Triple Creek Ranch - Part 35

Good Morning Friday Fiction Fans,
Here I am again at another conference. This time we're in Wichita, KS. Yesterday we spent the day setting up and then came back to our hotel room, ate supper and watched the Scrips National Spelling Bee. It was a lot of fun to watch. There were some great spellers!

Nothing very unusual went on this week. I mowed the yard and worked on writing Triple Creek Ranch. And for those of you interested, I "think" I might be "done" writing this first book, but I'm not quite sure. I don't think I like the ending and Mom hasn't read it and told me what she thinks, so I may have to re-write the last part or add more to it. What would you all, as my readers, like to know by the end of the first book? That might help me know if I've reached the end or not. :)

Right now S went over to the conference hall with Brother while Mom and I wait to get a call from Sis-in-law saying that some of the kids need to go eat breakfast.
For those of you who enjoy children's cute sayings and doings, here are some vocabulary words you can add. Doodle Bug has such a fun way of saying some things. :)
You can "slim" in the "slimming pool" if you have one.
And at night you sleep on a "plillow."
Singing can also be different when you sing, "This is My Father's 'Weerald'." 

And now, Part 35 of Triple Creek Ranch. Enjoy!

Part 35

    The fierce heat of the summer had abated and the nights now held a bit of coolness, a hint of the approaching autumn, while during the bright sunny days there was often a cloud or a breeze which offered just a hint of chill, a tantalizing, invigorating, refreshing tang of air to quicken the blood, lighten the eyes and put a new spring in the step. The season was beginning to change and those on Triple Creek Ranch, hired hands, those living in the house and the animals in the barn or pasture felt a new lease on life. Some days were rainy, but when the sun shone again, not to bake the ground and suck any moisture from the earth, but to change the dry, brown grasses into bright green pastures where the cattle and horses ate with delight, then indeed did the ranch seem alive with life.
    The change was enjoyed by all and Jenelle, feeling more refreshed than she had for weeks, went about the house or worked in her gardens among the flowers with a song on her lips and the ever ready smile or bubbling laugh for those she saw.
    Orlena, having never experienced the changing of seasons away from the noise, bustle and hurry of the city, found herself almost skipping down the stairs each morning, eager to be finished with her chores so that she might enjoy the day with a book in some secluded place where she would be undisturbed. These books she carefully hid from her brother, for she had a feeling that he would not approve of them. True, her work often suffered from being sloppily and hastily done, the dusting, which Orlena despised, would often be neglected for days until Mrs. O’Connor or Jenelle spoke to her about it, but, when once her neglect of the chickens had taken Jenelle out to feed them and gather the eggs herself and Norman had discovered it, Orlena had been made to clean out the hen house while her brother stood sternly by watching her. Though she had complained and cried, her brother remained unmovable until the job had been finished. Ever since that time, Orlena had taken care that whatever other chores might be neglected or hurried over, the chickens never were.
    As for Mrs. O’Connor, that good woman relapsed more often into her native tongue and the bright lilt of her Irish melodies danced across the yards while she hung up the wash. “For,” she remarked to Hardrich one evening after the Monday night feast, “Tis like a bit ‘o the old country entirely. Tis green and bonny. I’m a thinkin’ ye can’t know how I’ve missed the grasses growin’ entirely.”
    Hardrich nodded. “I lived in a city two years, and I never will go back if I can help it.” He shook his head decidedly and strolled away from the house with the rest of the hands.
    Seated alone in her room, watching from behind the plain muslin curtains, Orlena frowned. “Wouldn’t go back to the city. What wouldn’t I do to go back!” Turning pensively away, she sat down in her chair and thought. Autumn was rapidly approaching and school would be starting soon. Where should she go? She only had a dim hope that Norman would relent and send her to Madam Viscount’s Seminary, but if he didn’t, where was she to go? “I’ll ask him tomorrow at breakfast,” she decided and began to undress for bed, though her stomach rumbled loudly for its missed supper.
    In another room, some time later, the master of the ranch turned from the open window to his wife who was busily brushing out her long golden hair. “Jenelle,” he said, “we have to decide where.”
    “True,” Jenelle agreed quietly. “I’ve been praying about it.”
    “So have I,” Norman put in. “But the decision has to be made now. I don’t feel right about putting it off any longer.”
    Laying the hairbrush back on her dressing table, Jenelle moved softly over to her husband who had turned back to the window, a worried expression on his face. “Why not here,” she whispered, slipping an arm through his and leaning her head on him.
    Norman looked down. “You mean in town?”
    Jenelle nodded.
    For a moment all was silent. “It would be simple,” he at last replied slowly. “But not Sheldon’s?”
    “No. Not yet. Let’s wait a while for that. Perhaps next year would do.”
    Bending his head, Norman dropped a kiss on his wife’s bright hair before slipping his arm about her. Silently, together, they stood watching the last of the evening light fade from the sky and the stars come out one by one to twinkle brightly now that the king of day had gone to bed.

    It was the following morning, one bright and fresh from a dew that had fallen during the night, and the air which blew the curtains was slightly chilly. The family was seated at the breakfast table when Orlena, turning to her brother, asked in the patronizing voice she had begun using, “Norman, have you yet made up your mind about which academy I am to attend this school term? I do wish you would hurry and decide for I must have time to order my school uniforms and my books and get my trunk packed.”
    Setting his coffee cup down and exchanging a quick glance with Jenelle, Norman smiled at his sister. “I have decided. Jenelle and I talked it over last night.”
    “And?” In spite of herself, Orlena was curious about this place where she would be spending the school year. Wherever it was, it would be better than staying out in the middle of nowhere on the ranch she decided.
    “You’ll be attending school in town this term so you won’t need any uniforms. As for books,” he went on, not noticing Orlena’s surprise and growing anger. “You and Jenelle can go into town with me tomorrow, and we’ll find out what you’ll need.”

What would you like to know before the first book ends?

Questions or comments about this part?

Would you like to read more?

Travels of Tracy - Spring

Good Morning Friday Fiction Fans!
Ah, the lovely morning sun is shining in my window. At least right now it is mostly blocked by a tree, but soon it will be making it difficult to see my screen because my eyes will be squinting. :) But I'm glad the sun is out. We had several days already this week were it was cloudy and gloomy. We even had the tornado siren going off, but thankfully nothing happened here.

A quick look at my week:
Friday we cleaned house! It really needed it!
Saturday morning I spent working out in the yard weeding a gravel walkway. I didn't get it done, but I did get a good start on it. The rest of the day I read and got some other things done.
Sunday was church and visiting with friends. Then spending the rest of the day relaxing at home.
Monday brought dark clouds and gloomy weather. I did get reading and some knitting done.
Tuesday was more dark, gloomy, rainy weather and more of the same things done.
Wednesday was different. The sun came out and it was lovely. Late afternoon Brother and Sis-in-law brought the 4 oldest kids over and another friend brought her 3 kids over. We were glad it was nice outside because we spent the entire time outside. Mom & Dad went out so it was just S and me with the seven kiddos. Oh, we had fun. They played on the swings, dressed up in the Policeman outfit we had just gotten, collected "food" from the yard, and then we ate supper on the porch. After supper, Mom and Dad came home and we all headed up to the parking lot across the ally to ride bikes. We stayed out there until it was dark and the parents came. Sweetpea learned how to ride a bike and Pickle Puss learned how to ride a bike with no training wheels! They were both pretty excited. :)
Thursday, I guess that was yesterday, some friends came over for Library.
Today we'll clean house and then Best Friend and I are going over to visit another friend for a couple hours.

Writing Update:
I have been writing. I got two parts of Triple Creek Ranch written since I posted last and a short story. This story is not my favorite, but I'll post it anyway. :) I'm still trying to find the end of TCR, but it hasn't happened yet. I do need to get some other short stories written so I have some to post. If I could just come up with the ends for the short stories I have on NEO, I'd have quite a few. Problem is, I can't seem to get an ending for any of them. *sigh* Hmm, I guess I could post the beginning of a story and let you all write an ending and send them to me. Does that sound like fun? Let me know if it does and I might do it.

Now, here is the fiction for this week. I hope you enjoy it at least a little. Oh, and if for some reason the reaction button won't work for you, leave me a comment and say what you wanted to click and I'll see if I can get it to work. It seems to be rather temperamental right now. Not sure why.

Travels of Tracy - Spring

    The rain came down in torrents and Tracy, in her small, blue Road Runner, could hardly see. It didn’t help matters any that Madalyn, her long-haired, yellow tabby had decided to comfort herself from the sound of so much water by walking all over Tracy’s lap.
    “Lyn,” Tracy begged, “please stay on your side of the car until we stop.” The pleading did no good, for Lyn’s long, bushy tail swept up and brushed Tracy’s face and the cat, evidently not liking the noise the rain and bits of hail were making on the roof of the car, meowed loudly.
    “I know, Lyn,” Tracy said, attempting to see where the road was. “I wish we weren’t driving during this too. But we have to get home and how was I to know there were storms in the area?”
    There was no reply from her four legged companion save another meow and the feeling of a few sharp little claws dug into her arm.
    The rain continued to pour from the dark sky in buckets, and now and then a jagged flash of lightning would illumine the countryside, but after it was gone everything seemed darker than before. Suddenly, without any warning, Tracy felt the car move in a strange way. She tried putting the brakes on but it made no difference.
    “Oh, Lyn,” she shivered, “I think we might be floating.” Reaching up, she pushed a tawny curl from her face and then gathered her beloved cat into her arms. “Oh, dear,” she sighed, “where are we going?”
    A gentle jar shook the small car and then the motion stopped.
    “Lyn, do you think we’ve reached an island? This is when we need Tad’s fishing boat.” She gave a nervous laugh. “I wonder what he would do?” As the rain drummed on the roof of the car, she thought about her special friend who would probably be home from college already since he lived closer. She was glad to be ending her next to last year of college. Tad had graduated this spring and Tracy would next year.
    “Meow.”
    The voice of her companion brought Tracy back from her daydream to reality. The rain had slacked off and it was beginning to grow lighter. Wind was still blowing, but wind didn’t worry Tracy like the water had. Peering out the windows, she discovered that the road had been flooded and she had been swept off to the side where the car had become situated on a rise of ground near a white rail fence.
    Noticing it was only a light rain falling, Tracy decided to get out and investigate to see if she might get the car back on the road and continue her way home.
    “Now Lyn,” she admonished, setting the cat on Tad’s old high school letter jacket which now served as her traveling bed, “you stay in the car until I get back.” Then reaching back and rummaging around for a moment, Tracy pulled out an umbrella,  “I won’t be long, but you don’t like water.”
    A contented purr was the answer and a moment later Tracy had stepped from the car. The first sensation she had as she shut the car door was that of water rushing into her new white oxfords. As she took a hesitant step forward, she felt mud oozing through the small holes in her shoes and she shuddered.
    “Oh dear,” she sighed aloud, “How will I ever get the car back onto the road again? I suppose I’ll have to sit here until someone finds me.”
    Looking around, she noticed for the first time that the fence her car was beside was part of a  horse pasture and in the dim light she could see what looked like a stable on the far side. Squelching her way around the car and cringing at each new feel of mud, her dress now soaked from the blowing rain clinging to her knees, she gazed around trying to see a house.
    Suddenly the sun broke through the clouds behind her and Tracy gasped at the sight of a rainbow.
    “There’s probably a house right where that rainbow ends,” she remarked, tapping on the car window and trying to get Lyn to look at it, but Lyn was too busy cleaning her paws to notice.
    When Tracy turned again, she gave a cry of alarm for suddenly a white, swirling funnel dropped from the dark clouds and began to snake and dance its way across the treetops, turning grey as it picked things up. It was with thankfulness that she saw the tornado moving away from her.
    She never could be certain how long she stood there watching. It wasn’t until she heard a deep voice that she turned and saw a patrol car pulled to the side of the road.
    “Hey Miss,” the officer called, climbing out of his car. “Are you all right? Do you need some help?”
    “Oh dear, yes,” Tracy cried. “I don’t know how I’m to get my car back to the road. It was raining so hard and I couldn’t see and I was carried right over here by some water.”
    “You should have pulled over if you couldn’t see,” remarked the officer, making his way towards her in his tall boots.
    “I suppose I should have, but it never crossed my mind; I was so busy thinking about getting home and letting Tad know I arrived.”
    “Well, Miss, you might not make it home if you can’t see the road.”
    “I’ll remember that in the future, Sir,” Tracy assured. “Now please don’t scare my cat. She doesn’t like water.” This Tracy added as the officer got in the driver’s seat and started the engine.
    A few minutes later, the little blue Road Runner was back on the road and Tracy, after thanking the patrol officer again for his help, pulled a blanket out of the back to sit on, for she was rather wet, and settled herself to drive the rest of the way home.
    “Oh, Lyn, this dress will dry, but I’m afraid these shoes are ruined forever!” she sighed as she pulled one mud covered shoe off her almost equally muddy foot. “And I did so like these shoes.”

Comments?

Did you feel sorry for Tracy?

One Thing at a Time

Hello Friday Fiction Fans,
I hope you have all had a good week since you were on here last.
The conference in Arlington went well and was really busy the first day. Saturday wasn't quite a busy, but it was still good.

We drove the 7 hours home on Sunday and then after unpacking and stuff, I headed down to my best friends' house to eat ice cream, give the newly weds their gift (My other best friend and I had made a quilt for them.), take some pictures and say good bye. Have you ever had to say good bye to your best friend that you've known for 24 years and lived just down the street from for over 20 years knowing that she wasn't going to be back any time soon and that you wouldn't be seeing her for several months probably? Well, it isn't easy. 

The rest of the week has been good. Getting back into things here, taking care of the piles of things that had been waiting for weeks, knitting again, writing again and knowing that I don't have to leave at the end of the week!
So far my writing hasn't finished any short stories yet. NEO is still completely full of partially written stories. It does have a TCR that I need to transfer and print. Project 12 hasn't gotten worked on. I'm still trying to get more written so I'm not wondering what to post each Friday.

Today you get a short story that I just sat down and wrote one evening quite a while ago. I don't know if you have ever felt like Meg, but I know I have! I hope you enjoy this story.

One Thing at a Time

    “There isn’t any time or I have no inclination!” The girl flung down her pencil and watched it roll across the floor and under a shelf with gloomy satisfaction.
    “No time or inclination for what?” asked an amused voice.
    Turning, the girl saw her brother standing in the open doorway. There was a look of fresh air and sunshine about him and his eyes sparkled with life and energy.
    With a deep, drawn out sigh, the girl turned to stare moodily at the wall, propped her chin in her hand and replied, “Everything.”
    “You’re right,” came the unexpected answer. “I have no time nor inclination to go join some of the other fellows in the saloon, or spend half the night at a party dancing, or play cards with Bill and Tom though they coaxed me to for half an hour yesterday.”
    “But it’s not the same thing, Max!” the girl pouted. “I’d think you, at least, would understand and help me.”
    “Suppose you explain yourself then, Meg and maybe I can.”  The young man settled himself on a chair where he could see his sister’s face and waited.
    For a moment Meg was silent, her pretty face clouded and gloomy. At last she spoke. “There’s nothing to explain. I just don’t have the time to do everything I want to do or should do, and when I do have the time I don’t want to do it.”
    Max nodded soberly though his brown eyes twinkled merrily. “Of course. Just what I said, not enough time and don’t want to. Anything else the matter?”
    At that, Meg glowered at him. “You’re no help! Why don’t you go play ball or go fishing.”
    Max laughed. “Because I don’t want to. It seems to be the same problem you have. Besides, there’s no one to play with. Seriously though, Meg,” his voice became sober. “It sounds like you have the same problem the Apostle Paul had when he said the good that I would, that I don’t do, but the evil that I don’t want to do, that’s what I do.”
    “But I don’t want to do evil, Max,” Meg protested. “The things I want to do are good, but when I have time to do them, I don’t want to do them anymore. And when I should do them, I want to do something else.”
    “Oh, so you’re problem is that you want to do good things when you want to do them and not when you should do them?”
    Meg shrugged.
    “Doesn’t doing something, even if it is good, at the wrong time make it wrong?”
    “No.”
    “There’s a time for every purpose under heaven,” Max quoted.
    “But that doesn’t mean when I draw and paint and when I practice the piano or weed the garden. Or study history,” she added in a lower voice.
    “It doesn’t? Meg, if I were to decide to work on my Latin when I should be preparing my algebra, do you think I’d be ready to recite in arithmetic class?”
    “No, but—”
    “And if you were to practice the piano when Aunt Jane was taking a nap, do you think you would be ready for your lesson?”
    Meg couldn’t help smiling over that idea though she shook her head. Her aunt would soon put a stop to her lessons if she tried it. “But my drawing and reading and weeding don’t disturb anyone.”
    Raising his eyebrows Max folded his arms. “They don’t? What about you?”
    A puzzled look crossed Meg’s face. “What do you mean?”
    “Doesn’t your reading disturb you, when you want to do it when you shouldn’t?”
    Meg’s eyes dropped and she half turned her face to hide a blush, for Max had spoken the truth. She did love to read and often her drawing and garden were neglected while she poured over her history book. “It’s that I don’t feel like drawing sometimes or working in the garden, even if I do enjoy those things.” Her voice was muffled by her hands. “And I have to study for history.”
    “Do you feel like you’ve accomplished everything well if you study your history when you haven’t finished the rest of your work?”
    Meg shook her head slowly.
    Silence fell on the room. A bee buzzed around the open window and the sound of robins singing in the tree outside broke the quiet. At last Meg, without looking at her brother said, “I tried to read only when it was time to study history, but I just can’t seem to help myself. I wish I had more time to read. Or more inclination to do the other things. But sometimes I’d rather be outside in the garden than even reading.” She sighed.
    Max stood up and gently pulled his sister’s hands away from her face. “I’d much rather study Latin than tug at those algebra problems, and if I let my mind be distracted by the Latin I wished I could be studying, I’d have low marks and Papa wouldn’t be very pleased. You love history and reading, Meg, but you also have other things to learn. You have to discipline yourself to focus on the thing at hand. Do one thing at a time, then, when you have extra time, you can enjoy all the more doing what you really like.”
    For a moment Meg sat with her eyes downcast, not noticing the half finished drawing that lay before her.
    “One thing at a time, Meggy,” Max repeated softly, using the pet name he had called his sister when she was small.
    Giving a sigh, Meg looked up into her brother’s kind eyes. “It’s just so hard,” she whispered.
    “Ask Jesus to help you, Meg. He will, you know.”
    Meg nodded and straightened. “Thanks Max. Papa and Aunt Jane are too busy to talk with me like this.”
    Stooping, Max reached under the shelf and pulled out the despised pencil. Handing it to his sister he said, “You finish your work and I’ll go finish algebra, then perhaps there will be time for a walk before supper.” And Meg bent over her paper with a smile.

Well, did you like it?

Have you ever felt that way?

Comments?

Triple Creek Ranch - Part 34

Good Morning FFFs,
At a hotel this morning down in Arlington, TX for a huge book fair/homeschool conference. This is one of the very busy ones so I shouldn't be wandering around wondering what to do and wishing it were almost over. :)

Let's see, last week . . .
Friday - I stayed home in the morning and then after lunch we headed out to the camp where the wedding was going to be held. It was cold. The rehearsal went well even if one of the groomsmen wasn't there yet. After the rehearsal, we helped with a few other things and then most people headed out. There were still some of us young people there. My best friends, a younger sister and friend and the groom, one of the bride's brothers and another guy friend. The girls all went for a walk out through the woods to where the wedding had been planned, but the rain changed it. Then brother and guy came out in a car and all five girls piled in the back. It was rather crazy. :) We had supper at the bride's house. It was grilled hot dogs, mac & cheese, baked beans and chips with s'mores for dessert. Such fun.
Saturday - It rained some during the morning, but then only lightly misted some. I don't know how many of you have been involved with weddings, but the few I've been involved with tend to be rather stressed before it happens. Well, this wedding was different. The bride and groom even went for a walk through the woods together that morning. :) I got to help make our bouquets, and even the bride's bouquet It was a wedding not many people will forget because it was chilly and outside. We did do it in a pavilion just in case it rained. The guests wore their coats and we had piles of quilts for people to use. And they did get used. Since my other best friend (bride's twin) and I really wanted to wear the flip-flops we had made, we put a heater right behind where we would be standing. It wasn't too bad. 
Sunday - A much looked forward to day of rest! I was about to fall asleep during church.
Monday - Got some things done that had been piled up for weeks. And that evening we went roller skating with friends from church. We had a great time, like always.
Tuesday - Got other things done and relaxed. Walked that evening with best friend since her other friend had left. It was strange just having us two. We are so used to being three since we've been best friends for 24 years!
Wednesday - Drove down to Arlington, TX.
Thursday - Set up for the conference.

Writing? I haven't written since  . . . When was it? Before we went to Silver Dollar City? I am really hoping to get back into writing and lots of it, when we return from this trip.
Since I haven't posted a Triple Creek Ranch Story since March, I thought it was time I posted another one. :) Do you agree? Enjoy it!

Part 34

    Did Jenelle really like her a little, even though she herself had never liked Jenelle? Sitting in her chair near the open window, Orlena came face to face with the possibility that most of the misery she had experienced since coming to the ranch was her own fault. She hadn’t even tried to like it. All she had done, she realized, was compare this life with the one she had always known. Could she come to like living out in the middle of nowhere if she tried hard enough? Orlena wasn’t sure she really wanted to like it at Triple Creek, but— “At least I can tolerate it until time for school,” she thought with a deep sigh.

    Downstairs Norman was on his knees beside Jenelle. “Darling, please stop crying,” he begged, drawing her into his arms. “It wasn’t your fault. You didn’t do anything. Sweetheart!” He kissed her, smoothed back her hair and then glanced about the room. It was empty except for the two of them. For several minutes he continued talking softly until Jenelle had calmed down enough to listen. “I’m going to have a talk, a calm one, with Orlena.”
    Jenelle put in a protest. “Don’t, Norman, I—”
    Gently Norman put his finger over his wife’s lips. “I think it is time I did. I won’t have you spoken to like that.” Then before Jenelle could say anything else, Norman changed the subject. “Has Mrs. O’Connor been a help to you, Sweet?”
    “Oh, yes.”
    “I’m thankful to hear it. Now,” he kissed her once again and stood up, “you are going to eat something and then go up to bed.”
    With a tired sigh, Jenelle leaned against him and clung to his hand. He was so strong and thoughtful, so wise; he always was thinking of her and the ranch. How did she get the most wonderful husband in the world, she wondered.
    “Jenelle?”
    “I’m not hungry,” she whispered, closing her eyes. The dining room was warm, and she was tired.

    After helping his wife up to bed, Norman returned to the dining room to find Mrs. O’Connor. As they sat together eating their cold breakfast, Norman recalled the many mornings he had taken his breakfast in the kitchen at his grandmother’s with Mrs. O’Connor. And as then, he needed to talk.
    “Mrs. O’Connor, what am I supposed to do? I can’t talk to Orlena without one of us losing our temper, usually both of us. I can’t find out from Jenelle what’s been going on in the house, so how can I know what needs said? I don’t even have the faintest idea what Orlena was so upset about this morning. It’s almost as though Jenelle were trying to protect Orlena. Am I that harsh?”
    Setting down her tea cup, Mrs. O’Connor shook her head. “Ah Norman,” she said, “tis a sweet wife you have. She’s not protecting Orlena, she’s trying to protect you.”
    “Me? From what?
    “From yourself.”
    For a moment Norman puzzled over that statement. How could Jenelle be trying to protect him from himself and why did she think she should? He must be missing something, but what?
    “And here I was thinking you had a fine head on your shoulders since you went to college and graduated with such high honors.” The housekeeper chuckled over the perplexed look on the rancher’s face. “Tis from yer temper she’s protecting you. She knows how jealous you are of her and that Miss Orlena has a way of saying things that rile yer temper but have no effect on Jenelle. Her patience is great, though I’ll admit this morning was a wee bit too much.”
    “I’ll say it was too much,” Norman muttered. Then, with a long, drawn out sigh that was almost like a groan, he began drumming his fingers on the table. Turning suddenly to Mrs. O’Connor, he asked, “Do you think I should talk to Orlena now?”
    Thoughtfully the housekeeper shook her head. “Not yet. Wait a bit. I believe Jenelle’s tears did more to soften her heart than any words you could say. Go to your work on the ranch.”
    “But Jenelle . . .”
    “I’ll see to it that she rests.”

    After Norman departed reluctantly, Mrs. O’Connor stepped up to Orlena’s room. “Tis not right she should be left hungry entirely,” she thought as she tapped softly. A subdued voice answered and Mrs. O’Connor opened the door.
    Orlena turned from the closet, her young face sober, her manner hesitant. “I’m not hungry, Mrs. O’Connor. Please don’t make me eat. I couldn’t swallow anything.”
    “Tis a state of things to be sure,” the good woman murmured to herself as she descended the stairs to clear away the breakfast that was only half eaten. “And it’s unsure I am if tis a good state of things or not.”

    It was indeed, as Mrs. O’Connor put it, a state of things. Orlena hung up her dresses and took care of the chickens in a subdued manner. Even sewing on her dresses, which were nearly finished, was a silent time, for Orlena didn’t complain as she usually did; in fact, she scarcely said two words. Jenelle came down later in the morning, also quiet though not in the same way her young sister was. Several times during the day, Mrs. O’Connor would glance first at Jenelle and then at Orlena. Neither one was moody, Jenelle even smiled, though there was not as much brightness in it as there had been only the day before.
    This state of things lasted for several days before Jenelle was once again her bright, sunny self with a cheerful smile and a kind word for everyone. Orlena accepted, at least for the time, her life on Triple Creek Ranch and resigned herself to at least tolerating her assigned chores and eating with Mrs. O’Connor. As for eating with the hired hands, Orlena’s lip still curled, and she longed for the day when she could put Lloyd Hearther in his place.

Questions, comments?

I'd love to hear what you think is going to happen next.

Or your thoughts on this part.

Lose Their Heads

Well Faithful Friday Fiction Fans,
I woke up this morning to trees with green leaves and ice balls and snow on the ground. :P Perhaps ice and snow is normal for where you live on May 3rd, but it's not normal here! And one of my best friends is getting married tomorrow and is supposed to have an outdoor wedding. My other best friend and I are bridesmaids and are supposed to be wearing light, summery dresses and flip-flops. Hmm, now there's ice and snow on the ground. What's wrong with that picture? I think the flip-flops are out. We'll wear other shoes, and layers. At least the reception has been moved inside. Not sure about the ceremony yet. I guess you can come back next week and I'll let you know. :)

I'm really not sure what to post this morning. Since my brain is still so distracted with the wedding and a conference last weekend and another one next weekend, I really haven't written anything at all. So, should I post TCR or Dr. Morgan? Or is there something else I could post?
Let me go check.

Okay, I've come up with something different. This was a story my two best friends and I wrote for school two years after we met. That means I was 8 and they were 9. Don't laugh too hard. Oh, and the rabbit (Clover) and dog (Lassie) were real. Only the events didn't happen. :)

Amber, Angela & Rebekah Lose Their Heads

Part 1 - by Angela

One day Amber, Angela, and Rebekah were playing dress up. They were putting some hats on. Then at lunch time they were taking their hats off and their whole head came off. Their heads ran out of the door.
    Amber, Angela and Rebekah tried to tell Mr. and Mrs. Morris to go and get their heads, but they could not talk. Mr. and Mrs. Morris didn’t hear them, but anyway they went and tried to catch their heads.
    The heads kept running faster and faster and faster! Then Mr. and Mrs. Morris were so tired that they fainted. Then the heads kept running and running. The heads found a hiding place where they could see Mr. and Mrs. Morris going by. But they never saw them go by. And they went to sleep.
    Then Sarah, Crystal, Caleb, Jimmy, James, Jeremiah, and Jordan went to look for Mr. and Mrs. Morris. Amber, Angela, and Rebekah stayed home and starved because they couldn’t eat.
    The kids saw Mr. and Mrs. Morris laying on the ground. They thought the heads had attacked them. So then the kids fainted.
    Lassie and Clover went to look for Mr. and Mrs. Morris and all the children.

Looking For the Heads

Part 2 - by Amber

    Lassie and Clover were looking for Mr. and Mrs. Morris and the children. Then a train came. Clover heard the train and ran down to the train track and got run over.
    Then Clover hopped into the train. Then she hopped out again. Lassie ran to the train and hopped in. Then she hopped out. Then they went and looked for Mr. and Mrs. Morris and all the children. They they went home.
    Then the children woke up and went to the Morris’s house. Jimmy and Sarah held Rebekah’s hands. Crystal and James held Angela’s hands. Jeremiah and Caleb held Amber’s hands. And Jordan walked. Then they went to look for the heads and they took Amber, Angela, and Rebekah. Then they decided to run. So Jimmy put Rebekah on his back. And Sarah carried Amber and Crystal carried Angela.
    Then they ran home to the Morris’s house.

The Heads Are Found

Part 3 - by Rebekah

One day the kids went to look for the heads. They saw their hiding place. The kids didn’t know if the heads were in the hiding place or not. So they decided to go and see. They saw the heads. They started chasing them. Of course! Why wouldn’t they start chasing them?
    The heads ran faster & faster. The heads ran back to the house. The kids went inside still chasing the heads. The heads were trying to take off the hats, but they couldn’t.
    Then Rebekah, Amber, and Angela caught their heads and put them back on. And they tried to take the hats off but their heads came off again. They put their heads back on.
    Then they started eating & eating & eating! And they ate some more and they ate some more. They ate until their stomachs started to hurt. The heads said, “You’d better be careful or we’ll run away again.”
    Don’t worry, it was all only a dream! Good-bye!

Oh, those old days of school . . .