Story So that your love may be complete.
- Thread starter PacNorWest
- Start date
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#255
"Ma, would you like me to back the Suburban and the bus up to the back door for easier loading?" Milo offered, bravely taking the place as the oldest man on the place. Actually he was terrified that Ma might try to drive, that would put them all in immediate danger.
"Yes please," Clora was so busy prioritizing the removal of important items, that she overlooked the wash of relief that covered Milo's face.
"Put the seats down in the Suburban, and I'm going to have you kids load Dad's important papers in there. Robert and Teddy, you come with me to the office, Benny and Tess, please go up stairs and get the extra pillow cases from the closet. In each room, roll clothes into tight circles and put in the cases, Start with jeans, underwear, socks then shirts. In the second case put shoes and boots and a heavy coat and hat." Clora was ticking off items to do.
"Gary, Lou and Sam, please stay with the triplets until Milo gets the vehicles moved, then we will have you help move items."
"Helga, you get your things ready to move and leave them inside your room. Hopefully the men will get back soon and come help."
Clora knew exactly where Mark's most important boxes were, and set then aside. In first, into the Suburban interior, went the heavy bars and coins of Rhodium. Milo was crouched inside, moving the boxes as the brothers brought them out. Milo made a single layer, and then had to put another layer on top. Next, Clora sent out the weapons from the safe, and the boxes of ammo.
Clora dashed out to see how much room was left, and nodded to Milo. "Good work organizing it so tightly. Stack the next boxes to the roof." she added as she dashed back inside. Boxes of Mark's 'goodies' all had a special symbol on the outside, so they were next. Then as Robert announced they had room for about five or six more of the bankers boxes, Clora sent the boxes of cash and important papers; sweeping the contents of Mark's desk into the one empty box in the room. That box, Milo had to bend the corners to get it pushed into the last space available.
"Good work boys," Clora had all of the older kids go upstairs and bring down the cases filled with clothes. "Open the back door of the bus and stuff them in as tight as possible. Tess you come and help me load the babies stuff."
Like precision, Clora and the kids went through the house and loaded items as they had planned. The smoke and smell of the fire was getting stronger, the wind picking up and raining ash and cinders.
Sending all the boys to the basement to load cases of the canned food into the back three rows of the bus, "get the stews, soups and chili's first, all the canned meat you can," Clora hollered downstairs. She was deviating from the plan, because Mark's pickup was not there to load the food in.
Clora dashed in their room and threw clothes and boots, coats and necessary items into the sheet she removed from their bed. There wasn't time to roll and stuff cases so it was neat and contained.
Because they had thought about and written out a plan, in less than thirty minutes the house of sixteen people was almost ready to move. On top of the cases of food that were bus seat high, Clora had the boys stow all the camping gear. Then they moved the jugs of water. The boys were slowing down because of the weight they were moving, but Clora encouraged then to move steady.
The Griswold, coffee pot and the night's supper were put on the floor behind the front seat, along with the dishes and silverware.
Helga came from her bedroom with cases of clothing and had Milo throw them in on top of the camping gear.
While the boys moved the Surburban and spent precious minutes trying to hook up to the stock trailer; Clora sent Benny with the Kubota to the center of the high school parking lot. Mark had identified the bare, almost acre area, as a meeting place.
"When you get there, run to Aunt Twila's and help her load her van," Clora sent Benny on his way, blessing Mark's strict rule that the tractor always be parked, full of fuel. Robert and Gary she sent to Millie's to help her load, and then they stopped to catch their breath, have water and assess what still needed to be done.
The boys were putting Lady in the front of the trailer, and the two cows and goat in the back. Milo got in the driver's seat, started the Surburban and drove it slowly out of the yard toward the high school.
On the table in the kitchen, Clora nestled the milk pails together along with a strainer and jars. All the additional nice to have items were next. Wrapping the most important rifles in a roll of blankets, Clora has Teddy put them on top of everything in back. The twenty two's and ammo were lined up along the kitchen wall, along with Clora's rifle and ammo.
Not having Mark's pickup there really hampered the amount they could load, but then Clora thought, they might not have it the next time either.
In an hour, they had stripped the house and pantry, and Clora had them start on the shop. Because they had no where to load the boxes of tools, Tess went running for the backhoe and brought it back to the house. In the front bucket they piled the hand tools and what extra they could fit in the empty spaces. Tess took off for the parking area once again, and Clora looked up and said, "we have to go."
The fire was close, less than a block away when the white bus with the three crosses on one side and the picture of Daniel in the lion's den on the other, bucked and snorted out of the yard, headed for the parking lot.
With her cast on, Clora had trouble apply correct pressure to the accelerator pedal, and the bus motor screamed as she floored the heavily laden bus. Wisely, the kids walked, packing the three young ones with them.
Twila and Benny were there when the bus coughed and snorted and stopped with a skidding of brakes. Clora got down out of the bus, and sent the innocent appearing vehicle a very dirty look. They had everything they had room for packed and with them. It had taken an hour, way longer than they had practiced, and troublesome to Clora, until she realized they were down three adults. Herself, Mark and Karl were gone or out of commission. So the children had done a tremendous job.
Millie and her pickup came chugging into the lot, the boys running after. If Millie and Wayne had practiced an evacuation, it didn't look like it by the way items were thrown into the pickup and box. Robert had a tarp and rope under his arm, and the boys went to work covering the open bed.
They were all there, safe and sound. Wayne, Mark and Karl and Ben were missing and the clan there in the parking lot, joined hands and prayed for the men to be safe.
"Ma, would you like me to back the Suburban and the bus up to the back door for easier loading?" Milo offered, bravely taking the place as the oldest man on the place. Actually he was terrified that Ma might try to drive, that would put them all in immediate danger.
"Yes please," Clora was so busy prioritizing the removal of important items, that she overlooked the wash of relief that covered Milo's face.
"Put the seats down in the Suburban, and I'm going to have you kids load Dad's important papers in there. Robert and Teddy, you come with me to the office, Benny and Tess, please go up stairs and get the extra pillow cases from the closet. In each room, roll clothes into tight circles and put in the cases, Start with jeans, underwear, socks then shirts. In the second case put shoes and boots and a heavy coat and hat." Clora was ticking off items to do.
"Gary, Lou and Sam, please stay with the triplets until Milo gets the vehicles moved, then we will have you help move items."
"Helga, you get your things ready to move and leave them inside your room. Hopefully the men will get back soon and come help."
Clora knew exactly where Mark's most important boxes were, and set then aside. In first, into the Suburban interior, went the heavy bars and coins of Rhodium. Milo was crouched inside, moving the boxes as the brothers brought them out. Milo made a single layer, and then had to put another layer on top. Next, Clora sent out the weapons from the safe, and the boxes of ammo.
Clora dashed out to see how much room was left, and nodded to Milo. "Good work organizing it so tightly. Stack the next boxes to the roof." she added as she dashed back inside. Boxes of Mark's 'goodies' all had a special symbol on the outside, so they were next. Then as Robert announced they had room for about five or six more of the bankers boxes, Clora sent the boxes of cash and important papers; sweeping the contents of Mark's desk into the one empty box in the room. That box, Milo had to bend the corners to get it pushed into the last space available.
"Good work boys," Clora had all of the older kids go upstairs and bring down the cases filled with clothes. "Open the back door of the bus and stuff them in as tight as possible. Tess you come and help me load the babies stuff."
Like precision, Clora and the kids went through the house and loaded items as they had planned. The smoke and smell of the fire was getting stronger, the wind picking up and raining ash and cinders.
Sending all the boys to the basement to load cases of the canned food into the back three rows of the bus, "get the stews, soups and chili's first, all the canned meat you can," Clora hollered downstairs. She was deviating from the plan, because Mark's pickup was not there to load the food in.
Clora dashed in their room and threw clothes and boots, coats and necessary items into the sheet she removed from their bed. There wasn't time to roll and stuff cases so it was neat and contained.
Because they had thought about and written out a plan, in less than thirty minutes the house of sixteen people was almost ready to move. On top of the cases of food that were bus seat high, Clora had the boys stow all the camping gear. Then they moved the jugs of water. The boys were slowing down because of the weight they were moving, but Clora encouraged then to move steady.
The Griswold, coffee pot and the night's supper were put on the floor behind the front seat, along with the dishes and silverware.
Helga came from her bedroom with cases of clothing and had Milo throw them in on top of the camping gear.
While the boys moved the Surburban and spent precious minutes trying to hook up to the stock trailer; Clora sent Benny with the Kubota to the center of the high school parking lot. Mark had identified the bare, almost acre area, as a meeting place.
"When you get there, run to Aunt Twila's and help her load her van," Clora sent Benny on his way, blessing Mark's strict rule that the tractor always be parked, full of fuel. Robert and Gary she sent to Millie's to help her load, and then they stopped to catch their breath, have water and assess what still needed to be done.
The boys were putting Lady in the front of the trailer, and the two cows and goat in the back. Milo got in the driver's seat, started the Surburban and drove it slowly out of the yard toward the high school.
On the table in the kitchen, Clora nestled the milk pails together along with a strainer and jars. All the additional nice to have items were next. Wrapping the most important rifles in a roll of blankets, Clora has Teddy put them on top of everything in back. The twenty two's and ammo were lined up along the kitchen wall, along with Clora's rifle and ammo.
Not having Mark's pickup there really hampered the amount they could load, but then Clora thought, they might not have it the next time either.
In an hour, they had stripped the house and pantry, and Clora had them start on the shop. Because they had no where to load the boxes of tools, Tess went running for the backhoe and brought it back to the house. In the front bucket they piled the hand tools and what extra they could fit in the empty spaces. Tess took off for the parking area once again, and Clora looked up and said, "we have to go."
The fire was close, less than a block away when the white bus with the three crosses on one side and the picture of Daniel in the lion's den on the other, bucked and snorted out of the yard, headed for the parking lot.
With her cast on, Clora had trouble apply correct pressure to the accelerator pedal, and the bus motor screamed as she floored the heavily laden bus. Wisely, the kids walked, packing the three young ones with them.
Twila and Benny were there when the bus coughed and snorted and stopped with a skidding of brakes. Clora got down out of the bus, and sent the innocent appearing vehicle a very dirty look. They had everything they had room for packed and with them. It had taken an hour, way longer than they had practiced, and troublesome to Clora, until she realized they were down three adults. Herself, Mark and Karl were gone or out of commission. So the children had done a tremendous job.
Millie and her pickup came chugging into the lot, the boys running after. If Millie and Wayne had practiced an evacuation, it didn't look like it by the way items were thrown into the pickup and box. Robert had a tarp and rope under his arm, and the boys went to work covering the open bed.
They were all there, safe and sound. Wayne, Mark and Karl and Ben were missing and the clan there in the parking lot, joined hands and prayed for the men to be safe.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Wonderful 2 chapters, one thinks that poor family but it may have kept them alive from Charles.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#255b
Ben and Wayne moved people away from the encroaching flames to the best of their ability, piling them in the far side of Lucretia's parking lot. When Teddy had left the store, he went over to give the woman the paper he had written the totals on and a handful of money.
Lucretia repaid his generosity by screeching that she wanted Teddy to empty his pockets so she could see if he was taking money. Teddy looked at her, shook his head and walked away.
Slowly, Lucretia drug herself over to the store doorway and collapsed in front of the entrance to keep looters out. The back door was wide open, but she didn't know it at the time. Personally she thought Charles's injuries weren't that bad, that the husky man couldn't get up and help her. Charles, however, stayed on the ground, breathing hard and wringing his hands.
If the body was still alive, Ben and Wayne pushed, pulled and drug people out of the fire's path. The lean times the residents had been through had left most of them skinny, but there were a few that had replenished themselves well.
Wayne worked until he could see the fire start over toward his and Ben's house. "I have to make sure Millie and the baby are out of there, we need to take a break and help our own families."
Ben agreed, "OK, I wonder what is holding up Mark and Karl; I thought for sure they'd be back by now."
The two brothers ran towards their homes, finding the fire closer than they expected. Wayne was in a cold sweat; the fire making it hard to think, the closer he got to home and the nearer the fire burned.
The pickup, Millie and Joseph were gone. Wayne burst into his house, intent on getting a few special items he had hidden, like some money and his rifle. Millie had evidently loaded a great deal of their gear, but he got his boots, a coat for himself and her, a large stack of diapers, and threw them on the table; to be gathered up in the tablecloth. Finally he got the garden cart and filled it with the cast iron frying pan, the coffee pot, plates and silverware, and as many cans of food as he could throw in. He got the important papers and the Bibles, blankets and tarps. Gathering up the tablecloth, he made a hobo sack and balanced it on top of the cart.
Wayne supposed Millie had gone to Clora's and when he got there and they were all pulled out, he had moments of panic. Where could they have gone? Wayne and Millie had never practiced a plan for leaving, or designated a meeting spot. It was by sheer luck that he heard one of the boys yelling his name as he stood looking stupidly at Clora's empty house, wondering what he should do.
Robert and Milo came to help, and Wayne let them pull the cart. He was so worn out and on the verge of collapse, that Milo had Wayne put his arm around the youth's shoulder and he steadied his Uncle as they walked.
Wayne was delivered to the meeting place and Robert and Milo took off to find Ben. They found Ben in the throes of his last heart attack. There was no pulse or breath as they checked, Ben was in the house and he had torn the place apart, looking for something.
The boy's had to make an instant decision. The fire was two houses down, and the only vehicle there was the Sheriff's SUV. They loaded up the lifeless body and Robert drove to the parking lot.
Gesturing wildly to Ma, Robert drove off to the side of the bus and parked. Milo got out and opened the second door, showing Ma, Ben's crumpled up body.
"Oh my," Clora cried out. "Go get Twila," she told Milo.
They put Ben on the ground and Clora checked for pulse and breath. She started CPR, working feverishly until Twila came around the side of the bus and placed a hand on her shoulder to halt the frantic resuscitation.
"Clora," Twila said softly, "Ben's been very ill with heart problems, he expected this and so did I."
Clora straightened up and sat back on her heels, sorrowful tears gathered in her eyes. "Go get Wayne," she motioned to Milo, "we need to pray."
Wayne collapsed on the ground beside Ben and the three of them started to pray Ben into heaven. One by one the kids came around and pressed close to support Ma, Millie coming when she finished feeding Joe. Helga kept guard with her 'shoots gun' and that's where Mark and Karl found them, mourning one of the clan.
Ben and Wayne moved people away from the encroaching flames to the best of their ability, piling them in the far side of Lucretia's parking lot. When Teddy had left the store, he went over to give the woman the paper he had written the totals on and a handful of money.
Lucretia repaid his generosity by screeching that she wanted Teddy to empty his pockets so she could see if he was taking money. Teddy looked at her, shook his head and walked away.
Slowly, Lucretia drug herself over to the store doorway and collapsed in front of the entrance to keep looters out. The back door was wide open, but she didn't know it at the time. Personally she thought Charles's injuries weren't that bad, that the husky man couldn't get up and help her. Charles, however, stayed on the ground, breathing hard and wringing his hands.
If the body was still alive, Ben and Wayne pushed, pulled and drug people out of the fire's path. The lean times the residents had been through had left most of them skinny, but there were a few that had replenished themselves well.
Wayne worked until he could see the fire start over toward his and Ben's house. "I have to make sure Millie and the baby are out of there, we need to take a break and help our own families."
Ben agreed, "OK, I wonder what is holding up Mark and Karl; I thought for sure they'd be back by now."
The two brothers ran towards their homes, finding the fire closer than they expected. Wayne was in a cold sweat; the fire making it hard to think, the closer he got to home and the nearer the fire burned.
The pickup, Millie and Joseph were gone. Wayne burst into his house, intent on getting a few special items he had hidden, like some money and his rifle. Millie had evidently loaded a great deal of their gear, but he got his boots, a coat for himself and her, a large stack of diapers, and threw them on the table; to be gathered up in the tablecloth. Finally he got the garden cart and filled it with the cast iron frying pan, the coffee pot, plates and silverware, and as many cans of food as he could throw in. He got the important papers and the Bibles, blankets and tarps. Gathering up the tablecloth, he made a hobo sack and balanced it on top of the cart.
Wayne supposed Millie had gone to Clora's and when he got there and they were all pulled out, he had moments of panic. Where could they have gone? Wayne and Millie had never practiced a plan for leaving, or designated a meeting spot. It was by sheer luck that he heard one of the boys yelling his name as he stood looking stupidly at Clora's empty house, wondering what he should do.
Robert and Milo came to help, and Wayne let them pull the cart. He was so worn out and on the verge of collapse, that Milo had Wayne put his arm around the youth's shoulder and he steadied his Uncle as they walked.
Wayne was delivered to the meeting place and Robert and Milo took off to find Ben. They found Ben in the throes of his last heart attack. There was no pulse or breath as they checked, Ben was in the house and he had torn the place apart, looking for something.
The boy's had to make an instant decision. The fire was two houses down, and the only vehicle there was the Sheriff's SUV. They loaded up the lifeless body and Robert drove to the parking lot.
Gesturing wildly to Ma, Robert drove off to the side of the bus and parked. Milo got out and opened the second door, showing Ma, Ben's crumpled up body.
"Oh my," Clora cried out. "Go get Twila," she told Milo.
They put Ben on the ground and Clora checked for pulse and breath. She started CPR, working feverishly until Twila came around the side of the bus and placed a hand on her shoulder to halt the frantic resuscitation.
"Clora," Twila said softly, "Ben's been very ill with heart problems, he expected this and so did I."
Clora straightened up and sat back on her heels, sorrowful tears gathered in her eyes. "Go get Wayne," she motioned to Milo, "we need to pray."
Wayne collapsed on the ground beside Ben and the three of them started to pray Ben into heaven. One by one the kids came around and pressed close to support Ma, Millie coming when she finished feeding Joe. Helga kept guard with her 'shoots gun' and that's where Mark and Karl found them, mourning one of the clan.
Texican
Live Free & Die Free.... God Freedom Country....
Too many are so unprepared that they will panic when an emergency arises and will not be able to save themselves, much less will they be able to take what they need to survive....
Even prepared families will have problems.... Prayers always help....
Thanks Pac for your insights into what can happen....
Texican....
Nature_Lover
Wait! What?
Thank you Pac. Ben is finally at peace. My eyes are wet.
What a wonderful story you have woven for us.
What a wonderful story you have woven for us.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Well dang here I am crying again.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#255c
Mark came and knelt down beside Clora , bowing his head and accepting the Lord's Will. Wayne took over praying when Clora stopped, lifting the brother to the heavens on prayers. When he finished, Mark added his words and then they left Twila alone with her husband; a time of personal sorrow and reflection.
"Clora," Mark stopped the group at the side of his pickup. "That's not Ben."
"I saw that," Clora spoke softly, as Wayne and Millie turned to look at Clora and Mark like they were crazy.
"I have to believe that's Pete." she mentioned, looking at Wayne and then Mark.
"I believe that's correct," Mark replied. "Did you see the cosmetic surgery scars in his hairline? He has been tucked to smooth out the wrinkles of an old man. As I look back, I have to assume Ben died when he was in FBI custody and they substituted Pete to keep track of us."
Clora was nodding. "I had so much trouble trying to reach Ben, he was always a blank, and then like magic, one day he was at the Applewood gate. He was so weak and confused, claimed he couldn't remember on account of the drugs he'd been given. I also have to believe Lainey found out." Clora couldn't continue, the ideas she was presenting to the group hurt deep.
Wayne had to sit on the open tailgate, pale as a ghost. "I knew he was so different, but we all excused it as his reactions to Lainey's death, the drugs, the heart problems, and on and on. I can't believe it." Millie stood close to Wayne and held his hand.
The clan talked out their anger, frustration and fathom deep sorrow, that they hadn't been there to pray the real Ben to heaven.
The fire burned the town.
It suited everyone's mood. The clan had allowed Twila to have personal time with 'Ben', and when they went back around the bus, she was gone. Vanished with no trace, no goodbye. Twila walked away with the clothes on her back and the checkbook that held the key for five million dollars. She smiled as she stuck Ben's wallet in her pocket, she had accidently seen what was in the faded old brown cowhide, the thick fold of money her ticket out of town. She didn't look back.
Twila wasn't aware that the man she married wasn't the real Ben, the man was the only Ben she knew.
Mark looked over the body, seeing the signs that were there to tell them now, that Ben was Pete. When he and Karl put the body in the back of Mark's pickup to take to a morturary, Karl said in a low voice, "betters bees taking the locators outs uff hees hand."
Mark startled, and reached for the dead man's hand. There in the back of the right hand was a 'rice grain'.
But, the left hand had a cyanide capsule. On his way to Ashville, Mark used his knife before he unloaded the body and removed the tell tale locators. He flipped the duo into a swamp pond and drove on into town. There was no way he wanted the locator to bring the masterminds to the family.
Wayne started ferrying rigs out to the Plantation ground, the tents set up and supper started heating. Tired people needed food and rest.
Mark came and knelt down beside Clora , bowing his head and accepting the Lord's Will. Wayne took over praying when Clora stopped, lifting the brother to the heavens on prayers. When he finished, Mark added his words and then they left Twila alone with her husband; a time of personal sorrow and reflection.
"Clora," Mark stopped the group at the side of his pickup. "That's not Ben."
"I saw that," Clora spoke softly, as Wayne and Millie turned to look at Clora and Mark like they were crazy.
"I have to believe that's Pete." she mentioned, looking at Wayne and then Mark.
"I believe that's correct," Mark replied. "Did you see the cosmetic surgery scars in his hairline? He has been tucked to smooth out the wrinkles of an old man. As I look back, I have to assume Ben died when he was in FBI custody and they substituted Pete to keep track of us."
Clora was nodding. "I had so much trouble trying to reach Ben, he was always a blank, and then like magic, one day he was at the Applewood gate. He was so weak and confused, claimed he couldn't remember on account of the drugs he'd been given. I also have to believe Lainey found out." Clora couldn't continue, the ideas she was presenting to the group hurt deep.
Wayne had to sit on the open tailgate, pale as a ghost. "I knew he was so different, but we all excused it as his reactions to Lainey's death, the drugs, the heart problems, and on and on. I can't believe it." Millie stood close to Wayne and held his hand.
The clan talked out their anger, frustration and fathom deep sorrow, that they hadn't been there to pray the real Ben to heaven.
The fire burned the town.
It suited everyone's mood. The clan had allowed Twila to have personal time with 'Ben', and when they went back around the bus, she was gone. Vanished with no trace, no goodbye. Twila walked away with the clothes on her back and the checkbook that held the key for five million dollars. She smiled as she stuck Ben's wallet in her pocket, she had accidently seen what was in the faded old brown cowhide, the thick fold of money her ticket out of town. She didn't look back.
Twila wasn't aware that the man she married wasn't the real Ben, the man was the only Ben she knew.
Mark looked over the body, seeing the signs that were there to tell them now, that Ben was Pete. When he and Karl put the body in the back of Mark's pickup to take to a morturary, Karl said in a low voice, "betters bees taking the locators outs uff hees hand."
Mark startled, and reached for the dead man's hand. There in the back of the right hand was a 'rice grain'.
But, the left hand had a cyanide capsule. On his way to Ashville, Mark used his knife before he unloaded the body and removed the tell tale locators. He flipped the duo into a swamp pond and drove on into town. There was no way he wanted the locator to bring the masterminds to the family.
Wayne started ferrying rigs out to the Plantation ground, the tents set up and supper started heating. Tired people needed food and rest.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Lunch break and a chapter thank you.
Lake Lili
Veteran Member
Didn't see that one coming Pac! Frankly, I think the Twila earned that money for putting up with "Ben"... may she make good use of it.
So was Charlie after Pete/Ben or after the whole clan? Did he survive?
Big question: did Karl & Helga know?
Can't wait to find out what is at the bottom of the next cliff...
Thanks Pac!!!
So was Charlie after Pete/Ben or after the whole clan? Did he survive?
Big question: did Karl & Helga know?
Can't wait to find out what is at the bottom of the next cliff...
Thanks Pac!!!
tired-medic
Contributing Member
Well , Well, I really didn't see that coming! Fine story! Thank you.
Texican
Live Free & Die Free.... God Freedom Country....
The Clan moves again and into tents on the Plantation....
The trials and tribulations continue....
Pete, the fake Ben, is now gone for good....
May Twila find some happiness with the money and hopefully with an understanding of God plans for her life....
Pac the weaving of your story is outstanding....
Texican....
The trials and tribulations continue....
Pete, the fake Ben, is now gone for good....
May Twila find some happiness with the money and hopefully with an understanding of God plans for her life....
Pac the weaving of your story is outstanding....
Texican....
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stjwelding
Veteran Member
Wow!!! Only you could come up with that, I think you surprised all of us with that one Pac. Thank you for sharing your time and your gift of story telling with us, love your story.
Wayne
Wayne
Old Gray Mare
TB Fanatic
PAC you do weave a good yarn. Thank you.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#256
The kids were bedded down and the adults were gathered around the cooking fire as it burned low. "I can't believe I didn't know," was the common theme and it went around the gathered circle several times.
"I feel really stupid," Wayne said gazing into the fire. He had Joe in the crook of his arm as Millie was making beds in the pickup cab.
"No more than I," Clora rejoined. "I've even wondered if Ben wasn't alive somewhere, held captive or something. When I think of him, I get nothing. It's all blank." Clora looked the saddest of them all, over the situation.
"It does answer a lot of questions, except the one; how many times has Pete been killed?" Mark had been up wandering around, checking with the dogs about security.
"I think this is number four," Clora reviewed events on her fingers. "Wayne at Grandma's, Mark at Applewood, now, and I'm sure I'm missing one. It's hard to recall tonight, maybe I'll think of it later."
"I did take a 'rice' transmitter out of his hand and the other one had a cyanide capsule like Kent had," Mark informed the clan. "I didn't want a 'trace' to here. I also didn't give his name, telling the officer in charge of the makeshift morgue, I didn't know who he was. That's not a lie," Mark held up his hand to stem the sounds of protest.
"The body we thought was Ben had been surgically altered, I am giving it my best guess that it was Pete, but that's not a one hundred percent for sure diagnosis. Not after the man has been killed so many times. I think it's rather ironic that he finally died of heart problems, they must have fixed the outside and ignored or forgot about his ticker problems."
Clora looked around the group. "I think a better problem to solve, is where will we go, and how will we live? We're back to square one. No homes, no jobs."
"We've always got the cave," Mark said facetiously, "but that's way down on my list of acceptable places, a last ditch stand."
Clora had an idea, "we have some land, perhaps tomorrow you gents might go explore, and see if there are any houses. We have the barn here and Wayne and Millie's place. In fact I can't believe that didn't pop into my mind the first thing. Wayne, what is your place like?"
"It's still standing," Wayne joked, "I think."
"It is a house," Clora said softly. "Gosh, I can't believe we forgot all about Lemmie, I haven't seen her for a couple of days, does anyone know what might have happened to her?"
No one knew for sure. Millie, when she got back to the group said with a calm smile, "I think Lemmie and Hank went to get married. They were going on a three day vacation/honeymoon over to the coast. Won't this be a rude shock."
"How wonderful," Clora warmly enthused. "They both deserve happiness."
The good news interlude was brief, as people sat glumly, trying to get up enough energy to go to bed. Later in their tent, Clora said to Mark as they zipped their sleeping bags; "I don't believe I've ever been so discouraged, I feel absolutely beat down."
Mark reached for her hand and they whispered the 23 Psalm together. Night noises were loud, the cow chewing her cud, Lady tethered off to the side of the stock trailer, Blossom tethered and laying down, the dogs and the pop and crackle of the fire.
Clora was so tired she closed one eye and was asleep before the other one shut. Mark couldn't sleep. Like Clora, he felt empty of the spark and enthusiasm it was going to take to rebuild their lives once again. So many complications, Mark lay in the darkness and wondered what was to become of the clan.
Early the next morning, Wayne and Mark got in the Sheriff's SUV and went to see what Wayne's house was like. It had been torched.
Driving into town, they found a few clumps of people here and there, all with the same vacant and defeated stare the men were feeling. The brick shell of the high school and a few other stone and brick walls were standing, but the rest of town had burned as clean as Evergreen.
Wayne commented on the fact, that they were the survivors of two totally destructive fires. There was no humor, only stark fact and it didn't make them feel any better. They drove over by the hardware, and lumps of metal that had been the lumber stand uprights were the only recognizable items. The rest of it had burned so hot and clean, there was nothing left.
The backhoe that had started the conflagration was a jumble of twisted supports, and the path of the fire had burned every house that hadn't been destroyed by the tornado. The Sheriff's office was a wall or two of crumbly masonry blocks and floating ash.
The fire was burning out of control toward the North West, a huge black swath of smoldering hot spots where the fire had devoured everything in it's path. The entire landscape was grey ash and black stumps full of despair.
While they were sitting there examining the destruction, two State Police cruisers pulled up and they got out to have a conference. The two State men looked fairly clean to Wayne and Mark's, dirt and ash streaked appearance.
"The Guard is being mobilized, they should be here in a couple of hours." The older of the two men related.
"For what?" Wayne gestured around, "there's nothing here to guard or loot." he said humorlessly. "I'm glad you're here. The Sheriff died from a heart attack yesterday and I'm an untrained deputy, this is my brother in law and he is not deputized. I am turning my badge and vehicle into you gentlemen, I can't handle this."
Wayne unpinned his badge and passed it to the younger man. "I was the mayor and Mark here, ran the hardware. I count eleven people besides our families that are still alive. We have to go find food, water and a place to stay for our people. Thank you guys for coming out." Wayne and Mark got out of the SUV and walked away, back toward Plantation house.
The two men simply didn't have the strength or ability to help anyone but their own clan.
The kids were bedded down and the adults were gathered around the cooking fire as it burned low. "I can't believe I didn't know," was the common theme and it went around the gathered circle several times.
"I feel really stupid," Wayne said gazing into the fire. He had Joe in the crook of his arm as Millie was making beds in the pickup cab.
"No more than I," Clora rejoined. "I've even wondered if Ben wasn't alive somewhere, held captive or something. When I think of him, I get nothing. It's all blank." Clora looked the saddest of them all, over the situation.
"It does answer a lot of questions, except the one; how many times has Pete been killed?" Mark had been up wandering around, checking with the dogs about security.
"I think this is number four," Clora reviewed events on her fingers. "Wayne at Grandma's, Mark at Applewood, now, and I'm sure I'm missing one. It's hard to recall tonight, maybe I'll think of it later."
"I did take a 'rice' transmitter out of his hand and the other one had a cyanide capsule like Kent had," Mark informed the clan. "I didn't want a 'trace' to here. I also didn't give his name, telling the officer in charge of the makeshift morgue, I didn't know who he was. That's not a lie," Mark held up his hand to stem the sounds of protest.
"The body we thought was Ben had been surgically altered, I am giving it my best guess that it was Pete, but that's not a one hundred percent for sure diagnosis. Not after the man has been killed so many times. I think it's rather ironic that he finally died of heart problems, they must have fixed the outside and ignored or forgot about his ticker problems."
Clora looked around the group. "I think a better problem to solve, is where will we go, and how will we live? We're back to square one. No homes, no jobs."
"We've always got the cave," Mark said facetiously, "but that's way down on my list of acceptable places, a last ditch stand."
Clora had an idea, "we have some land, perhaps tomorrow you gents might go explore, and see if there are any houses. We have the barn here and Wayne and Millie's place. In fact I can't believe that didn't pop into my mind the first thing. Wayne, what is your place like?"
"It's still standing," Wayne joked, "I think."
"It is a house," Clora said softly. "Gosh, I can't believe we forgot all about Lemmie, I haven't seen her for a couple of days, does anyone know what might have happened to her?"
No one knew for sure. Millie, when she got back to the group said with a calm smile, "I think Lemmie and Hank went to get married. They were going on a three day vacation/honeymoon over to the coast. Won't this be a rude shock."
"How wonderful," Clora warmly enthused. "They both deserve happiness."
The good news interlude was brief, as people sat glumly, trying to get up enough energy to go to bed. Later in their tent, Clora said to Mark as they zipped their sleeping bags; "I don't believe I've ever been so discouraged, I feel absolutely beat down."
Mark reached for her hand and they whispered the 23 Psalm together. Night noises were loud, the cow chewing her cud, Lady tethered off to the side of the stock trailer, Blossom tethered and laying down, the dogs and the pop and crackle of the fire.
Clora was so tired she closed one eye and was asleep before the other one shut. Mark couldn't sleep. Like Clora, he felt empty of the spark and enthusiasm it was going to take to rebuild their lives once again. So many complications, Mark lay in the darkness and wondered what was to become of the clan.
Early the next morning, Wayne and Mark got in the Sheriff's SUV and went to see what Wayne's house was like. It had been torched.
Driving into town, they found a few clumps of people here and there, all with the same vacant and defeated stare the men were feeling. The brick shell of the high school and a few other stone and brick walls were standing, but the rest of town had burned as clean as Evergreen.
Wayne commented on the fact, that they were the survivors of two totally destructive fires. There was no humor, only stark fact and it didn't make them feel any better. They drove over by the hardware, and lumps of metal that had been the lumber stand uprights were the only recognizable items. The rest of it had burned so hot and clean, there was nothing left.
The backhoe that had started the conflagration was a jumble of twisted supports, and the path of the fire had burned every house that hadn't been destroyed by the tornado. The Sheriff's office was a wall or two of crumbly masonry blocks and floating ash.
The fire was burning out of control toward the North West, a huge black swath of smoldering hot spots where the fire had devoured everything in it's path. The entire landscape was grey ash and black stumps full of despair.
While they were sitting there examining the destruction, two State Police cruisers pulled up and they got out to have a conference. The two State men looked fairly clean to Wayne and Mark's, dirt and ash streaked appearance.
"The Guard is being mobilized, they should be here in a couple of hours." The older of the two men related.
"For what?" Wayne gestured around, "there's nothing here to guard or loot." he said humorlessly. "I'm glad you're here. The Sheriff died from a heart attack yesterday and I'm an untrained deputy, this is my brother in law and he is not deputized. I am turning my badge and vehicle into you gentlemen, I can't handle this."
Wayne unpinned his badge and passed it to the younger man. "I was the mayor and Mark here, ran the hardware. I count eleven people besides our families that are still alive. We have to go find food, water and a place to stay for our people. Thank you guys for coming out." Wayne and Mark got out of the SUV and walked away, back toward Plantation house.
The two men simply didn't have the strength or ability to help anyone but their own clan.
RememberGoliad
Veteran Member
Thank you PAC!
Last edited:
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Thank you Pac.
Texican
Live Free & Die Free.... God Freedom Country....
Disaster after disaster for the Clan....
There are times all you can do and should do is to help your own....
What happens now????
Did the real Pete die????
Only Pac knows....
This roller coaster is still riding the peaks and the valleys....
Oooohhhh Pac what a tale you weave....
God bless you and yours....
Texican....
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#257
Mark indicated he wanted to walk past his place on the walk out of town. The huge trees that had guarded and shaded the house were empty skeletons with smoking arms that reached for the sky. The gritty ash coated the ground inches thick and timbers still burned where they had collapsed into the basement.
It was spooky silent with monochrome gray color everywhere. The men kept on walking, without stopping to take stock of the burned house, barn and sheds.
Mark and Wayne walked back to the camp and sat down around the fire. The bleak hopelessness they felt, was mirrored in Clora and Millie's faces. None of them had enough energy to even feel apathetic.
Adults that had reached deep for the grit to regroup and rebuild after so many other trials and tribulations, were empty. They were used up; with hopelessness the only emotion.
The kids were playing in the driveway, quiet and slow as the twelve youngsters acted as shell shocked as their parents. Helga and Karl sat off to the side of the group of adults with defeated expressions and droopy shoulders. Helga had made pancakes for breakfast, so there had been glasses of warm milk from the mornings milking and plain hot cakes to eat.
Clora had her husband, her children, her Bible and Grandma's skillet; the clothes on her back and her faith.
She had prayed every moment she was awake, and there was no peace in her heart and no strength in her body.
"If we don't do something, anything," she said aloud, "then Pete will have won. He will have defeated us without firing a shot."
Heads nodded in agreement, but no one moved to take up the challenge.
Helga got up to pass around the coffee pot, and silent adults held out their cups. The effort to talk was formable and energy wasting.
Baby Joe huddled close to Millie in her shawl and made no noise. The triplets were in the center of the ring of Linderman kids, and they sat quietly, feeling the terrible burden of indifference projected by their parents.
"I'd cry," Millie finally said, "but I don't think I care enough. I have never felt so tired."
Once again the nodding heads agreed, but that's all that happened.
Mark had thought about getting in his pickup and scouting his property for liveable houses, but Helga had all the cooking equipment scattered on the open tailgate, and it seemed too great an effort to pick up the items and move them.
It was Milo that had a flash of inspiration. Walking over to Mark, he hunkered down and said, "Dad, what about that old hotel down by the lake? It used to be part of a swimming area. According to the map you had by the desk, it's part of our place."
Milo's idea, plus the sounds of an approaching thunderstorm, prompted Mark and Wayne to get up and move.
It was miserable enough, the situation they were in; being wet would be the final straw. They went to see.
Mark indicated he wanted to walk past his place on the walk out of town. The huge trees that had guarded and shaded the house were empty skeletons with smoking arms that reached for the sky. The gritty ash coated the ground inches thick and timbers still burned where they had collapsed into the basement.
It was spooky silent with monochrome gray color everywhere. The men kept on walking, without stopping to take stock of the burned house, barn and sheds.
Mark and Wayne walked back to the camp and sat down around the fire. The bleak hopelessness they felt, was mirrored in Clora and Millie's faces. None of them had enough energy to even feel apathetic.
Adults that had reached deep for the grit to regroup and rebuild after so many other trials and tribulations, were empty. They were used up; with hopelessness the only emotion.
The kids were playing in the driveway, quiet and slow as the twelve youngsters acted as shell shocked as their parents. Helga and Karl sat off to the side of the group of adults with defeated expressions and droopy shoulders. Helga had made pancakes for breakfast, so there had been glasses of warm milk from the mornings milking and plain hot cakes to eat.
Clora had her husband, her children, her Bible and Grandma's skillet; the clothes on her back and her faith.
She had prayed every moment she was awake, and there was no peace in her heart and no strength in her body.
"If we don't do something, anything," she said aloud, "then Pete will have won. He will have defeated us without firing a shot."
Heads nodded in agreement, but no one moved to take up the challenge.
Helga got up to pass around the coffee pot, and silent adults held out their cups. The effort to talk was formable and energy wasting.
Baby Joe huddled close to Millie in her shawl and made no noise. The triplets were in the center of the ring of Linderman kids, and they sat quietly, feeling the terrible burden of indifference projected by their parents.
"I'd cry," Millie finally said, "but I don't think I care enough. I have never felt so tired."
Once again the nodding heads agreed, but that's all that happened.
Mark had thought about getting in his pickup and scouting his property for liveable houses, but Helga had all the cooking equipment scattered on the open tailgate, and it seemed too great an effort to pick up the items and move them.
It was Milo that had a flash of inspiration. Walking over to Mark, he hunkered down and said, "Dad, what about that old hotel down by the lake? It used to be part of a swimming area. According to the map you had by the desk, it's part of our place."
Milo's idea, plus the sounds of an approaching thunderstorm, prompted Mark and Wayne to get up and move.
It was miserable enough, the situation they were in; being wet would be the final straw. They went to see.
stjwelding
Veteran Member
Wow great chapters, thank you Pac, fantastic story.
Wayne
Wayne
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Wonderful thank you Pac. Now where is that Charles and I bet he is the one that torched Wayne's house. 
Texican
Live Free & Die Free.... God Freedom Country....
An old hotel....
A room for everyone????
Maybe the weather will not be a problem....
Pac, you continue to shake the tree and make the leaves fall....
Texican....