Ahhh...so Tessee finally makes (almost) her appearance. Thanks for the latest offering!
Hi, My Name is Tessee
- Thread starter PacNorWest
- Start date
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#31c
Ever efficient, Mark whipped out his cell phone, little pocket notebook full of phone numbers and dialed. The adults in the kitchen shamelessly eavesdropped as the lanky man conversed with the FBI chief. "Uh huh,....uh huh....,no kidding. Really?...uh huh when? Ok are you sure? Yeah, the fence is going well. I'll tell them. Bye." Mark flipped his phone closed and rubbed the back of his neck. He rotated his head trying to lessen the pounding in his skull.
"Well!" all three of them said at once when Mark prolonged the silence.
"Let's see, The FBI has Brett's body. Now this is gonna be a real zinger... he's not a Hanson, but he's not a Linderman either. Borg thought Brett was his child, but he's not. Neither am I, courtesy of DNA analysis. I am not related to Borg's family in any way, and most importantly, I'm not related to Clora. Brett and Sandy were related to the dude you killed in Portland," Mark indicated to Wayne as they all sat with astonished look's on their faces.
"Clora, you and Ben are related, but not brother and sister as you thought. Ben and Wayne are more closely related than you. So whatever we have thought or been told in the past is out the window." Mark reported.
"Wow, I sure wish Ben were here, he should be in on this from the beginning. He's gonna feel left out on purpose, I'll run down and tell him the minute he gets home," Wayne stood up to look out the window to see if the wayward brother was at home.
"Nope, but I'll keep watch," Wayne promised.
"I've got to write this all down," Clora said bewildered. "He didn't say to whom I might be related, did he?"
"No, sorry sweetheart, he didn't." Mark said gently, seeing the hurt and confusion settling on her face. "He did say they haven't finished all the testing and will have more information later."
"I have to go to work," Will said in a most disgusted voice, "I have never seen a family more mixed up and crazy, and right when things start getting real good, I have to leave. Don't have any more crisis until I get off shift, I want to be here!" he grinned, but he actually meant every word.
"No promises," Mark retorted, "not around here."
The pounding went on all through lunch, and the whole afternoon was a solid series of pounding thumps.
"I can't sleep Auntie C. I's tired and so is Teddy. Can we play?" Milo drug himself into the kitchen and wanted to sit on Clora's lap. She lifted him up and he settled in. With restless Milo out of the bedroom Teddy went right to sleep, Mark looked in on him and reported back to Clora. Milo was asleep in her lap, and Clora chuckled about her boy's.
"I'd sit in your lap if I could get a a couple of winks, man I'm tired. Clora, I've gotta have an aspirin or something, my head feels like it's gonna explode." Mark complained.
"Put Milo on the couch, I think he will stay asleep." Clora directed, as Mark bent over and started to pick Milo, he groaned as a fresh wave of pain stabbed through his head. "Hey, I'm sorry, I'll do it and you sit down." she pointed to the chair. Mark obeyed.
Christy milked in the evening, returning the milk to her house as Cheryl had the idea to make Ev chocolate protein shakes. Anything to perk up his appetite and get his systems working again.
The plank fence extended from behind the main house all across the North fence line to the North east corner and three quarters of the way down the line toward the road. "It feels like arms surrounding us," Clora commented as the pounding finally stopped in the gathering darkness.
"It makes me a happy man," Mark said as they stood on the porch and watched the pickups leave, the workers tired after an all out two day marathon. "We need to be ultra careful tomorrow, the snipers may be desperate enough to have another go at us."
"We shouldn't be standing on the open porch," Clora muttered, "let's get inside, I've got the heebee jeebees."
It was way past dark when Ben and family got home. Nobody asked where they had been, nobody volunteered information back.
Wayne went right down and had them come up to the main house. Ben was stiff and unfriendly, Lainey so tired her spirits were drooping. Only Anne was happy and cooing. It didn't look like they had a very good day's outing, returning as stressed looking as they were.
Teddy and Milo were just out of the bathtub, running around in their jammies and they both wanted to give Anne a hug. They were gentle, but she squalled in indignation. Ben whirled around, alarmed that his daughter was crying, ready to tromp on the boys.
"Easy," Clora put a hand on his arm, "she's not hurt, only surprised. Come sit down, we learned some real interesting facts today and wanted to tell you right away. That silly old FBI man gave Mark quite an earful. Listen to this," she pushed him in a chair and sat next to him, pulling another chair in close for Lainey. "Now prepare to be amazed," she directed.
Twice she repeated the whole story. Lainey was the first to recover. "Well my, my, my. Some of this is hard to believe, but knowing this family, I don't disbelieve it." Shaking her head, she asked for a drink of water. "I think I maybe coming down with a cold, I feel rocky tonight. Maybe it was something I ate." Lainey gratefully drank the water and then regretted it, as her stomach protested.
Ben looked bewildered. He had worked up a mad and was doing his darndest to hold on to it, but it was fizzling out. The clan was doing all they could to be nice, but Ben wanted to be put out.
"You're sure?" he questioned Mark, like the man would lie to him.
"Yes, and there is more to come," Mark said evenly, not concerned that Ben was fussed like a Banty rooster meeting a rival.
"Ben, are you sleeping at night? I'll tell ya, I think you have sleep apnea. I had a couple of guys in my outfit come down with it and it really messed with their ability to rest." Mark spoke his mind.
"Nothing wrong with me," Ben snapped as he started to get up, tired of the atmosphere and suggestions. "Let's go Lainey, I've got work to do tomorrow."
Lainey wrapped herself and Anne with her shawl and followed her husband to the door. Carefully, she gave Clora a sly wink and left.
Ever efficient, Mark whipped out his cell phone, little pocket notebook full of phone numbers and dialed. The adults in the kitchen shamelessly eavesdropped as the lanky man conversed with the FBI chief. "Uh huh,....uh huh....,no kidding. Really?...uh huh when? Ok are you sure? Yeah, the fence is going well. I'll tell them. Bye." Mark flipped his phone closed and rubbed the back of his neck. He rotated his head trying to lessen the pounding in his skull.
"Well!" all three of them said at once when Mark prolonged the silence.
"Let's see, The FBI has Brett's body. Now this is gonna be a real zinger... he's not a Hanson, but he's not a Linderman either. Borg thought Brett was his child, but he's not. Neither am I, courtesy of DNA analysis. I am not related to Borg's family in any way, and most importantly, I'm not related to Clora. Brett and Sandy were related to the dude you killed in Portland," Mark indicated to Wayne as they all sat with astonished look's on their faces.
"Clora, you and Ben are related, but not brother and sister as you thought. Ben and Wayne are more closely related than you. So whatever we have thought or been told in the past is out the window." Mark reported.
"Wow, I sure wish Ben were here, he should be in on this from the beginning. He's gonna feel left out on purpose, I'll run down and tell him the minute he gets home," Wayne stood up to look out the window to see if the wayward brother was at home.
"Nope, but I'll keep watch," Wayne promised.
"I've got to write this all down," Clora said bewildered. "He didn't say to whom I might be related, did he?"
"No, sorry sweetheart, he didn't." Mark said gently, seeing the hurt and confusion settling on her face. "He did say they haven't finished all the testing and will have more information later."
"I have to go to work," Will said in a most disgusted voice, "I have never seen a family more mixed up and crazy, and right when things start getting real good, I have to leave. Don't have any more crisis until I get off shift, I want to be here!" he grinned, but he actually meant every word.
"No promises," Mark retorted, "not around here."
The pounding went on all through lunch, and the whole afternoon was a solid series of pounding thumps.
"I can't sleep Auntie C. I's tired and so is Teddy. Can we play?" Milo drug himself into the kitchen and wanted to sit on Clora's lap. She lifted him up and he settled in. With restless Milo out of the bedroom Teddy went right to sleep, Mark looked in on him and reported back to Clora. Milo was asleep in her lap, and Clora chuckled about her boy's.
"I'd sit in your lap if I could get a a couple of winks, man I'm tired. Clora, I've gotta have an aspirin or something, my head feels like it's gonna explode." Mark complained.
"Put Milo on the couch, I think he will stay asleep." Clora directed, as Mark bent over and started to pick Milo, he groaned as a fresh wave of pain stabbed through his head. "Hey, I'm sorry, I'll do it and you sit down." she pointed to the chair. Mark obeyed.
Christy milked in the evening, returning the milk to her house as Cheryl had the idea to make Ev chocolate protein shakes. Anything to perk up his appetite and get his systems working again.
The plank fence extended from behind the main house all across the North fence line to the North east corner and three quarters of the way down the line toward the road. "It feels like arms surrounding us," Clora commented as the pounding finally stopped in the gathering darkness.
"It makes me a happy man," Mark said as they stood on the porch and watched the pickups leave, the workers tired after an all out two day marathon. "We need to be ultra careful tomorrow, the snipers may be desperate enough to have another go at us."
"We shouldn't be standing on the open porch," Clora muttered, "let's get inside, I've got the heebee jeebees."
It was way past dark when Ben and family got home. Nobody asked where they had been, nobody volunteered information back.
Wayne went right down and had them come up to the main house. Ben was stiff and unfriendly, Lainey so tired her spirits were drooping. Only Anne was happy and cooing. It didn't look like they had a very good day's outing, returning as stressed looking as they were.
Teddy and Milo were just out of the bathtub, running around in their jammies and they both wanted to give Anne a hug. They were gentle, but she squalled in indignation. Ben whirled around, alarmed that his daughter was crying, ready to tromp on the boys.
"Easy," Clora put a hand on his arm, "she's not hurt, only surprised. Come sit down, we learned some real interesting facts today and wanted to tell you right away. That silly old FBI man gave Mark quite an earful. Listen to this," she pushed him in a chair and sat next to him, pulling another chair in close for Lainey. "Now prepare to be amazed," she directed.
Twice she repeated the whole story. Lainey was the first to recover. "Well my, my, my. Some of this is hard to believe, but knowing this family, I don't disbelieve it." Shaking her head, she asked for a drink of water. "I think I maybe coming down with a cold, I feel rocky tonight. Maybe it was something I ate." Lainey gratefully drank the water and then regretted it, as her stomach protested.
Ben looked bewildered. He had worked up a mad and was doing his darndest to hold on to it, but it was fizzling out. The clan was doing all they could to be nice, but Ben wanted to be put out.
"You're sure?" he questioned Mark, like the man would lie to him.
"Yes, and there is more to come," Mark said evenly, not concerned that Ben was fussed like a Banty rooster meeting a rival.
"Ben, are you sleeping at night? I'll tell ya, I think you have sleep apnea. I had a couple of guys in my outfit come down with it and it really messed with their ability to rest." Mark spoke his mind.
"Nothing wrong with me," Ben snapped as he started to get up, tired of the atmosphere and suggestions. "Let's go Lainey, I've got work to do tomorrow."
Lainey wrapped herself and Anne with her shawl and followed her husband to the door. Carefully, she gave Clora a sly wink and left.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Thank you great read as usual.
Ol' Ben better get it together.
What Are the Effects of Sleep Apnea? Direct from WebMD:
If left untreated, sleep apnea can result in a growing number of health problems, including:
High blood pressure
Stroke
Heart failure, irregular heart beats, and heart attacks
Diabetes
Depression
Worsening of ADHD
In addition, untreated sleep apnea may be responsible for poor performance in everyday activities, such as at work and school, motor vehicle crashes, and academic underachievement in children and adolescents.
What Are the Effects of Sleep Apnea? Direct from WebMD:
If left untreated, sleep apnea can result in a growing number of health problems, including:
High blood pressure
Stroke
Heart failure, irregular heart beats, and heart attacks
Diabetes
Depression
Worsening of ADHD
In addition, untreated sleep apnea may be responsible for poor performance in everyday activities, such as at work and school, motor vehicle crashes, and academic underachievement in children and adolescents.
stjwelding
Veteran Member
Thanks Pac it looks like more information is making it's way to the family and just maybe they will be able to figure out who is trying to make there life so tough.
Ben really needs to listen to those that are looking out for his best interest.
Wayne
Ben really needs to listen to those that are looking out for his best interest.
Wayne
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#32
The farm looked like a traffic jam the next morning. Members heading out to work, the construction workers coming in, and suddenly the thumping started once again.
Clora didn't see Ben leave but Lainey was up to share tea with Clora as soon as he left.
"What was that wink about last night," Clora asked with a smile.
"I couldn't believe Mark hit the nail on the head. We spent most of yesterday at a rapid care clinic and that's the diagnosis they gave us. Ben also has dangerously high blood pressure, so they insisted he come into the regular clinic today. I'm so relieved, I could tell something was wrong, but what? and he wouldn't talk about it. It took a really huge fight yesterday and I had to get really mean; and I always feel so rotten after I have to do that. I don't want to be that kind of a person, and it really upset Anne." Lainey was wringing her hands, truly distressed.
"Thank goodness there was a diagnosis. Ben's pretty stubborn, but he's not stupid. How did he take the newest round of confusing family mix up?" Clora asked curiously.
"He basically shrugged and said it didn't change anything. Next week they may reverse their findings and find out something else." Lainey said as she fiddled with Anne's small hand.
"That's probably a good and healthy way to handle the news. I know I was pretty bummed last night, thinking I didn't belong to anyone like I supposed. Mark keeps telling me I really am a princess and I appreciate his love and concern. Between the two of us, we don't have one for sure parent. I don't think I could survive if Ben and Wayne weren't my brothers, they were so much a part of who I am. And you, Lainey you have to be my sister, I need you more than the guy's." Clora looked lost and then brightened when Lainey got up to give her a hug.
"Together, the only way we can get through this is together. Clora, I'm ashamed to say most of our problems center on Teddy. Ben is paranoid about the rough way Teddy wants to play and do around Anne. And frankly, I need to put my cards on the line here. The boys were Ev and Cheryl's idea. Suddenly everyone but Ev and Cheryl are responsible for the care of them. " Lainey was gentle but very earnest as she talked about the problem.
"I get it that you have bonded with Milo; but that hasn't happened with Ben and Teddy. It's to the point that I can't shoulder all the work any longer. I can't tell you what Ben's problem might be, but he has one and it's a huge complication. I think we are going to have to send Teddy back." There, the elephant in the room was out in the open.
"We kinda figured, I've talked to Mark and he has agreed to take Teddy. He and Milo play so well together, and he has fallen right into the routine, so I think we are good." Clora got up to pour more tea and check on the boys in the playroom.
Lainey leaned back in the chair and blew out the breath she had been holding. "Dear Lord, thank you Clora. I can't tell you how this has affected Ben and myself." Suddenly she was crying and then Clora was crying also. Tearing up against the huge release of emotion, the sisters hugged.
"There is another part to this; Ev and Cheryl have to be warned that they are not to obligate us as family's for another session like this. Ben would give the shirt off his back, but it has to be his choice." That was final as far as Ben and Lainey were concerned, and Clora nodded her agreement.
The farm looked like a traffic jam the next morning. Members heading out to work, the construction workers coming in, and suddenly the thumping started once again.
Clora didn't see Ben leave but Lainey was up to share tea with Clora as soon as he left.
"What was that wink about last night," Clora asked with a smile.
"I couldn't believe Mark hit the nail on the head. We spent most of yesterday at a rapid care clinic and that's the diagnosis they gave us. Ben also has dangerously high blood pressure, so they insisted he come into the regular clinic today. I'm so relieved, I could tell something was wrong, but what? and he wouldn't talk about it. It took a really huge fight yesterday and I had to get really mean; and I always feel so rotten after I have to do that. I don't want to be that kind of a person, and it really upset Anne." Lainey was wringing her hands, truly distressed.
"Thank goodness there was a diagnosis. Ben's pretty stubborn, but he's not stupid. How did he take the newest round of confusing family mix up?" Clora asked curiously.
"He basically shrugged and said it didn't change anything. Next week they may reverse their findings and find out something else." Lainey said as she fiddled with Anne's small hand.
"That's probably a good and healthy way to handle the news. I know I was pretty bummed last night, thinking I didn't belong to anyone like I supposed. Mark keeps telling me I really am a princess and I appreciate his love and concern. Between the two of us, we don't have one for sure parent. I don't think I could survive if Ben and Wayne weren't my brothers, they were so much a part of who I am. And you, Lainey you have to be my sister, I need you more than the guy's." Clora looked lost and then brightened when Lainey got up to give her a hug.
"Together, the only way we can get through this is together. Clora, I'm ashamed to say most of our problems center on Teddy. Ben is paranoid about the rough way Teddy wants to play and do around Anne. And frankly, I need to put my cards on the line here. The boys were Ev and Cheryl's idea. Suddenly everyone but Ev and Cheryl are responsible for the care of them. " Lainey was gentle but very earnest as she talked about the problem.
"I get it that you have bonded with Milo; but that hasn't happened with Ben and Teddy. It's to the point that I can't shoulder all the work any longer. I can't tell you what Ben's problem might be, but he has one and it's a huge complication. I think we are going to have to send Teddy back." There, the elephant in the room was out in the open.
"We kinda figured, I've talked to Mark and he has agreed to take Teddy. He and Milo play so well together, and he has fallen right into the routine, so I think we are good." Clora got up to pour more tea and check on the boys in the playroom.
Lainey leaned back in the chair and blew out the breath she had been holding. "Dear Lord, thank you Clora. I can't tell you how this has affected Ben and myself." Suddenly she was crying and then Clora was crying also. Tearing up against the huge release of emotion, the sisters hugged.
"There is another part to this; Ev and Cheryl have to be warned that they are not to obligate us as family's for another session like this. Ben would give the shirt off his back, but it has to be his choice." That was final as far as Ben and Lainey were concerned, and Clora nodded her agreement.
stjwelding
Veteran Member
Pac glad to hear that Ben is headed in the direction he needs to go for healing, just hope he doesn't get mule headed or decide he doesn't need any help. Lainey seems like a real jewel of a woman, it's shame she has to go through this but some times one must just endure for love. Thanks for the post
Wayne
Wayne
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#32b
"Do you mind if we settle this with Cheryl right now, I need to be free from this hanging over our heads," Lainey practically pleaded.
"Yes, we can get it done." privately, Clora felt this was not the time or place to be setting a quota on Cheryl, but she agreed for Lainey's sake. Gathering up the boy's who were excited to be outside, even if it was starting to rain, they trooped down to see Ev and Cheryl.
Small talk and tea later, Lainey brought the subject up. Ev and Christy were playing with the boys, so they were occupied. "Cheryl, please take this with love and understanding but please no more children. This has been a tremendous hardship on Ben and myself, and could have ended badly for the boy's. They deserve the first consideration, not shoved around and moved from family to family. What would happen if Clora and Mark weren't able to give the boys a home?"
"From the deepness and kindness of your heart, you and Ev meant the very best for these boys and we thank you for bringing them into our lives. But your decision almost derailed my marriage, and with one child and another on the way, I have obligations." Lainey said firmly but gently. This was a side of Lainey that Cheryl had not seen and she was a bit taken aback at the finality of her tone. There was a bit of her mother's sense of social justice, and her father's passion against being used.
Not trusting herself to speak, Cheryl nodded and reached for the lady's hands. "I'm so sorry," she whispered. "I didn't think the problem all the way through in my haste to save these kids. It has been a terrible thing all around."
"We understand," Clora gave Cheryl a hug, "but we need to clear this type of situation with our mates first."
"I promise," Cheryl said tearfully.
"I need a hug also," Lainey requested, "We consider you a good friend, like a sister," she said positively. The war room was disbanded and the women went to the living room to exclaim and fuss over Ev who soaked up the attention like a sponge.
"This makes me feel good," he said and Cheryl interpreted for the visitors. He got kisses on his whiskery cheeks and pats on the shoulders and wishes for a speedy recovery.
"Christy," Clora remembered to ask as they were leaving, "would you consider going to church with us next Sunday to help control the wild one's?"
It was a thinly disguised way to give Christy an outing, but Cheryl smiled and agreed, and Christy was very interested.
On the way back up the hill to Lainey's house, Lainey said "thank you, that is another big problem off my shoulders. Ben did not want to conduct the services, but he felt the responsibilities to do so as the oldest brother."
"Well, Ben has to own some of that problem. There are members that would step in and help with the services. Mark for one is working toward being more comfortable in that area. Wayne is more able to do this than he lets on and needs to be included. We have been so busy, Lainey we need to stay closer in touch. We women seem to be the only ones that can work problems out." Clora grabbed Teddy's hand just as he went to yank on the end of Lainey's shawl. "No," she said firmly.
"You'd better listen," Milo warned his brother. "You won't like it if you don't."
Clora had to put her hand over her mouth to stop the giggle threatening to erupt. "That's right," she agreed. "You won't like it." she managed with a straight face.
Teddy nodded, letting his hand fall. "Ok," he said.
"Thank you for the fence," Lainey said as they went to part. "Living here has been a nightmare. When will the sale advertisements be ready?"
"Should be today," Clora thought out loud. "Mark had the impression they would be ready today, but there was no confirmed date. If he feels Ok, he'll pick them up on his way home."
"Good enough, can't happen soon enough," Lainey stressed as she opened the door. "Got to feed Miss hungry, see ya." Clora grabbed for two small grubby hands and walked up to fix lunch.
"Do you mind if we settle this with Cheryl right now, I need to be free from this hanging over our heads," Lainey practically pleaded.
"Yes, we can get it done." privately, Clora felt this was not the time or place to be setting a quota on Cheryl, but she agreed for Lainey's sake. Gathering up the boy's who were excited to be outside, even if it was starting to rain, they trooped down to see Ev and Cheryl.
Small talk and tea later, Lainey brought the subject up. Ev and Christy were playing with the boys, so they were occupied. "Cheryl, please take this with love and understanding but please no more children. This has been a tremendous hardship on Ben and myself, and could have ended badly for the boy's. They deserve the first consideration, not shoved around and moved from family to family. What would happen if Clora and Mark weren't able to give the boys a home?"
"From the deepness and kindness of your heart, you and Ev meant the very best for these boys and we thank you for bringing them into our lives. But your decision almost derailed my marriage, and with one child and another on the way, I have obligations." Lainey said firmly but gently. This was a side of Lainey that Cheryl had not seen and she was a bit taken aback at the finality of her tone. There was a bit of her mother's sense of social justice, and her father's passion against being used.
Not trusting herself to speak, Cheryl nodded and reached for the lady's hands. "I'm so sorry," she whispered. "I didn't think the problem all the way through in my haste to save these kids. It has been a terrible thing all around."
"We understand," Clora gave Cheryl a hug, "but we need to clear this type of situation with our mates first."
"I promise," Cheryl said tearfully.
"I need a hug also," Lainey requested, "We consider you a good friend, like a sister," she said positively. The war room was disbanded and the women went to the living room to exclaim and fuss over Ev who soaked up the attention like a sponge.
"This makes me feel good," he said and Cheryl interpreted for the visitors. He got kisses on his whiskery cheeks and pats on the shoulders and wishes for a speedy recovery.
"Christy," Clora remembered to ask as they were leaving, "would you consider going to church with us next Sunday to help control the wild one's?"
It was a thinly disguised way to give Christy an outing, but Cheryl smiled and agreed, and Christy was very interested.
On the way back up the hill to Lainey's house, Lainey said "thank you, that is another big problem off my shoulders. Ben did not want to conduct the services, but he felt the responsibilities to do so as the oldest brother."
"Well, Ben has to own some of that problem. There are members that would step in and help with the services. Mark for one is working toward being more comfortable in that area. Wayne is more able to do this than he lets on and needs to be included. We have been so busy, Lainey we need to stay closer in touch. We women seem to be the only ones that can work problems out." Clora grabbed Teddy's hand just as he went to yank on the end of Lainey's shawl. "No," she said firmly.
"You'd better listen," Milo warned his brother. "You won't like it if you don't."
Clora had to put her hand over her mouth to stop the giggle threatening to erupt. "That's right," she agreed. "You won't like it." she managed with a straight face.
Teddy nodded, letting his hand fall. "Ok," he said.
"Thank you for the fence," Lainey said as they went to part. "Living here has been a nightmare. When will the sale advertisements be ready?"
"Should be today," Clora thought out loud. "Mark had the impression they would be ready today, but there was no confirmed date. If he feels Ok, he'll pick them up on his way home."
"Good enough, can't happen soon enough," Lainey stressed as she opened the door. "Got to feed Miss hungry, see ya." Clora grabbed for two small grubby hands and walked up to fix lunch.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Great thank you.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#32c
Two little boys ate their lunch and went down for a nap. Clora finished the dishes and had time to brave the downstairs to check on the canned food inventory. In short, the basement was disgusting. The magical 'clean the basement fairy's' had been on strike, obviously.
There was a inch or more of fine silt dust all over the basement floor. The end of the basement that had been opened was a jumble of mortar chunks, rocks and and damp dirt where the hasty repair was holding. Clora sighed, thank goodness the canned jars were on shelves in the opposite side of the cellar.
They were good on the tomatoes, beans, pickles and fruit. The jars of stew, chili and canned meat chunks were certainly dwindling. Clora thought she had better find out from Ben how much meat was left in the lockers. This could be a problem in the making if the rest of the clan were as low as the Linderman's were in provisions.
Clora carefully counted and arranged the jars until she had a very accurate count of their jars of food. The jars of food supplemented by half gallon jars of rice, beans, barley, wheat and oats.
More rice, Clora was thinking, more beans and creative cooking needed to be done. She gathered up jars and carefully walked up the stairs. Two elfin faces were crouched at the top of the stairs, peering intently down into the shadowy darkness. "Where are you AuntieC? We can't find you?" Milo was calling nervously.
"I'm here Milo and Teddy. I'm just downstairs getting some food for the pantry. Hold the door open all the way and you can see me," Clora called back.
The door creaked open inch by inch until Clora was nose to nose with the boys. "Boo" she said loudly and the pair about levitated in fright. The look on their faces told Clora the whole story and she was sorry she had scared them. The Burton boys had been punished at sometime by being shut in a dark room. More information to be filed away.
"Do you guy's know about basements?" Clora asked casually, intending to begin a teaching moment.
"Scary," Milo could barely speak he was shaking so hard. "Really scary."
Teddy was scooting behind Milo, trying to get away as quickly as possible.
"You don't have to go down there," Clora reassured them. "We keep our canned food and extra boxes of parts and junk in the basement. If you want to see, I want you to ask me before you walk down the stairs. I want to hold your hand so you don't fall." She negotiated their curiosity, permission and her support all at one time.
"No," Milo said, "no basement."
"OK, the only time WE might have to go to the basement would be if we were in danger and needed to be safe. So I can't tell you that you will never have to go down there, but Uncle Mark or I will try our hardest to be there with you." Clora had to be honest.
"No, no basement," Milo repeated. Teddy clung like a small monkey to Milo's back, not willing to get in grabbing range of Clora, in case she would force him into the darkness.
"Hey guy's, please back up so I can come up, the jars are heavy." Clora asked as the kids crab walked backward. She shut the basement door and placed the jars in the pantry.
Clora got out milk and cookies and asked the boys to wash their hands. That restored the normalcy of the moment, and they had a quick after nap snack.
"Do me a favor please, keep an eye out for Uncle Ben's pickup as you play. I need to ask him a question." Clora said as she worked around the kitchen.
Milo said "yeah," but Teddy looked at her out the corner of his eye and stayed away.
Mark walked out of work and fingered the set of keys in his pocket. He had a plan he followed every evening when he left work. He drove past the bank Borg had sent him the key for. Borg had instilled caution into his ward, and Mark carefully scanned the cars to see if he had been followed. So far, he wasn't sure, so he didn't tip his hand. The printer had the handbills done and they looked attractive, Mark paid and threw the package on the passengers seat.
With a snatch of time left, Mark drove to Borg's house and let himself in the house. He went to his room and gathered up more of his books and placed them on the kitchen table. Opening the pantry door, he stared at the crammed storage. For sure he needed to get Clora and some boxes and get this stuff out to the farm.
They had a basement but Mark hadn't been down there in years, so he investigated. There was more food down there than the local grocery store. Borg had evidently been interested in a lot of different activities. There were boxes of used legal pads, old electric bills and several boxes with Mark's name on them. Those he carted upstairs and locked them in the Jeep.
It was time to take his aching head home, leaving the house Mark carefully locked up and watched the figure silhouetted behind the partially closed blinds next door. Just for the heck of it, he waved and the shape abruptly sat down.
Twice Mark looped back around to see if he was being followed, if he was, they were pretty good at staying under his radar.
What was surprising was Ben's pickup was returning to the farm just ahead of him. That was interesting, Ben hardly left the farm so if he had been out, it must have been important.
In the beam of his headlights, Mark could see the mostly completed fence. He felt a deep satisfaction at the protection he hoped it would impart. He drove up to the house feeling better than he had in a long time. The boy's were waiting for him, bouncing up and down in excitement. There was a long drawn out story being explained and Mark didn't understand more than six words, but he nodded seriously and that seemed to satisfy the youngsters.
Clora was good for a kiss and supper smelled great. Mark felt like the luckiest man in the world.
Two little boys ate their lunch and went down for a nap. Clora finished the dishes and had time to brave the downstairs to check on the canned food inventory. In short, the basement was disgusting. The magical 'clean the basement fairy's' had been on strike, obviously.
There was a inch or more of fine silt dust all over the basement floor. The end of the basement that had been opened was a jumble of mortar chunks, rocks and and damp dirt where the hasty repair was holding. Clora sighed, thank goodness the canned jars were on shelves in the opposite side of the cellar.
They were good on the tomatoes, beans, pickles and fruit. The jars of stew, chili and canned meat chunks were certainly dwindling. Clora thought she had better find out from Ben how much meat was left in the lockers. This could be a problem in the making if the rest of the clan were as low as the Linderman's were in provisions.
Clora carefully counted and arranged the jars until she had a very accurate count of their jars of food. The jars of food supplemented by half gallon jars of rice, beans, barley, wheat and oats.
More rice, Clora was thinking, more beans and creative cooking needed to be done. She gathered up jars and carefully walked up the stairs. Two elfin faces were crouched at the top of the stairs, peering intently down into the shadowy darkness. "Where are you AuntieC? We can't find you?" Milo was calling nervously.
"I'm here Milo and Teddy. I'm just downstairs getting some food for the pantry. Hold the door open all the way and you can see me," Clora called back.
The door creaked open inch by inch until Clora was nose to nose with the boys. "Boo" she said loudly and the pair about levitated in fright. The look on their faces told Clora the whole story and she was sorry she had scared them. The Burton boys had been punished at sometime by being shut in a dark room. More information to be filed away.
"Do you guy's know about basements?" Clora asked casually, intending to begin a teaching moment.
"Scary," Milo could barely speak he was shaking so hard. "Really scary."
Teddy was scooting behind Milo, trying to get away as quickly as possible.
"You don't have to go down there," Clora reassured them. "We keep our canned food and extra boxes of parts and junk in the basement. If you want to see, I want you to ask me before you walk down the stairs. I want to hold your hand so you don't fall." She negotiated their curiosity, permission and her support all at one time.
"No," Milo said, "no basement."
"OK, the only time WE might have to go to the basement would be if we were in danger and needed to be safe. So I can't tell you that you will never have to go down there, but Uncle Mark or I will try our hardest to be there with you." Clora had to be honest.
"No, no basement," Milo repeated. Teddy clung like a small monkey to Milo's back, not willing to get in grabbing range of Clora, in case she would force him into the darkness.
"Hey guy's, please back up so I can come up, the jars are heavy." Clora asked as the kids crab walked backward. She shut the basement door and placed the jars in the pantry.
Clora got out milk and cookies and asked the boys to wash their hands. That restored the normalcy of the moment, and they had a quick after nap snack.
"Do me a favor please, keep an eye out for Uncle Ben's pickup as you play. I need to ask him a question." Clora said as she worked around the kitchen.
Milo said "yeah," but Teddy looked at her out the corner of his eye and stayed away.
Mark walked out of work and fingered the set of keys in his pocket. He had a plan he followed every evening when he left work. He drove past the bank Borg had sent him the key for. Borg had instilled caution into his ward, and Mark carefully scanned the cars to see if he had been followed. So far, he wasn't sure, so he didn't tip his hand. The printer had the handbills done and they looked attractive, Mark paid and threw the package on the passengers seat.
With a snatch of time left, Mark drove to Borg's house and let himself in the house. He went to his room and gathered up more of his books and placed them on the kitchen table. Opening the pantry door, he stared at the crammed storage. For sure he needed to get Clora and some boxes and get this stuff out to the farm.
They had a basement but Mark hadn't been down there in years, so he investigated. There was more food down there than the local grocery store. Borg had evidently been interested in a lot of different activities. There were boxes of used legal pads, old electric bills and several boxes with Mark's name on them. Those he carted upstairs and locked them in the Jeep.
It was time to take his aching head home, leaving the house Mark carefully locked up and watched the figure silhouetted behind the partially closed blinds next door. Just for the heck of it, he waved and the shape abruptly sat down.
Twice Mark looped back around to see if he was being followed, if he was, they were pretty good at staying under his radar.
What was surprising was Ben's pickup was returning to the farm just ahead of him. That was interesting, Ben hardly left the farm so if he had been out, it must have been important.
In the beam of his headlights, Mark could see the mostly completed fence. He felt a deep satisfaction at the protection he hoped it would impart. He drove up to the house feeling better than he had in a long time. The boy's were waiting for him, bouncing up and down in excitement. There was a long drawn out story being explained and Mark didn't understand more than six words, but he nodded seriously and that seemed to satisfy the youngsters.
Clora was good for a kiss and supper smelled great. Mark felt like the luckiest man in the world.
DustMusher
Deceased
Thanks for the chapters, Pac, and why do I have the feeling Cliff is lurking just over yonder by the fence?
DM
DM
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Thank you and yes I can see cliff right over there lol. Best go get that food as soon as possible.
stjwelding
Veteran Member
Pac thanks for the post.
Wayne
Wayne
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#33
Ben walked in his house to the mouthwatering smells of chicken and dumplings. The end of the day was looking up, and he was glad.
His day at the clinic had been brutal, the stress test, the electrocardiogram, and he had no intention of telling Lainey about the two stents they had installed. Ben had refused to spend the night, instead checking himself out of the hospital.
He rationalized his poor behavior by telling himself it was because he didn't want any of the unfriendlies that seemed to inhabit the hospital to find him. In truth he was scared to death to be in there. Ben, for all his strength and training in the law enforcement field and ability to stand tall and strong was petrified of needles. He had gritted his teeth and submitted to the absolute necessary amount of sticks, but kept the evidence hidden by his long sleeves. The patch in his groin he kept out of sight under his longjohns.
Many months later when he mentioned his stents to Clora she was matter of fact about their propensity to heart problems, and said she was checked regularly,....wasn't he?"
Sitting at the table after supper, Ben carefully edited his day and told Lainey most of the medical facts that had happened during the day.
"I have this contraption to wear at night, it's supposed to give me better sleep and stop most of my snoring. It makes a small hissing noise and they claim it won't bother you very much after we get used to it. However, if you don't want to share a room, I will understand."
Lainey shook her head, "I'm happy where I am." she said with finality. There was no noise on earth that could be as loud as Ben's snoring, so she figured to be way ahead of the curve. "We'll adapt."
Lainey and Anne had slept most of the afternoon in an exhausted stupor. Sleep gave Lainey a better ability to cope with the stresses of her day, and Anne; why darling Anne was the sweetest baby in the house.
"The most important thing, I can't hear at night when I got this on, I can't protect us from attack. That's my greatest fear, something will go down and I can't hear it."
"I don't believe I know what to say, other than let's try it for a couple of nights and see what you think of the setup." Lainey replied calmly. "If it makes you too nervous to sleep, I'll stand guard."
"Maybe just tonight," Ben muttered. "I'll know by tomorrow morning whether I want this POS."
"Ben!" Lainey pretended to be scandalized by his language, and gave him a bowl of pear cobbler. "Put this in your mouth instead."
Mark told Clora about the food in Borg's house. "It needs to be used, I want you to come help me load up what you want, Lainey and Cheryl are welcome to what we don't use." he winked at Clora, laughing at her upturned nose and disdainful expression.
Mark was well aware of Clora's opinion of Borg, "Look at it this way, what finer revenge than to use here, what he intended for himself," Mark teased her.
"I wouldn't throw water in his face if his teeth were afire," Clora snapped promptly. "He wronged you and I'll never forgive him for that."
Their evening was interrupted by Will driving in. He looked like a shaggy knothole run back wards. Clora put his plate on the table and a large glass of milk. The boys she took to the bedroom for a bedtime story and prayers.
Will was telling Mark about the stir the posters were creating in town. Mark had paid the son of the printer twenty bucks to saturate the town with the for sale signs. "If you want to scare up a buyer, that just might do it. Lot's of people are talking."
"Good, that's just what we intended. I firmly believe Lainey is on to something with her theory. Actually, the more that I've considered the facts, the more I believe somebody does want this land for something. What? I'm waiting to see. Exciting in the least." he finished.
"Exciting enough to give me an ulcer," Will spoke up. "I had to go to the clinic today and get a prescription, my belly's on fire.
"Then you need rice, a big bowl full will fill you up and quench the fire, weak mint tea and chamomile at bedtime." Clora dished it up as she spoke and slid it down the table to him.
Ben walked in his house to the mouthwatering smells of chicken and dumplings. The end of the day was looking up, and he was glad.
His day at the clinic had been brutal, the stress test, the electrocardiogram, and he had no intention of telling Lainey about the two stents they had installed. Ben had refused to spend the night, instead checking himself out of the hospital.
He rationalized his poor behavior by telling himself it was because he didn't want any of the unfriendlies that seemed to inhabit the hospital to find him. In truth he was scared to death to be in there. Ben, for all his strength and training in the law enforcement field and ability to stand tall and strong was petrified of needles. He had gritted his teeth and submitted to the absolute necessary amount of sticks, but kept the evidence hidden by his long sleeves. The patch in his groin he kept out of sight under his longjohns.
Many months later when he mentioned his stents to Clora she was matter of fact about their propensity to heart problems, and said she was checked regularly,....wasn't he?"
Sitting at the table after supper, Ben carefully edited his day and told Lainey most of the medical facts that had happened during the day.
"I have this contraption to wear at night, it's supposed to give me better sleep and stop most of my snoring. It makes a small hissing noise and they claim it won't bother you very much after we get used to it. However, if you don't want to share a room, I will understand."
Lainey shook her head, "I'm happy where I am." she said with finality. There was no noise on earth that could be as loud as Ben's snoring, so she figured to be way ahead of the curve. "We'll adapt."
Lainey and Anne had slept most of the afternoon in an exhausted stupor. Sleep gave Lainey a better ability to cope with the stresses of her day, and Anne; why darling Anne was the sweetest baby in the house.
"The most important thing, I can't hear at night when I got this on, I can't protect us from attack. That's my greatest fear, something will go down and I can't hear it."
"I don't believe I know what to say, other than let's try it for a couple of nights and see what you think of the setup." Lainey replied calmly. "If it makes you too nervous to sleep, I'll stand guard."
"Maybe just tonight," Ben muttered. "I'll know by tomorrow morning whether I want this POS."
"Ben!" Lainey pretended to be scandalized by his language, and gave him a bowl of pear cobbler. "Put this in your mouth instead."
Mark told Clora about the food in Borg's house. "It needs to be used, I want you to come help me load up what you want, Lainey and Cheryl are welcome to what we don't use." he winked at Clora, laughing at her upturned nose and disdainful expression.
Mark was well aware of Clora's opinion of Borg, "Look at it this way, what finer revenge than to use here, what he intended for himself," Mark teased her.
"I wouldn't throw water in his face if his teeth were afire," Clora snapped promptly. "He wronged you and I'll never forgive him for that."
Their evening was interrupted by Will driving in. He looked like a shaggy knothole run back wards. Clora put his plate on the table and a large glass of milk. The boys she took to the bedroom for a bedtime story and prayers.
Will was telling Mark about the stir the posters were creating in town. Mark had paid the son of the printer twenty bucks to saturate the town with the for sale signs. "If you want to scare up a buyer, that just might do it. Lot's of people are talking."
"Good, that's just what we intended. I firmly believe Lainey is on to something with her theory. Actually, the more that I've considered the facts, the more I believe somebody does want this land for something. What? I'm waiting to see. Exciting in the least." he finished.
"Exciting enough to give me an ulcer," Will spoke up. "I had to go to the clinic today and get a prescription, my belly's on fire.
"Then you need rice, a big bowl full will fill you up and quench the fire, weak mint tea and chamomile at bedtime." Clora dished it up as she spoke and slid it down the table to him.
"I wouldn't throw water in his face if his teeth were afire," Clora snapped promptly. "He wronged you and I'll never forgive him for that."
Love that expression, but I can't wait for Clora to realize that she HAS to forgive Borg; because as a Christian, God tells us that if WE don't forgive, we don't get forgiven.
Love that expression, but I can't wait for Clora to realize that she HAS to forgive Borg; because as a Christian, God tells us that if WE don't forgive, we don't get forgiven.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Thank you.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
Kaij...
Clora is human. The human person Clora is modeled after, struggles with her forgiveness. She hasn't comes to grips with what she needs to do.
Clora may or may not change, she's finding it difficult to forgive the man that was a father figure to her husband, yet intended to kill him if he possibly could have.
Upcoming is the revelation that Mark believe's his bullet was the one that killed Borg. Nothing is ever simple.
Clora is human. The human person Clora is modeled after, struggles with her forgiveness. She hasn't comes to grips with what she needs to do.
Clora may or may not change, she's finding it difficult to forgive the man that was a father figure to her husband, yet intended to kill him if he possibly could have.
Upcoming is the revelation that Mark believe's his bullet was the one that killed Borg. Nothing is ever simple.
Siskiyoumom
Veteran Member
Thank you so much for the additions!
Had a rough day at work yesterday and hit the sack early.
Had a great day at work today and wa la, more additions.
Thank you thank you thank you thank you.
Ah did I say thank you : )
Had a rough day at work yesterday and hit the sack early.
Had a great day at work today and wa la, more additions.
Thank you thank you thank you thank you.
Ah did I say thank you : )
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
Sis,
thank you for working with the children. You have a thankless job on the surface, but there are so many treasures you hold in your hands. You may never know how many you inspire, save or change the path they seemed doomed to trod. I have had students come 25 years later, and say thank you.
A couple of kids that seemed destined for great things with their innate smarts and quick grasp, turned their intelligence in the wrong direction. Sadly, once they started, their was no turning them back
Several of the students that struggled hard to learn to read, have done such remarkable things in their life that I am so proud of their accomplishments.
Teachers have the ability to affect so much in the line of self confidence, self worth and self respect, I salute you all.
I am editing this to say that I have been proud of all my students, but I expect them all to be exceptional.
thank you for working with the children. You have a thankless job on the surface, but there are so many treasures you hold in your hands. You may never know how many you inspire, save or change the path they seemed doomed to trod. I have had students come 25 years later, and say thank you.
A couple of kids that seemed destined for great things with their innate smarts and quick grasp, turned their intelligence in the wrong direction. Sadly, once they started, their was no turning them back
Several of the students that struggled hard to learn to read, have done such remarkable things in their life that I am so proud of their accomplishments.
Teachers have the ability to affect so much in the line of self confidence, self worth and self respect, I salute you all.
I am editing this to say that I have been proud of all my students, but I expect them all to be exceptional.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#33b
Supper was hardly finished when the first identifying ring tone came in on Mark's cell phone. He held up his hand to stop the noisy conversation, "Hello, this is Mark, who am I speaking with please. No, without identifying yourself, I won't give out further information, thank you for calling," he said politely. Flipping the phone closed he smiled. "Looky Loo?" he slipped the phone in his pocket.
"Eventually our guy will figure out he needs to speak reasonably," Mark picked his phone out of his pocket and hit history and wrote the number and name in his notebook. "I think I will keep a log of names, see who calls the most." He passed the book to Will to peruse the name.
"Real Estate salesman," Will replied sending the book back. "Out of Portland."
"Ok, your a handy reference," Mark joshed as he had another scoop of lemon pudding cake.
Will looked up, frowned and reached for the pan, "I think you got more than your share," he pulled the pan closer. "Who made you top lion?" he scooped a generous portion.
Mark let him have his second helping before he confiscated the pan. "I made me alpha lion," he replied, using the serving spoon to eat the remaining pudding in the pan before starting on the dessert in his bowl. When Mark finished his treat, he pretended to thump his chest like Tarzan. "Humm, that's still tender," he rubbed the left side of his chest.
"Ribs?" the grizzled lawman questioned.
"Yeah, that guy that T-boned me really did a good job. Did anyone ever run a check on him? I never heard and the insurance company said he dropped out of sight." Mark licked the spoon and used his finger to clean out his bowl.
"Are you still hungry? Don't you ever get filled up, how does Clora keep you in food?" Will looked amused but concerned for poor Clora, who was laughing so hard she had to grab onto the sink.
"His stomach growls in the middle of the night," Clora tattled, taking the dishes from the table. "Hey, did Wayne tell you guy's he might be late tonight? I don't want to put supper away, but gosh it's getting late."
"Pile a plateful and set it aside, if he gets home, he'll inhale it." Mark directed. "If not, I'll eat it later." The problem was taken care of, as far as Mark was concerned.
The next dawn was a cold, snow laden morning. The fresh white frozen layer covered everything. Wayne had come in late, and had hold up in his house rather than wake up Mark and Clora. Mark thought the brother was pretty smart for realizing he might have been shot, bumbling into their house at a late hour.
Mark milked, Bossie happy to see her favorite person. Taking care of the chores, he surveyed the farm as he stood appreciating the beauty of the morning. The dogs were pleased with the morning milk treat, Ruby finally coming to sniff his hand. Mark praised her quietly and she accepted the accolades.
The horses were frisking in the cold, the colts racing around stirring up their blood. Mark felt the calmness envelope him that the horses brought to his harried life. Their very form was pleasing to his eye as they ran across the pasture. Reluctantly, he turned and walked back to the house.
Clora had breakfast ready, pancakes and eggs and her form of breakfast sausage. Hamburger seasoned like country sausage and fried in a tablespoon of left over bacon grease. The tantalizing smell enticed him to eat two large helpings and four large flapjacks.
"Jeeze, are you eating again?" Will complained as he came in the room buttoning his issue shirt. The cuff's were slightly frayed and the buttonholes stretched and hard to keep closed.
"Don't complain and park your feet under the table," Mark shot back, "I'll eat your share."
"I'm wounded to the quick," Will jested as he got to work on his breakfast.
Milo and Teddy came padding in, sniffing like small puppies for breakfast. "Oh cool, pancakes," Milo enthused, he was content with pancakes for every meal. Teddy walked over and tugged on Clora's skirt. He wanted up, and Clora was thrilled with the small victory. His small head burrowed into her shoulder and that's when Clora realized the little tyke had a raging fever.
Supper was hardly finished when the first identifying ring tone came in on Mark's cell phone. He held up his hand to stop the noisy conversation, "Hello, this is Mark, who am I speaking with please. No, without identifying yourself, I won't give out further information, thank you for calling," he said politely. Flipping the phone closed he smiled. "Looky Loo?" he slipped the phone in his pocket.
"Eventually our guy will figure out he needs to speak reasonably," Mark picked his phone out of his pocket and hit history and wrote the number and name in his notebook. "I think I will keep a log of names, see who calls the most." He passed the book to Will to peruse the name.
"Real Estate salesman," Will replied sending the book back. "Out of Portland."
"Ok, your a handy reference," Mark joshed as he had another scoop of lemon pudding cake.
Will looked up, frowned and reached for the pan, "I think you got more than your share," he pulled the pan closer. "Who made you top lion?" he scooped a generous portion.
Mark let him have his second helping before he confiscated the pan. "I made me alpha lion," he replied, using the serving spoon to eat the remaining pudding in the pan before starting on the dessert in his bowl. When Mark finished his treat, he pretended to thump his chest like Tarzan. "Humm, that's still tender," he rubbed the left side of his chest.
"Ribs?" the grizzled lawman questioned.
"Yeah, that guy that T-boned me really did a good job. Did anyone ever run a check on him? I never heard and the insurance company said he dropped out of sight." Mark licked the spoon and used his finger to clean out his bowl.
"Are you still hungry? Don't you ever get filled up, how does Clora keep you in food?" Will looked amused but concerned for poor Clora, who was laughing so hard she had to grab onto the sink.
"His stomach growls in the middle of the night," Clora tattled, taking the dishes from the table. "Hey, did Wayne tell you guy's he might be late tonight? I don't want to put supper away, but gosh it's getting late."
"Pile a plateful and set it aside, if he gets home, he'll inhale it." Mark directed. "If not, I'll eat it later." The problem was taken care of, as far as Mark was concerned.
The next dawn was a cold, snow laden morning. The fresh white frozen layer covered everything. Wayne had come in late, and had hold up in his house rather than wake up Mark and Clora. Mark thought the brother was pretty smart for realizing he might have been shot, bumbling into their house at a late hour.
Mark milked, Bossie happy to see her favorite person. Taking care of the chores, he surveyed the farm as he stood appreciating the beauty of the morning. The dogs were pleased with the morning milk treat, Ruby finally coming to sniff his hand. Mark praised her quietly and she accepted the accolades.
The horses were frisking in the cold, the colts racing around stirring up their blood. Mark felt the calmness envelope him that the horses brought to his harried life. Their very form was pleasing to his eye as they ran across the pasture. Reluctantly, he turned and walked back to the house.
Clora had breakfast ready, pancakes and eggs and her form of breakfast sausage. Hamburger seasoned like country sausage and fried in a tablespoon of left over bacon grease. The tantalizing smell enticed him to eat two large helpings and four large flapjacks.
"Jeeze, are you eating again?" Will complained as he came in the room buttoning his issue shirt. The cuff's were slightly frayed and the buttonholes stretched and hard to keep closed.
"Don't complain and park your feet under the table," Mark shot back, "I'll eat your share."
"I'm wounded to the quick," Will jested as he got to work on his breakfast.
Milo and Teddy came padding in, sniffing like small puppies for breakfast. "Oh cool, pancakes," Milo enthused, he was content with pancakes for every meal. Teddy walked over and tugged on Clora's skirt. He wanted up, and Clora was thrilled with the small victory. His small head burrowed into her shoulder and that's when Clora realized the little tyke had a raging fever.
bad_karma00
Underachiever
Uh oh, Teddy's sick. Might have caught it from Clora? Or someone else.
I really enjoyed the word play beween Mark and Will. Good to see Mark stepping up, too. Ben may be the patriarch, but Mark has his own family to worry about, and I don't blame him for moving ahead with a project that everyone else had endorsed and wanted done.
Great work as always Pac..
Bad
I really enjoyed the word play beween Mark and Will. Good to see Mark stepping up, too. Ben may be the patriarch, but Mark has his own family to worry about, and I don't blame him for moving ahead with a project that everyone else had endorsed and wanted done.
Great work as always Pac..
Bad
stjwelding
Veteran Member
Thanks Pac, great chapter, glad to see that Ben got the help he needed and that the add to sell the farm seems to be creating quite a stir in the community, hopefully it will have the desired outcome.
Wayne
Wayne
Hmmm...does Mark have an implant of some kind now?
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#34
Mark got the call he thought might come through during his lunch break. The faintly accented voice asked a lot of questions, identified himself as Peter Brettson and was real curious about the place. When the man finally asked the price, Mark smoothly replied 825 thousand.
There was a slight pause, but the man couldn't keep the surprise and eagerness out of his voice. "That is reasonable," the voice replied and there was a scratching sound as he obviously wrote the number down. "May I call this number for more information," the voice requested, "I need to gather up the money and arrange a meeting with you and the family." Mark agreed, sounding calm and somewhat controlled, his training giving him a tight hold.
Inside he was hooping and hollering with glee. Mark had picked a number that was outrageous and so far above reasonable that it would mark anyone interested in paying that much as the perpetrator of their problems. The asking price was two times the average price of a farm like theirs, so he was satisfied the ruse was working well.
Mark called out to the farm to share the exciting news with Clora, testing her new phone in the process. When she finally answered, he was concerned there might be a crisis happening. Short of breath from running to find the slippery little cell phone, Clora was harried and worried sounding, she was indeed in the middle of a crisis.
"Teddy's very sick, he has my flu. Things aren't going very good, I really can't talk. If you get a chance could you come home early?" Clora asked as she dashed back into the bedroom. She could hear Teddy retching and crying. There was another mess to clean up, she hadn't been quick enough.
Mark tried calling Ben to tell him the fantastic news, the scheme was working. No answer, not even Lainey was available.
Next Mark tried Wayne, he answered but couldn't talk and promised to call back. Finally, Mark called Cheryl. Thank goodness she could listen. "Ben and Lainey are out in the pasture bringing the herd in. There is a cow trying to calve, and Ben thinks she's in trouble. Christy is helping them, and Clora has her hands full with a really sick kid. Seems Teddy had been using her toothbrush cause he likes her handle color better than his own."
Mark accounted his suspicion that they had a pretty big fish nibbling on the bait, and they might be able to bring some resolution to the problem. Cheryl was properly excited, and promised to tell Ev as soon as she got off the phone.
Mark stopped at a little grocery as he drove home after work, and was happy he did. The household was still in an uproar, Teddy was barely better. Mark brought home some 7up, and the small boy drank a small amount
Milo looked longingly at the soda, but held himself back until Mark asked if he would like a can. Nodding enthusiastically, Milo pulled a chair up to the table and parked himself in seconds. Using both hands, he was very careful not to spill a drop.
Mark went out to help Ben and free up Lainey to return to the house and change the squalling Anne. Christy was working the cows into the round pen corral, quietly she was speaking to them and they finally caught on to what she wanted. The cow they wanted was breachy and wild eyed, she spooked easily and looked ready to climb the fence panels. Slowly, Christy cut her back and let the other cows and calves out the gate. Finally, the cow was the only one left and Christy took a sheaf of hay and spilled a little grain on the alfalfa. Letting herself out the gate, she left the cow and old gal wandered suspiciously close to the treat, but wouldn't let herself be charmed into settling down.
Ben brought over a bale of straw and scattered it in the corner for the cow to bed down on. Hopefully she would choose to calve in the clean area and not in the muddy corral.
Bossie heard the rattle of the grain can and was standing impatiently, waiting for her share. Mark snapped the bail on the metal pail rim and Bossie surged forward into the stanchion.
"So that's what she's always waiting for me to do," Christy laughed as she grained Bossie. "I just wasn't getting it, was I Bossie?"
"Ugh, she is really dirty tonight," Christy washed and washed the muddy bag. Christy, to be sure she had cleaned the cow well enough, squirted the first pulls on the ground. Humming a tuneless little ditty, she gently milked and then stripped the bag with confidence.
Patting Bossie on the rump, she unlatched the wooden bar of the stanchion and let the cow finish her supper. The Hereford paced around the pen, watched the goings on and walked over to sniff the grain. She wasn't interested in eating and laid down on the straw.
"I'll watch her through the night," Ben remarked, "I sure hate to loose another calf."
"Can I stay and watch?" Christy asked. "I find this really interesting, I like animals almost better than people."
"If your folks agree and you have enough warm clothes," Ben replied, not really expecting that Ev and Cheryl would be too thrilled to let Christy stay up all night, outside in the cold.
"We have a big bite on the sale bill," Mark said to Ben. "I think this could be the answer we are looking for."
Mark got the call he thought might come through during his lunch break. The faintly accented voice asked a lot of questions, identified himself as Peter Brettson and was real curious about the place. When the man finally asked the price, Mark smoothly replied 825 thousand.
There was a slight pause, but the man couldn't keep the surprise and eagerness out of his voice. "That is reasonable," the voice replied and there was a scratching sound as he obviously wrote the number down. "May I call this number for more information," the voice requested, "I need to gather up the money and arrange a meeting with you and the family." Mark agreed, sounding calm and somewhat controlled, his training giving him a tight hold.
Inside he was hooping and hollering with glee. Mark had picked a number that was outrageous and so far above reasonable that it would mark anyone interested in paying that much as the perpetrator of their problems. The asking price was two times the average price of a farm like theirs, so he was satisfied the ruse was working well.
Mark called out to the farm to share the exciting news with Clora, testing her new phone in the process. When she finally answered, he was concerned there might be a crisis happening. Short of breath from running to find the slippery little cell phone, Clora was harried and worried sounding, she was indeed in the middle of a crisis.
"Teddy's very sick, he has my flu. Things aren't going very good, I really can't talk. If you get a chance could you come home early?" Clora asked as she dashed back into the bedroom. She could hear Teddy retching and crying. There was another mess to clean up, she hadn't been quick enough.
Mark tried calling Ben to tell him the fantastic news, the scheme was working. No answer, not even Lainey was available.
Next Mark tried Wayne, he answered but couldn't talk and promised to call back. Finally, Mark called Cheryl. Thank goodness she could listen. "Ben and Lainey are out in the pasture bringing the herd in. There is a cow trying to calve, and Ben thinks she's in trouble. Christy is helping them, and Clora has her hands full with a really sick kid. Seems Teddy had been using her toothbrush cause he likes her handle color better than his own."
Mark accounted his suspicion that they had a pretty big fish nibbling on the bait, and they might be able to bring some resolution to the problem. Cheryl was properly excited, and promised to tell Ev as soon as she got off the phone.
Mark stopped at a little grocery as he drove home after work, and was happy he did. The household was still in an uproar, Teddy was barely better. Mark brought home some 7up, and the small boy drank a small amount
Milo looked longingly at the soda, but held himself back until Mark asked if he would like a can. Nodding enthusiastically, Milo pulled a chair up to the table and parked himself in seconds. Using both hands, he was very careful not to spill a drop.
Mark went out to help Ben and free up Lainey to return to the house and change the squalling Anne. Christy was working the cows into the round pen corral, quietly she was speaking to them and they finally caught on to what she wanted. The cow they wanted was breachy and wild eyed, she spooked easily and looked ready to climb the fence panels. Slowly, Christy cut her back and let the other cows and calves out the gate. Finally, the cow was the only one left and Christy took a sheaf of hay and spilled a little grain on the alfalfa. Letting herself out the gate, she left the cow and old gal wandered suspiciously close to the treat, but wouldn't let herself be charmed into settling down.
Ben brought over a bale of straw and scattered it in the corner for the cow to bed down on. Hopefully she would choose to calve in the clean area and not in the muddy corral.
Bossie heard the rattle of the grain can and was standing impatiently, waiting for her share. Mark snapped the bail on the metal pail rim and Bossie surged forward into the stanchion.
"So that's what she's always waiting for me to do," Christy laughed as she grained Bossie. "I just wasn't getting it, was I Bossie?"
"Ugh, she is really dirty tonight," Christy washed and washed the muddy bag. Christy, to be sure she had cleaned the cow well enough, squirted the first pulls on the ground. Humming a tuneless little ditty, she gently milked and then stripped the bag with confidence.
Patting Bossie on the rump, she unlatched the wooden bar of the stanchion and let the cow finish her supper. The Hereford paced around the pen, watched the goings on and walked over to sniff the grain. She wasn't interested in eating and laid down on the straw.
"I'll watch her through the night," Ben remarked, "I sure hate to loose another calf."
"Can I stay and watch?" Christy asked. "I find this really interesting, I like animals almost better than people."
"If your folks agree and you have enough warm clothes," Ben replied, not really expecting that Ev and Cheryl would be too thrilled to let Christy stay up all night, outside in the cold.
"We have a big bite on the sale bill," Mark said to Ben. "I think this could be the answer we are looking for."
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Thank you for the new chapter.
Siskiyoumom
Veteran Member
Thank you for your encouraging words to me.
It is a blessing to know that there are folks who do appreciate public school teachers.
And thank you for your newest additions to your story.
It is a blessing to know that there are folks who do appreciate public school teachers.
And thank you for your newest additions to your story.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#34b
Mark rolled up his sleeves, washed his hands and cobbled together a supper of fried rice, with assorted veggies and tuna. He had found the lone can in the pantry and decided it would have to do. Milo stared at the unusual to him concoction, and announced he much preferred his soda.
"Not if you want any more soda," Mark warned. "A couple of spoonfuls isn't too much to eat, that and a slice of bread and butter need to disappear inside you bucko. And if you want a cookie after, it all needs to be cleaned up."
Clora brought Teddy in to the table as she grabbed a few mouthfuls of food. The child clung to her and she finally got out a shawl that Lainey had left and wrapped Teddy to her. He settled in and finally went to sleep, giving them both a moment of rest.
"I need to make some re-hydration fluid, this poor kid has heaved his tonsils inside out." Clora moved around the kitchen running the water to have the coldest to fill a bowl. She dropped a washcloth in and then wrung it out, placing it on Teddy's head. He squirmed, but let it be.
"Tell me about the call," she invited Mark. "Did you really give him such a number?"
"Sure did, and he didn't pause a second, just said he would get the money together and be in touch. So, we need a family get together and decide if we really want to sell, or sic the FBI on the dude. But be forewarned, they haven't done anything wrong so there is no way to charge them. Our suspicions are the only thing we have to go on." Mark reached over for the wash cloth and re-dampened it.
"Where the heck is Wayne, is he coming home tonight? He needs to give me his thoughts on selling or staying. I believe I will call him again." Mark whipped out his phone and punched a number. "Hey dude, we need you home, big time happenings need your input. Well geeze Wayne, bring her if she won't let you leave by yourself. Yeah, see you in a bit." Mark sat with his arms crossed, tapping his foot.
"Clora? sweetie, we have to go down to Ev's for the meeting, and do you think Teddy should be out in the cold? What do you want to do?" Mark asked her seriously. "This guy might call back as soon as tomorrow, so we need to have an answer ready tonight."
"Ever since this was brought up, I have been thinking. What I'm going to do is be neutral, I'm sending a note with you that states I will go with the majority. We go, I go. We stay, I stay. But no, I'm not taking Teddy out. Did you know this little rascal was using my toothbrush because he liked the color, that's where he got the flu germs."
"I want you to know if I'm allowed to vote, I WILL vote to sell. We need to be out of here," Mark said as he picked up the dishes and put them in the sink to soak. "If we all want to live together, there has to be a better place than this one."
"What about the money you just spent on the fence?"
"I'd do it again at twice the price to keep you and the kids safe, the money is nothing. You and the boys are everything," Mark stopped behind Clora's chair and mopped Teddy's face once again with the cloth. He reached up and tugged gently on Clora's earlobe as a gesture of affection. "I'll be back as soon as things get settled. Do you need paper and a pencil?"
"Yes please, get this show on the road." Clora put her vote on paper and gave it to Mark.
Mark collected Ben and Lainey; and the slow moving Wayne as he came rolling in alone. Knocking on Ev's door, they trooped in and sat around the man in his recliner.
"Ben, I believe you are in charge," Mark held out two pieces of paper. "One is Clora's and the other is Will's. The floor is yours."
Lainey gave her brother in law points for being very perceptive, Ben had been wondering if Mark was going to run the show, and suddenly he was back to being the leader of the clan.
When asked, Mark detailed the conversation he had with the mysterious buyer, pausing as sharp questions were asked about the tone, accent and sentence phrasing used. In the end, Ben asked for a show of hands for selling. It was Mark, Lainey, Cheryl and Ev and Wayne for selling.
Ben opened Clora's vote and said she is neutral, but sides with the majority." He opened the second vote and said,"Will votes to sell."
He stood up and walked to the window and back. "I vote,," and his voice faltered, "I vote to sell." It was easy for every one to see what it cost Ben to vote with the majority.
Ben looked at Mark and said with incredulity, "you really did tell them 825?"
The family looked at each other and shook their heads, hardly believing the audacity of the price.
"If they want it, they have to pay," Mark said smugly. "What better way to flush out the big boys, and by golly they must really want this place to consider paying that much."
"I wonder why?" Lainey spoke up finally in the heavy silence. "I have gone over a hundred reasons for someone wanting us out of here, and I just can't see a connection."
"We may never know why," Ben spoke up, "I guess we could make that a condition of the sale if you want, but frankly I'd let it be."
"How about the money in the fence?" Cheryl wanted to know.
Mark shrugged,"If it keeps my family safe till we leave, then it was worth every penny."
"Cows," Ev struggled to say and be understood.
"Well I imagine we will find another farm, I for one don't have another way to make a living, unless I go back into law enforcement. I'm not interested in doing that, but a job is a job," Ben said philosophically.
Lainey looked alarmed and snuggled Anne closer. She didn't say anything, but she wasn't happy with the thought of Ben back in the law force.
"Two of us make our living here in the dirt. Mark? how portable is your job? Wayne, how about you, are you ready to pull up stakes?
It seems Will can move easy and always find a job, but how about you guy's?"
Mark held out his hands, "can't do anything more than find a place to live and then send in a resume to nearby towns, that goes for both of us I suppose." Wayne nodded his agreement.
"Hey Christy, you have a computer? Right? would you like to do some real estate looking?" Mark brought the teen into the action and got the ball rolling. He was concerned that Ben might try to over analyze the situation, and bog down the search.
"I've got to get back to the house," Mark stood up and walked to the door. "Clora is awful anxious to know what is going on. Hey everybody, I want to acknowledge and thank you all for making a tough call here. Like you all, I pray that it is the right decision."
Mark rolled up his sleeves, washed his hands and cobbled together a supper of fried rice, with assorted veggies and tuna. He had found the lone can in the pantry and decided it would have to do. Milo stared at the unusual to him concoction, and announced he much preferred his soda.
"Not if you want any more soda," Mark warned. "A couple of spoonfuls isn't too much to eat, that and a slice of bread and butter need to disappear inside you bucko. And if you want a cookie after, it all needs to be cleaned up."
Clora brought Teddy in to the table as she grabbed a few mouthfuls of food. The child clung to her and she finally got out a shawl that Lainey had left and wrapped Teddy to her. He settled in and finally went to sleep, giving them both a moment of rest.
"I need to make some re-hydration fluid, this poor kid has heaved his tonsils inside out." Clora moved around the kitchen running the water to have the coldest to fill a bowl. She dropped a washcloth in and then wrung it out, placing it on Teddy's head. He squirmed, but let it be.
"Tell me about the call," she invited Mark. "Did you really give him such a number?"
"Sure did, and he didn't pause a second, just said he would get the money together and be in touch. So, we need a family get together and decide if we really want to sell, or sic the FBI on the dude. But be forewarned, they haven't done anything wrong so there is no way to charge them. Our suspicions are the only thing we have to go on." Mark reached over for the wash cloth and re-dampened it.
"Where the heck is Wayne, is he coming home tonight? He needs to give me his thoughts on selling or staying. I believe I will call him again." Mark whipped out his phone and punched a number. "Hey dude, we need you home, big time happenings need your input. Well geeze Wayne, bring her if she won't let you leave by yourself. Yeah, see you in a bit." Mark sat with his arms crossed, tapping his foot.
"Clora? sweetie, we have to go down to Ev's for the meeting, and do you think Teddy should be out in the cold? What do you want to do?" Mark asked her seriously. "This guy might call back as soon as tomorrow, so we need to have an answer ready tonight."
"Ever since this was brought up, I have been thinking. What I'm going to do is be neutral, I'm sending a note with you that states I will go with the majority. We go, I go. We stay, I stay. But no, I'm not taking Teddy out. Did you know this little rascal was using my toothbrush because he liked the color, that's where he got the flu germs."
"I want you to know if I'm allowed to vote, I WILL vote to sell. We need to be out of here," Mark said as he picked up the dishes and put them in the sink to soak. "If we all want to live together, there has to be a better place than this one."
"What about the money you just spent on the fence?"
"I'd do it again at twice the price to keep you and the kids safe, the money is nothing. You and the boys are everything," Mark stopped behind Clora's chair and mopped Teddy's face once again with the cloth. He reached up and tugged gently on Clora's earlobe as a gesture of affection. "I'll be back as soon as things get settled. Do you need paper and a pencil?"
"Yes please, get this show on the road." Clora put her vote on paper and gave it to Mark.
Mark collected Ben and Lainey; and the slow moving Wayne as he came rolling in alone. Knocking on Ev's door, they trooped in and sat around the man in his recliner.
"Ben, I believe you are in charge," Mark held out two pieces of paper. "One is Clora's and the other is Will's. The floor is yours."
Lainey gave her brother in law points for being very perceptive, Ben had been wondering if Mark was going to run the show, and suddenly he was back to being the leader of the clan.
When asked, Mark detailed the conversation he had with the mysterious buyer, pausing as sharp questions were asked about the tone, accent and sentence phrasing used. In the end, Ben asked for a show of hands for selling. It was Mark, Lainey, Cheryl and Ev and Wayne for selling.
Ben opened Clora's vote and said she is neutral, but sides with the majority." He opened the second vote and said,"Will votes to sell."
He stood up and walked to the window and back. "I vote,," and his voice faltered, "I vote to sell." It was easy for every one to see what it cost Ben to vote with the majority.
Ben looked at Mark and said with incredulity, "you really did tell them 825?"
The family looked at each other and shook their heads, hardly believing the audacity of the price.
"If they want it, they have to pay," Mark said smugly. "What better way to flush out the big boys, and by golly they must really want this place to consider paying that much."
"I wonder why?" Lainey spoke up finally in the heavy silence. "I have gone over a hundred reasons for someone wanting us out of here, and I just can't see a connection."
"We may never know why," Ben spoke up, "I guess we could make that a condition of the sale if you want, but frankly I'd let it be."
"How about the money in the fence?" Cheryl wanted to know.
Mark shrugged,"If it keeps my family safe till we leave, then it was worth every penny."
"Cows," Ev struggled to say and be understood.
"Well I imagine we will find another farm, I for one don't have another way to make a living, unless I go back into law enforcement. I'm not interested in doing that, but a job is a job," Ben said philosophically.
Lainey looked alarmed and snuggled Anne closer. She didn't say anything, but she wasn't happy with the thought of Ben back in the law force.
"Two of us make our living here in the dirt. Mark? how portable is your job? Wayne, how about you, are you ready to pull up stakes?
It seems Will can move easy and always find a job, but how about you guy's?"
Mark held out his hands, "can't do anything more than find a place to live and then send in a resume to nearby towns, that goes for both of us I suppose." Wayne nodded his agreement.
"Hey Christy, you have a computer? Right? would you like to do some real estate looking?" Mark brought the teen into the action and got the ball rolling. He was concerned that Ben might try to over analyze the situation, and bog down the search.
"I've got to get back to the house," Mark stood up and walked to the door. "Clora is awful anxious to know what is going on. Hey everybody, I want to acknowledge and thank you all for making a tough call here. Like you all, I pray that it is the right decision."
stjwelding
Veteran Member
Thank Pac, maybe some of the family's questions will be answered, or not. You have out done yourself on this story I don't believe any of your readers have figured out how this will turn out in the end, you are doing a great job of keeping us all wondering.
I pray that Mr. Pac is doing well and you are holding up ok.
Wayne
I pray that Mr. Pac is doing well and you are holding up ok.
Wayne
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Nice find this morning thank you.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#35
"Hey Linderman," Ben roughly interjected into Mark's leaving, "what are those dozers still doing here?"
"Barn demo and clean up." Mark buttoned his coat and pulled his Stetson down low. The wind was increasing , the howling moan of the breeze sounding erie as it rushed around the corner of the house.
"And who authorized that?" Ben stood with feet apart and arms folded, staring grimly at Mark. Ben was feeling the challenge to his position as the oldest brother, and had the opinion that just because Mark had money he was wanting to throw away, that fact didn't make Clora's husband top dog.
"I did, I don't want the kids getting into the nails and pretty quick they will want to be outside; so I told the boss to dig a pit and bury the debris." Mark was reasonable, calm and right. "If you have a preference as to where you want the pit, let the boss know tomorrow."
There wasn't anything Ben could say without coming across as a real rotten crud.
"Nite all," and Mark was out the door.
Ben was silent, not even looking at the rest of the clan as Lainey wrapped Anne and they left.
Wayne looked at Cheryl and Ev. "Nobody has said, are we going to get a cut of the money individually, or is this gonna be another communal thing?"
Cheryl shrugged, "We kinda don't have much of a say at this point, I believe that's a Clora, Ben and Wayne decision." Wayne nodded. He agreed.
"Hey Linderman," Ben roughly interjected into Mark's leaving, "what are those dozers still doing here?"
"Barn demo and clean up." Mark buttoned his coat and pulled his Stetson down low. The wind was increasing , the howling moan of the breeze sounding erie as it rushed around the corner of the house.
"And who authorized that?" Ben stood with feet apart and arms folded, staring grimly at Mark. Ben was feeling the challenge to his position as the oldest brother, and had the opinion that just because Mark had money he was wanting to throw away, that fact didn't make Clora's husband top dog.
"I did, I don't want the kids getting into the nails and pretty quick they will want to be outside; so I told the boss to dig a pit and bury the debris." Mark was reasonable, calm and right. "If you have a preference as to where you want the pit, let the boss know tomorrow."
There wasn't anything Ben could say without coming across as a real rotten crud.
"Nite all," and Mark was out the door.
Ben was silent, not even looking at the rest of the clan as Lainey wrapped Anne and they left.
Wayne looked at Cheryl and Ev. "Nobody has said, are we going to get a cut of the money individually, or is this gonna be another communal thing?"
Cheryl shrugged, "We kinda don't have much of a say at this point, I believe that's a Clora, Ben and Wayne decision." Wayne nodded. He agreed.
Be interesting to see if Ev brings up the possibility of them all taking Evergreen over in some way.
stjwelding
Veteran Member
My thoughts exactly Kathy, Pac thanks.
Wayne
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#35b
Mark beat feet for home. It was down right cold, and the snow that had been holding off started with the next gust of wind. Walking up the stairs, Mark felt the hairs crawl on the back of his neck and he whirled around into the shadows. Senses on high alert, he scouted the empty parking area, the dark form of the shop and the skeleton of the barn. Nothing seemed amiss, but some thing had been out of place enough for his training to kick in.
Rather than use the front door, Mark eased around keeping to the darkness and slipped into the back way with his key.
Mark beat feet for home. It was down right cold, and the snow that had been holding off started with the next gust of wind. Walking up the stairs, Mark felt the hairs crawl on the back of his neck and he whirled around into the shadows. Senses on high alert, he scouted the empty parking area, the dark form of the shop and the skeleton of the barn. Nothing seemed amiss, but some thing had been out of place enough for his training to kick in.
Rather than use the front door, Mark eased around keeping to the darkness and slipped into the back way with his key.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Oh Oh.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#35c
"Clora," Mark whispered barely loud enough to be heard. Clora jerked around like she had been scared of of her wits. Automatically her hand flew to her chest, and she slumped against the sink. "Get down! NOW!" the forceful hiss was chilling, and Clora dropped to her knees.
"Stay there, do you have your gun?"
"Yes."
Mark locked the door he had just come through, crouched as he moved to the living room. "Is the front door locked?" he persisted and then checked for himself. "Click," the front room and dining room lights went out as he hit the switch. Mark whirled around and hit the dining room lights. He opened his phone and touched number two.
"Incoming," he barked at Wayne. "If your still at Ev's, stay there and guard them. Hit the lights."
Another touch on the keypad for #3 and when Ben answered, Mark growled a second time. "Incoming, near the barn."
Outside there was a roar as one of the dozers started, Mark had a quick thought about the old Indian trick of pushing the burning wagon into the settlers cabin, and watched as the 9 started to travel behind the shop.
There was no doubt in Mark's mind that the operator intended to ram the main house in the upper corner. Training took over and Mark coldly assessed the facts. There was only one way to stop the cat that he could think of. It wouldn't be popular, but he wasn't going to sacrifice his family.
Clora scooted Mark's rifle along the floor at his request. Mark was busy thinking about the placement of the tools in the shop, and the angle of his shot.
The first shot out the open front door caused no reaction. The dozer was close to moving past the shelter of the shop, and Mark's next shot hit the oxygen and acetylene tanks in sequence. The explosion stopped the cat, as the fireball and concussion blew out the windows in the wood frame building and the cab of the dozer. Flying glass,metal shrapnel and paint explosions rocked the stormy night.
Ignited by the flash explosion, diesel from the punctured machine's tank splashed and burned as the fuel trickled in a river under the shop. The wood was old and saturated with oil and old shop rags full of carb cleaner and gasoline. It burned high and with fierce determination.
Milo and Teddy woke up screaming and Clora gathered them up, carrying them to the kitchen to sit next to the stove and close to the back door. There was a solid three tap sound and Clora reached up and opened the door. Ben and Wayne scooted inside with rifles at the ready. "What's going on." Ben asked in disbelief.
"Someone intended to doze the house," Mark replied as he kept his back to the fire. Using his scope, he was looking for other snipers and hoodlums through the increasing snow storm.
"You probably killed the dogs," Ben pointed out, "was that necessary?"
"Clora," Mark whispered barely loud enough to be heard. Clora jerked around like she had been scared of of her wits. Automatically her hand flew to her chest, and she slumped against the sink. "Get down! NOW!" the forceful hiss was chilling, and Clora dropped to her knees.
"Stay there, do you have your gun?"
"Yes."
Mark locked the door he had just come through, crouched as he moved to the living room. "Is the front door locked?" he persisted and then checked for himself. "Click," the front room and dining room lights went out as he hit the switch. Mark whirled around and hit the dining room lights. He opened his phone and touched number two.
"Incoming," he barked at Wayne. "If your still at Ev's, stay there and guard them. Hit the lights."
Another touch on the keypad for #3 and when Ben answered, Mark growled a second time. "Incoming, near the barn."
Outside there was a roar as one of the dozers started, Mark had a quick thought about the old Indian trick of pushing the burning wagon into the settlers cabin, and watched as the 9 started to travel behind the shop.
There was no doubt in Mark's mind that the operator intended to ram the main house in the upper corner. Training took over and Mark coldly assessed the facts. There was only one way to stop the cat that he could think of. It wouldn't be popular, but he wasn't going to sacrifice his family.
Clora scooted Mark's rifle along the floor at his request. Mark was busy thinking about the placement of the tools in the shop, and the angle of his shot.
The first shot out the open front door caused no reaction. The dozer was close to moving past the shelter of the shop, and Mark's next shot hit the oxygen and acetylene tanks in sequence. The explosion stopped the cat, as the fireball and concussion blew out the windows in the wood frame building and the cab of the dozer. Flying glass,metal shrapnel and paint explosions rocked the stormy night.
Ignited by the flash explosion, diesel from the punctured machine's tank splashed and burned as the fuel trickled in a river under the shop. The wood was old and saturated with oil and old shop rags full of carb cleaner and gasoline. It burned high and with fierce determination.
Milo and Teddy woke up screaming and Clora gathered them up, carrying them to the kitchen to sit next to the stove and close to the back door. There was a solid three tap sound and Clora reached up and opened the door. Ben and Wayne scooted inside with rifles at the ready. "What's going on." Ben asked in disbelief.
"Someone intended to doze the house," Mark replied as he kept his back to the fire. Using his scope, he was looking for other snipers and hoodlums through the increasing snow storm.
"You probably killed the dogs," Ben pointed out, "was that necessary?"