Tumbleweeds

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chuck j
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Posts: 1983
Joined: Fri May 17, 2013 12:44 pm

Re: Tumbleweeds

Post by chuck j »

She was about to call them when they walked in . Zeke hung his hat on the nail and saw three more nails next to his but said nothing . Wade , Captain Jack and Sam started to lay their hats on the floor by the door and she told them ...There are new nails next to Zeke's on the wall . You all have a place to hang your hat here anytime you want to . They all smiled and put their hats on the wall except Wade who had lost his cavalry hat in the river the day Zeke brought him to the cabin tied on Bud .


She went to the east wall of the cabin and came back with a large box setting it on the table . She opened it and took out a new grey Stetson hat and handed it to Wade . She said ...Hosea ordered it before we left Iowa , he said we were moving to Texas and thought he needed a Stetson . She handed it to Wade saying ...You need a hat and I would like to see you have it . Wade didn't know what to say and thanked her telling her how much he apricated the gift . He hung it next to Zeke's on the wall .
chuck j
Senior Member
Posts: 1983
Joined: Fri May 17, 2013 12:44 pm

Re: Tumbleweeds

Post by chuck j »

She sat the venison and dumplings , cornbread and pie on the table while Zeke got the plates and spoons along with a big jug of sweet tea she made . And they ate talking , the Rangers really ate a lot telling her how good it was . The pup was whining and hungry , she got him two big pieces of dried meat and he laid down growling like something would get his food . They laughed at him !

She had punched a hole in a can of the milk they had brought from Eliasville and tasted it ….IT WAS TOO THICK ! She mixed it half with water and it was better . She had heard of canned milk but never used any . Nate would have milk for a good while and he liked it .
She told them it was real cornbread , that she had gotten two eggs from the hens and Nate would have his first egg tomorrow . She was excited about the hens . She called them 'her' hens . She thanked Zeke and Captain Jack for building the coop .

After supper and all the eating and talking they took the gun port seats and a bench to the porch and enjoyed the southern breeze and talked till the sun got low . The men took the seats back in the cabin and said good night to her . It was time to bath and get some rest . The men walked to the shed carrying clean flour sacks and each a bucket of water from the well .
chuck j
Senior Member
Posts: 1983
Joined: Fri May 17, 2013 12:44 pm

Re: Tumbleweeds

Post by chuck j »

She awoke and sat on the edge of the bed thinking . The pup was curled up next to Nate on his pallet with his head laying on Nate's legs . She started getting dressed and put on her gun belt . She knew it would be a busy day for her and all the men working , there was much to do ...there was always much to do . She drug the banked coals from the ashes in the fireplace and laid tender on them and several pieces of mesquite bark on top to get a fire going . It blazed up quickly and she added two logs to burn to coals , it lit up the cabin and she mixed pancake dough and sliced up bacon off a half side saving the rough ends to make a big pot of beans later .


The logs burned down quickly and she broke them into chunks with the poker and put on the coffee . She put sugar with water in a small pot to make sugar syrup for the pancakes , she had sugar now and could make jelly when she could get some possum plums in fall . She wondered if the hens would lay any eggs today , she knew it would take a week or so till they got settled before they started laying regular . Plus they wouldn't lay but every other day in the hot weather now , she was looking forward to checking them and seeing if they had laid .


She heard the black mule bray and knew the men were staking out the stock , filling the trough , getting water to bring to the cabin for the day and taking care of things . They would be coming in soon and hungry , she put her big cast iron frying pan on the coals with a bit of lard to coat it for the pancakes , she was frying bacon in another smaller pan to the side ...they would eat a lot of pancakes !
chuck j
Senior Member
Posts: 1983
Joined: Fri May 17, 2013 12:44 pm

Re: Tumbleweeds

Post by chuck j »

She could hear them laughing and talking long before they got to the open door of the cabin . They came in and hung their hats sitting down telling her the coffee and bacon smelled good ! Everyone got a cup of coffee as she was setting the bacon and huge plate of pancakes on the table with the sugar syrup .

They started helping themselves to the food measuring out their own portion . She told them she could make more pancakes and to eat all they wanted . The door and gun ports were open and it was cool , the sun was just starting to light the cloudless sky in the east and it was a good time with much conversation , teasing and laughter . Nate had his fried egg , a bit of pancake with milk and liked it , the pup got his dried meat and was excited at the activity .


There was light outside and the men told her how good the meal was and started putting their hats on going out to work . Zeke was the last one to leave and hugged her kissing her on her head telling her how good the food was . He set two buckets of water on the edge of the porch and a gun port seat for her to wash the dirty dishes and left to finish building the coop outside in the livestock pen . She got into the sack of beans , got a bowl full and picked the rocks out and washed them . She washed all the dishes and put the beans on to slow cook for supper . They would have the leftover dumplings for lunch . Then she cleaned the cabin and walked to the coop inside the shed to see if the hens had laid any eggs for her
chuck j
Senior Member
Posts: 1983
Joined: Fri May 17, 2013 12:44 pm

Re: Tumbleweeds

Post by chuck j »

Zeke and Captain Jack had a big pile of rounds from back of the shed piled it the pen , they started splitting them into slats to build the outside run for the coop . Zeke wanted it in the livestock pen because it would cut down on the possibility a coyote , coon , fox , skunk or any varmint would get in to kill the chickens . He knew she really liked getting the eggs and she was going to enjoy the hens .
Wade and Sam were doing a really nice job with Hosea's coffin , it was going to be very nice . He had to ask her where she wanted to have the grave but he would wait till time for the funeral , everyone was trying to help her through this hard time . Zeke knew she would make herself busy with work ...that was the way her and he handled hard times to get through it .
chuck j
Senior Member
Posts: 1983
Joined: Fri May 17, 2013 12:44 pm

Re: Tumbleweeds

Post by chuck j »

She walked out to the shed and checked the hens . They seemed happy when she gave them some short green grass and ground them a couple of handfuls of cornmeal . She found three eggs in the coop ! That was good because she wanted to make cornbread with the beans this evening . She heard Wade and Sam working in back of the shed and although they hadn't talked about what they were building she had a good idea .
chuck j
Senior Member
Posts: 1983
Joined: Fri May 17, 2013 12:44 pm

Re: Tumbleweeds

Post by chuck j »

She went back in the cabin to check the beans and start a new stick of wood for coals . The beans were simmering and doing fine . Nate was sleeping and the pup had gone out to where the men were working . She walked to the other side of the bed and picked up the saddlebags of Hosea's and small sack Captain Jack had carefully stood against the wall . She carried them to the table and sat down .


It was hard . She opened the cloth sack and took out his belt knife . It was sharp as it always was , Hosea kept the edge of his knife with a fine edge . She remembered them both buying things in the store back in Iowa for the trip here . He spent some time picking out this knife , she had picked hers out too . She laid it to the side gently and reached in the bag and took out his wedding band . She looked at it and it was very scuffed from his working . He had worked so hard to build them a life in a new land where they were alone with many dangers . She had tears running down her cheeks looking at it .


She laid it by the knife and untied the saddlebags . He had an extra change of clothes , his toothbrush and razor . There were two clean flour sacks she had folded and given him to take in case he needed them . She remembered him laughing at her and her sacks as he put them in the saddlebag as he was preparing to leave .

She opened the other bag and pulled out a small brown paper package wrapped with a string tying it . She pulled the string and opened it . There were garden seed , all the things she liked to plant , she looked at each small package and laid them to the side . There were two more small paper packages tied with string . She pulled the string on the second one and it had hard rock candy in it ...her favorite candy . She laid it beside the garden seed and opened the last small package by pulling the string . It was a dozen different hair ribbons all red or blue ...her favorite colors . She held them tight in her hand and laid her head on her arms and cried .
chuck j
Senior Member
Posts: 1983
Joined: Fri May 17, 2013 12:44 pm

Re: Tumbleweeds

Post by chuck j »

The beans were coming to a boil when the men walked in the door of the cabin to see if it was lunch time . She had made frybread to go with the dumplings and sweet tea . The pup and Nate were hungry too . She sat the food and tea on the table as Zeke got plates and glasses .

She picked up Nate and sat down cutting him up beans and chopping a piece of meat fine on her plate for him with some milk to drink . The men were talking about the coop and the chickens would have plenty of room ! She told them she got more eggs and there would be cornbread to go with the beans and bacon for supper . She planned a special surprise for them for desert at supper and said nothing about it .


They enjoyed the meal and it was dang hot outside but the men insisted they had to go back to work right after eating though she tried to talk them into resting . Soon she heard sawing , hammering , she got out a flour sack of pecans left from last fall and started shelling them . The pup got a half bowl of dumplings and him and Nate were fast asleep .
chuck j
Senior Member
Posts: 1983
Joined: Fri May 17, 2013 12:44 pm

Re: Tumbleweeds

Post by chuck j »

It was late and the men hadn't came for supper . Nate was awake so she picked him up and walked to the shed . They were all finishing up the outside coop . It was a long slat coop about four feet wide and fifteen feet long built on the side of the shed . It was really big for six hens including what had been built inside . She was impressed ! It had a small door at the bottom for them to come and go inside the shed that could be opened and shut by a rope ...it was nice !

They were picking up the mess from building and said they would be to eat in a minute . She went back and put plates , glasses and spoons on the table . She set the beans and cornbread with salt bowl and black pepper on the table . They came in and sat down in a hurry like they were in trouble . Zeke said ...Beans with bacon and cornbread ...Yes ma'am !! Sam , Wade and Captain Jack said ...Amen !

Wade gave thanks and they started ladling beans on their plates and breaking cornbread in it . They really liked the meal , she said she hadn't cooked beans since she left Iowa ! Sam quickly said ...Well you sure didn't forget how , these were good ! Everyone agreed . She said ...I made you a surprise , she got up and went on the other side of the bed and brought back a pecan pie .

Their eyes lit up and they all started bragging on her ! Zeke said ...I thought I was full and couldn't eat another thing till she brought out that pie ! She told them ...I made two of them , you can have this one today and the other tomorrow . They cut it in eight pieces and ate it all . Captain Jack said … Ma'am you have outdone yourself ! Pecan pie two days in a row ! Thank you , It's a lot of work with a Dutch oven making a pretty pie like this and with beans with bacon and cornbread . It don't get no better than this .


They sat outside on the porch and the men all said they were too full . She said ...after you eating all the beans ya'll did I'm glad your sleeping in the shed ! They all laughed . Sam said ...I love this place , we all work together and enjoy each other . They all agreed .
chuck j
Senior Member
Posts: 1983
Joined: Fri May 17, 2013 12:44 pm

Re: Tumbleweeds

Post by chuck j »

They left for the shed to bath and get some sleep . She had picked up the dishes and mess from cooking and straightened the cabin . She bathed Nate and put a clean gown on him and rocked him to sleep . He and the pup were fast asleep on the pallet .

She bathed and put her gown on , the sun was down and there was only a low glow coming from a few coals not banked in the fireplace . She laid down with many thoughts in her mind . In a bit she rose and lit the oil lamp and laid a log on the coals in the fireplace . She got her sewing box and the unfinished blue dress and sat down at the table threading a needle in the half light .
chuck j
Senior Member
Posts: 1983
Joined: Fri May 17, 2013 12:44 pm

Re: Tumbleweeds

Post by chuck j »

She didn't get much sleep . She rose before daylight and pulled the coals from the ashes at the side of the fireplace , put tender on them and bark then two short logs . The bark flared up lighting the bark on the logs . She dressed and laid away her sewing . She opened the cabin door and the pup ran out barking at something on the porch .

Zeke stepped in with the pup following and she was surprised . She said ...You are early ! I just got up but I'm going to fix breakfast . Zeke laid his big hands on her shoulders and said ...You will do no work today . We will bury Hosea this evening and you are to rest . I or someone else will cook and do what needs done . It is what we want , we want to serve you in this hard time . Let us do this please !
chuck j
Senior Member
Posts: 1983
Joined: Fri May 17, 2013 12:44 pm

Re: Tumbleweeds

Post by chuck j »

She thought a moment then hugged him and sat down at the table . He smiled and got the flour , baking powder and started mixing biscuit dough . He cheerfully said … We are having biscuits and gravy with bacon ! She said ...When you set all those supplies on my porch when you came you told me you couldn't cook ! You told an outright lie to deceive me ! You took care of us when I was sick and you are a good cook ! Zeke laughed and said ...My mama made me learn to cook ! She said men that can't cook were at the mercy of women ! She laughed and said ...Your mama was a smart woman , what was her name ? Zeke said ...Her name was Willow Mae ...She gave herself no last name . Most slaves had no last name but after the war many took their master's last name . She said ..Willow Mae ….That is a pretty name ! What was the name of the people who owned you ? Zeke said ...Their name was Johnston . She asked ...Where do you think they went when they left their farm ? Zeke said ...They had Family in Macon Georgia , they may have went there .


Zeke and her talked about many things as he cooked breakfast .
chuck j
Senior Member
Posts: 1983
Joined: Fri May 17, 2013 12:44 pm

Re: Tumbleweeds

Post by chuck j »

While Zeke was making breakfast he said ...Ma'am I hate to ask you this question but I have to . Where would you like Hosea's grave to be . She said quickly ...Half a bow shot west of the middle of the cornfield . It is in sight of the cabin and river , it is the best place . I know he would choose to be there . And I can see the grave from here . Zeke asked ...Will it bother you to see his resting place from your porch ma'am . She said ...No , not at all . It will be a comfort , I will never forget him . I loved him Zeke , I still love him . Zeke said ...I know ma'am ...I know .
chuck j
Senior Member
Posts: 1983
Joined: Fri May 17, 2013 12:44 pm

Re: Tumbleweeds

Post by chuck j »

Her and Zeke heard the stock being moved to grass and chores getting done and soon the rest of the men came in and poured themselves coffee sitting down at the table . Sam said ...Stock and chores are done and then he said I 'accidently' found these in the chicken coop . He held out five eggs ! She said ...My land ! Five eggs ! Looks like there is one slacker in the group ! I'll have to have a talk with them ! They all laughed .
Zeke said ...Well heck ! Hope nobody dies from my cookin ! My kitchen skill has grown rusty because of her spoilin me . They teased each other and talked . The breakfast was very good and Zeke went out with they when they left . Captain Jack came back in and started gathering dirty dishes to clean and she said ...Let me help you Captain ? He said ...NO ! I want to be of service to you at this time . It will be a privilege to do these simple things . We all wish things could have turned out differently with Hosea . He put his arms around her and hugged her . He said ...You are like one of my own children and I hate you have suffered so long to find Hosea in this way . I have been a Ranger a long time . I retired because I was sick of seeing situations such as this but it's also why I volunteered to track down those killers you and Zeke put down . I am tired of seeing good people hurt by these animals .

She said ...Sit a moment Captain , I want to talk to you . They sat down and she said ...Can you seek information on people in other states ? He said ...Well of coarse ! The Rangers requests carry a lot of weight . Why do you ask ? She told him of Zeke's mother and that Zeke never saw her again after he left the farm after the end of the war . Captain Jack said ...Let me get paper and you tell me in detail everything you know ! After he had gotten a tablet and his ink bottle and pen he said ...And what was her name ? She said ...Willow Mae . He said ...And the name of her owners...…………


When he was done and put his tablet , ink and pen she said ...We will not speak of this to Zeke in case nothing comes of it . I don't want him to get his hopes up . Captain Jack said ...It will take time for correspondence and the odds are she is not alive at her age ….I will be in touch with you by mail . She thanked him .
chuck j
Senior Member
Posts: 1983
Joined: Fri May 17, 2013 12:44 pm

Re: Tumbleweeds

Post by chuck j »

Captain Jack said ...I must take care of the dishes ! She said ...Talk to me a while Captain . He sat down and she said ...Tell me about your family , tell me about your farm and the land in the hill country . Captain Jack said My wife and I have been married forty two years . She is hard headed and he laughed and said she says I am hard headed . They both laughed and he said my boys are my pride and joy ! When the oldest was born he ………..

They talked a long time and Sam walked in and said ...Wade needs you Captain ! Sam was holding three of the catfish from the river already cleaned . Captain Jack said ...The time has flown ! Sam the breakfast dishes need be washed ...can you do it ? Sam said ...Sure Captain !
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