Tumbleweeds

[chuck j]

Wade Captain Jack and Sam went back to the shade of the trees . Wade said ...Alright ! So what the heck am I suppose to do now in this new job ! Captain Jack said ...You will be given generalized law material , you only have to make field decisions ...not judicial or legal calls . Wade it will not be hard , you are smart and have common sense ! This job is easy , you dictate action and your good at that . Sam and I will give you a quick coarse on being a Captain till you leave in the morning ! Wade said ...Ahh heck yea ! Ya'll are going to teach me everything you know from fifty years of combined experience in one evening ? Oh Lord ! What have I got into .


Sam and Jack were laughing and Sam said ...You will do well !

[chuck j]

The sun was low . Wade , Sam and Captain Jack bathed to make ready for bed . They had a sandwich brought back from Granny's for supper . They sat on the beds in their underwear talking . Steve and John finished a hand of cards at the table .


Wade said to Sam and Captain Jack ...We part in the morning . I hurt knowing I leave you . Will you pray with me ? Sam and Captain Jack held out their hands and Wade took them saying ...GOD help us get home . Be close to those we love . Protect us and guide our path GOD . Help us seek you in Spirit for guidance . Give us strength in knowing we will see one another again . Thank you for bringing us together on the same path for a while . Thank you for all you have done in our lives and giving us to each other . Thank you GOD . Amen .


Sam said ...we eat at Granny's in the morning !

[chuck j]

Supper was good . The fresh meat was gone . She would sleep in her clothes again and pass time with whoever tended the racks . She thought of Wade . She laid awake a while wondering how he would accept her new feeling toward him . She said …

Lord ! Bring Wade home safe . Hold him in your hand Lord . Don't let me have found him to have him taken away . Help me , help us do what you would have us do Lord . Thank you for Wade . Amen

[chuck j]

Wade was loaded up , Sam and Captain Jack had gotten Zeke's pack horses ready they used to transport all the Comanche guns , knifes and ammunition to headquarters . They rode to Granny's and had breakfast , Wade ordered a sandwich for the trip to Eliasville .

Wade carried back with him from headquarters ten repeating rifles which included three 1873 Winchesters and a whole pack of ammunition and ten Colt Armies . He was to provide guns and ammunition as he deemed fit to the Rangers . Being a field officer allowed him to make almost any call to a need . The ranch was to bill the Ranger headquarters for food or anything provided to the Rangers using the ranch supplies .Wade had to keep daily records and dispatch couriers which was good in that they could send letters through to post on a regular basis .

Sam , Wade and the Captain saw the ranch as a Ranger command post a positive thing for everyone ! Wade wondered what she would think about all this . It would create more work for her in many ways cooking , laundry , cleaning and just generally tending extra people . Wade was given privilege to use Rangers in the field to work on building , maintaining anything connected to Ranger business and upkeep of the men .


Granny came by the table with a bowl of fried potatoes passing out extra helpings and she said ...Saw you leading those pack horses coming in ...you leaving ? Wade said ...Yes ma'am ! I go back home on the Salt Fork of the Brazos ! She said ...You talk to that woman soon ! You hear me ! I spect to meet her next time you come here ! Wade laid his hand on her shoulder and said ...Thank you Granny , you will love her ! Granny said ...Dang fool men , ain't got the sense GOD gave a goose ! She kissed him on the head and said ...Don't get yourself killed goin north ! She walked away mumbling about men ! Captain Jack and Sam laughed hard .


Wade , Sam and Captain Jack stood outside Granny's at the horses . They said their goodbyes and shook hands promising to stay in contact . It was a hard sad time for each one . Sam said ...We take home what we found at the ranch to our families Wade , thank you and thank everyone at the ranch for us ! They parted .


Wade had two short stops going down the main street to make . He tied up at a large grocery and went in buying a huge bag of mixed hard candy . Next he tied up at a small church he had seen coming into town . It had a hand painted sign out front that said ...Graham Methodist Church . There was a horse tied up in front at the rail and went in . He found the pastor cleaning the floors inside . He talked to him asking if he would marry them if she would consent to his proposal . Wade explained he was a Baptist preacher . The young pastor agreed quickly but would require a talk with them in advance . Wade said ...Of coarse , I go to Eliasville now to marry a couple tomorrow and require a consultation with them also . They shook hands and prayed for her acceptance and Wade a safe trip .


Wade mounted up and started off at a fast walk west to Eliasville !

[chuck j]

She opened her eyes and laid there in bed thinking a while . She put her feet on the floor and said a prayer for Wade on his return home . It seemed so strange that this place so short a time ago was just her and Nate and now many called it home . Drying the meat was finished . They had fourteen tightly packed flour sacks of buffalo meat in reserve .


She Got dressed and started breakfast of mush with plums in it and biscuits with water gravy . She only had the two cans of milk left and Nate would get those . Zeke , Ed and Don came in and got coffee sitting down at the table . They all looked tired , she felt tired too .

She announced they would spend the evening at the river .

[chuck j]

Zeke and Ed stayed and Ed said ...We will see your wound ma'am . She said … It is much better ! Ed said ...WE will determine that ma'am , we will step out for you to prepare . She took her dress off and put a blanket over herself on the bed calling them it . Ed and Zeke both examined the wound and Zeke said ...It is healed ma'am ! It has healed nicely . there are only two little scars . We didn't want you in the river unless it was healed !


They left to help Don split logs for boards , she made dried meat and dumplings from the old meat . It needed to be used .

[chuck j]

Wade had reached the same small stream they had watered the horses at on the way to Fort Graham . He was watering the horses and going to eat his sandwich letting them rest a bit . He heard horses coming fast from behind him and pulled the Winchester out of the rifle boot .


He stepped into the shinnery by the stream waiting to see who it was . It was Steve and John , they slowed down when they saw his horses at the stream . Wade stepped out and said ...Dang boys ! I didn't plan on seeing you here ! Steve said ...Captain Tom told us to ride to your ranch with you , we are on furlough right now and we can do nothing at your ranch as easy as at headquarters ! Captain Tom thinks you need an escort !


Wade thanked them and asked if they had eaten , they said ...No . Wade told them to split his sandwich . They did and let their horses blow . They made it to Eliasville around four in the evening .

[chuck j]

They had lunch . The men were hot and soaked with sweat . She said on them entering the cabin ...You are working to hard ! YOU will slow down ! There is nothing pressing to get done that will not happen being careful in the heat !

Trying to calm her down and change the subject Zeke said ...Don is dang good at making boards ma'am ! You wouldn't belive the piles of boards we got ! And they are all straight and true ! Don was embarrassed and said ...I ain't the only one making ..you two are doing the heavy log splitting , rolling and stacking but I do admit we are a good team !


She had her back to them working with the food and said … These old men will kill you Don ! They ought to have sense enough to slow down . Ed punched Zeke on the knee under the table and Ed and Zeke said at the same time ...Yes ma'am ! We will slow down ! She said ...You are lying ! Ya'll are in cahoots with each other . Don ! I put you in charge of these childish old men !


They all had a good laugh but Zeke and Ed knew she meant business . They enjoyed lunch talking . Everyone was glad they built up the meat supply but were also happy it was done ! When they were finished eating she said ...No more work today ! We will stay in the shade and rest ...Even GOD rested on the seventh day . Later we will go to the river , I will wash laundry and we will clean ourselves . The clothes are dirty and so are we ! Ya'll can bathe and get us some fish . I can finally get all wet in the river and am so glad !

They rested and planned on what the priorities were for work and improving things .

[chuck j]

Wade , Steve and John rode through Eliasville to Lucy Burnet's house . They rode into the yard , she came out with her shotgun and leaned it on the porch seeing who it was . She said ...Preacher ! We are so glad you made it back on time , we were worried !. She saw the star on his shirt and said ...Your a Ranger too ! He briefly explained as Faye and her future husband stepped out on the porch , everyone met and shook hands .


Wade said ...I have two young Rangers that need a place to stay till day after tomorrow when we leave for the ranch Lucy . Could you take care of them for me ? Lucy spit a stream of snuff juice on the ground and said ...You danged right ! I'll see they are fed and put up ! You just show up in the morning for me to fit your clothes ! Steve and John got their saddlebags and went in with Lucy to their room .


Wade mounted and took the pack horses to the Staley's store . They were happy as heck he was back and settled him in . Ed saw his star and said ...YOUR A RANGER ! Wade laughed and said ...I'll tell ya'll about it at supper Ed !

[chuck j]

They left for the river with the black mule pulling the sledge with the laundry and the leftover dumplings and she had made cornbread . They set up her laundry at her rock and Zeke said ...I am going to help her for a bit . Ed you and Don go on and bathe and set the fishing poles out ...I'll be along !


She tried to get him to go with them telling him she could do the laundry by herself but he said ...calmly ...No , We haven't spent any time together because everyone has been working hard . I just want to be with you a little while . They washed clothes and talked , she enjoyed it .


Zeke joined the others and she washed what they had taken off and left behind the shinnery . She took her clothes off and got Nate scrubbing him good in the river . She put him on the clean shawl by the rock and soaked good in the river bathing and washing her hair . She felt a lot better .


She started a small fire to burn down and warm the dumplings then sat with Nate just enjoying the shade and peace of the river . She sat on her rock holding Nate and could hear the men laughing in the distance up river . They rested , they sat and ate dumplings and cornbread by the river sharing a lard can of well water . Then they went back home as the sun got low . It was a good time .


She thanked GOD for today . She thanked him for taking care of them . She asked him to be with Wade and to show them the path they were to take .

[chuck j]

Wade saw the wagon was sitting in Ed's horse lot half loaded and had bows and a sheet on it ! He didn't know Lucy had them for it so that was a plus ! Simon and Ed had the water barrels in it and Ed was packing it tight . Wade had Zeke's three pack horses and the three Comanche horses to change out the team and change out as mounts to help rest all the stock .

Everything was looking good , there would be seven of them to give more strength against possible trouble with any Comanche . They would keep the axes and shovels tied to the side of the wagon and smooth out the trail back home for the future since there were plenty of men to do it . He had planned on just bringing back three pack horses home ..Zeke , her , Ed and Don were going to be VERY surprised when this small army of men with six pack horses and a loaded wagon showed up !

[chuck j]

Wade went in the store to talk to Ed . He bragged on the preparation of the wagon and the expert packing of supplies . Ed was happy to hear the praise but quickly said ...Simon and his brother Juan have done most of the hard work , I am just directing ...they are good men Wade . They have also cleaned and oiled the harness and fitted it to the Comanche horses you left . The other two brothers are getting all the families work caught up to leave on time .


Wade said ...I have been given a Captain's commission in the Rangers , he described the situation and that the ranch would be a Ranger command outpost . He told Ed ...I am opening an account with you for the Rangers , you are to bill everything going to them separately and bill the Headquarters in Fort Graham . Ed you are closest to us with supplies and I personally want you to have the business , try to be as competitive on price as you can or I fear they will make me buy from the bigger stores in Fort Graham . Ed was very excited about the account and assured Wade he would work with him anyway he could !

[chuck j]

Simon had heard the Rangers were in town and came by to talk to Wade of final preparation to leave for the prairie crossing . Wade assured him he was doing a good job and they would pull out on schedule ! Simon said they were attending Faye's wedding tomorrow evening , that him and his brothers had all worked for Lucy and her husband . They had a freight hauling business and Lucy had driven a wagon all over West Texas with him . Simon said ...Senor Wade she can fight like a man and is no woman to take lightly !


At supper Wade gave Ed a list of supplies for the Rangers they would need at the ranch and he asked ...How much do the cookstoves cost ? We will be cooking for more people than one fireplace can handle . Ed said ...Let me get a catalog ! He did and Wade asked Mrs Staley her opinion . She picked out a bigger sheet metal model with four burners and two ovens . Ed said ..It's much lighter to haul and cheaper too ...plus it has a replaceable firebox ! Wade said ...Order one on the Ranger account .


Wade Broke down and asked Mrs Staley ...Ma'am I need two different bolts of material suitable for a nice wedding dress . She asked ...For who ? How old , what size , first marriage , what are their favorite colors , will there be a hairpiece and many other questions

Wade said ...I didn't know it was so complicated ! She said ...Oh yes ! It must be right ! Who is it for ? He apparently had no choice to tell but made them promise to keep it to themselves till it was confirmed and said ...I am going to ask her to marry me . Mrs Staley's hands flew over her mouth and she said ...OH ! Oh ! I must think !

[chuck j]

Wade bathed and laid in bed with so much on his mind he couldn't concentrate on any single one thing . He prayed for Faye's wedding , a safe crossing of the prairie , asking GOD to help him take care of all he had been given to do . . He asked protection for her and Nate and that it was his plan that they marry . It was a hard time for Wade .

[chuck j]

She awoke and sat on the bed thinking of today . They would be rested and there was much to do . She could help with the logging again and looked forward to being more active . She dressed and started a fire to burn down for cooking . She boiled some dried buffalo to mix with scrambled eggs , someone would have to hunt today ! They had fish but needed meat lest they tire of the fish , she tried to balance and change the food . Thank goodness they had a lot of coffee !


The men were in good spirits and laughing as they came in to get a cup and drink coffee . She announced quickly ...We will log today ! I will help and I am fine ! No arguments ! Don had checked the hens and brought in three eggs , she already had four so mixed with the buffalo it was enough .


They harnessed the black mule and used Don's horse to pull the sledge and walked downriver to where they had quit logging . There were several logs still to be taken to the shed , Ed helped her load the sledge with trimmings and he tied the chain on a log . Ed and her went to haul a load to the cabin . They planned to get much done today .