#8
However long it took, calm order was eventually restored to the Linderman household. Sort of. The new dog was as regal and majestic as his 'fore-dog' had been and just as apt to get into trouble. The dogs paws were in poor shape, worn down and cracked and bleeding.
Where he had come from had been a long ways away.
Inky wasn't talking, and he had come an astonishing distance. He had escaped a large, well manicured mansion that depended on a pack of dogs such as himself to keep law and order in the sheep and goat herds they raised to feed the humans. There were so many of the completely black Great Pyrenees dogs in the pack, that the herdsman in the Frank estate never missed Coalie until Leffee mentioned it one day.
Leffee and Tessee had become fast friends with Coalie, and when the notion had come to his dog's mind, he went in search of Tess and her family. Inky had gone to Applewood, and when the people he was seeking weren't there, he put his nose to the wind and headed North.
Now, lying on the porch with his goal accomplished, Inky fell asleep. He was a tired dog that had used many of his resources to get to this place and he was satisfied.
After breakfast, Karl and Mark went to dose the cow, carefully reading the instructions sent by the vet. The only one not willing to cooperate was the cow. Nobody read the instructions to her, and let her know the antibiotic would make her feel better. It was like the wild cow roping at the Calgary Stampede. When it was done and the bolus of medicine slipped down the cows throat, both Mark and Karl were 'muches happy' to turn the old gal loose.
Mark with his barely healed arm and Karl with his not quite healed foot limped and straggled back up to the compound in sorry shape.
Karl remarked that they had better look for a cow with 'muches better' disposition. "Those men, they roped the cow eaches time they vanted to milks, muches foolishness. The cows, she no gives enoughes milk to does that."
Mark heartedly agreed. His arm had been pulled with enough force to re injure some of what had healed, and he was more than happy to agree with Karl and turn the cow out to pasture and to dry herself up.
Back in the kitchen with a after breakfast cookie reward and a fresh cup of coffee, Mark was planning their next move. Karl and Helga were filling jars with fish, and Clora and Gail were bathing babies while Warren supervised.
"Dad, may we walk up the creek and watch the salmon at the waterfall, do you think we need more fish? We'd be happy to bring more back." Milo, Teddy, Benny and Tess were already dressed for an outdoor adventure and eager to get going.
"Take the dog with you," Clora cautioned, and as she and Mark checked with each other silently, Clora nodding to give her permission.
"Sounds like a plan," Mark approved, "just remember to keep your wits about you, watch the dog for clues, take your 22's and have a good time."
The "yes Sir's" echoed, and the Linderman kids went for adventure.
