To the Farm - Part 8

Hello Friday Fiction Fans,
Are you still in summer, or has autumn come to stay? Or are you like us and have autumn for a few days and then summer returns as though it can't stand to leave us just yet. :)

It's been quite a week. From not having the right papers to get my car license renewed on Monday, to working in the nursery on Wednesday night with 11 little ones, to getting stuck on my new book, to getting unstuck again. And everything in-between. :) All in all, it's been a busy week. Last Saturday we took the four oldest grandchildren to George Washington Carver National Historic Site (That's quite a mouthful!)'s prairie days. We had fun. Each of the kids earned their Jr. Ranger badge and had a bag of things to take home. We attended a wedding that evening which was outdoors and the weather was just beautiful!

This book I'm working on is still moving. Last night I did get stuck. It had slowed down and then picked up speed a little until it came to a grinding halt. I couldn't go forward, and wasn't sure where to go if I took some things out. But, after backing up about 400 words, I switched tracks and we were off again. I ended up writing 1,231 words in 50 minutes! Not usual, though it's really fun when it happens. I'm starting to look for pictures for the cover. Right now I need a picture of a blond girl who is about 14 with either a shy smile or a sober look. The story is a winter one so she should have on a sweater or something that doesn't look summery. :) Any suggestions? Anyone know of anyone who wouldn't mind being a model?

Here's the next part of Ria and the Gang. You never know what they are going to do next. :)

To the Farm

Part 8

    “You’re it!” a voice exclaimed and a small hand slapped Fred’s arm before his younger brother Henry darted away.
    “Hey,” Phil protested, “Ria can’t play tag, so–”
    But Ria interrupted him. “Yes, I can! Oh, that will be so fun!”
    Al put a hand on his excited cousin’s arm. “Ria,” he chided, “you can’t play tag with that ankle.”
    “Yes I can. If all of the gang has to hop on one foot.” She giggled. “I might actually get to tag more than one of you because I’d have the advantage of crutches.” The picture of her tall cousins all hopping about the yard sent her into such a merry laugh that it brought the other lads over to join them.
    There was some debate about Ria’s idea. Al, Fred and Ed were opposed to the idea, while several of the others, the younger boys who were not a part of ‘the gang’ especially, thought it a fine one and the rest were unsure but ready to be persuaded one way or the other.
    “Why not, Ed?” Jack asked, folding his arms and preparing for an argument. “If we’re all hopping around, Ria isn’t going to have to go far or fast.”
    “Please, Ed,” begged Ria, looking pleadingly at her oldest brother. “I’ll be careful and I just have to do something! If I can’t do this I might–climb a tree!”
    “Feeling a might desperate, are you cousin?” Tom leaned over to whisper, and Ria nodded.
    With a sigh and a shake of his head, Ed gave in and put it to a vote on the condition that all promised not to run into Ria or knock her down. He knew how rough games of tag could be with two dozen boys all playing.
    He needn’t have worried about a rough game, for everyone was having such a difficult time hopping on one foot that the game was over in fifteen minutes. Collapsing on the porch steps or on the grass, the boys, young and old alike, indulged in a hearty burst of laughter. The sight had been so comical that it was sometime before the laughter died down and the younger boys ran off to play another game.
    “Ria,” Jimmy said, lounging back on the steps and looking up at his sister who sat on a wicker chair on the porch. “I hope you got some of your energy out because I’m not hopping around all day on one foot. It’s too exhausting.”
    Giggling, Ria nodded. “Yes, I did. You can all go along now. Thank you for playing. I think I’ll go help Grandma.” And Ria stood up and crutched her way to the door. She didn’t want to admit it, but she was tired and her ankle was really starting to ache. Perhaps playing tag hadn’t been such a good idea after all.
    Arriving later, Dr. Earl noticed how slowly Ria was moving and the slight frown on her face. “What have you been up to this morning, Ria?” he asked sitting down beside her on the sofa. No one else was in the cool room except the two of them, for the outdoors was more alluring.
    “I helped Grandma snap beans,” she said, feeling a flush creep up her neck and wishing that it were anyone else asking besides her doctor uncle.
    Earl noticed and knit his brows though his eyes twinkled. “And what else have you been doing that makes you so tired and has given a pucker to that pretty face?” When she didn’t answer right away he said, “Come on, fess up.”
    Glancing over at him, she replied, a smile curving her lips and a giggle almost escaping her. “I only played tag with the boys for a little while.”
    “Ria!”
    “It was a different kind of tag,” she made haste to explain. “Everyone had to hop on one foot and they kept falling down and grabbing on to each other. It was so funny!” And she burst into laughter, only to catch her breath at the sudden twinge her ankle gave.
    Dr. Earl scooted down on the sofa and patted the place he had vacated. “I want to see that ankle,” he said. “You were supposed to keep off of your foot, you know.”
    Reluctantly, Ria shifted and placed her injured leg on the sofa. “I did stay off of it,” she protested. “I didn’t put any weight on it. Honest. I used my–” She caught her breath as the pain raced up her leg at his first touch. “My crutches, and the others were careful around me.”
    “Humph.” Earl frowned as his skilled hands rapidly undid the last of the bandages and he looked at the swollen ankle. Glancing over at his niece, he shook his head. “Ria, Ria,” was all he said, but he reached into his bag and pulled out some fresh bandages.
    Several times Ria frowned in pain, and once she turned her head away so that her uncle wouldn’t see the tears which came as he re-bandaged the injured limb. She wouldn’t cry! The gang wouldn’t have a chance to call her a baby, but oh, how it hurt!
    Once the new bandage was on, Dr. Earl reached for a cushion and gently settled Ria’s foot upon it. “Now, I don’t want you up and moving about unless it is absolutely necessary, young lady” he ordered quietly. “Not unless you want to stay on crutches for weeks longer.” He rose.
    “But–” protested Ria, her eyes widening and feeling a sudden loss for words as she stared at her bandaged foot.
    Her uncle tipped her chin up and looked into her face. “I’m sorry, but I did tell you to take it easy and not to overdo it. I think you may have been doing a bit more at home than you should have, and this game of tag wasn’t a good idea. I’m sure you won’t be stuck here alone all day, and if someone will carry you, you can even go outside, but only if that foot remains up.”

Would you have voted for or against Ria's idea?

Have you ever played one-legged tag?

There are 2 parts left, will you be back?

To the Farm - Part 7

Hello FFFs,
Here I sit, pondering what to say. I could grow eloquent about it being Sep. 11 and how that day changed America. I remember it, and the days which followed. It seemed almost like a second Pearl Harbor, only this time the attack wasn't just against a military base, this was against everyday Americans. How many of you, dear readers remember that day and what you were doing?

But, I am going to leave the thoughtful, emotional posts for those others who want to write about it. We are facing a new day, the past is behind us. No, we shall never forget, but we cannot dwell too long on the troubling past lest we become too depressed and sad to face life today with a smile. :)

Last night was a grand night. My story "Through the Tunnel" which was going to be a short story for the blog, reached novel proportions! That means, to those of you who are staring with a confused expression at the screen, that the "short story" is now 40,000 words long! (That would be 40 weeks of posting!) No, I haven't reached the end of this novel yet, but it's coming. Some time. :) We'll see if I end up getting it finished before Christmas. Not published you understand, just written. I probably will, but I'm not sure I'll have time to actually get it published. And yes, I will let you all read the first few parts here on the blog.

That is my big news. It's been a busy week of working on my many projects. I've gotten a good bit done, but since most of these projects aren't small ones, they are going to take a while to finish. 

Oh, and by the way, if you would like to read another interview with me, just hop on over to LeAnne's blog. I'm sure she would love to have a few new readers and comments. :)

So, until next Friday, enjoy this part of:

To the Farm

Part 7

    The afternoon was quiet. Ria slept some and played seven games of Chinese checkers with her brothers and dad. She read for a while and wished she could get up and move about. The week seemed long and endless, and she dreaded it. Everyone would be busy. The boys had meetings and plans and she would be left out. Perhaps Lydia could come over one day. She sighed.
    Her father looked up from his paper. “Would you like to go to bed, Ria?” he asked.
    She nodded. “Yes, I am tired,” she admitted.
    Ed, Jimmy and Johnny all rose and came over, willing to carry her up, but Mr. Mitchell motioned them away. “Nope, this is my little girl, and I’ll carry her up to bed. You fellows will doubtless have opportunity to transport Ria when I’m at work.”
    Ria couldn’t help smiling. It felt good to have so many brothers willing to wait on her. Her mother followed them up and, after Mr. Mitchell had kissed his daughter good night and retired, Ria soon had herself settled in her bed with her injured leg on a pillow.
    “How does your ankle feel, Dear?” Mrs. Mitchell asked, brushing Ria’s dark hair off her forehead.
    “It’s not too bad now, Mama. Only when I move it by accident does it really hurt.” She yawned.
    “I’ll come in later and see how you are doing,” her mother promised before leaving her with a kiss.

    True to his word, Uncle Frank stopped by for a long visit with Ria and his sister the next day.
    “Where are Grandma and Grandpa?” Ria asked after greeting her uncle affectionately, though with less enthusiasm than she had on Saturday.
    “They’ll be along later,” Uncle Frank said, pulling up a chair near the couch where Ria lay. “They had some shopping to do first and, as I have always detested shopping, I thought I’d walk down here and wait for them.”
    “Did I ever tell you about the time I was laid up with a broken leg?”
    Ria shook her head. She enjoyed talking with her youngest uncle. He was a good story teller and also a great listener when she needed to talk.
    Turning his head as his sister walked into the room, Frank asked, “Emma, do you remember the time I broke my leg?”
    “How could I forget!”
    “Tell me, Uncle Frank, please!” begged Ria.
    “All right.” And Frank launched into a story of when he was young.

    The days passed by much faster than Ria thought was possible, for Lydia came over every day and members of the gang were always stopping by. “Aunt Emma’s” was a favorite place for the lads to gather and now that Ria was laid up, they came more often. As much as she enjoyed all the visits, Ria was heartily glad when Uncle Earl allowed her to be up on crutches and move about at will. It took her some time to manage the stairs, but she soon had no trouble.
    “At least I won’t be stuck on a couch in the living room at the farm on Saturday,” she told her mom, hobbling into the kitchen Thursday afternoon.
    “Oh, I’m sure any number of your cousins or uncles would have carried you and the couch outside, had you been stuck on one.” Emma Mitchell turned from the stove. “Would you snap some beans for me, please?”

    Saturday arrived and the entire Mitchell family set off to join the rest of the clan out at “the farm.” Even if most of Ria’s uncles and aunts lived on farms, there was only one place which was called “the farm” by everyone,and that was Grandma and Grandpa’s place. True, Grandpa didn’t farm quite as many acres as he used to, but that didn’t matter.
    Uncle Karl’s family were the only ones who had arrived when the Mitchells piled out of their car, but the others weren’t far behind.
    “I just wish Millie was here,” Ria sighed, gazing around at the crowd of boys of all sizes. She hobbled over on her crutches to the shade of a tree and gazed about. When the entire family gathered, the farm seemed to swarm with men and boys.
    “Ria, do you want to go play dress up with us?”
    Looking down, Ria saw her younger girl cousins gathering in a cluster. There were seven of them all around the same age. “No, not right now,” she told them. Watching them turn and skip off to the house, she frowned and wished, as she often had before, that some of them had been born sooner, so she could have a girl cousin her age here at home.
    “What’s that frown for, Ria,” a friendly voice asked. “Are you bemoaning the fact that you couldn’t walk here and follow that secret way?”
    “No,” Ria laughed, looking up at Fred. “I was just wishing . . . for something to do besides playing dress up with the little girls.” And she looked towards the house with a sigh.
    “What would you like to do?”
    “Climb a tree or go swing on the barn swing.”
    It was Fred’s turn to laugh. “Ria, Ria. You always have wanted to do what you couldn’t. Don’t you want to do anything else?”
    Before Ria had a chance to think of something, Al strolled over. “What plans are being made here in the shade?”
    “Nothing yet. Ria hasn’t thought of something that is workable for her ankle. She wants to climb a tree.”
    Ria grinned. “I know what I don’t want.”
    Her cousins looked at her expectantly. “I don’t want to be treated like an invalid! I’m tired of it.”
    “Just don’t overdo anything,” Al told her.
    “Or Earl will have our heads,” Fred smiled. “And yours too.”
    “Is this the French Revolution, and are you in danger of losing your heads?” A new voice asked as Phil joined the small group. “Do we need someone to rescue you?”
    “No. It’s just me wanting to do something!” Ria shifted her weight on her crutches. She hated to admit it, but her ankle was starting to ache. “I’m tired of sitting around all day.”
    The three lads exchanged glances. Surely someone could think of something she could do.

If you were one of Ria's cousins, could you think of something she could do?

What would you suggest?

What would you want to do if you were Ria?

To the Farm - Part 6

And good morning to you, Faithful Friday Fiction Fans!

It's good to be home again. We did have a lovely time with my grandparents, and I was able to get quite a bit done on the new HUGE project that I mentioned last week. This book I'm compiling of all those bike trips, well, it's growing. Last week I had 24 trips to include in the book. (A lot, but I could handle it.) Now I'm up to 39+! (Yeah, I told you it was huge.) Not all the trips have pictures, but nearly all have my grandpa's diary which all have to be typed up. Some trips have my grandma's diary too, as well as pictures, maps, newspaper articles, an uncle's diary or a combination of some of the above.
So with that and the large quilting project I need to get done in 3 months, I really don't have a lot of time to devote to new books. I'm still writing (because I can't NOT write) but publishing is taking a back seat for now.

We are back to summer weather here. Our lovely taste of autumn has slipped into a memory and we turned on the air conditioning once more. 

Those of you have left comments on this blog last week, thank you. I wanted to reply, but things were quite busy and I wasn't on the computer much, so I didn't get to it. But, if you leave comments this week, I hope to be able to reply to them. :) 

I hope you enjoy this next part. It's a good thing this is a long story or I'm afraid I'd run out of things to post. :P Happy reading!

To the Farm

Part 6

    Hardly had they finished eating when the doorbell rang. Mr. Mitchell went to answer it as Mrs. Mitchell and Johnny, who had volunteered to help instead of Ria, were busy clearing off the table.
    “Good evening, Earl,” Ria heard her father greet their visitor, and she knit her brows and glanced at Ed. He was looking at Jimmy with raised eyebrows and a look a surprise on his face.
    “Evie wanted me to bring this to Emma,” Earl was heard to say.
    Then Emma’s voice came through the open door, “Oh, thank you. I was needing that. Are you in a special hurry?”
    Ria sighed. As much as she wanted something done to make her ankle feel better, somehow having Uncle Earl look at it forced her to face reality; she wouldn’t be playing baseball with her cousins next week. So busy were her thoughts that she didn’t notice what was being said in the living room until her father called for Ed to carry Ria in.
    Ed smiled sympathetically at his sister. He knew from experience that sprained ankles could be very painful.
    Dr. Earl grinned at his niece as he pulled up a stool beside the sofa where Ed had placed her. “I hear you were injured in the line of duty, young lady,” he began. “Let’s see how bad it is.” Gently he felt her ankle. It was so swollen that he had to resort to a knife to cut the sock off.
    Ria made no cry as her ankle was examined, though the pain caused her to clench her hands, and at one point her uncle remarked, “You know, Ria, it really would help if you breathed. At least now and then.” In her effort to hold back any cries of pain, she had unintentionally been holding her breath.
    She gave a slight giggle and then frowned in pain.
    In a few minutes, her ankle was firmly bandaged and resting on a pillow, and her uncle stood up. “That is a nasty sprain, Ria. I’m afraid you will have to stay off of it for at least three weeks.”
    “Three weeks,” Ria groaned, thinking of all that she would have to miss.
    “I didn’t say you were confined to a couch,” Uncle Earl laughed. “In a day or two you can probably move about some with crutches. But,” he added, “no putting that foot to the ground until I give you leave. Is that clear?” Earl, sounding more like a doctor instead of just an uncle, glanced about at the others as he spoke.
    Everyone nodded though Ria made a face. It would be a long three weeks, she thought, but maybe she could move about on crutches by Saturday. Then at least she wouldn’t be quite at the mercy of her teasing cousins.
    “What about tomorrow, Earl?” Mitch asked his young brother-in-law.
    “Keep her home,” was the blunt reply. “I’ll come over after church to take another look.”

    Ria didn’t sleep very well that night for her ankle pained her a great deal. After her mother had left and the house was quiet, she turned her head and buried her face in her pillow and cried. It had been a long day, and to end it with the knowledge that she wouldn’t be doing all the things she had planned, was hard. When her cry was over, she was able to sleep some until, trying to turn over, sharp stabs of pain shot through her whole leg and brought her instantly awake. Biting her lip, she bore the pain in silence so as not to wake the others.
    Her thoughts went over the day again and the fun she had expected to have at the farm next Saturday. “Now I’ll be stuck in a chair like an invalid,” she moaned. “Why, oh why did I have to sprain my ankle today?”
    Finally, just as the sun was beginning to turn the clouds a rosy pink, Ria fell into a sound sleep. She didn’t even hear her brothers and father leave for church.

    When they returned, Ed ran up to see Ria. He had missed his little sister who usually shared a hymnbook with him. “Hi,” he greeted her with a smile when he poked his head in her half open door. “Would you like to spend some time on the couch?”
    “Yes!” Ria was tired of her room even though her mom had spent the morning with her. At least downstairs she could look out the window and be somewhat involved in the conversations. Putting her arms around her brother’s neck, she let him lift her in his strong arms.
    “Does it still hurt much?” Ed asked softly.
    “Yes. But don’t tell the gang.”
    Ed smiled and promised “I won’t.”
    Once Ria was established on the couch before the large windows in the living room, her father came in. “Hello, Ria,” he greeted her, dropping a kiss on her forehead. “You were missed at church today. Emma and Lucy wanted to know where you were, as did almost every other one of the younger cousins. Uncle Frank said to tell you he’d stop by tomorrow if you’d like some company, and Grandma and Grandpa promised to come with him.” Mr. Mitchell drew up a chair, sat down and went on. “Several others asked about you.”
    “And everyone of the gang said to say they missed you,” Jimmy put in, stepping from the kitchen with a tray of lunch for his sister.
    “And don’t forget Lydia,” Johnny added. “She stopped me and asked where you were.”
    Looking down at her tray of lunch, Ria asked, “Can’t you all eat in here too? I want to hear about everyone and I can’t if you are in the dining room. Please, Mom!” she added as Mrs. Mitchell looked through the doorway.
    With a smile, Emma nodded. She had already decided that a solitary lunch would not suit Ria very well, for her daughter was a social girl who liked to be in the middle of almost everything.
    They were still eating when Dr. Earl and Evie arrived.
    “Ria!” Evie exclaimed almost as soon as she entered the house. “You were sadly missed at church this morning. How are you feeling?”
    “Full.” Ria pushed her empty plate to the farther side of her tray. Then she winced. Any slight movement or touch on her ankle or foot sent waves of pain racing up her leg.
    “Have you both eaten?” Emma asked, starting to rise.
    “Oh, yes.” Evie waved her sister aside and took Ria’s try herself. “With only two of us to fix lunch for, it doesn’t take as long. Besides, I’ve learned how to eat like a doctor.” Her merry laugh rang through the room and her husband looked up at her, a quizzical expression on his face.
    “How does one eat?” He ventured to ask.
    “Always in a hurry.”
    It was impossible for the others not to join in the laugh.

Do you know anyone who always eats in a hurry?

Have you had to miss church because of an injury?

Do you want to return next week?

To the Farm - Part 5

Hello FFFs!
I had to keep reminding myself that I had to post today. You see, I'm on "vacation" (of sorts) at my grandparents' house. I'll be home over the weekend and then back here for another few days. That's why there hasn't been a post on Read Another Page. I was too busy to get it ready before and couldn't think of a thing to post on Tuesday. :)

The weather here has been absolutely beautiful! We've had the house open day and night since we got up here. It's even been cool enough that Grandma and I were wearing sweaters. :) And, we have been eating on the screened in back porch! Except for the supper when we went out to eat, that's where we've eaten in the evenings. It's been so delightful!

I haven't been writing while I've been here, but boy, have I been working on a project! I'm compiling all the bike trips (as in bicycle trips) that my Grandpa, Grandma and uncles have gone on since 1974! They wanted them put together in a book with maps, pictures and diaries. It's lots of fun, but also a lot of work. So, if I don't get any other book published this year, you'll know why. :)

But it's about time for breakfast so I think I'll let you just read the next part of

To the Farm

Part 5

    Louise looked over. “Oh, Ria,” she sighed in relief, “if you would only go and look at whatever it is, it would be such a help! They have been begging and teasing me to go see since they woke up from their naps, but I am too busy today.”
    Before Ria could reply, Frank asked, “where is it?”
    “Only in the shed.”
    Frank looked questioningly at Ria but she was already moving away, towed by two eager little cousins.
    In the shed Ria was treated to the sight of five baby possums. They were small and they hissed. Ria gently pulled the little girls out of the shed and shut the door. “Tell Daddy about them when he comes back from the field,” she began, but was interrupted.
    “Tell me what?” and Uncle Edmund stood behind her with Larry.
    “Baby possums in the shed.”
    Edmund raised his eyebrows, “Must have been the mother I killed this morning. I’ll take care of them. What are you doing here?”
    “I came with Uncle Frank,” Ria replied, grinning as Larry suddenly tore away shouting in great excitement.
    “Frank?” Edmund exclaimed. “I didn’t know he was back! Come on, girls,” and with the three girls trailing behind him, he set off for the front of the house.
    All was talk then for several minutes until Ria interrupted, “Uncle Frank, we won’t beat the gang back unless we leave.”
    “She’s right. See you tomorrow at church, Ed,” and Frank hurried after Ria towards the truck.
    The ride to town was quiet. Ria’s ankle pained her more than she cared to admit. Several times Frank glanced over at her and noticed her almost grim expression. Once he asked her if she was all right, to which she nodded.
    Stopping quickly at Rosalie’s, Frank discovered no one home, so, leaving a note in the door, he returned to the truck and remarked, “Now one more stop and then you’ll be home. Do you want to come in at Evie’s?”
    “No.” Ria’s answer was so quick that Frank gave a little smile.
    He couldn’t resist a little teasing. “Is it because you think we’ll stay too long or because Earl might be there?”
    “Both.” And Ria grinned, until a sudden rut in the road jolted her and she winced in pain.
    “I’ll be out in a jiffy,” Frank told her as he opened his door. Sprinting up the sidewalk, he rapped on the door sharply. It opened and Evie flung her arms around him with a cry of delight.
    Waiting in the truck, Ria gingerly rubbed her ankle. The walk to the shed back at Edmund’s probably hadn’t been such a good idea. She half wished Earl would come and do something for it, but she was afraid it might mean she would have to sit around all day tomorrow. She might even have to stay home from church! And she wouldn’t be able to do anything if she was stuck in a chair or on the sofa next Saturday, not to mention the teasing the gang would do. Perhaps a good rest would make her ankle better. Here her thoughts were interrupted by Frank’s return.
    “That was quick,” she said.
    “Yep,” he replied, starting the truck. “I figured I’d better get you home before the boys returned and told your mom a wild story of your disappearance.”
    Ria gave a small smile but said nothing.
    Pulling into the Mitchell driveway, Frank parked and was out and beside Ria before she could put her feet on the ground. “You’re not walking on that ankle again for a little while,” he told her, picking her up and shutting the door. Then, striding up the walk, he reached the screen door. This Ria was able to open and he stepped inside with his burden.
    “I’m home, Mom,” Ria called. Then added, “And I brought someone with me!”
    Mrs. Mitchell stepped from the kitchen wiping her hands on her apron. “Ria, what happened to you? And where are the boys--” she began as she noticed her daughter being placed on the couch.
    Frank turned around. “Hi Emma!”
    Mrs. Mitchell gasped. “Frank! What–How–”
    Grinning, Frank bent his tall frame to kiss his sister before he replied, “Yep, and everything else too. I’m home on leave. Dinner at the farm next Saturday. You don’t have any plans do you?” Frank talked fast.
    Slowly, in a bewildered way, Emma shook her head. “I don’t think so, but can’t you stay for supper?”
    “Nope, promised Mom I’d eat at home. But,” he added with a twinkle in his eyes, “if you happen to have any ginger cookies . . .”
    Laughing, Mrs. Mitchell led the way into the kitchen.
    Once there, Frank lowered his voice, “You might want to get Earl to take a look at Ria’s ankle. She didn’t talk much on the way to town from Edmund’s.”
    “What happened to her?”
    Glancing quickly at his watch, Frank realized he’d have to leave. “I’ve got to run, Emma. Thanks for the cookies; I think I can make it home now. Ria will tell you all about the day, and the boys ought to be here soon.” As he talked, Frank had moved back to the living room. Now he stood with a hand on the screen door. “Take care of that ankle, Ria! Tell Mitch I said hi. See you ladies later!” And with that he dashed out to the truck and drove away.
    “Well,” Mrs. Mitchell, shook her head in a bewildered way, “that was quick.” Then she turned to her daughter who was rubbing her ankle. “What happened to you?”
    Ria told her in a few words, but the arrival of Ed, Chris, the twins and Mr. Mitchell cut the story short, and Mrs. Mitchell hurried away to finish the supper.
    Though she insisted she could walk to the dining room, Ed carried her in while Jimmy brought a footstool and Johnny a pillow for her injured foot. The meal was enlivened by stories from Chris about the day. Ria, however, was quiet, the pain of her ankle and her tiredness keeping her tongue still.

What do you think will happen next?

Have you ever seen baby possums?

To the Farm - Part 4

Welcome back, Faithful Friday Fiction Fans,
Have you had a good week? I did. The weather was incredible! It got into the low 50s one night and the following day was only in the 60s! What is this, fall-come-early? But it's nice. :)

It's been a week of trying to get a lot done. And I've actually felt like I've gotten things done. Writing especially. The new "book" is over half the length of a TCR book. (Or Gift from the Storm) and it's still going. Yes, I am planning on telling you more about it soon. I just don't have the time right now to come up with what to tell you. :) I will tell you this though, this is a modern story. And it has just ONE POV. Most of my books have multiple points of view, so this has been different.

But I'm busy, so I'll let you get on with this next part of

To the Farm

Part 4

    “Maybe we should take a look and see if it needs bandaged.”
    Ria shook her head and glanced about the room. No one appeared to be paying the slightest notice to them and she relaxed. She didn’t feel like being the center of attention right then. Raising pleading eyes to her cousin’s face, she waited for him to speak.
    After a moment he grinned. “All right. I won’t say or do anything now, but . . .” and he tugged one of her braids again. Jack was a tease but he could also be as sweet and gentle as his father.
    Just then the door opened and Ed, Al, Sam, Jason and Tom came in with Frank.
    “Lemonade?” Will asked, holding up the pitcher.
    “Do you have to ask?” Tom laughed.
    William grinned, “No, I could have just told you we drank it all.”
    Sam gave him a slight, friendly shove and everyone laughed.
    When the glasses were drained, Ed stood up, remarking, “Well, we should be getting on, we’ve still got to walk back to town. Ria, you ready?”
    A slight frown wrinkled Ria’s forehead as she looked at her brother. “Not quite,” she murmured almost sheepishly.
    Ed raised an eyebrow and waited.
    “I turned my ankle a little when I was playing with Patriot. I’m sure it will be fine if I can rest it a few more minutes.” Her eyes looked pleadingly into her brother’s brown ones.
    For answer he came over and dropped down before her. After running his hands lightly over her swollen ankle, he looked up. “There’s no way you’re walking home on this foot, Sis,” he stated flatly.
    “I knew she’d never be able to walk here and back home again,” Dave whispered to Chris. Pete silenced his younger brother with a look.
    Before more could be said, Frank spoke up. “I’ll tell you what, just let me have Ria. I’m going to take the truck and make a quick round of calls, and I can leave her at home.”
    Ed looked relieved at this suggestion and stood up. “That’ll work just fine. Come on gang, let’s go! Thanks for the lemonade, Grandma!”
    “You’re all welcome,” Grandma replied with a smile, as all the lads echoed their leader’s thanks before swarming out the door to set off on their return walk home.
    “Let’s go the short cut,” Ria heard Dave call.
    And Fred replied, “Can’t, don’t know the way.”
    Ria grinned. It was fun having a secret with just her mom and Uncle Edmund.
    “You ready to go, Ria?” Frank asked. “I’ve got a lot of stops to make.”
    “Yes,” and Ria started to stand up, carefully keeping her weight off her wrenched ankle.
    “Do allow me, my lady,” her uncle bowed and the next minute had her in his arms.
    With a laugh and a blush, Ria said good bye to Grandma and Grandpa and was soon seated in the old farm truck beside Frank.
    Frank honked the horn as they passed the gang and Ria waved. This was going to be more fun than walking home, even if her ankle did give her twinges of pain when she moved it.
    As Frank pulled into the first farm, he turned to his niece. “I won’t be more than a few minutes. I’m just going to run in and tell them dinner’s at the farm next Saturday.
    Ria couldn’t help laughing at this idea. “Only a few minutes,” she giggled. “Only if everyone is out.”
    “All right,” Frank laughed too. “I give you permission to honk the horn if I’m not back in five minutes.” With that he jumped out of the truck and bounded up the porch steps to disappear inside moments later.
    To her immense surprise, Frank did appear within five minutes, while Kirsten, with baby Ruth in her arms and little Rose beside her, waved.
    At George’s and Vincent’s farms, it was the same, for the men were out in the fields. When they reached Karl’s they discovered him out in the front with the two younger boys. These greeted Frank with great excitement and all began to talk. Finally Ria honked the horn and with much laughter, Frank tore himself away.
    “It’s a good thing I brought you along,” he told Ria as they once more bounced over the dirt roads towards David’s farm. “I probably would have stayed there until dark. At least until Karen called them in for supper.”
    “Oh, you would have been invited to eat,” Ria assured him with a smile.
    On the porch, Henry and Anna were playing with Donny, or were supposed to be. Instead they were arguing over something while Donny cried.
    “Oh, I’ll get out with you,” Ria exclaimed as the truck stopped. And before Frank could reply, she had slipped out and was hobbling to the porch. There she comforted her little cousin while Henry and Anna, forgetting their quarrel, hung on to their uncle in great glee.
    The stop there lasted longer than the allotted five minutes as Frank played with his young relatives. Finally they were on their way again.
    “Only one more stop to make before town,” Frank remarked, glancing over at his niece. “Think Ed will be in?”
    Ria shrugged.
    As they pulled up beside the white farm house, Emma and Lucy came bouncing out of the door shouting and shrieking.
    Frank stepped from the truck at the same time that Louise came out on the porch with flour covered hands, looking tired.
    “Frank!” she exclaimed, “What are you doing home?”
    “I’m on leave,” Frank replied giving her a hug while the two little girls hung onto his legs and squealed, talked and giggled all at once.
    Ria had thought she would remain in the truck, but on seeing her aunt’s tired face, she climbed out.
    Instantly the twins made a rush for her as she was their favorite older cousin.
    “Ria! Ria!” they cried in glee. “Come see, come see!” they begged, pulling on her hands and trying to drag her along.

What did Emma and Lucy want Ria to see?

How many of you put my button on your blog?

Do you also read my Read Another Page blog?

Awarded

 Several weeks ago (or was it longer), I was awarded this "Sisterhood" award. At the time I was too busy to answer the questions. But now here it is. Enjoy!

1. Do you know who the Willis Clan is? If you do, who told you or where did you find them?
Yes, at least sort of. I saw something about them online sometime.

2. Would you prefer to take care of a herd of 100 chickens, a herd of 20 wild horses, or a herd of 10 baby elephants?
Now wait a minute. I've never heard of a "herd of chickens." I may have grown up in the city, but I've always been taught that feathered things were called "flocks." :) But anyway, I'd pick 20 wild horses. They would be easy to take care of. I'd just leave them where they were and let them live like they have for hundreds of years. It would also give me an excuse to disappear into the wilderness every so often to "check on them." 

3. If someone gave you a bow and a quiver of arrows and told you to shoot three arrows into one tight cluster on a board, do you think you would be able to do it? 
Sure. I'd just have to get close enough to do it. :)

4. Have you ever dropped a watermelon?
Someone did, but I don't think it was me . . .

5. How many siblings do you have? Are you the oldest, the youngest, or right smack in the middle?
I have two siblings and am the baby of the family.

6. What is one tradition that you do (or try to do) during family birthdays? 
Um, tell the birthday person "Happy birthday." :P

7. Say it was your birthday. Would you prefer to wake up and find 1. a new horse standing above you (yeah, I know, a horse in your room?!?), 2. a huge bouquet of your favourite flowers,  or 3. a stack of books that you've wanted to read for a loooong time? 
It's my birthday. Now what?
Well, if I woke up and saw a horse, I'd wonder if they carried me in my bed down the stairs and out to some barn or if they were able to get the horse up the flight of stairs. Both seem highly unlikely, besides, the poor horse wouldn't like it in the city.
Now the flowers. Hmm, that might be nice, but I'd get a little suspicious about where they came from.
Books on the other hand. Yeah, that's what I'd want.
8. What is your favourite movie of the year?
Do you mean the movie had to come out this year? If so, none. If it was any movie, then, um, I don't know.
9. Do you have a book or a series of books that you wish was made into a movie? If so, what is the name of the book(s)?
Oh, wow, I don't know. 

10. What is the craziest thing that you've done recently?
Well, the only thing I can think of is deciding to go wade in a large puddle of water in a park in the middle of the city with my best friend for her birthday. (It was her idea, not mine.)
 


 


11. How and when did you get involved with blogging? It was way back in January of 2009. I was tired of e-mailing my stories to my friends and then wondering if they were even interested in reading them. So, I decided a blog would be better. That way they could read the stories if they wanted to, or not. I've been blogging ever since.


Do you think of actors by their real name or by their movie name? (e.g. Do you say Laura Ingalls or Melissa Gilbert from the movie Little House on the Prairie?) 
Depends on the actor and what they played. Usually it's by their screen name.


There you are. I hope you enjoyed it.

To the Farm - Part 3

Hello Friday Fiction Fans,
It's a beautiful morning! It's in the 60s right now and the windows are open. We've actually had the windows open for the last three mornings because it's been so nice. By late afternoon it has been hot enough to shut the house and turn the AC on again. But these mornings with the windows open (in August!) have been delightful. What about you? Have you had cooler weather or are you still sweltering in summer's heat?

Well, I'm not sure where the week went. My computer says it is Friday, but it feels like Friday was just the other day. Does anyone else feel that way? (Maybe this past week had fewer days than usual.) In spite of the "short" week, I have managed to get quite a bit done. As I'm sure you've noticed, I designed a new header for the blog, changed the fonts and created a button as well as putting a new background on. Do you like the new look?

Writing. Yep, I'm still doing that. In fact, I think I'm writing a new book right now. Oops. I wasn't going to work on any new book until I had gotten some other projects done. I set aside the new Graham Quartet mystery, and have made myself not even think about TCR so I wouldn't want to work on it. I was just going to write a few short stories for this blog. Ha! So much for that idea. I was having a hard time writing one of my short stories and grabbed a calendar to write a description just to get my brain going. (I really enjoy describing things with words.) Well, to make a long story short (Is that even possible?), the description turned into a "short" story which has now grown to over 24,000 words. (That translates into 24 weeks of posting! Yeah, crazy.) And the story still isn't finished.

I hope you are ready for this next part of the Ria and the Gang story. Enjoy!

To the Farm

Part 3

    “From the base,” Frank grinned. “I didn’t tell anyone I was coming. Wanted to surprise Mom and Dad,” and he turned a bright look on his parents who were standing in the doorway watching.
    “He certainly succeeded,” Grandma Foster laughed. “We were still sitting down to breakfast when in he walked and asked if he could have a bite as well.”
    “Did you feed him, Grandma?” Fred questioned with a grin, already knowing the answer.
    After a few moments of chatter, Grandpa looked about. “Hey where are the rest of the gang? I thought everyone was coming out?”
    “I was about to ask about them, too, Dad,” Frank put in.
    “The others will be along some time. Ria took us on a shortcut.”
    “I didn’t know there was one,” and Frank looked interested.
    Perching on a chair, Ria smiled and told about how she knew of the secret path, though she wouldn’t tell any of the rhyme for finding it.
    No sooner had she finished than the sound of boyish voices and the tramping of many feet on the porch was heard. The kitchen door was opened and in crowded the gang. When they saw the three missing ones calming sitting or standing before them, questions began to fly, and for several minutes no one noticed Frank. So noisy did the tumult of tongues become that Phil put his fingers to his lips and whistled for silence.
    “Now,” he began when the room was hushed. “How did you three get here? Did you walk the whole way?”
    Ria giggled. “Nope, we ran part of it. It was a short-cut. And I’m not going to tell you all about it because Uncle Edmund and Mom said it was a secret. Now aren’t you going to say hi to Uncle Frank?”
    As she expected, the moment she mentioned his name and looked over at her uncle, the crowd of boys suddenly forgot her and rushed at the newcomer.

    It was later than Ed had planned before they actually got started on the work, but Frank pitched in to help. The storm windows were soon down and carried to the barn for summer storage. A few of the lads tackled the smokehouse roof while Jason and Tom took apart the tractor. Ria helped outside for a while and then joined Grandma in the kitchen to prepare lunch for the gang. This was eaten outside with great relish, for the walk as well as the work had created keen appetites in everyone. There was much talking and laughing during the meal, but at last it was over and the lads returned to work, leaving Ria the task of helping Grandma clean up.
    Perhaps thirty minutes later, Grandma and Ria, who were finishing the last of the dishes, heard Winston shout something and then came Jack’s call, “Ria!”
    “You had better go see what is wanted, Dear,” Grandma told her. “I can finish the last few things.”
    Nothing loathe, Ria dashed outside to see Jack trying to hold a wiggly puppy in one arm while keeping his paintbrush out of reach in his other hand. When he saw Ria a look of relief came over his face.
    “Here’s a job for you,” he said. “Take Patriot somewhere else and keep him occupied before his name becomes Paintriot!”
    With a laugh, Ria took the squirming ball of fur.
    “Don’t put him down until you’re well away from here,” Winston warned from his perch on the ladder where he was painting.
    “Come on, Patriot,” Ria crooned, “we’ll go play by ourselves and have fun just us two, won’t we?”
    For answer, the puppy licked her chin vigorously while his tail wagged so hard, it seemed as though it must fall off.

    For several hours the only sounds about the house were hammering, sawing and the calls of the gang. Back behind the barn Ria and Patriot played happily until, during a game, Ria caught her toe in a small hole and tripped over the puppy who dashed in front of her at that moment. Patriot gave a sharp little yelp as Ria fell.
    “Oh, I’m sorry, Patriot,” Ria soothed the frightened puppy while rubbing her ankle with her hands.
    Patriot came up and whimpered, wagging his tail as though saying he was sorry he had caused her to fall.
    “I know you didn’t mean to run in front of me, but now,” and Ria winced as she moved her foot, “I can’t play with you any more. Besides,” she went on as the puppy stretched out with his head on his paws, “you really should take a nap.”
    Carefully standing up, Ria slowly began to make her way towards the house only stopping long enough to shut Patriot in the barn for his nap. She hoped the gang would all be elsewhere, but instead she found almost the entire group gathered in the kitchen with glasses of lemonade.
    Jack glanced up, “Did you wear that puppy out?” he asked as she came in.
    She nodded.
    “Where did you leave him?” Winston asked. “Not running loose, I hope?” and he pretended to look worried.
    Ria shook her head. “No, I shut him in the barn.” Moving slowly away from the door, she tried not to limp. Ray pulled out a chair for her and she sat down with a small sigh.
    The boys resumed their conversation which her entrance had paused. All except for Jack. Crossing his arms on the back of her chair, he leaned over his cousin and asked in low tones, “What did you do to cause you to limp?”
    Ria looked up, startled. She had thought that no one had noticed since Ed and Al weren’t there. Jack gently pulled one of her braids while regarding her with his dark eyes.
    “Well?” he pressed when she didn’t reply.
    Attempting to frown, she answered. “I tripped over Patriot and twisted my ankle a little. But I’ll be all right in just a little bit,” she hastened to add as she saw he was about to speak.

Have you ever twisted your ankle?

What do you think of the new blog look?

Will you be back next week?