The Foundling
By: Josiah
WARNING: Content not intended for minors
Carden’s right eye opened slightly and he looked at the grass in his face as memories of the night before filled his thoughts: the man’s attack, blood, hatred and pain. His face hurt, it was difficult to breath and his left eye would not open at all. The breaths that he was taking had a smoky smell to it on the early Spring morning air. He pulled himself up to his elbows and he looked around trying to find the house.
Blackness. Every thing that was good about the house was blackness. Gone was its strong walls, windows, doors and roof. A pile of black smoking wood some one hundred feet away was all that remained.
He put his hand to his eye and felt the puffiness of the skin. The skin was also dirty and caked with something sticky. Looking at his hand Carden identified the substance as dried blood. He pulled himself to his feet and staggered to the remains of the house.
The body laid just inside the pile of blackened debris that was the main bedroom. Its forearm’s bones on the left arm were broken and sticking through the skin. He recognized his mother’s chain about the neck of the remains and immediately threw up. He spat the acidic taste out of his mouth, and looked around the debris again for the other. Carden remembered the other’s face and remembered the pain the other dealt him from the night before. He remembered being thrown into the tree in front of the house which ended the worst fight he had ever been in. His foot twisted on something beneath him and he fell into the debris while making his way to the front of the house.
It was there that he saw the other dead body lying next to the knocked over stove. He didn’t realize what he did until after it was done. The blackened steel pipe in his 14 year old hands and the crushed skull of the man, called Pol, lying on the floor in front of him snapped him back to reality. It was then that he noticed his mother’s Chef’s knife still sticking in the ribs of Pol’s body. Carden retrieved the knife and made his way to the stream near the house.
~ ~ ~ ~
Carden sat in thought for the longest time trying to focus. One thing he had was the teachings of his mother. She had pestered Carden since he could walk in the lessons of the outdoors as well as how to read and write. How to read the weather, treat water to make it safer to drink, make camp in the woods and trap small game. He had his mind and the teachings of his mother. “The greatest oak was once a little nut who held its ground,” her words came to his mind.
He looked around the remains of the house. There were a few things that he could use. The knife’s handle had melted in the flame, but the blade was still good. Carden slid it into his belt. The wood stove was still good and there were all kinds of metal pieces left in the debris. He also found the two Dutch ovens, lids, the lid wrench and the grain mill. He found other small items and put them in a pile outside the house. Not to mention the nails were there all around being freed from the wood by the flames. Nails were hard to come by now and might fetch a price at the market in Buffalo Valley.
There was a two wheeled cart out at the large “lean to” that acted as the barn. It was basically a wooden supersized double wheeled wheel barrel. There were several tools there as well as some rope. He piled everything into the cart so it would be easy to leave.
They had been arguing about something. Something his mother would not tell the man. Something he thought she was hiding. He always to everything from her even the shotgun she had always carried for hunting and defense. The only exception were the things she gave to Carden. THAT was something she stood up against. It all belonged to the man, but since Pol had taken his mother, Carden was going to take everything else from the man that was left.
He used the shovel in the barn to dig a grave in the woods nearby. It did not take long for the remains of his mother were not much. He gathered what he could of the remains into a larger box that the man grew herbs in some times. He washed the dirt out of the box and placed the remains inside. Carden placed the box into the ground then covered it as he cried.
He awoke hours later with the sun near the horizon. Carden had sat by the gave side and cried till he had passed out. Tired of the work, hungry and still suffering from his wounds he made his way again to the stream. Splashing the cold water in his face he cleaned his wounds again and tried to think about food sources.
The small smoke house had the wild deer meat still smoking in it. Carden gingerly made his way to the small wooden shack and stoked the fire a little then gathered some of the meat and ate. His ribs were feeling better and his eye had opened a little but he still felt tired. He went back to the lean to and prepared a bed in the hay. Once again slept took him and his body rested.
The next morning Carden remember in the man’s closet was the box. He had never let Carden even look at the box, but Carden had seen it a couple of times in the past five months they had lived there. He went straight to it now digging through the ashes to find it. The box had a strange symbol of flames with a line drawn through it on the top of the lid. Carden tried to open it, but it required a key. He retrieved the bar he had used earlier and wedged one of the sides into the crack of the lid. Using it as a lever Carden pried the lid loose.
Inside the box were some smutty papers, a map of the surrounding area, a metal bodied compass, a ring and several coins, about 10 total. Carden had never seen coins like this. There was a walking lady with the sun at her feet on one side and a bird on the other spreading its wings. Carden read some of the words on the coins, “States of America. That is what this land had been called before. He was told that was its name in the time before he was born.” He put everything in his pockets but the ring which he placed on his finger.
He cleaned the Dutch ovens with water from the stream and started a fire to boil the water. He ate more of the deer jerky and a few radish buds that were in the young garden. The jerky had now gotten hard and he collected a pile into one of the ovens. He sat down beside the fire to wait for the water to boil and cool back down. While he waited he looked at the map and used the compass to figure the way around the hills to the valley. The map was good; marking water sources, a few local hunting spots and a few little red circles with a red dot in the middle were found around in different locations.
Buffalo Valley was one full days walk from the house. Carden was only allowed to go once, before the winter had set in about 4 months ago. He remembered the long walk through the hills, but the stores there seemed to have everything someone could ever want. After a little water Carden used the cart to pack everything he could and started down the path through the woods.
~ ~ ~ ~
Just over an hour later Carden had made it to “the road”. The pavement was pitted and in one or two points had washed away. Gravel from the hills had fallen on some spots of the road as well. The cart went smoother on the road than it had on the trail and Carden was thankful for that. He took out the map to locate a good stopping point.
About a third of the way toward Buffalo Valley near a bend in the road to the west the map showed one of the red circle symbols a little way off of the path to the south. He thought that it would be a good of spot as any and the blue line running nearby representing a stream was a good enough reason to stop there.
Thankfully the way was more down hill than up. He was so tired he had to stop every so often for a few minutes. Now that Carden was breathing harder his chest was hurting again. At the first stream he passed he stopped for several minutes running water over his still puffy eye. It was doing better and he was able to catch his breath. At least he could now see out of his eye and most of the swelling had gone down. He thought for a moment that there would be no way he could make it to the valley. He would have to stop at some point. Maybe if he could reach the stopping point with the red circle he could set up camp.
While resting he used the axe and his mother’s knife to fashion a trident looking spear from a small oak sapling nearby. The trident/spear was about 6 feet tall and would give him a better reach should an animal or worse attack him while on the road. Quickly he also made a large rabbit stick that he could keep nearby as well.
Carden started back down the road. To get his mind off of the walk, he started running down some of the things he had salvaged from the ashes and around the house. The tarp he had taken off of the lean to would be a good makeshift tent. He used it to cover the contents of the cart. The dutch ovens would handle the cooking needs till he could find something better. One current held previously boiled water for drinking and the other held some radish sprouts and jerky. There were several tools: a shovel, axe, two saws, hoe, a hammer, a pile of nails, level, two good lengths of rop, measuring tape, plane, square, several wrenches, screw drivers, square and hand drill. He also had the papers, map, compass, the 10 coins and his mother’s chain.
The road passed underneath him. He fell into a slow but steady pace and three hours later the elbow in the road heading west was found. Looking down the road he saw the road running over a small bridge and stream. “This is it,” he said to no one. Carden knew he could not take the cart into the woods. So he moved the cart off of the road and pulled it behind a bush covering most of it from sight. Carden took out the compass and his trident then headed due south.
After heading south for about 150 feet he found nothing but a small open area. In the center of the opening was only an old shallow depression where a fire had been at one time. Carden dug down into the fire pit thinking there might be some secret treasure of Pol’s buried here, but there was nothing. The charred wood was the only thing pulled from the bottom. There was nothing here, just a small open area about 10 feet round.
Carden looked around but saw nothing but trees. It was then he noticed the symbols on the trees. Three of them had the circle symbol with the small dot in the center. They weren’t red only the shape was carved into the trees. Carden looked and looked but could find nothing else. He could only surmise that the symbols meant a good place for a small open area camp site that was off of the beaten path.
He then heard a bell clank back and forth. He ran back through the woods toward the road to find the source of the odd noise. At first he noticed the older boy looking at the cart, he then noticed the several nearby sheep and a ram with the clanking bell. The boy only held in his hand a stick that was about four foot long. Carden assumed it was to help guide the sheep. He could see nothing else from his vantage point, but a makeshift backpack wrapped in a tarp that the boy carried on his back.
Before Carden thought he was yelling, “Hey!” at the older boy. At a start the boy swung a small single shot shotgun off his shoulder and brought it to aim at the noise. Carden brought his wooden trident up and the boy stepped back a little.
“I wasn’t gonna steal it. Just wondering what it was doing here,” the boy spoke.
Carden lowered his trident a little. “It’s mine. Just stopped to rest.”
The boy lowered the gun. “My name is Holt. I promise I didn’t steal anything.” There was an odd pause. “You on your way to the valley?”
Carden walked a little closer but kept the cart between them. His eyes never left the boy. The last person he trusted turned out to be a monster. This one was gonna be treated with more caution. “Yeah. I have some tools to sell and some things to buy.”
“Are you ok? Your eye looks horrible,” Holt said squinting slightly
“Fell down a ways back. I’m ok.”
Holt snickered, “It looks like you fell off a mountain. Let me get the sheep up here next to the stream and I can get it cleaned up if you want. It would be a good place to camp for the night too if you want to take a break.”
Carden still didn’t trust him. He didn’t know if he could ever trust anyone again. However, Holt had lowered his weapon which he could have just fired and ended the whole conflict. However, the older boy was offering to help for free. Carden would take any help he could.
The boys made there way over the bridge and got the sheep onto the small pasture of grass on the other side. The sheep nibbled on the grass and Holt motioned for Carden to sit. Holt unwrapped a portion of his pack and took out a clean cloth and a small bottle. He poured water out of a larger plastic bottle onto the cloth and held it up to Carden’s face. “Now this is gonna hurt a little.”
Over the next few minutes Holt cleaned the younger boys cut on the side of his face and then placed the cool rag over the bruised area. “Now this is medicine and it is gonna hurt a lot.” Holt took the small bottle of yellowish liquid and put a few drops on the cloth and once again placed it on Carden’s cut. The cut burned for several seconds then Carden pulled the cloth away unable to stand the pain any longer.
“Told you it would hurt, but it will kill the infection,” said Holt pausing for a moment. “Tell you what, keep the rag. Keep cool water on the swollen part. You got food?” Carden nodded and showed him the radish leaves and jerky. “Oh man, all I got is some hardtack, some raisins and a few pecans left. Not horrible, but this is the second day I have been eating it. Want to trade a little of yours?”
Basically the boys just halved the food between the two. As they ate they talked more. “Why are you heading to the valley?” asked Carden.
“The sheep. Selling these. Should be able to get 2 silver ounces each for the 10 sheep and 4 for the ram. Mr. Archard promised 3 small calves from is farm for 5 silvers each. Gonna buy a few other supplies and take the rest back home to raise then slaughter for next year’s winter. We sort of ran low on meat this year, well except for the sheep and you can only eat so much lamb,” said Holt.
Carden smiled. It was the first time he had smiled since the fire. “Can I tag along?”
“Sure but why don’t we rest the rest of the day. I can make the rest of the way pretty easy in one day. I can sell the sheep and then settle in for the night.” The boys made camp. Holt gathered some wood and with something called a firesteel made sparks into a abandoned bird’s nest. The fire was roaring to life in no time. With limited equipment Carden thought for a second back to his Mother’s words, “Make the best that you can.” With that Carden fashioned a tent from the tarp and rope. Then he pulled his cart close to the tent and laid down next to the fire.
That night he dreamed of the fire, his mother and seeing her dead. He awoke with a start more than once during the night. It was a restless sleep.
The next day the boys had slept late and hurried toward the valley. He walked behind Holt and the sheep all the way to the valley. However, it proved to be more difficult than Holt had said earlier. They mostly followed the ram, but the sheep were just plain dumb and would wonder. The sheep would stray and the boys would have to chase them back on the road. It was slow progress, which Carden was thankful for, but it was already night time when they arrived at the green road sign saying, “Buffalo Valley Town Limits” and the gate blocking the road beyond.
To the left of the road were two men prepping horses and a wagon with a riding horse tied to the back of the wagon. Holt raised his hand to pound on the gate until the sound of a shotgun chambering a round froze the boys in their skins. “Boy, don’t do that. You will wake the whole town.” The voice had come from the man in the watch tower to the side of the gate.
Holt swallowed, “Sorry, sir. I just wanted to get in.”
“No one enters the valley after night fall. You boys are welcome to camp right over there, but the gate is closed till morning. Now move along.” He motioned to the area on the right side of the road across from the man in the wagon. There was even a pin for animals to be stored temporarily.
There was no further discussion. Holt knew there was no negotiation, but just being this close to the valley was safety enough. “Well, let’s camp over here.” Once again the boys put up camp.
The man from the wagon walked over toward them. Carden tapped Holt and reached for his trident. “Excuse me fellows. The name’s Harding. I got here too late for the gate too. I was needing to sell these three pigs, but my neighbor just gave me word that I am needed back at home. I have to leave. Either of you wouldn’t want to buy them would you?” He looked at both of them, “Only 2 and a half silvers each. They are good pigs. I raised them over the winter. You should be able to fetch 3 in the morning at the market.”
Carden thought for a second. Holt answered, “Sorry mister. I don’t have any coin. I am here to sell too.” The man nodded and started to walk away.
Carden thought of another phrase his mother used to say. “When in life you wish to reach your goal, keep your eye upon the doughnut and not upon the hole.”
“Two,” said Carden.
The man turned back, “Excuse me?”
Carden cleared his throat, “Two each. Take it or leave it.”
The man looked over the boy for a second. “Deal,” and shook hands with the boy. Carden reached into his pocket and counted the coins in his fingers without withdrawing the other 4 coins from his pocket. He then placed 6 of the silver eagles into the man’s hand.
The man examined the coins, “Ah, good coins!” Very quickly the 3 pigs were wrestled out of the back of the wagon, placed in the pin with the sheep and tied up with Carden’s rope. The men left and the boys finished setting up the camp as Holt shook his head slightly unbelieving the boy he had been traveling with had money of his own.
The next morning the sheep sold quickly, but for slightly less than planned. They had a pretty good cotton crop from the year before and the wool from the sheep was not in high demand. Holt only made 22 silver ounces for them. Holt said that he would have to meet with Mr. Archard for the calves that afternoon.
Carden was having trouble selling the pigs until Holt helped. They were good sized pigs, in good health and ready to be slaughtered; but Carden just couldn’t find the right buyers. In the end Carden had made 9 and 3 quarter ounces for the pigs. The coins bore the seal of a Buffalo on the front and back signifying that they were Buffalo Valley mint’s silver rounds.
Carden rewarded Holt with the 3 extra quarter ounce coins for helping. At first he refused, but then took the coins with a thank you. Carden now had 4 of the silver eagles left as well as the 9 silver ounce rounds he had been given for the pigs, 13 silvers total. Both boys were proud with themselves. It was then off to buy some real food and more talking.
The place was called a hotel and Carden had never seen anything like it. Holt explained that there were rooms for the rent by night and by the week for a price. There was a restaurant where the two boys could buy a good meal for quarter ounce silver and eat they did. The lady served them roast beef, new potatoes, green beans, a bread roll and as much tea as they wanted. There was even a bit of sweet cake for dessert.
The boys talked of their next plans. Holt began, “Well, I thought that I would leave after picking up the calves. I don’t have enough for room and board tonight and sleeping outside the gates is just as safe as inside really. Mr. Archard and his men don’t put up with any funny business in the Valley. Then I can start heading home tomorrow. It will be two more days from there and I will be coming home a day late, but not too bad at all. How about you?”
“Well, I don’t really have anywhere to go,” answered Carden. Over the next several minutes Carden told his story. Holt sat still with the same potato on his spoon for the length of the tale frozen in his attention to the story.
Holt swallowed, “I am sorry Carden.” He ate the potato and a few bites more then said, “You have to tell Mr. Archard. He will want to know.” Several minutes later the boys found themselves sitting in the waiting room of what the town folks called the “Town Hall.” Although nothing looked like a “hall” to Carden. It was just a bunch of rooms.
A woman came out, “Mr. Archard will see you now.” She showed them into the office lit by the sun light from several windows and several large oil lanterns. Behind the desk was one of the largest men Carden had ever seen. Not large as in fat, but large as in built like a bull.
“Holt? What is this about a fire?” Mr. Archard asked the boy.
“Sir, this is Carden. He can tell the story best.” Holt turned to Carden, “Tell him everything and tell him the truth.” Carden sat silent for a few moments.
Mr. Archard thought then said, “Come on little foundling. We can’t help if we don’t know what is going on. Just speak the truth.”
Carden thought for a few moments, then started the story again. This time he told everything even showing him the map, papers, coins, ring and everything.
Mr. Archard considered the boy for a few moments. “I knew Pol and I know that ring that you are wearing. I also know that he had a hard temper and was the type of man known to hit women. By the looks of your face it looks like he didn’t care about children either. However, the ring that you’re wearing …. Well, there isn’t anyway in the world he would give that up willingly. Nor would he allow someone to steal it from him for it is pure gold and worth almost as much as a horse. You would have to have gotten it after he was dead that is for sure.”
He picked up the paper. “As to this paper here, it is a deed to 100 acres that I wrote him 5 years ago paid in full. I tried to get him to make it a stopping point on the road for travelers. How long did you say your mother and you lived with him?”
“Over the winter sir. About 5 months.” Carden answered.
Mr. Archard cleared his throat and called for the lady who had walked the boys in. “Carden, I will send out a few men to confirm what you have told me and if it proves true then I will consider that a common law marriage and since I know that Pol didn’t have any other family. Well, I will deed this to you. We have a scout party out that way now. Stay with us till we wrap this up. You are not under arrest, but I think this is a better way to deal with this.” Mr. Archard straightened in his seat a bit a look of concern covering his face. “You got any other kin or friends?”
“Beg your pardon sir, but I don’t know anyone but Holt here. My mother and I were new to the area and we only got to town once or twice.”
Holt spoke up, “I am sure my father would not mind taking care of him. After this gets straightened out.”
The man smiled. “Holt’s father is a good man and will take you in, if you promise to work hard and learn from him while you are on the farm. The farm he runs is a good one with good people. If you don’t like it, come back here and we will figure something else out.” He then turned to Holt. “And I will see you out at the cattle pin in a few hours.”
It was all happening so fast, but for some reason it was all falling into place. Holt helped Carden sell the ring quickly at the goldsmith. He received a ¼ and 1/10 ounce gold pieces in trade. Not quite the cost of a horse, but it was enough to trade for several things. Between the coins and the nails and other things for trade Carden had been able by the end of the day to outfit himself pretty well.
Carden had a couple of weeks worth of food (mostly dehydrated or canned food), several rabbits and chickens in pins on the cart (some would be a gift to Holt’s father for putting him up) and 50 pounds of corn to feed the chickens The next to be purchased was his own firesteel, 1 gallon water bladder, an old Kabar knife, a couple of wool blankets, two lengths of a nylon rope, a good watch cap style hat that would cover his ears, a small roll of brass wire, whistle and a small mirror. Carden picked up two changes of clothes from the only clothing store in town. While he could not afford an actual fire arm, he was able to pick up a machete. He kept his wooden trident though. It was still good to keep the bad things at bay.
The boys met Mr. Archard again and made the transaction for the calves. The large man complimented Carden on his purchases as they walked through the barn. “A few rabbits and chickens will be a welcomed addition out there.”
The large man shook his head, “Tell you what. Camp out here in the barn. I got a hammock right here for you. Well, at least one of you. It will be a lot safer and more comfortable. There is even a fire place for my blacksmithing that will keep you warm tonight. Just burn a few piece of wood in there instead of the ore. Then, in the morning join us for breakfast and yall can leave when we get word from the scout party. We should know something by noon. I will send for you after breakfast some time.”
It was Carden who then spoke, “Thank you sir. That would be great.”
They cleaned themselves up with water from the well at the house. Carden washed his change of clothes and placed them on the stall walls near the blacksmith’s fire to dry. He then put on his newly purchased clothes and for the first time realized how truly dirty he was. Looking in his pocket signaling mirror he looked at the eye and the cut over his eye. The swelling had gone down dramatically and he tried to clean the scabbed cut again as best as he could.
The sun was still a little bit in the sky when Carden got restless and had an idea. He had to do something and the hammock gave him the reason he needed. He took the rope out of his cart and began to tie it up between two pillars in the barn.
Carden was hard in thought as he said, “So are you sure that your father will take me in? I mean all I have to offer is some rabbit and chickens and another mouth to feed?” Asked Carden.
“Of course, he will. You will have to work your share, but my father is a good man.”
Carden was still worried, “And then what? I can’t stay there forever.”
“He will teach you what you needed to know. You can make it. Look at you now. Your making a hammock from scratch. I can’t do that.”
Holt stood back in amazement as Carden copied the simply made hammock and by the time the sun was setting Carden had his own hammock to sleep in. With one wool blanket as a pillow and the other for warmth the young boy drifted off to sleep.
The next morning they awoke to a clanging noise from a triangle dinner bell calling the farm hands into breakfast. The boys packed there things quickly including the newly made hammock and made their way up to the large mess hall. There must have been 25 people there. Some were serving food, but most stood in line quietly waiting to get a portion. A thin man stepped forward, “You boys must be our guests in the barn. Go get in line. We were told to expect two more mouths to feed.”
After waiting in line each boy received: a bowl of oat meal, a piece of sausage, a piece of bread, milk and a small bit of berries. Every person in the place was well disciplined. All of them either finished every bit of food on their plate or traded with someone else who finished it. The trays that the servers had being serving out of were almost entirely empty. Each bit of food had been prepared exactly for the portion the amount of people would eat. Only a few bits of food remained. These were offered to the boys as they were the guests of Mr. Archard. The boys finished off the extra oat meal, sausage and bread with a sincere “Thank you” from them both.
The thin man walked over as the boys finished. “Gentlemen we have received word. I am take you to Mr. Archard’s office immediately.”
The two boys sat in Mr. Archard’s office and waited for a while. “Well, boys we have received word from the scout party,” came a voice from the door. “Come in.” After a few moments the boys sat in the office waiting for the rest of the information.
“The scouts say they found everything as you described. Pol’s body was damaged to the head as you said. They even examined the body and found the knife wound. Unfortunately some kind of animal had been at the body so some of it is missing. I am sorry to say, but they dug up your mother and confirmed the broken bones as well. They are reburying the remains now and performing a small ceremony too. Sorry about that, but they had to be sure.” Mr. Archard ruffled some papers and then said, “Son I am considering this an act of self defense on your mother’s part as well as a sad death. May she rest in peace. As far as Pol, good riddens to bad rubbish.”
He handed Carden an envelope then said, “This is the deed. Pol owed nothing on the land so it is yours free and clear. You might want to offer to Holt’s father the right to farm the land in return for your room and board for a while. Just a thought. Well, good luck.” Everyone shook hands and just like that the death of one was mourned and the death of another was simply forgotten.
Carden and Holt picked up the calves and the cart. They were back on the road and fell back into the conversation of Carden’s events before the night of the fire. They surely thought that they were lucky that everything turned out the way it had. Holt didn’t know what exactly he would say to his father, but sure that he would understand.
The day past quickly and they managed to make it all the way to the camp that they had made that first night. The calves were thankful for the rest and they were tied to a tree to keep them from wandering. Carden’s setup was munch more comfortable with the hammock and he showed Holt how to make one as well. Each boy slept in his hammock that night with their tarps draped over their hammocks for cover.
The next morning the boys feasted on some fresh bread and a small amount of sweet butter that was picked up in town. That broke camp quickly enough and made their way across the bridge and on down the road. It was when they passed the area that Carden had been guided to on the map that he turned to Holt, “Hey want to see something?”
Holt pulled at the calves, “Sure.” After getting the calves settled and stashing the cart better than before so no one would find them, the two headed into the woods to the campsite marked on his map by the circles. It only took them a few minutes to reach the opening and look around again.
“This is the place. Pol had a map that marked this place,” said Carden as he showed him the symbols on the trees.
Holt looked at the symbols. “Hmmm, looks like wheels.” Holt snickered, “…or doughnuts.”
Carden’s head spun to the older boy and seized his collar, “What did you say?”
Holt snickered again, but seeing the seriousness in Carden’s eyes repeated, “Doughnuts. . . They look like doughnuts.”
All of a sudden Carden was running through the woods back to the cart to retrieve the shovel. Pictures of times in the past ran through his head. His mother’s saying played out again and again. “When in life you wish to reach your goal,….” He grabbed the shovel and hoe out of the cart and turned back into the woods. “… keep your eye upon the doughnut…” Small trees blurred by as he weaved his way back to the opening, “… and NOT UPON THE HOLE.”
Carden reached the opening and tossed the hoe to Holt. “Dig here.” He plunged the shovel into the ground between two of the three trees with the markings. The ground was kind of soft and progress was easy. About two feet down the shovel hit something metallic. After a few more minutes work a large metal ammo box was pulled to the surface.
The other two locations between the symbols revealed two other ammo boxes. The boxes were opened and inside he did find wondrous treasure. But it was clear that it was not from Pol. There was a hatchet, knife, sharpening stone, file, a titanium cooking kit, utensils, a hurricane lantern and two containers of lamp oil. In one was a broken down Remington 870 express compact pump shotgun with several dozen boxes of shells and a cleaning kit. Below the long gun were several jars containing envelopes of seed. In the other box were books on raising a farm, surviving in the wild and doctoring yourself. It was a small library of knowledge carefully secured in plastic bags and tucked away for safe keeping.
No, this was not a stash from Pol. This was the last gift from a mother to a son. Something that she had put together over time, and prepared to provide for her son in her absence. Carden cried as he remembered the map he dare not show anyone else. It was HER map, not HIS. He remembered the map in his pocket and the dozen or so red doughnuts that scattered the map waiting to be needed by a young orphaned boy.
A hand patted the young boy’s back. “It is ok Carden. You are gonna be fine now. Let’s pack this stuff up and go home.”
~ ~ ~
By: Josiah
WARNING: Content not intended for minors
Carden’s right eye opened slightly and he looked at the grass in his face as memories of the night before filled his thoughts: the man’s attack, blood, hatred and pain. His face hurt, it was difficult to breath and his left eye would not open at all. The breaths that he was taking had a smoky smell to it on the early Spring morning air. He pulled himself up to his elbows and he looked around trying to find the house.
Blackness. Every thing that was good about the house was blackness. Gone was its strong walls, windows, doors and roof. A pile of black smoking wood some one hundred feet away was all that remained.
He put his hand to his eye and felt the puffiness of the skin. The skin was also dirty and caked with something sticky. Looking at his hand Carden identified the substance as dried blood. He pulled himself to his feet and staggered to the remains of the house.
The body laid just inside the pile of blackened debris that was the main bedroom. Its forearm’s bones on the left arm were broken and sticking through the skin. He recognized his mother’s chain about the neck of the remains and immediately threw up. He spat the acidic taste out of his mouth, and looked around the debris again for the other. Carden remembered the other’s face and remembered the pain the other dealt him from the night before. He remembered being thrown into the tree in front of the house which ended the worst fight he had ever been in. His foot twisted on something beneath him and he fell into the debris while making his way to the front of the house.
It was there that he saw the other dead body lying next to the knocked over stove. He didn’t realize what he did until after it was done. The blackened steel pipe in his 14 year old hands and the crushed skull of the man, called Pol, lying on the floor in front of him snapped him back to reality. It was then that he noticed his mother’s Chef’s knife still sticking in the ribs of Pol’s body. Carden retrieved the knife and made his way to the stream near the house.
~ ~ ~ ~
Carden sat in thought for the longest time trying to focus. One thing he had was the teachings of his mother. She had pestered Carden since he could walk in the lessons of the outdoors as well as how to read and write. How to read the weather, treat water to make it safer to drink, make camp in the woods and trap small game. He had his mind and the teachings of his mother. “The greatest oak was once a little nut who held its ground,” her words came to his mind.
He looked around the remains of the house. There were a few things that he could use. The knife’s handle had melted in the flame, but the blade was still good. Carden slid it into his belt. The wood stove was still good and there were all kinds of metal pieces left in the debris. He also found the two Dutch ovens, lids, the lid wrench and the grain mill. He found other small items and put them in a pile outside the house. Not to mention the nails were there all around being freed from the wood by the flames. Nails were hard to come by now and might fetch a price at the market in Buffalo Valley.
There was a two wheeled cart out at the large “lean to” that acted as the barn. It was basically a wooden supersized double wheeled wheel barrel. There were several tools there as well as some rope. He piled everything into the cart so it would be easy to leave.
They had been arguing about something. Something his mother would not tell the man. Something he thought she was hiding. He always to everything from her even the shotgun she had always carried for hunting and defense. The only exception were the things she gave to Carden. THAT was something she stood up against. It all belonged to the man, but since Pol had taken his mother, Carden was going to take everything else from the man that was left.
He used the shovel in the barn to dig a grave in the woods nearby. It did not take long for the remains of his mother were not much. He gathered what he could of the remains into a larger box that the man grew herbs in some times. He washed the dirt out of the box and placed the remains inside. Carden placed the box into the ground then covered it as he cried.
He awoke hours later with the sun near the horizon. Carden had sat by the gave side and cried till he had passed out. Tired of the work, hungry and still suffering from his wounds he made his way again to the stream. Splashing the cold water in his face he cleaned his wounds again and tried to think about food sources.
The small smoke house had the wild deer meat still smoking in it. Carden gingerly made his way to the small wooden shack and stoked the fire a little then gathered some of the meat and ate. His ribs were feeling better and his eye had opened a little but he still felt tired. He went back to the lean to and prepared a bed in the hay. Once again slept took him and his body rested.
The next morning Carden remember in the man’s closet was the box. He had never let Carden even look at the box, but Carden had seen it a couple of times in the past five months they had lived there. He went straight to it now digging through the ashes to find it. The box had a strange symbol of flames with a line drawn through it on the top of the lid. Carden tried to open it, but it required a key. He retrieved the bar he had used earlier and wedged one of the sides into the crack of the lid. Using it as a lever Carden pried the lid loose.
Inside the box were some smutty papers, a map of the surrounding area, a metal bodied compass, a ring and several coins, about 10 total. Carden had never seen coins like this. There was a walking lady with the sun at her feet on one side and a bird on the other spreading its wings. Carden read some of the words on the coins, “States of America. That is what this land had been called before. He was told that was its name in the time before he was born.” He put everything in his pockets but the ring which he placed on his finger.
He cleaned the Dutch ovens with water from the stream and started a fire to boil the water. He ate more of the deer jerky and a few radish buds that were in the young garden. The jerky had now gotten hard and he collected a pile into one of the ovens. He sat down beside the fire to wait for the water to boil and cool back down. While he waited he looked at the map and used the compass to figure the way around the hills to the valley. The map was good; marking water sources, a few local hunting spots and a few little red circles with a red dot in the middle were found around in different locations.
Buffalo Valley was one full days walk from the house. Carden was only allowed to go once, before the winter had set in about 4 months ago. He remembered the long walk through the hills, but the stores there seemed to have everything someone could ever want. After a little water Carden used the cart to pack everything he could and started down the path through the woods.
~ ~ ~ ~
Just over an hour later Carden had made it to “the road”. The pavement was pitted and in one or two points had washed away. Gravel from the hills had fallen on some spots of the road as well. The cart went smoother on the road than it had on the trail and Carden was thankful for that. He took out the map to locate a good stopping point.
About a third of the way toward Buffalo Valley near a bend in the road to the west the map showed one of the red circle symbols a little way off of the path to the south. He thought that it would be a good of spot as any and the blue line running nearby representing a stream was a good enough reason to stop there.
Thankfully the way was more down hill than up. He was so tired he had to stop every so often for a few minutes. Now that Carden was breathing harder his chest was hurting again. At the first stream he passed he stopped for several minutes running water over his still puffy eye. It was doing better and he was able to catch his breath. At least he could now see out of his eye and most of the swelling had gone down. He thought for a moment that there would be no way he could make it to the valley. He would have to stop at some point. Maybe if he could reach the stopping point with the red circle he could set up camp.
While resting he used the axe and his mother’s knife to fashion a trident looking spear from a small oak sapling nearby. The trident/spear was about 6 feet tall and would give him a better reach should an animal or worse attack him while on the road. Quickly he also made a large rabbit stick that he could keep nearby as well.
Carden started back down the road. To get his mind off of the walk, he started running down some of the things he had salvaged from the ashes and around the house. The tarp he had taken off of the lean to would be a good makeshift tent. He used it to cover the contents of the cart. The dutch ovens would handle the cooking needs till he could find something better. One current held previously boiled water for drinking and the other held some radish sprouts and jerky. There were several tools: a shovel, axe, two saws, hoe, a hammer, a pile of nails, level, two good lengths of rop, measuring tape, plane, square, several wrenches, screw drivers, square and hand drill. He also had the papers, map, compass, the 10 coins and his mother’s chain.
The road passed underneath him. He fell into a slow but steady pace and three hours later the elbow in the road heading west was found. Looking down the road he saw the road running over a small bridge and stream. “This is it,” he said to no one. Carden knew he could not take the cart into the woods. So he moved the cart off of the road and pulled it behind a bush covering most of it from sight. Carden took out the compass and his trident then headed due south.
After heading south for about 150 feet he found nothing but a small open area. In the center of the opening was only an old shallow depression where a fire had been at one time. Carden dug down into the fire pit thinking there might be some secret treasure of Pol’s buried here, but there was nothing. The charred wood was the only thing pulled from the bottom. There was nothing here, just a small open area about 10 feet round.
Carden looked around but saw nothing but trees. It was then he noticed the symbols on the trees. Three of them had the circle symbol with the small dot in the center. They weren’t red only the shape was carved into the trees. Carden looked and looked but could find nothing else. He could only surmise that the symbols meant a good place for a small open area camp site that was off of the beaten path.
He then heard a bell clank back and forth. He ran back through the woods toward the road to find the source of the odd noise. At first he noticed the older boy looking at the cart, he then noticed the several nearby sheep and a ram with the clanking bell. The boy only held in his hand a stick that was about four foot long. Carden assumed it was to help guide the sheep. He could see nothing else from his vantage point, but a makeshift backpack wrapped in a tarp that the boy carried on his back.
Before Carden thought he was yelling, “Hey!” at the older boy. At a start the boy swung a small single shot shotgun off his shoulder and brought it to aim at the noise. Carden brought his wooden trident up and the boy stepped back a little.
“I wasn’t gonna steal it. Just wondering what it was doing here,” the boy spoke.
Carden lowered his trident a little. “It’s mine. Just stopped to rest.”
The boy lowered the gun. “My name is Holt. I promise I didn’t steal anything.” There was an odd pause. “You on your way to the valley?”
Carden walked a little closer but kept the cart between them. His eyes never left the boy. The last person he trusted turned out to be a monster. This one was gonna be treated with more caution. “Yeah. I have some tools to sell and some things to buy.”
“Are you ok? Your eye looks horrible,” Holt said squinting slightly
“Fell down a ways back. I’m ok.”
Holt snickered, “It looks like you fell off a mountain. Let me get the sheep up here next to the stream and I can get it cleaned up if you want. It would be a good place to camp for the night too if you want to take a break.”
Carden still didn’t trust him. He didn’t know if he could ever trust anyone again. However, Holt had lowered his weapon which he could have just fired and ended the whole conflict. However, the older boy was offering to help for free. Carden would take any help he could.
The boys made there way over the bridge and got the sheep onto the small pasture of grass on the other side. The sheep nibbled on the grass and Holt motioned for Carden to sit. Holt unwrapped a portion of his pack and took out a clean cloth and a small bottle. He poured water out of a larger plastic bottle onto the cloth and held it up to Carden’s face. “Now this is gonna hurt a little.”
Over the next few minutes Holt cleaned the younger boys cut on the side of his face and then placed the cool rag over the bruised area. “Now this is medicine and it is gonna hurt a lot.” Holt took the small bottle of yellowish liquid and put a few drops on the cloth and once again placed it on Carden’s cut. The cut burned for several seconds then Carden pulled the cloth away unable to stand the pain any longer.
“Told you it would hurt, but it will kill the infection,” said Holt pausing for a moment. “Tell you what, keep the rag. Keep cool water on the swollen part. You got food?” Carden nodded and showed him the radish leaves and jerky. “Oh man, all I got is some hardtack, some raisins and a few pecans left. Not horrible, but this is the second day I have been eating it. Want to trade a little of yours?”
Basically the boys just halved the food between the two. As they ate they talked more. “Why are you heading to the valley?” asked Carden.
“The sheep. Selling these. Should be able to get 2 silver ounces each for the 10 sheep and 4 for the ram. Mr. Archard promised 3 small calves from is farm for 5 silvers each. Gonna buy a few other supplies and take the rest back home to raise then slaughter for next year’s winter. We sort of ran low on meat this year, well except for the sheep and you can only eat so much lamb,” said Holt.
Carden smiled. It was the first time he had smiled since the fire. “Can I tag along?”
“Sure but why don’t we rest the rest of the day. I can make the rest of the way pretty easy in one day. I can sell the sheep and then settle in for the night.” The boys made camp. Holt gathered some wood and with something called a firesteel made sparks into a abandoned bird’s nest. The fire was roaring to life in no time. With limited equipment Carden thought for a second back to his Mother’s words, “Make the best that you can.” With that Carden fashioned a tent from the tarp and rope. Then he pulled his cart close to the tent and laid down next to the fire.
That night he dreamed of the fire, his mother and seeing her dead. He awoke with a start more than once during the night. It was a restless sleep.
The next day the boys had slept late and hurried toward the valley. He walked behind Holt and the sheep all the way to the valley. However, it proved to be more difficult than Holt had said earlier. They mostly followed the ram, but the sheep were just plain dumb and would wonder. The sheep would stray and the boys would have to chase them back on the road. It was slow progress, which Carden was thankful for, but it was already night time when they arrived at the green road sign saying, “Buffalo Valley Town Limits” and the gate blocking the road beyond.
To the left of the road were two men prepping horses and a wagon with a riding horse tied to the back of the wagon. Holt raised his hand to pound on the gate until the sound of a shotgun chambering a round froze the boys in their skins. “Boy, don’t do that. You will wake the whole town.” The voice had come from the man in the watch tower to the side of the gate.
Holt swallowed, “Sorry, sir. I just wanted to get in.”
“No one enters the valley after night fall. You boys are welcome to camp right over there, but the gate is closed till morning. Now move along.” He motioned to the area on the right side of the road across from the man in the wagon. There was even a pin for animals to be stored temporarily.
There was no further discussion. Holt knew there was no negotiation, but just being this close to the valley was safety enough. “Well, let’s camp over here.” Once again the boys put up camp.
The man from the wagon walked over toward them. Carden tapped Holt and reached for his trident. “Excuse me fellows. The name’s Harding. I got here too late for the gate too. I was needing to sell these three pigs, but my neighbor just gave me word that I am needed back at home. I have to leave. Either of you wouldn’t want to buy them would you?” He looked at both of them, “Only 2 and a half silvers each. They are good pigs. I raised them over the winter. You should be able to fetch 3 in the morning at the market.”
Carden thought for a second. Holt answered, “Sorry mister. I don’t have any coin. I am here to sell too.” The man nodded and started to walk away.
Carden thought of another phrase his mother used to say. “When in life you wish to reach your goal, keep your eye upon the doughnut and not upon the hole.”
“Two,” said Carden.
The man turned back, “Excuse me?”
Carden cleared his throat, “Two each. Take it or leave it.”
The man looked over the boy for a second. “Deal,” and shook hands with the boy. Carden reached into his pocket and counted the coins in his fingers without withdrawing the other 4 coins from his pocket. He then placed 6 of the silver eagles into the man’s hand.
The man examined the coins, “Ah, good coins!” Very quickly the 3 pigs were wrestled out of the back of the wagon, placed in the pin with the sheep and tied up with Carden’s rope. The men left and the boys finished setting up the camp as Holt shook his head slightly unbelieving the boy he had been traveling with had money of his own.
The next morning the sheep sold quickly, but for slightly less than planned. They had a pretty good cotton crop from the year before and the wool from the sheep was not in high demand. Holt only made 22 silver ounces for them. Holt said that he would have to meet with Mr. Archard for the calves that afternoon.
Carden was having trouble selling the pigs until Holt helped. They were good sized pigs, in good health and ready to be slaughtered; but Carden just couldn’t find the right buyers. In the end Carden had made 9 and 3 quarter ounces for the pigs. The coins bore the seal of a Buffalo on the front and back signifying that they were Buffalo Valley mint’s silver rounds.
Carden rewarded Holt with the 3 extra quarter ounce coins for helping. At first he refused, but then took the coins with a thank you. Carden now had 4 of the silver eagles left as well as the 9 silver ounce rounds he had been given for the pigs, 13 silvers total. Both boys were proud with themselves. It was then off to buy some real food and more talking.
The place was called a hotel and Carden had never seen anything like it. Holt explained that there were rooms for the rent by night and by the week for a price. There was a restaurant where the two boys could buy a good meal for quarter ounce silver and eat they did. The lady served them roast beef, new potatoes, green beans, a bread roll and as much tea as they wanted. There was even a bit of sweet cake for dessert.
The boys talked of their next plans. Holt began, “Well, I thought that I would leave after picking up the calves. I don’t have enough for room and board tonight and sleeping outside the gates is just as safe as inside really. Mr. Archard and his men don’t put up with any funny business in the Valley. Then I can start heading home tomorrow. It will be two more days from there and I will be coming home a day late, but not too bad at all. How about you?”
“Well, I don’t really have anywhere to go,” answered Carden. Over the next several minutes Carden told his story. Holt sat still with the same potato on his spoon for the length of the tale frozen in his attention to the story.
Holt swallowed, “I am sorry Carden.” He ate the potato and a few bites more then said, “You have to tell Mr. Archard. He will want to know.” Several minutes later the boys found themselves sitting in the waiting room of what the town folks called the “Town Hall.” Although nothing looked like a “hall” to Carden. It was just a bunch of rooms.
A woman came out, “Mr. Archard will see you now.” She showed them into the office lit by the sun light from several windows and several large oil lanterns. Behind the desk was one of the largest men Carden had ever seen. Not large as in fat, but large as in built like a bull.
“Holt? What is this about a fire?” Mr. Archard asked the boy.
“Sir, this is Carden. He can tell the story best.” Holt turned to Carden, “Tell him everything and tell him the truth.” Carden sat silent for a few moments.
Mr. Archard thought then said, “Come on little foundling. We can’t help if we don’t know what is going on. Just speak the truth.”
Carden thought for a few moments, then started the story again. This time he told everything even showing him the map, papers, coins, ring and everything.
Mr. Archard considered the boy for a few moments. “I knew Pol and I know that ring that you are wearing. I also know that he had a hard temper and was the type of man known to hit women. By the looks of your face it looks like he didn’t care about children either. However, the ring that you’re wearing …. Well, there isn’t anyway in the world he would give that up willingly. Nor would he allow someone to steal it from him for it is pure gold and worth almost as much as a horse. You would have to have gotten it after he was dead that is for sure.”
He picked up the paper. “As to this paper here, it is a deed to 100 acres that I wrote him 5 years ago paid in full. I tried to get him to make it a stopping point on the road for travelers. How long did you say your mother and you lived with him?”
“Over the winter sir. About 5 months.” Carden answered.
Mr. Archard cleared his throat and called for the lady who had walked the boys in. “Carden, I will send out a few men to confirm what you have told me and if it proves true then I will consider that a common law marriage and since I know that Pol didn’t have any other family. Well, I will deed this to you. We have a scout party out that way now. Stay with us till we wrap this up. You are not under arrest, but I think this is a better way to deal with this.” Mr. Archard straightened in his seat a bit a look of concern covering his face. “You got any other kin or friends?”
“Beg your pardon sir, but I don’t know anyone but Holt here. My mother and I were new to the area and we only got to town once or twice.”
Holt spoke up, “I am sure my father would not mind taking care of him. After this gets straightened out.”
The man smiled. “Holt’s father is a good man and will take you in, if you promise to work hard and learn from him while you are on the farm. The farm he runs is a good one with good people. If you don’t like it, come back here and we will figure something else out.” He then turned to Holt. “And I will see you out at the cattle pin in a few hours.”
It was all happening so fast, but for some reason it was all falling into place. Holt helped Carden sell the ring quickly at the goldsmith. He received a ¼ and 1/10 ounce gold pieces in trade. Not quite the cost of a horse, but it was enough to trade for several things. Between the coins and the nails and other things for trade Carden had been able by the end of the day to outfit himself pretty well.
Carden had a couple of weeks worth of food (mostly dehydrated or canned food), several rabbits and chickens in pins on the cart (some would be a gift to Holt’s father for putting him up) and 50 pounds of corn to feed the chickens The next to be purchased was his own firesteel, 1 gallon water bladder, an old Kabar knife, a couple of wool blankets, two lengths of a nylon rope, a good watch cap style hat that would cover his ears, a small roll of brass wire, whistle and a small mirror. Carden picked up two changes of clothes from the only clothing store in town. While he could not afford an actual fire arm, he was able to pick up a machete. He kept his wooden trident though. It was still good to keep the bad things at bay.
The boys met Mr. Archard again and made the transaction for the calves. The large man complimented Carden on his purchases as they walked through the barn. “A few rabbits and chickens will be a welcomed addition out there.”
The large man shook his head, “Tell you what. Camp out here in the barn. I got a hammock right here for you. Well, at least one of you. It will be a lot safer and more comfortable. There is even a fire place for my blacksmithing that will keep you warm tonight. Just burn a few piece of wood in there instead of the ore. Then, in the morning join us for breakfast and yall can leave when we get word from the scout party. We should know something by noon. I will send for you after breakfast some time.”
It was Carden who then spoke, “Thank you sir. That would be great.”
They cleaned themselves up with water from the well at the house. Carden washed his change of clothes and placed them on the stall walls near the blacksmith’s fire to dry. He then put on his newly purchased clothes and for the first time realized how truly dirty he was. Looking in his pocket signaling mirror he looked at the eye and the cut over his eye. The swelling had gone down dramatically and he tried to clean the scabbed cut again as best as he could.
The sun was still a little bit in the sky when Carden got restless and had an idea. He had to do something and the hammock gave him the reason he needed. He took the rope out of his cart and began to tie it up between two pillars in the barn.
Carden was hard in thought as he said, “So are you sure that your father will take me in? I mean all I have to offer is some rabbit and chickens and another mouth to feed?” Asked Carden.
“Of course, he will. You will have to work your share, but my father is a good man.”
Carden was still worried, “And then what? I can’t stay there forever.”
“He will teach you what you needed to know. You can make it. Look at you now. Your making a hammock from scratch. I can’t do that.”
Holt stood back in amazement as Carden copied the simply made hammock and by the time the sun was setting Carden had his own hammock to sleep in. With one wool blanket as a pillow and the other for warmth the young boy drifted off to sleep.
The next morning they awoke to a clanging noise from a triangle dinner bell calling the farm hands into breakfast. The boys packed there things quickly including the newly made hammock and made their way up to the large mess hall. There must have been 25 people there. Some were serving food, but most stood in line quietly waiting to get a portion. A thin man stepped forward, “You boys must be our guests in the barn. Go get in line. We were told to expect two more mouths to feed.”
After waiting in line each boy received: a bowl of oat meal, a piece of sausage, a piece of bread, milk and a small bit of berries. Every person in the place was well disciplined. All of them either finished every bit of food on their plate or traded with someone else who finished it. The trays that the servers had being serving out of were almost entirely empty. Each bit of food had been prepared exactly for the portion the amount of people would eat. Only a few bits of food remained. These were offered to the boys as they were the guests of Mr. Archard. The boys finished off the extra oat meal, sausage and bread with a sincere “Thank you” from them both.
The thin man walked over as the boys finished. “Gentlemen we have received word. I am take you to Mr. Archard’s office immediately.”
The two boys sat in Mr. Archard’s office and waited for a while. “Well, boys we have received word from the scout party,” came a voice from the door. “Come in.” After a few moments the boys sat in the office waiting for the rest of the information.
“The scouts say they found everything as you described. Pol’s body was damaged to the head as you said. They even examined the body and found the knife wound. Unfortunately some kind of animal had been at the body so some of it is missing. I am sorry to say, but they dug up your mother and confirmed the broken bones as well. They are reburying the remains now and performing a small ceremony too. Sorry about that, but they had to be sure.” Mr. Archard ruffled some papers and then said, “Son I am considering this an act of self defense on your mother’s part as well as a sad death. May she rest in peace. As far as Pol, good riddens to bad rubbish.”
He handed Carden an envelope then said, “This is the deed. Pol owed nothing on the land so it is yours free and clear. You might want to offer to Holt’s father the right to farm the land in return for your room and board for a while. Just a thought. Well, good luck.” Everyone shook hands and just like that the death of one was mourned and the death of another was simply forgotten.
Carden and Holt picked up the calves and the cart. They were back on the road and fell back into the conversation of Carden’s events before the night of the fire. They surely thought that they were lucky that everything turned out the way it had. Holt didn’t know what exactly he would say to his father, but sure that he would understand.
The day past quickly and they managed to make it all the way to the camp that they had made that first night. The calves were thankful for the rest and they were tied to a tree to keep them from wandering. Carden’s setup was munch more comfortable with the hammock and he showed Holt how to make one as well. Each boy slept in his hammock that night with their tarps draped over their hammocks for cover.
The next morning the boys feasted on some fresh bread and a small amount of sweet butter that was picked up in town. That broke camp quickly enough and made their way across the bridge and on down the road. It was when they passed the area that Carden had been guided to on the map that he turned to Holt, “Hey want to see something?”
Holt pulled at the calves, “Sure.” After getting the calves settled and stashing the cart better than before so no one would find them, the two headed into the woods to the campsite marked on his map by the circles. It only took them a few minutes to reach the opening and look around again.
“This is the place. Pol had a map that marked this place,” said Carden as he showed him the symbols on the trees.
Holt looked at the symbols. “Hmmm, looks like wheels.” Holt snickered, “…or doughnuts.”
Carden’s head spun to the older boy and seized his collar, “What did you say?”
Holt snickered again, but seeing the seriousness in Carden’s eyes repeated, “Doughnuts. . . They look like doughnuts.”
All of a sudden Carden was running through the woods back to the cart to retrieve the shovel. Pictures of times in the past ran through his head. His mother’s saying played out again and again. “When in life you wish to reach your goal,….” He grabbed the shovel and hoe out of the cart and turned back into the woods. “… keep your eye upon the doughnut…” Small trees blurred by as he weaved his way back to the opening, “… and NOT UPON THE HOLE.”
Carden reached the opening and tossed the hoe to Holt. “Dig here.” He plunged the shovel into the ground between two of the three trees with the markings. The ground was kind of soft and progress was easy. About two feet down the shovel hit something metallic. After a few more minutes work a large metal ammo box was pulled to the surface.
The other two locations between the symbols revealed two other ammo boxes. The boxes were opened and inside he did find wondrous treasure. But it was clear that it was not from Pol. There was a hatchet, knife, sharpening stone, file, a titanium cooking kit, utensils, a hurricane lantern and two containers of lamp oil. In one was a broken down Remington 870 express compact pump shotgun with several dozen boxes of shells and a cleaning kit. Below the long gun were several jars containing envelopes of seed. In the other box were books on raising a farm, surviving in the wild and doctoring yourself. It was a small library of knowledge carefully secured in plastic bags and tucked away for safe keeping.
No, this was not a stash from Pol. This was the last gift from a mother to a son. Something that she had put together over time, and prepared to provide for her son in her absence. Carden cried as he remembered the map he dare not show anyone else. It was HER map, not HIS. He remembered the map in his pocket and the dozen or so red doughnuts that scattered the map waiting to be needed by a young orphaned boy.
A hand patted the young boy’s back. “It is ok Carden. You are gonna be fine now. Let’s pack this stuff up and go home.”
~ ~ ~
Carden and Holt had been walking for hours. Carden’s boots were wearing blisters on his feet after the two day walk, but there was still another hour walk ahead of them when Holt signaled to turn off of the main road onto a side road. At the corner of the intersection was a prominent sign of a Sheppard’s staff that was a little “out of place.” The calves were sick of the walk and pulled at the ropes when they heard a rumbling sound of something coming up the road from behind them rather quickly.
Carden could never remember seeing a moving truck let alone something as ugly as this one. The older Chevy truck was missing more parts than it actually originally had, but some of the body parts had been replaced with metal sheets bent and tortured into place. The truck towed a handmade cattle trailer as well that was not too much better looking than the truck. The rumbling mess pulled down the road and was now beginning to slow.
While he had not yet fired the shotgun, Carden brought it to his shoulder but was careful not to point it directly at the truck. Holt smiled a little at the truck and then noticed Carden’s reaction, “It’s ok. He is a friend. Well, sort of.”
The truck continued to lumber up to the boys then stopped as it came up beside them and with a large “pow” from the muffler the engine finally became silent. The guff man at the wheel looked at the two boys. “Well, if it ain’t the prince himself?”
“What do you want Thomas?” Holt asked the man with a matter of fact tone
“Your father asked me to look for you as I was going to deliver 50 pounds of wool and some firewood to Mrs. Gleason. You are late getting home and you had until tomorrow to make it back before he sent out scouts for you. He said that I was to tell you to get home immediately.”
Holt answered again, “Well, as you can see we are on our way.”
The large gruff man half stepped half rolled out of the cab of the truck and walked to the rear of the trailer, “Well, evidentially that isn’t good enough. Your ride is in the back. I am ordered to take the calves off of your hands and tell you to take the 4 wheeler home.”
“Thomas this is Carden. He will be joining the ranch today. Can you take his cart in the trailer too?”
Thomas and Holt was loading the calves into the back cattle trailer as he said, “Listen, boy. I am under orders to take your burden, not his. What is in it for me?”
Carden though of the silver in his pocket. Surely the transport of the cart to the farm would be worth one of the silver dimes in his pocket.
“Nothing more than the continued good graces of my father Thomas. You are already going back to the farm with the calves. The cart will add no additional trouble to your errand. Take it back or I will have words with my father.”
“Fine.” Thomas pushed the cart up the ramp to the trailer. The chickens clucked at the ruff handling. Thomas then walked to the front of the trailer.
Holt asked, “Will it run now?”
“Yes, it runs fine. Your father said not to waste the fuel.You know he paid a pretty penny to me to get it fixed.” From the front of the trailer in another storage area Thomas opened a door and a custom built 200 cc gas fueled 4 wheeler rolled out of the front storage. “Just quit letting the fuel set in the engine. Remember, cut off the fuel and let the fuel burn out. Gheesh! You mess another carburetor up and your Father will have words with YOU.”
Within a moment Holt had his backpack strapped down to the cargo bar on the front and after a few more moment Carden’s essentials in a sack were placed on the back cargo rack. Holt flipped the fuel switch to on and adjusted the choke. Three pulls later the engine roared to life and Holt jumped on smiling in satisfaction. He turned to Carden, “Hop on.” Moments later the two were cutting across a field toward home.
Holt turned onto a main road and noticed as they passed house after house a shepard’s staff stood at the main gate. At certain points Carden’s eyes were watering because of the amount of wind pushing against his eyes. The boy could not remember traveling so fast. Within just a few minutes Carden was able to see Holt’s home.
Carden could tell that fences had been moved and a couple of houses added from those originally built on the property. It looked as if several farms had been combined into one massive farm. The Sheppard’s staffs appeared on every door and/or gate.
On the front side of the property was a small residential area with a large house built in the middle. The house was two stories and very long. There was a wrap around porch going the full length of the house and at least three chimneys that Carden could see.
To the side of it several small to large sized barns. Also were several 16 x 16 foot two story buildings. The barns and small houses wrapped around the larger house like a big U. Behind was a large pasture of land with dozens of sheep roaming all over the grasses. Close to the barn there were several pins for the sheep to be kept while not in the pasture. Carden could see that in the middle of the pasture there was a nice sized pond with an older man fishing at the bank. The ugliest part about it was the graveyard of old farming equipment and several old trucks parked at the edge of the farm.
Holt slowed the 4 wheeler and turned back to Carden, “Keep your hands off of the gun. No sudden moves and keep your mouth shut.” Carden nodded back to him. Holt pulled the 4 wheeler up to the main gate installed across a driveway and waited. As he did so an armed man was running up to the gate.
The man wore a tshirt half soaked in sweat, blue jeans and well worn boots. Also around his waste an old army surplus LBE belt equipped with a canteen, a handgun of some sort and several mag pouches. As he reached the gate he saw Carden and brought the Ar-15 bushmaster clone up to bear.
“Holt you ok?” asked the man with a bead on the younger boy as he lowered to a one knee stance.
“Yes sir. Uncle Mike please put your gun down. He is a friend.”
The man did not budge, but readied the shot even further. Fear scraped up Carden’s spine. With very much seriousness in his voice the man yelled, “Light!”
Holt leaned in front of Carden. “Sun! Sun!”
Immediately the man lowered the weapon. Slowly he stood, walked to the gate and started unlocking the chains. “Sorry Holt but you know the rules.” He then turned to Carden, “You … you may keep your weapon, but make no threatening moves.”
“Yes sir,” said Holt.
“Yes sir,” repeated Carden.
Holt slowly pulled the 4 wheeler up to the larger barn. He motioned for Carden to hop off but did not turn off the engine. Instead he switched the fuel switch to the off position and set the brake. The boys unloaded the gear from the storage racks while the engine continued to run.
“So what do I need to do?” Carden asked to the older boy.
Holt shouldered his backpack and shotgun, looked at the main house and then turned to Carden. “Stand right here by the 4 wheeler while I go talk to my Dad. Keep your hands off of your shotgun.”
“What was that all about at the gate? Light? Sun?”
Holt looked at the house again and then quickly back. “Challenge and response. Uncle Mike made the challenge and I made a positive response.”
“Positive response?”
“There are two responses to the challenge: a positive one and negative one. I gave the positive one which signaled all clear.”
“And if you would have given a negative one?”
Holt patted Carden on the back, “We would not be having this conversation. Stay here and wait.” The engine of the 4 wheeler finally stopped. Holt lowered his voice, “You are still being watched.”
Holt left for a long time. Carden had thought about looking around a little, but Holt’s words echoed in his mind. He stood by the 4 wheeler and rummaged through his bag for a few moments. Carden made sure not to handle the shotgun too much. He slowly took it from his shoulder and placed it onto the 4 wheeler rack in the front and then stood at the rear of the vehicle in order to put as much distance between him and the gun.
Carden started to think about in what capacity that he would live here at Holt’s. Out of his sack he took out a biscuit that he had saved from the day before and ate a bit. It was nice to have food of his own he could eat when he got hungry. Would he be forced to be a hired hand or maybe they have some sort of charity area where workers are kept? Holt looked across the field as the sun dipped low in the sky. It was no secret that labor was mostly done by hand on present day farms and the majority of the people living on one now a days were just plain workers that worked for their keep. Truthfully he got a little sad.
Holt returned from the house and came in the company of two women. The older of the two was dressed in od green cargo pants and a black long sleeve fleece shirt, and the other younger one (about in her later twenties) dressed in jeans and some kind of tan front buttoned shirt that looked like it would repel rain well. The younger woman wore a LBE belt with a similar build out as “Uncle Mike” from the front gate.
Both women walked to Carden. When they reached the boy the older woman smiled and the younger put her hands behind her in an “at ease” stance. The older woman tapped Holt on the arm and said but one word, “…manners.”
Holt looked at her, “Sorry.” He then turned to Carden. “Carden may I introduce my mother, Mary Henderson.” The older lady stuck out her slender hand.
“Mrs. Henderson?” was all that Carden could manage as he shook her hand.
Mary spoke up, “Do you have a last name Carden?”
Carden had not heard his last name in so long, he had to think a moment. “Hewes, ma’am.”
“Carden Hewes. Excellent.” Mary said in response then turned to her son again.
Holt continued, “… and this is the logistics officer, Evelyn McComb.”
The younger woman shook hands with Carden as well. “Welcome,” was all she said.
Mary began to talk, “Well, Carden I am sure that you have had a busy day. Not to mention your nerves are probably on end from riding on that contraption, especially with my son’s driving. For now you are to be our guest. We have made arrangements for you at the main house.” Mary turned to Evelyn. “Ms. McComb will see to your needs and will ask you a few questions. Supper is at 6:00 PM sharp. May we talk later?” Carden nodded. Mary turned and walked back to the main house. She was completely elegant.
Carden and Evelyn gathered his sack and shotgun up. Holt started moving the 4 wheeler to one of the barns. A familiar sound came from down the road. The grumbling of Thomas’ truck stopped at the front gate made Carden remember the supplies. “Evelyn I have some supplies on the truck as well as the calves Holt brought back. Can I get those stored somewhere?”
“Well, let’s go see what you have?” said the logistics officer. After a snide remark from Thomas (something about the hardship of his lower back putting Carden’s cart on and off the trailer which she quickly ignored) Evelyn gave the cart a quick run inventory. “Not bad Carden. Mr. Henderson will certainly love those chicken and rabbits.”
A strange thought ran though Carden’s mind. He had not thought about his property. Would it be taken from him? Would he be allowed to keep his shotgun? Then the thought of servitude crossed his mind again. Well, maybe he would be sheltered and fed at least until he grew up. Maybe it would be better back in the valley.
Evelyn said, “I will turn these over to my sister, Jessica. She will care for these till Mr. Henderson decides what to do.” She left the two pins, sack of corn, most of the tools and the cart by the barn. All of the “personal gear” was gathered and the two entered the side entrance to the house.
The house itself was … functional. It was amazing to Carden. Everything had it’s place and there we people moving in and out but no one was in anyone’s way. The house and the people within almost had a rhythm to it like an engine or heartbeat. There was no doubt that things were moving and getting done.
Evelyn motioned to Carden to follow. He stayed right at her back as they made their way up a flight of stairs and down a long hall to a room at the end of the hall. They stepped inside.
The room was once again … functional but small with plain wooden floors and only one window. There was a dresser (much like his mother’s) with a lantern on top, a side stand with a metal wash basin and pitcher on top, a large bed fit for one adult, a desk with a chair and a moderately sized closet. The only thing decorative was the clock on the dresser which now read 5:03.
She then turned to Carden. “Now, do not be alarmed but I need to ask you a few questions about you and your history. Please answer them as best you can ok?” Carden consented and then over the next few minutes Evelyn asked questions ranging from his current condition of health and health history to what exactly he had eaten over the past few days. Did he have any allergies that he knew of to does he have any cuts or scrapes? Was he sick in anyway? She examined the still visible cuts to his face and his chest where he was hurt days before. Each answer was written into a notepad that she has produced from one of the large pouches at her side.
Next was a brief run down of his supplies. Carden inspected each item briefly, nodded and wrote down the description. When they got to the silver in Carden’s pocket she insistently refused to touch it but smiled and told him to keep it safe. Evelyn thumbed through the books that were brought up from the cart. “Impressive,” is all she said as she wrote down the titles. She asked a few questions like “Are these all of your clothes?” and “Did he have anything else to carry water in?” Sometimes she just made notes without looking at anything or asking questions.
Finally Evelyn said that he would be meeting Mr. Henderson at supper. She instructed him to get “cleaned up” and be ready for supper at six. She also added that she would be back right before six to take him down to supper and that he was not to leave the room. Evelyn left and Carden decided to wear his other change of clothes. They had been in his sack the whole time and would be relatively clean.
Carden poured some water from the picture into the basin and began to wash, but the 14 year old nagged at him to at least look out the door. Finally giving in to boyishness he cracked the door to look down the hall. Standing just down the hall was an elderly man with a cane staring straight back at him with a glare on his face. Carden immediately closed the door and went back to his preparations for dinner.
The clock said 5:55 when there was a knock at the door. “Carden it’s Evelyn. Are you ready?”
He spoke up as he finished putting his shoes on, “Yes, ma’am.” Within minutes they were in a great room in the center of the house with a large table in the center. Around the table some 20 people, both adult and children, stood behind chairs watching as Carden entered the room. Most of the people wore the same LBE belt harness with a side arm and pouches. Carden was seated at the second seat on the right hand side of the table and Evelyn at his immediate right. Several people nodded saying canned comments like “Welcome” and “Hello.”
On the table was a meager meal which was surprising given the amount of people sitting at the table. There were some fish and some other kind of smaller bird, but no other meat. There were several types of vegetables and a few small loaves of bread. All in all it would be a fair meal, but Carden was thankful for it all.
The clock on the wall began to ding signaling six o’clock as Holt walked through the door and to the first seat on the right of the table. Next to walk through was Mary Henderson and she smiled at everyone as she made her way to the left side of the table. Last to come through the door was the most poised man he could imagine. Even though this man was dressed in a simple boots, jeans, a flannel shirt and one of the LBE belts that the others wore; he was truly regal and humble at the same time.
The man stepped to the head of the table smiling at the people present before him. After a moment he bowed his head, “Father of us all, This meal is a sign of your love for us: we give you thanks for our food, your grace and mercy, help us to give you glory each day through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen”
The ladies sat at the table while the men hesitated for a moment. Once the women were seated the men began to sit. Last to sit was Mr. Henderson, but as he sat he addressed the group, “I wish to tell you a story.” Everyone turned to him as they quietly continued to get their food and drink.
“If a man sneaks over the fence to get into a sheep pen, he probably is a thief. If he calls the sheep, they won't come because he's a stranger. His voice frightens them and they run away. But the real shepherd enters through the gate. And when he calls his sheep, he uses their names, and they know his voice.” Mr. Henderson paused.
“Carden Hewes?” he said to Carden. The boy nodded back.
Mr. Henderson continued, “My name is John Henderson. I am the leader of the Shepherds and owner of this ranch. My son has told me of your story and I am truly sorry for your loss. We will talk later, but for now you are our guest. You are under my personal protection and are in a place of safety. Please share in what we have and let all here take note …” he turned to the others “…of the grace I give this boy.” Everyone nodded to Mr. Henderson.
“Thank you sir.”
The rest of the meal was spent with Carden eating some of the best food since the hotel in Buffalo Valley and being introduced to half of the people at the table. Everyone was happy and only a few even considered their new guest. None at the table stared or judged and everyone’s conversation was only pleasant to Carden. That is except for the elderly man sitting down and near the children at the other end of the table. It was the same man that glared at him in the hallway earlier and he now looked to Carden with a similar uneasy look.
After the meal Evelyn ushered Carden into a den where he waited for several minutes. It was small but very comfortable with a couch and several chairs. The walls were lined with books. There were two doors to the room. The one that they entered lead to the hall and the other one was the one that Mr. and Mrs. Henderson now entered. Beyond Carden could see that it was an office of some type.
Mrs. Henderson sat by the boy on the couch and across from him sat John. “Carden I have been going over a report from Evelyn about your general health and personal property. Also I have been talking with my son a little more, but I would really like to hear your story from you.”
The young boy began to tell the story again. He did not hold back except for the part about the other caches. For some reason the caches just seemed like a private matter between him and his mother. If needed he would divulge the information, but at this time was too premature. He ended the story with a statement. “Sir I know that I am just a boy, but I can learn. My mother taught me how to grow food, work with some animals and I can learn other things. Please sir. I have no where else to go.”
John and Mary looked to each other, “Carden I am going to allow you to stay here with us if you want. I am opening up my home to you. Do you know what that means?”
Carden sat quietly.
“It means that I will protect you, provide for you, teach you, and be responsible for you until such time as you can be responsible for yourself.” John explained how the farm worked. The farm made its living selling wood, wool, wool made products, lambs meat, spare tallow for lamp fuel, soap, candles, some produce from the garden and a few parts from the old broken down farm machinery that littered the property. Robert, one of the men at the supper table, was even a blacksmith and had found his home here on the ranch. In addition, they provided safety for the surrounding farms in the area. Each farm displayed a Sheppard’s staff to signify to everyone that they were in good standing with the Sheppards.
“I can see that you are a good boy, but I will need you to try your best to find your place, learn, obey and help in everyway that you can.” Carden nodded his head. “Can you promise me that?”
“I promise sir,” said Carden as he started to cry.
Mary hugged the boy. “There, there Carden. You are safe and surrounded by friends. We won’t let anything happen to you.” But Carden could not stop his tears. Somehow he had fallen right into the best place he could have imagined and once again the weight of the situation washed over him like a huge wave.
Carden awoke the next morning back in his room in his bed. Beside the bed asleep in the chair was Mary Henderson. Carden could not remember how he got to bed, but he remembered crying in the den and her soft strokes on his head. He stirred and she awoke and smiled at him. “Good morning Carden. Do you feel better?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She stood. Patted his shoulder and walked to the door. “Good. You have a busy day. Get up, dress and Evelyn will be in a little while.”
The morning was a blur. Carden had slept a little late so he had to play catchup with the rest of the house. As soon as Evelyn got there it was down to the kitchen where he was treated to deer sausage and corn grits. Next was to a storage area in one of the barns on the property.
In reality is wasn’t a barn it was a massive storage house and within minutes Evelyn had taken his measurements and out fitted him with three more casual changes of clothes and one dressier set. They did not have another pair of boots to fit him but Evelyn took his measurements and added the need to a list. His worn pair of boots would have to do for now. Because he was a teenager he was outfitted with his own LBE belt. “Here, this has already been packed for you. You will need to add your firesteel and knife to it, but the you can start with these items,” Evelyn said as she handed him the belt. He had only a large pouch, a canteen and a small pouch at the front. He wanted to examine the contents but Evelyn said that they did not have time for that.
Next it was back to the room to drop off his clothes, pick up his firesteel and knife then off down the road to a white house two doors down from them. It was about a half of a mile walk. It looked like a larger home but once you walked through the screened porch the front room was easily identified as a classroom. There were 11 children in the room that varied in age and height. Carden was introduced to the teacher and with a promise that he would be picked up later Evelyn left him there.
Mr. Barry was the teacher’s name, Franklin Barry. Mr. Barry gave Carden a test right off the bat. It was the longest test that Carden had taken in his life. His mother had taught him in the past and she wrote out her own test questions on normal piece of paper, but nothing to the size of what was in front of him now.
There was a lot on the test that he did not know like how to do the math questions with letters instead of numbers, but he answered what he could. Mr. Barry patted him on the back when he took up the paper. At the end of the lessons for the day Mr. Barry instructed each child to bring a book with them tomorrow to read out of. Carden did not worry he knew that he could read quite well. At least his mother had said so on more than one occasion.
Carden left the school house but stood on the front porch waiting in the still cool air of the noon day sun. He was a little hungry and decided to look through the LBE pouches to see if there was anything of interests.
The canteen was an old army issue canteen with a canteen cup and lid underneath it in the pouch. The front pouch contained several things: a bushcrafter knife, a metal spoon, a compass, a small flashlight, a small typo map of the area, a whistle, his firesteel, a pencil and a small paper notepad. The larger back pouch contained: a rolled up tarp, a highly reflective piece of metal, a good amount of a small strong rope and a small bag of peanuts that he was eyeing to eat. Lastly was his Kabar knife strapped to the side of the belt. It was the same knife that he bought back in Buffalo Valley. He played with it while he waited for Evelyn.
“It is better to be wise by the misfortunes of others than by your own,” came an edgy voice from behind. Carden spun around to find the older man who had been glaring at him for the past day standing no less than 10 feet behind him. He stood with his cane and a carrier bag over one shoulder. “Unfortunately you do not have that luxury.”
Carden backed away from the older man. For some reason this man unsettled Carden.
“Come now. Great beginnings are not as important as the way one finishes. My name is Walter. At John Henderson’s request, I am here to start your training.” Walter started walking into a stand of woods that was beside the school. Carden thought for a moment, blinked, then followed the older man. While he walked with a cane and a limp the man made good progress.
He came to an open area in the woods and sat down. It was then that he saw the reason for the limp. The man’s lower right leg was made out of plastic. Obviously the man had suffered some sort of injury to his leg in the past.
Out of his bag he produced a canteen and canteen cup. He motioned for Carden to get his out. Walter poured some water in his cup and rinsed it out. Carden did the same. Next he took out of his bag a thermos. He poured stew in both canteen cups and halved a large bread roll with the boy. They both drunk water from their canteens and finished the meal quickly. The stew was thin on meat and vegetables, but filling. The two sat quietly while they ate their meal. Nothing was said.
While they cleaned their cups out with water from their canteens again, Walter said “Good. Some say, do not speak unless you can improve the silence. It is nice to know that the value of silence does not escape you. Now, do you know how to use the rest of those items in your pouch?”
“Some of them,” Carden answered.
“Show me,” said the older man.
Over the next two hours Walter worked with the boy on several different ways to use the items in his pack. He was to get more supplies as he showed proficiency in what he had. Walter ended telling Carden that he would train with him every day for the next two weeks in survival techniques. Carden nodded in response as the two walked back to the school.
“Practice does not make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect,” said Walter as he motioned for the boy to walk toward Evelyn who came into view around the school building.
As they walked back to the main house Evelyn explained what his days for the next two weeks would be like. From 8AM to noon will be school, From noon till 2 will be training with Walter and from 2PM till 5PM will be work. She explained that he would have to start in the kitchen cleaning and helping to cook until he could show skills in other areas, but today he was to meet Mr. Henderson again. Evelyn was taking him to see him now.
This time John Henderson was in his office looking at several papers as Carden walked in. “Hello Carden. Welcome. Please sit down. We have some things to discuss.” Carden sat in the seat across the desk from Mr. Henderson.
“First, how are you?”
“Good, sir,” was all that Carden would say.
“Getting enough to eat? Is your teacher ok? Did you learn anything from Walter?” Carden just nodded to each question. “Mr. Barry said that it appears that you are behind the other children in your studies, but you have had some schooling so that is good. Knowledge is the greatest strength of all Carden. Remember that. I need you to work hard at your studies ok?” Once again Carden nodded.
John put down the paper and picked up another, “Carden I want to talk to you about some of your things that you brought. You have 4 chickens and 3 rabbits. I would like to purchase these from you as well as the pins, corn and seed that you have. You are under no obligation to accept, but we need the meat here and harvesting chicken eggs (as well as the animals) will supplement our meals well. Also Evelyn says that she thinks the seeds are heirloom seeds and are well worth it. I will pay a fair price for them. Say 5 silver ounces for the lot? I know that the two cages are worth twice as much as the animals and the seeds are definitely valuable to the farmers in the community.”
“Sure. Anything I can do to help.”
“Thank you, but this is a business deal.” John took five silver ounces out of a drawer and held them in his hand. “That brings us to another point of the money that you have with you. Let’s see.” He looked at another sheet. “Two 1/10 ounce gold pieces, 7 ounces of silver (including these five) and 7 silver dimes. It is yours, but I do not think it would be wise for you to keep it at least not the gold. If you will, you can give the gold to me and I will invest it and split the profits with you. You see I loan silver and gold out to some of the farmers in the area, if they secure the loan with some form of collateral and are honest in paying it back. You should be able to make about 1 silver piece per year on your gold (more if you put the silver with it) or I will just hold it and you can come get some of it if you have need. However, I will NOT let you waste it so be sure that whatever you are purchasing is needed. If you choose to invest it, I will offer the same collateral to you too; but before we get into that…” He looked back at the paper.
“One Remington 870 express compact pump shotgun with several dozen boxes of shells and a cleaning kit.” John looked at Carden. “Carden do you know how to use the shotgun?”
Carden blushed, “No sir. I have never fired a gun before.”
“We do not allow the younger children to carry such weapons here, but once again I would like to make a bargain with you. I will keep your shotgun for you when you are a little more experience with it. It will be community property until then and could be used for community defense, but it will continue to be yours and when you leave you may take it with you. In it’s place (AND in order to secure the loan of your money to me) I will allow you to carry this.” Mr. Henderson reached from behind the desk to produce a single shot 410 gauge shotgun with a carrying strap. “It is not flashy, but it is what our children learn on. If you learn to shoot it well and are safe in its use, it will be yours to use in hunting and defense if necessary.” Carden smiled and nodded. He handed the shotgun to Carden with another pouch for his belt filled with number 6 shot and buckshot shells for the 410 gauge.
“Once again if I fail to pay you your money back, you may keep the shotgun. If I do pay you the money back plus the profit, then you will return the shotgun to .OK?”
Carden nodded.
“Good that is a fair deal and I will draw up a contract stating everything that we just said. Lastly is the matter of your books.” John picked up the sheet again. “The Encyclopedia of Country Living, Where There Is No Doctor, Where There Is No Dentist, The Self-sufficient Life and How to Live It, Total Resistance, Essential Bushcraft and Alcohol Can Be a Gas! Fueling an Ethanol Revolution for the 21st Century. I do not know where you got these books but the wealth of knowledge in these is very valuable. I would also like to enter these as community property. They will be added to the library and you and anyone here at the ranch will be able to read them at will. However, once again when you are ready to leave, they will be returned to you or you will be reimbursed for the items if they are damaged. Nothing lasts forever you know, especially books that are read often.” John smiled a little.
Carden smiled back, “That is fair sir.”
“Good now have you thought about your job here at the ranch? We will start you off in the kitchen for a week or so, but I thought that we would try to get you working with the sheep quickly to see how you are with them.” The two went on to talk even more. John was patient with Carden and tried to explain everything to him as John moved along.
Each day the routine was easier and easier: breakfast, school, lunch and training with Walter, 2-3 more hours of work in the afternoon, supper, homework, bath and bed. Turns out Carden was what Walter referred to as a “natural” with the shotgun. Within three days of shooting classes he was shooting thrown targets and racking up a perfect score.
Mary Henderson and Evelyn kept close tabs on him, but it was all the nightly chats with John that Carden got the most out of. Most nights John called Holt and Carden into his office and would show them some of the books in the library or they would discuss different thing from American History to different things that they could do to make the farm work better. John taught and was a predominate male figure to them both. It was weird but the more John showed that he expected Carden to work, learn and pull his own weight the more Carden wanted to do just that.
Several more things were added to his equipment: A large wool blanket, a little more rope, a folding saw, a metal bowl (of a weird metal Carden had never seen), a pair of pliers and a first aid kit. Walter worked with the boy and soon he knew how to fashion a backpack and cloak out of the blanket of wool, create a lean to shelter, render tallow from animal fat, make a fat lamp fueled by the tallow, to cook on the trail and basic first aid. With his basic training coming to an end Walter cleared Carden to go on the small two day hunt.
The hunt was mainly for smaller game. Rabbit and squirrels were still plentiful in the early spring time. Carden, Holt, Walter and Evelyn went on the three day hunt. It took so long because they traveled away from the area to the North to some land that John had purchased hunting rights to for the year.
The days turned out to be more exciting than they thought. At one point feral pig charged out of the brush at Carden. He had his single shot shotgun loaded with number 6 shot, but through his training he was able to eject the shell and reload with a buck shot round. Then with a quick shot from the shoulder hit the pig with a head shot. The meat was welcomed.
Carden was adapting to his new home. He was beginning to understand how to care for the sheep as well. Often being asked to look after them in the late afternoon and guide them to the pins at night. Holt even made him his own shepard’s staff which pleased Carden immensely.
The days flew by. Sundays were lazy. You got to do whatever you wanted to do, it was your time. Many of the kids played, some of the adults worked on personal projects and some caught up on much deserved rest.
Every other Sunday was spent with a church service in the morning from a traveling preacher who came through the area. Everyone except whoever was on guard was required to attend. He stopped at various farms in the area visiting each one, eating with them and sometimes collecting a few items or coins for the needy. Mr. Henderson always sent him on his way with food and a bit of coin for the pastor himself.
The weirdest thing about the “traveling pastor” was that he was much more than just a preacher. He was a makeshift news reporter and mail man. He brought news from ranch to ranch often times reading verbatim from a written announcement on a piece of paper. The preacher also had a book called the “yellow pages”, but they were not yellow and Carden could not understand why they were named such. In the book was listed services and products produced by various farms in the area. There was a blacksmith, mechanic, doctor, farmers of various types of harvest and etc. If you needed something, you could use the information to contact them and hire them for their services. Sometimes the doctor would ride along with the pastor and they together would minister to all body and soul.
Also small letters or packages were delivered or picked up to be delivered to other farms for a small fee by the preacher. Some of the stores in the valley even had a mail order service that for a fee the “mail man” would deliver your order and return the items you ordered a few weeks later. Most of the items that were ordered in this manner had to be smaller items to fit in the preacher’s wagon, but they did come.
John explained to Carden that from time to time there would be others that traveled through with things to sell. Such traders had been the source of the ethanol (that they ran in a few of the machines they had at the ranch) or even greatly needed medicines. One of the traders was the uncle of Thomas (with the only working truck around) and the man obviously cut Thomas a great deal on the fuel. However, their costs were quite a bit more than what others in the area traded for. It was always best to grow or make the items yourself.
The spring planting was in full swing. The school had let out for two weeks while the fields were plowed and prepared. Holt’s 4-wheeler showed its true purpose as it was used as a makeshift plow. It was stronger than the horses, did not need a break and obeyed better. The seeds that had been saved from the previous year were planted. Even the new seeds that Carden brought were sprouted and planted. John had made sure to save some of the seed just incase something happened to the seed that was planted. This is what had happened two years ago during a flood and the hard lesson was learned.
It was at one of their night time sessions when John was talking about the planting. They talked also about what the surrounding farms would be planting as well. The farmers had met two days earlier and coordinated their efforts with each other. One agreed to plant cotton, another sugar cane and so on. John was showing the young men how to figure up the amount of food it should yield when Carden got an idea. At the end of the night he took one of his books that he had read before back to his room and read through it making notes on scratch paper. By the morning he had a plan.
Over breakfast Carden spoke with Holt in
detail about the source of their gas for the area. Holt explained that
the traveling traders brought a small tanker with them when they came to
the area. The traders only came about once a season so there were few
times of opportunity for getting the fuel. The fuel was rare and costly
at about 1 silver ounce for 2 gallons. Supposedly there was still a
small refinery that was able to produce the fuel and diesel for the
farmers that could afford it for their machinery. However, it was a
couple of hundred miles away to the North and only the traders (with
their armed convoy of trucks) dared travel that far. Mr. Henderson
usually traded for a couple of 5 gallon cans every season for the 4
wheeler/tractor.
Carden let Holt in on the plan. Without letting everyone know what they were doing the boys started to work. Holt met with Robert the blacksmith and by the end of the week they had produced a device the book had called a distiller. Carden traded some silver coins with one of the farmers down the road for 25 pounds of sugar and with another for 25 pounds of corn that he had the ladies in the kitchen show him how to grind into meal. He had to ask Mary for a bit of the yeast which she allowed him. He then asked Evelyn to use an old 5 gallon water cooler bottle that they had in storage and Carden now had the ingredient to start his hash.
Carden started writing down everything. They started with just 5 pounds of sugar, 5 pounds of crushed corn meal, some yeast and 5 gallons of water. Then they configured a relieve valve with a water trap in a small coiled hose to allow the yeast bubbles to release their gas, but not allow oxygen to disturb the fermenting process inside the bottle. After the yeast cured for about 3 days they started distilling the hash. By the end of the week they had produced a little over ½ of a quart of Ethanol. They tested the fuel on the small engine of the 4 wheeler. They mixed the ethanol with the same amount of gas that they had on hand and then asked to see Mr. Henderson.
At first Mr. Henderson was shocked as he stood next to the barn watching the 4 wheeler idle, but then the reality of the boys’ ingenuity was easily apparent to him as pride washed over him. He placed his hands on the boys shoulders as he said, “’As for these … children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom:’ Good job boys. Good job indeed.” Walter, Robert and John went over everything with the boys. Surprisingly Carden’s notes were very precise. By late in the afternoon Carden had taught them all how he made the hash and distilled the ethanol.
They talked about the process all afternoon and immediately started processing four more five gallon bottles of hash. By the end of the week they created over ½ gallon of ethanol. This meant that the 4 wheeler/tractor would be able to used in the garden much more this season. John immediately made arrangements with the farmers in area to increase their corn and sugar cane production. They would be able to increase the amount of fuel for most everyone in the area this year. And the days passed by…
Carden let Holt in on the plan. Without letting everyone know what they were doing the boys started to work. Holt met with Robert the blacksmith and by the end of the week they had produced a device the book had called a distiller. Carden traded some silver coins with one of the farmers down the road for 25 pounds of sugar and with another for 25 pounds of corn that he had the ladies in the kitchen show him how to grind into meal. He had to ask Mary for a bit of the yeast which she allowed him. He then asked Evelyn to use an old 5 gallon water cooler bottle that they had in storage and Carden now had the ingredient to start his hash.
Carden started writing down everything. They started with just 5 pounds of sugar, 5 pounds of crushed corn meal, some yeast and 5 gallons of water. Then they configured a relieve valve with a water trap in a small coiled hose to allow the yeast bubbles to release their gas, but not allow oxygen to disturb the fermenting process inside the bottle. After the yeast cured for about 3 days they started distilling the hash. By the end of the week they had produced a little over ½ of a quart of Ethanol. They tested the fuel on the small engine of the 4 wheeler. They mixed the ethanol with the same amount of gas that they had on hand and then asked to see Mr. Henderson.
At first Mr. Henderson was shocked as he stood next to the barn watching the 4 wheeler idle, but then the reality of the boys’ ingenuity was easily apparent to him as pride washed over him. He placed his hands on the boys shoulders as he said, “’As for these … children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom:’ Good job boys. Good job indeed.” Walter, Robert and John went over everything with the boys. Surprisingly Carden’s notes were very precise. By late in the afternoon Carden had taught them all how he made the hash and distilled the ethanol.
They talked about the process all afternoon and immediately started processing four more five gallon bottles of hash. By the end of the week they created over ½ gallon of ethanol. This meant that the 4 wheeler/tractor would be able to used in the garden much more this season. John immediately made arrangements with the farmers in area to increase their corn and sugar cane production. They would be able to increase the amount of fuel for most everyone in the area this year. And the days passed by…
The Foundling Finding His Way
Carden had been dreading this day since last fall. He had been at the ranch for over a year and a half. He was now a full member of the group and had created close relations with the Henderson family. It was just too shocking. Holt was leaving the ranch.
But let us recall the time that has passed. A year and a half had passed on the farm. Carden was now 16 years old. John had lived up to his end of the bargain and taken care of him like a son. Carden had done his part and learned as much as he could. He continued to stay on the farm learning and growing.
For the first year John wisely loaned out the little bit of gold that Carden had entrusted him with and at the end of the year had earned Carden two silvers plus another silver to boot. First at John’s hesitation then with his support, Carden then took one of the one tenth ounce gold coins and the silver to setup a bigger ethanol refinery.
He was able to produce about three gallons a week (sometimes a little more) for the ranch and surrounding farms. Holt had a lot to do with that refining some of the methods to yield more fuel without some of the waste. Some of the farms now had makeshift tractors, generators and some other small gas powered tools that were now able to be run. Most of the sugar and corn production from the farms were at his disposal and it was profitable for him since he charged less than the traders at three gallons per one ounce silver. The traders knew that the ranch had started their own production and actually went up on their price per gallon much to the dismay of the people in the area. Most of Carden’s fuel money went to the ranch, but a quarter of what was brought in or produced went straight to Carden’s pocket.
That year, from the ethanol profit and money from allowing some hunting on his land by the ranch members, he had produced about fifteen silver ounces in profit. Carden was able to replaced the value of his one tenth ounce gold piece in his savings with John as well as buy several needed supplies. OK, well they weren’t all supplies. He wasted a bit on things of comfort and little on junk, but John let him seeing that it was his money to waste. One thing he did do was to add to the poultry and rabbit numbers this past spring. Now the farm had more unrelated animals and their flock was stronger for it.
Carden gave back his single shot .410 shotgun when he turned sixteen and received his 12 gauge Remington shotgun back to carry for hunting and protection. John would not hear of the loan going unsecured so he presented Carden with a Colt Police Positive .38 Special revolver. It was an odd caliber from the .45’s that everyone carried on the ranch, but it was a very reliable weapon. Most of the time, Carden carried just the handgun and left the shotgun at home.
The farm no longer had a meat problem. A young bull, six young heifers and four more yearlings had been added to the ranch. It was a good start and everyone had pitched in to raise enough money and goods to trade for the animals. With the added cattle, extra rabbits, extra chickens, occasional fish taken from the fishing pond, additional hunting on Carden’s land and the revenue generated by the sell of the fuel the ranch was prospering and the surrounding farms along with it.
The time with Walter came to a pause, but from time to time a weather condition or time of the year opportunity presented itself. In the dead of winter Walter had planned another hunting trip where he covered stalking and tree stand hunting. He also used the opportunity to teach editable plants found winter time. One time Walter knew that a bad rain storm was moving in and he gave Holt and Carden a tarp, some rope and a folding saw. They had to make a shelter and wait out the storm for a good part of the day and the night. Walter had a stranger sense of a classroom setting.
When Carden was not with Walter he spent weeks at a time moving from person to person on the farm. His first visit was with Edna Lewis the cook. The one thing that Carden learn fast is she was to be called Mrs. E. Anything else and the elderly woman would just ignore you. She taught him how to bake, broil, boil and fry.
Within the two week period Carden was able to make his own meals if need be and on one or two occasions did just that as he cooked the entire meal for the ranch that night. Well, Mrs. E helped a little. It couldn’t be stopped. She would just without warning swoop in and adjust the flame of the stove down or smacked his hand as he reached for salt all the time exclaiming, “You aren’t serving burnt food from MY kitchen!” and “Quit that before you poison somebody.” At the end Carden learned the recipe book was his friend and with Mrs. E’s notes on the side margin that you could not go wrong. She gave him a copy of some of the more basic recipes and made him memorize them.
Then next few weeks he spent his training time with Mary. She had him mending his own socks by the end of the day, and by the end of the first week had made a nice hunting coat with a warm hood from a wool blanket. The last week was spent in the spinning and loom room. Carden figured out that the tedious work of looming cloth was worth every bit of money that the wool and cotton cloth brought in. EVERY ounce of money.
Evelyn’s sister Jessica got him next and just in time too. Carden jumped right into the fire with her helping to deliver a calf on the first day. Jessica while only 19 was the defacto veterinarian for the ranch. Carden was stuck feeding and taking care of the calf on top of learning the basics for caring for every animal on the farm.
An engine mechanic and farmer named Mr. Meadows was hired on the ranch. John had managed to somehow bring in three older VW bugs from the before time and Mr. Meadows went right to work. They needed to build a new small hired hand house for him and his baby daughter (the mother had died in child birth).
Next Carden was assigned to Lemuel and the carpenter schooled Carden on carpentry and wood working until he understood how to correctly drive a nail, measure, cut a board and how to make a plum, flush and square frame wall. Within five days the shell of the small house was complete and within another week they started to move in.
The buildings were basically sixteen by sixteen two story buildings. Each had their own kitchen, living area and (on the second floor) a bedroom with desk bed and storage area. A front and back porch were also added to the buildings as well as a small wood burning stove in the kitchen. If you were to add a bathroom, the small house would be just enough for a young couple.
Carden spent an additional two weeks with Lemuel as he started creating their furniture. The first item was a simple bed frame and the next was a crib.
Another side item to Lemuel’s training was the creating of a long bow, bow string and arrows. John had issued an order at the beginning of the year that everyone would be moving toward more long term renewable arms to be used as much as possible. Lemuel had almost perfected making long bows and had managed to make a couple of halfway decent compound bows. By the middle of the second week Carden had his own long bow and a couple of dozen basic arrows.
After carpentry, it was on to the blacksmith. Robert immediately set him on the bellows working on iron to make another pot bellied stove for the newly arrived engine mechanic. Also his supply of nails were running low, so thus Carden began his training in blacksmithing like the blacksmiths of old making nail after nail in between the stove projects. Finally after the first week of making nails an order for several horse shoes from a local farmer came in and Robert allowed Carden to assist in the process of producing steel.
Well, it wasn’t the purest of steel but it was better than just the normal iron that was being used. By the use of a small make shift Bessemer converter Robert was able to create an oxidized iron better than the normal iron in the area. Sometimes he cheated and used metal that was produced before to be forged into something more useful now. However, it was enough for Carden to learn the ropes and be amazed by the craft.
And so passed his time at the ranch: studying at school, training with the various people of the ranch, working hard for the ranch and enjoying his time with his friends.
This brings us back to Holt’s situation. Holt was graduating and John (his father) had made an extreme deal to set Holt’s future on a bright path. John was hard on Holt, making sure that he had outdoor skills as well as intelligence, but in these times it was needed to prepare him for the rebuilding ahead. Holt was ready for his apprenticeship and the man who was coming to get Holt was on his way.
The man’s name was Brian Sewell. He was the nephew of Walter and years ago had been a chemist. Brian now worked for a man named Dr. Wiezenbeck who had an enormous plan. The good doctor, along with a small community’s backing, had brought a chemical plant online near one of the areas largest Zinc mines. The chemist was now gathering together individuals who could be trained to help him in his undertaking.
Dr. Wiezenbeck’s chemical plant was going to produce sulfuric acid and the mine would produce the zinc. Add to these copper and you had the ability to make batteries. The people that remembered the time before went into a flurry. The buzz in each of the surrounding communities is that they would help in any way. Dr. Wiezenbeck had already spread the word that he would pay top coin for copper of any kind and the traders in the area were trading top trade for it. Some of the wire in the walls of older abandoned houses were scavenged and collected.
There was talk of a deal trying to be established with a copper mine in the west near Arizona, but that would be years away seeing that such travel would take several months to traverse unless there was some kind of vehicle that could take them and even then the roads would be unsure. For now people were scavenging for copper in all forms. Electrical wiring was taken out of buildings and power lines that still stood in some areas were removed. Old car batteries that had long since lost their usefulness were recycled and taken out of the machines that were used before. All copper was traded and the whole community benefited.
Holt left the ranch in the fall. He would be living in an apartment near the factory and would receive enough money to live on during his apprenticeship. Holt promised to be back for Christmas, but he would be at least a week’s travel away by foot and could not make the trip easily. No one expected him to return for Christmas.
At Holt’s departure things changed for Carden. Not only did he loose his best friend and basically the closest thing to a brother he would ever know, the eyes that were on Holt now fell to him. Carden did not realize that Holt had been being groomed for such an opportunity as this for the past two years. Holt’s work load at school had been changed to include science subjects like biology, chemistry and physics. He had been moved into one of the small houses so Holt could get a feeling of living alone and providing for one’s self. Holt started having private meetings with his father and even was forced to endure a week alone in the woods in the dead of winter as a survival test. Of course, Holt passed it all.
The grooming that Holt endured now fell to Carden. He was now moved into Holt’s old smaller house where Holt had lived since Carden moved into his room in the main house. These were the houses that were built on the property for the hired hands and were small but functional.
The school work had changed this year as well. Now the children were given an opportunity to request material on certain topics. Carden was very practical and he had his land that he one day wanted to return to so he asked for material as it related to history, running a business, running a farm and took some direction of his studies from John.
Also his training subject matter had changed. Mike was now assigned to Carden. Mike was aloof and did not socialize but with only a few of the people at the ranch. He mostly spent his time in the field, hunting or away on “scouting/salvaging” trips. His scouting trips were into wild abandoned areas were he salvaged certain items from before that were left behind often returning with an odd but useful assortment of items.
His first day he was to meet Mike in the woods at the far edge of the Sheppard’s territory. It was a thickly wooded area except for the train leading through the woods. All he knew was the world turned upside down and there was some sort of bush laughing at him. The bush reached up with arms and removed some of its covering and Mike’s face appeared from behind the branches smiling at the boy caught it the trap. Mike cut Carden down with a slice of a knife.
Nursing his ankle for the rest of the day Mike went over the course material: Physical Training, stealth, military ambush tactics, escape and evade, tracking, rifle combat training, hand to hand combat training and operational security. This course was also not going to be two weeks and out. THIS course was twelve weeks long and the first was the worst since it was PT week. “You are NOT gonna like THIS,” said the older man as he began to jog down the road as Carden followed.
It was true. Carden did not care for the PT training one bit. He ran so far the first day that he thought his lungs would explode. Then it was on to something else: push ups, pull ups, sit ups and then throw ups. After Carden had expelled his breakfast in an unorderly fashion Mike said, “Good now you will be lighter for the walk. Two minutes. Then we walk back.” After a slight pause Mike commented, “We can let circumstances rule us, or we can take charge and rule our lives from within.”
As the weeks went by the fire in his chest as he ran stopped and he breathed easier. The road felt softer and shorter. The ache in his arms and legs was continually there, but slowly eased away as he continued his exercises. Mike said little, but nodded from time to time.
The days wore on and Carden fell into a rhythm again school, training with Mike then work; until the day the main alarm was raised. It was a cold Christmas day and Carden was in the back field taking his turn with the sheep as the day was slowing down.
The morning was joyous and everyone was happy in the goodness of the time. Carden was given a large twenty foot Cheyenne style teepee tent by the members of the farm to be used in the future at his land or on hunting trips. It was placed into storage until needed. Several smaller gifts were given to him including a new pair of boots from Walter and a couple of new shirts from Mary.
The main bell rang quick and hard. Everyone dropped what they were doing and headed to the main gate. It was then Carden noticed the thin man dressed in a black overcoat and cowboy hat at the gate sitting on horseback quite and tall. The man also had a pack horse behind him, but he saw no other visitors with him. Carden grabbed his shotgun and started at a run across the field.
People had gathered at the front gate and allowed the thin man to enter. Until the all clear was given it was a given that the man might be hostile. Then with a chill the group gave up a “Horray!” Some clapped and others hugged the man. As Carden got closer Carden saw something in the man’s stance and immediately smiled. His friend had come home.
Holt was swamped with pats on the back and questions thrown out about how is the job going and what has he been doing. He saw Carden as he ran up and nodded across the crowd to his friend. Jessica saw Carden’s interest and whispered to Carden, “I will watch the sheep. It is almost my turn anyways.” Carden smiled back to her. It was then that Holt was ushered into the house by John and Mary as others grabbed his packs and brought them in. Holt stood in the long dinning room and addressed everyone at his Father’s urging.
He told of his job and the great steps that they had taken. At first, several attempts at the final product had failed. They had suffered through several leakage and corrosion problems as well as an inefficiency in the amperage output, but they did finally succeed. They had already made over two hundred deep cycle twelve volt batteries very similar to car batteries in their amp storage. Holt unveiled a box with four of the batteries within, “Here are two for the ranch and two more to be traded with the valley.” Cheers were supplied.
Holt had done well. Instead of squandering his money he had saved it up, better equipped himself and was able to purchase the batteries. Of course, John had sent quite a bit of gold and silver with him also to help him get the ball rolling. Holt was thinner though. He looked almost sickly. Later he explained as he bunked with Carden in the ranch hand house that he often worked double shifts and always worked long hours.
Next Holt passed out several gifts to everyone at the ranch. A beautiful blue silk dress was given to his mother and the pack horse was presented to his father. Holt and his parents met for a long time before he and Carmen turned in for the night. The very next morning Holt was leaving. He stood at the main gate talking alone to his father for an extended good bye. Then he finally climbed onto his horse and was gone.
Two weeks had gone by when the news arrived at the Sheppard’s ranch that the traders had returned, but instead of stopping at the ranch they had made camp at a large open field near the highway. A few hours later three armed horsemen rode up to the front gate.
“John Henderson,” were the only words they spoke. When John came to the front gate they handed him an envelope and stated, “You are here by given notice.” They immediately backed their horses away from the gate and turned back down the road at full gallop.
John went into his office and closed the door. Later Mary, Walter and Mike were summoned to his office and once again it was a while before anything happened. When they came out everyone was summoned to the dinning room where John explained. “Everyone it appears we have a problem.” John held up the letter and continued.
“The day that I thought would come has. This letter is from the traders. Basically the message states that they are going up in their prices. Most everything that they have is now doubled or in some cases tripled in price. They know that they are the only source for certain medicines, certain types of fuel, certain foods and rare items in these parts and have now decided to advantage of the fact.”
The crowd murmured and John paused for a second. “I know some of you have tried to get me to seek out other traders for the area, but to get someone to come into this area we have to provide a certain level of security and we have not been able to do that with the limited people at the ranch. If we combined our efforts with the valley, we might possibly be able to handle most problems in the area and attract another caravan. However, the valley is well over 45 miles away and currently contacting them would be just too hard.”
“In addition, the traders are telling us that if either of the two areas contracts with another trader then they will not sell to that area.” The crowd murmured again.
John continued, “Now what you also do not know is that Holt has not only been working at the chemical plant, but he is covertly in contact with another trader group and has almost worked out details to come to this area. This is another reason we sent him to go work at the plant.”
Carden swallowed. “Excuse me sir…” Everyone paused. “Why can’t you use my land?”
John looked to Mary then back to Carden. “The thought had occurred to us, but I am sure that the traders would regard it as part of the Sheppard’s domain and would not trade with us. Not only that but I am sure that Mr. Archard would not be too pleased that we would be taking over such a large area. No son I just don’t know how that could happen.”
Carden looked to Mike and then back to Mr. Henderson, “We can let circumstances rule us, or we can take charge and rule our lives from within.”
Mr. Henderson asked, “What’s that Carden?”
Carden’s form straightened a bit, “Begging your pardon sir. As thankful that I am for your help and teaching, if I can help you and this whole area by leaving here and creating an outpost on my land then I should do that.”
Mary grabbed John arm as she said, “No Carden. It is too dangerous. And we would not be able to help you. That is the end of this discussion.” With that she turned and swooshed out the door. With her grace departed from the room the mood grew a bit more somber, if that were possible. The group dispersed and some followed John wanting to talk a bit more. Carden went to his small home and made plans.
It was a little after four AM and he was finally making his way out of the woods to the main road. The weight was slowing him down, but he had to pack enough to keep him going for a long time. Carden moved as quickly as he could. He had left a note. They would find it in a few hours.
The road was in sight and he made his way into the middle looking both ways as he breathed deeply under the weight of the pack. It was then he noticed the sound. The clippity clop of a horse’s gallop coming up the road. Carden immediately scampered to the edge of the woods to let the rider past. In the darkness the rider should ride right on by. As the rider approached Carden, the horse slowed and came to a complete stop. “Come out Carden!” It was unmistakably John Henderson’s voice.
The Foundling – Succeeding With Grace
Carden’s mouth dropped open. How in the world did he know? He shook his head and hefted the pack as he stood. Carden bowed his head as he made his way to the road and step out into the open.
John shook his head and produced a handheld radio from the plate carrier the man wore. “Target achieved, target achieved. Rendezvous at route bravo, rendezvous at route bravo.”
John stepped down out of the saddle as a voice responded, “Copy that. Target achieved. Rendezvous at route bravo.”
John appeared to Carden as if he was twenty feet tall, but he stood his ground his resolve not ending. The older man turned to Carden. “This isn’t the way son. Sneaking off through the woods. There is no honor in this. I am not telling you that you can not leave. It is your decision, but you should leave with the blessings of Mary and I, the supplies to carry you through and honorably with the mercy of God and the grace of those that love you.” John paused just a brief moment to dismount, “…And preferably through the front gate!”
From behind, in the woods, came a sound of someone working their way through the brush. As the sound grew closer it dawned on Carden that he was followed and that was how Mr. Henderson had pin pointed his position so easily. After a few more moments a Cyclops version of Mike came into view. The outdoorsman was wearing some sort of electronic device over one of his eyes that Carden later found out was an ATN - PVS14 third generation Night Vision Multi Purpose System. Mike wore the same plate carrier as John with his normal LBE belt and the AR15 that Mike frequently carried.
Mike addressed Mr. Henderson, “Sir. I can escort Carden. You should head back.”
John immediately interjected, “No. I need you to take my horse back along with Carden’s pack. I will walk Carden home.”
Mike brow furrowed, “Sir. You must not be out longer than you need to be. Let ME escort him back.”
“Mike, the boy and I have some talking to do. Take the pack and horse and leave. That is an order.”
Mike straightened, “Sir.” Mike helped Carden take off the forty pound pack and rode the horse down the road quickly.
John turned back to Carden and began the discussion, “Well, Carden.” Each stepped back toward the Sheppard’s ranch with their long guns unslung but safely pointed at the ground.
“I am sorry sir, but it just seemed like the right thing to do. Why did you come after me?”
“How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.” John paused a bit and gripped Carden’s shoulder. “Carden you are under my charge and I am pledged to protect you.”
“Pledged to whom?”
The two continued to walk as John continued, “Do you remember the first time that we went to your land to hunt? I stood at the foot of your mother’s grave and promised to raise you as my own. Son you have made me so proud and I am sure that your mother is proud of you. I won’t let you run away from that.”
Several minutes later both of them were sitting in John’s office. “So if you are big enough to want to take on the responsibility of your earlier plan alone, then you better be big enough for this.”
“Sir?”
John explained, “Well, it is time to let you in on our plan. You see, I have already been in contact with Mr. Archard for some time and we have already planned out what we would do if this situation ever arose. Basically, I am going to go ahead with bringing the new traders into the area.”
“But you will loose the trading with the current traders.”
“That is right. However, Mr Archard will refuse the new traders entry into the Valley and thus secure the current traders for quite sometime. What we have decided is to use your land (since it is halfway between the two) as a trading post where goods from both areas can be traded thus eliminating the monopoly and restore competition. Your land would be a free area with no preference for either the Valley or the Shepard’s. The Valley is over populated with people and merchants and we are too rural to do as much trade. Your land would be an unassociated third party that would be bring balance to both areas.”
“But what if they get wise to the agreement?”
“My son’s efforts will take care of that. The trader’s days are coming to a close. Between the restoration of power and your own efforts in creating fuel for everyone, slowly long range transportation in the region is going to be restored. When that happens more goods will be able to be circulated.”
“THAT is why you hired the mechanic and brought the VW bugs into the ranch!”
John giggled a little, “Yes. Mr. Meadows says that he should have one working in a few more months. He is even outfitting it with a bit of armor, a weapons mount and a hitching system to tow a trailer to transport goods ourselves. Imagine being able to visit Holt with about four hours instead of five days. We will move your distiller to your land and produce a smaller version of your distiller operation here at the ranch to keep SOME manufacturing here.”
“Wow!”
John smiled, “Now to your part of this. Whether you want to admit this or not, you can not hope to succeed with this without more wisdom and strength. So I have decided to not allow you to settle your land alone.”
Carden interjected, “Sir, I…”
John cut him off, “So, come in gentlemen!” Immediately the door opened as Walter and Mike walked in. “And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” John paused as both men did a slight bow to Carden. “Walter and Mike have volunteered to assist you with creating this location and manning it until such a time the situation changes.”
John turned to the two men, “Report.”
Walter stepped up, “Sir. Carden’s cart has been upgraded and outfitted for use with a horse. It is also packed and ready. Food, water, shelter, carpentry tools, gardening tools and mechanical tools are loaded. Two other horses are saddled and ready. One of the twelve volt deep cycle batteries and an alternator is also packed and secured.” Walter turned to Mike.
“Sir. The Ten Meter communications equipment and antenna are checked and secured. In addition three combat load-outs complete with three sets of BDU’s, combat boots, plate carriers, Garmin Rino 110 FRS radios, LBE setups, AR-15’s and six thirty round mags each are packed and secured. Additional ammo and anti personnel devices are also packed. We await your orders.”
John straightened, “No, you await Carden’s orders.” Both men turned to Carden.
Carden looked at both of them, “Thank you. Both of you.” Both men nodded to the young man and waited for them outside the door to the office.
A few hours later the men had said their good byes to the ranch and were well on their way to Carden’s land as the sun came above the hills. Mike rode advanced scout, Walter drove the cart and Carden rode rear guard. By mid afternoon they had reached the land.
The Garmin Rino 110 FRS Radios chipped to life and Mike’s voice gave the warning, “We have company. The open area near the road is occupied. I am staging 150 yards from the intersection. Rear guard up. Cart to the rear. Counting three targets.” Carden spurred his horse ahead to catch up to Mike.
Both Mike and Carden approached the men. Only one of the men was seen as armed and the bolt action rifle was still shouldered. As they approach, the two could see that the men had been there a while and had even created an oven of some sort underneath a make shift shelter. The oldest of the three stepped forward, “Good evening gentlemen. Come to check out my glasswares? I have glasses, bowls, bottles and quite a few ‘Lightning Jars.’ These are the best prices around. Or perhaps you are bringing me some broken glass for me to recycle. I am also trading quite well for old broken glass and cork.”
Mike shifted, “Do you realize that you are squatting on owned land?”
The older man shifted and the man with the shouldered rifle slowly moved it into his hands. Mike flicked the safety off of his AR15. Carden reached out and grabbed his forearm. “This isn’t the way. There is no honor in this.”
Carden urged his horse a step further and addressed the older man. “This is MY land. I may be willing to let you stay, but would you please tell me what is going on here.”
Mike nodded to the older man and he answered Carden’s question. “Ah, well, we looked for a store front in the Valley, but the man who controls the town wanted a good bit for the store front and a percentage of what we sold as a tax. We could not afford it and tried to set up shop here on the main road. We have had several customers from travelers to the Valley. Isn’t there something that we can work out?”
After a long talk Carden found out the man’s name was Porter Cox and the two other men were his son’s. Carden had agreed to allow the glass maker to stay and reposition his camp in a place a little better than the little area right beside the road. They could create a better structure and a more permanent and efficient oven in keeping with the plans of the future outpost that Carden was planning. Of course, one day there would be several permanent structures within the outpost.
The glass maker had agreed to pay rent in the form of barter for one ‘lightening jar’ for every week to be renegotiated in three months. These handmade glass jars with cork lined glass lids were bringing in quite a large asking price due to the fact that they were reusable and did not require new metal lids. Not to mention the demand for them would be outrageous seeing that there was little out there to properly store food in. Normal glass jars from before were breaking everyday with no replacements in sight.
The first order of business was to set up the camp. Walter and Carden started at that with first cutting down several smaller trees to form the braces of the teepee style tent. The twenty foot tent would easily house the three men. A small fire was built in the middle of the teepee and the smoke ran out the opening in the top. Carden then constructed a three sided temporary shelter out of several tarps to give the horses and place to shelter. Walter began supper and hinted to Carden to invite the Cox family.
Mike was busy as well. The area was secured for the most part. Then Mike started digging a foxhole in a position that was able to cover the homestead and the approaching driveway from the main road. He then created a ring of old wood and dirt about one and a half foot away from the opening of the fox hole. The foxhole would be made bigger the next day and a roof to the foxhole would be made to add camouflage and protection. From its vantage point it would be the perfect LP/OP.
Lastly right before supper Carden and Mike set up the ten meter HAM radio and antenna. At the appropriate time the group called the ranch and speaking in a predetermined code informed them that they were settled and ok. They also made a brief mention of the renters that they now had and the products that they offered. John immediately put in an order for twelve of the lightening jars.
Dinner was eaten and the Cox family was expressing their happiness with the situation. They even paid for the two weeks that they had been setting up shop down by the main road as well as the current week and too additional weeks rent.. Mr. Cox personally thanked Carden for allowing them to stay and for the use of this “haven”. Carden liked the phrase so much that the next morning he burnt the words “Haven Trading Post” into a wooden plank left over from the wood of the burnt house and hung it prominently at the edge of the main road.
The next morning radio contact was made with the Valley and for the first time a message was relayed between the Valley and the Shepard’s ranch in a matter of minutes instead of days. John had sent an alternator to charge the battery for use with the radio. Thanks to the small spring running through the land they had a renewable energy source. Over the next two days the men constructed an alternator generator by mounting the alternator to a water wheel. It did not run fast but it was fast enough to give a little power to the battery.
The men took turns standing guard, working, hunting and sleeping. A garden was raised in the area where Carden’s mom had a garden before. The farm house proper was separated from the lower levels where the glassmaker’s camp by a wooden poled fence. The smoke house was cleaned out and brought back to a useable status. Thanks to Mike a few rabbits taken by bow and arrow were added to the smoke house. An outside rocket style stove was built out of stones from around the area. Finally, foxhole and tunnel infrastructure was built adding to the defenses of the outpost.
They immediately began to get visitors. Word spread of the new independent trading post. The glassmaker sold his wares and was doing well. A journeyman blacksmith/farrier rented an area for one silver piece every two months as well as free farrier service for Carden’s horses. The next to rent a spot was a cooper who setup shop on the side of the property near the blacksmith. The cooper and the blacksmith had both combined some of their assets to create an excellent forge. In addition, the cooper had a nearby lumber mill delivering wood for him every several weeks. Several farmers for nearby farms started coming every Saturday to set up a nice sized farmer’s market. Most of the farmers just bartered for the rent with food or other items.
The men did find time to hunt and do a few projects of their own. One project in particular is that Carden finally reached the point that he wanted to dig up another of his mother’s caches. After a quick trip on horse back Carden reached a place several miles down the road. There he only found a rock and a tree with the doughnut symbol. He only located one cache.
After digging in the ground he brought up another metal ammo can. After finally freeing it from the sticky soil he opened the can to find four 750ml bottles of Glenlivet Single Malt Scotch Whisky wrapped in cotton that was over twenty years old. The bottles were sold separately to several visitors to the trading post which brought in several silvers in return. Also in the bottom of the can was about 30 pounds of lead ingots which were traded for several pieces of lumber from another visitor.
The regular preacher/mail man/doctor’s route was adjusted to add Haven into the route. In addition, regularly weekly trade deliveries from the Shepard’s and the Valley were scheduled. The journeyman blacksmith/farrier promised the preacher free farrier services for his horse if he would help spread the word of his services and where he was at. At Walter’s urging this was suggested to the farrier by Carden to help alleviate some of the lost business the extra trade deliveries would cost the preacher. In addition, Carden welcomed the preacher to hold service there at Haven and always offered to the preacher food and/or other supplies especially when the doctor visited too.
After a trip into the Valley several chickens and rabbits were brought back to Haven as well as a small grain mill. Several bits of lumber was also purchased and (at the first visit from the Shepard’s where John and Lemuel came) a nice log cabin style store front was started right in front of the trading post proper. A few weeks later Carden received word that the new trader convoy had made it to the Shepard’s ranch. The next week several medicines and boxes of machine parts made there way via Haven to the Valley in trade. Little by little the new trading post succeeded and Carden began to make his way in a hard and struggling world.
THE END
ไม่มีความคิดเห็น:
แสดงความคิดเห็น