Triple Creek Ranch - Part 13

Good Morning FFFs!


I sure hope you are enjoying this wonderful chilly autumn weather. I certainly am even if I am trying to get over a cold. :) I love wearing long sleeves, sweaters, long socks and curling up with a blanket to read a good book.


We had the trap set out again this week trying to catch the skunks. On Tuesday night we caught a cat. We didn't know where this one came from (it was black and white) and it didn't have any collar so we let the animal control take it. Then Wednesday night we caught a skunk! Finally! It was a little one, but at least this time the trap actually shut. Now, this morning something is in the trap, but it is still rather dark to tell just what it is. Dad thinks it might be a cat or a coon. I guess we'll see when it gets a little lighter.


Last night S and I were over babysitting and J & M finally left Doodle Bug with us! That was so fun. Of course he slept the first part until J & M came back and M fed him. Then he was awake and talked and played in his bouncy play seat. He seems to love being with his siblings and he didn't fuss at all. Funny Boy (who just turned two) told me he was four. :} We are going over this evening to celebrate his birthday.


As you can tell, I didn't get to write last night and tonight won't be good for writing either. But don't worry. I have been writing. I'm working on a story for someone, and my word count instructions were 2,000+ Well, I'm doing to +. :) The story is already 4,000 words or so and I'm not done. Since it is a Thanksgiving story, I'll be starting it next week. It will take that long to post it all.  This story has been rather fun to write and I hope you enjoy Danny and Wellington. That is all I'm going to tell you about it. You'll just have to come back next week. :)


Since I didn't have time to post a two part story (since I'll be starting the other story next week) I had to post another Triple Creek Ranch. I hope you aren't too disappointed. :)

Part 13

    Norman interrupted. “Then go to your room. Now!” he thundered, as he saw her open her mouth to speak.
    For one brief second, Orlena looked at her brother then turned and ran from the room, up the stairs to her bedroom, the door of which she slammed shut behind her.

    In the dining room, Norman gave a sigh that was almost like a groan and leaned back limply in his chair. What had he done? How could he have lost his temper so quickly? Now what should he do?
    “It’s no use, Jenelle,” he frowned. “She can’t stay here. I’ll have to send her some where else.” Leaning his arm on the table and his head in his hand, Norman grew silent.
    The ticking of the clock was the only sound to be heard for several minutes. Then in a voice that was soft and gentle, Jenelle spoke, placing a hand on her husband’s arm. “Of course you aren’t going to send Orlena away, Norman. This is only the first day. She had a trying time with that skunk and isn’t used to things around here. I expected an outburst from her of some sort today. She--”
    Sitting up, Norman interrupted, “It isn’t just Orlena I was thinking of. You saw how it was, I can’t keep my temper when she starts talking to you in that manner.”
    With a little laugh, Jenelle squeezed his arm. “Darling, don’t get upset for me, it isn’t worth it. Her words aren’t going to hurt me.”
    “Still,” Norman put in, “I won’t have her speaking to you in that tone of voice or in that manner!”
    Seeing that Norman was growing excited again, Jenelle wisely refrained from saying anything further on the subject but started eating as though nothing had happened. She knew her husband well enough to know when he needed time to think.
    Slowly, after sitting in silence for some time, Norman too began to eat. There was no light talk at the table that meal, as the Mavrich house was accustomed to, for both were busy with their own thoughts.
    It wasn’t until the meal was concluded and Jenelle had cleared away the dishes that Norman, following her into the kitchen, spoke.
    “You are right. We can’t send her away, Sweet. Though she shouldn’t speak to you in that manner.”
    “Of course she shouldn’t,” Jenelle agreed, looking up into her husband’s face. “The problem is, she doesn’t know better, so we will have to teach her.”
    Norman made a rueful face. “I’m not much help I’m afraid when I lose my temper. I shouldn’t, I know, but when she starts going on like she did . . .”
    “You can leave the room if you have to,” Jenelle suggested softly.
    “And leave you to put up with her? Hardly!”
    Jenelle smiled. “Only until you have time to cool off. I don’t think it would hurt any of us.”
    Norman sighed and then spoke, his voice subdued. “I’ll have to try it, Sweetheart. But now,” he gave another sigh, “I must go talk to Orlena. I have to apologize for losing my temper, but she has to understand she is not in charge of anything here! I won’t let her terrorize the entire place as she did at Grandmother’s.”
    “I’ll be praying for you,” Jenelle whispered softly with a kiss.

    Up in her room, Orlena fumed and fussed, muttering to herself and pacing the floor. Why did she have to live here? Norman didn’t care for her at all. If he did he would sell this stupid ranch and move to the city! And that sister-in-law was even worse. She didn’t even pay any attention to her directions. “She thinks she is better than me. I’ll soon put her in her place. And that hired hand,” Orlena scowled darkly. “He’ll wish he’d never crossed me!”
    And so this spoiled, pampered child who had been given every desire and had every wish granted, who had never been made to do what she disliked unless it was her lessons, and had been issuing orders to servants since before she could talk plainly, sulked in her room and vowed to make things go her own way. She was interrupted by a knock on her door.
    “Yes,” the word was spoken coldly and she wondered if it would be her brother or sister-in-law.
    Quietly Norman opened the door and stepped in. His sister gave him no greeting but sat eyeing him with an expression of extreme distaste. This did not make things easier, but with a silent prayer for help, he began to speak.

    “How did it go?” Jenelle looked up as Norman entered the kitchen a quarter of an hour later.
    Sitting down heavily in a chair, the owner and master of the Triple Creek Ranch sighed and shook his head. “I don’t know. I apologized for losing my temper, but Orlena seemed to think that meant I was giving in to her demands of getting rid of Lloyd and buying her a new absurd dress.”
    Jenelle finished ringing out her dishcloth and hung it up to dry. Untying her apron, she placed it on the hook behind the door before going over to sit next to her husband. “Did you get her to understand neither of those things was going to happen?”
    “I don’t know. She listened, but I don’t think she really believed me.”
    Sympathetically, Jenelle leaned her head on his shoulder and squeezed his hand.
    “I don’t know what we are going to do about her, Darling, I really don’t.”
    “We can pray for her and love her,” Jenelle answered softly.
    “Pray, yes. Love her? I hate to admit it, but right now, I don’t know if I do.”
    “You do,” assured his wife positively. “If you didn’t, you never would be trying to help her but would send her off tomorrow to some place else.”
    Giving a shamefaced smile, Norman replied, “You’re right. But it’s going to be a lot of work.”

To be continued another time. After I write more.

Oh, and just so you aren't wondering, it is a raccoon that we caught. :}