Preparing for Winter
An 1896 Western Adventure
by
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Arriving Home The week long wood cutting expedition ended mid-afternoon on Friday when Charlie, Marion, Frank Goodman, and George Moreland drove the wagons into the yard. Nathan Preston looked over the loads, mentally tallying the quantity as he pointed to each wagon, and started his inquiries and assessment, “Well, Frank, the wood looks damn good. You must have a nice plot of wood. How many loads did the boys help you get? By my calculations, we'll need another four loads just like these; that is if each wagon is carryin' two cords.” Anchoring the reins to the wagon, Frank stepped down and shook Nathan Preston's hand, “Yes sir, Charlie and Marion were hard workers. Together with my crew, we cut and chopped nearly one hundred cords of wood. We went through my stock pile like slicing through butter, then cut down a number of replacement trees. I estimate the stand we cut will yield close to two cords per tree.” Nathan Preston gave a look of surprise to Frank, “You had a pile of over fifty trees? I had no idea the size of your operation.” “No, Nathan,” Frank acknowledged, “there's a few saw mills around that I contract with to clean up their butt ends that they can't put through their saws.” “That makes sense and a might easier to split and haul,” Craig responded as he walked up behind his father. Now that Gene had the full crew over to help unload and stack the wood, George asked that his wagon be unloaded first; he needed to be at work, tending bar, by six. His employer, Vern Hansen, always had his best bartender on the job Friday and Saturday nights. The foursome met George on his way back to town and on their way home from school. Cliff stopped the buggy, and George halted his team rolling the wagon to a stop. Earl jumped out of the buggy shouting and talking so fast that George had to place his hand over Earl's mouth, “Now hold on Earl, I can't understand ah word you're sayin' when you're talkin' faster that ah jack rabbit can run.” George slowly removed his hand. Free of George's hand, Earl started again, “Are Charlie and Marion home? Did they hunt any wild bears and bring me and Martha home ah baby bear like Harry said they would? Have they started our fort? Harry said we could build ah real nice fort.” George raised his hand to stop Earl from asking any more questions, “Earl, my boy, I have only one answer: yes, Charlie and Marion are home. They'll be makin' another trip into town to haul more wood to the ranch. I'm thinkin' ya can ride with Charlie and ask him all your questions. What do ya say?” Earl enthusiastically nodded his head as he jumped up and down with excitement. One step up onto the wagon seat, George was glad he was not making a return trip to the ranch. Once Earl found out that Harry was teasing him, George was unsure what Rachael was going to do to Harry. He knew Rachael was very protective of her children. George slapped the reins on his team, continuing his peaceful trip back to town. Earl raced to the barn, with Martha trying to keep up, to find Charlie and Marion. This surprised Cliff - but what did he know about children. Charlie looked up from his work spotting Earl before the boy spotted him. Confused as to why they were running, Charlie dropped his wrench and started toward the door. Earl made a flying leap to Charlie and Charlie caught him mid air. Martha was now clinging to Charlie's leg and both children were laughing. The crew looked on in amazement. Setting Earl's feet on the ground and picking Martha up, giving her a hug, Charlie sputtered out, “Boy, the two of ya are sure full of energy today! Have ya come to help us get our second load?” Earl was jumping up and down, too excited to talk, and Martha tucked her head against Charlie's neck, now too bashful to talk. Tousling the hair on the top of Earl's head to settle him down, Charlie squeeze Martha tighter and spoke with calm in his voice, “Guess ya missed us, Marion and me, this past week. Well, once we get the second wagon loads from town, we'll be home for awhile. How about this, run ask your mamma if ya can ride into town with us, and I'll buy ya an ice cream at the hotel?” Martha squirmed down and started running to the Garden House without answering.
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About the Book
Summer over and winter quickly approaching, Preparing for Winter An 1896 Western Adventure is fi lled with action, character, historical happenings, and dozens of family recipes of the era. It is a companion story from her fi rst novel, Second Chance A Western Adventure. Arriving in Burns, Oregon, from Brockport, New York, Rachael Carver settled into her daily duties during the summer months as cook and housekeeper. Now fall fi nds her learning many new tasks as she helps the Preston family prepare for the upcoming winter. With the garden produce nearly canned, fruit dried, and jams sealed, she discovers the many ways of preserving meat. With the fall roundup over and cattle moved to winter pasture, the cowboy chores are nearly halted while the buildings are repaired, equipment cleaned, and wood cut and stockpiled. Th e annual event is about to begin. All family members are expected to help prepare the ranch for winter. No one escapes these duties—children or bunkhouse crew. Over the next several weeks the repairs that were postponed during the long work hours of summer, horse training, moving cattle, riding fences, and tending gardens which kept everyone busy, are now high priority before winter sets in and the fi rst snow falls. With her past still haunting her, Rachael continues to keep her emotional distance. Always in constant motion, she is beginning to appreciate her new life while learning to rebuild a level of trust among the members of the Preston family and their bunkhouse crew.
About the Author
Fifth generation in the Pacific Northwest, Rebecca was raised on a family cattle farm in Matlock, Washington, with her three siblings. She learned at an early age that there are no set hours for those living on a farm and knows the true meaning of “We work until the job is done.” Although she left home to explore life, her roots of rural living remain. With her husband, Ron, they have made their home on ten acres outside his hometown of Reno, Nevada. After raising a daughter and the passing of parents, Rebecca is pursuing her passions of rural life and self-sufficiency through writing and learning historical arts that include blacksmithing and spinning wool. An outdoor enthusiast, Rebecca and her husband enjoy prospecting, camping, and the simpler things in life.