Larkspur in Eden
- Thread starter Kathy in FL
- Start date
DIMDAL
Contributing Member
I am hoping after she catches it up on her blog, she will finish it. Right now, the family has left the fort and descended upon them en masse. So it has a way to go before it gets to where we are on TB.
http://motherhensstorytime.blogspot.com/
http://motherhensstorytime.blogspot.com/
Hermantribe
Veteran Member
Another favorite story...but I say that about all of Kathy's stories!
I've been trying to leave a "Thank You" message on her blog and it won't go through. If any here are capable of leaving a message over there please tell her that Rabbit can't believe all the hard work she is doing finishing all the stories, but I'm loving all the reading. Thank you Kathy.
Moved
Chapter Thirty-Nine
For a moment I thought perhaps Hank and Hiram were up to tricks until I remembered that both would be on guard duty with one of their older bothers to watch them. Then I saw a knife sliding up between the two shutters and start to gently lift the latch that kept them closed. I debated on screaming a warning but didn’t want the chaos such action would create. I knew my best bet would be to back out of the room and brace the door so that whoever it was could come no further into the house.
I turned to run but instead of running out I ran into Gid who’d been running in. I pointed and Gid ran for the shutters and pulled the latch back down. He barely missed being skewered by the blade that came full length through the crack. I heard the crack of powder and shot from the upper story windows and then a huge crash from somewhere near the front of the house.
“They are trying the front door,” Gid hissed. “Go. Make sure all the littles get below.”
I knew without him saying that we’d need to watch for fire. We’d done what we could to lower the risk but when you live in a wooden home fire is as great a foe as a raider ever could be. I ran to the stairs to find all of the children already being led to what safety we could provide. I hurried them along and bid them remain silent so as not to raise the desires of our attackers much like blood on the wind for a pack of wild dogs. I also didn’t want them to provide a distraction to our men who were doing the best that could be done.
The belowstairs was likely cleaner than it had been since the Great War but it was now being used as storage space for all of the family’s belongings and Jerry’s inventory as well. Lurna and Vaniece were directing the children into the furthest, hidden reaches and away from the exterior wall.
Lolly grabbed my hand to pull me back with her after bringing up the rear but I shook my head. I whispered in her ear, “Someone needs to stand guard.”
“Ned has said he will …”
“Will be needed to help with Lurna and Vaniece. And the children are more like to mind him faster if such is needed.”
“Yulee …”
I could hear the fear in her voice but still I shook my head. “I know my place and here is it. Just don’t let the littles leave their hiding places, or any of the others either. And bid them all stay low to the floor. I do not want any to impede my aim should it come to that.”
There was a great crash above. It was too close to be the front doors so it meant that the rear had been breached. I pushed Lolly and hissed, “Go! And bid them do as instructed.”
I am come to think there is not much worse than hearing the sounds of battle and cries of pain, knowing there were those that could use your aid, and yet still holding yourself apart from it.
For a moment I thought perhaps Hank and Hiram were up to tricks until I remembered that both would be on guard duty with one of their older bothers to watch them. Then I saw a knife sliding up between the two shutters and start to gently lift the latch that kept them closed. I debated on screaming a warning but didn’t want the chaos such action would create. I knew my best bet would be to back out of the room and brace the door so that whoever it was could come no further into the house.
I turned to run but instead of running out I ran into Gid who’d been running in. I pointed and Gid ran for the shutters and pulled the latch back down. He barely missed being skewered by the blade that came full length through the crack. I heard the crack of powder and shot from the upper story windows and then a huge crash from somewhere near the front of the house.
“They are trying the front door,” Gid hissed. “Go. Make sure all the littles get below.”
I knew without him saying that we’d need to watch for fire. We’d done what we could to lower the risk but when you live in a wooden home fire is as great a foe as a raider ever could be. I ran to the stairs to find all of the children already being led to what safety we could provide. I hurried them along and bid them remain silent so as not to raise the desires of our attackers much like blood on the wind for a pack of wild dogs. I also didn’t want them to provide a distraction to our men who were doing the best that could be done.
The belowstairs was likely cleaner than it had been since the Great War but it was now being used as storage space for all of the family’s belongings and Jerry’s inventory as well. Lurna and Vaniece were directing the children into the furthest, hidden reaches and away from the exterior wall.
Lolly grabbed my hand to pull me back with her after bringing up the rear but I shook my head. I whispered in her ear, “Someone needs to stand guard.”
“Ned has said he will …”
“Will be needed to help with Lurna and Vaniece. And the children are more like to mind him faster if such is needed.”
“Yulee …”
I could hear the fear in her voice but still I shook my head. “I know my place and here is it. Just don’t let the littles leave their hiding places, or any of the others either. And bid them all stay low to the floor. I do not want any to impede my aim should it come to that.”
There was a great crash above. It was too close to be the front doors so it meant that the rear had been breached. I pushed Lolly and hissed, “Go! And bid them do as instructed.”
I am come to think there is not much worse than hearing the sounds of battle and cries of pain, knowing there were those that could use your aid, and yet still holding yourself apart from it.
Chapter Forty
They were a desperate and sorry lot, but their numbers and desperation had added weight to their assault. There were injuries on our side, too many, but by God’s grace we still prevailed.
“Keep the littles back I say!” Gid snarled. “If they wish to help pick up the fallen and broken brick a brack it is a fine thing but keep them clear of the bloody messes. I’ve no desire to see my family reduced to … to …” Even as hardened as Gid could be I saw him shudder in pity.
Calling the raiders that tried to take us down a sorry lot was being kind. Whatever the origin of their illness - and based on the mad mumblings of the few that spoke before passing into the arms of the demons it was indeed a cauldron of bear stew - all but one or two suffered from it in some regard. They’d puked themselves and messed themselves … and done it more than once or twice. Dangerous they were still but only due to their numbers and the surprise of their attack. The greater mystery was what they thought to gain when most were already being led down death’s road by the demons they’d emulated too long.
We’d be a while cleaning their blood and other fluids from inside and out the cabin. I said, and Lurna agreed, that we could not risk the sickness they spilt affecting our own. Vaniece and Ned were in charge of making sure the very youngest came not in contact with any of it. It seemed someone would have to take the older littles in hand and I was tempted to give the job to Lolly but she had demurred and set three of the other older girls to organizing them to help in other ways to keep exposure to a minimum. Lolly had more than her share of dealing with sickness so was already trained in the necessary carefulness. The pit that had held the dead before was used once again, but I insisted that it be burned hotter and longer and then covered with what rock could be hauled over to keep the heat in to further kill whatever the illness was before the risk of it leeching into the ground was another worry we’d be living with.
Despite the weather still being cool, those of us who did have to touch the bodies, scrubbed in outdoor baths with the strongest soaps I had been able to make and then rinsed in an astringent berberine tea. That last was all I could think of should the sickness have passed into a cut or scrape.
I was half-way through my own ablutions when I nearly fainted in fear and scared Gid calling for him so forcefully. He wasn’t much better when I explained my fears and ran around to check our water sources hadn’t been compromised. All were still secure and the family realized how panicked I’d been when I nearly fainted at the welcome news. But I still insisted that all water from now until many weeks had passed be boiled.
“Weeks?!” Ern yelped. “We can’t stay here more weeks!”
I decided to leave the men to discuss it and got those who needed it most to bed down so that I could rest my own body and mind.
Later, Gid found me trying to keep myself calm as I waited for what I knew was to come.
“You should already be abed woman.”
I turned to him and asked, “When do we leave?”
“Eh?” When I just looked at him, he sat on the edge of the bed and pulled me to him. “Not tomorrow, we need rest and I’ll not leave until this place is secured. Do you hate me for it?”
I looked him full in the face and said, “Of course not. The recee is needed and you need to go. And you will not be able to be able to keep your mind on your work if all you can think of is me here, and alone.”
If he hadn’t been so tired, he would have likely expressed his frustration more but what he did do and say was enough. Running one of his hands through his hair while holding onto me with the other he said, “We’ll likely lose a year. A year. All this we’ve done will be for nothing.”
“Not for nothing Gid. We needed to eat. You have the barn …”
“And that could easily be burned before we can get back. For that matter we could lose it all … cabin to fields.”
“This cabin has stood since before the Great War.”
He sighed but conceded, “Aye, it has.”
“And even if we lose the plants and trees in the fields, we can’t lose the fields as the land will never disappear.”
“Hmmm. Maybe. But so much still needs doing and I had plans. I had plans for us. I had plans of a season or two and then … then perhaps …”
I comforted him best I could and slowly he came to fully accept what had to be done. He said, “But with the raiders here the plans won’t happen no way. We’ll store what we can down in the storage areas. No way around undoing all that work. But with work …”
“… and the Creator’s grace.”
Gid slowly nodded. “And the Creator’s grace it will be there when we return. And if you’ve a mind to add to your prayers, ask that the task we’ve set ourselves won’t take long.”
I nodded but I added that safety came before speed. He agreed and we both laid over and were soon to sleep.
They were a desperate and sorry lot, but their numbers and desperation had added weight to their assault. There were injuries on our side, too many, but by God’s grace we still prevailed.
“Keep the littles back I say!” Gid snarled. “If they wish to help pick up the fallen and broken brick a brack it is a fine thing but keep them clear of the bloody messes. I’ve no desire to see my family reduced to … to …” Even as hardened as Gid could be I saw him shudder in pity.
Calling the raiders that tried to take us down a sorry lot was being kind. Whatever the origin of their illness - and based on the mad mumblings of the few that spoke before passing into the arms of the demons it was indeed a cauldron of bear stew - all but one or two suffered from it in some regard. They’d puked themselves and messed themselves … and done it more than once or twice. Dangerous they were still but only due to their numbers and the surprise of their attack. The greater mystery was what they thought to gain when most were already being led down death’s road by the demons they’d emulated too long.
We’d be a while cleaning their blood and other fluids from inside and out the cabin. I said, and Lurna agreed, that we could not risk the sickness they spilt affecting our own. Vaniece and Ned were in charge of making sure the very youngest came not in contact with any of it. It seemed someone would have to take the older littles in hand and I was tempted to give the job to Lolly but she had demurred and set three of the other older girls to organizing them to help in other ways to keep exposure to a minimum. Lolly had more than her share of dealing with sickness so was already trained in the necessary carefulness. The pit that had held the dead before was used once again, but I insisted that it be burned hotter and longer and then covered with what rock could be hauled over to keep the heat in to further kill whatever the illness was before the risk of it leeching into the ground was another worry we’d be living with.
Despite the weather still being cool, those of us who did have to touch the bodies, scrubbed in outdoor baths with the strongest soaps I had been able to make and then rinsed in an astringent berberine tea. That last was all I could think of should the sickness have passed into a cut or scrape.
I was half-way through my own ablutions when I nearly fainted in fear and scared Gid calling for him so forcefully. He wasn’t much better when I explained my fears and ran around to check our water sources hadn’t been compromised. All were still secure and the family realized how panicked I’d been when I nearly fainted at the welcome news. But I still insisted that all water from now until many weeks had passed be boiled.
“Weeks?!” Ern yelped. “We can’t stay here more weeks!”
I decided to leave the men to discuss it and got those who needed it most to bed down so that I could rest my own body and mind.
Later, Gid found me trying to keep myself calm as I waited for what I knew was to come.
“You should already be abed woman.”
I turned to him and asked, “When do we leave?”
“Eh?” When I just looked at him, he sat on the edge of the bed and pulled me to him. “Not tomorrow, we need rest and I’ll not leave until this place is secured. Do you hate me for it?”
I looked him full in the face and said, “Of course not. The recee is needed and you need to go. And you will not be able to be able to keep your mind on your work if all you can think of is me here, and alone.”
If he hadn’t been so tired, he would have likely expressed his frustration more but what he did do and say was enough. Running one of his hands through his hair while holding onto me with the other he said, “We’ll likely lose a year. A year. All this we’ve done will be for nothing.”
“Not for nothing Gid. We needed to eat. You have the barn …”
“And that could easily be burned before we can get back. For that matter we could lose it all … cabin to fields.”
“This cabin has stood since before the Great War.”
He sighed but conceded, “Aye, it has.”
“And even if we lose the plants and trees in the fields, we can’t lose the fields as the land will never disappear.”
“Hmmm. Maybe. But so much still needs doing and I had plans. I had plans for us. I had plans of a season or two and then … then perhaps …”
I comforted him best I could and slowly he came to fully accept what had to be done. He said, “But with the raiders here the plans won’t happen no way. We’ll store what we can down in the storage areas. No way around undoing all that work. But with work …”
“… and the Creator’s grace.”
Gid slowly nodded. “And the Creator’s grace it will be there when we return. And if you’ve a mind to add to your prayers, ask that the task we’ve set ourselves won’t take long.”
I nodded but I added that safety came before speed. He agreed and we both laid over and were soon to sleep.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Wonderful, many thanks for another chapter Kathy, and good luck with all you have going on.
Siskiyoumom
Veteran Member
Thank you so very much!
Feeling reflective today. Can't believe it has been 7 years since we lost Dust Musher. Sigh.
Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
Never knew DM but the fact you reflect on someone after this long speaks well of that person.
Catshooter
Contributing Member
I've enjoyed this one, glad to see you adding to it kiddo. Thanks
Old Gray Mare
TB Fanatic
We've lost so many. Seven years? Sigh. Dustmusher is missed.
I seem to remember her writing a post or story about having to chose one of two dogs to rescue. She forced herself to turn her back on a beautiful huskie that bit. A reminder of hard choices that have been made and future ones we may have to face.
Thank you for the chapters Mother Hen.
I seem to remember her writing a post or story about having to chose one of two dogs to rescue. She forced herself to turn her back on a beautiful huskie that bit. A reminder of hard choices that have been made and future ones we may have to face.
Thank you for the chapters Mother Hen.
Chapter Forty-One
A quick recee proved that the raider group had thrown the last they had at us. There were none left alive in their camp. What was worrisome was realizing how large the camp had been to start with. At any time they could have overwhelmed us with numbers or shortened the siege by surrounding us tighter and starving us faster. It must have been the Creator’s will alone that kept their headman so foolishly fearful as they wouldn’t do it. Or perhaps they were already weak from lack of resupply. Or their up leaders were giving them orders by runners from outside the area. The signs they left behind were not clear and there was little enough time to put to guessing since there were signs that while none in camp left alive, some few moved on.
There was sign that some escaped the death illness; not many, but some, and no way of knowing if they were well or ill themselves. There were gaps in a few tent placements but that could have been from them being burned to prevent the illness from spreading in camp. Where there should have been horses there were none, unless they were used to feed the men. And men being men such as they were, there were some corpses of women, and the description reminded me of such businesses I’d seen on the barter roads. But no one reported seeing a wagon such businesses need to transport the working females. Gid said the signs were contradictory and difficult to say with assurance what exactly happened. For all we knew there was a split in the camp with some choosing to attack us and other choosing to simply move on or return to the main contingent in the valley.
All they had remining of any real value in their camp was a wagon of powdered lime which was used to cover the few bodies not already on a pyre in the middle of their camp, as well as what was in the pyre itself. The lime must have come from an attack on a trader caravan as Jace said it didn’t match anything mined in the area.
The camp itself was in a rocky bowl of land and with the Creator’s Grace the lime will do whatever work the pyre did not and the rock beneath their camp will keep any remaining sickness from leeching through to good ground below. Either way Gid determined that the land be mark off as sick for at least 10 seasons. Two and a half years nothing would be gathered or grown on that land. Yes, a loss. But better to be safe than sorry. The Creator gives us sense for a purpose, and this is one of those purposes.
While the men recee’d, the women and children closed down the cabin and packed away all else we wouldn’t be taking. All of it, books to brick-a-brack went below stairs, packed in the empty stoneware crocks and the few barrels that would be remaining. No garden had yet been planted so at least there would be no waste there. No foraging to be left behind either as it has all been used to feed the family and the trader group. What food was left would be needed to feed us all as we carefully make our way back to the town.
The day we pulled out the ground had just dried up enough that we wouldn’t be leaving behind huge ruts to be trouble for us when we come back, or to lead anyone to the cabin. And we will be coming back even if we must hold out another year. Gid was so mad when we pulled out that even Lurna had the sense to keep her words behind her teeth. By noon Gid’s anger had dissipated but more because he was a man of sense than because he still did not feel the same way. He was gratified to find I could drive our wagon so he could ride. All the others were needed to drive the family’s wagon and the trader group had their own problems after losing so many men.
We traveled together for safety but it didn’t make the traveling easier. Too many wagons and too many riders slowing us down though it wasn’t just our numbers that kept our pace down. There was sign all along the main road of the troubles that had befallen the area. No few times there were corpses hung in the trees and some were from before the winter and difficult to determine whether they were raiders caught by travelers and hung as a warning or travelers caught by raiders and hung for a different kind of warning.
And then we came to a slide in the earth that wasn’t there last time Gid and I had come this way.
“By all that is Holy,” was heard to be said by more than one man. A few went so far as to repeat the type of curses that fell from the lips of those who lived before the Great War.
Gid asked, “And this was not here when last you came through?”
Jace answered, “No or I would have mentioned it.”
He didn’t speak in anger more in tired surprise that Gid would think he wouldn’t mention such a thing. Gid wiped his face and then nodded.
“Best we camp here for the night then. Nothing will be coming at us from the road side and all we’ll need to do is watch our rear. Our sides will be guarded by where the land has shifted up on the one side, and falls down the other. What say you?”
The other men, including Tad’s Uncle Gerry and his second in command everyone called Watch-‘em, all agreed it was the likeliest place. And truth be told they were going to need some time to determine whether the slide could be moved or if the land was too unstable and a trail would have to be broken between here and the road that goes around the long way to the road we came down after Gid had bought me.
The one caveat that was hardest on the others was that there dare not be any fires. The cold and the bugs were a problem already. The wood was too green or too wet and it would smoke and give our location away. The Creator was giving us good cover, it wouldn’t do to throw it back in His face giving ourselves away. The evening meal would be nothing but forage and grains that had been soaking with some sweetener mixed in to make everyone enough rations to take the edge off their hunger.
I handed Gid the spyglass he’d taken from one of the raider corpses and brought me back as a present. Some of the men questioned his sanity giving such a valuable item to a woman, but Gid knows that I’ll use it while hunting and he already had one of his own taken from a similar source during the first raid on the cabin. He, Tad, and Watch’em went to make the best of a recee to see what could be seen of the slide and what lay beyond.
Jeepcats27
Senior Member
thank you for the new chapter!
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Nice find this morning, thank you.
