Story Grace, Mercy and Blessings
- Thread starter PacNorWest
- Start date
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Dang nabbit, hard to wait. Thank you Pac.
steamroller
Contributing Member
and the plot thickens.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#28
It was full on dark when there was a low whistle at the front door. Milo challenged the whistle and was sent the correct number of tones. Opening the door, the dark figures of Toby and Mark squeezed in.
"I've been watching them, and their still out there," Milo reported quietly. "I can see 12, but then there will be a shift change or something like that and several more appear. I don't believe they have night vision or infrared, they are just hunkered down, waiting."
"So, that begs the question, who are they waiting for, and why?" Toby asked as he went to the window and used his scope to study the interlopers. "No fires, so they are practicing caution. Who saw they first? Was that you Donny? Tell me every detail that caused you to notice them?"
"Actually, I didn't notice them right off, it was the horse that told me someone was there. They were kinda hard to spot, they had those wood suits like Dad has, and I passed real close to one and the horse shied away from getting close. Then I could smell him, like he was a smoker. I was trying to think a thousand miles a minute of what to do; then I decided if they hadn't shot me up to then, I would just act like I didn't know any different and hook up a drag of logs. That's the hardest thing I've done, to try and act real natural and not look back over my shoulder to see what they were doing."
Mark said something low to Donny and the young man snorted quietly. "I'da like to have done that," he joked. "What do you call those suits? I forgot."
"A ghillie suit," Toby answered thoughtfully. "That might mean we are dealing with some sort of a military unit, a scouting squad perhaps. What do we know about the people that used to live here? Would they call in military or reinforcements to oust us? Just speculating out loud here, if anyone has a better idea, let's hear it?"
The silence was deafening.
"I've got to get back to my house, Donny I sure could use you if you want to come with me." Mark asked, giving Donny the choice. "I thought about bringing Tess and the boys down here, but we can't keep them quiet, so that idea is out."
"I'll come, tell me what to do," Donny agreed softly. Mark pulled him into the corner and gave the young man a quick synopsis of run and evasion.
"I'm on my way home to help protect my family, Seamus has everyone else at the clinic so Eddie and Tony you both are to stay and help here."
"Yeah," there was a sullen and reluctant agreement from the two boys.
From the dark corner, there was an almost inaudible snort from Mark, and Toby coughed loudly to cover up the indiscretion.
The restless group almost missed the door opening and closing as Mark and Donny left the house. Mark had his special rifle in one hand and was gripping Donny with the other. They ghosted from one dark shadow to another, Donny feeling the sightless curtain of the dark, dark night right in front of his nose.
At the front door, Mark whistled softly and listened to Clora return the sound. The snick of the lock turning alerted Mark and his fingers resting on the frame felt the wood door soundlessly open.
"Two of us," he said aloud, so Clora wouldn't shoot them. "I've been watching you," Clora said with warmth,
"Watching us?" Donny said with confusion, "it's so darn dark out there, I couldn't see a thing. If Dad hadn't had a hold of me, I'll still be out there floundering around."
"Ok chief," Clora said, "your the man with the answers, give the man some." and she laughed.
Mark outlined the reason Clora had been watching them.
"Hey neat, can I give it a try?" Donny was intensely curious about the night vision.
Donny spent an hour watching with Clora's rifle while Clora helped Tess get the boy's ready for bed.
The long night seemed endless, and there was no movement from the assembled group in the woods.
"What's your guess Dad? What do you think they are up too?" Donny questioned near dawn.
"A couple of hundred guesses or so, but I'm leaning toward the theory that they are a force checking us out to see if we are as radical as the people that used to live here. Not that I know if they were radical or not. I'm guessing that this is some sort of a government force, and I'd really like to talk to them. I might consider that in the morning."
It was full on dark when there was a low whistle at the front door. Milo challenged the whistle and was sent the correct number of tones. Opening the door, the dark figures of Toby and Mark squeezed in.
"I've been watching them, and their still out there," Milo reported quietly. "I can see 12, but then there will be a shift change or something like that and several more appear. I don't believe they have night vision or infrared, they are just hunkered down, waiting."
"So, that begs the question, who are they waiting for, and why?" Toby asked as he went to the window and used his scope to study the interlopers. "No fires, so they are practicing caution. Who saw they first? Was that you Donny? Tell me every detail that caused you to notice them?"
"Actually, I didn't notice them right off, it was the horse that told me someone was there. They were kinda hard to spot, they had those wood suits like Dad has, and I passed real close to one and the horse shied away from getting close. Then I could smell him, like he was a smoker. I was trying to think a thousand miles a minute of what to do; then I decided if they hadn't shot me up to then, I would just act like I didn't know any different and hook up a drag of logs. That's the hardest thing I've done, to try and act real natural and not look back over my shoulder to see what they were doing."
Mark said something low to Donny and the young man snorted quietly. "I'da like to have done that," he joked. "What do you call those suits? I forgot."
"A ghillie suit," Toby answered thoughtfully. "That might mean we are dealing with some sort of a military unit, a scouting squad perhaps. What do we know about the people that used to live here? Would they call in military or reinforcements to oust us? Just speculating out loud here, if anyone has a better idea, let's hear it?"
The silence was deafening.
"I've got to get back to my house, Donny I sure could use you if you want to come with me." Mark asked, giving Donny the choice. "I thought about bringing Tess and the boys down here, but we can't keep them quiet, so that idea is out."
"I'll come, tell me what to do," Donny agreed softly. Mark pulled him into the corner and gave the young man a quick synopsis of run and evasion.
"I'm on my way home to help protect my family, Seamus has everyone else at the clinic so Eddie and Tony you both are to stay and help here."
"Yeah," there was a sullen and reluctant agreement from the two boys.
From the dark corner, there was an almost inaudible snort from Mark, and Toby coughed loudly to cover up the indiscretion.
The restless group almost missed the door opening and closing as Mark and Donny left the house. Mark had his special rifle in one hand and was gripping Donny with the other. They ghosted from one dark shadow to another, Donny feeling the sightless curtain of the dark, dark night right in front of his nose.
At the front door, Mark whistled softly and listened to Clora return the sound. The snick of the lock turning alerted Mark and his fingers resting on the frame felt the wood door soundlessly open.
"Two of us," he said aloud, so Clora wouldn't shoot them. "I've been watching you," Clora said with warmth,
"Watching us?" Donny said with confusion, "it's so darn dark out there, I couldn't see a thing. If Dad hadn't had a hold of me, I'll still be out there floundering around."
"Ok chief," Clora said, "your the man with the answers, give the man some." and she laughed.
Mark outlined the reason Clora had been watching them.
"Hey neat, can I give it a try?" Donny was intensely curious about the night vision.
Donny spent an hour watching with Clora's rifle while Clora helped Tess get the boy's ready for bed.
The long night seemed endless, and there was no movement from the assembled group in the woods.
"What's your guess Dad? What do you think they are up too?" Donny questioned near dawn.
"A couple of hundred guesses or so, but I'm leaning toward the theory that they are a force checking us out to see if we are as radical as the people that used to live here. Not that I know if they were radical or not. I'm guessing that this is some sort of a government force, and I'd really like to talk to them. I might consider that in the morning."
Texican
Live Free & Die Free.... God Freedom Country....
"A couple of hundred guesses or so, but I'm leaning toward the theory that they are a force checking us out to see if we are as radical as the people that used to live here. Not that I know if they were radical or not. I'm guessing that this is some sort of a government force, and I'd really like to talk to them. I might consider that in the morning."
Mark has it nailed, but will the group respond without violence?
Thanks Pac.
Texican....
Mark has it nailed, but will the group respond without violence?
Thanks Pac.
Texican....
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#29
In the early dawn light, Mark took the sack that Clora handed him and tried to resist the boyish pleas coming from Donny.
"I should be the one to go, after all, I'm the person that spotted them. I'm sure they'll recognize me."
Donny had already decided as had Mark, that the force was an observation only, otherwise they would have attacked a long time past.
"Alright, there's a fair amount of danger, I want you to know that right up front. And, …. you have to listen to what I say, keep your mouth shut and not volunteer any information. No flapping your jaws just to hear yourself speak. Nervous rattling is the mark of a scared, unprepared person. You have had good training; but are you sure you want to put it to the test?"
"Yes," Donny replied, "besides having a young person with you, makes us less threatening.
Mark nodded, pleased. Donny was learning and taking his lessons to heart. "Alright, then let's get to it." Father and son walked out from the barn to the south fence of their pasture, They crossed Andy's fences, then Toby's and Milo's.
They were headed back toward the house that Donny intended to speak for, when Mark suddenly stopped and pointed to a bush in the timberline.
"Is that one of them?" Donny wanted to go up and poke the 'lump' with the muzzle of his rifle. He was also sure that Dad wouldn't approve, so he let the urge pass.
Mark walked up to within conversation distance and 'requested' the bush take them to their leader. The bush unfolded and motioned with his rifle for them to precede him into the thick forest.
In the early dawn light, Mark took the sack that Clora handed him and tried to resist the boyish pleas coming from Donny.
"I should be the one to go, after all, I'm the person that spotted them. I'm sure they'll recognize me."
Donny had already decided as had Mark, that the force was an observation only, otherwise they would have attacked a long time past.
"Alright, there's a fair amount of danger, I want you to know that right up front. And, …. you have to listen to what I say, keep your mouth shut and not volunteer any information. No flapping your jaws just to hear yourself speak. Nervous rattling is the mark of a scared, unprepared person. You have had good training; but are you sure you want to put it to the test?"
"Yes," Donny replied, "besides having a young person with you, makes us less threatening.
Mark nodded, pleased. Donny was learning and taking his lessons to heart. "Alright, then let's get to it." Father and son walked out from the barn to the south fence of their pasture, They crossed Andy's fences, then Toby's and Milo's.
They were headed back toward the house that Donny intended to speak for, when Mark suddenly stopped and pointed to a bush in the timberline.
"Is that one of them?" Donny wanted to go up and poke the 'lump' with the muzzle of his rifle. He was also sure that Dad wouldn't approve, so he let the urge pass.
Mark walked up to within conversation distance and 'requested' the bush take them to their leader. The bush unfolded and motioned with his rifle for them to precede him into the thick forest.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
CHAPULIN,
LOL, he thought about it the first time he came in contact and discovered it was a human.
Folks,
Have a blessed Easter and to God be the Glory.
LOL, he thought about it the first time he came in contact and discovered it was a human.
Folks,
Have a blessed Easter and to God be the Glory.
Texican
Live Free & Die Free.... God Freedom Country....
Mark walked up to within conversation distance and 'requested' the bush take them to their leader. The bush unfolded and motioned with his rifle for them to precede him into the thick forest.
Mark & Donny off to see the Leader. Now what will happen?
Thanks Pac.
Texican....
Mark & Donny off to see the Leader. Now what will happen?
Thanks Pac.
Texican....
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Very nice, thnak you Pac, Happy Easter.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#30
The "leader" turned out to be Buck Stevenson, a top Sargent that Mark didn't know. But Mark felt Donny stiffen next to him, and saw the fists the young man tried to stuff in his pockets to hide.
The patrol group was lounging around, not paying any attention to Mark and Donny at all.
"We are here on an exploratory expedition," Buck was drinking a cup of coffee, but didn't offer any to his visitors. "We often times shadow Corbin when he is freighting goods out to the country. It's in our best interests to have people supplied and homesteading, and we have no problem with you and your family. We were alerted that Corbin was putting together an unusually large order of supplies, and we wanted it to arrive wherever it was going, safely."
Mark nodded, not saying anything.
Sargent Stevenson looked over at Donny and said, "we weren't sure if the young man had noticed us or not. If he did, he was very professional and cool headed about getting back to the mill."
"He noticed," Mark said coolly. "I don't believe I appreciate you not identifying yourselves and having the family in lockdown all night."
"You were?" Sargent Stevenson acted amazed, "we just thought you quit early for the day."
Mark narrowed his eyes. that was the most stupid idea he had ever heard a supposedly professional soldier give, especially in the line of duty.
"Hey, you look like somebody I should know," Buck stared hard at Donny.
Donny stiffened more and a red flush started up from the collar of his shirt. Body language told Mark that Donny obviously knew who he was talking to; and he didn't like the man.
Mark sort of stepped more in front of Donny, as a physical shield. "If you are done investigating our settlement, it would be nice if you would leave, so we can get on with our business." His reprimand came out sharply; causing Sargent Stevenson to look up with a frown.
"And just who are you to be issuing orders?" Stevenson almost snarled out, putting down his coffee cup and straightening his spine, as he glared at Mark.
Mark brushed the side of his vest away and it was easy to see the heavy silver Marshall's badge from Sargent Stevenson's viewpoint.
"Oh, that don't make a never mind." Buck spit out, but he did signal to the men opposite him it was time to leave. Mark stood in the clearing until the rag tag 'protection' team had saddled up and moved on.
"What were they?" Donny finally asked as they walked toward Milo's house. "It was beginning to smell like an extortion/ protection scheme for money."
"I believe so," Mark gave his opinion. "Do you want to tell me how you were acquainted with that Sargent?"
"He's my Uncle," Donny said in a tight voice.
The "leader" turned out to be Buck Stevenson, a top Sargent that Mark didn't know. But Mark felt Donny stiffen next to him, and saw the fists the young man tried to stuff in his pockets to hide.
The patrol group was lounging around, not paying any attention to Mark and Donny at all.
"We are here on an exploratory expedition," Buck was drinking a cup of coffee, but didn't offer any to his visitors. "We often times shadow Corbin when he is freighting goods out to the country. It's in our best interests to have people supplied and homesteading, and we have no problem with you and your family. We were alerted that Corbin was putting together an unusually large order of supplies, and we wanted it to arrive wherever it was going, safely."
Mark nodded, not saying anything.
Sargent Stevenson looked over at Donny and said, "we weren't sure if the young man had noticed us or not. If he did, he was very professional and cool headed about getting back to the mill."
"He noticed," Mark said coolly. "I don't believe I appreciate you not identifying yourselves and having the family in lockdown all night."
"You were?" Sargent Stevenson acted amazed, "we just thought you quit early for the day."
Mark narrowed his eyes. that was the most stupid idea he had ever heard a supposedly professional soldier give, especially in the line of duty.
"Hey, you look like somebody I should know," Buck stared hard at Donny.
Donny stiffened more and a red flush started up from the collar of his shirt. Body language told Mark that Donny obviously knew who he was talking to; and he didn't like the man.
Mark sort of stepped more in front of Donny, as a physical shield. "If you are done investigating our settlement, it would be nice if you would leave, so we can get on with our business." His reprimand came out sharply; causing Sargent Stevenson to look up with a frown.
"And just who are you to be issuing orders?" Stevenson almost snarled out, putting down his coffee cup and straightening his spine, as he glared at Mark.
Mark brushed the side of his vest away and it was easy to see the heavy silver Marshall's badge from Sargent Stevenson's viewpoint.
"Oh, that don't make a never mind." Buck spit out, but he did signal to the men opposite him it was time to leave. Mark stood in the clearing until the rag tag 'protection' team had saddled up and moved on.
"What were they?" Donny finally asked as they walked toward Milo's house. "It was beginning to smell like an extortion/ protection scheme for money."
"I believe so," Mark gave his opinion. "Do you want to tell me how you were acquainted with that Sargent?"
"He's my Uncle," Donny said in a tight voice.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
OH MY, a black sheep. Thank you Pac.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#30b
"You don't say," Mark drawled, "how come you got all knotted up?"
"I don't like him. When I was little, I was fat. That was on account of all the type of food I had to eat. Uncle Buck used to make an awful lot of fun of me, till he would make me cry. I was four years old and I don't care how old I get to be, I'll never forget the humiliation. It wasn't just once, it was every week when he came to visit." Donny explained slowly, hurt evident in his voice.
Mark nodded. He really didn't know what to say, childish hurts always cut the deepest and were remembered the longest.
"He must not know Andy is with Corbin. If Andy sees him, he'll probably shoot him. It's too bad Mr. Corbin isn't aware that Andy would shoot our Uncle if he ever saw him. It would be better for him to know, Uncle bit Andy harder than me and he has a real hatred for him."
They were at Milo's back door with a sharp whistle and the door opened and people spilled out.
"Are they gone, hooray!!" The shouts echoed up and down. "I'll run into town and let them know at the clinic," Donny offered and Mark gave his consent with a nod.
"You don't say," Mark drawled, "how come you got all knotted up?"
"I don't like him. When I was little, I was fat. That was on account of all the type of food I had to eat. Uncle Buck used to make an awful lot of fun of me, till he would make me cry. I was four years old and I don't care how old I get to be, I'll never forget the humiliation. It wasn't just once, it was every week when he came to visit." Donny explained slowly, hurt evident in his voice.
Mark nodded. He really didn't know what to say, childish hurts always cut the deepest and were remembered the longest.
"He must not know Andy is with Corbin. If Andy sees him, he'll probably shoot him. It's too bad Mr. Corbin isn't aware that Andy would shoot our Uncle if he ever saw him. It would be better for him to know, Uncle bit Andy harder than me and he has a real hatred for him."
They were at Milo's back door with a sharp whistle and the door opened and people spilled out.
"Are they gone, hooray!!" The shouts echoed up and down. "I'll run into town and let them know at the clinic," Donny offered and Mark gave his consent with a nod.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
thank you much
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#31
Robert and Gary stared at the Front Range rising to the west of where Denver had been. White capped with snow almost down to the foothills, even in August, was not an inviting sight. They were hungry, dirty, exhausted and now; without hope.
:I don't believe I am able to make it over those mountains;" Gary spoke in a defeated voice. Shoulders slumped, leaning wearily against the wagon seat, he stared dully at the imposing peaks. His mind was telling him, finished.
"There used to be a way to go from here to Rawlins, kinda a short cut up through the foothills." Robert was sitting on his horse next to the wagon.
"If I remember right, don't we get into the Great American desert at Rawlins?" Gary's voice was low and tired.
"From here, all the way to the Cascades and the coast line." Robert wasn't sounding encouraging either.
"I'm gonna quit for the day, have a rest and do some thinkin. You're already saddled, go huntin and get us something for supper." Gary climbed down from the wagon and kicked at an ant hill in the sandy ground.
Robert didn't care for the manner in which Gary dismissed him to go hunting, but considering the amount of camp work that needed to be done, maybe he had the better end of the deal. "Don't you want to camp by water?" Robert was sarcastic. "It wouldn't hurt if you got close up and personal with some water and soap."
Gary didn't verbally reply but gave Robert a hand gesture, that conveyed his feelings.
Looking around, Gary moved the wagon a quarter mile to the North, where a creek was winding it's way down from the foothills. Reddish with iron, the water had a decided iron taste, but it was wet.
There were some busted off cottonwood limbs and a trunk to use for firewood, and Gary puttered around camp in a tired stupor, boiling some water to wash the camp pot that cooked their meals.
Finally, he scooped water in the pot and set it directly on the fire. His pathetic attempts at trying to break off the crusty, burned on food residue, failing miserably.
It took Gary 20 minutes to locate the pan they used for washing up, in the jumbled, thrown together mess inside the wagon. He still had to find his boxes of shells, he was down to three cartridges in his rifle. He stared at the mess, not the least bit interested in rummaging through.
Robert had been in a temper the last time he had been in the wagon looking for something, and had a throwing fit. There was something sticky on the wall and a third of the floor, and it looked like Robert had thrown Gary's sleeping bag down to cover the mess.
While Gary had been looking for the wash pan, he found the coffee pot that had been missing for a couple of days, and dammed if the grounds weren't moldy. Shrugging his shoulders, he poured the reddish water into the boiler and set it on the fire. If the taste of moldy coffee didn't suit Robert, well then, there was just that much more coffee for him.
Gary washed up, taking the time to tie his hair back into a pony tail to keep it out of his eyes. He scratched his chin under his beard, surprised that his chin hair was so long. Gary gave a short laugh, if he looked as bad as Robert, then they both looked like that mean sucker they called their Uncle so many years ago.
Gary didn't welcome the comparison to his uncle and it set him to thinking about the way he and Robert had regressed in their behavior and appearance. Both of them were well equipped with dark looks and surly attitudes. The attitude that just screamed I'm a nasty, mean person, get out of my way, just like uncle.
Robert was gone until way after dark, the fire the only guide back to camp. He was empty handed, made no apologies and got his bedroll from the back of his saddle and threw it under the wagon.
Gary could see that his brother was in a furious temper, and so he commenced to irritate the man more.
"Your lying there, so I know you can hear me. It came to my attention this afternoon that the two of us are just like our dad and uncle, not worth the powder to blow us to hell. Just worthless, using anger as an excuse for poor, ungodly behavior and copping an attitude rather than using logic and reason. I decided this afternoon, I don't want to be that way.
Robert didn't answer, so Gary got up and walked over and kicked his brothers foot.
Robert and Gary stared at the Front Range rising to the west of where Denver had been. White capped with snow almost down to the foothills, even in August, was not an inviting sight. They were hungry, dirty, exhausted and now; without hope.
:I don't believe I am able to make it over those mountains;" Gary spoke in a defeated voice. Shoulders slumped, leaning wearily against the wagon seat, he stared dully at the imposing peaks. His mind was telling him, finished.
"There used to be a way to go from here to Rawlins, kinda a short cut up through the foothills." Robert was sitting on his horse next to the wagon.
"If I remember right, don't we get into the Great American desert at Rawlins?" Gary's voice was low and tired.
"From here, all the way to the Cascades and the coast line." Robert wasn't sounding encouraging either.
"I'm gonna quit for the day, have a rest and do some thinkin. You're already saddled, go huntin and get us something for supper." Gary climbed down from the wagon and kicked at an ant hill in the sandy ground.
Robert didn't care for the manner in which Gary dismissed him to go hunting, but considering the amount of camp work that needed to be done, maybe he had the better end of the deal. "Don't you want to camp by water?" Robert was sarcastic. "It wouldn't hurt if you got close up and personal with some water and soap."
Gary didn't verbally reply but gave Robert a hand gesture, that conveyed his feelings.
Looking around, Gary moved the wagon a quarter mile to the North, where a creek was winding it's way down from the foothills. Reddish with iron, the water had a decided iron taste, but it was wet.
There were some busted off cottonwood limbs and a trunk to use for firewood, and Gary puttered around camp in a tired stupor, boiling some water to wash the camp pot that cooked their meals.
Finally, he scooped water in the pot and set it directly on the fire. His pathetic attempts at trying to break off the crusty, burned on food residue, failing miserably.
It took Gary 20 minutes to locate the pan they used for washing up, in the jumbled, thrown together mess inside the wagon. He still had to find his boxes of shells, he was down to three cartridges in his rifle. He stared at the mess, not the least bit interested in rummaging through.
Robert had been in a temper the last time he had been in the wagon looking for something, and had a throwing fit. There was something sticky on the wall and a third of the floor, and it looked like Robert had thrown Gary's sleeping bag down to cover the mess.
While Gary had been looking for the wash pan, he found the coffee pot that had been missing for a couple of days, and dammed if the grounds weren't moldy. Shrugging his shoulders, he poured the reddish water into the boiler and set it on the fire. If the taste of moldy coffee didn't suit Robert, well then, there was just that much more coffee for him.
Gary washed up, taking the time to tie his hair back into a pony tail to keep it out of his eyes. He scratched his chin under his beard, surprised that his chin hair was so long. Gary gave a short laugh, if he looked as bad as Robert, then they both looked like that mean sucker they called their Uncle so many years ago.
Gary didn't welcome the comparison to his uncle and it set him to thinking about the way he and Robert had regressed in their behavior and appearance. Both of them were well equipped with dark looks and surly attitudes. The attitude that just screamed I'm a nasty, mean person, get out of my way, just like uncle.
Robert was gone until way after dark, the fire the only guide back to camp. He was empty handed, made no apologies and got his bedroll from the back of his saddle and threw it under the wagon.
Gary could see that his brother was in a furious temper, and so he commenced to irritate the man more.
"Your lying there, so I know you can hear me. It came to my attention this afternoon that the two of us are just like our dad and uncle, not worth the powder to blow us to hell. Just worthless, using anger as an excuse for poor, ungodly behavior and copping an attitude rather than using logic and reason. I decided this afternoon, I don't want to be that way.
Robert didn't answer, so Gary got up and walked over and kicked his brothers foot.
Last edited:
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Wonderful, I wondered whent heir brains would clear up and decide to go find the family. Which I hope they do.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#31b
"You kick my foot again and I'll tear your head off," Robert's voice was cold and venomous. Gary's answer was to cock the pistol in his hand, the sound had Robert reconsidering his plan of action.
"I don't know what's the matter with you; this is the seventh or eighth time you have set off on a hunt and come back empty handed. I see game, so I know there is food out there, what are you doin, running around in circles in a fog?" Gary was waspish, dog gone it, he was hungry.
Tomorrow, Gary was thinking; tomorrow I have to do something different. I'm going to wind up blindly following Robert, until he drowns in his own pit of self misery.
The night was cold, this close to the eastern side of the Rockies. Gary kept himself warm by drinking smelly, rotten tasting coffee and heaping wood on the fire. He had plenty of time to do a lot of thinking; and each trail he went down, ended badly.
For some reason, the talk that Mark had with Gary at the first place in North Carolina, kept coming up, again and again. A bittersweet pill to swallow, regret didn't set well with the acrid coffee and Gary finally had to toss the final dregs. He filled the coffeepot with water and set it to boil, he needed to clean it out somehow.
Over and over the conclusion loomed in his mind, and Gary wanted to push it away. He slumped as he went to sleep, the warmth from the fire finally overcoming the frantic activity of his mind.
Robert wasn't asleep. He hadn't been able to sleep since Mandy and the baby had been killed in the wind. Then Junior, in this last shootout. Guilt haunted his every waking minute. Guilt that was like acid eating in his belly, relentless, burning fires of hell.
If he lay absolutely still, he could manage the acid, but it took all his concentration to not move. So Robert closed his eyes and froze his muscles to try and make it through the night.
A coyote started singing in the early morning, the nervy devil mighty close to camp. Gary un cramped his muscles, stood up and noticed the coffee pot had boiled dry and was white with heat ash.
Using a stick, he drug the boiler back to the rock that served as a table. The wash pan had tipped on it's side, and Gary flipped it away from the heat. There wasn't anything left to do but go through the wagon, get his stuff, and get gone.
The wagon was so cluttered, Gary finally started throwing cultch out the door. He found his ammo, actually three boxes more than he remembered he had. He found a reasonably clean pair of jeans and a flannel shirt he had needed more than once lately.
Gary also found HIS coffee pot and frying pan in a box in the corner.
"You kick my foot again and I'll tear your head off," Robert's voice was cold and venomous. Gary's answer was to cock the pistol in his hand, the sound had Robert reconsidering his plan of action.
"I don't know what's the matter with you; this is the seventh or eighth time you have set off on a hunt and come back empty handed. I see game, so I know there is food out there, what are you doin, running around in circles in a fog?" Gary was waspish, dog gone it, he was hungry.
Tomorrow, Gary was thinking; tomorrow I have to do something different. I'm going to wind up blindly following Robert, until he drowns in his own pit of self misery.
The night was cold, this close to the eastern side of the Rockies. Gary kept himself warm by drinking smelly, rotten tasting coffee and heaping wood on the fire. He had plenty of time to do a lot of thinking; and each trail he went down, ended badly.
For some reason, the talk that Mark had with Gary at the first place in North Carolina, kept coming up, again and again. A bittersweet pill to swallow, regret didn't set well with the acrid coffee and Gary finally had to toss the final dregs. He filled the coffeepot with water and set it to boil, he needed to clean it out somehow.
Over and over the conclusion loomed in his mind, and Gary wanted to push it away. He slumped as he went to sleep, the warmth from the fire finally overcoming the frantic activity of his mind.
Robert wasn't asleep. He hadn't been able to sleep since Mandy and the baby had been killed in the wind. Then Junior, in this last shootout. Guilt haunted his every waking minute. Guilt that was like acid eating in his belly, relentless, burning fires of hell.
If he lay absolutely still, he could manage the acid, but it took all his concentration to not move. So Robert closed his eyes and froze his muscles to try and make it through the night.
A coyote started singing in the early morning, the nervy devil mighty close to camp. Gary un cramped his muscles, stood up and noticed the coffee pot had boiled dry and was white with heat ash.
Using a stick, he drug the boiler back to the rock that served as a table. The wash pan had tipped on it's side, and Gary flipped it away from the heat. There wasn't anything left to do but go through the wagon, get his stuff, and get gone.
The wagon was so cluttered, Gary finally started throwing cultch out the door. He found his ammo, actually three boxes more than he remembered he had. He found a reasonably clean pair of jeans and a flannel shirt he had needed more than once lately.
Gary also found HIS coffee pot and frying pan in a box in the corner.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Thank you very much.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#32
Now that he had found the essentials; the coffeepot, frying pan and a change of clothes, there was nothing holding Gary to his brother's notion of going West.
"What the blazes are you doing?" the nasty snarl left no doubt as to Robert's state of mind.
"I'm leavin, heading back to Iowa. If you want to call it 'seeing the elephant' then that's what you can call it. I can't stand being drug down by your depression. I'm gonna wake up some morning and find that you've shot yourself; and I don't hanker to find you that-a-way. I happen to like you, although I don't have the foggiest notion why." Gary found his pistol ammo and one more box of the super match for his battle rifle. Jamming the boxes into the least stuffed side of his saddlebags, Gary tried to pull his sleeping bag up from the sticky floor and failed. Looking around he spotted his and Roberts good wool blankets and he rolled both tightly together.
"So, you're gonna up and leave, just like that." Robert said bitterly. "No thought to me at all, just riding away."
"Listen," Gary stopped loading his saddlebags. "You've got a pity party going with 'me, myself and I.' and one more step and you will fall in that pity pit and drown. I believe you've got plenty of company, no need for mine."
"Yeah well, you just try living after your woman and kids die. It's a black world out there."
Gary very deliberately walked around the back end of his horse, moved over to where Robert was standing and gave his sniveling brother a solid smack to the jaw.
"You SOB, I did just lose my wife and kids. You're so wrapped up in your own misery, you don't pay any attention to what happens to others."
If Gary had any regrets about leaving, Robert's attitude cinched his decision..
"If you want to apologize, you know where you can find me." Gary mounted up and rode off with out a backward glance.
Now that he had found the essentials; the coffeepot, frying pan and a change of clothes, there was nothing holding Gary to his brother's notion of going West.
"What the blazes are you doing?" the nasty snarl left no doubt as to Robert's state of mind.
"I'm leavin, heading back to Iowa. If you want to call it 'seeing the elephant' then that's what you can call it. I can't stand being drug down by your depression. I'm gonna wake up some morning and find that you've shot yourself; and I don't hanker to find you that-a-way. I happen to like you, although I don't have the foggiest notion why." Gary found his pistol ammo and one more box of the super match for his battle rifle. Jamming the boxes into the least stuffed side of his saddlebags, Gary tried to pull his sleeping bag up from the sticky floor and failed. Looking around he spotted his and Roberts good wool blankets and he rolled both tightly together.
"So, you're gonna up and leave, just like that." Robert said bitterly. "No thought to me at all, just riding away."
"Listen," Gary stopped loading his saddlebags. "You've got a pity party going with 'me, myself and I.' and one more step and you will fall in that pity pit and drown. I believe you've got plenty of company, no need for mine."
"Yeah well, you just try living after your woman and kids die. It's a black world out there."
Gary very deliberately walked around the back end of his horse, moved over to where Robert was standing and gave his sniveling brother a solid smack to the jaw.
"You SOB, I did just lose my wife and kids. You're so wrapped up in your own misery, you don't pay any attention to what happens to others."
If Gary had any regrets about leaving, Robert's attitude cinched his decision..
"If you want to apologize, you know where you can find me." Gary mounted up and rode off with out a backward glance.
Last edited:
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Yippee at least one of the woke up.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#32b
Mark and the men all adjourned to the clinic, so Bruce could be included.
Mark took the leading roll. "I have to believe that this was a show of force in an extortion scheme. When he found out that we had lawmen here, he backed off immediately, but oh so casually. Don, the commander mentioned that he often shadowed Corbin and his freight business; have you seen or heard of this before?"
"Not a whisper; I haven't seen the riders shadowing us. How many did you think there were?" he asked curiously.
"Possibly 25 to 30. They were cagy and didn't show their full hand." Mark replied. "Now Donny knows the leader, his uncle, but has no intention to do anything but shoot the man. Milo, you went out with Gary and Robert on the foray to eliminate the 'zombie crowd' that exacted tolls from the travelers. You mentioned the passage of a large body of men that were well disciplined. Do you think this might be the group, or what about the army that was in place in St. Louis?" Mark looked over the group for information.
"No guesses from me," Milo spoke up. "It was so dark, I couldn't see my nose, and frankly I don't see how those men kept formation and traveled at the speed they were using. I might suspect that they had some sort of night vision, but that raises a lot of questions as to their intents."
Heads nodded all around the room. Don spoke up, "I wonder if I should try and catch Corbin, let him know what we have discovered." The question hung in the air, several of the men looking at one another, visibly thinking that the wounded man's offer might be a little too convenient for the situtation."
"I don't think we need to," George spoke up. "Corbin is fairly skookum when it comes to those things. I don't worry about him at all."
Don nodded, accepting the older man's estimation as the final word. The damage had been done however, the clan's silent questioning if Don was in cahoots with the extortion gang. Don, for his part, seemed unaffected by the cloud of suspicion hovering over him.
"Be aware when your out and about, carry your long gun and don't be afraid to shoot, if necessary. While we are here, are their any problems or concerns happening?" Mark asked the group.
All heads shook no, the atmosphere casual and friendly. "Is it true that Ma found a goat?" Milo jested, laughing.
"Oh yes, true, but she loves Tess more than Ma, thank the Good Lord for small favors. However," and Mark's tone stopped the assembled men from dispersing. "If Tess had been getting the milk for her children as she was supposed to get, there wouldn't have been any need for the goat to appear. I might ask why, Tess didn't get her share?"
"Beggin yer pardon Sir, the cow she is dropping her production. We have been doing mooch to feed her well, but it tis of nature, I'm afraid." Seamus spoke up from his post by the back wall.
"Then we need to be on the look out for another cow, or two. We all have a stake in providing the best we can for all of us." the words hung in the air, causing some of the men to duck their heads and not quite meet Mark's eyes. Bruce and Toby's kids seemed frantic for milk, often taking more than they should have, and the men had sort of forgotten about Tess and her boys.
Mark and Donny walked up to the house, the day, long in it's wearisome tediousness. Coming in the back door, the two men were confronted by the most delicious smell. Lined up on the table were dozens of hand held meat pies.
Donny stopped stock still and inhaled with a delirious smile on his face. 'OH MY, that smells so good," he breathed out appreciably. "Is that supper?"
"We have deer steak and onions, so go wash up." Clora ordered with a smile. In the falling twilight of the day, the oil lamp glowed in the middle of the table. Tess and her boys, Donny and Mark and Clora said the blessing and started eating the 'chewin meat' and it was good.
Mark and the men all adjourned to the clinic, so Bruce could be included.
Mark took the leading roll. "I have to believe that this was a show of force in an extortion scheme. When he found out that we had lawmen here, he backed off immediately, but oh so casually. Don, the commander mentioned that he often shadowed Corbin and his freight business; have you seen or heard of this before?"
"Not a whisper; I haven't seen the riders shadowing us. How many did you think there were?" he asked curiously.
"Possibly 25 to 30. They were cagy and didn't show their full hand." Mark replied. "Now Donny knows the leader, his uncle, but has no intention to do anything but shoot the man. Milo, you went out with Gary and Robert on the foray to eliminate the 'zombie crowd' that exacted tolls from the travelers. You mentioned the passage of a large body of men that were well disciplined. Do you think this might be the group, or what about the army that was in place in St. Louis?" Mark looked over the group for information.
"No guesses from me," Milo spoke up. "It was so dark, I couldn't see my nose, and frankly I don't see how those men kept formation and traveled at the speed they were using. I might suspect that they had some sort of night vision, but that raises a lot of questions as to their intents."
Heads nodded all around the room. Don spoke up, "I wonder if I should try and catch Corbin, let him know what we have discovered." The question hung in the air, several of the men looking at one another, visibly thinking that the wounded man's offer might be a little too convenient for the situtation."
"I don't think we need to," George spoke up. "Corbin is fairly skookum when it comes to those things. I don't worry about him at all."
Don nodded, accepting the older man's estimation as the final word. The damage had been done however, the clan's silent questioning if Don was in cahoots with the extortion gang. Don, for his part, seemed unaffected by the cloud of suspicion hovering over him.
"Be aware when your out and about, carry your long gun and don't be afraid to shoot, if necessary. While we are here, are their any problems or concerns happening?" Mark asked the group.
All heads shook no, the atmosphere casual and friendly. "Is it true that Ma found a goat?" Milo jested, laughing.
"Oh yes, true, but she loves Tess more than Ma, thank the Good Lord for small favors. However," and Mark's tone stopped the assembled men from dispersing. "If Tess had been getting the milk for her children as she was supposed to get, there wouldn't have been any need for the goat to appear. I might ask why, Tess didn't get her share?"
"Beggin yer pardon Sir, the cow she is dropping her production. We have been doing mooch to feed her well, but it tis of nature, I'm afraid." Seamus spoke up from his post by the back wall.
"Then we need to be on the look out for another cow, or two. We all have a stake in providing the best we can for all of us." the words hung in the air, causing some of the men to duck their heads and not quite meet Mark's eyes. Bruce and Toby's kids seemed frantic for milk, often taking more than they should have, and the men had sort of forgotten about Tess and her boys.
Mark and Donny walked up to the house, the day, long in it's wearisome tediousness. Coming in the back door, the two men were confronted by the most delicious smell. Lined up on the table were dozens of hand held meat pies.
Donny stopped stock still and inhaled with a delirious smile on his face. 'OH MY, that smells so good," he breathed out appreciably. "Is that supper?"
"We have deer steak and onions, so go wash up." Clora ordered with a smile. In the falling twilight of the day, the oil lamp glowed in the middle of the table. Tess and her boys, Donny and Mark and Clora said the blessing and started eating the 'chewin meat' and it was good.
Nature_Lover
Wait! What?
Thank you Pac! <3
...for stringing me along for all these years.
I love your stories, and I sincerely appreciate you sharing your skills and imagination so generously.
LOL I feel like a puppy dog following along behind you & your clicker, waiting for another treat, and hoping that Cliff doesn't show up.
Thank you!
...for stringing me along for all these years.
I love your stories, and I sincerely appreciate you sharing your skills and imagination so generously.
LOL I feel like a puppy dog following along behind you & your clicker, waiting for another treat, and hoping that Cliff doesn't show up.
Thank you!
