Story Homestead, Sweet, Homestead

[Texican]

Prairie fires are bad news....

Watched one in a field of Johnson grass behind a church that caught when the pastor was burning trash and the wind caught the fire and up flamed the dry Johnson grass....

You could hear the the roar of the fire and it was fast....

Pastor came down to my cousins house and us three boys went back to the church with water hoses and toe sacks. We kept the fire away from the church. The fire department showed up and they fought the fire from the two ends and then into the middle of the fire and were able to put the fire down, but not before it had burnt nearly a mile to the north of the church....

Thanks Pac for the chapter....

Texican....

 

[ted]

Thank you.

 

[sssarawolf]

Had to check before bed, thank you.

 

[Dosadi]

thanks Mrs. PAC

dosadi

 

[Debob]

Thank You Mrs Pac.

 

[PacNorWest]

Oh my, has it been a daytime nightmare around here. We have older equipment that chooses to fail at the most inopportune times. We have five inches of snow and right when we needed to start feeding, the feeding tractor hydraulic unit broke and broke the housing and yoke behind it. Of course, there are few parts available, and they are COSTLY.

For what it's worth, I really HATE acting like a mechanic in the cold. The wind has the wind chill down in the zero's, and the tractor is on the top of the windiest hill that we have. Ahhh, can you hear the violin strains yet. If you can't hear the sobbing music, let me whine a little more, so we can all appreciate my predicament. LOL.

We have the unit apart and out of the tractor and the JD people are scouring the U.S. for parts and or another unit. The tractor is a backhoe, so it has to have the hydraulics working.

But, God is in his heaven and we are getting ready to road the tractor that is up in the summer pasture down here to feed with.



#32

Donny and Andy spent a frustrating afternoon trying to put miles between themselves and the expected arrival of Mason. No less than three times in a short amount miles, they had to stop people that had problems. The last stop, they helped a man change the wheel bearing in his wagon. It was a cobbled together affair that needed grease and there was none handy.

The man and his wife were grateful, and invited the two young men to have supper with them and later an invitation to share the safety of their camp for the night.

Donny deferred to Andy, and Andy slowly agreed that they would be pleased to eat and spend the night. "We have a long way to go and will leave out at daybreak, so we thank you folks for your hospitality." The foursome sat around the fire and talked into the dark of night. They exchanged information about the different areas of the country they had come from, the couple from North Dakota, up near the Canadian border.

"We had a real bad winter, last year. We figured we wouldn't come through another stress like that had been. Our thermometer was minus 20 for six weeks in a row. We almost sat in the one small fire place, trying to stay somewhat warm. We burned everything in that house that would burn for warmth. I had some wood cut, but the snow was so deep, we couldn't get to the shed." the man spoke and shivered, remembering the ordeal.

"Our animals died, no food, no water and when they did, we started tearing down the barn to burn the wood. We had snow up to the second story windows of our home; I thought we were going to die." the woman sobbed.

There was a long moment of silence as all present studied on the circumstances that nearly ended the couple's life. Donny was just about ready to ask the couple if he and Andy could pray for them; when there was a bloodcurdling roar that sounded very close.

"Oh my God," the woman screamed out, "what in the name of Jesus was what?"

Andy scratched the back of his neck and said in his best, laconic Mark imitation; "I believe that's Cecil's lion."

"A WHAT?" the woman screamed louder, and the balance of her outburst was covered by another roar.

"We stopped this morning to help a fellow that is some kind of circus person. He had a tiger in a cage and was extremely sad about his lion. We figured the lion had died, but evidently not." Donny rubbed his neck. "I believe we had better have a guard tonight, lions are very fond of horsemeat, or so I've heard."

"What is this world coming too?" the man whispered fearfully, looking around expecting to see the lion in a mid air leap.

"About the 1800's," Andy truthfully replied, "from what we've seen, everything has regressed to before any sort of mechanical age. Perhaps the good Lord is granting us a 'do over', what do you think?"

"As good a theory as I've ever heard. We didn't have close neighbors where we lived, but most were real good folks, and so many died in the winter. It was a real tragedy, and I'm bitter at God for letting so many fine folks die." the man intoned starkly.

Andy and Donny exchanged glances, they really didn't know what to say to counter the man's bitterness, each wishing Mark were there to help them refute the man's twisted ideas.

"Well sir," Andy started respectfully, "I don't agree with you. God has a purpose for everything that happens, and we need to be grateful for the blessings we have."

"And I don't agree with you." the man snapped. "I never thought God was cruel and vengeful, but allowing good people to die is unforgiveable in my eyes."

"I don't know the answer," Andy spoke quietly, "I haven't been a saved Christian very long, I sure wish our Dad was here to debate with you. He and our Ma, took us in when we had been sent out to die by our own parents."

"Really," the woman looked shocked, "why would they do such a thing."

"We had younger brothers and a sister that were starving, as were our parents. They figured we could get along somehow, and God led us to the folks we are mighty pleased to now call our Ma and Dad."

The lion roared again, this time close enough to make the horses jumpy and nervous.

 

[sssarawolf]

Thank you Pac.

 

[Texican]

Thanks Pac for the chapter....

The lion roared again, this time close enough to make the horses jumpy and nervous.

Seems like there will be lion stakes for breakfast and a lion rug....

Texican....

 

[ted]

Lions tigers and bears, oh my! LOL, I just had to say that. Thank you Mrs. Pac. I can understand the whining, I don't have a shop so sometimes things need to be fixed in the middle of a blizzard.

 

[Debob]

Thank You Mrs Pac.

 

[moldy]

Pac, you and the cowboy are in my prayers. I know,how frustrating rquipment can be....almost worse than people!!

 

[Freebirde]

I hurt when I have to get out and do things in the 30's, I don't want to think about the 0's. Around here we get down to the single digits for a day or two in a row and not every year.

 

[PacNorWest]

Thanks Moldy,

LOL, equipment, the bane of my life. I have 6 dining room chairs torn apart to recover the chair seats, and a broken heavy duty stapler that has run out of staples. There are 11 people coming for Thanksgiving on Thurs.

I am not sure if and when I will get to town to buy staples. We may have to stand around the table and eat, and LOL, I pray that everyone comes with a sense of humor and a blind eye to the much less than clean house.

Oh, and the pipe from the stock well has frozen, (the pipe that has never frozen before) so now we are hauling water from the house well. Because of the extra work, I didn't get to go to town to see the 'Big Boy' steam engine when it came through the closest city. It is wouza impressive and I'm sorry to have missed it. That was the same day I was going to get a new stapler. So, we do as we need to do with prayers and faith. Thanksgiving wishes to everyone.

 

[Dosadi]

Farming is a whole lot of mechanic work before ya get to the farming part sometimes.

I've had folk ask me why I need more than one tractor; I just want to roll my eyes at em.

Thanks for MOAR Mrs. PAC, and God bless ya with luck getting things back up and running or a new tractor fall into your lap to replace the other.

Dosadi

 

[moldy]

Running to town today (we're closer to town than you are) to get hydraulic lines and fluid. We have a neighbor coming to learn how to butcher turkeys tomorrow.

 

[Shooter]

PacNorWest, remember 2 is 1 and 1 is none, better buy 2 when you go to town

 

[PacNorWest]

#33

"Holy Moley," Donny garbled, his eyes wide and the hair standing up on the back of his neck. "Did you hear that?"

There were slow nods all around as hands rested on their holstered pistols. "If you don't mind, I believe I'd feel better if my pistol was in my hand," Andy half whispered. Not waiting for the older man's assent, both he and Donny drew their pistols and laid them in their laps. The man reached for his rifle and the woman had a tiny 380 in her hand.

"Chester, I've heard that lions don't like fire, perhaps we should put more wood on the fire." the woman suggested nervously.

"Not a bad idea," Chester drug a thick branch into the small fire. Sparks flew upward and flames licked at the new, dry fuel.




"Wadda think the smoke is from?" Punky demanded, using his finger to poke Jerry in the back to get his attention.

"I suspect the smoke is from a fire," Jerry drawled as he scanned the horizon, finding the black clouds of the approaching storm. He also saw the orange red glow and rolling white smoke of the incredibly fast moving prairie fire.

Punky was sputtering his outrage at Jerry's off hand reply, when Jerry said in a new stern voice. "Hang on to me Punky, we are going to go fast for a while. Use both hands and grip the back of my belt." he ordered.

Punky's "why?" was cut off by his squeal when the horse jumped into a run. Backtracking the way they had just come, Jerry raced for the camp and the balance of the clan. Just a short ways out, Jerry had passed a pond fed by a good sized stream, so that would be their salvation if they made it in time.

As Jerry raced for Seamus's camp, the smell of smoke on the wind was stronger.

 

[ted]

Thank you, great picture, Punky hanging on for dear life.

 

[Texican]

A lion on the prowl....

and....

A prairie fire....

Just what more could you expect, except maybe a couple of bad guys....

Thanks Pac for the chapter....

Texican....

 

[PacNorWest]

hee hee,

don't rush me...LOL. All will appear in due time.

 

[Texican]

hee hee,

don't rush me...LOL. All will appear in due time.

A rough ride coming....

Ooohhhh nnnooooo.... Guess we will have to wait....

Thanks Pac for the invitation....

Texican....

 

[PacNorWest]

#34

The fire was gaining on the group of wagons and the horses were dangerous as they milled and stomped in a near panic. The air was thick with smoke and hard to breathe. Wet handkerchiefs over the noses and mouths helped some, but eyes watered in the stinging wind driven smoke.

Milo had run through the camp to make sure all were accounted for, he was stepped on by one of the frightened mares, but ignored the pain as he tried in vain to see how close the fire was. Clora and Tess were standing in Tess's wagon praying aloud. The babies played at their feet, crying against the acrid smell of smoke.

Millie was fussing, trying to get each boy to hold a cloth over his face. Clora took stock of the situtation and the three women each grabbed a baby and sat down to forcibly cover the tot's faces. The hard headed little boys were difficult to convince, but the women were unyielding in their instance.

"That's enough boys, sit still and cover your noses and mouths," Mama Tess snapped in anger, and three cherubic boys nodded in unison, "yesss Ma Ma." they chorused sweetly; causing Tess to snort in a most unladylike fashion.

The fire was coming closer, the sound of the racing conflagration crackling and devouring it's fuel and everything in it's path. It was roaring, the heat causing the paint on the sturdy wagons to split and curl. At the last minute, the ten foot tall flames hit the pre burned fire break and abruptly fizzled out. The wind blowing cinders and burning leaves of grass to land on the horse's backs, causing the horses to jump and buck against the stinging pin points of pain.

Then with the stiff wind blowing, the fire raced on to the southeast, easily jumping the width of the creek and heading toward the rest of the clan that was desperately trying to find a way to save themselves.

 

[ted]

Thank you.

 

[Texican]

The prairie fire has not yet passed all of the clan which is not good....

Now where is that lion????

Thanks Pac for the chapter....

Texican....

 

[PacNorWest]

#35

Bruce turned his face to the wind, looked over his shoulder to determine which direction was North. The sun was near overhead, but Bruce was trying to remember how to tell North, or for a matter of fact East and West. Mark had over and over stressed how to use his watch to tell North, and now Bruce was sorry he had paid some attention, but obviously not enough.

The smoke settled Bruce's intention of which way to travel. Heading into the wind and hopefully slightly East to skirt around the fire, Bruce slumped in the saddle but urged his horse forward. His back hurt so much, he had trouble concentrating on staying in the saddle. What ever happened to his back in the fast paced exit from the main group, had taken a small nagging ache and turned it into a clawing, ferocious gnawing monster.

Using the wind as a compass, Bruce rode for what seemed like hours. Stopping on a slight rise to take a drink of water, he looked with pain clouded eyes toward the fire's location. The fire was still to his left and for that Bruce was grateful. There was some smoke at his eleven o'clock position, but it didn't look as fast moving and fierce as what appeared to be the main body of the fire.

Somewhere in his mind, Bruce knew he should be looking for water; for safety and to let his horse drink. But he couldn't go any faster than a walk, so the horse didn't appear stressed in any way. Urging the large sorrel forward, Bruce continued to talk to the animal, coaxing the horse to carry him to safety.

As the afternoon wore on, Bruce was sure he had by passed the main body of the fire; as the smoke seemed less and he couldn't see any towering flames. Every once in a while, the wind carried the smell of smoke to him, but the air had cleared dramatically when he came to a small creek.

Letting the horse drink, Bruce got off to fill his two canteens with his Water Straw. It was now late afternoon, and Bruce was faced with the terrifying realization that he was lost and didn't have the faintest idea where the main body of the clan was camped.

Off to his right, about a quarter of a mile further on, was a grove of dead looking trees, so Bruce decided he had better make camo there for the night, He tried to get back on the horse, but his pain screamed along his back and left him clinging weakly to the saddle horn. The horse walked slowly forward as Bruce clucked to him, hanging on and stumbling along in a agonizing pain clouded fog.

Bruce got to the grove of trees to find that it had been a camp for someone else and they had left some scraggly limbs and a couple of pieces of firewood beside the blackened fire ring. Bruce didn't remember unsaddling the horse and staking the animal to graze, nor starting a small fire to chase away the total and complete darkness that settled heavily over the hurting man.

When he woke the next morning, all the above had been done, so he supposed he had simply been out of his mind with pain.




The fire passed to the lower left of the main clan encampment, bringing tears of relief to the coughing and soot covered members. It was Paul, one of the triplets, that tugged on Tess's skirt and pointed to the east of the camp and said, "pretty."

Tess looked up to see a small cinder sparked fire start in the tall grass behind Rennie's wagon. "Fire," she screamed out, grabbing a quilt and dragging it through the creek water, as she ran around the perimeter of the circled wagons. The boys laughed, thinking it was a game and went running after their mother.

Millie screamed their names, alerting Clora and the rest of the adults that there was another problem.




Jerry went racing down the trail he had just ridden up. The youngsters; bouncing hard and scared at the way the horse was streaking over the ground, were holding on for dear life.

He met the clan plodding up the trail and started shouting to alert them to a fact that there was a problem.

"Fire coming," Jerry was shouting. "There's water about a mile ahead,"

 

[ted]

Thank you.

 

[Texican]

Fire has passed, but not all of the fire has passed....

The lion is still missing....

Thanks Pac for the chapter....

Texican....

 

[sssarawolf]

Scary for sure, thank you Pac.

 

[PacNorWest]

#36

"Donna, move the coffee pot so I can get this larger wood on the fire." Chester shifted the limbs that were part of a large dead tree branch. The fire welcomed the new wood and all four people imagined they were somewhat safer from the prowling lion.

There was a slight disturbance in the dark and all four whipped around, pointing their pistols at the sound. "Hello the camp." came the cultured voice with the strong British accent. "Ah, you young chaps met me this morning, I'm Cecil from England."

Andy and Donny looked at Chester. It was his camp and his call to allow a stranger in, so the two boys were silent, understanding that they were in a tricky spot. It would be easy for Chester to believe that the three strangers were in cahoots, so the two young men sat quietly, not moving as to draw attention to themselves.

"You might as well let me come into camp, may I remind you that there is a ferocious, hungry lion prowling loose, ready to pounce." the tone and nuance in the man's voice has Andy and Donny looking up sharply.

"Ah chaps, I'm afraid you are sharper than you should be. Never mind, I am walking into your firelight." the disembodied voice coerced into the man in a dark black suit, overlaid with a black cape that swirled to his ankles.

"Sit down," Cecil ordered Chester and Donna, the couple befuddled by the fast paced situtation, twisting their heads to watch bot the young men and the outlandish Cecil.

Cecil gave a short whistle, immediately followed by the unseen ferocious growl from the lion. "You see folks, you are going to pay me all your money, or I will set my lion loose, to tear you all apart." Cecil was cultured and chillingly cold, raising a sawed off shotgun that had been concealed by the folds of his cape.

"You see my good chaps, I want you to throw your pistols over under the wagon. Do not be foolish enough to move suddenly, the lion has a hair trigger temper, and he is very hungry. You sir, cast your weapon with the young chaps guns," Cecil addressed Chester. "you Ma'am, move over toward your husband and the both of move close to the young chaps." Cecil moved the shotgun in a wave motion, giving the four scared people a pleasant smile.

"Come Simba," Cecil coaxed, and the lion materialized out of the darkness. "You see I am not joking," and the terrorized four watched in horrified fascination as the lion licked his chops with a long, saliva covered tongue. The lions white teeth gleamed in the fire light and nervous horses shifted and strained at their picket ropes.

"Simba does enjoy a good chunk of horsemeat; however he is extremely fond of tearing the throats out of humans and listening to their dying screams. Now my good man, I do require money from you," Cecil spoke to Chester. "Wedding rings, good silver eating ware, earrings, you know, the finer things that make your life pleasant, and of course money. The stuff you have hidden away for emergencies, go get it now!" he ordered.

At a snap of Cecil's fingers, Simba roared, paralyzing the watching four.





As Jerry flashed into the wagon train, he dumped Punky and Max into Phoebes wagon, wheeling his horse around and nearly running into Mark, who had dropped back to see what the matter was.

"Fire, big fire coming this way. Maybe more than a mile wide, we need to run to get to the water,' he panted, and Mark roared to Phoebe to put her horses into a run.

 

[ted]

Thank you

 

[sssarawolf]

Nice, thank you.

 

[Texican]

Now who might be trailing Cecil????

Thanks Pac for the chapter....

Texican....

 

[Debob]

Thank You Mrs. Pac. Happy Thanksgiving to all.

 

[Nature_Lover]

Thank you Pac!
Happy Thanksgiving.

 

[PacNorWest]

I made it!
I got the house cleaned, the chairs recovered, the pies made and the 26 pound turkey roasted. The relatives this year included 3 teen boys, and they ate a lot. We cooked and mashed 7 pounds of potatoes and made 2 quarts of gravy. There was the usual, 'everything else' and the last of the company will go home tomorrow.

My heavens am I tired, but happy and thankful for family, friends and wonderful readers who gave me a pass on the story. Last night I didn't have enough gumption to sneeze, and the three teens polished off 2 pumpkin, a pecan and a chocolate pie, and what was left of the apple and mincemeat.

I secreted away two slices of turkey for Mr. KC and I to have a turkey sandwich tomorrow at noon. That's all that's left of the turkey. We made a gallon of soup with the carcass, and it's all gone. LOL, no wonder the parents of the three teens brought them to visit, they probably needed relief from the grocery bill. Very nice young men however, they are welcome back at anytime.

I got a pinch on the cheeks from one of the old Aunties, and she declared me a 'keeper' to Mr. KC. Bless her heart, but the pinch hurt, so it was either a warning or the old gal doesn't know her own strength. LOL.

Happy Thanksgiving to all that care for family and friends.



#37

Phoebe tried her hardest to get her 'girls' to run, and the best she could get was a fast trot.

"Follow Jerry," Mark was roaring at the top of his voice, gesturing with his arm. "Stay in line," he growled at Chuck, "you're no more important than anyone else."

Chuck just shook his head at Mark's puzzling change of attitude. He had no intention of passing the front wagon, he guessed he would just have to wait until the current crisis was solved, and then he would have a straightening out conversation with the leader.

Jerry led the way toward the small river, and the fact that smoke was rolling thick in the air, help keep the horses going forward.




"I'm going to need help," Donna spoke up, "I need one of the young boys. Tell one of them to help me. I have several pieces of my Mother's silver tea service, but we don't have much money." she said flatly.

Cecil looked at her suspiciously; "My good Madam, I don't believe you."

'I have a bad arm," Donna snapped sharply at Cecil, "Chester doesn't know where the service is, so if you're in such an all-fired hurry to rob us, tell one of the young men to help me."

Cecil waved the shotgun at Donny, who reluctantly sidled around the edge of the fire to walk behind Donna. "Well, help me up in the wagon," she snapped at Donny, causing the youth to pull back slightly in fright.

Cecil looked pityingly at Chester. "My condolences sir, your woman is a bit snappish."

"She is just getting started," Chester mumbled, "she can be....very vocal," he finished lamely, looking away.

"Hold my hand," Donna waspishly commanded of Donny, "I don't want to fall down."

"Yes Ma'am," Donny obliged, and felt the small 380 she passed into his hand. Donna stepped into the wagon and Donny saw her move the shotgun in his direction. She reached up and grabbed a bucket and threw it on the floor, beginning a tirade of words along with the noisy commotion she was creating.

"Why you lazy, good for nothing kid," Donna kicked the bucket against the front of the canvas covered wagon cover; the sudden billowing of the canvas holding the attention of the three people outside.

As Cecil's eyes shifted to the front of the wagon, Donny stepped out the back and shot Cecil five times. Throwing the small gun down, he grabbed the shotgun and blasted the lion that was obviously enraged and preparing to spring.

The old single shot shotgun did a almost good job of stopping the animal, and people and horses scattered in a milling frenzy as the lion snarled, roared and shook his head trying to dislodge the pain of the full on blast to it's face. Claws extended, the lion swiped and gnashed with his teeth at everything within his reach.

Andy dove under the wagon, securing his pistol and shot at the lion, hitting the animal, causing more terrible roars. Grabbing for Donny's weapon, he shot the seven case magazine empty.

It took Chester forcefully pushing Donny out of the way, so he could reach his old shotgun, break it open, eject the spent shell and slam another shell into place. Bravely, he watched for the opportunity, walked as close as he dared, and fired almost point blank into the lion's face.

The lion fell instantly, but not dead. Donny was running for his rifle, along with Andy. The two boys fired together, finally killing the blood gushing, wounded beast.

"Chester," Donna was screaming, "that man is trying to shoot at you."

All three guns fired at the same time; Andy, Donny and Chester killing the extortionist circus director.

 

[RememberGoliad]

Wow, what an installment.... Well worth the wait!

Sounds like your Thanksgiving went off well and was worth the effort put into it. Always rewarding when that happens. And the turkey sammich for later is just the icing on the cake LOL

Thank you, again and again!

 

[sssarawolf]

Great tell on Thanksgiving Pac. Thank so much for the chapter.

 

[Orion Commander]

Mmmm mincemeat pie. I'm one of the few around here that like it. A friend gave me her grandmother's 100 year old recipe in 1976. It calls for pounds of ingredients and made about 16 pints.

 

[ted]

Donna played Cecil to the max!

Thank you!

 

[Texican]

Pac,

It is good that you had such a wonderful Thanksgiving....

Cecil and 1 lion down for the count....

Thanks for the chapter....

Texican....