Oh for Pete's Sake!

P

PacNorWest

Veteran Member
#91
"I can't believe what a family we are," Evie tickled Sandra a little bit to make her giggle. "Four of the best kids that ever walked through my door!" she said emphatically, winking at Brett, Benny and Clora.

"Sheriff Will, we need to do whatever it takes to finish this up nice and legal," Evie announced. "I believe you could get papers from Pete authorizing me as guardian of all the children. I'm not going to put with any more of his nonsense, or I would be in bright and early tomorrow to rip a strip of his hide to get what I want. So Will, what ever it takes; I want it done, very soon!

Will was taking notes when Evie started her barrage of demands, but soon gave up and just listened. When the old lady ran out of steam, he calmly said, "way ahead of you Evie. I have certain papers made up, sitting on my desk that transfers guardianship of Benny, Clora and now Sandra to you. Brett, you are a little more complicated in that your mother is here, but from what I see, I think it can be accomplished." Brett kicked at Benny when he thought nobody was looking; but Evie caught it and shook her finger at Brett. The little stinker smiled unrepentant.

The verbal exchange kept Ev's head churning one way and then the other, as he tried to keep up with the swift swap of words.
"Holy cow," he said aloud. "You'ens are plumb crazy."

"Ev, for heavens sake. You know we are a little bit off plumb, and enjoying it." Evie poked fun at her neighbor.

"What's plumb, what's plumb?" Brett wanted to know.

"Go look it up," Evie instructed. "Slap those lazy mind muscles around, stretch them like a rubber band, feed your curiosity." she pointed towards the dictionary. "Go..."

"Grandma, your sure acting silly," Clora wrinkled her nose at Evie. "Come on Sandra, we don't want those boys getting ahead of us."

The kids trooped into the living room, bickering and trying to outshout each other.

"Evie, you sure your up to all this; and how is Hap gonna figure in the overall scheme of things." Will questioned, as he tapped the papers in his hand.

"Just the usual way," Evie said ever so tartly; not really breaking the sarcastic barrier but adding a little feistyness to the delivery.
"Hap is going to have good and bad days, and I can't predict'em, and eventually...............well, we'll cross that bridge when we get there." she finished with a smile. "Those babies need love and stability, and I don't see anyone else in their lives that will provide it."

"Will, me's and Cheryl will be rights here to help," Ev added the couples strength to Evie's task.

Will shook his head at the atrocious fracture of the english language. Staring at Ev, the sheriff pursed his lips thoughtfully. He looked up in time to see Ev wink at him over Evie's head.

"I want you two to stop that!" Evie commanded sharply. "Don't you think I don't know what's going on in those devious minds of yours! Big boys, little boys, all the same," she complained.

"Evie, it's about Pete. I don't think you have a very nice boy there. What I'm going to have to do may not be pleasant," he warned.

"Do what you have to do;" Evie gave her approval. "He's someone I don't know anymore."

"I believe him to be a danger to you and the children, I'm preparing a restraining order against him as soon as he signs the guardianship papers." Will finished as he buttoned his coat. "Is the funeral still this afternoon."

"2pm" the old woman looked every day of her age as she let the hurt flood in. Gathering up her courage, Evie smiled weakly at Ev and Will.

The funeral was simple; filled with love and honor and respect for the children.


Betty strained her ears, listening for Will. She had done the time for her crime and was ready to be out. The nincompoop deputy said she had to be released by the sheriff; so she was waiting for him to be back from a funeral. She hadn't heard a word from that low down lop eared looser in the other cell, not that she ever wanted to have anything to do with him again.


Pete heard Betty pacing up and down in her cell. She sure had been quiet. Kevin had told her she was waiting on Will, she'd get out then, not before. He didn't know when he came to hate her, it just happened and he liked it. Betty was totally different now, from when they first married. It sure was good she knew nothing about the money. Pete wondered where in the hell his ma hid the money. That was the first order of business when he got out. Get his damm money.
 
R

Rabbit

Has No Life - Lives on TB
I wonder where Pete got the money from in the first place. If it all comes to light Pete could be going away for awhile.
 
P

PacNorWest

Veteran Member
#92
Inky felt pretty good. He had water, food, people and a patch of sunshine to lay in. The trouble was, he was bored. He was a dog that needed action and plenty of it. He was rested; but feeling antsy about the day to day lack of excitement.
The huge Newfey got up and walked his patrol beat. Satisfied that all was well, he flopped down in the same patch of sun he had left ten minutes ago.

One ear was up, ready for instant activity should something happen; and a dog never knew exactly when that might be, so it paid to stay alert.

Inky heard the boys gathering up something that rattled. Ohh, that sounded good. Maybe something was going to happen.

"Here Inky, let's go fishing!" Benny hollered as he cleared the back door, pole in hand. Inky quivered with excitement, adding a woof to the commotion. Brett, Clora and Sandra all rushed out the door, ready for adventure.

Oh glory, it was going to be a great day.

The old tramp fed a handful of twigs to the fire under his billy can. The bubbling pot steeping his tea and warming the second can of hobo stew ala squirrel. Rough, mean and ruthless, he lived his life on the edge; took what he wanted and and just plain stole the rest. It suited Murrey just fine.

The happy, laughing group of children converged on the creek. In five minutes or less, they had worms on the hooks and hooks in the water. They sure needed to catch fish; Grandma needed cheering up and fish always made her smile.

Inky was guarding the gaggle of kids. Then, when the breeze changed he could smell smoke, cooking and unwashed human. There was something else he could smell. Humans might call it evil intent, but dogs don't have a name for it, they just know it exists.
 
P

PacNorWest

Veteran Member
#93

Ev was cultivating the swamp pasture, the ground he had been trying work all week and was finally free to do so. He had just finished coming around the creek side of the field when he spotted Inky streaking towards him. The big dog was barking and snapping at the tractor tires, acting crazy.

Ev throttled the old Ford down and stepped off. Immediately Inky grabbed his pants leg and pulled hard, almost pulling the big farmer down.

"Whoa, big guy what's the problem," He grabbed the back tire in order to keep himself upright. Inky kept pulling and only let go to bark a deep sound Ev hadn't heard before. "Ok, now your acting like Lassie you goofy mutt." Inky trotted towards the creek, looking over his shoulder.

"I don't speak dog, but that's pretty loud and clear," Ev muttered aloud. He patted the gun on his hip and loped behind the agitated animal. When Inky stopped right in front of Ev; he had a hard time stopping before crashing both of them down the creek bank.

Ev started to get up and then he heard the fright in Brett's voice. "You get away from my sisters," the squeaky brave voice ordered as loud as possible. "Do you hear me, leave them alone!" There was a low chuckle, and a 'oww, my arm," from one of the girls, Ev couldn't tell which one.

Drawing the colt, he crouched low as a large man can get and moved toward the voices. Beside him, Inky was quivering in fury, growling low and dangerous. Ev put his hand on Inky's muzzle to hold the sound down, as they worked themselves around a large elderberry bush.

Benny lay on the grassy stream bank face up, a huge red mark on his face. Brett and Sandra were kneeling behind him, staring hard at a hobo that had Clora by the arm, jerking her away from the fishing hole.

Ev stood up with the gun pointed at the man. The tramp watched as Ev unfolded himself growing larger and taller with each movement. The gun in the big man's hand waved slightly and the greasy looking, deeply tanned man obediently dropped Clora's arm and moved away from the child. Shifting his weight towards the balls of his feet, he telegraphed his intention to run.

Ev pulled the hammer back, the sound lost as Inky launched himself at the scumbag. The huge slobber dripping mouth closed with a snap around the arm that was reaching into the ratty looking coat pocket. The black Newfoundland's weight bowling the man over; all but the arm firmly clamped in Ink's sharp, shiny white teeth twisted and whumped against the ground.

Sandra rushed to Clora and they stood clutching each other. Brett was helping Benny stand up and Inky growled each time the scumbag tried to jerk his arm free.

"Mr Ev, that guy scared us. He was trying to take Clora away. We was fishing and he came rushing out of the brush. We sent Inky for help." Brett was chattering with nervousness, as he brushed grass and mud off Benny. "Benny tried to head butt him, but he slapped him hard."

Three strides and Ev was standing over the hobo, planting a size 13 foot on the hand opposite Inky's chewy bone.

"Brett, bring your pole over here. Start pulling off the fishing line for me please." Ev urgently twisted the man's arm behind his back and started wrapping fishing line around the dirty wrist. "Drop it," he ordered Inky and captured the red and raw chewed arm as Inky smiled.

Wrapping the monument line snugly in a figure eight around the tramps wrists, Ev tied it off with a flourish. "Thanks Inky," Ev praised the Newfey with pats on the head. Inky swiped his tongue at Ev, but never took his attention away from the tramp.

"Grab your stuff," Ev told the kids, "let's get this guy up to see Will."

"Yes Sir," Brett smarted off and snapped a mock salute, laughing with relief that there was a grownup to take charge.

They started for the Evie's place, meeting up with Cheryl as the willowly woman intercepted them at the edge of the pasture.

"What in the world is going on? Ev I heard the tractor idling and no farmer doing his thing." she stepped back as the tramp spit at her shoes. "Who's this creature?"

"Someone that really wants to talk to Will. Cheryl, would you take the tractor back to the house and give him a call?" Ev requested. "We'll be up at Evie's."

Evie was cleaning the bathroom when Benny and Brett burst through the back door shouting for her attention, "Grandma, Grandma, guess what happened, some guy tried to kidnap Clora and Inky chewed on him and Mr Ev had tp pull his gun." they both tried to crowd in the doorway at the same time, creating a traffic jam.

Evie thought there was nothing like scrubbing the toilet with an audience. What every grandmother dreams of, she sighed as she shooed them back out the door. "Easy boys, I didn't understand half of what you said, your talking way too fast."

Ev stuck his head in the kitchen door and hollered, "I've got Will on his way, he'll be here soon as possible."

Evie went to stand on the back porch, looking with distaste at the filthy dirty man in even dirtier clothes. The man looked up, frowned and squinted his eyes at the old woman standing in the sunlight. "Hello, Evie." he said.
 
P

PacNorWest

Veteran Member
#94
"And whom might you be?" Evie replied in a peeved voice. "You don't seem familiar. And what do you think you were doing manhandling my granddaughter?" she stepped forward bringing out the cabbage stomper from behind her back and shaking alarmingly close to the bum's ear. Boy, she would enjoy wapping that filthy miscreant up along side the head.

Ev reached out and deflected the stomper, easily turning aside the chunk of wood that was swishing at the bum's whiskers. "Evie," he chided. "This is for Will to handle." he said calmly.

Murray the bum was reconsidering his ploy of messing with the old lady's head. It didn't seem as funny when the old gal was humming that hunk of wood mighty close to his nose. Hell, he didn't know her from Adam's off ox, but had heard the big man call her Evie. As for that little snot nosed kid. She was just a way to bargain for some food. However the way it was turning out, it was not one of his better plans.

Ev set Inky to guard the man; and it seemed the dog was really enjoying the task. Every once in a while the huge dog would circle the sitting man and growl just to keep in practice. It was pretty nerve wracking to the tramp, besides his wrist hurt like fire where the dogs teeth had got a little close together over his arm.

Will skidded into the farmyard with lights flashing. The boys rushed over, excited about the display of power and force and he had a hard time making them maintain their distance in a potentially dangerous situation. "Boy's" he hissed harshly, "dont be stupid," and gave an especially hard look at Brett; who seemed to be the ringleader.

Brett stopped abruptly and looked down at the ground. How many times had Grandma warned him about acting before he thought. He wasn't sure how many times she had scolded him; but it looked like another one was about to happen.

Evie grabbed Brett by the shoulder and hauled him roughly around the side of the house. "Now you listen here young man. I don't EVER want to see you pull a trick like that again, do you understand?" she shook his arm with every strongly enunciated word, and then pulled him into a smothering hug.

"Brett, Brett, oh my word you have to be more careful. Child you need to think. Look at the danger you put all of us in by getting between a lawman and a 'badguy'. What would have happened if Sheriff Will needed to draw his gun. I'll tell you what were going to do. I want you to go to the bedroom and think about this problem. When I call you, I want you to have two very good reasons for never doing this again."

Banished to the bedroom, Brett drug his feet slowly, repeatedly looking over his shoulder to see if Evie had changed her mind.

The bum was grinning a jaunty expression. "You go Evie," he laughed in her face as she looked puzzled at him.

"I don't have the faintest notion who you are," she fussed. The tramp grinned larger. "Think on it," he smart mouthed, as Will was stuffing him in the cruiser.
 
P

PacNorWest

Veteran Member
#95
Evie fussed at Clora as they moved into the kitchen, reaching for a cloth to wash away any touch of that dirty grubber. "Oh baby, are you alright?" she questioned as she smothered Clora with a hug that equaled the one she gave Brett. Then, because they were looking left out, Evie hugged Benny and Sandra. It was then that she noticed the marks on Benny's face.

There was another flurry of "oh heavens," and "come here's" as Grandma settled fluff ling up her chicks to make sure they were in A #1 condition.


Betty had been a harder sell on the change of guardianship than Pete. Whatever Will had thought about Evie's son was downgraded several notches when the bearded man snatched the pen and scribbled his name on the authorization with unseemly haste.

"This takes care of any child support, doesn't it. I don't want to sign and then find out I still am expected to pay." Pete gibbered as he gathered up his meager belongings.

"Hold up," Will stated firmly. "Got a couple of points to go over with you. Sit down," he pointed to the chair. "First of all, the cessation of parental rights and transfer of guardianship in this case contains several clauses that are not ordinary." he explained.

"Yeah, yeah," Pete urged Will to hurry up. "I already signed, what else do I have to do?"

"This order covers both children, you do understand that?" Will looked pointedly at Pete. The bushy haired wonder nodded impatiently. "There is no support ordered from you," Pete agreed once again. "I am also serving you with a restraining order to stay away from your children and your mother."

Pete's head shot up as he stared wild eyed at Will. He started to protest, but Will held his gaze in a steely hold. "The judge didn't consider you a responsible party or a reasonable influence for the children, and I agree. I also think you treat your mother like crap and I want you to stay away from the farm. There won't be a problem, will there?" The sheriff presented the signed orders to Pete. "I invite you to move on out of this area. New territory seems like it would benefit you," there was no mistake Will's order to move on out and get gone immediately.

Pete debated whether to tell the sheriff to go to hell, or stop by the farm on the way out of town. Actually that seemed like the best way to handle the situation. Pete stood up, zipped his coat and very pointedly didn't offer to shake hands with Will. Nodding curtly, he threw the papers on the desk and walked out the door.


Betty thought about her children's termination all night long; as she sat in the darkened corner of the roadhouse. It was painfully obvious that she was out and Sarah was in. Claude had agreed to a bar tending job, to start first thing in the morning so she had a means of caring for herself. Already she was regretting giving up her children. Will had told her the actions that Pete had agreed to, and it grated on her that he seemed so eager. It didn't seem right that both of them would just walk away, without looking back. They were kids, after all.

She walked her drink around on the table top in idle frustration, tightening her mouth against the welling shame she felt inside. It was an emotion she wasn't comfortable with. The huge security guard walked by, and then circled back. "Hello, my name is Hobart, and who might you be?" he questioned. "What's a nice girl like you doing in a place like this?"
 
sssarawolf

sssarawolf

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Oh man Pete best just keep going and forget about that cash. Betty found herself a man it looks like. Thank you.
 
P

PacNorWest

Veteran Member
#96
Evie sat in the darkened kitchen. Supper was over, dishes done, children down to sleep. Hap was comfortable in his world and Evie was enjoying the solitude she occasionally craved. The fire was burning steadily and the kitchen warm.The blessings were so many Evie hardly knew where to start as she gave thanks.

Inky barked, growled and then yelped. It got mighty quiet and still outside. Evie finished her prayer quickly and stood up to look out the window. Very carefully she slipped the cabbage stomper from the counter as she leaned towards the window. It was easy to slide the heavy wooden pestle into her pocket and smooth the apron over it all.

"Let me in ma. I need to talk to you," Pete rapped against the door window. "I won't keep you long," he cajoled. "I am on my way out of town. Will is throwing me out to the wolves, so I'm here to say goodby."

Evie swallowed hard, and walked over to unlock the door. Pete pushed his way in, looking around in a sweeping glance. "Where is everyone?"

"Asleep, please keep your voice down. Your dad had a bad day today, and so did the kids. We had a tramp try to harm the kids when they were down fishing." Evie explained somberly.

"Oh, that's a real shame," Pete sounded as sincere as a screen door on a submarine. "Ma, I need my money. I've been ordered to leave town, I need a fresh start and the money will go a long way to fund that."

Evie swallowed the lump in her throat. Pete didn't care about anything but Pete. What a disappointment he had become, what a immoral son he was. "I would have thought you searched the house most thou rally Pete, you didn't miss a spot." Evie held her anger in check.

"But I didn't find the right spot, did I Ma? Now if you value any of the other people in this house, you will tell me where that money is hidden. It's my money, and I want it now!" Pete's voice rose with his anger, and he walked close to Evie to enforce his bullying intimidation.

"Where did you get that money,?" Evie held her ground; forced to crane her neck up to watch her son's face, her fingers gripping the stomper handle with all her force.

"It's all legal money. I invented a tool that the aircraft industry needed and they paid a lot to the invention rights. Not," he growled at his mother," that is any of your business." he shifted his feet, his eyes scanning the simply furnished kitchen.

"Time is up ma, give me the money," Pete's hand grabbed Evie's upper arm and jerked her a little to reinforce his demand.

Evie was thinking, Why that lying little whelp, he's lying through teeth and expects me to believe him.

"It's hidden in the kick plate," Evie stepped back and indicated with her foot where the money was hidden.

Pete dropped to his knees and started feeling where the board was loose. "Real clever Ma. I always knew you were a right devious old broa......"

Evie hit him on the head with all her strength; the cabbage stomper making a sickening sound when it contacted his head.
 
sssarawolf

sssarawolf

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Well i know Pete is a Louse but hope she didnt kill him , for her sake and how she would feel about it. Ohhhhh Willllllllllllllllllllll.
 
P

PacNorWest

Veteran Member
#97

"Grandma! what did you do?" Brett was standing in the kitchen stupefied at his grandmother's behavior. He was staring in horror at his father crumpled on the floor. Blood was dripping from a small cut on Pete's scalp, pooling on the floor. The whack Evie had administered was a definite lump on Pete's head.

"Brett, I can't explain right now, your going to have to trust me. Look at Inky out on the porch. I think he has been hurt." Evie dropped the stomper in the sink, and went to look for rope to tie Pete's hands. The only thing she could find was window drape cord and she tied Pete's hands behind his back and trussed them to his feet. Her job looked like a hairnet on a grizzly when she was finished.

Brett stuck his head in the door and staid with a stricken voice, "Grandma, Inky looks like he's hurt bad, I can't wake him up."

Evie rubbed her forehead against the headache creeping in. "Get your shoes on child, and run to Ev's. Go around by the road, it's too dark to go through the pasture." she instructed.

"Can I have the flashlight?" Brett's voice wibbled a bit at the thought of the dark walk.

"Certainly, now go, scoot, scoot." Evie pressed the old black and yellow light in his hand and patted his back in encouragement.

Brett thumped down the porch stairs and Evie listened to his footsteps fading down the driveway. She slipped into the living room and brought the old couch quilt back to the kitchen and covered Pete. Such a weenie, she kicked at his foot. She hadn't hit him that hard, he was alive. He couldn't control his breathing and she could see the rise and fall of his chest. Out of perversity, she covered his head so he couldn't watch her.

Carefully, quietly she knelt on the floor by the sink and moved the board. The velcro made a small scritching sound as she pulled it loose and she reached for the money, piling it in her apron. It took two trips to move the bills from the hiding spot to a 15 gallon barrel in the living room. Carefully she put the top back on and put a wooden circle on top of that. The intricate, quilted tablecloth was arranged over all, and a couple of coloring books and crayons casually placed on the top.

Evie went to check on Inky. The huge dog down on the ground, blood on the top of his head. As she touched him lightly, Inky's tail thumped and he tried to raise. "Down," Evie commanded, and pressed his head back. "Stay," she whispered, as she soothed the Newfey by patting his side.

From her dark yard Evie could see the lights come on at Ev's, his dogs were barking and in short order the pickup roared to life and tore out of the lot. Thank God for Ev and Cheryl.

The pickup headlights shone on the old woman crouched over the dog, when Cheryl skidded into Evie's back yard.

"I'll take care of Inky," she told Evie. "Take Ev in the house with you." Then it was, "Brett, help me get water for Inky and some old towels or rags. Hold the light Brett, so I can see what has Inky bleeding."

"Evie, what happened," Ev looked at the blanket covered form on the floor. "Is he dead," he asked hoping against the tragedy that could be happening.

"No," she said tiredly. "I whumped him a good one, but he ain't dead." she lifted the blanket for Ev to see for himself that Pete was still alive. She pointed to the huge knife in the man's belt and to the pistol tucked in his waistband. "I don't think this was gonna be a social call," she finished wearily.

The wail of the good sheriff's siren could be heard coming closer, and the noise of it had sleepy children crowding into the kitchen wondering what the problem was.

"Who's that?" Benny looked over his shoulder as Evie was shooing them back to the living room.

"Pete," Evie replied as she tucked the afgan around the kids on the couch. "Now, I want you to stay in here, don't come into the kitchen unless I call you. If you are quiet, you can hear what's going on and what is gonna happen."

"Where's Brett," Clora wanted to know, "is he alright?"

"He's with Cheryl and Inky outside."

Will and Ev were speaking low when Evie returned. The first words out of Will's mouth were,"are you ok Evie?"

Bogging down with emotion, all Evie could do was nod. The adrenalin of the moment was draining her rapidly. Suddenly shaky, she sat down with a plop, unable to stand any longer.

"What did you hit him with," Will was all business, professional to the core. Evie pointed to the sink where the stomper was, and Will picked it up with a cloth and dropped it in a plastic bag.

"He hit the dog and came in here raving like a raging lunatic about money," Evie said truthfully, sad that Pete's life had come to this.

Will pulled the blanket off Pete and an involuntary laugh escaped his official demeanor. Pete looked like a fly caught in a spider web.
 
P

PacNorWest

Veteran Member
#98

"Evie, how did you do this?" Will was amused at the webb that tied Pete together.

"One wrap at a time." she smartly retorted. "I am beyond fed up with Pete and his lack of morals, and whatever else seems to be driving him. He really frightened me this time; Will I think he meant to harm us. I want to have him removed from here and I don't want him coming back. Is there any thing you can do?"

"This will keep him occupied for a while," Will promised, "Evie do you have any idea what is driving him? This seems so out of character for Pete; there has to be a bigger motive."

"Money," Evie explained her lunatic son's behavior. "he left money here and wants it back. Do you want to see it?"

Will's eyebrows shot way up into his hairline. Regaining composure he searched Evie's face to see her intentions, trying to read this bizarre situation before it got any further complicated. What a strange, weird interaction between Pete and his parents. Not normal in any sense of the word.

"Well, YEAH," Ev blurted out. "Good God Evie, this couldn't be any more unusual than if you said the kids had turned green."

Evie explained about the kick board hiding spot and Will had Ev open it up. There was a small stack of bills parked in the dark hole and he whistled as he removed the money. "Holy ----, how much money is here"

Evie shrugged, she didn't know how much it was, just a decoy to throw off the curiosity. For instance, she had no idea why she was going to such great lengths to secret the money away. She certainly didn't have any right to the cash, not one legal leg to stand on. And to be sure, Pete would be back to gather up the rest of it, sooooo; she had to find a way to spend that money on his children. Invest in their lives. In the far off future, she had dreams for those kids.

Evie had already had her own moral crises concerning the stash. She had wrestled with her conscience, prayed and then come to the conclusion that she would change the lives of Pete's children, whether he wanted it or not.

Pete started moaning; but the adults ignored him as Ev thumbed through the wad of bills, rapidly calculating the amount in his head. "Twenty five to thirty thousand," he reported to Will, shaking his head in wonderment. "Wow, unbelievable."

"Where did he get this kind of money?" Will watched Evie carefully; his lawman radar zinging loud with alarm. So many things weren't adding up. She was acting like she was hiding something.

Evie repeated the story Pete had given her. Ev nudged Pete with his foot, asking "Is that right?"

Pete groaned and mumbled "yeah, it's mine and I want it. What the hell happened?"

"It looks to me like you violated your restraining order and paid a price." Will said unkindly, not really caring at this point what happened to Pete.
 
P

PacNorWest

Veteran Member
#99

Will took the money as evidence and cheerfully transported Pete to jail. Wonders of all wonders the teletype had finally come through with a handy dandy report of a certain Pete Hanson who was wanted for industrial espionage. A warrant for his arrest had been issued, and a certain agency of the United States government really wanted to have a little chat with the fella.

April turned into May and then June. Evie worked hard to bring a sense of family and normalcy to the children. They didn't enjoy the visits to the dentist and wellness checks to the doctor; but they flourished and thrived. With good food and rest and love, all the children grew stronger. Patty came back to the fold in August a different youngster. Betty spent a great deal of her free time at Evie's place teaching her children and the others the education they had missed.

It excited Betty to present ideas and have the kernel of recognition take root and grow. She asked Evie for a loan to start college late in August, she wanted to become a teacher. Evie agreed, and carefully and secretly grabbed money from the stash and walked into town to pay for the first year courses. Betty continued to work at the Brew and Shoe while she studied at school; and slowly lost the attitude she had manufactured as a brittle covering for her insecurities.

Hap died in November. His heart in it's worn out condition simply stopped one night in his sleep. Evie had lost her best friend and lover. It was hard to pray her blessings in the following days; it took extra effort to bend her knees and be at peace with the Lord.

This is the stopping place for this story. The people in this tale; the children, Ev and Cheryl, Will and the hospital crew all have another story to tell. There is always a place for good honest people to tell of their lives, it enriches ours.
 
R

Rabbit

Has No Life - Lives on TB
I have enjoyed every word of this story and you were so good to keep the chapters flowing steadily day after day. Thank you.
 
AlaskaSue

AlaskaSue

North to the Future
I have thoroughly enjoyed this story - it flowed very well, there was always an element of expectation and surprise, and the characters and setting were real. Thank you very much for sharing it with us here! Bless you :)
Susan
 
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