Story Homestead, Sweet, Homestead
- Thread starter PacNorWest
- Start date
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#82
Mark halted his wagon and one by one the wagons stopped and people looked around. The sign that was almost faded out and hanging by one chain read Bloomfield. Mark walked down the deserted main street, and finally his eye was caught by a piece of paper fluttering in the hot July wind.
Walking over to see what it said, Mark read the notice.
"By order of the circuit court, Bloomfield, Iowa is for sale. Back taxes and the collapse of utility services has caused the State of Iowa to declare the town defunct." The rest of the notice was signed by the Sheriff Wyatt Coleman.
Information on how to find and contact the Sheriff was included by a hasty written scrawl on the bottom of the paper. Mark pulled the paper out from under the nail that held it on the door to the general store looking building.
Walking back to the parked wagons, Mark passed the paper to Clora, and she quickly read it.
"This is a nice looking place, rolling hills, plenty of shade trees and that little river, what's the name of it?"
"Haven't got a clue, the town sign says "Bloomfield, it's listed for sale and this is where Tess thinks she wants to be. Have you got any notions of what may come next.?"
"A good place to live," Clora suggested happily. "There's powerful good feelings here, a place to live and grow and love and laugh. Houses, and it looks like enough for everyone, I'd like to look around, what do you think?"
Mark helped Clora down, and as she turned. she noticed that all the ladies had left the wagons, kids were running and whooping and hollering, Men were looking around with their hats pushed back on their heads.
The ladies started chattering and tears gathered in the corners of their eyes. The relief at finally reaching a destination left the gals weak in the knees.
The trees interspersed in and around the buildings cast welcome shade and the birds were singing. A cat appeared trailed by three kittens. The grey striped tabby had two grey striped just like her and the third was a long haired yellow.
"The town welcoming committee," Milo quipped and kids sat in the shade and called to the kitties.
Whatever the town had been before the great cleansing, it was old looking now with weather beaten wood and field stone buildings sluffing the sandy cement that glued the square hewn rocks together.
Mark halted his wagon and one by one the wagons stopped and people looked around. The sign that was almost faded out and hanging by one chain read Bloomfield. Mark walked down the deserted main street, and finally his eye was caught by a piece of paper fluttering in the hot July wind.
Walking over to see what it said, Mark read the notice.
"By order of the circuit court, Bloomfield, Iowa is for sale. Back taxes and the collapse of utility services has caused the State of Iowa to declare the town defunct." The rest of the notice was signed by the Sheriff Wyatt Coleman.
Information on how to find and contact the Sheriff was included by a hasty written scrawl on the bottom of the paper. Mark pulled the paper out from under the nail that held it on the door to the general store looking building.
Walking back to the parked wagons, Mark passed the paper to Clora, and she quickly read it.
"This is a nice looking place, rolling hills, plenty of shade trees and that little river, what's the name of it?"
"Haven't got a clue, the town sign says "Bloomfield, it's listed for sale and this is where Tess thinks she wants to be. Have you got any notions of what may come next.?"
"A good place to live," Clora suggested happily. "There's powerful good feelings here, a place to live and grow and love and laugh. Houses, and it looks like enough for everyone, I'd like to look around, what do you think?"
Mark helped Clora down, and as she turned. she noticed that all the ladies had left the wagons, kids were running and whooping and hollering, Men were looking around with their hats pushed back on their heads.
The ladies started chattering and tears gathered in the corners of their eyes. The relief at finally reaching a destination left the gals weak in the knees.
The trees interspersed in and around the buildings cast welcome shade and the birds were singing. A cat appeared trailed by three kittens. The grey striped tabby had two grey striped just like her and the third was a long haired yellow.
"The town welcoming committee," Milo quipped and kids sat in the shade and called to the kitties.
Whatever the town had been before the great cleansing, it was old looking now with weather beaten wood and field stone buildings sluffing the sandy cement that glued the square hewn rocks together.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
thank you.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#83
Mark passed the paper around, so all could read the information. "So the pressing question is, how and where do we find the sheriff?" Toby questioned.
Everyone shrugged, "I don't even know what county we are in, much less know where to find any law." Milo offered with a smile. "Imagine that, wondering where the law might be; that's probably a first for us."
Unbeknownst to the clan, the law knew precisely where 'they' were. A large amount of wagons headed North; had raised concern all along the trail they had followed. A group of people headed North, when everyone else was abandoning places and going South, raised suspicions.
Sheriff Wyatt Coleman rested easy in the saddle, a top the highest hill around. He had binoculars and noticed that the one man had taken the notice from the store door. There sure were enough of them, and there were kids swarming everywhere.
Wyatt had noticed they had a lot of 'stuff' with them, like they were serious about settling and making a go of living. Wyatt tried to count heads, and lost the total every time. There were young and old, and of course the kids and dogs. Then he noticed the really young kids, and they were trying to coax some semi-feral cats to come close. Wyatt chuckled, good luck at that, he thought.
Wyatt watched as the wagons were circled under the shade and kids were called in to gather firewood. People scattered to do chores and he definitely approved of the way the horses were unhitched and taken care of.
Responsible, Wyatt was thinking. He would give them a couple of days and then 'happen' by.
The ladies started supper, and the men gathered up horses to scout the surrounding countryside. They were anxious to see farm fields, check on pastures full of grass and find houses that were suitable for their families.
This is going to end "Homestead, Sweet Homestead."
I had thought to use the title all the way through the oncoming settlement and prosperity of the Lindermans; but it's not the ideal that I want. So, Grace, Mercy and Blessings will be the next story.
Mark passed the paper around, so all could read the information. "So the pressing question is, how and where do we find the sheriff?" Toby questioned.
Everyone shrugged, "I don't even know what county we are in, much less know where to find any law." Milo offered with a smile. "Imagine that, wondering where the law might be; that's probably a first for us."
Unbeknownst to the clan, the law knew precisely where 'they' were. A large amount of wagons headed North; had raised concern all along the trail they had followed. A group of people headed North, when everyone else was abandoning places and going South, raised suspicions.
Sheriff Wyatt Coleman rested easy in the saddle, a top the highest hill around. He had binoculars and noticed that the one man had taken the notice from the store door. There sure were enough of them, and there were kids swarming everywhere.
Wyatt had noticed they had a lot of 'stuff' with them, like they were serious about settling and making a go of living. Wyatt tried to count heads, and lost the total every time. There were young and old, and of course the kids and dogs. Then he noticed the really young kids, and they were trying to coax some semi-feral cats to come close. Wyatt chuckled, good luck at that, he thought.
Wyatt watched as the wagons were circled under the shade and kids were called in to gather firewood. People scattered to do chores and he definitely approved of the way the horses were unhitched and taken care of.
Responsible, Wyatt was thinking. He would give them a couple of days and then 'happen' by.
The ladies started supper, and the men gathered up horses to scout the surrounding countryside. They were anxious to see farm fields, check on pastures full of grass and find houses that were suitable for their families.
This is going to end "Homestead, Sweet Homestead."
I had thought to use the title all the way through the oncoming settlement and prosperity of the Lindermans; but it's not the ideal that I want. So, Grace, Mercy and Blessings will be the next story.
Orion Commander
Veteran Member
Bloomfield is a nice town in Davis County. Lots of Amish in the area.
Sneaker 11
RECONDO
Thanks so much for your unique stories. I check every morning with my first cup. Looking forward to your next saga.
11
11
Sammy55
Veteran Member
I'm sad to see this story end but really happy to hear that another one is starting! I love reading your stories as soon as I can, no matter the time of day!
I can't help but be amazed at the life that Clora has had and how we have experienced it with her from her young years and now her older years. She sure has touched a lot of lives!
Thanks, Pac, for all your writing for our enjoyment! I'm looking forward to Grace, Mercy and Blessings! And hoping that the next saga starts soon. I need my Clora fix daily, it seems!
I can't help but be amazed at the life that Clora has had and how we have experienced it with her from her young years and now her older years. She sure has touched a lot of lives!
Thanks, Pac, for all your writing for our enjoyment! I'm looking forward to Grace, Mercy and Blessings! And hoping that the next saga starts soon. I need my Clora fix daily, it seems!
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Thank you very much Pac.
