Hi, My Name is Tessee
- Thread starter PacNorWest
- Start date
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#260c
"Milo, you understand about pain?"
"Yes Ma."
"Think about the worst pain you have ever had, and then think about it never going away. No matter what you try to do to take the pain away, it is always with you. It affects the way you think, and finally you can't live with the pain one moment longer. That is how Will felt."
"That makes me sad, I am sorry he hurt," Milo said from his heart.
"Me too," Teddy had been listening and Anne chimed in, "yeah, me too."
"I think it is good for us to be sad for our friend," Clora replied, "to remember him and pray that he is with God."
"I can do that," Milo said decisively. "I will remember Will eating cookies. He really liked your cookies Ma, is that Ok?"
"I think that is an excellent way for you to remember Will," Mark walked in on the last of the conversation.
"Hi Dad, can we go back now?" Milo was cold and wet, anxious to get in out of the rain and drink hot chocolate.
"Sure enough Sport, Teddy and Anne do you want a ride through the grass?" They did.
To create a dry area, Mark used the tractor to mow in ever widening circles around the camp, clipping the grass as short as possible. Sas, Helmer and the children used rakes and pitchforks to pull the cut, soggy stems to the side nearest the animals, and used that instead of the valuable hay.
Mark, Clora, Lainey, Cheryl and a still crying Christy worked to place a tarp the length of the trailer and then hoisted it up to fasten along the top rail. Placing the swept out stock trailer at the edge of the stretched canvas, they wired the grommets to the trailer in a sloping line to collect the rain as it ran off. "Stock water," Mark explained to Cheryl when she gave him a questioning look.
"Might as well," said the ever practical Cheryl. "A horse will drink water just to have the pleasure of watching a human haul it," that finally got a small laugh out of Christy, "Cows do also," she hiccuped, scrubbing at her eyes. "Dad's especially."
Another blue tarp was attached to the other side of the stock trailer, it's far side held up by a set of W shaped lumber supports. Dry area's were very much appreciated, the kids immediately moving in the side off the stock trailer.
They created another tarp setup on the other side of the dry van, and moved the kitchen under cover. That made Helga a happier cook, with the pickup full of fire wood backed under the dry so she could use the tail gate as a table. Suddenly with a few improvements, life started looking better.
The dogs started raising a fuss, the barking turning into a menacing growling snarl. Adults rushed around the impediment of the vehicles and supports to see the biggest, shaggy coated, burr encrusted dog walking straight into camp nearest the children. Clora put her hand on Mark's arm to stay his hand on his pistol, she stared in awe as the huge Newfoundland with his emaciated frame and deep brown eyes looked into hers. Clora burst into tears when the animal sat down in front of her and patiently waited for her to finish her display of emotion.
"It's...it's a Inky," Clora blubbered, "Cheryl and Ev look, he's just like the dog we used to have. This has to be a sign that this is the thing God wants us to do."
Cheryl, Ev and Christy were speechless, but Mark was not. ""You can't be serious," he snorted. He reached for his gun when Clora dropped to her knees and held the dog's head in both her hands. The eyes were the same as Inky's, Clora could no more turn that dog away than she could one of her own children.
The dog gave her a slurping lick and laid down at her feet. It was settled, as far as he was concerned. The clan had been adopted.
"Milo, you understand about pain?"
"Yes Ma."
"Think about the worst pain you have ever had, and then think about it never going away. No matter what you try to do to take the pain away, it is always with you. It affects the way you think, and finally you can't live with the pain one moment longer. That is how Will felt."
"That makes me sad, I am sorry he hurt," Milo said from his heart.
"Me too," Teddy had been listening and Anne chimed in, "yeah, me too."
"I think it is good for us to be sad for our friend," Clora replied, "to remember him and pray that he is with God."
"I can do that," Milo said decisively. "I will remember Will eating cookies. He really liked your cookies Ma, is that Ok?"
"I think that is an excellent way for you to remember Will," Mark walked in on the last of the conversation.
"Hi Dad, can we go back now?" Milo was cold and wet, anxious to get in out of the rain and drink hot chocolate.
"Sure enough Sport, Teddy and Anne do you want a ride through the grass?" They did.
To create a dry area, Mark used the tractor to mow in ever widening circles around the camp, clipping the grass as short as possible. Sas, Helmer and the children used rakes and pitchforks to pull the cut, soggy stems to the side nearest the animals, and used that instead of the valuable hay.
Mark, Clora, Lainey, Cheryl and a still crying Christy worked to place a tarp the length of the trailer and then hoisted it up to fasten along the top rail. Placing the swept out stock trailer at the edge of the stretched canvas, they wired the grommets to the trailer in a sloping line to collect the rain as it ran off. "Stock water," Mark explained to Cheryl when she gave him a questioning look.
"Might as well," said the ever practical Cheryl. "A horse will drink water just to have the pleasure of watching a human haul it," that finally got a small laugh out of Christy, "Cows do also," she hiccuped, scrubbing at her eyes. "Dad's especially."
Another blue tarp was attached to the other side of the stock trailer, it's far side held up by a set of W shaped lumber supports. Dry area's were very much appreciated, the kids immediately moving in the side off the stock trailer.
They created another tarp setup on the other side of the dry van, and moved the kitchen under cover. That made Helga a happier cook, with the pickup full of fire wood backed under the dry so she could use the tail gate as a table. Suddenly with a few improvements, life started looking better.
The dogs started raising a fuss, the barking turning into a menacing growling snarl. Adults rushed around the impediment of the vehicles and supports to see the biggest, shaggy coated, burr encrusted dog walking straight into camp nearest the children. Clora put her hand on Mark's arm to stay his hand on his pistol, she stared in awe as the huge Newfoundland with his emaciated frame and deep brown eyes looked into hers. Clora burst into tears when the animal sat down in front of her and patiently waited for her to finish her display of emotion.
"It's...it's a Inky," Clora blubbered, "Cheryl and Ev look, he's just like the dog we used to have. This has to be a sign that this is the thing God wants us to do."
Cheryl, Ev and Christy were speechless, but Mark was not. ""You can't be serious," he snorted. He reached for his gun when Clora dropped to her knees and held the dog's head in both her hands. The eyes were the same as Inky's, Clora could no more turn that dog away than she could one of her own children.
The dog gave her a slurping lick and laid down at her feet. It was settled, as far as he was concerned. The clan had been adopted.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Aw man another Inky wonderful.
Siskiyoumom
Veteran Member
Bitterweet reality.
Thank you so much.
Thank you so much.
Thank you so much for the additions, Pac! Very glad to see an Inky show up!
stjwelding
Veteran Member
Pac thank you so much for the new chapters, it looks to me like the clan has gone full circle. I believe that what they have endured and learned in this trip back to the beginning was need by them to live there lives as was intended. Now to see how they fare in this.
Wayne
Wayne
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#261
The family in camp spent the rest of the day improving their living quarters. Just before supper the rain stopped and a weak sun illuminated the meadow. Christy was the first one to notice Toby coming out of the trees in the distance. She was attuned to the vibes between them, and could feel his nearness. He was an energetic, strong, exceptional young man and as if in a trance, Christy walked out of camp to meet him halfway.
What happened between the young couple was sealed with a kiss, if a mother and father happened to be looking, and they were. Ev and Cheryl smiled at each other as they recalled a time long ago and far away. It was a treat to remember when the world was new with their love, the same as it was for Christy and Toby.
The young adults took a detour and walked over to Christy's former basement hidden in the tangled weeds, where they sat and talked.
Sas smiled at her brother. "Does that look like I think it appears?"
Ev cleared his throat, "it's been happening for a long time, they are just to the point of recognizing it for real. I'm guessing Christy is so shook up about Will, that she needs strength and comfort, and who better than Toby."
Cheryl patted Ev's hand and made a warm noise in her throat. "We don't want to hurry it, if it's real it will last while she finishes her schooling." That was her Mama decree and she expected it to be obeyed.
Sas looked across the meadow in what she hoped was a sneaky, unconcerned manner to see if Wayne was coming in. The far expanse of green grass was unbroken by another human. She gave an unconscious sigh and turned to help a unhappy and unfriendly Helga dish up bowls of chili for the children.
The family in camp spent the rest of the day improving their living quarters. Just before supper the rain stopped and a weak sun illuminated the meadow. Christy was the first one to notice Toby coming out of the trees in the distance. She was attuned to the vibes between them, and could feel his nearness. He was an energetic, strong, exceptional young man and as if in a trance, Christy walked out of camp to meet him halfway.
What happened between the young couple was sealed with a kiss, if a mother and father happened to be looking, and they were. Ev and Cheryl smiled at each other as they recalled a time long ago and far away. It was a treat to remember when the world was new with their love, the same as it was for Christy and Toby.
The young adults took a detour and walked over to Christy's former basement hidden in the tangled weeds, where they sat and talked.
Sas smiled at her brother. "Does that look like I think it appears?"
Ev cleared his throat, "it's been happening for a long time, they are just to the point of recognizing it for real. I'm guessing Christy is so shook up about Will, that she needs strength and comfort, and who better than Toby."
Cheryl patted Ev's hand and made a warm noise in her throat. "We don't want to hurry it, if it's real it will last while she finishes her schooling." That was her Mama decree and she expected it to be obeyed.
Sas looked across the meadow in what she hoped was a sneaky, unconcerned manner to see if Wayne was coming in. The far expanse of green grass was unbroken by another human. She gave an unconscious sigh and turned to help a unhappy and unfriendly Helga dish up bowls of chili for the children.
stjwelding
Veteran Member
Life goes on, nothing can stop love form developing between people, and family's loving one another if in Gods will.
Wayne
Wayne
ya woose!! lol! crying over some make believe (sniff) dog that (sniff sniff) is the ancestor of a a a a dog we all fell in (sniff cough cough..................<grabs tissue>) love with long ago.....
excuse me while I get this out of my eye....
Sammy55
Veteran Member
Want some help? Maybe you got a piece of make believe dog hair in your eye. lolololololol
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#261b
Tired, Clora tried to be patient with her rambunctious children. Milo and Teddy were wound tighter than a 8 day clock, and Tessee was fussy, rubbing and scratching at her itching mosquito bites. Finally she had to threaten them with sitting in the dark with the mosquitoes eating their supper. "As soon as it get's dark the little biting machines will be back, I want you to sit down and eat right now. No more shenanigans, you all hear me?"
The huge Newfy padded over to poke his nose into the fray, trying to determine who was right and who was wrong. "Go lay down," Clora told him, not wanting the kids to get side tracked with the friendly mutt.
The dog gave her a considering look, just like Inky used to do and Clora turned to face the animal with her hands on her hips. "Don't you give me any problems," she scolded. "I have enough on my own." She was rewarded with a bark, as though the black dog understood exactly what she was saying.
The bark brought Danny and Cindy out from under the van trailer to add their voices to the comment, and it made all the adults laugh.
Tired, Clora tried to be patient with her rambunctious children. Milo and Teddy were wound tighter than a 8 day clock, and Tessee was fussy, rubbing and scratching at her itching mosquito bites. Finally she had to threaten them with sitting in the dark with the mosquitoes eating their supper. "As soon as it get's dark the little biting machines will be back, I want you to sit down and eat right now. No more shenanigans, you all hear me?"
The huge Newfy padded over to poke his nose into the fray, trying to determine who was right and who was wrong. "Go lay down," Clora told him, not wanting the kids to get side tracked with the friendly mutt.
The dog gave her a considering look, just like Inky used to do and Clora turned to face the animal with her hands on her hips. "Don't you give me any problems," she scolded. "I have enough on my own." She was rewarded with a bark, as though the black dog understood exactly what she was saying.
The bark brought Danny and Cindy out from under the van trailer to add their voices to the comment, and it made all the adults laugh.
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DIMDAL
Contributing Member
You guys aren't a lone, I got all sniffy too. We just lost our newfie/lab (named Dog, LOL) a couple of weeks ago, I hope we will be blessed with another newfie mix in our future too. I have never had a more loving and loyal dog than Dog. Thank you for the stories Pac, you are a fantastic story teller!!
Texican
Live Free & Die Free.... God Freedom Country....
Way to many of us watch our loved ones perish from diseases that reach a point of devastation to where there is no cure or hope, but only painful death.
I watched my sister slowly die from cancer with her last month spent in the hospital where she received medical care and she was not on life support. I had to fight with her insurance company about her staying in the hospital instead of a hospice where they did not know her. I spent nights with my sister. My mother and my sisters daughter spent days with my sister. My wife and I were at her bedside the night she passed over.
If we allowed animals to just die as we do our loved ones in their last days we would be jailed.
There is no compassion for ending the constant misery of the terminally ill. Pain killers can only do so much.
I know that God knows what is happening, but stops us from doing what needs to be done to end the misery for thou shall not murder...
God help all of those faced with such horror at the end of a loved ones life.
I watched my sister slowly die from cancer with her last month spent in the hospital where she received medical care and she was not on life support. I had to fight with her insurance company about her staying in the hospital instead of a hospice where they did not know her. I spent nights with my sister. My mother and my sisters daughter spent days with my sister. My wife and I were at her bedside the night she passed over.
If we allowed animals to just die as we do our loved ones in their last days we would be jailed.
There is no compassion for ending the constant misery of the terminally ill. Pain killers can only do so much.
I know that God knows what is happening, but stops us from doing what needs to be done to end the misery for thou shall not murder...
God help all of those faced with such horror at the end of a loved ones life.
Siskiyoumom
Veteran Member
Texan,
Welcome to the forum.
Yes, standing in the gap for our loves ones who are dying is very difficult and painful, especially when their needs are not being met in a manner that honors them and provides them the care they need.
May your family be comforted in your loss and may you find joy in the memories you have of your sister.
Welcome to the forum.
Yes, standing in the gap for our loves ones who are dying is very difficult and painful, especially when their needs are not being met in a manner that honors them and provides them the care they need.
May your family be comforted in your loss and may you find joy in the memories you have of your sister.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
I add my voice to Sis's, .............may all the readers here that have had loss, be comforted. May their loved ones be honored with cherished memories and may the individual be honored for the care and love they gave from their heart.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#261c
Mark gave his giggling children the 'eye' settling the hi-jinks down in their seats. That Anne was included, saved Lainey the exercise of reprimanding her daughter.
The reminder about the mosquitoes was enough to bring the rascals to time, they hated the buzzing onslaught that was beginning. The dog was given another bowl of rice and canned burger, the starving animal waiting to eat until Clora had given the OK.
Helga was unhappy, she thought the dog looked too much like the 'volves' she was so deadly afraid of. Then, having the 'Misses' spend jars of their recently canned meat feeding the animal was almost too much to have happen.
Helga dumped her displeasure by muttering under her breath, Helmer suddenly found work chopping wood rounds and kindling for the morning fire far away from his darling dumpling, the cook.
Sas wandered over to sit with Ev and Cheryl, talking about the dog. "I don't recall that dog being around all the time I've been here, I'm wonderin where he came from?"
"Who knows?" Ev sputtered, "he looks just like the one Clora, Ben and Wayne used to have. Now that dog was a gent with a wandering mind and a roving eye for the ladies, and got himself into many scrapes before he was killed by a mountain lion."
Cheryl was uneasy, suddenly realizing that Christy and Toby hadn't come into camp. She got up to look around, finally finding the couple in the far side shelter talking quietly.
In the faint light of the flickering fire, Christy had a high color in her cheeks and the look of a woman that had been well kissed. Toby had a satisfied, respectful smile for Cheryl when he spotted her, standing up to show his manners.
"Come have supper," Cheryl softened her voice, remembering how much in love she had been with Ev about the same age. She had known in her heart and recalled looking in the mirror and seeing the same expression Christy was wearing now.
Toby seemed to have the same moon struck smile, so Cheryl figured the feeling was mutual.
Toby spoke to Mark when they got to the kitchen. "Wayne and Willie will be back sometime tomorrow. Wayne said to tell you he had gone to the old cabin site for the night and that he had some old caches out and around, so they had food."
"Thanks," Mark replied as he poured coffee for himself and tea for Clora as she sat feeding Tessee. The baby was eating pulverized oatmeal cereal for supper and Clora kept it moistened with a bit of Sally's fresh milk.
The cow was giving a super pailful of milk morning and evening, so the calf, the dogs and kids got all the milk they could drink. Helga had chocolate soft set pudding for dessert, and it was a wonderful taste for the family.
Mark gave his giggling children the 'eye' settling the hi-jinks down in their seats. That Anne was included, saved Lainey the exercise of reprimanding her daughter.
The reminder about the mosquitoes was enough to bring the rascals to time, they hated the buzzing onslaught that was beginning. The dog was given another bowl of rice and canned burger, the starving animal waiting to eat until Clora had given the OK.
Helga was unhappy, she thought the dog looked too much like the 'volves' she was so deadly afraid of. Then, having the 'Misses' spend jars of their recently canned meat feeding the animal was almost too much to have happen.
Helga dumped her displeasure by muttering under her breath, Helmer suddenly found work chopping wood rounds and kindling for the morning fire far away from his darling dumpling, the cook.
Sas wandered over to sit with Ev and Cheryl, talking about the dog. "I don't recall that dog being around all the time I've been here, I'm wonderin where he came from?"
"Who knows?" Ev sputtered, "he looks just like the one Clora, Ben and Wayne used to have. Now that dog was a gent with a wandering mind and a roving eye for the ladies, and got himself into many scrapes before he was killed by a mountain lion."
Cheryl was uneasy, suddenly realizing that Christy and Toby hadn't come into camp. She got up to look around, finally finding the couple in the far side shelter talking quietly.
In the faint light of the flickering fire, Christy had a high color in her cheeks and the look of a woman that had been well kissed. Toby had a satisfied, respectful smile for Cheryl when he spotted her, standing up to show his manners.
"Come have supper," Cheryl softened her voice, remembering how much in love she had been with Ev about the same age. She had known in her heart and recalled looking in the mirror and seeing the same expression Christy was wearing now.
Toby seemed to have the same moon struck smile, so Cheryl figured the feeling was mutual.
Toby spoke to Mark when they got to the kitchen. "Wayne and Willie will be back sometime tomorrow. Wayne said to tell you he had gone to the old cabin site for the night and that he had some old caches out and around, so they had food."
"Thanks," Mark replied as he poured coffee for himself and tea for Clora as she sat feeding Tessee. The baby was eating pulverized oatmeal cereal for supper and Clora kept it moistened with a bit of Sally's fresh milk.
The cow was giving a super pailful of milk morning and evening, so the calf, the dogs and kids got all the milk they could drink. Helga had chocolate soft set pudding for dessert, and it was a wonderful taste for the family.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
great chapter thank you
stjwelding
Veteran Member
I have to agree that more of your story first thing in the morning is a wonderful thing. Thanks for the new chapters Pac I hope and Pray all is well with you and yours on this glorious Sunday morning.
Wayne
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PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#262
After the rain and the cloud cover leaving, the night chilled considerably and by bedtime for the younger Lindermans, it was near freezing. Clora warmed bricks brought from the lodge and wrapped them with old rags to warm the children's feet. With stocking caps firmly pulled down on their heads, the boy's said their prayers and snuggled deep in their sleeping bags.
Anne kicked up a fuss, not wanting to go to sleep in the Hanson empty tent. Mark just picked her up, sleeping bag and all, and plopped her down between Milo and Teddy. Satisfied, Anne went right to sleep. Lainey gave Mark her effusive thanks, as she was tired and out of energy to deal with her hyper active daughter.
Wade asked for several bricks, and Mark helped Clora set them close to the warming fire. "Are you sorry you came on our adventure?" Clora asked the fastidious lawyer as he brushed dirt from his trousers.
"I am a little old to be raw camping," Wade admitted with a tired sigh. "I didn't sleep well last night and it really makes me feel old tonight."
"I have chamomile tea," Clora offered, and then smiled as Wade recoiled in horror. Wade thought that tea at night, considering his age, was the last thing in the world he needed to consume. It was easy to let Clora think he abhorred the taste of Chamomile, without bringing in any other suggestions.
"I have some sleeping aids," Wade admitted, "tonight calls for a couple of my little pills for sure."
Clora nodded, thinking that Wade was toughing it out longer than she expected. "Ok, if you need more heat. let us know." she accepted his reasons. Wade accepted his bricks and headed for the empty bachelors tent. In the morning, he decided, it was time to head for home. He needed warmth, modern convinces and food and flushing.
The chill held the flying, biting insects at bay, but all the adults went for their heavy coats and hats. It seemed unusually cold for the time of year it was, but the stiff North West wind worked icy fingers in any little clothing gap to steal warmth. Clora and Lainey helped Helga pack up the supper items and place them in the stock trailer, a secure place to store the food that smell alone, would bring in the predators. Mark had told Clora that there was plenty of bear sign, and either dogs, coyotes or wolves. They decided not to say anything to Helga, but Clora's guilty look must have alerted the cook.
"You vill sleeps vith guns? No?" Helga demanded of Mark and Helmer, not trusting the look that flashed between the two men.
Mark replied that he would, and Helmer said something in his dialect that seemed to comfort Helga and stop her nervous fidgeting.
Toby escorted Christy to the Wilson tent, and stopped long enough to warm his hands at the fire. He declined the use of a warming brick or two, and disappeared into the tent with Wade. Ev and Cheryl had long ago settled in for the night, and Christy waved a 'good night' to Toby before she lowered the flap.
"Are you coming to bed, or will the dogs be sufficient guards for the night?" Clora asked Mark as they sat close together near the fire. Sas was invited to spend the night in Lainey's tent and agreed. "I will stand guard for a shift," she offered, as the night drug on.
"Not necessary tonight," Mark decided aloud, "Clora's right, the dogs will alert us." He gave the black Newfey another bowl of rice and meat to hold his hunger during the night. Mark's offering was gladly accepted, but it was Clora that got the adoring look and thump of the tail.
"Dear wife," Mark said quietly, "you do cast a spell over us, don't you?"
Clora gave a soft laugh, "I just can't help myself," she teased as the Newfy came over to lay at her feet. She reached down and scratched the huge head, feeling the bumps and ridges of the thin dog's backbone as she ran her hand over the coarse black fur. "He was so close to starving," Clora leaned her shoulder against Mark's. "He is a beautiful animal."
"I feel better with him guarding you and the kids," Mark affirmed his approval of the dog. "Especially now that this place is reverted back to the wild. I'm sure he would give his life to protect us, and we need that extra measure of safety."
Ben was on his way back to the camp. The body of Will had been delivered to the Coroner, and all the appropriate paperwork finished. That he was a duly sworn Sheriff helped the entire situation, but the comments in the back room after he left, proved that the staff and Medical Examiner weren't happy the clan was back in the area.
Ben stopped at a sporting goods store and bought all the screened in enclosures they had in stock. He used the money Mark had slipped to him to pay for the goods, and bought ammunition with the remainder of the money. It was with a more secure feeling that he drove down the river to the back road into Evergreen. The drive in through the forest was filled with herds of deer and Ben was sure he saw several Elk as he negotiated a curve and his headlights swung in an arc over the black night.
When Ben unzipped his tent, he was surprised to find a second sleeping bag full of human in there. Lainey sat up and patted his empty bag, but Ben shook his head and gathered it up and left the soundly sleeping Sas to snore in the tent with Lainey.
The bachelor tent was quiet and Ben had to shove Toby over so their was room for him. Wade was huddled over against the wall, curled up in a tight ball. Ben shook his head, that was the wrong way to sleep in the cold. A person needed to lay loose and long. The tighter a person constricted his muscles by curling up, the colder they would be.
There was no use waking the man up to tell him that, so Ben took off his clothes and folded them and shoved then inside his bag. His boots went in there also, and he looked at Wade's boots standing primly up right next to the man's pillow. Wade was gonna regret that it the morning, for sure.
It took a long time for the miserable night to get gone. The early morning streaks of light were welcome as they were the harbinger of the warming sun. When the sun rose over the Eastern ridge, the meadow was flooded with light and warmth the same as it had warmed Grandma Evie's small house.
Huddled close to the fire, Clora turned to face the sun and thank God for another morning. Lainey came close to the fire. "I thought I was sleeping with the old Ben," she giggled to Clora. "That woman snores louder than he does. I don't think I got 20 minutes worth of sleep last night." she finished with fingers pointed to her ears.
"I want to check out Grandma's cellar," Clora planned out her day. "If we can build something over that, it will help us greatly. We also need to be thinking about shelter for us all. Do we build 6 buildings, or do we make a central kitchen and family room with bedrooms radiating out like the spokes of a wheel. We need to be thinking about what we can reasonably do and finish before winter along with shelter for the stock and a garden."
"You don't ask for much, do ya?" Ben came bouncing out of the tent, looking like he slept really well. Lainey shot him a baleful eye, and he tweaked her ear as he went straight for the coffee. "Morning beautiful," he made a kissy noise at Lainey, earning him a laugh from the tired looking woman. Ben was up and ready to start the day in a good mood.
After the rain and the cloud cover leaving, the night chilled considerably and by bedtime for the younger Lindermans, it was near freezing. Clora warmed bricks brought from the lodge and wrapped them with old rags to warm the children's feet. With stocking caps firmly pulled down on their heads, the boy's said their prayers and snuggled deep in their sleeping bags.
Anne kicked up a fuss, not wanting to go to sleep in the Hanson empty tent. Mark just picked her up, sleeping bag and all, and plopped her down between Milo and Teddy. Satisfied, Anne went right to sleep. Lainey gave Mark her effusive thanks, as she was tired and out of energy to deal with her hyper active daughter.
Wade asked for several bricks, and Mark helped Clora set them close to the warming fire. "Are you sorry you came on our adventure?" Clora asked the fastidious lawyer as he brushed dirt from his trousers.
"I am a little old to be raw camping," Wade admitted with a tired sigh. "I didn't sleep well last night and it really makes me feel old tonight."
"I have chamomile tea," Clora offered, and then smiled as Wade recoiled in horror. Wade thought that tea at night, considering his age, was the last thing in the world he needed to consume. It was easy to let Clora think he abhorred the taste of Chamomile, without bringing in any other suggestions.
"I have some sleeping aids," Wade admitted, "tonight calls for a couple of my little pills for sure."
Clora nodded, thinking that Wade was toughing it out longer than she expected. "Ok, if you need more heat. let us know." she accepted his reasons. Wade accepted his bricks and headed for the empty bachelors tent. In the morning, he decided, it was time to head for home. He needed warmth, modern convinces and food and flushing.
The chill held the flying, biting insects at bay, but all the adults went for their heavy coats and hats. It seemed unusually cold for the time of year it was, but the stiff North West wind worked icy fingers in any little clothing gap to steal warmth. Clora and Lainey helped Helga pack up the supper items and place them in the stock trailer, a secure place to store the food that smell alone, would bring in the predators. Mark had told Clora that there was plenty of bear sign, and either dogs, coyotes or wolves. They decided not to say anything to Helga, but Clora's guilty look must have alerted the cook.
"You vill sleeps vith guns? No?" Helga demanded of Mark and Helmer, not trusting the look that flashed between the two men.
Mark replied that he would, and Helmer said something in his dialect that seemed to comfort Helga and stop her nervous fidgeting.
Toby escorted Christy to the Wilson tent, and stopped long enough to warm his hands at the fire. He declined the use of a warming brick or two, and disappeared into the tent with Wade. Ev and Cheryl had long ago settled in for the night, and Christy waved a 'good night' to Toby before she lowered the flap.
"Are you coming to bed, or will the dogs be sufficient guards for the night?" Clora asked Mark as they sat close together near the fire. Sas was invited to spend the night in Lainey's tent and agreed. "I will stand guard for a shift," she offered, as the night drug on.
"Not necessary tonight," Mark decided aloud, "Clora's right, the dogs will alert us." He gave the black Newfey another bowl of rice and meat to hold his hunger during the night. Mark's offering was gladly accepted, but it was Clora that got the adoring look and thump of the tail.
"Dear wife," Mark said quietly, "you do cast a spell over us, don't you?"
Clora gave a soft laugh, "I just can't help myself," she teased as the Newfy came over to lay at her feet. She reached down and scratched the huge head, feeling the bumps and ridges of the thin dog's backbone as she ran her hand over the coarse black fur. "He was so close to starving," Clora leaned her shoulder against Mark's. "He is a beautiful animal."
"I feel better with him guarding you and the kids," Mark affirmed his approval of the dog. "Especially now that this place is reverted back to the wild. I'm sure he would give his life to protect us, and we need that extra measure of safety."
Ben was on his way back to the camp. The body of Will had been delivered to the Coroner, and all the appropriate paperwork finished. That he was a duly sworn Sheriff helped the entire situation, but the comments in the back room after he left, proved that the staff and Medical Examiner weren't happy the clan was back in the area.
Ben stopped at a sporting goods store and bought all the screened in enclosures they had in stock. He used the money Mark had slipped to him to pay for the goods, and bought ammunition with the remainder of the money. It was with a more secure feeling that he drove down the river to the back road into Evergreen. The drive in through the forest was filled with herds of deer and Ben was sure he saw several Elk as he negotiated a curve and his headlights swung in an arc over the black night.
When Ben unzipped his tent, he was surprised to find a second sleeping bag full of human in there. Lainey sat up and patted his empty bag, but Ben shook his head and gathered it up and left the soundly sleeping Sas to snore in the tent with Lainey.
The bachelor tent was quiet and Ben had to shove Toby over so their was room for him. Wade was huddled over against the wall, curled up in a tight ball. Ben shook his head, that was the wrong way to sleep in the cold. A person needed to lay loose and long. The tighter a person constricted his muscles by curling up, the colder they would be.
There was no use waking the man up to tell him that, so Ben took off his clothes and folded them and shoved then inside his bag. His boots went in there also, and he looked at Wade's boots standing primly up right next to the man's pillow. Wade was gonna regret that it the morning, for sure.
It took a long time for the miserable night to get gone. The early morning streaks of light were welcome as they were the harbinger of the warming sun. When the sun rose over the Eastern ridge, the meadow was flooded with light and warmth the same as it had warmed Grandma Evie's small house.
Huddled close to the fire, Clora turned to face the sun and thank God for another morning. Lainey came close to the fire. "I thought I was sleeping with the old Ben," she giggled to Clora. "That woman snores louder than he does. I don't think I got 20 minutes worth of sleep last night." she finished with fingers pointed to her ears.
"I want to check out Grandma's cellar," Clora planned out her day. "If we can build something over that, it will help us greatly. We also need to be thinking about shelter for us all. Do we build 6 buildings, or do we make a central kitchen and family room with bedrooms radiating out like the spokes of a wheel. We need to be thinking about what we can reasonably do and finish before winter along with shelter for the stock and a garden."
"You don't ask for much, do ya?" Ben came bouncing out of the tent, looking like he slept really well. Lainey shot him a baleful eye, and he tweaked her ear as he went straight for the coffee. "Morning beautiful," he made a kissy noise at Lainey, earning him a laugh from the tired looking woman. Ben was up and ready to start the day in a good mood.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Thank you 
stjwelding
Veteran Member
Thanks Pac for more of this great he story, hopefully they won't have to many interruptions in there preparing for winter, a lot to get done in the time left. Adequate shelter to keep out the winter wind and cold, strong enough to withstand attacks from predators of the two and four legged kind, food and wood for heat to sustain them, a reliable water source and much much more.
Wayne
Wayne
teedee
Veteran Member
I had read the earlier stories and stopped this one after about the first 10 pages or so. I have just spent the last 2 days reading the 70 pages to get to this point. Dear Pac I can't tell you how much admiration I have for your talent!!! The fact that these stories / story will not be published is a shame. Could you make them available as Kindle ready on Amazon or something? I have no idea how any of that works but I have been absolutely enthralled through it all. Please give it some consideration.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#263
The breakfast oatmeal burned on the bottom, the coffee burbled over in the pot extinguishing a portion of the fire, and the reflector oven biscuits were black on one side and nearly raw on the other. How ever good a morning the rest of the family was experiencing;...........Helga wasn't.
The muttering and spoon clanging, the foot stomping and plate thumping went on for more than an hour. Helga boiled a large pot of water for dishes and baby washing and the over loaded grate collapsed, drowning the fire and sending hot water, cinders and smoke spewing all over the campsite.
The screeching dialect was obviously swear words, and Helga cussed up a storm. She was mad about the spilled water, the ruined grate and the mess needing to be cleaned up. She looked around for Helmer, she needed a scapegoat for her anger, and finally spotted him walking far across the meadow. That raised her voice several octaves as Helga ordered him back to help. Helmer acted like he hadn't heard a word of her demand.
Mark, Ben, Wade, Toby and Ev met behind the van trailer and headed out for the opposite end of the meadow. As Mark was walking by, he distinctly heard Clora when she said "chicken heart." She got a cheeky grin for her astute observation.
Christy and Cheryl got rakes from the pickup and started to tidy the camp. Clora made Helga sit down and have a cup of coffee, while she used a forked stick to pull the stockpot out of the fire. Milo and Teddy sat under the far canopy, playing cars in a dirt spot they pulled the grass from. Anne spread a hunk of old blanket and sat near the boys while she played with her doll. The black dog lay at the edge of the tarp, on guard.
Sas looked at the ruined fire and concluded, "we need to get blocks from some of these basements and build a long narrow fire pit. That way the pots are better supported, and can be moved to different degrees of hotness as required."
Clora looked up from her inspection of the pot. "That's an excellent idea Sas, let's see if we can get the guys to get started before they evaporate into thin air. Clora walked around the end of the van and let loose with one of her famous whistles. Mark and Ben stopped and turned around, walking back to the camp.
"Our slave labor returneth," Clora announced happily, leaning over to pat Helga on the hand. She got a grumpy "humph" for her pains, but looked back quickly to see Helga with a smile on her lips. ""You're a fake," Clora said with a chuckle.
"Vhat's vith a fake? Iss it a cook vith happys nature?" Helga shot right back, but with a smile.
"Yes," Clora didn't back down an inch, "a cook that needs better conditions to cook on, especially when there are so many of us.
Mark," she exclaimed, "thanks for coming back. Listen, Sas has a really good idea for creating a more stable cooking surface, but we need blocks and a better type of grate. Blocks that might be salvaged from some of the basements. But as another idea, I don't think we want to cannibalize Grandmas, or ours or the Wilson's basements. How about going into town? You know when Will and Cassy left, they abandoned all of the items in their hardware store, so there might be BBQ grills left over."
The men jumped on the idea of investigating the town, and into the pickup they piled and off they headed to see what was available.
"That was certainly quick," Clora said dryly, "I guess that was the right thing to say." Lainey laughed hard, "I haven't seen them move that quickly since supper call last night."
"I never thought to tell them to look for a couple of wagons, or wheelbarrows; that would make our hauling goods and kids a lot easier." Clora mused. "Christy and Sas, you wouldn't want to walk into town and ask them to look for those items, would you?"
No sooner were the words out of her mouth before Sas went for her rifle and Christy picked up her old shotgun. "Sure," they called on their way out of camp, "we'd be happy to do that."
"Well, I guess that's settled," Clora sat down on the sawed timber bench and reached for her coffee. It was cold, but wet, so she took a moment to rest and look around camp. "Anything else we can do to make cooking easier?" she asked Helga.
"Nons, I ams feeling betters now. I no slept muches last nights, vorry about volves." Helga confessed as she looked to the far edge of the meadow where Helmer had disappeared. "Helmers, he goes to cuts me a fence to puts around the tent, maybe I vill be happy and not vorry so muches. He is good mans."
"I vote for a privacy curtain or outhouse for privacy," Lainey said. "The guys should be able to build us one in a hurry, that would be wonderful."
The Newfey got up to bark a warning. There was a couple of people coming from the long end of the meadow. "That looks like Wayne and Willie," Clora watched the figures for a bit. "Newfey," she addressed the dog, "it's Ok. They are friendly. Down," she commanded.
The breakfast oatmeal burned on the bottom, the coffee burbled over in the pot extinguishing a portion of the fire, and the reflector oven biscuits were black on one side and nearly raw on the other. How ever good a morning the rest of the family was experiencing;...........Helga wasn't.
The muttering and spoon clanging, the foot stomping and plate thumping went on for more than an hour. Helga boiled a large pot of water for dishes and baby washing and the over loaded grate collapsed, drowning the fire and sending hot water, cinders and smoke spewing all over the campsite.
The screeching dialect was obviously swear words, and Helga cussed up a storm. She was mad about the spilled water, the ruined grate and the mess needing to be cleaned up. She looked around for Helmer, she needed a scapegoat for her anger, and finally spotted him walking far across the meadow. That raised her voice several octaves as Helga ordered him back to help. Helmer acted like he hadn't heard a word of her demand.
Mark, Ben, Wade, Toby and Ev met behind the van trailer and headed out for the opposite end of the meadow. As Mark was walking by, he distinctly heard Clora when she said "chicken heart." She got a cheeky grin for her astute observation.
Christy and Cheryl got rakes from the pickup and started to tidy the camp. Clora made Helga sit down and have a cup of coffee, while she used a forked stick to pull the stockpot out of the fire. Milo and Teddy sat under the far canopy, playing cars in a dirt spot they pulled the grass from. Anne spread a hunk of old blanket and sat near the boys while she played with her doll. The black dog lay at the edge of the tarp, on guard.
Sas looked at the ruined fire and concluded, "we need to get blocks from some of these basements and build a long narrow fire pit. That way the pots are better supported, and can be moved to different degrees of hotness as required."
Clora looked up from her inspection of the pot. "That's an excellent idea Sas, let's see if we can get the guys to get started before they evaporate into thin air. Clora walked around the end of the van and let loose with one of her famous whistles. Mark and Ben stopped and turned around, walking back to the camp.
"Our slave labor returneth," Clora announced happily, leaning over to pat Helga on the hand. She got a grumpy "humph" for her pains, but looked back quickly to see Helga with a smile on her lips. ""You're a fake," Clora said with a chuckle.
"Vhat's vith a fake? Iss it a cook vith happys nature?" Helga shot right back, but with a smile.
"Yes," Clora didn't back down an inch, "a cook that needs better conditions to cook on, especially when there are so many of us.
Mark," she exclaimed, "thanks for coming back. Listen, Sas has a really good idea for creating a more stable cooking surface, but we need blocks and a better type of grate. Blocks that might be salvaged from some of the basements. But as another idea, I don't think we want to cannibalize Grandmas, or ours or the Wilson's basements. How about going into town? You know when Will and Cassy left, they abandoned all of the items in their hardware store, so there might be BBQ grills left over."
The men jumped on the idea of investigating the town, and into the pickup they piled and off they headed to see what was available.
"That was certainly quick," Clora said dryly, "I guess that was the right thing to say." Lainey laughed hard, "I haven't seen them move that quickly since supper call last night."
"I never thought to tell them to look for a couple of wagons, or wheelbarrows; that would make our hauling goods and kids a lot easier." Clora mused. "Christy and Sas, you wouldn't want to walk into town and ask them to look for those items, would you?"
No sooner were the words out of her mouth before Sas went for her rifle and Christy picked up her old shotgun. "Sure," they called on their way out of camp, "we'd be happy to do that."
"Well, I guess that's settled," Clora sat down on the sawed timber bench and reached for her coffee. It was cold, but wet, so she took a moment to rest and look around camp. "Anything else we can do to make cooking easier?" she asked Helga.
"Nons, I ams feeling betters now. I no slept muches last nights, vorry about volves." Helga confessed as she looked to the far edge of the meadow where Helmer had disappeared. "Helmers, he goes to cuts me a fence to puts around the tent, maybe I vill be happy and not vorry so muches. He is good mans."
"I vote for a privacy curtain or outhouse for privacy," Lainey said. "The guys should be able to build us one in a hurry, that would be wonderful."
The Newfey got up to bark a warning. There was a couple of people coming from the long end of the meadow. "That looks like Wayne and Willie," Clora watched the figures for a bit. "Newfey," she addressed the dog, "it's Ok. They are friendly. Down," she commanded.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
Thank you for the kind words Teedee, but I don't have time to do any of the editing and reformatting required to publish.
I write to relieve stress and to have a way to cope with my life and it's ups and downs. Some days I barely have time to get a couple of paragraphs written. This story is like we used to do hot logging. It comes out as I type it on the keyboard, the same as dragging in logs to limb and load on the trucks within the hour.
Getting ready for fall/winter, uncertain futures...you all know, 'hay in the barn and wheat in the bin,' type of putting back, takes a lot of time and I need to insure our future is as secure as I can make it.
This story has gone a different path than I intended, and every time I try to take it back to the path I want it to go, it revolts and the characters take over and go their headstrong way. So, so much for being in control. I'm just happy to write. Pac.
I write to relieve stress and to have a way to cope with my life and it's ups and downs. Some days I barely have time to get a couple of paragraphs written. This story is like we used to do hot logging. It comes out as I type it on the keyboard, the same as dragging in logs to limb and load on the trucks within the hour.
Getting ready for fall/winter, uncertain futures...you all know, 'hay in the barn and wheat in the bin,' type of putting back, takes a lot of time and I need to insure our future is as secure as I can make it.
This story has gone a different path than I intended, and every time I try to take it back to the path I want it to go, it revolts and the characters take over and go their headstrong way. So, so much for being in control. I'm just happy to write. Pac.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
You always need a good dog out in the middle of nowhere. Thanks Pac.
stjwelding
Veteran Member
Pac thanks for the chapter, love your story's
Wayne
Wayne
2ndEviltwin
Inactive
pac I have to say you have such a wonderful way with words and stories. Thank you