Premonitions

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PacNorWest

Veteran Member
Clora stood on the porch thanking the ladies of the church fellowship for coming to the family's rescue; the marathon cleanup after the 'home invasion' a herculean task.

Sandy, Lainey and Cheryl echoed their thanks, standing propped against the porch railing. Heartsick and flooded with emotion, the family gathered at the huge supper table for tea, coffee and tons of goodies brought in for the funeral meal.

Tired and overwhelmed, there was silence except for the children chattering in the corner at their own table.

"Grandma wouldn't like us moping around," Sandy said starkly. "She didn't believe in what we're doing here."

"Well then, you get up and dance;" Brett challenged. "I don't feel like it."

Clora heaved a big sigh. It was up to her to put the brakes on the snideness, and potshots. Grandma had specifically requested that, and it was a job Clora didn't want.

"Not tonight," Clora issued her decree. "I have some things I want to discuss with the family, and I need open minds and kind hearts." She looked sternly up and down the table, expecting and getting nods of agreement.

Clora went to the kitchen and returned with a note book, three small boxes and Grandma's old brown suitcase.

"How did that make it through the destruction?" Brett wondered aloud. "Those goons went through everything and either stomped or crapped on it."

Cheryl quickly glanced at the kids to see if they were listening, but Christy had the boys building cookie towers, so they were occupied.

Clora shot him a pained look, quelling the next thought spilling out of his mouth.

"You know Grandma," she stalled a bit as she opened the old brown leather train case. "She believed in taking care of what she had. She also had some ideas that this very thing might happen. So with that opening, I want to show everyone what she discovered."

Clora took the last six stacks of banded money and placed them on the table. Slipping the bank's paper band from the money she twisted the stack in half, and spilled the contents from the hollowed out hiding place.

The diamonds made a small clattering noise as they fell on the old walnut stained table, bringing a unified gasp from the family.
 
Siskiyoumom

Siskiyoumom

Veteran Member
I for for one need a little meat, and back ground. How did granny die, what is up with the home invasion? Are any of the family still chipped? Boy Cliff sure is a bear! Thank for continuing the saga of family!
 
J

Jeepcats 3

Contributing Member
SHE'S Back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I hope MR Pac is doing well?
Hopefully your canning went well?
Thanks for the new story!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jeepcats3
 
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Deena in GA

Administrator
_______________
You have no idea how exciting it is for us to see a new story with your name attached to it, Pac! THANK YOU!!!
 
Sammy55

Sammy55

Veteran Member
i echo everyone else here.

Thank you! Thank you!
Wonderful! Wonderful!
Moar! Moar!

I hope you and Mr. Pacman are doing great!
 
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PacNorWest

Veteran Member
#2

Clora swatted at a fly that was buzzing around her head, as she took her hand and smoothed the riffles of stones piled on the table top. If she hadn't looked up in annoyance at the circling bug, she would have never noticed the other bug.

Attached to the curved arm of Walter's pre 1960 milk glass globe chandelier, was a small dark colored piece of metal. Her mouth hanging open, Clora's stillness brought the other members to attention. Holding her finger to her lips, Clora pointed to Ben and Will and beckoned with her finger.

The two men couldn't see the recording microphone from their seats, so they rose slowly, puzzled as to why she was behaving as she was. Using her hand to hurry them along, Clora pointed to the piece of metal. To her, there was no doubt as to what it was. Taking her napkin, Clora dropped it over the pile of diamonds and intently shushing her brothers and sisters, she commanded silence.

When Ben and Will got to the end of the table, their eyes followed Clora's finger as she gestured toward the offending intruder.

Will motioned to Ev and Brett to follow him outside. There was a minute of hushed conference and then they trooped inside. Ben had the ladies move their chairs from the table, so he could move it away from under the light. Ev was the only one tall enough to reach up and remove the device. It was glued to the arm, and he had to twist it harshly to break it loose.

The men moved it outside, their boots on the floor making the only noise in the strained silence.

The children broke into a squabble, Christy impatient and put out by young Willie's inability to stack his cookies correctly. There was some childish wailing as Trey and Willie rebelled, and then the women each took a child and broke up the argument.

"Well my oh my," Clora finally murmured. She carefully scooped up the contraband and stowed it in the case. Closing the lid, the thought that there could be more bugs flitted across her mind. She marshaled her troops and they inspected the house carefully.

They found a recording device in every bedroom in the old house. There was two in the kitchen, one uncomfortably close to the secret hiding spot Wayne had built into the pantry. Collected into a pint glass jar, Wayne took the bugs out to the shop where the men were disassembling the first one.

Clora had the ladies walk out side to the garden so they could talk. The excited ladies all spoke at once, relieving the stress of the unexpected discovery.

"Don't trust your own house until you inspect it well," Clora, Cheryl and Sandy all said at the same time, drawing nervous laughter. Lainey absently picked at a couple of beans hanging on the trellis. She was beginning to have a real bad feeling about this newest turn of events. Even to her untrained eye, it was easy to see there were two different styles of recording units. One was the type of device her father favored. Sick at heart, Lainey went to find Ben. She needed to talk to him.
 
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PacNorWest

Veteran Member
BK00,

I don't know if you will be offended, but your avatar just tickles the heck out of me. The 'look' from it's eyes is almost the 'look' Evie used on her Grandkids. What a hoot for a dangerous looking saber toothed whatever!
 
P

PacNorWest

Veteran Member
#3

Lainey's abrupt departure was noticed, and Sandy was about to say something when Christy discovered a lady bug crawling on her arm and went into childish hysterics. That moment of drama required all the mommy's and aunt's tender solicitations to resolve.

Junior and Ruby had to vent a couple of barks in order to keep in guard dog practice, and the noise flushed a pheasant from the grape arbor. The rooster made a low level bee line for safety, inciting the dogs to chase through the garden. Thrumming his bird call, the rooster made sure he didn't stop until he was on the other side of the garden fence. Feeling proud of his evasive actions, he squawked several times, thumbing his nose at the excited mutts.

With Junior in the lead, the two dogs galloped wildly through the tomato patch, across the carrots and through the half open garden gate in hot pursuit.

Clora was as close to swearing as she ever came. Her lovingly tended vegetable garden rimmed with riotous flowers to entice the bees, was her pride and joy. Junior never knew how close he came to the end of his life, when Sandy forcibly took the hoe away from an incensed Clora.

Lainey went tearing into the farm shop, looking wildly for Ben. Finding her husband, she clutched his arm tightly and whispered in his ear.
Nodding in agreement, Ben walked the two of them out into the sunshine and towards the back of the graveled lot.

"Sit down honey," he soothed, as he used his hand to clean off a bit of dust from the pickup tailgate. By now, Lainey had tears in her eyes and was whispering her distressing suppositions to her astonished husband.

"What....slow down, I'm not understanding what you are saying," Ben interrupted. "Please, start at the beginning. What in the world could be so upsetting?"

Lainey rubbed her hands on her stomach, the excitement causing their unborn child to kick violently. With teary sobs, Lainey explained what she suspected and her dread that her father was involved.

Ben stood pondering what she had just confided, and seriously considered her revelations as plausible. It might explain quite a few things, if Kent Lawrence was mixed up in the international intrigue with Pete, and the women that were their mother's. Inga's boyfriend Gunnar was thrown into the boiling over pot, and mixed in well.

"Honey, let's go talk to the rest of the family. They need to be involved and we need all hand's on deck with this." Ben helped Lainey to her feet, thinking she looked like a butterscotch candy in her yellow dress and pregnant stance. Not that he would ever voice such a thought outloud, mind you.

Ben started to enter the shop with his request, when he wondered if the building had been swept for devices. He signaled Brett and Will and they shook their heads no. So out side they all gathered once again.

Ben whistled at Clora, seeing the women's heads bobbing in her garden. It was a mad and furious Clora that rounded the gate and headed for the group of men. Close in step came the rest of the family and Ruby, sticking close to Cheryl for protection.
Junior, hearing the whistle, hustled himself at full speed to be included. His huge frame, enormous paws and uncoordinated running had him plowing right into the back of Clora, knocking her flat on her face.

It was at that moment that Mark Linderman rounded the end of the garden smiling broadly. He was brimming with happiness and relief to finally be released by the Doctor's. His mission of the day was to find Clora and ask her to marry him.

His hopeful bride to be, lay sprawled in the dust and gravel, her skirt askew and showing a long tidy length of shapely leg. Before any one else could act, Mark leaned over Clora and picked her up.

Ben and Wayne remembered thinking..now that's one mean fete...as the huge suitor kissed his woman as she struggled against the surprise of the pickup.

"Easy there, little lady," Mark cajoled, as he swung Clora to her feet.

Brett snickered out loud. In his estimation, there was nothing about the 6' Clora that was dainty enough to be called 'little lady'. The beefy hand that slapped Brett on the back and drove all the air from his lungs, encouraged him to reconsider and think otherwise.

Mark was smiling at Brett, but the smile held a warning to stop underestimating either of the large titan shaped couple.

Clora was still sputtering and thinking vile thoughts about Junior, to notice that she was about to be kissed. Boy howdy did it happen, and she enjoyed every moment.

The spectacle was rewarded with a large round of applause and a few whistles. Everyone there secretly hoped Mark would come for their sister, but were afraid to say it out loud. Clora was such a strong, capable woman; but she needed a counter point to herself.

"Miss Clora Hanson," Mark rumbled in his deep voice, "will you marry me?"

Clora gave a little gasp and threw herself into Mark's arms. He picked her up and twirled her around, setting her back down for another kiss.

Brett wondered if the two of them would cause an earthquake with the force they were exerting, but wisely kept that thought to himself.

"Ben, Brett and Wayne, your sister has agreed to marry me, may I have your blessing?" Mark requested as he tucked Clora into the crook of his arm, giving her a warm, loving look.

The 'look' Clora gave each of her brothers promised more retribution than they could possibly handle if they said no. Swallowing hard, Ben stepped up and consented with his blessing. Wayne consented, and when Brett looked like he might try something funny, Sandy poked him un-gently in the back.

"Yeah," he said with a rub on his ribs. "Go for it."

"I consent also," Sandy sidestepped the elbow aimed in her direction, and walked over to give Clora a kiss on the cheek. That broke the ice, and there were congratulations and smiles all around.

"Please everyone, come to the house. This clan has some problems to resolve," Ben spoke as they walked toward the main building. "You too Mark, your a member of the family now."
 
Siskiyoumom

Siskiyoumom

Veteran Member
Thanks for directing me back to the where I needed to re-read the before, in order to get on the same page here. Your writing is very good and I enjoy your stories so very much. Thank you, Sis
 
W

wab54

Veteran Member
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWHHHHHHHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AWLRIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!


WAB
 
B

BigRuss

Inactive
our prayers have been rewarded! Nice trick with the hiding place. Never would have guessed that one.

Thanks!
Russell
 
bad_karma00

bad_karma00

Underachiever
PacNorWest said:
BK00,

I don't know if you will be offended, but your avatar just tickles the heck out of me. The 'look' from it's eyes is almost the 'look' Evie used on her Grandkids. What a hoot for a dangerous looking saber toothed whatever!
Click to expand...

Shucks no, I ain't offended. And all my momma had to do was give me that look and point one finger at me. I'd like to think I'm no coward, been there, done that, and so forth. But that look and that finger could still make me wilt away well into my forties, lol.
 
bad_karma00

bad_karma00

Underachiever
What a chapter! I see you haven't lost your knack for chain reaction mayhem! Great update, and soooo cool to see Mark released and marrying Clora!
 
P

PacNorWest

Veteran Member
#4

Clora pointed her finger toward the garage and banished Junior with a stern warning to "go lie down." He slunk back into his corner feeling the weight of the world on his shaggy shoulders. As Mark passed the garage he flipped a doggy biscuit along the floor skidding the treat to Junior, earning him the equivalent of doggy adoration forever.

The movement didn't escape Clora's notice, but she relented with a look that reminded the onlookers of Junior's sappy grin. Sandy walked along behind the two, shaking her head at the plumb silliness her sister was displaying. Sandy breathed a sigh of relief that she hadn't been bitten by that particular bug that affected the rest of her family. No way did she want to appear that goofy and addled by a man.

Settled back around the table, the clan turned to Clora when she cleared her throat. In pantomime, she pointed to the pile of stones and then held up five fingers. The other five stacks were also the clever receptacles of stones. Once again, nobody said a word, they couldn't through their astonishment.

Curious, Mark lifted up a corner of the napkin and put it back down immediately. "Are those real?" he whispered. At least it was a whisper to Mark, but it reverberated loudly in the mostly silent house. Clora put her finger on his lips, silencing his next question. Shaking her head in a negative way, she stopped his voice.

Bending over, Clora whispered in Mark's ear that the house had been bugged and they didn't know if they had found all the units. His eyes widened and he reached up to squeeze her hand resting on his shoulder.

Ben got up and got a piece of notebook paper and scribbled a line or two and passed it down the table. "Did you notice that there were two different styles of devices?" he wrote.

Will especially, nodded his head as the paper was passed around. Ben wrote again, "Lainey has reason to believe her father might be involved with the larger of the devices, we need to have a professional come in and sweep the whole farm. The smaller of the devices might be from the goons that did the vandalism, or they might be related." he scribbled, and passed the paper once again.

Cheryl reached over to pat Lainey on the back of her hand in a show of support. All of the clan did the same, showing her a unified front. Even Mark gave her hand a squeeze, causing tears to spring in Lainey's eyes. She slipped her hand into her lap, the crushing grip he awkwardly gave her with the best of intentions, causing a great deal of pain.

"Be very careful what you say, where you say it," Ben printed in large letters and passed the paper a final time. All agreed, and the meeting disbanded. Chores needed to be done before supper and the rest of the day's problems needed to be solved. Clora scooped up the stones and replaced them in the hollowed out money. As she replaced the top and the paper band, Mark looked with great interest.

"Wow," he mouthed to her, shaking his head. He tapped the stack of bills and and then tapped Clora's hand.

Outside, Junior started barking his incoming visitor's bark, and Clora whispered, "Stall whoever it is before they get to the house, I need a few moments," she disappeared into the kitchen with the article's from the table.
 
D

debralee

Senior Member
Looks like this is Clora's lucky day in more ways than one. What are they going to do with the diamonds now that they have them? Nice to see that Mark and Clora will be getting hitched.
Thank you for moar story Pac.
 
bad_karma00

bad_karma00

Underachiever
Goodness gracious. The poor Hanson Clan can't seem to get shut of trouble!


Almost as bad as my own outfit, sans money and diamonds. Of course. lol
 
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PacNorWest

Veteran Member
Mr. Pac and I went camping this previous weekend, and there in lies a funny tale.

We loaded up the old tent, the coffee pot and frying pan and went to the woods. The tale starts once we get there. This is a remote state park in the Washington Cascades and it was full of very big, expensive trailers and motor homes. There wasn't a person in sight when we arrived in the middle of the afternoon.

Putting up the tent between two obviously multi thousand dollar rigs, we were dwarfed by their magnificence. By the way, that was the last trip for our tent as the holes were big enough to let millions of mosquito's in and trap them inside.

I flipped down the tailgate of our old pickup to use as a table and started a small fire in the fire ring. OK so far. The old coffee pot went to work and I started frying bacon for BLT's for supper.

First it was the kids coming by on bikes and asking "watcha doing?"
The longer the bacon cooked, the more people that came out of their tin cans to visit. By supper time, I could have sold 50 BLT's for $500.00 each.

I mean I was more than astonished to find out people don't cook in these expensive outfits. They don't want to get them dirty. They fire up the generators and microwave something. Out in the woods. Amazing, just amazing.

Any how, the best part of this story; there was an old gent in a motor home that he proudly told us cost him over 500,000.00. He was taking his last trip before selling and moving into a retirement home, as he was loosing his license because of failing eyesight. {we made sure to leave before he did.}

He didn't cook in his outfit either. So, we invited him to eat with us. It was a pleasant visit and both Mr. Pac and I enjoyed getting to know the gentleman. As we were packing up the next day, after we fed him breakfast, he returned with an old cast iron skillet that he wanted us to have.

It was a smaller, no name or marking skillet just the right size for a couple of strips of bacon and 3 eggs. It was the story behind the pan that was so wonderful. It belonged to his 3 times back great grandmother, and had been in use since Mayflower times. It had come West in a covered wagon and survived countless mishaps, misfortunes and lean times.

I was so honored that he would consider us, but asked him to pass the history down to his children. All of his kids had turned him down, they didn't want it. I can't imagine.

We wound up staying another night, as I wanted to write down this man's story and secure his permission to look his people up through Ancestry.com.

So this morning we had breakfast from that pan, with all it's secrets seeping into our souls. Fantastic, just fantastic.

This was such a unusual, providential happening,...I just had to share.
 
juco

juco

Veteran Member
Totally cool for you Pac, but I have a feeling it was much more than that for the gentleman on his way to the retirement home.

What a priceless gift you gave him with your hospitality and interest in his history. Much too often the riches that the elderly possess is lost to us through our own indifference.
 
K

kaijafon

Veteran Member
wonderful experience! it's so sad how the younger generation simply seem to WANT to forget their roots!! But you will carry this one story for the rest of your lives and now so will we! And some of us, if not all, will tell this story again and again.

thank you.
 
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BigRuss

Inactive
Bless you for what you did for the dear gentleman. But I'm absolutely floored to think that none of the kids wanted such an heirloom, not even for bragging rights. Sad to see such apathy towards their family heritage. Maybe that's why there's such a lack of interest in cultural heritage too.

Loving the new chapters, lots of mysteries building. I truly envy your skill to paint such a rich picture with so few words. You've become one of my favourite authors!

Take care,
Russell
 
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debralee

Senior Member
Pac thanks for sharing about your iron skillet and the old man's story. I'm sure you will cherish it. I have a iron skillet that was my grandmothers. Love it. I have also printed out all kinds of info and recipes and how to's from online. This info is all in notebooks that we call Mom's books of knowledge. Out of 3 sons and 2 daughters one son is going to get these books. He wants them., the other kids are DGI's.
He will also get the skillet. We don't have a lot to leave our kids, but this knowledge is a gift that will last him a lifetime.
Can we have some more story time please?
 
R

Rabbit

Has No Life - Lives on TB
That is so neat, and I'm sure the old guy was honored to give it to someone who appreciates it's history and value. Of course if the guy has a $500,000. motor home I'm pretty sure there are a lot of other things the kids are looking forward to squabbling over. What a shame!
 
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PacNorWest

Veteran Member
#5

It was easy for Mark to stall the incoming visitor. It was his extremely irate, white hot under the collar father, demanding to know why Mark had not come home from the hospital.

Mark let him vent his anger until Borg ran down, deflated and out of steam. Leaning against the fender of his car, Borg ran his eyes over his strapping young son. It was easy to see his boy had a new found confidence and maturity, a dignity that he had been lacking. The calmness and control that settled around his son was a new thing; and when Clora walked down the steps to join Mark, Borg knew where it had come from.

Borg swallowed hard. What ever plans he had wanted for Mark were now out of the picture. This dammed family had captured his son and was drawing him in their fold. Borg threw up his hands, turned on his heels and got in his car. He rolled the window down and spoke quietly, "come home when you get a chance," he stared in sadness memorizing his son's face.

"Dad, Clora and I are going to marry, do we have your blessing?" Mark asked as a man to his father, rather than a small boy needing approval.

Borg hesitated, trying to find the difference between the words he wanted to say and what needed to be said.

Mark gave his father a level stare and waited three seconds before turning his back on his dad and walking Clora back to the house.

Borg understood the enormity of what had just happened. His desire to make his son the best money and his name could afford, had backfired. He had stood in court and watched this very thing happen; and even that experience couldn't prevent his own quagmire.

The prominent lawyer put his car in gear and drove slowly out of the farm yard without looking back. Already his mind was busy with ways to start damage control, his famed tenacity unwilling to simply give up.

Mark opened and held the house door for Clora. Once inside he turned her around and kissed her with a burst of pent up emotion. "Ahh," he said with a growl, "I needed that."

Not to be out done, Clora stopped him with a return kiss and purred in a low sexy tone, "I needed that."

Mark smiled in delight. His kitten was a grown up lady cat. More than ever he knew he had done the correct thing. He belonged here, with her.

"Well Miss Hanson, when are you going to marry me?" Mark teased as he gathered up cups and glasses from the table and walked into the kitchen to the sink.

"Sunday at church," Clora said as she filled the dishpan with hot soapy water. Reaching for the glasses, her hand was captured with a strong grasp.

"It doesn't bother you that I just got out of the hospital?" he asked softly.

Clora turned sideways to look at him squarely in the eye and said matter of factly,"no."

"Sunday is fine with me, does it give you enough time?"

"All that I need," she returned with a smile. "I have been sewing my dress and it's almost finished."

Mark cut her a sharp glance.

"I knew you were coming," she explained simply, as if that settled the matter. Mark nodded, not wanting to delve further into the question.

"I need to clean a downstairs room for us. Go look and see which one you prefer," Clora sent him with a task, as she finished washing the dishes. Her mind was busy with supper preparations, Sandy and Brett and Trey would be eating with them. She had heard Cheryl ask Wayne to supper, so he had a meal.

Clora chopped chicken and veggies to stirfry, and put the rice on to cook. There was leaf lettuce and tomatoes, cucumbers and half a peach pie.

Sandy had postponed her pie baking sessions during Grandma's funeral and then the clean up from the home invasion, but her orders were piling up. The blinking light on the order phone looked like it meant business. So tomorrow was work as usual.

"I like the blue room," Mark announced as he walked back in the kitchen, "but either one is fine, I'm easy." He swooped over to plant a kiss on Clora's cheek, "real easy," he emphasized with a evil chuckle.

Clora batted her eyes at him and pushed him away. "Behave yourself, the kids are coming."

"I don't hear anything," he protested, "but if I must, I will behave. It's only three days." another evil chuckle tempered with a wolfish smile.

Supper was a talkative event, Sandy planning out loud. "I'm going to do a cake, I think I might like to branch out into wedding cakes and this will be a good test of my ability." She offered her talents to Clora.

"Ah, so it will be guinea pig cake," Mark teased his future sister in law, raising a flush on Sandy's cheeks.

"Are you sure your not Irish?" Sandy questioned with a grin, "it sure seems like the blarney is flying around here."

Brett and Trey forked in their supper in a hurry, "no pie," Brett announced as he shoved back from the table, "I've got a ton of work in the cafe to do by morning, those pigs really messed it up."

"I have a pair of hands that need work," Mark offered.

Brett cut him a hard stare, and then gruffly said, "com'on then, lets get to it." Stiff and standoffish, Brett was the hard one to soften up.
If he hadn't needed the help, he wouldn't have accepted the blond giant's offer.

Always bluntly direct, Sandy asked Clora as they cleared the table, "are you guys gonna sleep together tonight?"

"No," Clora said just as bluntly. "Is it any of your business?"

Sandy had the presence to blush. "No not really, but I seem so out of the social loop I don't know what I should say. Clora, do you suppose...." Sandy stopped to gather her thoughts. "Do you think there is any way for me to find out how old I really am? This whole business is really bothering me. I don't know if I am a kid or a grownup."

"By Grandma's reckoning, you should be in your early twenties. You act a bit older, how old do you feel inside?" Clora wanted to know.

Sandy was relieved that Clora was taking her worries seriously.

"Older than my twenties," Sandy replied. "I'm attracted to an older gentleman in church, someone might remark that he is old enough to be my father. If I cared enough to be bothered by it."

"Well," Clora turned to face her sister, "that's a matter of attraction, not a condition of age. It's your life and whomever you choose to bring into it will come with baggage. If he is older, he probably has children you will need to deal with. Children that are possibly older than you. Just be cautious and don't be blinded by desires that another human couldn't possibly live up to," she cautioned gently.

"Let's ask Will and Ben if there is any way to find out your age, they have access to data basis that we don't have. Use the computer, if you are so inclined, we have a lot of resources to go through." Clora smiled at the eagerness written on Sandy's face.

Clora went up stairs to air the late summer heat out of Mark's bedroom, the Spartan room looking stark in the light of the single light bulb. She plumped the pillow with extra care, smiling a mysterious smile. They would have a long life together, she could feel the certainty of it all.

Mark worked hard the next three days, showing the clan he would be a good member. Clora finished her dress and made arrangements with the Pastor.

Sunday morning was a rare, clear late summer day. Light streaming in the stained glass windows highlighted the couple as they stood before Pastor Jacobson and said their vows. It was a stunning sight for the congregation, and caused more than a few whispers between the members.

Fellowship after the ceremony featured the magnificent cake made by Sandy. The coffee, tea and punch was provided by the ladies that had come to clean the house and well wishers shook their hands and kissed cheeks when they could get away with it.

Ben and Lainey invited Sandy to spend the night with them, and Brett and Trey camped out with Wayne in the barn. The lights went out early in the evening at the big house.
 
bad_karma00

bad_karma00

Underachiever
Aww, Mark and Clora. Seems Clora might be a little prescient. I think that's a word. I mean I think that's the word I wanted. Oh, you know. . .

Thanks for another wonderful chapter!
 
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