ate in silence for a bit, before Christy said.
"I would guess we would be back in Evergreen. That's where Dad's heart is," and Ev nodded vigorously at that announcement. "Mom, Dad, what was left of our place when you were there?" she asked curiously.
"It didn't all burn," Cheryl said. "The one end toward the northwest where the bedrooms were, burned the most. The rest burned the roof partially and the walls collapsed. I suppose there might be some salvage, but it's been so long, I expect most everything is ruined."
"I honestly wouldn't mind seeing it again. I'll tell ya, I also would be interested to find out which gully deepens into the valley that Gertie lives in. Maybe we could rebuild something to live in at the head of the ravine and still be on our own place, but associated with the Hanson's." Christy had been thinking hard.
Ev held out his hand, the tears misting in his eyes. "Yes," he said thickly, "ours. Please ours." he wanted to hold hands with Christy and Cheryl. "We'll go back when it drys out," Cheryl promised, "we can have a good look around, maybe stay overnight, would that do?"
"Mom, I'm worried about Jeff and Tonya, is there anyway we could go check on them? Their Mom isn't very nice to them and sometimes she won't give them anything to eat."
Cheryl stopped working to look at her daughter. "That's a touchy subject, honey. She is their mother, but maybe we can have them out to visit or to work and make sure they get fed while they are here."
"Could we go today? I'm really worried," Christy persisted as she dried the dishes.
"Let me figure out how to do this without putting ourselves in danger, it's not the same world out there and we need to be careful. Maybe Ben will go with us?" Cheryl was thinking out loud.
"Go ask him please, please, please, please." Christy implored, as only a determined teen can do.
Early morning was brought into being by Roscoe P. Coltrane, the P. standing for Plymouth rooster. Clora sat up in bed like she had heard a ghost, bringing Mark to battle ready awareness in an instant.
"That's a rooster," she said in amazement. "I know I heard a rooster. Oh my goodness, it's morning," was the next exclamation out of her mouth. "I slept all night."
More astounded than Clora, Mark was flummoxed that he had shirked his duty by sleeping. "I can't believe I did this," he castigated himself.
"Today is a new day," Clora soothed, as she struggled to get up. She was thick enough around the waist so that she didn't bend in the middle anymore, and finally had to turn her stiff back over and go to her knees and then ask Mark for a hand up. Their mattress was flat on the floor, and while it was fine for sleeping, it wasn't much for a set of super sized people to regain their feet.
The boys were up, the rooster alarm had sounded for them also. With their boots, coats and hats over their jammies, they were running in the empty dining room, playing airplane as they zoomed and swooped in circles. Christy came struggling into the kitchen, rubbing sleep from her eyes. "I don't think those two ever run down, how do you stand it?" she complained. "They kick like old cows at night.
Clora built as hot a fire as she dared in the small stove, and set the coffee pot on tip. On the stone fire mat, she set a pot of water to warm and the Griswold to begin warming.
"Thank you Christy, I can't believe how tired we were. We deeply appreciate your help." Clora thanked the teen once again.
"Hey if you don't mind, I think I'll scoot home, Mom usually needs help with Dad about now." In truth, Christy had seen the meager amount of food that was brought in the night before, and the sack of oatmeal looked like slim pickings for breakfast, so she smiled, waved and headed down the hill.
Christy reported to her mother about the lack of food, and Cheryl raided her pantry once again. Ev approved by nodding his head and saying,"more."
"I'll take it up after breakfast," Cheryl dished out three large steaming bowls of oatmeal with brown sugar and recon milk with thick slabs of whole wheat toast. Ev got honey on his, and Christy and Cheryl favored strawberry jam.
"Ev and Christy, I want to ask a question," she began. "Where do you suppose we would be, if we hadn't come with the Hanson's to here. Do you suppose we would still be targets of some nut job out to kill anyone associated with Pete, or would we be living in the city, or say perhaps would we be back in Evergreen living in a tent?" They ate in silence for a bit, before Christy said.
"I would guess we would be back in Evergreen. That's where Dad's heart is," and Ev nodded vigorously at that announcement. "Mom, Dad, what was left of our place when you were there?" she asked curiously.
"It didn't all burn," Cheryl said. "The one end toward the northwest where the bedrooms were, burned the most. The rest burned the roof partially and the walls collapsed. I suppose there might be some salvage, but it's been so long, I expect most everything is ruined."
"I honestly wouldn't mind seeing it again. I'll tell ya, I also would be interested to find out which gully deepens into the valley that Gertie lives in. Maybe we could rebuild something to live in at the head of the ravine and still be on our own place, but associated with the Hanson's." Christy had been thinking hard.
Ev held out his hand, the tears misting in his eyes. "Yes," he said thickly, "ours. Please ours." he wanted to hold hands with Christy and Cheryl. "We'll go back when it drys out," Cheryl promised, "we can have a good look around, maybe stay overnight, would that do?"
"Mom, I'm worried about Jeff and Tonya, is there anyway we could go check on them? Their Mom isn't very nice to them and sometimes she won't give them anything to eat."
Cheryl stopped working to look at her daughter. "That's a touchy subject, honey. She is their mother, but maybe we can have them out to visit or to work and make sure they get fed while they are here."
"Could we go today? I'm really worried," Christy persisted as she dried the dishes.
"Let me figure out how to do this without putting ourselves in danger, it's not the same world out there and we need to be careful. Maybe Ben will go with us?" Cheryl was thinking out loud.
"Go ask him please, please, please, please." Christy implored, as only a determined teen can do.
stjwelding
Veteran Member
Thanks for the chapters Pac you always keep us looking for more.
Wayne
Wayne
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Thanks pac
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#51d
Ben couldn't go. He and Lainey were canning and he had to be there to move the heavy canner for her. "Maybe tomorrow," he said.
Christy said,"Mom, if Mark can go; can we go in this afternoon?"
Cheryl nodded yes, and Christy was out the door like a shot. Mark was agreeable. "That's not a bad idea, I need help today and probably tomorrow. It's not bad work, but I'd rather have Jeff do it than Clora. Sure," he looked around and Clora was waving goodbye at him, so he grabbed his coat and hat and shut the door on two small critters that wanted to go along.
Oh, Milo and Teddy were unhappy. They were put out and not about to be jollied into agreeable behavior. Finally Clora gave them lunch and a nap, before she was out of patience.
It was so quiet in the building she laid down for a nap herself, it was so pleasurable to relax and be dreamy asleep. pretty quick, there were two little boys snuggling in with her and they all had a good nap. The stresses and worries of the last few days eased and smoothed away with restorative sleep.
Mark had intended to take his Jeep, but all the Wilson's wanted to go, so they had to use their pickup. It was a production to get Ev loaded up, but it got done. He sat near the window and had Christy put the window down, so Ev was their resident pickup dog with his bushy beard blowing in the wind.
"Dad, I'm freezing," Christy was a bundle of nerves, "Can we put the window up?"
Ev cut her a smirky glance and then softened. It was important to his princess, so he agreed. This was the first trip off the farm since the quake. It was as bad as Mark feared.
The Jepson house had the windows cracked and broken. At first it looked abandoned, and then a scared, pale face appeared quickly and retreated. "That's Jeff," Christy was opening the door when Mark got her stopped.
"Hold up Christy," he reached over the seat and grabbed her arm. "There's something wrong here." Mark's intuition had never failed before, and he was getting that bad, bad feeling. There was a fleeting shadow that was Jeff running for the shed behind the house. Carefully he showed only a partial arm and waved them forward and away from the house. Mark drove slowly down the block until he was out of sight of the house.
In the rear view mirror, he could see the two kids darting from tree to shed, to house corner as they worked themselves away from their home.
"Christy, open the door but keep it closed," Mark directed as he turned the crewcab at a blocking angle behind the last house on the block. "Cheryl, you do the same. We're gonna put a kid on the floor front and back. Ev what ever you do, don't look down. We're loading them up and then moseying away from here like we are out for a looky see drive.
The kids came sneaking around the passengers side, both doors opened at once and they dove in.
"Lock the doors." Mark instructed. "Christy scoot over more toward the door, even if you have to put your feet on Jeff, there's no one else in here, remember."
Ev's old crewcab went putting down the street, belching smoke and chugging like the old diesel it was, taking Miss Daisy out for a ride to see the quake destruction. Mark went through the town, sightseeing and instructing the Jepson kids to stay down. When he was sure they weren't followed, he got out of Dodge in a hurry.
Back at the farm, everyone got out and Mark wasn't sure the kids were the same ones that had been to the farm before. Jeff had been worked over by someone's ham handed fist and both eyes were black, his lip puffy and split and the way he was holding his ribs, he had probably been kicked hard. Tonya was in the same condition, but she had that look about her that screamed she had been abused.
Mark had been in enough war that he understood that blank, unfeeling, unseeing, uncaring stare. He caught Cheryl's eye and pulled her over into a private conversation. Cheryl made a O with her mouth, and then shook her head in dismay. "She's the same as shell shocked," Mark whispered, "this isn't gonna be easy."
Mark let the teens sit and eat before he started asking questions. Tonya went into an almost catatonic state, as Jeff told of the rough bunch their mother had brought home. Before the teen was through, Mark was up at Wayne's, asking Paula if her father had a phone and would he come back to the farm.
Doc Penderman was there before dark, and he carefully put the Jepson kids back together as much as possible. "Have you called the law?" Doc asked Mark, as they stood outside in the cooling dark.
"No, I don't know who to call, or if they would respond, I only know these kids aren't going back to their mother. I will hide them if necessary," Mark was dead serious. Doc nodded.
"By law I have to turn this in. I thought Will lived here, can't you have him do the paperwork.?"
"He's not back yet, we figured he's involved in quake work so do you have a deputy that would be sensitive to the situation?" Mark asked.
"I think so, so how are the newlyweds? Paula's mother had banished me to the dog house. She really got upset at being ignored in the wedding part but Paula and I think it was for the best. I'll send the deputy out as soon as they can make it." He waved away Mark's offer of money, "I'd like to be there when they capture that piece of crap, I'd volunteer my services for a quick operation," Doc said grimly. "See ya later."
Ben couldn't go. He and Lainey were canning and he had to be there to move the heavy canner for her. "Maybe tomorrow," he said.
Christy said,"Mom, if Mark can go; can we go in this afternoon?"
Cheryl nodded yes, and Christy was out the door like a shot. Mark was agreeable. "That's not a bad idea, I need help today and probably tomorrow. It's not bad work, but I'd rather have Jeff do it than Clora. Sure," he looked around and Clora was waving goodbye at him, so he grabbed his coat and hat and shut the door on two small critters that wanted to go along.
Oh, Milo and Teddy were unhappy. They were put out and not about to be jollied into agreeable behavior. Finally Clora gave them lunch and a nap, before she was out of patience.
It was so quiet in the building she laid down for a nap herself, it was so pleasurable to relax and be dreamy asleep. pretty quick, there were two little boys snuggling in with her and they all had a good nap. The stresses and worries of the last few days eased and smoothed away with restorative sleep.
Mark had intended to take his Jeep, but all the Wilson's wanted to go, so they had to use their pickup. It was a production to get Ev loaded up, but it got done. He sat near the window and had Christy put the window down, so Ev was their resident pickup dog with his bushy beard blowing in the wind.
"Dad, I'm freezing," Christy was a bundle of nerves, "Can we put the window up?"
Ev cut her a smirky glance and then softened. It was important to his princess, so he agreed. This was the first trip off the farm since the quake. It was as bad as Mark feared.
The Jepson house had the windows cracked and broken. At first it looked abandoned, and then a scared, pale face appeared quickly and retreated. "That's Jeff," Christy was opening the door when Mark got her stopped.
"Hold up Christy," he reached over the seat and grabbed her arm. "There's something wrong here." Mark's intuition had never failed before, and he was getting that bad, bad feeling. There was a fleeting shadow that was Jeff running for the shed behind the house. Carefully he showed only a partial arm and waved them forward and away from the house. Mark drove slowly down the block until he was out of sight of the house.
In the rear view mirror, he could see the two kids darting from tree to shed, to house corner as they worked themselves away from their home.
"Christy, open the door but keep it closed," Mark directed as he turned the crewcab at a blocking angle behind the last house on the block. "Cheryl, you do the same. We're gonna put a kid on the floor front and back. Ev what ever you do, don't look down. We're loading them up and then moseying away from here like we are out for a looky see drive.
The kids came sneaking around the passengers side, both doors opened at once and they dove in.
"Lock the doors." Mark instructed. "Christy scoot over more toward the door, even if you have to put your feet on Jeff, there's no one else in here, remember."
Ev's old crewcab went putting down the street, belching smoke and chugging like the old diesel it was, taking Miss Daisy out for a ride to see the quake destruction. Mark went through the town, sightseeing and instructing the Jepson kids to stay down. When he was sure they weren't followed, he got out of Dodge in a hurry.
Back at the farm, everyone got out and Mark wasn't sure the kids were the same ones that had been to the farm before. Jeff had been worked over by someone's ham handed fist and both eyes were black, his lip puffy and split and the way he was holding his ribs, he had probably been kicked hard. Tonya was in the same condition, but she had that look about her that screamed she had been abused.
Mark had been in enough war that he understood that blank, unfeeling, unseeing, uncaring stare. He caught Cheryl's eye and pulled her over into a private conversation. Cheryl made a O with her mouth, and then shook her head in dismay. "She's the same as shell shocked," Mark whispered, "this isn't gonna be easy."
Mark let the teens sit and eat before he started asking questions. Tonya went into an almost catatonic state, as Jeff told of the rough bunch their mother had brought home. Before the teen was through, Mark was up at Wayne's, asking Paula if her father had a phone and would he come back to the farm.
Doc Penderman was there before dark, and he carefully put the Jepson kids back together as much as possible. "Have you called the law?" Doc asked Mark, as they stood outside in the cooling dark.
"No, I don't know who to call, or if they would respond, I only know these kids aren't going back to their mother. I will hide them if necessary," Mark was dead serious. Doc nodded.
"By law I have to turn this in. I thought Will lived here, can't you have him do the paperwork.?"
"He's not back yet, we figured he's involved in quake work so do you have a deputy that would be sensitive to the situation?" Mark asked.
"I think so, so how are the newlyweds? Paula's mother had banished me to the dog house. She really got upset at being ignored in the wedding part but Paula and I think it was for the best. I'll send the deputy out as soon as they can make it." He waved away Mark's offer of money, "I'd like to be there when they capture that piece of crap, I'd volunteer my services for a quick operation," Doc said grimly. "See ya later."
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
thanks pac
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#51e
Mark walked up to his house, saddened that humans were so vicious and uncaring to each other. Clora had been watching from the window, taking note that Tonya had to be carried inside, it didn't take much of an imagination to figure out what had happened.
Mark noted that Clora was watching as he walked in the door, "She's gonna live," he said low so the boy's wouldn't hear," right now she's not wanting too, but maybe with care, she will."
"Thank you for going," Clora praised her husband. "If things happened like I imagine, nobody but you could have pulled off a rescue like that." Arms around Mark, she held him tenderly as he relaxed in her softness.
"I will never understand, but we will do everything in our power to help her," Clora promised. She went to stir the cooking supper, the hamburger steaks sizzling nicely. It was that and a can of midget corn once again and there were no leftovers. Clora put water on to heat for the boy's bath. The deep commercial sinks were perfect for two boy's to play in as they soaked off kid grime.
Clora had tried making a cookie bar on the top of the stove, just like Grandma had done. It took a bit of practice, but it was doable and Clora was happy to go back into her past to help the future. Cookies to two young boys were close to a matter of life or death when they were waiting for bedtime snack.
When the boys were bedded down Clora and then Mark washed, pulling on night clothes Clora had been creating on the treadle machine. For fun, Clora recounted the dresses she and Sandy had made with Grandma's help. "the material had been one of Inga's prom dresses, and we even made a vest and pants for Ben. He was a real trooper, he wore them for our Christmas dinner, but never would wear them to church," Clora laughed in remembrance.
"Grandma was pretty smart, she could have made us doll clothes, instead she gave us material and instructions. It kept us busy during the times we were snowed in. Where were you during the winter the snow got so deep?" Clora asked Mark as he pulled the drawstrings on his lounge pants.
As Mark did his exercises, he told Clora about skiing in Colorado on the college team, down hill, cross country and a bit of ski racing.
"Do you miss it? We don't seem to be able to do much in the line of recreation."
"The world is much different now," Mark chose his words carefully, cause he knew Clora felt a little inadequate compared to his life with Borg. "When I was doing all those seemingly glamorous activities, I was following a carefully scripted outline that Borg expected me to excel and follow. I want you to know I skeet, scuba, fly, ski, wrestle, play two instruments, and speak several languages. That was expected of me, none of it was a personal choice or was a particular interest of mine. So," he paused dramatically and with flair, "I am where I want to be, with whom I want to be and I wouldn't change a minute of it. Well maybe the last whack on the head. That skillet was a hum dinger."
Mark turned Clora around and gave her a little push toward bed. "Co'mon sweetheart, it's been a long day. I've got to get some more sleep. It was so good last night that I want a repeat."
They were finished saying prayers and almost asleep when Mark's cell phone rang. The voice on the other end said, "this is Pastor Tom, hide the boy's." then Mark's phone went dead from lack of charge.
"Well isn't that just ducky," Mark was sarcastic and frustrated. "Just what we need, a run against the boy's, as if we didn't have enough problems."
"Did he have time to say who?" Clora said quietly.
"No," Mark rolled toward her pillow and sighed hard. "Right off the top of my head, it would be to take you to Gertie's. No one knows about that, if you went with Tonya that would keep her safe. Maybe we should have Jeff go also. I think Gertie has room and it would give you a chance to get to know her. We'll go early in the morning."
Mark got up and got dressed and went down to Ev's. They held a council, and the plan approved. The kids had no clothes other than what they were wearing, but they were medium tall and very thin. Both were afraid, but they had worked for the Linderman's before and that was the only reason they agreed to go.
Clora was up and dressed, sorting what she wanted to take and what to leave behind. She had a pitiful amount of items to take, until Mark said they were going to use Ev's pickup. "Load up what you want, you might be there several months," he cautioned. "Material, the sewing machine, baby stuff, kid clothes, shoes; the whole thing Clora, even Evie's skillet. The five of you are going to vanish out of existence. I will not loose the boys." he was definite.
"That changes things," Clora said with a rush of relief. "We don't have much, and I have need for all of it." she was busy sorting piles of clothes from the thrift store. "Are the Jepson's coming?" at Mark's nod, she went back through the pile and dug out clothes she thought might work for the teens.
Mark loaded up the goods, and then said to Clora, "I think we should go now, I've got a feeling and I think we should make tracks." Clora agreed and got the boy's outer wear. Mark started the pickup, loaded up Jeff and Tonya, and went up to load Clora and the boys. He stopped to fill the pickup with the last of the gravity flow tractor diesel and they headed out. They had to head towards Doc Pendermans cause of the destroyed bridge and it was that out of the way detour that saved the whole situation. Not a half hour after the tail lights disappeared, there was a law enforcement raid on the farm.
The cars of the Sheriff's department were stopped by the defunct bridge, the slushy snow preventing them from gunning down through the gully and up the other side. They dispatched a squad and the men marched through the snow and up the driveway.
Danny told the Wilson's that there were incoming, and Christy slipped out to warn Wayne and Paula, Ben and Lainey and then went up to occupy the garden house as to explain the fire and the warm building. Christy drew the curtains and zipped around obliterating the signs that little boy's had ever been there. The kid clothes she stuffed in the row of stock pots in the kitchen, standing their mattress up in the room and cleaning the little boy items she found.
Christy had thought up a lie to offer where Mark and Clora had gone. She was going to tell that she thought Mark and Clora had gone to Mark's house in the city. And no, she didn't know where it was, and had never been there.
Mark walked up to his house, saddened that humans were so vicious and uncaring to each other. Clora had been watching from the window, taking note that Tonya had to be carried inside, it didn't take much of an imagination to figure out what had happened.
Mark noted that Clora was watching as he walked in the door, "She's gonna live," he said low so the boy's wouldn't hear," right now she's not wanting too, but maybe with care, she will."
"Thank you for going," Clora praised her husband. "If things happened like I imagine, nobody but you could have pulled off a rescue like that." Arms around Mark, she held him tenderly as he relaxed in her softness.
"I will never understand, but we will do everything in our power to help her," Clora promised. She went to stir the cooking supper, the hamburger steaks sizzling nicely. It was that and a can of midget corn once again and there were no leftovers. Clora put water on to heat for the boy's bath. The deep commercial sinks were perfect for two boy's to play in as they soaked off kid grime.
Clora had tried making a cookie bar on the top of the stove, just like Grandma had done. It took a bit of practice, but it was doable and Clora was happy to go back into her past to help the future. Cookies to two young boys were close to a matter of life or death when they were waiting for bedtime snack.
When the boys were bedded down Clora and then Mark washed, pulling on night clothes Clora had been creating on the treadle machine. For fun, Clora recounted the dresses she and Sandy had made with Grandma's help. "the material had been one of Inga's prom dresses, and we even made a vest and pants for Ben. He was a real trooper, he wore them for our Christmas dinner, but never would wear them to church," Clora laughed in remembrance.
"Grandma was pretty smart, she could have made us doll clothes, instead she gave us material and instructions. It kept us busy during the times we were snowed in. Where were you during the winter the snow got so deep?" Clora asked Mark as he pulled the drawstrings on his lounge pants.
As Mark did his exercises, he told Clora about skiing in Colorado on the college team, down hill, cross country and a bit of ski racing.
"Do you miss it? We don't seem to be able to do much in the line of recreation."
"The world is much different now," Mark chose his words carefully, cause he knew Clora felt a little inadequate compared to his life with Borg. "When I was doing all those seemingly glamorous activities, I was following a carefully scripted outline that Borg expected me to excel and follow. I want you to know I skeet, scuba, fly, ski, wrestle, play two instruments, and speak several languages. That was expected of me, none of it was a personal choice or was a particular interest of mine. So," he paused dramatically and with flair, "I am where I want to be, with whom I want to be and I wouldn't change a minute of it. Well maybe the last whack on the head. That skillet was a hum dinger."
Mark turned Clora around and gave her a little push toward bed. "Co'mon sweetheart, it's been a long day. I've got to get some more sleep. It was so good last night that I want a repeat."
They were finished saying prayers and almost asleep when Mark's cell phone rang. The voice on the other end said, "this is Pastor Tom, hide the boy's." then Mark's phone went dead from lack of charge.
"Well isn't that just ducky," Mark was sarcastic and frustrated. "Just what we need, a run against the boy's, as if we didn't have enough problems."
"Did he have time to say who?" Clora said quietly.
"No," Mark rolled toward her pillow and sighed hard. "Right off the top of my head, it would be to take you to Gertie's. No one knows about that, if you went with Tonya that would keep her safe. Maybe we should have Jeff go also. I think Gertie has room and it would give you a chance to get to know her. We'll go early in the morning."
Mark got up and got dressed and went down to Ev's. They held a council, and the plan approved. The kids had no clothes other than what they were wearing, but they were medium tall and very thin. Both were afraid, but they had worked for the Linderman's before and that was the only reason they agreed to go.
Clora was up and dressed, sorting what she wanted to take and what to leave behind. She had a pitiful amount of items to take, until Mark said they were going to use Ev's pickup. "Load up what you want, you might be there several months," he cautioned. "Material, the sewing machine, baby stuff, kid clothes, shoes; the whole thing Clora, even Evie's skillet. The five of you are going to vanish out of existence. I will not loose the boys." he was definite.
"That changes things," Clora said with a rush of relief. "We don't have much, and I have need for all of it." she was busy sorting piles of clothes from the thrift store. "Are the Jepson's coming?" at Mark's nod, she went back through the pile and dug out clothes she thought might work for the teens.
Mark loaded up the goods, and then said to Clora, "I think we should go now, I've got a feeling and I think we should make tracks." Clora agreed and got the boy's outer wear. Mark started the pickup, loaded up Jeff and Tonya, and went up to load Clora and the boys. He stopped to fill the pickup with the last of the gravity flow tractor diesel and they headed out. They had to head towards Doc Pendermans cause of the destroyed bridge and it was that out of the way detour that saved the whole situation. Not a half hour after the tail lights disappeared, there was a law enforcement raid on the farm.
The cars of the Sheriff's department were stopped by the defunct bridge, the slushy snow preventing them from gunning down through the gully and up the other side. They dispatched a squad and the men marched through the snow and up the driveway.
Danny told the Wilson's that there were incoming, and Christy slipped out to warn Wayne and Paula, Ben and Lainey and then went up to occupy the garden house as to explain the fire and the warm building. Christy drew the curtains and zipped around obliterating the signs that little boy's had ever been there. The kid clothes she stuffed in the row of stock pots in the kitchen, standing their mattress up in the room and cleaning the little boy items she found.
Christy had thought up a lie to offer where Mark and Clora had gone. She was going to tell that she thought Mark and Clora had gone to Mark's house in the city. And no, she didn't know where it was, and had never been there.
Jeepcats 3
Contributing Member
The sad thing is this part of the story could be from any of today's headlines.
The nasty things people do to kids!
Sad chapter but that is people!
Jeepcats3
The nasty things people do to kids!
Sad chapter but that is people!
Jeepcats3
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#52
It took all night and half the next day to get to Gertie's. The roads were in such poor shape that they had to backtrack several times, scrutinize the maps until they were totally sure of their route. It was past noon on a dark,rainy Thursday afternoon before they stopped at a convenience store on the outskirts of Longview.
"We need a grocery store" he told Clora. "Will you trust me to get the things you will need?" Mark asked quietly. Clora was way ahead of him. She had been jotting down items as they occurred to her, and the scrap of paper was well filled. Mark went to four stores in the logging, coastal community, buying food and cleaning supplies, coffee, tea, canned goods of all types. "If you think we need it, get it," she instructed.
Mark's last stop was a sporting goods store. There had been a run on camping supplies, but this was a very well stocked outfitters store and he made use of it's progressive thinking. When he had piled the items on the counter, the owner demanded to see his cash first, and Mark showed him within twenty dollars of the total. Not many words were exchanged, the proprietor had sold to a good many men such as the one on the other side of the counter, and they didn't chit chat.
He noticed the man kept his hat on and his back to the surveillance camera, but his money passed the pen swipe, so that was all that mattered.
Gertie was mildly surprised to see them and the load was stored in her garage as rapidly as Mark and Clora could make it happen. They shared a long kiss and then Mark was down the road.
"What do you intend to do with all this cultch," Gertie asked sourly, not in the least amused with her visitors.
"We are asking if you would be interested in us living with you? Otherwise we are going to the lower place," Clora said calmly.
"Ain't no room here," Gertie didn't give an inch.
"Fine," Clora smiled and issued her troops out the door. Gertie watched her pickup up the littlest one and put him in the wagon they had brought and pile sacks in behind him. All afternoon, the woman walked back and forth with the wagon, the tallest boy helping by carrying a few sacks at a time as he walked with her.
Gertie watched with mild curiosity, thinking that the woman's man must have been a bit daft not to ask simple questions first, so the woman paid the price. Nobody waltzed into Gertie's place and expected to move in, that just wasn't gonna happen in her book.
It took all afternoon and well into dusk to move all the supplies. Mark had bought an immense amount in a short time, and Clora fretted at the disorganization as she made the last trip. It was supper time and there was nothing made to eat. Rummaging through the sacks Jeff had tried to group together by contents, Clora found a couple cans of stew.
In the almost dark, she gave everyone a flashlight and started to survey her surroundings. The house was filthy, accumulated dust everywhere and mouse droppings a layer on top of that. Clora took the mop handle and tapped the stove pipe, checking to see if there were bird nests lodged inside.
Slowly with safety in mind, she started a small fire in the Monarch range that was in the kitchen. As the old stove began to draw, Clora stepped out the door to watch the chimney smoke. All the time she was doing the work, Clora explained to Jeff and Tonya what she was doing and why.
Wiping the range top with a dry cloth, Clora found a saucepan big enough for the stew and started it to heating. It was a difficult time to do everything needed and keep watch on the two young boys. The had the jitter's they needed to shake out of their system and it tried her patience to the limit. Tonya sat in a chair disconnected from life and Jeff tried to help to the best of his ability.
They got through it, and when it was time for a early bedtime, Clora was so thankful that she fell asleep during her prayers.
Gertie's roosters woke Clora the next morning. Several of the feral chickens had moved into the woodshed at the Kemp house and since the chickens were up, they figured the world should be also.
It took all night and half the next day to get to Gertie's. The roads were in such poor shape that they had to backtrack several times, scrutinize the maps until they were totally sure of their route. It was past noon on a dark,rainy Thursday afternoon before they stopped at a convenience store on the outskirts of Longview.
"We need a grocery store" he told Clora. "Will you trust me to get the things you will need?" Mark asked quietly. Clora was way ahead of him. She had been jotting down items as they occurred to her, and the scrap of paper was well filled. Mark went to four stores in the logging, coastal community, buying food and cleaning supplies, coffee, tea, canned goods of all types. "If you think we need it, get it," she instructed.
Mark's last stop was a sporting goods store. There had been a run on camping supplies, but this was a very well stocked outfitters store and he made use of it's progressive thinking. When he had piled the items on the counter, the owner demanded to see his cash first, and Mark showed him within twenty dollars of the total. Not many words were exchanged, the proprietor had sold to a good many men such as the one on the other side of the counter, and they didn't chit chat.
He noticed the man kept his hat on and his back to the surveillance camera, but his money passed the pen swipe, so that was all that mattered.
Gertie was mildly surprised to see them and the load was stored in her garage as rapidly as Mark and Clora could make it happen. They shared a long kiss and then Mark was down the road.
"What do you intend to do with all this cultch," Gertie asked sourly, not in the least amused with her visitors.
"We are asking if you would be interested in us living with you? Otherwise we are going to the lower place," Clora said calmly.
"Ain't no room here," Gertie didn't give an inch.
"Fine," Clora smiled and issued her troops out the door. Gertie watched her pickup up the littlest one and put him in the wagon they had brought and pile sacks in behind him. All afternoon, the woman walked back and forth with the wagon, the tallest boy helping by carrying a few sacks at a time as he walked with her.
Gertie watched with mild curiosity, thinking that the woman's man must have been a bit daft not to ask simple questions first, so the woman paid the price. Nobody waltzed into Gertie's place and expected to move in, that just wasn't gonna happen in her book.
It took all afternoon and well into dusk to move all the supplies. Mark had bought an immense amount in a short time, and Clora fretted at the disorganization as she made the last trip. It was supper time and there was nothing made to eat. Rummaging through the sacks Jeff had tried to group together by contents, Clora found a couple cans of stew.
In the almost dark, she gave everyone a flashlight and started to survey her surroundings. The house was filthy, accumulated dust everywhere and mouse droppings a layer on top of that. Clora took the mop handle and tapped the stove pipe, checking to see if there were bird nests lodged inside.
Slowly with safety in mind, she started a small fire in the Monarch range that was in the kitchen. As the old stove began to draw, Clora stepped out the door to watch the chimney smoke. All the time she was doing the work, Clora explained to Jeff and Tonya what she was doing and why.
Wiping the range top with a dry cloth, Clora found a saucepan big enough for the stew and started it to heating. It was a difficult time to do everything needed and keep watch on the two young boys. The had the jitter's they needed to shake out of their system and it tried her patience to the limit. Tonya sat in a chair disconnected from life and Jeff tried to help to the best of his ability.
They got through it, and when it was time for a early bedtime, Clora was so thankful that she fell asleep during her prayers.
Gertie's roosters woke Clora the next morning. Several of the feral chickens had moved into the woodshed at the Kemp house and since the chickens were up, they figured the world should be also.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Yes as I always say in my life I like boring, this family needs more boring,lol. Great chapters Pac. I can just hear the teens shrew of a mom claiming her kids were kidnapped and those little boys were being abused and the cops going without even checking to make sure any of it was true.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#52b
Clora lay in her sleeping bag, savoring the quiet morning peace. Yesterday had been such a strain on her, the fact that Gertie had to remind Clora she was still in charge was a rotten thing for the old woman to do, but Clora felt she was up to the challenge. Today they would make their space livable, get the water figured out and explore a little bit.
"Ahh, Mrs Linderman, I feel really sick," Tonya whispered in the predawn darkness. "I've started and there is mess all over."
"Praise the Lord," Clora whispered heartfully, "Praise the Lord Almighty." Clora passed a towel to Tonya and then helped her out of the sleeping bag. Clora helped the teen into the 'bathroom' and promised to bring in some water. It got real complicated from there on out.
Clora had to find the lines from the well and open the shutoff. There was no electricity, so she had to find enough water to prime the pitcher pump. Finally she had to go to the creek for a bucket of water. It took an hour of flailing the pump handle and trickling in the prime water to bring the first stream of rusty water out the spout.
Clora pumped until she thought her arm would fall off, with Jeff taking short turns to spell her. At last there was enough water for Tonya to clean herself, and water to be boiled for drinking. It was water for hot chocolate and weak coffee, and cleaning. The day improved wonderfully from that point forward.
Because of Clora's good mood, the children relaxed and enjoyed the morning.
"Those sure are noisy chickens," Jeff had finished his oatmeal, ate half of Tonya's bowlful and cleaned the pan.
Clora took one look at him and started cooking rice and put beans on to soak. She gave him one of the packages of jerky Mark had bought. "Tuck this back in your pocket, if you are not getting enough to eat, tell me" she stressed. "You both are underweight for your age and we need to bring you up to speed. This is a medical necessity for both of you as we don't want you fat, but you have to have a reserve to resist work demands and diseases."
Clora gave him and Tonya a package of trail bars and a huge drink of water. "Be sure and drink water with these and with everything you eat. It's the best thing you can do for your body. No outside water, drink boiled water only until we get things straightened out here."
"I'm going to ask you to be security conscious for a while. We need to keep the boys safe, and you too. This afternoon, we will start with what I want you to do. In the meantime," Clora passed out belts and short fixed knives, "I want you to wear this for personal protection."
Clora lay in her sleeping bag, savoring the quiet morning peace. Yesterday had been such a strain on her, the fact that Gertie had to remind Clora she was still in charge was a rotten thing for the old woman to do, but Clora felt she was up to the challenge. Today they would make their space livable, get the water figured out and explore a little bit.
"Ahh, Mrs Linderman, I feel really sick," Tonya whispered in the predawn darkness. "I've started and there is mess all over."
"Praise the Lord," Clora whispered heartfully, "Praise the Lord Almighty." Clora passed a towel to Tonya and then helped her out of the sleeping bag. Clora helped the teen into the 'bathroom' and promised to bring in some water. It got real complicated from there on out.
Clora had to find the lines from the well and open the shutoff. There was no electricity, so she had to find enough water to prime the pitcher pump. Finally she had to go to the creek for a bucket of water. It took an hour of flailing the pump handle and trickling in the prime water to bring the first stream of rusty water out the spout.
Clora pumped until she thought her arm would fall off, with Jeff taking short turns to spell her. At last there was enough water for Tonya to clean herself, and water to be boiled for drinking. It was water for hot chocolate and weak coffee, and cleaning. The day improved wonderfully from that point forward.
Because of Clora's good mood, the children relaxed and enjoyed the morning.
"Those sure are noisy chickens," Jeff had finished his oatmeal, ate half of Tonya's bowlful and cleaned the pan.
Clora took one look at him and started cooking rice and put beans on to soak. She gave him one of the packages of jerky Mark had bought. "Tuck this back in your pocket, if you are not getting enough to eat, tell me" she stressed. "You both are underweight for your age and we need to bring you up to speed. This is a medical necessity for both of you as we don't want you fat, but you have to have a reserve to resist work demands and diseases."
Clora gave him and Tonya a package of trail bars and a huge drink of water. "Be sure and drink water with these and with everything you eat. It's the best thing you can do for your body. No outside water, drink boiled water only until we get things straightened out here."
"I'm going to ask you to be security conscious for a while. We need to keep the boys safe, and you too. This afternoon, we will start with what I want you to do. In the meantime," Clora passed out belts and short fixed knives, "I want you to wear this for personal protection."
stjwelding
Veteran Member
Thanks Pac great chapters. I have to agree with Sara that the family would probably enjoy boring right about now.
Thanks again
Wayne
Thanks again
Wayne
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Thank you Pac 
Life is always an adventure - especially for this family. 
Thanks, Pac!
Thanks, Pac!
Siskiyoumom
Veteran Member
Our internet connection has been wonky for days and it is nice to be able to finally get on and see the newest additions to your story. Thank you!!!
bad_karma00
Underachiever
Well, Pac you did it again. Just when I thought I had a handle on things, *poof* it's gone. There's more twists and turns in this story than taking the old highway up and down Monteagle Mountain!
Bad
Bad
Sammy55
Veteran Member
I agree!!
I don't know where Monteagle Mountain is, but I have been on old roads in mountains and can testify that this story definitely has more twists and turns!!
Great job, Pac, keeping us on the edge of our seats!
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#52c
Jeff looked excited, drew the knife in and out several times and then strapped on the belt. Tonya sat dully in her chair, staring at but not seeing the knife.
"I expect you both to wear that knife from the time you get up in the morning and till you go to bed. I expect you to keep it close at night and you will be personably responsible with it. It is your protection and it is our protection." Clora stressed sternly.
"We are here to keep the smaller boys safe, and to keep you and Tonya safe. I expect you two as the older to keep the littles in sight at all times, and each other. I am going to teach the both of you how to keep us safe. The family is buying this place from the old lady in the upper house, and she is not a very agreeable person." Clora pulled no punches as she gave the kids orders.
"Tomorrow, I am going to teach you both how to start throwing the knife and be accurate, silent and deadly. There will be a lot of practice, with both hands, and that I expect you to do yourself. Tonya, I am going to show you how to become savvy with your life so you never go through what has just happened to you again."
Tonya just sat there, saying nothing, but Clora could see the teen watching her out of the corner of her eye. "Now, we have a danger whistle that we use," and Clora demonstrated. "Whenever you hear this long drawn out tone, I want you to hide, right where you are. The all clear sound is two short blasts. Jeff can you whistle like that?"
Jeff tried, and managed a passable sound. "Good, when you practice whistling, do it here in the house so you are not out where we might mistake practice for the real thing."
"Tonya how about you? Can you whistle?" Tonya gave a brief shake of her head no. "That's OK, we can practice," Clora assured her.
Tonya started to shake her head no again, when Jeff said "she'll do it, I'll help her."
Clora agreed that would be a good thing. "Today we need to clean things so we can live here. I want you to put Bandannas over your noses while we sweep all the mouse droppings, they can be dangerous to breathe." Once again she sorted through the sacks to find the handkerchief squares.
They cleaned and cleaned; stopped for lunch, rested and cleaned again and again. By supper time the rice and bean with sausage casserole was done and everyone was starved. Clora had been to the basement and found a dozen oil lamps in all stages of repair, but three were capable of working. Mark had bought two cans of lamp oil, so they had light with their supper.
By 7pm. everyone was ready for bed, Clora especially. Milo and Teddy said their prayers and were giggling about sleeping in the kitchen.
"Mom, can we have a bed time snack, is there cookies?" Milo asked hopefully. "Teddy really needs a cookie."
"I didn't get any cookies made today, but how about a piece of jerky? So Teddy needs a cookie huh?"
Teddy agreed with a vigorous head shake, "Cookie, cookie please."
The boys settled for a slab of jerky, and Jeff and Tonya didn't turn a piece down either.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch. The police force was perturbed to find the Linderman's gone, and the children especially. Ben finally had to get wrathy with the force, before they would back off the strong arm tactics. It wasn't an hour after they finally left that the deputy sent by Doc Penderman showed up, looking for Jeff and Tonya.
This time Wayne barged in the meeting and announced the kids had left as they feared the law would drag them back home to endure more problems with their mother's 'friends.' The Deputy nodded, saying that would be the case, and did they know where they had gone.
With a straight face, Wayne said no, they up and left in the middle of the night.
Ben was about fit to be tied, and really raked Wayne over the coals for lying. "We don't conduct our lives that way," he sputtered and protested.
"Look, would you rather spend month's in jail or here helping Lainey get ready to move," Wayne argued tiredly. "Lord I'm gonna be glad to leave this place. This is the living worst place we have ever been."
"The foundation of truth and Christianity go hand in hand, ignore one and you ignore the other." Ben gestured to include the wide world.
"Oh I agree," Wayne concluded, "I'm not talking about overthrowing our religion and principles, but how is sending either set of kids back to the abuse they experienced, a Christian thing to do."
"Guy's, not tonight please," Lainey broke in, "this is just about a overload. When Mark gets back, tell him the next time he see's Clora, to have her write that crazy old woman a check for that valley and let's get out of here!"
"Well I don't know," Ben started prevaricating. "Just do it!" Lainey shouted and scooped up Anne and left.
Jeff looked excited, drew the knife in and out several times and then strapped on the belt. Tonya sat dully in her chair, staring at but not seeing the knife.
"I expect you both to wear that knife from the time you get up in the morning and till you go to bed. I expect you to keep it close at night and you will be personably responsible with it. It is your protection and it is our protection." Clora stressed sternly.
"We are here to keep the smaller boys safe, and to keep you and Tonya safe. I expect you two as the older to keep the littles in sight at all times, and each other. I am going to teach the both of you how to keep us safe. The family is buying this place from the old lady in the upper house, and she is not a very agreeable person." Clora pulled no punches as she gave the kids orders.
"Tomorrow, I am going to teach you both how to start throwing the knife and be accurate, silent and deadly. There will be a lot of practice, with both hands, and that I expect you to do yourself. Tonya, I am going to show you how to become savvy with your life so you never go through what has just happened to you again."
Tonya just sat there, saying nothing, but Clora could see the teen watching her out of the corner of her eye. "Now, we have a danger whistle that we use," and Clora demonstrated. "Whenever you hear this long drawn out tone, I want you to hide, right where you are. The all clear sound is two short blasts. Jeff can you whistle like that?"
Jeff tried, and managed a passable sound. "Good, when you practice whistling, do it here in the house so you are not out where we might mistake practice for the real thing."
"Tonya how about you? Can you whistle?" Tonya gave a brief shake of her head no. "That's OK, we can practice," Clora assured her.
Tonya started to shake her head no again, when Jeff said "she'll do it, I'll help her."
Clora agreed that would be a good thing. "Today we need to clean things so we can live here. I want you to put Bandannas over your noses while we sweep all the mouse droppings, they can be dangerous to breathe." Once again she sorted through the sacks to find the handkerchief squares.
They cleaned and cleaned; stopped for lunch, rested and cleaned again and again. By supper time the rice and bean with sausage casserole was done and everyone was starved. Clora had been to the basement and found a dozen oil lamps in all stages of repair, but three were capable of working. Mark had bought two cans of lamp oil, so they had light with their supper.
By 7pm. everyone was ready for bed, Clora especially. Milo and Teddy said their prayers and were giggling about sleeping in the kitchen.
"Mom, can we have a bed time snack, is there cookies?" Milo asked hopefully. "Teddy really needs a cookie."
"I didn't get any cookies made today, but how about a piece of jerky? So Teddy needs a cookie huh?"
Teddy agreed with a vigorous head shake, "Cookie, cookie please."
The boys settled for a slab of jerky, and Jeff and Tonya didn't turn a piece down either.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch. The police force was perturbed to find the Linderman's gone, and the children especially. Ben finally had to get wrathy with the force, before they would back off the strong arm tactics. It wasn't an hour after they finally left that the deputy sent by Doc Penderman showed up, looking for Jeff and Tonya.
This time Wayne barged in the meeting and announced the kids had left as they feared the law would drag them back home to endure more problems with their mother's 'friends.' The Deputy nodded, saying that would be the case, and did they know where they had gone.
With a straight face, Wayne said no, they up and left in the middle of the night.
Ben was about fit to be tied, and really raked Wayne over the coals for lying. "We don't conduct our lives that way," he sputtered and protested.
"Look, would you rather spend month's in jail or here helping Lainey get ready to move," Wayne argued tiredly. "Lord I'm gonna be glad to leave this place. This is the living worst place we have ever been."
"The foundation of truth and Christianity go hand in hand, ignore one and you ignore the other." Ben gestured to include the wide world.
"Oh I agree," Wayne concluded, "I'm not talking about overthrowing our religion and principles, but how is sending either set of kids back to the abuse they experienced, a Christian thing to do."
"Guy's, not tonight please," Lainey broke in, "this is just about a overload. When Mark gets back, tell him the next time he see's Clora, to have her write that crazy old woman a check for that valley and let's get out of here!"
"Well I don't know," Ben started prevaricating. "Just do it!" Lainey shouted and scooped up Anne and left.
bad_karma00
Underachiever
It feels like they are being forced into buying Gertie's farm. There's just too much happening to be co inky dink.
See that? You've got me worried about fictional people! ARRGGHHHH!!!!
Bad
See that? You've got me worried about fictional people! ARRGGHHHH!!!!
Bad
Wasn't Inky the name of the first dog character? Who was Dink?
bad_karma00
Underachiever
stjwelding
Veteran Member
Pac; tanks for the new chapters, I hope the family is not being forced into making the wrong choice for someone else's benefit or to set the family up for more attacks. Love this story.
Wayne
Wayne
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Thank you pac,
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#53
Mark left Clora and the kids and hurried straight for Portland. He had to fudge a white lie to get across the bridge as they were only letting two cars cross at the same time. It was a wait of two hours, and he was happy it was that short. Mark had to give Borg's address to prove he lived there and had business in town. It was midnight before he was able to get to his former house.
Thinking the power was off, he keyed the lock and was greeted by an ear splitting siren wail. Drat, so he backed out and punched in the required code and the alarm deactivated. So much for a sneak in, he thought as he hit the emergency switches that started the generator. The faint hum reached his ears to reassure him all was working.
Next was the heavy drapery button. Hitting all three knobs at once started the blackout curtain, the sheers and the decorator fabric rolling slowly over the huge expanse of windows.
Going to Borg's study, Mark touched the on screen surveillance cameras and hit rewind. He went back as far as the day before the quake and spent a half hour reviewing who had been snooping around. David Carsen had come to the front door and left. The neighbor with the twitchy window curtains had tried every door and then shuffled back home. A couple of scruffy looking critters during the night of the quake, and Pastor Tom had knocked and left.
Then it got real interesting. A group of three men in a black Mercedes rolled up during the night and tried every door. The back door camera caught them pulling down black face masks and working hard to pick the security lock. While two continued to work at the back door, one of them slipped around front and activated the front door alarm, just as Mark had done twenty minutes ago.
All three ran for the car and sped off. Then, the twitchy curtain neighbor came out of his house and tapped in the code to open the door and deactivate the alarm and it went off. Back to his house he went and the light went off.
How very interesting, Mark was thinking, as the tape rolled. He was very certain Borg had intensely disliked the man and ignored him as much as possible, so why would the man have the code to the house.
The rest of the tapes contained the usual cats and stray dogs footage until last night. A swat team eased into place, and the neighbor opened the front door for one of the team that looked thin and of slight build. Mark was sitting there thinking about the situation when it occurred to him these were not American swat team members, they were Asian.
Touching another hidden pad, he brought up the screen for the inside of the house and watched as the three men of the earlier tape footage entered the house and methodically searched every room. Mark noted where they placed listening bugs and a camera that he had thoughtfully obscured by shutting the drapes.
Smiling to himself, he erased the footage and reset all the cameras to zero. Mark reprogrammed the timer to begin recording next Monday morning, so the fact he was in the house wouldn't be captured on tape.
Working through the night, he loaded Ev's pickup with what he wanted from the house. Long term storage foods, canned goods and dried pouches of every thing imaginable. The time daylight rolled around, he had loaded what he wanted, and used Borg's car to go to the bank. Leaving the car idling with the keys in it, Mark left the Jaguar in a parking lot and was amazed to hear it leave before he got around the corner to the bank.
Let them follow that, he was smirking to himself. It was as he supposed. Borg had his son's signature on the access card to the safety deposit box. Mark signed in and had the clerk bring the large covered box to him in a private cubicle.
Mark left Clora and the kids and hurried straight for Portland. He had to fudge a white lie to get across the bridge as they were only letting two cars cross at the same time. It was a wait of two hours, and he was happy it was that short. Mark had to give Borg's address to prove he lived there and had business in town. It was midnight before he was able to get to his former house.
Thinking the power was off, he keyed the lock and was greeted by an ear splitting siren wail. Drat, so he backed out and punched in the required code and the alarm deactivated. So much for a sneak in, he thought as he hit the emergency switches that started the generator. The faint hum reached his ears to reassure him all was working.
Next was the heavy drapery button. Hitting all three knobs at once started the blackout curtain, the sheers and the decorator fabric rolling slowly over the huge expanse of windows.
Going to Borg's study, Mark touched the on screen surveillance cameras and hit rewind. He went back as far as the day before the quake and spent a half hour reviewing who had been snooping around. David Carsen had come to the front door and left. The neighbor with the twitchy window curtains had tried every door and then shuffled back home. A couple of scruffy looking critters during the night of the quake, and Pastor Tom had knocked and left.
Then it got real interesting. A group of three men in a black Mercedes rolled up during the night and tried every door. The back door camera caught them pulling down black face masks and working hard to pick the security lock. While two continued to work at the back door, one of them slipped around front and activated the front door alarm, just as Mark had done twenty minutes ago.
All three ran for the car and sped off. Then, the twitchy curtain neighbor came out of his house and tapped in the code to open the door and deactivate the alarm and it went off. Back to his house he went and the light went off.
How very interesting, Mark was thinking, as the tape rolled. He was very certain Borg had intensely disliked the man and ignored him as much as possible, so why would the man have the code to the house.
The rest of the tapes contained the usual cats and stray dogs footage until last night. A swat team eased into place, and the neighbor opened the front door for one of the team that looked thin and of slight build. Mark was sitting there thinking about the situation when it occurred to him these were not American swat team members, they were Asian.
Touching another hidden pad, he brought up the screen for the inside of the house and watched as the three men of the earlier tape footage entered the house and methodically searched every room. Mark noted where they placed listening bugs and a camera that he had thoughtfully obscured by shutting the drapes.
Smiling to himself, he erased the footage and reset all the cameras to zero. Mark reprogrammed the timer to begin recording next Monday morning, so the fact he was in the house wouldn't be captured on tape.
Working through the night, he loaded Ev's pickup with what he wanted from the house. Long term storage foods, canned goods and dried pouches of every thing imaginable. The time daylight rolled around, he had loaded what he wanted, and used Borg's car to go to the bank. Leaving the car idling with the keys in it, Mark left the Jaguar in a parking lot and was amazed to hear it leave before he got around the corner to the bank.
Let them follow that, he was smirking to himself. It was as he supposed. Borg had his son's signature on the access card to the safety deposit box. Mark signed in and had the clerk bring the large covered box to him in a private cubicle.