Triple Creek Ranch - Part 21

Good Morning Faithful Friday Fiction Fans,
(even those who don't read on Friday. :) )


The sun isn't quite in my eyes yet, so I'll try to type quickly. :) Has your week been busy? Mine hasn't been too bad. It's been hot. Too hot to really do anything outside.


Friday and Saturday I did things at home. On Sunday we had to go to church in Dad's truck because my brother had our van since his suburban was "no worky." There was only one baby in church and I had to share her. Oh well. Princess did fall asleep in E's arms holding on to my fingers. :) Just wish I had gotten a picture of it.
On Monday S & I babysat the N children all morning and part of the afternoon. They came over here so the morning was spent playing/building with legos. We have a large box of legos and they love coming over and building with them. They have plenty of legos at their house but ours are different. :) After lunch there was a little more lego building, then we played games and started watching a science DVD. Didn't get to finish it because their mom came. They borrowed it.
What did I do on Tuesday? Not much exciting. I did write that night.
Wednesday we got our van back for most of the day and went to Connie's. We hadn't gone last week since our van was gone, so it was good to go check our booth and put new things in.
Yesterday was pretty normal (if there is such a thing) and last night we went to a surprise party for a couple in church who just had their 30th wedding anniversary. That was fun. :)
Today we'll clean house, I'll probably work on some things, and then tonight . . . :D I'll tell you next week. Or tomorrow. :)


I wrote one more TCR this week and started a story for next week. I'm not sure how long it will be since I haven't finished it yet. So far it is over the usual 1,000 - 1,500 words that I post. If it isn't much longer I'll do it all in one, but it it gets to 2,000 words, I guess I should post it in two parts. I won't be writing tonight. :)


No update on the Alphabet book. I haven't gotten to talk to the best friend to see if she has it all set up yet. If she doesn't have it set up yet, it should be soon. So keep checking here or on my reading books blog.


Now for the next part of Triple Creek Ranch. Thanks for the comments last week (or this week) :) . 

Part 21

    “If I tell her to do something she loses her temper and won’t do it. But you tell her to do something and she does it.” He kissed her gently. “You certainly are a wonder.”
    Jenelle laughed softly. “I didn’t do anything special,” she protested. “Norman.” She looked up into his face, a worried expression in her eyes. “Did you notice Orlena was extra quiet tonight?”
    His arms slid around her and she was pulled close to him. “No, I can’t say that I did. Why?”
    Fiddling with the buttons on his shirt, Jenelle spoke slowly, not quite sure how to say what was bothering her. “Orlena hardly said one word all morning,” she began, “until I told her she had to help sew, and then after she had started she scarcely spoke. She didn’t talk at all while we ate tonight. Norman,” she raised her eyes to meet his, “do you think she’s feeling all right?”
    “Most likely,” he replied easily. “I don’t think she would hesitate to make it known if she wasn’t. Perhaps she just ran out of things to complain about.” He bent and kissed her. “Don’t worry about her, Sweet. Tomorrow you’ll probably be wishing she would stop talking again.”

    Norman was right, for the following morning Orlena again found reason for complaint and when Jenelle brought up the sewing, Orlena tossed her head. “I’ve decided,” she remarked airily, “that I was not brought up to be a sewing girl.”
    Jenelle looked at her with interest. “Were you brought up to cook? Or would you rather gather the eggs and feed the chickens?”
    “I was brought up to be a lady, not a farm drudge.”
    “Suppose we discuss this as we sew,” Mrs. Mavrich wisely suggested, and so, Orlena found herself sewing once more. This time her tongue was not silent, and Jenelle was thankful her husband wasn’t there to listen.
    It was a tiring morning to Jenelle, and after dinner she retired to her room with a headache, leaving Orlena to her own devices. She didn’t mean to sleep, only to rest a little while before starting supper, but the next thing she knew, someone was calling her name in low tones.
    Upon opening her eyes she saw Norman’s anxious face gazing down into hers. “What time is it?” she yawned.
    “A little after five.”
    “Oh!” Jenelle exclaimed, starting up and then putting a hand to her throbbing head. “I haven’t even started supper yet. What are you doing here?”
    Gently Norman pushed his wife back onto the pillows and sat down beside her. “We were all coming back and I couldn’t find you downstairs. Orlena was reading and said you had gone to your room after dinner. Are you all right? You look pale.”
    “I’ll be all right. It’s just a headache, but I must get up and start supper.” However, when she tried to sit up, the pain in her head made her dizzy and she dropped back.
    “Darling! What is it?” Norman was alarmed. He had never seen Jenelle quite like this before. “I’ll have someone ride for Dr. French.”
    Jenelle put up a hand and caught his sleeve. “No, Norman. I think it was the heat, and I’ve been a little extra tired these last few days. Don’t worry about me.” She smiled faintly into his worried eyes. “But what will we do about your supper?”
    “St. John always makes more than enough over at the bunk house. Orlena and I can eat there. But what about you?”
    “Just some tea and toast is all I want.”
    Norman bent over and dropped a kiss on her forehead. “I’ll have Orlena make some for you and bring it up.”
    “Norman,” Jenelle smiled faintly, “I’m sure Orlena hasn’t the least idea how to make either one. Remember she was brought up in the city.”
    At this Norman sighed and, stepping over to the window, drummed his fingers lightly on the sill. “Well,” he said at last, “I’d make your tea and toast for you, but I’m afraid it wouldn’t be eatable. Cooking just isn’t in my line. But, I’ll find someone.” Turning back to the bed he left another kiss and spoke softly, “Now get some more rest. I think I need to have a talk with my sister.” He muttered the last half to himself, but Jenelle heard him.
    “Be patient, Dear,” Jenelle pleaded. “Remember, she has only been here a week.”
    “I will, Sweet.” And Norman slipped from the room.
    As he started down the hall, he thought, “Orlena has got to start doing something towards pulling her own weight. I won’t have my wife exhausted because of the extra work Orlena makes.” He felt his temper rise and he paused. “This won’t work. I can’t go talk with her if I’m already worked up. It’d be best to talk to St. John first.”

    The big, Triple Creek Ranch cook was more than happy to provide his boss and Orlena with their supper. His concern for Mrs. Mavrich was only equaled by the concern of the rest of the hands, for Mrs. Mavrich was a friend to them all.
    Pausing in his return to the house, Norman changed directions and headed instead to the barn. There in the shadow of a secluded corner, he knelt and prayed for wisdom and patience in dealing with his sister. The task before him was not one to his liking, but he knew it must be done sooner or later. At last he rose and walked purposefully towards the house. Halting at the door, he drew in a deep breath, squared his shoulders and stepped in.

    “Well, there he goes,” Hearter remarked, standing before a window in the bunk house.
    “Who?” Hardrich queried.
    “Mr. Mavrich. I don’t envy him!” And Lloyd shook his head, turning away.
    “I don’t think anyone does, but,” and the ranch foreman looked about the room. “I think he could use some prayer right now. He looked worn out.”

Questions, comments, thoughts?

Ideas for other events in TCR?

Suggestions for other stories?