If I thought for one miserable minute......
- Thread starter PacNorWest
- Start date
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
very good chapters, thank you so much, please take care of yourself and Mr Pac.
Siskiyoumom
Veteran Member
Keeping you in my prayers.
Thank you for the new chapter.
Sis
Thank you for the new chapter.
Sis
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#75a.
"Benny, Brett, will you come with me to see Doc Phillips?" Evie requested her grandsons accompany her into what she thought might be a real knock down drag out meeting, especially if she had anything to say about it.
"I've got to check in for a couple of minutes, we were gone longer than I intended." Benny helped carry his Grandmothers's backpack into the Sheriff's office. "Then, I'll be glad to walk over with you. I have a few questions myself."
The trio didn't waste a lot of time before making tracks for the clinic. The front door was locked, so they went around to the side kitchen door. Inga looked up as Evie opened the door, her cup of tea wobbling enough to splash a bit of liquid over the rim.
"Hi dear, is Inghram around? I need to ask him a couple of questions." Evie was watching Inga's face and she already had her answer.
"Mom, it was the strangest thing. About two hours ago, a mean looking little helicopter landed in the ballfield, Inghram went running out the door and left without even saying goodby." Inga's voice had a quiver. "I've never seen anything like it."
Evie walked over to put her arms around Inga's shoulders. "Honey, we have bad news, more bad news and bad news with questions.
I was hoping Inghram could give us some answers that might explain what in the devil was going on. The fact that he is gone, doesn't look good for our side of the equation." Evie patted her daughter on the shoulder. "I'm afraid this is all tied into Pete, somehow."
"Aunt Inga, I don't think you should be here alone; and at the very least, you need to carry protection. I also need to tell you that we don't think Inghram is exactly who you thought he was. There's a excellent chance that he might return to harm you, or us." Benny looked seriously at his aunt.
It was clear that Inga didn't, or didn't want to acknowledge that her husband might hurt her or her family. "Really," she said shortly, "I hardly think that is possible. He is a doctor, for God's sake."
"We found out a whole slew of disturbing bits of information, Inga please trust us to try and bring the truth to you. This will be very disturbing before it is over. Right now, I'm not sure whom to trust, and whom is our friend. Be very careful with everyone." Evie said softly to Inga.
"I've got to get home and rescue Lainey, I hope the hooligans don't have her tied up." Evie chuckled as she contemplated that thought.
Benny smiled to himself, thinking about Lainey.
Brett was thinking about Lainey also. Not the same thoughts that Benny was thinking however. He was feeling suspicious of everyone.
"Benny, Brett, will you come with me to see Doc Phillips?" Evie requested her grandsons accompany her into what she thought might be a real knock down drag out meeting, especially if she had anything to say about it.
"I've got to check in for a couple of minutes, we were gone longer than I intended." Benny helped carry his Grandmothers's backpack into the Sheriff's office. "Then, I'll be glad to walk over with you. I have a few questions myself."
The trio didn't waste a lot of time before making tracks for the clinic. The front door was locked, so they went around to the side kitchen door. Inga looked up as Evie opened the door, her cup of tea wobbling enough to splash a bit of liquid over the rim.
"Hi dear, is Inghram around? I need to ask him a couple of questions." Evie was watching Inga's face and she already had her answer.
"Mom, it was the strangest thing. About two hours ago, a mean looking little helicopter landed in the ballfield, Inghram went running out the door and left without even saying goodby." Inga's voice had a quiver. "I've never seen anything like it."
Evie walked over to put her arms around Inga's shoulders. "Honey, we have bad news, more bad news and bad news with questions.
I was hoping Inghram could give us some answers that might explain what in the devil was going on. The fact that he is gone, doesn't look good for our side of the equation." Evie patted her daughter on the shoulder. "I'm afraid this is all tied into Pete, somehow."
"Aunt Inga, I don't think you should be here alone; and at the very least, you need to carry protection. I also need to tell you that we don't think Inghram is exactly who you thought he was. There's a excellent chance that he might return to harm you, or us." Benny looked seriously at his aunt.
It was clear that Inga didn't, or didn't want to acknowledge that her husband might hurt her or her family. "Really," she said shortly, "I hardly think that is possible. He is a doctor, for God's sake."
"We found out a whole slew of disturbing bits of information, Inga please trust us to try and bring the truth to you. This will be very disturbing before it is over. Right now, I'm not sure whom to trust, and whom is our friend. Be very careful with everyone." Evie said softly to Inga.
"I've got to get home and rescue Lainey, I hope the hooligans don't have her tied up." Evie chuckled as she contemplated that thought.
Benny smiled to himself, thinking about Lainey.
Brett was thinking about Lainey also. Not the same thoughts that Benny was thinking however. He was feeling suspicious of everyone.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Thank you for the chapter aww man poor Inga, I hope doc comes back to her.
DustMusher
Deceased
Pac,
Thanks you for the chapters, this story has more twists, turns and switchbacks than a dirt road going down a steep mountain.
Prayers continue - I hope the writing is a healing or at least a respite for you. If you feel compeeled to write at this time just for our stakes, we would understand but still selfishly glad you are posting.
DM
Thanks you for the chapters, this story has more twists, turns and switchbacks than a dirt road going down a steep mountain.
Prayers continue - I hope the writing is a healing or at least a respite for you. If you feel compeeled to write at this time just for our stakes, we would understand but still selfishly glad you are posting.
DM
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#76a.
Brett stayed with Kevin to go through the paperwork at the Sheriff's office; he would have preferred going out to Grandma's with Benny, if for nothing else than to keep his brother from acting like a besotted fool. Brett's confidence had been shaken by the latest revelation that Doc was most likely a agent, and for which side he wasn't sure. There was no player's list. Agent Henry had known more about his individual family members than he did.
Brett wound up thinking more about the family's problems than he did paperwork, totally missing the pointed looks he was receiving from Kevin. Kevin was looking forward to having help, and big, capable Brett was off in la la land somewhere. Finally, he had enough and kicked the huge man in the foot.
"Hey, sharpen up here!" Kevin admonished. "I'd like to go home sometime this century, if you don't mind."
"I can't concentrate," Brett complained. "I'm hungry and can't keep my mind on what I'm doing."
"OK," Kevin thought fast and furious. "You work, I'll run over for a couple of burgers."
"Here, get two for me," Brett pulled out his wallet and grabbed a couple of bills. "Hey, grab a double order of fries while you're at it, would ya? I'm starving."
Kevin grabbed the money and took off at a trot before Brett changed his mind. Anything to keep that joker working.
Alone, Brett re-read his dossier given to him by the senior agent. He was amazed that all of his grades were recorded, even the D he got in Algebra the semester he was totally in love with Mandy Miller and couldn't study. Ha! he didn't even know where she might be nowdays.
The papers contained all of his particuliars, blood type down to eye color and iris patterns. The what and how they got that type of information, he was astounded. Who cared enough about him to even want that info. Brett's mind kept coming back to Doc. But why?
Brett stayed with Kevin to go through the paperwork at the Sheriff's office; he would have preferred going out to Grandma's with Benny, if for nothing else than to keep his brother from acting like a besotted fool. Brett's confidence had been shaken by the latest revelation that Doc was most likely a agent, and for which side he wasn't sure. There was no player's list. Agent Henry had known more about his individual family members than he did.
Brett wound up thinking more about the family's problems than he did paperwork, totally missing the pointed looks he was receiving from Kevin. Kevin was looking forward to having help, and big, capable Brett was off in la la land somewhere. Finally, he had enough and kicked the huge man in the foot.
"Hey, sharpen up here!" Kevin admonished. "I'd like to go home sometime this century, if you don't mind."
"I can't concentrate," Brett complained. "I'm hungry and can't keep my mind on what I'm doing."
"OK," Kevin thought fast and furious. "You work, I'll run over for a couple of burgers."
"Here, get two for me," Brett pulled out his wallet and grabbed a couple of bills. "Hey, grab a double order of fries while you're at it, would ya? I'm starving."
Kevin grabbed the money and took off at a trot before Brett changed his mind. Anything to keep that joker working.
Alone, Brett re-read his dossier given to him by the senior agent. He was amazed that all of his grades were recorded, even the D he got in Algebra the semester he was totally in love with Mandy Miller and couldn't study. Ha! he didn't even know where she might be nowdays.
The papers contained all of his particuliars, blood type down to eye color and iris patterns. The what and how they got that type of information, he was astounded. Who cared enough about him to even want that info. Brett's mind kept coming back to Doc. But why?
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sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Yeah weird is right. Thanks pac
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#76b
Benny drove Grandma and the girls out to the ranch, telling himself that seeing Lainey was secondary to making sure Grandma got home safely. It was easy to tell that Grandma was royally pissed about the records on the whole family. She had issued the royal order that no one was to read the other's dossiers with out invitation. No one went against any of Evie's edicts, and if they did, they kept it to themselves.
It was Trey that first saw the SUV headed for the house. "They're coming, they're coming," he was yelling and jumping up and down in excitement. Lainey stopped sweeping the floor and glanced in the hall mirror to tuck a stray strand of hair back into place. She smiled broadly, feeling a lilting song springing in her heart. Maybe Ben would be with them, she sure hoped so.
Evie had a rush of emotion as they rounded the corner and started down the driveway. It was so good to be home, she felt the relief of familiar surroundings.
Christy went rushing into Evie's arms. Her little elfin face streaked with tears. "Grandma, did you see my Daddy and Mommy? I'm feeling so bad without them."
"No honey, I didn't see them. In fact, I thought they should be here. How about tomorrow we ask Benny to check in and see how things are going?" Evie held Christy's hand as they walked into the house. Lainey was standing on the far side of the table, drinking in every inch of Ben as he came through the door.
Oh my, she was thinking. He is so handsome, he takes my breath away. Her smile was for Ben alone, but it beamed brighter than the heated glow from the stove. Benny felt the positive vibes from Lainey's upturned face and smiled back in the same goofy way.
Inky stood up, stretched and woofed his welcome. Junior, feeling the excitement went running through the chair legs as they were pulled up to the table and ran full tilt into the broom head
as it stood propped against the table.
The solid wood handle spun around, tilted and smacked Lainey on the collarbone, causing her to cry out and raise her hand to protect her shoulder. The hand she raised was the one with the cast, and she hit herself with a solid blow in the same exact spot. Lainey slumped against the table, her knees buckling as her hand dropped back onto the tabletop with another cracking sound.
Junior skidded to a stop under the table, missing the chair but bowling into Lainey's legs with the force of a loose cannon. As bowling balls do, he toppled Lainey to the floor.
Too stunned to cry, Lainey found herself in a totally undignified heap on the floor. Junior, seizing the opportunity to play with the human he really, really liked; grabbed the fingers sticking out of the cast with his sharp little puppy teeth and pulled, growling as he shook his head in a tug of war.
Benny took three steps and picked the pup up by the scruff of his neck, jamming his thumb into the dog's mouth to break his hold on Lainey's hand.
"Oh, OH!," Lainey sobbed a little as she held her hurt hand close to her chest in a protective gesture. Benny reached down to assist Lainey to her feet and grabbed her arm at the elbow. That wasn't the only thing his strong fingers closed tightly upon, and when Lainey shrieked a little, he realized what he had grabbed and let go. Once again Lainey crumpled to the floor.
Red faced, Benny coughed to cover his embarrassment and carefully, very carefully this time, bent over and helped Lainey to her feet.
Pulling out a chair, Benny seated his injured sweetie in a tender manner. Lainey couldn't look at him. She really hurt, but didn't dare rub the sting away, as the pinched spot was a delicate womanly unmentionable.
Evie almost snickered, and Clora wasn't so inhibited. She laughed out loud with Sandy joining her in a belted out shout of glee. "Oh my," Sandy chortled with the first relief she had felt since the whole fiasco started. "Would you want to do that again?"
Lainey shook her head no, loosening wisp's of hair that tumbled down around her face. Benny, took a deep breath and pulled Lainey to her feet and out the door. He walked her around the side of the house so they couldn't be seen from the window and kissed her thourally.
"Throw those dog's outside," Evie asked sharply, "Ruby you get out too." Ruby had shrunk herself into a small ball beside the stove, hoping to be overlooked, but Evie wanted the kitchen cleared.
Inspecting the pot of stew warming on the stove, Evie held dear the familiar scents of home. Suddenly she was tired and wanted to sit down. This life she was leading, was beginning to be bothersome and extremely tiring. She was an old lady that needed to catch a break.
Benny drove Grandma and the girls out to the ranch, telling himself that seeing Lainey was secondary to making sure Grandma got home safely. It was easy to tell that Grandma was royally pissed about the records on the whole family. She had issued the royal order that no one was to read the other's dossiers with out invitation. No one went against any of Evie's edicts, and if they did, they kept it to themselves.
It was Trey that first saw the SUV headed for the house. "They're coming, they're coming," he was yelling and jumping up and down in excitement. Lainey stopped sweeping the floor and glanced in the hall mirror to tuck a stray strand of hair back into place. She smiled broadly, feeling a lilting song springing in her heart. Maybe Ben would be with them, she sure hoped so.
Evie had a rush of emotion as they rounded the corner and started down the driveway. It was so good to be home, she felt the relief of familiar surroundings.
Christy went rushing into Evie's arms. Her little elfin face streaked with tears. "Grandma, did you see my Daddy and Mommy? I'm feeling so bad without them."
"No honey, I didn't see them. In fact, I thought they should be here. How about tomorrow we ask Benny to check in and see how things are going?" Evie held Christy's hand as they walked into the house. Lainey was standing on the far side of the table, drinking in every inch of Ben as he came through the door.
Oh my, she was thinking. He is so handsome, he takes my breath away. Her smile was for Ben alone, but it beamed brighter than the heated glow from the stove. Benny felt the positive vibes from Lainey's upturned face and smiled back in the same goofy way.
Inky stood up, stretched and woofed his welcome. Junior, feeling the excitement went running through the chair legs as they were pulled up to the table and ran full tilt into the broom head
as it stood propped against the table.
The solid wood handle spun around, tilted and smacked Lainey on the collarbone, causing her to cry out and raise her hand to protect her shoulder. The hand she raised was the one with the cast, and she hit herself with a solid blow in the same exact spot. Lainey slumped against the table, her knees buckling as her hand dropped back onto the tabletop with another cracking sound.
Junior skidded to a stop under the table, missing the chair but bowling into Lainey's legs with the force of a loose cannon. As bowling balls do, he toppled Lainey to the floor.
Too stunned to cry, Lainey found herself in a totally undignified heap on the floor. Junior, seizing the opportunity to play with the human he really, really liked; grabbed the fingers sticking out of the cast with his sharp little puppy teeth and pulled, growling as he shook his head in a tug of war.
Benny took three steps and picked the pup up by the scruff of his neck, jamming his thumb into the dog's mouth to break his hold on Lainey's hand.
"Oh, OH!," Lainey sobbed a little as she held her hurt hand close to her chest in a protective gesture. Benny reached down to assist Lainey to her feet and grabbed her arm at the elbow. That wasn't the only thing his strong fingers closed tightly upon, and when Lainey shrieked a little, he realized what he had grabbed and let go. Once again Lainey crumpled to the floor.
Red faced, Benny coughed to cover his embarrassment and carefully, very carefully this time, bent over and helped Lainey to her feet.
Pulling out a chair, Benny seated his injured sweetie in a tender manner. Lainey couldn't look at him. She really hurt, but didn't dare rub the sting away, as the pinched spot was a delicate womanly unmentionable.
Evie almost snickered, and Clora wasn't so inhibited. She laughed out loud with Sandy joining her in a belted out shout of glee. "Oh my," Sandy chortled with the first relief she had felt since the whole fiasco started. "Would you want to do that again?"
Lainey shook her head no, loosening wisp's of hair that tumbled down around her face. Benny, took a deep breath and pulled Lainey to her feet and out the door. He walked her around the side of the house so they couldn't be seen from the window and kissed her thourally.
"Throw those dog's outside," Evie asked sharply, "Ruby you get out too." Ruby had shrunk herself into a small ball beside the stove, hoping to be overlooked, but Evie wanted the kitchen cleared.
Inspecting the pot of stew warming on the stove, Evie held dear the familiar scents of home. Suddenly she was tired and wanted to sit down. This life she was leading, was beginning to be bothersome and extremely tiring. She was an old lady that needed to catch a break.
Siskiyoumom
Veteran Member
Yes, thank you for the chapters!
Wishing you abundant peace and rest dear lady.
Wishing you abundant peace and rest dear lady.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Thank you for another great chapter.
MrsClaus
Keeper of all things
Now that is a wonderful statement and definitely speaks to Pac's wonderful storytelling ability.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#77
"Do you want to go into town for a break?" Ben rubbed his stubbly cheek against Lainey's ear, speaking low and deep. "You could stay with Inga, and you could see what I do for a living. If we are going to get more serious, you need to be aware of what the stresses of the job can do. Maybe you could talk to Will's wife and get her observations. I want you to be sure," he touched her chin with the back of his hand. "I need to know, before I commit my heart any further." Ben looked deep into her eyes and saw what he wanted to see.
Lainey cared, and her whispered words were the words he wanted to hear. "I know what you do, I know how difficult it can be. If I commit, there is only one rule I live by. I'm a one man woman, and I want a one woman man. I don't, and won't, share." she stated simply, waiting for Ben to understand her words. Ben nodded and kissed her again. "You've got my heart," he pledged.
"And you have mine," Lainey whispered, eyes bright with brimming love. Had Ben's sisters been listening, they would have gagged with all the romantic drama, but they were still inside, held there by their Grandmother who was a wise old woman.
"Lainey is going into town with me," Ben stuck his head in the door and let the ladies know what was happening. Lainey pushed him gently aside, "I need to get a few things," she smiled to let him know she didn't have much but she required what she did have.
Evie reached into her magic pocket and came up with a couple of folded bills. "Get what you need," she said heartfully. Giving Lainey a wink, she said, "thank you for staying with the wild ones while we were gone."
"They were very good children," Lainey praised Trey and Christy. She walked over to whisper in both their ears, both kid's bobbing their heads up and down with enthusiastic glee.
Lainey's meager belongings were easily stuffed in the backpack Evie emptied for her. Respectfully she declined the money Evie tucked in the backpack. "My father will send money for me," she explained, "I only need to ask."
The radio in the SUV crackled as Brett's voice called for Benny to answer. Ben grabbed Lainey's hand and pulled her rapidly to the vehicle. "Got to go," he spoke over his shoulder.
Davis stopped washing dishes, his arms in up to his elbows in the soapy sink basin. The water was jiggling and moving like it had a life of it's own. Another damn earthquake, he growled to himself. The stack of washed plates tipping and scattering back into the water as he grabbed for them.
Glasses stacked on the trolley crashed to the floor, breaking and sending shards skittering on the kitchen floor. Davis muttered more dire threats against Mother Nature, as she flexed her muscles and flounced her petticoats in a very unladylike manner.
The old building that housed the cafe creaked and groaned as it swayed in protest. Davis decided the old wreck couldn't withstand many more temblor's.
"Fire!" Tammy was yelling from the kitchen. "The gas line has ruptured! Everyone out. Kids get to the ballfield. Davis, where are you? Get out, Get out! Fire, Fire!" Tammy screamed as she pulled Davis from the building.
The old building burned well, fueled as it was by the broken propane line. The two empty buildings on the right burned and the shop used as the library burned. The loss of the books a severe blow to the community.
The town watched in anguish as the fire ravaged bricks from the cafe toppled inward, marking the end of a era. The smoldering stink wafted around town, coating a fine ash over everything.
Brett called frantically for Benny, his near panic making his words hard to decipher over the radio. "The town's a fire," Ben finally understood. He pushed the old Chevy to it's limits.
Lainey held on with white knuckled fingers, her eyes taking in the professional demeanor her intended displayed, as he drove fast and competently into town.
The black smoke was drifting off to the East, the sooty pall mixing with the oncoming dusk of night. A fitting end ringing as a death knell to the town. A black curtain lowering everyone's spirits until it reached the ground.
"Oh my," Lainey said softly. "I hope everyone is OK. How do we do a people check in?"
Benny flashed her a quick look, judging if she was serious. "We'll use the clinic. Would you let Inga know what's about to happen?" he questioned.
"Sure, let me out here, and I'll get things started," Lainey stated, as she took a long lingering look at Ben. He looked hurt and in anguish over the disaster happening in his town.
Inga answered the door looking like she had been run over by a truck. Lainey thought that she was beyond help for the evening. Lainey asked if the town could use the clinic, that they needed to check people for wounds. Inga nodded and shuffled back into her bedroom, her red fuzzy slippers slap, slap, slapping down the hallway.
Lainey unlocked the clinic front door, leaving the screen door closed. She turned on the front room lights, the kitchen lights and started heating water for tea, and brewing coffee. It was going to be a long difficult night. Lainey wrote names of the people as they filtered through, grouping those names she knew were related, and asking so sweetly to those she didn't know, for information.
Brett dropped in, flipping through the notebook for the status of his friends and to see if they were injured.
"Brett, we need to have Evie, Clora and Sandy here. The people are getting impatient and they need to have a place to gather." Lainey asked Brett to fetch reinforcements.
Brett nodded, then spun around and walked out the back door without saying a word.
Lainey shrugged, putting Brett's unusual behavior out of her mind as a mom with a screaming infant walked into the kitchen.
"Do you want to go into town for a break?" Ben rubbed his stubbly cheek against Lainey's ear, speaking low and deep. "You could stay with Inga, and you could see what I do for a living. If we are going to get more serious, you need to be aware of what the stresses of the job can do. Maybe you could talk to Will's wife and get her observations. I want you to be sure," he touched her chin with the back of his hand. "I need to know, before I commit my heart any further." Ben looked deep into her eyes and saw what he wanted to see.
Lainey cared, and her whispered words were the words he wanted to hear. "I know what you do, I know how difficult it can be. If I commit, there is only one rule I live by. I'm a one man woman, and I want a one woman man. I don't, and won't, share." she stated simply, waiting for Ben to understand her words. Ben nodded and kissed her again. "You've got my heart," he pledged.
"And you have mine," Lainey whispered, eyes bright with brimming love. Had Ben's sisters been listening, they would have gagged with all the romantic drama, but they were still inside, held there by their Grandmother who was a wise old woman.
"Lainey is going into town with me," Ben stuck his head in the door and let the ladies know what was happening. Lainey pushed him gently aside, "I need to get a few things," she smiled to let him know she didn't have much but she required what she did have.
Evie reached into her magic pocket and came up with a couple of folded bills. "Get what you need," she said heartfully. Giving Lainey a wink, she said, "thank you for staying with the wild ones while we were gone."
"They were very good children," Lainey praised Trey and Christy. She walked over to whisper in both their ears, both kid's bobbing their heads up and down with enthusiastic glee.
Lainey's meager belongings were easily stuffed in the backpack Evie emptied for her. Respectfully she declined the money Evie tucked in the backpack. "My father will send money for me," she explained, "I only need to ask."
The radio in the SUV crackled as Brett's voice called for Benny to answer. Ben grabbed Lainey's hand and pulled her rapidly to the vehicle. "Got to go," he spoke over his shoulder.
Davis stopped washing dishes, his arms in up to his elbows in the soapy sink basin. The water was jiggling and moving like it had a life of it's own. Another damn earthquake, he growled to himself. The stack of washed plates tipping and scattering back into the water as he grabbed for them.
Glasses stacked on the trolley crashed to the floor, breaking and sending shards skittering on the kitchen floor. Davis muttered more dire threats against Mother Nature, as she flexed her muscles and flounced her petticoats in a very unladylike manner.
The old building that housed the cafe creaked and groaned as it swayed in protest. Davis decided the old wreck couldn't withstand many more temblor's.
"Fire!" Tammy was yelling from the kitchen. "The gas line has ruptured! Everyone out. Kids get to the ballfield. Davis, where are you? Get out, Get out! Fire, Fire!" Tammy screamed as she pulled Davis from the building.
The old building burned well, fueled as it was by the broken propane line. The two empty buildings on the right burned and the shop used as the library burned. The loss of the books a severe blow to the community.
The town watched in anguish as the fire ravaged bricks from the cafe toppled inward, marking the end of a era. The smoldering stink wafted around town, coating a fine ash over everything.
Brett called frantically for Benny, his near panic making his words hard to decipher over the radio. "The town's a fire," Ben finally understood. He pushed the old Chevy to it's limits.
Lainey held on with white knuckled fingers, her eyes taking in the professional demeanor her intended displayed, as he drove fast and competently into town.
The black smoke was drifting off to the East, the sooty pall mixing with the oncoming dusk of night. A fitting end ringing as a death knell to the town. A black curtain lowering everyone's spirits until it reached the ground.
"Oh my," Lainey said softly. "I hope everyone is OK. How do we do a people check in?"
Benny flashed her a quick look, judging if she was serious. "We'll use the clinic. Would you let Inga know what's about to happen?" he questioned.
"Sure, let me out here, and I'll get things started," Lainey stated, as she took a long lingering look at Ben. He looked hurt and in anguish over the disaster happening in his town.
Inga answered the door looking like she had been run over by a truck. Lainey thought that she was beyond help for the evening. Lainey asked if the town could use the clinic, that they needed to check people for wounds. Inga nodded and shuffled back into her bedroom, her red fuzzy slippers slap, slap, slapping down the hallway.
Lainey unlocked the clinic front door, leaving the screen door closed. She turned on the front room lights, the kitchen lights and started heating water for tea, and brewing coffee. It was going to be a long difficult night. Lainey wrote names of the people as they filtered through, grouping those names she knew were related, and asking so sweetly to those she didn't know, for information.
Brett dropped in, flipping through the notebook for the status of his friends and to see if they were injured.
"Brett, we need to have Evie, Clora and Sandy here. The people are getting impatient and they need to have a place to gather." Lainey asked Brett to fetch reinforcements.
Brett nodded, then spun around and walked out the back door without saying a word.
Lainey shrugged, putting Brett's unusual behavior out of her mind as a mom with a screaming infant walked into the kitchen.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Oh my things just went form bad to worse for the town, thank you again Pac.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
Thank you everyone for the prayers and uplifting. We have needed it so much. Mr Pac is not doing well handling the loss
of our daughter. It's one hour at a time.
Kua, it was a earthquake that caused the massive tsunami, and then the pacific rim volcanoes to explode. The aftershocks keep on rattling the town.
I can only imagine how it will be when the services we have come to expect to be there....arn't.
Hey, at least the town has electricity for now. That's a plus for them.
of our daughter. It's one hour at a time.
Kua, it was a earthquake that caused the massive tsunami, and then the pacific rim volcanoes to explode. The aftershocks keep on rattling the town.
I can only imagine how it will be when the services we have come to expect to be there....arn't.
Hey, at least the town has electricity for now. That's a plus for them.
Sammy55
Veteran Member
I second both of these statements, Pac!
You are both in my prayers. My heart hurts for you!!
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#78
Brett returned with Evie and the girls, bringing relief to an overwhelmed Lainey. Evie sat down and started greeting the people as they came in the door, writing names and conditions so fast that it made Lainey smile.. Clora and Sandy went to the Sheriff's office and retrieved the camp stoves and a box of canisters. They made Brett carry the box of surplus Civil Defense cookware and utensils. He was grumbling about being an unpaid pack mule, but walked to the clinic at a rapid pace. He was hungry, and wanted fed. Kevin had flaked out on the hamburgers a long time ago.
From Evie's basement they had brought a dozen jars of canned meat. One huge pot was vegetable beef and the other was chicken noodle soup. The community was grateful. Tammy sat in the living room surrounded by her children, bawling her eyes out. Davis sat uncomfortably close to all the histrionics, wishing he were anywhere else but here.
Tammy was despondent, out of options and feeling so defeated and beaten down. She was crying like her heart would break, and it sounded like it was. She had invested all of her savings and convinced Jennings that she needed the rest of the money from their joint account. Now there was nothing. Nothing here in this small town J had dragged them to; nothing left where they used to live, nothing.
Tammy cried harder when she remembered they couldn't even get out of town, and no gas or vehicles that would run long enough to get them out the back way to the river. Hunched over in the chair, she rocked back and forth in her misery.
Davis got up to wander into the kitchen for a cup of coffee. He accepted a cup from the youngest Hanson. Curious child, he thought. Strange combination of child, teen and woman all wrapped together. He had heard through the gossip mill that she was interested in the big bearded guy she had been raised with, but he had been loaded on the chopper and the whole kit and caboodle of them had been gone for two days.
Davis watched as the little, bird like Grandmother came for a cup of coffee. She smiled at him and took a sip from her cup. Making a face at the weak, colored water that Clora was passing off as coffee, she drank with resignation.
"Hardly strong enough to be called coffee, is it," she commiserated with the dapper gentleman. "I'm afraid my granddaughter was a little light with the coffee."
Davis, who was having trouble choking down the stout brew as it was, shook his head. "It's fine and much appreciated, dear lady. Please do not fret." he used his fine southern manners to turn on a bit of charm for an interesting woman. Davis thought he might be old, but he wasn't dead, by any means.
Evie hid a smile behind her cup. What an old rooster, she thought with a chuckle. Listen to him crow.
Clora and Sandy buzzed in and out of the kitchen at a run, never pausing to check on the two elders talking at the breakfast nook table. Davis and Evie talked for quite a stretch, enjoying each other's company.
Evie had a thought about the Apperton house, it was available and if the children agreed, the McCanns could stay there. Slowly she talked to each of her Grandchildren and got the affirmative answer she had anticipated.
Evie walked back into the living room where Davis was sitting with Tammy, holding her hand. "I have a solution for you," she started to say, sitting down on the far side of the distraught woman. "We have a house out next to ours that is just waiting for a nice family to come stay. It's not fancy but we invite you to use it."
Tammy was stunned. She had not expected such generosity and compassion. After all, they were newcomers to the community, it hadn't been two months since they had arrived. Two of the longest, hardest months she had ever experienced.
"Ahh, what do you think Dad?" Tammy asked Davis as he perked up with the new information.
"I say thank you, kind lady. The McCann family is thankful for your generosity and friendship. We accept. What can we do to help?"
Davis was overcome with emotion as he realized their good fortune.
"I will have Sandy show you the way, grab what ever you have and meet her here." Evie instructed the jubilant family.
"I have about enough fuel to drive out there," Tammy was thinking out loud. "What's in the rig is the last of our belongings. The young kids are looking so tired, Thank you so much. We accept."
Sandy agreed to guide the McCanns to the house, asking if Evie, Trey and Christy could hitch a ride with them. "Our kids are about asleep on their feet, Grandma looks a little wilted also."
Evie fussed up, about to deny her lack of stamina when she relaxed and agreed with a laugh. "You're right," she addressed Sandy almost giddily. "I am tired. Christy is asleep in the corner and Trey is winding down. Good idea, let's go home."
Brett returned with Evie and the girls, bringing relief to an overwhelmed Lainey. Evie sat down and started greeting the people as they came in the door, writing names and conditions so fast that it made Lainey smile.. Clora and Sandy went to the Sheriff's office and retrieved the camp stoves and a box of canisters. They made Brett carry the box of surplus Civil Defense cookware and utensils. He was grumbling about being an unpaid pack mule, but walked to the clinic at a rapid pace. He was hungry, and wanted fed. Kevin had flaked out on the hamburgers a long time ago.
From Evie's basement they had brought a dozen jars of canned meat. One huge pot was vegetable beef and the other was chicken noodle soup. The community was grateful. Tammy sat in the living room surrounded by her children, bawling her eyes out. Davis sat uncomfortably close to all the histrionics, wishing he were anywhere else but here.
Tammy was despondent, out of options and feeling so defeated and beaten down. She was crying like her heart would break, and it sounded like it was. She had invested all of her savings and convinced Jennings that she needed the rest of the money from their joint account. Now there was nothing. Nothing here in this small town J had dragged them to; nothing left where they used to live, nothing.
Tammy cried harder when she remembered they couldn't even get out of town, and no gas or vehicles that would run long enough to get them out the back way to the river. Hunched over in the chair, she rocked back and forth in her misery.
Davis got up to wander into the kitchen for a cup of coffee. He accepted a cup from the youngest Hanson. Curious child, he thought. Strange combination of child, teen and woman all wrapped together. He had heard through the gossip mill that she was interested in the big bearded guy she had been raised with, but he had been loaded on the chopper and the whole kit and caboodle of them had been gone for two days.
Davis watched as the little, bird like Grandmother came for a cup of coffee. She smiled at him and took a sip from her cup. Making a face at the weak, colored water that Clora was passing off as coffee, she drank with resignation.
"Hardly strong enough to be called coffee, is it," she commiserated with the dapper gentleman. "I'm afraid my granddaughter was a little light with the coffee."
Davis, who was having trouble choking down the stout brew as it was, shook his head. "It's fine and much appreciated, dear lady. Please do not fret." he used his fine southern manners to turn on a bit of charm for an interesting woman. Davis thought he might be old, but he wasn't dead, by any means.
Evie hid a smile behind her cup. What an old rooster, she thought with a chuckle. Listen to him crow.
Clora and Sandy buzzed in and out of the kitchen at a run, never pausing to check on the two elders talking at the breakfast nook table. Davis and Evie talked for quite a stretch, enjoying each other's company.
Evie had a thought about the Apperton house, it was available and if the children agreed, the McCanns could stay there. Slowly she talked to each of her Grandchildren and got the affirmative answer she had anticipated.
Evie walked back into the living room where Davis was sitting with Tammy, holding her hand. "I have a solution for you," she started to say, sitting down on the far side of the distraught woman. "We have a house out next to ours that is just waiting for a nice family to come stay. It's not fancy but we invite you to use it."
Tammy was stunned. She had not expected such generosity and compassion. After all, they were newcomers to the community, it hadn't been two months since they had arrived. Two of the longest, hardest months she had ever experienced.
"Ahh, what do you think Dad?" Tammy asked Davis as he perked up with the new information.
"I say thank you, kind lady. The McCann family is thankful for your generosity and friendship. We accept. What can we do to help?"
Davis was overcome with emotion as he realized their good fortune.
"I will have Sandy show you the way, grab what ever you have and meet her here." Evie instructed the jubilant family.
"I have about enough fuel to drive out there," Tammy was thinking out loud. "What's in the rig is the last of our belongings. The young kids are looking so tired, Thank you so much. We accept."
Sandy agreed to guide the McCanns to the house, asking if Evie, Trey and Christy could hitch a ride with them. "Our kids are about asleep on their feet, Grandma looks a little wilted also."
Evie fussed up, about to deny her lack of stamina when she relaxed and agreed with a laugh. "You're right," she addressed Sandy almost giddily. "I am tired. Christy is asleep in the corner and Trey is winding down. Good idea, let's go home."
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Thank you, vry good, Davis and Evie ummm good idea.
I agree, a very good read.
Pac, I hope writing is cathartic for you. It sounds like your struggles at home are not over yet. We do continue to lift both of you up in our prayers. I KNOW my God is a compassionate God and he listens to our prayers. It is not easy to let go of a child (we lost a 17 yr old grandson) but knowing you are giving them into God's hands is a blessing. You never do forget the ones that are gone, but the pain of loosing them is a little less as time goes by.
Pac, I hope writing is cathartic for you. It sounds like your struggles at home are not over yet. We do continue to lift both of you up in our prayers. I KNOW my God is a compassionate God and he listens to our prayers. It is not easy to let go of a child (we lost a 17 yr old grandson) but knowing you are giving them into God's hands is a blessing. You never do forget the ones that are gone, but the pain of loosing them is a little less as time goes by.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#79
Trey didn't want to leave Brett's side, he was like a little burdock stuck to the only father he had ever known. Brett finally gave in and took the sleepy youngster back to the office and thrilled the boy by allowing him to sleep in a cell.
Benny and Brett used their expertise with the radio to check up on Ev and Cheryl. Tracking down the couple led to one dead end and then another. The hospital that Doc had sent them too, did not have either one as a patient. A call to the local authorities produced no information, but put the couple's name on the watch list.
Benny was sitting with his feet on the desk, tapping a pencil against his leg. "Suppos'in you listen to what I've been thinkin," he said aloud to Brett. "Too start with, did you read your folder. I mean, really read it?" he asked thoughtfully. "There was identifying info in mine that I didn't even know about myself. Like my eye color in degrees, and my iris patterns. The gaps in centimeters between my teeth, why would that be necessary except for identification beyond any doubt of a body?"
"They have the distance between my eyes, my birthmark measured and plotted in a grid, moles measured and gridded. I can't believe this is necessary for one hick town sheriff, even if he was the son of a two bit spy. I'd like to have a reason for all of this."
"Mine's the same," Brett added slowly. "There's also info on Abby and Trey. This could have only come through Doc. The thing is," Brett got up to grab a soda from the fridge,"Doc must have had a camera to take pictures, as he's the only person to give me a eye exam. No exam ever lasted long enough to plot that kind of exactness. Now, I'm not a person of any authority, so what made me special enough,except for our connection to Pete?"
"OK, Doc seems to be the common denominator so far. Next we think about Inga. Do you think she was involved? What about all the other newcomers into our life. And I'm thinking specifically about Lainey," Brett said a bit defensively. "I understand you're involved, but I'm not sure I trust anyone but our immediate family right now."
Benny nodded without speaking, the tapping growing faster and more intense as he contemplated Brett's words. Ben's heart didn't want to understand what his mind was thinking. Some of this setup was a little to convenient not to be manipulated in some way.
"I want to back up a little," Benny's mind was racing a mile a minute. "Tell me what you know of Wayne's parents, Aunt and Uncle and we need to figure out why he indubitably knew he was a brother and didn't say a word. I think that is bothering me the most. I resent that fact. I resent the hell out of it."
"He never said anything about his parents. A word now and then about his Aunt, and nothing but spit on the ground for his Uncle." Brett reflected on their childhood. "As to the birthmark, I never looked for one. I never inspected him that closely, and why was he leading Sandy on in the romance department? I halfway warned him off that subject several times, and he seemed to drift away as I suggested." Brett pursed his lips as he tented his fingers.
"You too?" Benny frowned as he stopped the pencil. "I didn't, and still don't like the idea of him sweet on Sandy. It seemed wrong then and it still does now."
"Hindsight is powerful, isn't it." Brett grabbed a cookie. He stopped to study the oatmeal raisin nugget and said slowly, "Maybe we need to talk to Grandma, she was pretty upset over what was in her dossier, in fact angry is more like it."
"Not tonight however, it's been a helluva day for her." Benny yawned like he was dead tired, "lets get some sleep ourselves."
Clora finished washing up the soup pots and stacked them in the drainer. The last bowl was placed in the soapy water to soak and the final town resident gave thanks for the community relief. Lainey closed the door and sat wearily at the table. "Were you in Portland this morning?" she asked in disbelief. "This is the most wired town I've ever been in."
"Seems like long ago-far away," Clora agreed tiredly. "Wait till I tell you that Wayne is our brother, we haven't had time to tell what went on in our meeting." Clora sat with a unladylike thump in the chair.
"You're kidding!" Lainey sputtered. "Did he know? Did any of you know?"
Lainey and Clora were good friends. They had shared many a secret and gossip over cups of tea for the last year. Clora shook her head no. "Hadn't even thought it was possible. It was a shock, I'll tell you for sure. Poor Sandy. She was just devistated. But,....I've got to say," Clora looked around to make sure no one was close enough to hear, "as head strong as Sandy can be, the fact she hadn't gone any further with Wayne tells me that she had reservations deep in her heart. She's a strange critter, it seems funny to call her my sister, as I don't feel the same family ties with her as I do Benny. And, speaking of Benny,....let's 'fess up what's happening there."
Clora shook her finger at Lainey, who burst out laughing.
"I can't tell you," she laughed harder,"how much like your Grandmother you sound."
"Of course I do," Clora agreed, "stop avoiding the subject of Benny."
"Oh Clora," Lainey sighed. "I'm in so deep I can't see daylight."
"That's all I wanted to hear," Clora patted her friend's hand.
Trey didn't want to leave Brett's side, he was like a little burdock stuck to the only father he had ever known. Brett finally gave in and took the sleepy youngster back to the office and thrilled the boy by allowing him to sleep in a cell.
Benny and Brett used their expertise with the radio to check up on Ev and Cheryl. Tracking down the couple led to one dead end and then another. The hospital that Doc had sent them too, did not have either one as a patient. A call to the local authorities produced no information, but put the couple's name on the watch list.
Benny was sitting with his feet on the desk, tapping a pencil against his leg. "Suppos'in you listen to what I've been thinkin," he said aloud to Brett. "Too start with, did you read your folder. I mean, really read it?" he asked thoughtfully. "There was identifying info in mine that I didn't even know about myself. Like my eye color in degrees, and my iris patterns. The gaps in centimeters between my teeth, why would that be necessary except for identification beyond any doubt of a body?"
"They have the distance between my eyes, my birthmark measured and plotted in a grid, moles measured and gridded. I can't believe this is necessary for one hick town sheriff, even if he was the son of a two bit spy. I'd like to have a reason for all of this."
"Mine's the same," Brett added slowly. "There's also info on Abby and Trey. This could have only come through Doc. The thing is," Brett got up to grab a soda from the fridge,"Doc must have had a camera to take pictures, as he's the only person to give me a eye exam. No exam ever lasted long enough to plot that kind of exactness. Now, I'm not a person of any authority, so what made me special enough,except for our connection to Pete?"
"OK, Doc seems to be the common denominator so far. Next we think about Inga. Do you think she was involved? What about all the other newcomers into our life. And I'm thinking specifically about Lainey," Brett said a bit defensively. "I understand you're involved, but I'm not sure I trust anyone but our immediate family right now."
Benny nodded without speaking, the tapping growing faster and more intense as he contemplated Brett's words. Ben's heart didn't want to understand what his mind was thinking. Some of this setup was a little to convenient not to be manipulated in some way.
"I want to back up a little," Benny's mind was racing a mile a minute. "Tell me what you know of Wayne's parents, Aunt and Uncle and we need to figure out why he indubitably knew he was a brother and didn't say a word. I think that is bothering me the most. I resent that fact. I resent the hell out of it."
"He never said anything about his parents. A word now and then about his Aunt, and nothing but spit on the ground for his Uncle." Brett reflected on their childhood. "As to the birthmark, I never looked for one. I never inspected him that closely, and why was he leading Sandy on in the romance department? I halfway warned him off that subject several times, and he seemed to drift away as I suggested." Brett pursed his lips as he tented his fingers.
"You too?" Benny frowned as he stopped the pencil. "I didn't, and still don't like the idea of him sweet on Sandy. It seemed wrong then and it still does now."
"Hindsight is powerful, isn't it." Brett grabbed a cookie. He stopped to study the oatmeal raisin nugget and said slowly, "Maybe we need to talk to Grandma, she was pretty upset over what was in her dossier, in fact angry is more like it."
"Not tonight however, it's been a helluva day for her." Benny yawned like he was dead tired, "lets get some sleep ourselves."
Clora finished washing up the soup pots and stacked them in the drainer. The last bowl was placed in the soapy water to soak and the final town resident gave thanks for the community relief. Lainey closed the door and sat wearily at the table. "Were you in Portland this morning?" she asked in disbelief. "This is the most wired town I've ever been in."
"Seems like long ago-far away," Clora agreed tiredly. "Wait till I tell you that Wayne is our brother, we haven't had time to tell what went on in our meeting." Clora sat with a unladylike thump in the chair.
"You're kidding!" Lainey sputtered. "Did he know? Did any of you know?"
Lainey and Clora were good friends. They had shared many a secret and gossip over cups of tea for the last year. Clora shook her head no. "Hadn't even thought it was possible. It was a shock, I'll tell you for sure. Poor Sandy. She was just devistated. But,....I've got to say," Clora looked around to make sure no one was close enough to hear, "as head strong as Sandy can be, the fact she hadn't gone any further with Wayne tells me that she had reservations deep in her heart. She's a strange critter, it seems funny to call her my sister, as I don't feel the same family ties with her as I do Benny. And, speaking of Benny,....let's 'fess up what's happening there."
Clora shook her finger at Lainey, who burst out laughing.
"I can't tell you," she laughed harder,"how much like your Grandmother you sound."
"Of course I do," Clora agreed, "stop avoiding the subject of Benny."
"Oh Clora," Lainey sighed. "I'm in so deep I can't see daylight."
"That's all I wanted to hear," Clora patted her friend's hand.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Thank you, great story.
Very nice! And I am VERY curious about what is going on now! Sure hope Evie and Davis get together. 
If Davis is really a good guy, as he seems, that is. I'm beginning to wonder exactly who is really as they seem in this story...
If Davis is really a good guy, as he seems, that is. I'm beginning to wonder exactly who is really as they seem in this story...