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Re: Tumbleweeds

Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2018 10:41 am
by chuck j
Captain Jack had a big stack of pancakes on the table with the bacon and was melting the sugar in the syrup when Zeke , Wade and Don walked in . Don said ...OH dang it ! Look at those pancakes !

Captain Jack laughed and said ...Yea ...pancakes , bacon and sugar syrup are hard to come by when your chasing Indians , outlaws and the like ! Usually just too hot or too cold , living in the saddle , dry camps and smelling like a wet dog !

Re: Tumbleweeds

Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2018 10:44 am
by chuck j
After breakfast Zeke and Wade told the Captain to go to the shed and get some sleep . He argued but finally went to the shed . Zeke said ...How bout me getting those catfish at the river for lunch and I find some greens ? Wade agreed so Zeke took Nate and the shotgun in case they came across some game and walked for the river .


He said to Nate ...I hope we caught one or two on the last lines we set out but that's unlikely son ...they been there too long . Chances are if they got on a hook they have got off by now , but we will check em anyway . Well Nate ! What do you think of Don ? Seems like a nice young man to me , but that Jimmie was a loser . I wish we could jump another covey of quail ! Yes sir ! I'd shore be up for another mess of quail ! I noticed you liked em too Nate ! Come fall when the haw trees got apples we will stuff some with crushed haws an slow roast em , that's dang good eatin there son believe you me ! I'll tell you what Nate ! What say I put you ta where you can watch and I'll Indian up on them cattails a little downstream to see if there's any ducks where they are . Yea ...that sounds like a plan to me plus we can fetch some cattail shoots and cook em with bacon ! Lets see what we can do , you just pay attention to grandpa Zeke cause you will be doing it pretty quick !

Zeke got close as he could to the river crouched down so any ducks wouldn't see him and he put Nate on a big clump of salt grass propping him up to watch . Zeke crawled the little way to the cattails and slowly looked over the grass . There was eight mallards dipping for food behind the cattails on his side out of the current ! He slowly brought his shotgun up to his shoulder and waited for three or four to line up in a row feeding . It took a while and a lot of patience waiting for them to line up , he wished he had loaded four shot instead of seven and a half but at this range he would get a few .

It seemed like forever but finally four ducks lined up and he fired ! When the smoke cleared there were three dead ducks in the water ! He jumped up and got Nate saying ...See there son ! Patience pays off ! He went to the water and pulled his boots and clothes off and taking his game bag and knife filled the bag with enough shoots for two days and picked up his ducks . He waded out and dried off with his shirt putting his boots and clothes on .

He said ...Lets get them catfish if the turtles ain't got em yet . We are eatin high on the hog today Nate !

Re: Tumbleweeds

Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2018 12:13 pm
by chuck j
Zeke and Nate checked the poles they left baited and danged if they didn't get two more catfish ! Both would go about three pounds each .

Zeke took the first two fish they had tied up and put the two new ones on the stringer . As they walked to the house Zeke said ...Nate ! We are havin fried catfish rolled in cornmeal with fried potatoes for lunch ! Then we are havln roast duck with cattail shoots with bacon AND we got another catfish meal waitin in the river ! We must be livin right son ! Our Lord has blessed us today !

Re: Tumbleweeds

Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2018 12:14 pm
by chuck j
When Zeke and Nate got to the cabin loaded down with food everyone was mightily impressed ! Zeke gave all the credit to Nate callin the shots on the duck huntin , catfish catchin and cattail shoot collecting ! He told em his grandson was a natural wonder at figurin things out ! Plus he told em there was another catfish dinner on a string in the river ! Yes sir ! Soon as Nate gets his legs under him he could feed them every day like they was rich folks ! Wasn't no limit to what he could do ! Because he took after his grandpa ! He was a truly a wonder !


Don asked ...Your his grandpa ? Seeing a chance to torment Don a bit Zeke said ...You bet I'm his grandpa ! He looks just like me ...don't he ? Don was in a tight spot ! He didn't know what to say ! Then Zeke said ...She is my daughter ...She looks like me too ...don't she ? Everyone was looking at Don and smiling and Don said …...I …...I well....I . Wade , captain Jack , her and even Sam who was there started laughing . Don figured out Zeke was joking him and he said ...Yes ! I see the resemblance now ! And they all laughed harder .


When it settled down Zeke said ...They are my daughter and grandson ! I know because I adopted them ! And I couldn't love them more than I do ! They are my family that I have always wanted .

Re: Tumbleweeds

Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2018 1:02 pm
by chuck j
Wade and Zeke dressed ducks and cleaned catfish while Captain Jack stayed with Sam and her . Captain Jack got the cattail shoots washed and trimmed up and ready to cook , putting them in two buckets to stay fresh . He got potatoes out and the cornmeal . Built the fire up to burn down and laying a frying pan on the hearth . They were going to have a nice lunch ! Sam was sitting up and looked a whole lot better ! His shoulder and arm were almost normal size and the draining had slowed a lot , the wick was just barely dripping ! Things were looking much better ! Sam and her were at the table drinking sweet tea talking with Don . It was a good day !

Re: Tumbleweeds

Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2018 1:10 pm
by chuck j
They had fried potato's and fried catfish for lunch , all the catfish you wanted . Zeke got two of the ducks ready in her Dutch oven and the third in a pot to roast . it would take a while cooking to get them tender . Wade asked Zeke if he wanted to work on the water trough and Zeke said ...Sure ! They went behind the shed and picked up were they had left off planing boards . Don went with them and said ...Do you need help ? They both said ...Sure ...if you want to . Wade started showing him how to make a board , Zeke had a lot of planing to do to work down boards already rough hewn .

After a couple of hours of Wade giving them lessons Zeke said I got to go start those ducks cooking and I'll give the Captain a break if he wants one . Wade and Don worked making boards . They talked as they worked .

Don said ...All of you seem really close , like a family . Wade said ...We are family Don , we love and take care of each other and isn't that what a family does ? Don agreed . He said how did it happen that Zeke is here . Wade told the story of Zeke and her . Don said ...That's amazing ! Wade was trimming a board with an adz and said ...Let me tell you my story and how they saved me ..and he did . Don asked how did Captain Jack and Sam come here ? Wade again told their story and said ...Don this place brings people together through caring , I am one of them and seen it . There is so much more strength here you can't see with your eyes , you have to experience it . GOD is working here Don . We rely on GOD .

Re: Tumbleweeds

Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2018 2:06 pm
by chuck j
Don was quiet . He didn't completely understand how GOD was working in their lives . He grew up going to church but his parents seldom spoke of God to all his brothers and sisters . They never taught them ...the church taught them . His family were never very close . He was going to have to try and understand on his own . He thought GOD was church , he had never understood he needed a personal relationship with GOD .

But he enjoyed all these people working together . He couldn't understand how they could accept him after Jimmie had said those terrible things in front of them . He would stay a few days and report to headquarters . Though it might be wrong he was glad to see Jimmie finally get some 'education' on manners !

Re: Tumbleweeds

Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2018 5:16 pm
by chuck j
Went Zeke went in the cabin Captain Jack and her were at the table and she was writing with his pen . It was obvious they were working on something so he said nothing much and put the ducks on to cook and started boiling some bacon to cook the cattail shoots in .He ask the Captain to keep an eye on the pots and left to give them privacy . She was feeling better and that's what he cared about .

Re: Tumbleweeds

Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2018 5:18 pm
by chuck j
Don and wade were planning boards when Zeke got back behind the shed . Zeke said to Wade ...You stole my plane ! He laughed when he said it and started sawing boards to length already done . They talked as they worked and it was coming together .

Zeke told Don they were building a cabin on to the shed and next time he came maybe he wouldn't have to sleep in the shed . Wade said ...Just for conversation I was thinking about building a flat bottom boat to leave at the ford . Sooner or later we are going to need a way to get supplies or whatever back and forth coming from Eliasville . They all discussed what would be better ...a boat or a raft ?

Re: Tumbleweeds

Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2018 5:20 pm
by chuck j
They got the frame built and bottom boards on the frame when Zeke said ...It's about time to eat supper . We better check on the meal ! Wade and Don agreed so they put up their tools till tomorrow .
Sam was sitting at the table when they walked in ! He seemed much more alert ! Wade and Don sat down across from him telling him how much better he looked . Zeke commented as he checked the ducks and shoots . Zeke said ...Captain you have done an amazing thing ! These ducks are perfect !

They started getting the table set and Don said ...I feel so useless ! It's so obvious ya'll are use to working together that no one has to call the shots . Give me something to do ...I feel like a burden . Zeke and her laughed and Captain Jack said ...Bring in some wood for breakfast , set up buckets on the porch to clean the dishes . bring in some drinking water from the well ! That ought to keep you busy for a while ! Everyone laughed and Wade said ...Don you better be careful what you ask for ...you might get it !

They sat down to eat and Zeke asked ...May I give thanks ? Everyone nodded or said yes and Zeke said ...Heavenly father thank you for a special meal to celebrate Sam and her getting better . Thank you that you are blessing them with healing Lord ! Thank you for them in our lives . Thank you for Don being with us Lord that is a special thing . You have given us more in our lives than we could have even thought of . Please continue to help and guide us . Please build us to glorify you through you by our acts and words . Thank you for all you do . Amen


Everyone said AMEN !

Re: Tumbleweeds

Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2018 6:58 pm
by chuck j
They started carving the ducks and talking . There was much happy conversation with Sam and her getting better ! Captain Jack asked Sam ...Could you walk to the shed without it bothering you Sam ? Sam said ..I'd love to get outside Captain , I'm a lot better . Captain Jack looked at Zeke , Wade and Sam then said ...Do you think we should give her our surprises we made for her ? There is plenty of light before sundown . They all said yes and when they finished eating Zeke and Wade took off for the back of the shed .


She said ...I can't imagine what the surprises are ! Captain Jack laughed and said ...You would never guess ! But I think you will like them ! I know you will like them ! They were sitting at the table and she heard something outside . The noise stopped and Captain Jack said ...Lets see your first surprise ! He walked her to the door and outside the black mule was hooked up to a cart ! It was the trailer they had pulled behind the wagon coming from Iowa but now had shafts , a driver seat and box with a step on the side to get in . They had adapted the wagon harness to the shafts .

Her hands flew over her mouth and she felt like a little girl getting a great gift ….It was amazing ! She couldn't talk ! She stood staring at it . Finally she said ...I must take a ride in it ! Captain jack , Zeke , Sam and Wade were beaming . Captain Jack said ...You can take a short ride and see your other surprises , Me and Zeke will help you up and they did . She got on the seat and Zeke got in with her , he went to pick up the reins but she said ...NO ! I will drive ! Zeke smiled and handed them to her saying ...Lets see your other presents , wheel the cart and head to the far side of the shed .

Re: Tumbleweeds

Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2018 6:59 pm
by chuck j
She didn't even pull a rein she just said ...GEE ! The black mule sidestepped to the left and got the cart turned around .She just laid the reins touching his back and they started for the shed .


As soon as they drove past the corner of the cabin she saw her new garden ! She said ...Oh oh ! Thank you so much ! I have a garden ! When they got to it she stopped and looked at it and started telling them where she was going to plant different things ! She said it is ready to plant ! It is perfect ! Soon we will have REAL vegetables ! I have wanted this for so long ! Thank you !

Re: Tumbleweeds

Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2018 7:00 pm
by chuck j
Don followed along . He didn't know what to think . He had never seen anything like this . It made him happy to see all them in this time but it was a puzzle ! He couldn't figure out how a young woman from Iowa , an ex black slave , two Texas Rangers , a civil war veteran and a baby had formed so close a bond in so short a time .

But Don did not consider GOD .

Re: Tumbleweeds

Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2018 7:02 pm
by chuck j
She sat on the cart with Zeke and detailed how she was going to open her seed packets Hosea had been bringing back to her from Eliasville and mark off a small area planting three seed a week of all she had and keep a record of the progress so to be able to know when to plant each different vegetable for the future in a fall garden . Zeke was excited too him enjoying growing things as much as she did .

Captain Jack told her it was too dang hot right now to plant right now ! She said ...I know it's hot but I want to find the earliest possible time to plant different things and plus it will be fun ! And the well is close to water everything ! She was asking them all kind of questions about the weather here and what they thought . Wade said ...I'm not much of a gardener but I can say we need okra ! It makes in hot weather ! Plus I love fried okra ! They laughed and agreed with him ! She said she never had okra ! She must get to Eliasville and get more seed !

Zeke was joking saying ...She will need a much bigger garden I fear ! I see enlarging it pretty quick ! He was telling her they could grow polk greens and didn't even have to buy the seed ! Captain Jack said ...It is time to see the other surprises . She drove the black mule to the far side of the shed with Zeke as Wade , Captain Jack , Sam and Don walked . She couldn't imagine what else they had made !

Re: Tumbleweeds

Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2018 7:04 pm
by chuck j
She drove the cart to the far side of the shed and there was the start of a cabin being built on to the side . She was happy with it but asked ...I thought you were going to add on to the back of the shed ? Zeke said ...Pull up a little more ! She did and on the back of the shed length there was another cabin started . Zeke said ...We will build a cabin on the end and on the back , dividing the back one in half . There will be three cabins ! She was thinking and said ...That's a lot of logs and a lot of work ! Do we need three cabins ? Zeke said we got five men here right now , come cold weather we can't ask anyone to stay in the shed when winter starts . She said ...It would be wonderful to have three but you will not kill yourself building it ! Zeke said ...You can supervise ! She smiled and said ...I will ! She was happy with it .


Zeke said ...Wheel right and stop in front of the shed . She said ...HAW ! The black mule sidestepped till the cart turned around to the right when they got to the corner of the pen and she said ...HAW ! Again him turning to the right . She stopped in front of the shed .


Zeke and Captain Jack went through the pen gate into the shed .