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#1
Mark drove with gritted teeth. The three newest Linderman's were perturbed and wanted to loudly express their displeasure. Clora was frantically trying to soothe her cranky children by reaching in their secure car seats and patting and rubbing their chests.
It was a really good theory, that wasn't working.
The four weeks that Clora spent in the hospital, was suddenly feeling like it wasn't long enough.
Oh... Wow!
Thank You Pac... You have surprised me by continuing the Saga!
... but, Please! don't strain yourself just to satisfy your loyal readers....
We need you to stay healthy and for you to be able to give Mr Pac the support he needs.
Blessings to you both.
Thanks for the start of new story.
Please take care of yourself and Mr. P.
Prayers and Much Love continuing for both of U.
Nice teaser! I love the title. Take care of yourself.
Big big thank you
Dosadi
A thank you from me also :).
Thank you so much for continuing the story!
Thanks so very very much for continuing this wonderful story!!
Thank you for continuing this wonderful story. I love the tittle!
Please take care of yourself. Glad you are able to be near Mr. Pac!
#2
By the time the specially designed van made it to the valley, Clora was so upset with her inability to calm her screaming babies that when Helga jerked open the van door to "velcome" her princess, the 'princess' burst into emotional tears.
"Ve opens the doors ud lets all that noises outs," Helga comforted, "the bebe's, they needs to gets out ud smell their news homes."
While Mark supported Clora; Karl, Helga and the new baby nurse Gail, each gathered up an armful of squalling infant and slowly walked into the shelter of home. Each of the older Linderman kids had to take a turn 'assisting' Ma up the ramp built especially for her, as Clora was forbidden to climb stairs for several more weeks.
All they did was exchange one container of noise for another. Only when diapers were changed and little mouth's busy eating, was there blessed quiet.
Then the older kids took over, bragging on how they had worked with Dad and Karl to figure out how to carpenter the trailers together and build the ramp.
Helga made coffee and tea, all the while keeping a sharp eye on nurse Gail, not wanting to believe the woman was competent enough to be handling Clora's babies, or as a matter of fact, Helga's defacto grandchildren.
Clora looked around, and when she saw the magnificent Majestic wood cook stove with Grandma Evie's skillet in the place of honor, she got all misty eyed again. "Oh, I was so hoping the skillet hadn't been lost, it's silly that it mean's so much to me but I can't help it. Thank you all for the trouble and effort it took to get them both here."
Mark smiled smugly, nodded at the children to keep quiet, and insisted Clora go in and rest.
"Dad, aren't you gonna tell Ma what it took to get the cook stove in here?" Milo asked when Mark came out of the bedroom and closed the door.
"No, and none of you are going to breathe a word about it either," Mark informed the giggling children. "Ma would feel bad that it took so much time and effort, but she really loves those two things, so we are going to do whatever it takes to keep her happy, understood?"
Four heads bobbed up and down, they would do anything to keep sweet Ma smiling with joy.
The effort to move the cook stove had been a monumental project. To begin with, it wasn't the same stove. Mark had moved heaven and earth to find a replacement stove, when the 'new' Majestic had been irreparably damaged by the fire that burned the Applewood farm house. Then they measured and built a concrete base to hold the wood burning behemoth, and fitted two empty trailers together around the pier of concrete.
It was a jig saw puzzle of gigantic proportions and it was done with love and gritty determination. Every one helped, and it was so satisfying to see the joy on Ma's face when she discovered her treasures had made it to the valley.
All that you are going through and you are still giving us this wonderful story. Heartfelt thanks to you Pac and prayers you will have the strength and courage to do the things you need to do.
Wonderful!
God be with you Pac, take care.
Was having trouble sleeping and got up and just looked and boom MOAR.
Thank you.
The effort for the stove and skillet. Awesome love expressed like a real man would. Moving mountains to do something for his wife. To me it is those seemingly little things that are done and then not "bragged" on but just enjoyed quietly that are the deep signs of a family that loves each other.
Dosadi.
Thank you for more of your fantastic story Pac you bless all with it. May God always hold you and yours close and give you all that you need.
Wayne
I will add my thanks for the continuing story. You are a treasure to all of us!
Thank you Pac. :)
Thank you Pac.
S
ully
#3
Hardy Clora wasn't as tough as she thought. The ride home and the effort for the whole family took a lot of her energy. It wasn't long before the word spread that the babies were home from the hospital.
First it was the Edwards clan coming to have a look-see at the three alike babies. Then it was Toby, Meg and their crew that showed up; Meg looking hugely pregnant and smiling happily. "We have only one," she announced with a relieved grin, "the tech's tell me it is a boy, and old Dad here," and she jerked her thumb in Toby's direction, "is acting like he's the first man to ever sire a son."
Toby was laughing, but he and Mark shared a look that was pure male satisfaction. Let the women tease them all they wanted, they had a son or sons to carry on the family name and it was their duty to be proud.
Warren was the next visitor, but his attention wasn't solely on the triplets. Mark's Dad had a twinkle in his eye each time he looked at Gail and he cooed at the babies and asked to hold the girl. Warren had already had his moment of superior happiness when he discovered Mark, and it was easy to see his son and grandson felt the same way.
"Ok, tell me their names again," he teased Tessee, just to hear the young girl rattle of his grandson's name of John Warren, Luke Marcus and then sweet Elizabeth Grace.
"Grandpa, you ask me that every hour," Tess admonished, and then laughed at the face Warren made at her.
The Edwards men asked to have a private talk with Mark, and they went outside, much to everyone's relief. The Edward's women stayed a few minutes longer, and then had to get back home with their assorted children.
It was a stalemate between the Edward's and Linderman kids; the loosing end of the stick falling on the Linderman's until Tess had enough and beat the snot out of the two oldest Edward's girls, the two that felt they were the toughest.
Tess came to the house after the fight, with torn clothes, two black eyes, a split lip and a huge bruise on her cheek. She was grinning wildly and didn't cry a tear. Helga looked at the supposed dainty little miss and shook her head. Karl patted her back and Mark merely said, "did you win?"
"You'd better believe it," Tess replied with difficultly around her hurting lip, "I'm going after the boys the next time."
Milo shook his head, "Dad, she was a real tiger and even threatened to whip me when I tried to come to her rescue."
Mark looked up from the electrical connection he was putting together and shrugged, "I guess then, just stay out of her way."
For the rest of the week, Benny walked a big circle around Tess, not wanting to get too close. The victor and the foes had not been together until that afternoon, and the Edward's girls were doing their best to be likable during their visit.
Outside, the Edwards men were trying to impress on Mark that they were just having a case of the 'jump-up's and go' as they had spent all winter and spring in the confines of the trailers and the call of the wild was sounding loud and clear.
"We'uns is goings to the old home place," Emory explained. "The wommens they be fetchen along in a week or so, and we'uns got a powerful itch to be in the mountains. And" he clarified earnestly, "it aint like we don't appreciate your hospitality's, but we gots to be goins wild for a while. We'uns e'll be back beforen winters."
Mark wasn't sure if he was happy or sad, and then decided happy when he got a whiff of downwind aroma. "What about your animals?" he questioned.
"We'uns be taken the mules, and were sure wondering iffen you wanted the old milch cow?" Elmer was nodding his head.
"Well, I suppose so," Mark agreed reluctantly, "what's your family going to go for milk?"
"Oh, them kids kin drink coffee fors a while," Emory shrugged like it was no big deal, "Us'ens be camping for the summer, no place to tend to the milk," he finished with a contented nod, "we be thanken you for givin us'ens the time off. You want a deer when we come back?"
"Umm, yeah, I guess so," Mark decided right then and there not to tell Clora or Helga what might be coming their way in the fall, that was news better left for the moment it happened.
Both brothers walked down the drive way toward their trailers, looking like tweedle dum and tweedle dee in their blue bib overalls and slouchy hats. Only the rifles over their shoulders bespoke of any difference.
Mark hooked his thumbs in his back pockets and stood watching them go out of sight.
"The're kinda the last of the real mountain men, aren't they?" Toby came down the ramp where he and Warren had been listening to the conversation.
"Very unique people," Mark agreed, "you know they are not really Wayne's uncles, but they all claim each other, so we let the connection be. It gives Wayne people to have as relatives, and that's good for him to have."
"I can't see Jenny being real friendly to the bunch," Toby observed quietly, "it seems like she tries real hard to be the odd man out whenever we get together, her social skills are almost non existent, and it puzzles me how she can help run a grocery where you have to interact and be nice to customers."
"One of those mysteries of the universe," Mark said wryly, "I'm sure I don't have an explanation."
"Me, neither," Warren chimed in.
"Dad? Are you still under house arrest? What's going to happen to that?" Toby was curious.
Mark was about to answer when another car started up the drive way, Wayne had come to visit with Jenny.
Thank you, had to check after we got things unpacked form going to town :).
Thank you!!!
Thanks, Pac!!!! Its great to see the new story.
WAB
Thanks Pac for continuing the saga....
Thanks Pac, great as always.
Thank you.
Been having to mess around with a ton of paper work. Almost done, and it was so very nice to get another break and to read something I enjoy so much.
Dosadi
Pac thanks for the new chapter, praying all is will with you and Mr. Pac
Wayne
Thanks Pac! Its wonderful to have you back. Hope you are settled in and located the coffee pot.
#4
Correction, Mark thought; Wayne, Jenny and Ben had come to visit. Curbing his impulse to make a frustrated face, Mark greeted Clora's brothers cordially, welcoming them to the valley.
Both men got out of the pickup and took a deep breath of clean, fresh air. "This air smells sweeter than any other I've ever smelled," Ben observed. "It smells so much like Evergreen, that's what makes it feel like home. I still don't like the hemmed in feeling I get here, but it's a good place for you and Clora. Now take us to those babies," he ordered with a smile, and Wayne seconded the notion.
Jenny got out quietly and didn't say anything beyond a muted "hello" but she followed them up the ramp and into the trailer complex.
"Oh, this is much different inside, than it appears from the outside," she said in surprise. "It's so roomy and open, and you have the wood stove also, how nice." then she lapsed into silence once again.
Gail came out of the baby's room with Lizzy, intending to get the bottle she had set to warm.
Ben perked up instantly, "Hello," he announced, "I've seen you in the store, I didn't realize this was the work you did. I'm Ben Hanson by the way, Clora is our sister."
Gail greeted them all professionally, allowing the newcomers to have a quick peek at the tiny girl that was about ready to announce she wanted her food, NOW.
"Excuse me for rushing you through the inspection," Gail re-wrapped the squirming child, "but if she starts crying, they all will cry, and trust me that's a song you can do without."
Everyone chuckled, and let her sit and start feeding the puckered up Liz before the baby could let loose with her vocal demands.
Clora had finished feeding the other two, and she came to the bedroom door and asked for Mark's help in bringing out which ever child she wasn't carrying. Because the two boys were so much alike, John had his name written on the top of his foot with indelible marker.
However, Clora and Mark had to unwrap one of them to know which one they were holding.
"Wow Sis, those boys are so identical they must be mirror twins," Wayne stared hard at the two bundles of joy that were sleeping with tightly closed eyes. "Their kinda little and scrawny," he observed, "they sure don't look like Tess did when she was born."
"Tess weighed almost 8 pounds as a single, I'm not built for 24 pounds of baby plus every thing else," Clora tartly shot back, and then she smiled, "would you like to hold John?" she asked Wayne.
"Of course, but how do you know this one is John?"
"I looked before I came out here," Clora said with laughter in her voice. "That's the only way I can be sure."
It was a wonderful afternoon with the clan gathered in praise of the new baby's and happy with the way Mark was beginning the new homestead.
The men went down to the Edwards corral and tried to lead the old non descript milk cow back up to her new home. Skinny, with hip bones that stuck up and out like the Washington monument, the cow was in dire need of TLC and grain.
Helga cooked a huge pot of oatmeal for the cow, after Karl came in and whispered something in her ear. "The cow," Helga issued when he had gone back outside, "iss nots in goods shapes, she needs her teeth vorked on, and Karls, he tinks she needs some medicines. No good for milks for muches veeks."
With Mark's blessing, Karl headed for town in his small pickup with money and a map of where to find a vet clinic.
Helga used a good many of their shriveled vegetables to start a soup for lunch; knowing that as long as she had a bushel basket of biscuits, the men would eat anything.
Mid morning coffee break had run the kitchen out of cookies, so she mixed up a couple pans of brownies and had them cooling for lunch dessert. The brownies came out of the oven and the biscuits went in, Helga hollering for more wood or there wouldn't be any food to eat.
All the men promptly brought in an armful each, and every child big enough to clutch a piece of kindling did their part. Meg, Adoree, Mandy, Claire, Tess and Jenny got the table ready, all the while Clora was beaming with happiness from her chair. This was a magnificent way to introduce the triplets to the family, and it had been so long since they all had been together.
Clora asked to say the blessing, and her praise for the people she loved, the God she loved and the many blessings that had been heaped on the family was very moving to the assembled group.
Ben produced a camera at the end of the meal and picture after picture was snapped, recording for posterity the magnificent clan of Hanson-Lindermans.
The fine Spring day was waining into the late afternoon when Milo came tearing into the house, "Hey everybody, the fish are running, help me!"
You know I had forgotten about the fish running :), very nice Pac thank you. Hope you are gettin settled in alright.
Thank you PAC
We don't get runs of fish in Alabama, but it is possible to catch what we want pretty much any time of year.
Now I"m thinking I'll dig out my new fancy fake tenkaru rig. (I got one of those telescoping fiberglass poles for crappie from wally world that is 16 feet long, tie some braided line or fly rod line to it about the same length and then toss it out with a bit of leader and a hook or fly over the fish and catch em. Kinda high tech cane polin'. LOL)
I'm glad you are writing again.
I'm still keeping you and yours in my prayers and hoping for Gods answer to be soon and his love and wisdom to manifest in good things.)
Thanks again and truly glad to see this story continue. I kinda think it is part of God helping you. And of course blessing us with more of your art.
Dosadi
Thanks Pac I hope life has at least started to settle down a little.
Wayne
A sincere thank you for more of your story! I hope and pray that you are blessed as you bless us with your story and life. Remember to take care of yourself, we all think you are more important than this story.
Time to start smoking and drying fish for winter...Always something. Thanks Pac!
#5
Kids had their boots off in a flash and were standing in the freezing cold water using their hands to scoop up the Silvers and throw them high on the bank. The adults stood watching in amazement at the fish run worked it's way up the small stream, the wriggling, writhing mass of fish moving upstream with frenzied intensity.
"I've never seen the likes of it," Mark spoke as he brought a tarp to contain the fish. "It's like a cobblestone street, so solid with fish you could practically walk across them."
The older boys were shouting and laughing as the fish bumped into their legs, and Milo reached down and clamped his hand around the tail of one of the largest fish they had ever seen.
"Let him go," Toby urged, "we need lunkers that size to carry on the run."
For fun, Milo tried to lift the salmon that was obviously in the 30 to 40 pound range and failed; the fish twisting and turning with more force than his chilled fingers could hold.
Fish continued to be heaved up on the bank until the on coming darkness stopped the harvest. They had three tarps worth of beautiful salmon, and now the fun was over.
Although Jenny was ready to go home, and perturbed and frustrated at the delay, Wayne and Ben joined Toby, Mark and Warren as they created a fish cleaning line that worked for a solid hour and a half to gut and fillet the fish. Karl got home in time to announce that a bad rain storm was working it's way up the coast and would be arriving soon.
Every one worked hard to share in the bounty, and they could hear the water in the stream churning with more fish. It was a seldom seen phenomenon, the fishing restored to historic levels by the inability of man to put boats out in the ocean to harvest.
It was late at night before the last pan of fish guts was taken outside to be spread on the garden spot the next day. Helga was almost beside herself with happiness, "ve haff fishes guts to raise the corns," she said over and over, "so muches fine."
Jenny, as she was packing their fish in a cardboard, garbage sack lined box sprinkling salt in between the layers, was busy thinking phooey, my hands stink. Wisely, she had learned to keep her thoughts and opinions to herself; as it caused much less friction between Herself and the rest of this unusual, nutty family.
When the work was over, everyone went to the sink for a splash of bottled lemon juice on their hands, it removed most of the strong fish smell, but stung like the dickens where the sharp spines of the salmon fins had scraped.
Toby and Meg bundled up their sleepy kids in the van and headed home with a blessing of fish; as did Wayne, Jenny and Ben.
Deep in the darkness of the stormy night, a large furry animal raised his head and smelled the odoriferous fish guts scent that wafted by on the breeze. Hungry, he went to investigate the source and fill his belly.
So much for garden fertilizer.
At least they may get their garden tilled for free!
Thats the first thing I thought of, that they may get a bear avisiting with all those fish guts. Thank you Pac.
Large furry animal.... Elmer or Emory? Or the ghost of Ev? :D
Thanks for continuing the story...the shakes and sweats are gone!
First salmon, then bear. Do they have enough canning jars left to restock a good pantry? :)
Oh yes, and a deer promised for the fall. Nice variety!
ah, the adventures are continuing! I figured we would have a longer wait! so thank you so much. I sure hope you are getting settled and Mr. Pac is doing better.
much love and prayers sent.
Thank you for the new chapters Pac.
Sully
AH, and now bear fat and a nice bear skin rug. Someone else can eat the bear meat unless I"m really hungry, but the fat is really good for putting on my flint locks.
In a pinch I'll eat bear, but it tastes like horse and I don't like that much either.
3 babies and a bear skin in front of the fire for em to lay on should help through the winter.
Then again in bear country I"m always up armed to deal with it. Hoping Mark gets to it first.
**
OH OH, maybe it's a big foot LOL
D.
Thank you PAC
Lol! bigfoot! that would be a hoot. Chances are Tessee would make friends with it.
I'm hoping for a bear too, for the bearskin rug for the littles.
Thanks so much Pac!!
Thanks for the chapter Pac
Wayne
#6
The animal ate it's fill, eyes nervously darting around in the darkness. Now that he had filled his belly, he was tired and needed to sleep.
The best place to curl up and snooze was on the porch, and that's where he went to sleep.
The next early morning, Clora feeding Luke, Helga pouring coffee and Karl who was going after more fire wood and had his hand on the doorknob; got the fright of their lives when the huge black apparition got stiffly up to look in the window at the inside commotion.
In the early morning darkness,The only thing white that could be seen were the sharp meat tearing eye teeth that were dangerously close to the inadequate window glass.
Helga threw her hands up, launching the mugs she had in her hand toward Karl, who indistinctly twisted open the doorknob to get way from the flying missiles. The door swung open, hitting the dark furry animal and eliciting a growl of fierce proportions when the now flimsy and woefully inadequate door whapped the hindquarters.
There was a very loud snarl, an even louder scream of fright from Helga who launched her self like a tennis ball throwing stick at Clora, intending to position herself between the terrifying danger and the 'princess' with her new bebe.
Clora got halfway up from her chair, shielding tiny baby Luke from the train wreck that was happening in not so slow motion. Clora and Helga got their legs tangled in the chair legs and went down to the floor. When the large black furry animal shouldered in past Karl; knocking the portly old gent into the writhing floor mat of women, he drooled on Helga, causing her to faint with terror.
The last words shrieked out of Helga's mouth were; "the volves have comes to kill us," and she collapsed in a dead weight on Karl, who had the air squeezed out of him and couldn't talk.
Clora raised her head and was eyeball to sharp white teeth with vomit inducing fish breath. Luke was screaming at the upset and it was then that Clora realized it was no wolf, bear or ravenous wild animal. It was another Inky.
Wow Inky I had forgotten all about him till you mentioned his name, Hopefully he will become as good a guard dog as his predecessor. Thanks for the chapter Pac.
Wayne
Looks like INky got around some, but I hope its another friendly dog and a guard dog.
Spirit of Inky returns.
Nice
I forgot about them getting the dogs. (scum suckin' dog murders)
Glad another one came home. Ya had me fooled.
Thank you
Dosadi
Spirit of Ev.... I was close.... wrong spirit!
Thanks, PAC!
INKY!!!!!!! YAY!!!! Much better than a bear! (although I'd still love the littles to have a rug)
hmmm.... just realized that "Inky" shows up when needed most. Good thing the original Inky was such a "stud" so there would be plenty of 'Inky's' when needed.
I thank ya! MUchOs!
Yay, to another Inky! Helga better be careful, or she'll end up squashing her "princess."!!!!
Mrs. Pac, Thank you for continuing this story. My prayers are for you and Mr. Pac.