Hi, My Name is Tessee

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PacNorWest

Veteran Member
#264

Ev and Cheryl came to sit at the table with Clora and Helga. "I wonder how long it is going to take Wayne to realize Sas is interested in him," Cheryl said conversationally, "she has done everything but rope and hog tie him, and if he doesn't get the message soon, she'll probably do that."

Ev looked like he wasn't sure that was the proper thing for Sas to do, but accepted that it was going to happen.

Helga tried making a small fire to warm the coffee and the left over chili from the night before. The two men walked slowly into camp, with the dog putting himself between the newcomers and the playing children. All three kids called out their greetings and then went back to playing, as Wayne sniffed his way into the makeshift kitchen to stand near the bubbling chili pot.

"What happened here?" Willie asked as he skirted the soggy watered down fire pit.

"Monumental catastrophe," Clora explained, "that's why the guy's are in town, looking for for additional supplies."

Wayne was casual as he checked out the camp, but make no mistake, he was looking for Sas.

"Christy and Sas walked in to see if there was anything interesting, and we need a couple of wagons or wheelbarrows to haul the kids and supplies. Did you guys get to the cabin?" Clora inquired.

"Yes, the stone foundation is still there. It's strange however, when we were fleeing from the fire it was about to engulf the town and the homesteads here. It stopped before it got to the woods because of a fire break. Who did the fire lane as we were leaving? I sure didn't hear any machinery working. Somebody did the work, the dozer evidence is still there." Wayne was almost angry. "It's just garbage the way unseen forces keep yanking our chain. I think we should start building a castle, something we can defend."

Helga gave Wayne and Willie a bowl of chili each and went to the tailgate for spoons from the dish drainer. "Miz Helga may we have cookies please?" Milo ducked under Wayne's outstretched arm to ask politely.

Helga glanced at Clora and got a nod, so she went to the coffee can in the pickup bed for three of the treats. Wayne was about to ask for a cookie himself, when the pickup full of adventurers came honking and driving toward camp at a high rate of speed.
 
D

Deena in GA

Administrator
_______________
Ooooh boy! What is happening now? Eagerly looking forward to more, Pac!

And if you just sit down at the computer and write and this wonderful story comes out without you having to plot, write, rewrite, edit, etc., all I can say is "WOW!!!!" You are definitely a natural writer!
 
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PacNorWest

Veteran Member
#265

The pickup stopped and occupants spilled out in a hurry. "Boy did we luck out," Ben grinned at the ladies under the shade of the tarp. "Madames, your new cooking outfit," he said with a bow and a flourish. There were four camp stoves, and numerous propane containers. Several wire shelves were unloaded, and filled with metal dishpans, stock pots, wash tubs and 3 new coffee pots and then Ben said "ta da, Madames, may we present a James washer. Please hold your applause until we get it unloaded."

Lainey looked with suspicion at her almost giddy, silly husband. She looked at Clora and Clora looked back with a arched eyebrow. Ever since Ben had come back from town he had been almost hyper excited, and Lainey didn't have a clue to the reason.

Clora managed to catch Mark's eye and he just smiled and shrugged his shoulders. Mark started hooking up two of the camp stoves with the propane cylinders, earning a grateful look from Helga. Helga started opening jars and setting them to heat in the stockpot Clora had rescued from the fire.

Stepping out of Helga's domain, Mark came around to sit with Clora. "It's surprising what has survived in town, much more than I would have suspected." Mark lowered his voice and spoke softly into Clora's ear. "It's kinda funny that Sas didn't go to town or do any investigating, I don't think she has been in the area very long. Just be aware Honey, be careful with what you say in her presence. You might warn Lainey and Ev and Cheryl also. This is just something else that's out of kilter."

Clora nodded, giving a sigh. More layers of intrigue and problems.

The home canned stew was served for lunch and Helga was eyeing the two camp stove ovens that were rusty but serviceable.

"These vork?" she asked while she narrowed her eyes and struggled to read the print on the box that was unintelligible.

"Hopefully," Mark said with a smile. "Most likely cooks like a wood range."

"Ah, muches good, thanks you." she opened the door to the small compact oven, "Oh," she exclaimed, "muches problems, ve no have smalls pans to cook insides."

"Oh yes we do, I'll be right back," Mark went to the pickup. There in a mounded heap with everything else was a jumble of metal cookware of all types and sizes. "Mercy," said Clora, "I'll sort through these and give Helga a hand."


Life started to be wonderful. A daily routine was scheduled, a privy was built, the screen enclosures were put up to ward off the biting swarms, Wayne and Sas became a couple; Ben's big news was he had been appointed the Sheriff for the former county seat of Evergreen and it came with a paycheck and a county car.

The garden was mowed, tilled by the horses and planted within two weeks. The saw mill was set up and the horses pulled logs from the woods to be milled. The clan had debated and voted that they preferred separate houses for the much longed for privacy they were sorely missing.

Mark and Clora worked building a cabin over Grandma Evie's basement. Ben and Lainey chose The old Apperton place and Cheryl and Ev built over their original cellar. Wayne and Sas decided to build a duplex type place with one end for themselves and the other side for Helga and Helmer and the young bachelors.

The work parties worked one day on each of the cabins, leaving two days for the individuals to work on their own places. After church on Sunday, the clan worked for the good of their survival community. It wasn't ideal, there were problems that took time and patience to work out, but without Wade's unsettling presence, the problems were solved to most everyone's satisfaction.

The garden blossomed and with all of the family devoting one hour after supper to weeding, hoeing and care, it started yielding bounty in bushels. Helga and Helmer with Christy and Sas began canning and drying. Each precious morsel a hedge against the up coming winter.

The small creek was used with cooling boxes to keep milk, cottage cheese and farmer cheese for as long as two days. The good food, hard work, sunshine and a generous amount of the Good Lord's blessings brought them to September in good shape.

Ben was frequently gone patrolling, using the State's gas vouchers to fund his minute inspection of both counties. When the cabins had the ridge poles set, and the underlayment boards nailed in place, Ben and Wayne went to town looking for roofing tin.

Although it set his teeth to grinding, Mark reluctantly gave up control of the situation and sent his brother in laws to town to buy the supplies. Clora sympathized with her OCD husband, working hard to keep him occupied during the time the men were gone. Mark, as a way to keep himself from exploding all over the place, started digging potatoes and was like a one man human powered excavator.

The men were gone for three days, but returned with a truck load of metal and a boom truck to place the metal on the roofs. All other work was suspended as the metal was installed. There was still the matter of doors, windows and heating and cooking stoves.

The heat of summer slowly wained, and more and more the evening sky was filled with building clouds. The weather was changing and soon the marine influence would bring the rain. The kitchen setup was moved to the center of the surrounding houses to better serve the family, and the individual tents were torn down and moved to the inside of the new houses.

The first night Mark and Clora spent in their new cabin was a little slice of heaven. Milo and Teddy had changed from chubby children into lean, hard working youths. Teddy happily counting the number of nails used, and calculating the total number of board feet in each house. He had a mental spreadsheet of the costs in total, and the cost of each individual cabin. It was nothing short of astonishing, the mental capacity he had. Clora did everything she could think of to keep the youngest boy stimulated.

Tessee was a pretty, walking, talking little girl that was a bigger challenge than her brothers. Her first word was a indelicate repeat of a mild swear word she heard Wayne use. Clora nearly had a conniption fit the first time she heard her darling daughter say, "Hi my name is Tessee, damn."
 
cliff dweller

cliff dweller

Contributing Member
Oh, no! She said it. "Hi, My name is Tessee." Don't tell us this story ends here!
Please, at least wait until she learns not to include that last word. :-)

Wonderful stories, Pac. Please continue and resolve these tails.

I haven't posted before, since everyone dislikes seeing cliff arrive in your stories.

I can't help it.
I am cliff. I dwell.
 
Vtshooter

Vtshooter

Veteran Member
cliff dweller said:
Oh, no! She said it. "Hi, My name is Tessee." Don't tell us this story ends here!
Please, at least wait until she learns not to include that last word. :-)
Click to expand...

This is what I was thinking too! Although I bet Pac is probably ready to take a break. Time for a pause, then a continuation Pac? Still hoping for a resolution to the "metal" problem. Thank you for this story Pac. It's wonderful to see some normalcy come into the lives of the clan.
 
K

kaijafon

Veteran Member
if this is the end of this "chapter" then I like the ending..... but am interested to see what the next chapter is to be called.... cause there is NO way that all these wonderful characters are gonna keep quiet in Pac's head. (lol! snicker ...snort) NO WAY at all, so there will HAVE to be MOAR! Pac won't be able to stop....."they" won't let her.... they will seep out in a thousand of ways...myriads of myriads of ways.... demanding that their story keep being told..... That new questions are asked even as old ones are almost answered.... Tessee will be demanding that her own story be told as she grows and even falls in love and has kiddo's of own.... growing up with Wayne and Sas's kiddo's..... wild in the Evergreens! <cough, cough>

Continuing to teach us about all those life lessons that we forget to even think about....warming our hearts... lifting our spirits....... wrapping us up tightly and lovingly with happiness and joy as words are poured out on the page and then soaked up into our souls...laughing, crying, yelling, and shivering in delightful suspense

but most of all, bonding in a unique and wonderful way with "brothers and sisters" we have found here in YOUR story.


(do I have her convinced of this yet?)
 
Sammy55

Sammy55

Veteran Member
NNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It can't be finished yet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pac, say it ain't so!!!! And if this story is finished, please continue with another one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What'll we do without Clora and Mark and Tessee and Milo and Teddy and Lainey and Ben and Anne and Wayne and Sas and Ev and Cheryl and Christy and Helga and Helmer and Willie and Toby and even Wade and...................................

and don't forget the dogs! Especially the new Inky! We have to know where this Inky fits in!

We still don know what happens with Pete and his crew of murderin' marauders!

Please, Pac - please say it ain't the end!!!! Life would be too boring without these stories you are spinning to give us relief from the unreal world!
 
R

Rabbit

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Okay, I'm not a lawyer but I do know that technicalities count. She didn't say "Hi, my name is Tessee." She said "Hi, my name is Tessee damn". So there you go, it can't possibly be the end, because if it were the end there would be a void and an empty vacuum in a part of my day and I know that Pac is way too nice a person to do that. NO WAY, it can't be over.
 
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PacNorWest

Veteran Member
Oh sorry. I didn't mean this was the end of the story. I just needed to advance the story to fit the 'time of year sequence," 'cause I can't be in fall mode here and in Spring in the story.

I have had a Tessee, and she had the hardest time learning to be a 'lady' and not swear in school or town. The boys learned 'shop' manners right away, but our daughter, boy she was a hard nut to crack.

Tessee is going to affect the story more and more, she's just getting started. I didn't mean to make it sound like the story is ending. I am in the middle of planting garlic, so have been busy this morning and didn't realize there was a problem with the story. Pac.
 
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prep4four

Senior Member
Whew, sigh of relief, wipe brow...........so glad this is not the end.
Thank you Pac for taking time out of your busy schedules to keep us entertained!!!
 
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kaijafon

Veteran Member
SO HAPPY!!!!!
dogsmile.jpg
 
Sammy55

Sammy55

Veteran Member
kaijafon said:
there is NEVER a PROBLEM with the STORY!!!! We just want moar and moar and moar and moar and moar!

:)
Click to expand...

What she said...and double it...triple it...what the hay, 1,000,000,000 it!!!

Thank you! Thank you! Happy dance!! Happy dance!!

MOAR! MOAR! MOAR! MOAR! MOAR!
 
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PacNorWest

Veteran Member
#266

"MAAAAA, Tessee is cussing," keeper of the sins of his sister, Milo was bellowing at the top of his lungs. "We don't do that in this family," he loftily instructed his sister, "NO CUSSING," he repeated sternly.

"Milo, that's enough. Tessee is not old enough to understand what cussing means. I want you to be very careful with Milo's problems before you tend to Teddy or Tessee's. Dad and I will take care of Tessee appropriate to her age." Clora lightly scolded her son, as they picked up the house and put the night clothes away.

"Well," Milo defended himself, "I ALWAYS get in trouble for swearing or cussing or what ever you want to call it." he said snippy tone.

"And you are about to get in real big trouble for the tone of voice you are using," Clora warned him. "Now if you want grownup privileges to go with the men on the work crew, you will straighten out and apologize to me for acting so uppity."

Milo pursed his lips together and thought for about 3 seconds, catching the men gathering around the pickup getting ready to head over to the Wilson's cabin to set the windows. That changed his mind right away. "I'm sorry Ma," he said contritely, "can I go?"

"Use may, and yes you may go." Clora excused her oldest. "What about me?" Teddy butted in. Milo didn't want to share the time with Teddy and started to protest, but clamped his lips together when he saw Ma's finger shake at him gently.

"I want you both to stay out of the way, if Dad comes back and tells me you disobeyed, you will stay home for a week." Clora wasn't playing games and both boys were well aware of what they needed to do. ""Yes Ma," they chorused, as they grabbed sweatshirts and ran out the open door and down the two plank sidewalk.

That gave Clora time to talk to Tessee while the boys were absent. It wasn't very successful. Tessee maintained her guileless, innocent attitude and agreed with everything Clora talked to her about, nodding her head.

After a while, Clora got the feeling her daughter would have said yes to anything, and that trying to reason with the child was wasting her mother's time. Finally she said," damn" is a cuss word and I don't want you to say it, and if you say it again I will swat your leg hard." That registered. Tessee had been bopped on by her brothers and knew it hurt. More head nodding by Tessee ended the session.

The day was starting to cloud over, so the women moved all the trays of drying green beans inside the van, already festooned with strings of garlic, hot peppers and long lines of drying 'leather britches', and the sacks of cured potatoes. Each family had their own stash put by in the cellars under their cabins. It had been voted on to parcel out the majority of the fresh food to each family in case of catastrophe, but putting a equal share in the van for emergency times.

"Is there any thing we need to bring in today, I would say it's going to be raining by noon." Clora said as she and Tessee and the ever present Newfey joined the group to do the breakfast dishes.

"There is a half row of keeper onions that should be pulled, and close to a full row of garlic. The green tomatoes should be picked in case it clears off by dusk and frosts tonight," Lainey reported, going through her organizational clipboard.

"With the guys over at the Wilson's and Cheryl, Christy and Sas doing lunch there, that doesn't leave very many of us to finish the harvest. I think we can get the wagons and wheelbarrows loaded and parked under the van before it rains. Anyone have a better idea?"

"Helmers, he can bring the produces in ven ve fills the vagons," Helga volunteered her husband.

They left for the field, each pulling two of the flatbed wagons like the nursery's use. Tessee rode in one and used a string tied to her mother's apron like a set of reins. With gloves on and determination to save as much food as possible, the ladies and Helmer attacked the remaining produce.

The nice fat onions were pulled and the dirt gently brushed from the roots and carefully placed in a wagon. The crisp fall air combined with the pungent onion smell was like nature's perfume to Clora and she sang the Doxology softly to herself. "Praise God from whom all blessings flow," suited the day and time perfectly. Soon, the field was ringing with songs of praise and thanksgiving for God's bounty.

The garlic was next and they used the same careful procedure pulling the plump cloves. They had three wagon's full of garlic, the strong, intoxicating smell hanging in the air. Lainey jokingly said, "I guess there will be no vampires in camp tonight," and that was the wrong thing to say...even in jest.

"Vampires, vere?" Helga looked up in alarm and started to make excited circles as she looked all around. With the 'volves' fiasco still fresh in their minds, Lainey and Clora grabbed up their children to keep them out of harm's way.

"NO vampires," Clora said loudly, hoping to penetrate Helga's over excited nature. "Lainey was just commenting that we had a good harvest of garlic." Lainey had to turn her back to Helga as she was laughing and didn't want to hurt the cook's feelings.

Clora was having trouble keeping a straight face, but avoided looking at Helmer as she figured she would probably lose her fragile composure.

"All rights, then." Helga was mollified. "No mores speaking of vampires, Is muches bad joke."

"Agreed," Clora confirmed, as she poked Lainey to make the woman stop laughing. Lainey gave her agreement by nodding her head, still unable to speak. They moved over to the tomatoes, and filled the wagons before they had gone very far.

"I vill starts many pots of green tomato mincemeats, ve haves the apples and some raisins and Helmers can helps me grind the greens." Helga declared with authority. It was hard work pulling the wagons in from the field, and Clora had to stop and rest many times. Finally Helmer came back and took the handle from the tired woman with a kind smile.

"You vill lets me, no?" Helmer asked carefully, not wanting to be pushy and hurt Clora's feelings. He was somewhat spooked by Clora as her precognizance was very unsettling to him. In fact he was more afraid of Clora than he was of Helga, and Helga was scary indeed.

Clora's prediction was true. It started raining right after lunch. Lainey, alarmed by Clora's white color and rapid breathing sent her sister and niece to take a nap. Clora thankfully covered herself with the sleeping bag and fell asleep. Tessee got up by herself to go potty and had Auntie Lainey help her. Lainey checked on Clora several times, but let the woman sleep as long as she would.

Clora was still asleep when the men got back from working at Ev's. Lainey intercepted Mark and the boy's before they rousted Clora, sending Mark in to speak with her and discover what the problem was.

"Hey Sweetie," Mark gently talked Clora awake. "Clora, are you OK? Lainey say's you've been asleep all afternoon."

"I've been tired for a while, don't forget we've been going pretty steady for many months," Clora tried to explain away the possible reason for her tiredness. It was the elephant in the room between them, the first thought coming to mind was a occurrence of her heart problems.

"I tried to bring in a wagon load of tomatoes, and Helmer had to rescue me. I was thankful he was there to help." Clora said quietly. "I took a lot of rest stops, but the wagon was very heavy."

"I would like to tell you, please no more super-woman stunts. Clora you are so important to me, the children and the clan; you may not be able to keep up the pace with the rest of us. So let us pamper you, and you humor us by taking it easy." Mark was loving but firm.

"I don't want too," Clora said honestly. "There is still so much to do before winter, that I can't slack off."

"I would rather have you slack than spend the winter in the hospital," Mark was harsh. "What do you think our children would do with you gone, either dead or away in a hospital fighting for your life. I'm selfish Clora, this wouldn't be the place I would want to live if you were gone. I couldn't bear to stay."

"Well that's putting it bluntly," Clora managed to say. "I can't stand to think about not being here either, I will try, but I need help as I get lost doing a task and just get it done."

"You have my pledge," Mark helped her up and put Clora in their one chair. "It's supper time Milady, may I have the honor of escorting you to the feast?"

"With pleasure, kind Sir." and they went to the tent for supper.
 
DustMusher

DustMusher

Deceased
Oh, Thank You, Pac. Staying up late was worth it to be able to read this story as a bed time story.

Clora needs to figure out that she IS working towards their survival even when she is resting and taking in the world around her; like watching for rain on the way and warning every one. If she lets herself get too worn down she may miss some subtle ripple in the force to see the warning in time. She still can sit and braid the onions and garlic to dry and be productive without over straining the strength of her body. Plenty of work to be done for women that does not take a really strong body but is totally necessary.
DM
 
stjwelding

stjwelding

Veteran Member
Thanks pac it look like the clan is well on there way to being prepared for the coming winter, hopefully the winter will be less brutal then at the lodge and with no out side interference from there attackers. I am very happy to hear that you are not planning on ending this masterpiece of a story that you are writing and sharing with all of us anytime soon.
Wayne
 
P

PacNorWest

Veteran Member
It will be late tonight before I can get a chapter up, it's time to plant garlic, multipliers and bank the seed carrots and parsnips. Thanks. Pac.
 
P

PacNorWest

Veteran Member
#267

The clan sat down to supper. Sas, Cheryl and Christy were each manning a camp stove and huge cast iron pans and were cranking out fried green tomatoes. There was Elk chunks in brown gravy over potatoes and the heavenly fried green tomatoes.

Happy people ate, talked, rested and mingled with each other. Ben came driving in just in time to get in on a hot supper. He was upbeat with good news about the valley down below and the fact that he wanted Wayne to go with him and bring up the road grader from the county shop.

The clan men had been anxious to fix and improve the major road into Evergreen, that alone would shave more than three hours off Ben's commute to the valley just below them. When he had to go around the long way, it was more than 100 miles, so Ben especially was anxious to get the road passable. A light rain pitter patted on the dining tent, the temperature sliding lower as the group enjoyed a Friday night rest.

Blackie woofed that there was an incoming stranger. Men scattered to grab their rifles and take up strategic positions to present a united front. It was Wade. He had been hurrying, hoping to get there by supper time but the road was slippery with the amount of rain. The oncoming darkness was also a huge impediment, his sight having failed more and more during the summer.

Wade had been involved with closing up his law practice and dealing with the aftermath of the clan so abruptly leaving the lodge. He hadn't been back to Evergreen since the initial move in, and was pleased with the shadows of the cabins he could see. Now he was coming in with news for Christy, school was starting back up in a week.

Wade pulled as close as possible so he didn't have to walk far over uneven ground. He was welcomed politely, and invited to eat.

He pulled the letters out of his jacket pocket for Christy with one hand and accepted a full plate from Helga with the other. In his whole life Wade had never eaten fried green tomatoes and he hoped he was casual as he took a small bite from the closest slab. It was slightly sweet, slightly tart and somewhat crunchy. And, surprise, it was good.

Christy read her letter and silently motioned to Toby to follow her over to the far side enclosure. They talked low for a few minutes and then Christy went to speak to her parents, drawing them off to the same enclosure so they could talk.

Milo went to 'help' them and had to be reprimanded back into his seat. "No," Mark told him seriously. "This is not for you to be involved in. The Wilson's can take care of their own problems with out your help."

Milo definitely wasn't happy with his restrictions, and sat quietly with a stubborn, mulish expression on his face. Teddy watched him struggle with the grounding to the chair, his brothers wiggles interesting to watch. So much went on in Teddy's mind that he never mentioned, that it was hard to figure out what the middle child was thinking. Mark and Clora kept close track of the boys while helping Tessee finish feeding herself supper.

Wade was wondering if the offer he had written on the bottom of Christy's letter would be accepted. He had scarcely finished his meal when all three of the Wilson's and Toby came back in to the main tent.

"Everyone, while we are all here, Christy and I would like to announce that we are going to be married." Toby's now deep voice was slightly tight with nervousness. He was holding hands with his intended, and they smiled at each other. "We have Ev and Cheryl's blessing and would like to ask for yours," he looked at Mark and Clora with a steady gaze.

Mark and Clora looked at each other and Clora gave a slight nod as she turned to face Toby and Christy with a big smile. Mark said loudly, "you have our blessing."

There was clapping, whistling and foot stomping. That made all the dogs bark and the horses whinny.

"We have more," Toby announced. "We are going to take Grampa Wade up on his offer to stay at his place while we both study. Christy is going to finish her nurse's training and I am going to do my Ged. Now Grandpa has also extended his invitation to Willie to do his Ged and stay at his place also. This is a wonderful thing you are offering us, we thank you Wade and accept gladly."

Willie looked thunderstruck, and had a catch in his throat when he squeaked out his acceptance of the generous offer. Wade finally spoke up and told the parents that he had hired a housekeeper, but would appreciate it if the young men would drive him when he occasionally needed to go out at night. "The main catch is...we have to leave Sunday to get home and ready everyone for school the next day. Everyone here is invited to my place as I would like to have Toby and Christy married on Monday, but I am open to suggestions."

Cheryl cleared her throat. "Monday will be just fine, we accept your most generous offer and will be delighted to stay at your place." she sat down and reached blindly for Ev's hand. He gently put his arm around her shoulder and her hand found his. They were having a hard time accepting the rush of events, but understood the reasons. Cheryl was pretty emotional about the fact that her baby was getting married, but looking at her and Toby it was obvious they cared deeply about one another.

Toby came around the table to speak privately to Mark and he nodded. What ever Mark said in return had the young man nodding his head.

"We'll get our act together tomorrow," Mark promised out loud, "Wade would you like to stay with us tonight?" he privately figured there was no way Wade wouldn't be near Tessee, so he might as well make it official.

Clora as she was sitting and watching the proceedings had a stray thought; Wade was arming himself with husky young men that were excellent shots for a reason. There was a deep under current running below the surface of his seemingly innocent offer and Clora intended to tell Mark so he could arm Toby with the truth.
 
Texican

Texican

Live Free & Die Free.... God Freedom Country....
PacNorWest said:
#265
Clora nearly had a conniption fit the first time she heard her darling daughter say, "Hi my name is Tessee, damn."
Click to expand...

Little ones can hear a whisper not only across a room but from the first floor to the second floor..... and for only God knows why young'ins will pickup a swear word for only hearing it once.... and use it at the most importune times....

Great story Pac.... It has been enjoyable following the clan.... and their trials and successes...
 
P

PacNorWest

Veteran Member
#268

Clora had a difficult time getting Mark off to the side to speak to him privately. Finally she had to drag him away from the festivities because bedtime for the littles was drawing near. They faded back out of the firelight and under the far awning. "Mark, have you had 'THE' talk with Toby so he and Christy are responsible?"

"Yes dear,"

"Then I need to tell you something for you to think on and then pass to Toby and Willie before they leave. I get the feeling that Wade is surrounding himself with 'young guns' so to speak. He is concerned and afraid of something and I have this awful feeling in the pit of my stomach that he has been threatened by Pete and needs bodyguards." Clora whispered urgently in his ear. "I hate to think of young inexperienced kids going up against that slimy snake."

"Actually I did have that same thought," Mark whispered back. "I've never known Wade to do anything that didn't benefit him greatly in the end. Another troubling idea is that leaves us seriously underhanded with Ben gone most of the day, and now Wayne busy reconstructing the roads. What a mess," he said with feeling. "OK, I will warn Toby, Christy and Willie. How about we give the kids some money? They look very much out of synch with the rest of the populace and will stand out because of their dress. Both boy's also need a small carry gun, and permits."

"Go for it," Clora said with a kiss to his cheek, knowing that Mark would get the job done in his own way and time.

Gathering up the children, Mark played pack mule carrying the kids to their darkened cabin. "Stay here," he told Wade as they left the dining tent. "I'll be back for you in a minute, or better yet Toby, could you give us a hand please?" Suddenly the chance to speak to Toby presented itself, and Mark took advantage as he walked with Toby back toward the mess trailer.

In clear, concise terms Mark gave the young man their take on the problem. "It's going to be difficult to be a new husband, study and be hyper vigilant to your surroundings; but this scene is made to order for a Pete ambush. He will make it look like a gang kind of confrontation, or a home invasion or be there waiting when you get home from being out. Now Christy is the weakest link while she is at school, take her and pick her up! Leave nothing to chance." Mark the dad stressed to his son. "Tell Willie to hang around close so I can speak with him. I don't particularly want to alert Wade we are suspicious of him, he will act differently and alert any watchers."

Mark passed a wad of folded bills to Toby's hand. "You need clothes, haircuts and appearances that blend in, be like a chameleon. I'm going to ask Willie to be in charge of driving and helping Wade, he can step up to the plate on this one." the former Ranger and super stealth marksman issued his orders.

"Thank you," Toby was strong but nervous at the same time. "Is it alright if we use the Linderman name? I can't think of any better way to start a new life, than to follow in your footsteps."

"It would make me more proud than you could ever know." Mark replied back in hushed tones. There was a brief man hug and a clap on the back between them, and they parted.


Ev and Cheryl spent the night whispering back and forth in their newly windowed and doored cabin. The work crew had selected their house because of their age and obvious infirmities to work on first. The small '2 bedroom' place was still cool in the fall weather and Ev was having trouble with the cold cramping his legs. As she rubbed his calf briskly, Cheryl went over a list in her mind.

"We need to get a stove when we go in tomorrow. I hate to up and leave with all this work left to do, but no way will I miss Christy's wedding," Cheryl said firmly, the mother in her setting the limits of what she was willing to forgo. "Be thinking of anything else we get to get for winter," she finally said with a yawn, "I'm really tired after today's work. I must be getting old."

"Cuddle with me, I'm cold," Ev whispered in the dark.


Toby and Willie opted to sleep in their tent under the van trailer, the dripping water along the sides trenched away from their beds.
In another whisper, Toby relayed to Willie all the information Mark had passed to him. "Dad want's to talk to you, but make it look casual and not like he is warning you that you're life may be in danger," Toby snickered in the darkness. "Like that's easy to do."

"I suppose he has a long list of do's and dont's for us," Willie said sleepily.

"Yeah, but their pretty good ones," Toby added seriously. "worth listening too." Toby spent a sleepless night, not wound up about his upcoming marriage, but rather worrying about Willie and how he was going to react to being in town away from the steadying influence of the clan. He figured Willie was their weakest link, not Christy.


Wayne and Sas had their tent pitched in their mostly completed cabin. "Do you want to go to town tomorrow?" Wayne asked as they lay close together for warmth. "Anything you need, or want to get? You can either go in or send a list," Wayne reached out to cover their sleeping bags with another wool blanket. "I'm going to stay here and ride in with Ben to get the maintainer tomorrow."

"Nothin I need in town," Sas said replied. "Mebby I'll have one of them get me some more bullets, I'm runnin short for my little gun. Been shootin too many squirrels for the stew pot."

"Tell Mark, I think he's going in. But I don't think Clora and the kids are going, she sure looked tired tonight, didn't she?"

"Hummn," Sas said. "I believe your right."


Ben was busy asking Lainey if she wanted to attend the wedding and was more than relieved when she said no. He tried not to let it show, but should have saved his breath. Lainey was no fool, and demanded to know what was on his mind.

"Frankly my dear," he said in his best Rett Butler voice, "I'm glad you will be here to help protect the camp. We are really ripe for the picking with all our harvest gathered in and so many members gone. It's a poor situation for us to be in. I want to take Wayne to the county shop for the grader, but then will patrol back in this area while everyone's gone."

"Good plan," Lainey approved. "I wish we had something more than good wishes to give Toby and Christy as a wedding present, but that is going to have to do for now. What do you think about having Mark bring us back a stove? It's darn right chilly tonight."

"Yes, I'll tell him tomorrow," Ben winced as Lainey's cold feet found his warm legs. "Good Lord," he whispered, "are your feet still alive? They are terrible cold."

"Don't I know it," Lainey retorted. "I was making a point."
 
Vtshooter

Vtshooter

Veteran Member
Thank you for the new chapter Pac. I do wonder what Wade has going on. I would imagine losing his sight has him feeling pretty defenseless.
 
D

Deena in GA

Administrator
_______________
Thanks for the chapter! What a shame they can't all go to the wedding, but it would be impossible. Another chapter is always a welcome sight!
 
P

PacNorWest

Veteran Member
#269

Mark and Clora entered their cabin more by feel in the dark, than being able to see where they were walking. Wade was snoring in the corner and the 3 children were on the opposite side. Blackie followed obediently into the structure and lay down in the doorway. He was on guard for the night.

Ben and Lainey had Cindy for protection, and of course Danny was with Ev and Cheryl. Toby and Willie had disdained the use of a dog, Toby jokingly said he would just pinch Willie and make his friend bark louder than all the dogs together, either that or feed him more beans.

"A stove is definitely top priority," Mark whispered as they took off their wet shoes and Clora warmed her feet just as Lainey had.

"Good," Clora said smugly, "it's time." and she spooned into Mark's warmth.


Sunday morning was solid gray with clouds and rain, as fog was creeping over the meadow obscuring the tree line. It was a bittersweet breakfast as the crew heading to town decided to go as soon as possible. The muddy road was going to be difficult, so Willie drove Wade's Jeep, and Toby drove Ev's pickup. Mark went out in their pickup leaving behind a pouting Milo and Teddy behind.

The ladies huddled under the tarp and close to the fire. "I suppose it could be more miserable, but probably not too much more without going off the charts," Clora said with a sigh. "I told Mark not to come back unless he had stoves, he thought I was just teasing, but I really wasn't." Clora had another drink of hot coffee. The bundled up children waddled around like penguins, Lainey was laughing that if Anne or Tessee fell down, they wouldn't be able to get back up.

It turned out to be a slow day all around. Ben came home early, and soon the purr of the maintainer could be heard in the distance. They couldn't see it; but the throaty growl floated up from the canyon to the left of the meadow. Wayne was breaking a trail up from Mark's valley. It would be a shortcut to the defunct town of Longview and a great help to Ben. If the weather would let him negotiate the wet and gooey mud track.

It was well after dark before Mark came back. The lights from the pickup were seen in the far off distance, dancing in between the trees. Suddenly there was a rifle shot, and then another. Three honks could be heard, and then another three. Mark wanted or needed help. Wayne and Ben went for their rifles and then as they were getting in the pickup, another shot echo was heard.

They hurried, as Mark's pickup lights were still on. It wasn't an ambush, it was three Elk that had the audacity to step out into the road in front of the incoming clan member. It was a blessing in disguise. It was an incredible gift that the family used every part and piece possible. The Elk were gutted and skinned and hung in the trailer and the door safely shut against predators.

The most wonderful part of Mark's return was the five wood stoves and triple walled insulated pipe he brought with him. The temperature continued to drop that night, and the family could see their breath as they headed for bed early.
 
sssarawolf

sssarawolf

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Great chapter thank you Pac, very nice stoves and piping yippee. maybe Mark could get me some of that piping. I have the triple wall that goes through the wall.
 
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