The men kept clearing a way through to the stables to feed the horses and on many occasions they found eggs. They were reluctant to kill the chickens as their eggs were an important source of food. They had ample supplies of coffee and it was just as well that they drank it without milk, although Liza preferred it white, but she could cope without it.
“This is much worse than a few years ago when Edward was over. That was the year before you arrived here, Patrick. We were snowed in but really only cut off from elsewhere rather than each other in town. We were isolated from the fort but we could often reach each other,” said Liza and George and Zelma agreed.
“The Indians were saying that, although this was going to be a very bad year, it was not going to last as long as it had done previously,” said Patrick.
“Yes, it lasted through ’till well into March, I seem to remember. I know that Edward was staying with me and he couldn’t wait for the road to clear so that he could reach the fort and of course, the rest is history,” said Liza sadly.
Over the next two days two of the chickens had to be sacrificed and they were eaten with cornbread and a few vegetables. Their carcases were put into the stew pot with some vegetables and on the following days, a very tasty soup was appreciated.
Finally the snow stopped and there was a change in the wind direction so there was the hint of warmth in the air and that night they all went to bed hoping that in the morning they would be able to start clearing a way through to others in the town.
Patrick was up early and the boys were excited that they may have a chance to go outside and play in the snow. They dressed quickly and started to help clearing the snow from the back of the house through to the stables, piling it up either side of the pathway.
Zelma and Liza then went to the stables hunting for eggs, which they found and went back to the house and made a large omelette for everyone, once again padded out with cornbread.
“Hopefully we’ll be able to clear a way out to the roadway and get over to Kathy’s and Joe’s, then we may be able to get some more stores in, although they can’t have had any deliveries from anywhere, but you can bet on it that Kathy will have been baking something,” said Liza.
At breakfast Gabriel said that he and Si could probably go home that day, and George agreed that he could also, to which both Liza and Patrick told them that they should stay for at least another couple of days, but they agreed that they would go and light fires in their homes to warm them up before moving back.
The men then started to clear the front of the house moving towards the roadway and people could be heard calling to everyone asking how they were. The boys decided that they wanted to build a snowman in the front garden, so they donned their thick clothes and gloves and went outside to enjoy themselves.
Zelma got herself ready and started to make her way over to the general store. She had an improvised sled so that she could bring back whatever she could find there that was edible. Her instructions were that anything was acceptable.
Liza made her way to the stable to see if she could find any more eggs and to see how many chickens had survived the conditions. Also, she wanted to make sure that the horses and ponies were fed. She also wanted to light the wood burner in Zelma’s home so that it could be aired off.
As she went towards the stable she nearly slipped over on some icy snow that had fallen onto the pathway and she was going to clear it away with a shovel which she would get from the stable. She could see that it was where the boys had been clearing and had obviously not had the strength of the men. Zelma’s home felt very cold and damp when she entered it, but it didn’t take her long to light the wood burner and immediately it felt better.
The horses and ponies had huddled together for warmth, the stables seriously needed cleaning out but Liza was pleased that she could leave that to the men. There were still six chickens left and Liza went hunting for eggs and she found a few, so if nothing else, they could have more eggs for lunch.
She picked up a shovel and went back to the house, gingerly walking over the icy patch. She smiled as she heard the boys having fun in the front garden and shouting across to the various children who were also enjoying themselves in the snow. Liza put the eggs down and went back into the garden. She picked up her shovel and started scraping up the dangerous patch of snow and ice. It wasn’t strenuous work but she wanted to work fairly quickly so that she could get back into the warmth.
There was a sudden intake of breath and movement beside her. Her shovel was grabbed from her and slung to the ground and before she could turn round, she was being propelled into the house and almost flung into her rocking chair with a furious looking Patrick staring down at her saying, “How can you do such a stupid thing, Liza?” He then started shouting at her that she tried his patience beyond belief and that she made it impossible for anyone to think that she had any sense whatsoever. She sat blinking up at him with a surprised look on her face as he ranted on at her.
Gabriel and George had already come into the house for a rest and warm up and they were surprised at the scene that was unfolding in front of them. Patrick turned to them and said, “Can you believe that she was clearing ice and snow from the back with a shovel and in her condition?” He was shaking his head in despair. He turned back to her quickly and in Liza’s mind she was going to receive a hefty blow to her head and she put up her hands to fend it off.
She thought that she was back in the Indian camp. She had got in Brave Eagles way and he was going to hit her again and there was nobody around to protect her. She was waiting for the blow to fall and then she saw Patrick and she was panicking for him. “You’ve got to go, Patrick. If he finds you here he’ll kill you. You’ve got to go now. He won’t kill me, he just likes to hurt me and it’ll take his mind off you, so please go before he realises you’re here.” She covered her face again but no blow came, just arms around her holding her tightly and murmuring to her gently.
“It’s all right, Liza; nobody is going to hurt you. Wake up, you’re home and I’m with you and only friends are here. You know I’ll always look after you and protect you. You’re safe now, Liza. Are you coming back to us now? Yes, you are, aren’t you?”
Zelma had arrived back and took in the scene. “Has she gone into one of her nightmares Patrick?” she asked.
Patrick nodded. She carried on, “Is she out of it yet?” Patrick nodded again. “She’ll sleep now then,” said Zelma in a very matter of fact manner.
Gabriel and George looked at one another and Gabriel said, “Is she all right, Patrick?”
“Yes, she’s fine now. There are just some things that trigger the past for her and my shouting at her did that I’m afraid. She lived in constant fear for over two years which was bound to have its effect on her. These episodes don’t happen very often at all. She’ll sleep for a few hours now and when she wakes, she’ll be back to her normal self.”
Patrick bent down and picked her up and carried her upstairs to their bedroom. She still had her coat and boots on, so he gently took them off and she lay down and settled herself comfortably. She had been asleep since she had calmed down when she was still in the rocking chair so, although she was helping Patrick, she was fast asleep.
He was so sorry that he had shouted at her, but she did do some very silly things he thought. Although what she was doing was something that a normal pregnant woman would have no difficulty doing. He realised that she must be feeling very frustrated and there were things that she just did without thinking. Poor Liza, he thought, she’s not used to being inactive.
He covered her, and she now had a beautiful smile on her face, although she was still fast asleep and she wriggled and settled herself comfortably moving over to his side of the bed and rubbing her face on his pillow. He had better leave her now and go down to Gabriel and George and make sure the boys weren’t getting into too much trouble as no doubt there would be a few snowballs hitting unsuspecting people.
Gabriel and George looked up as he ca
me into the room. “I’m afraid that was my fault. She isn’t going mad; she just relives the worst part of her life on occasion,” said Patrick.
“Yes,” said Gabriel, “I was in the court when she was asked why she didn’t try to leave the camp, and I was horrified to hear what she had to say. I was amazed when you took her out of the court without a by your leave from the judges, and you both walked so elegantly from the room. It was quite something to see and I wonder whether I would have had the courage to do that. You were really telling the court what you thought of it. It is something I will always remember.”
George hadn’t been there at the time, but he had heard some of what had gone on. “Yes, it was a disgrace what she was put through. Really you were both put through hell then and it’s not surprising that Liza has the odd nightmare reliving the past. I thank God that she has you, Patrick.”
“Yes, but there are times that I forget that she is vulnerable because she comes across as so much in control of herself. I must try to keep my annoyance to myself,” said Patrick.
“Patrick, you only shout at her because you’re worried about her,” said Zelma. “You haven’t done it before. It’s only since she’s carrying that you’ve been following her around everywhere and telling her to stop whatever it is she’s doing. I would think that she has a great deal of patience because you would drive me to insanity.”
Patrick and George had to smile as Zelma had the same dour honesty that all Indians had with no idea that they may be offending people. Gabriel was nodding in agreement with her, not seeing anything amusing in what she had said.
“I’ve got soup and fresh bread for lunch and I’ve managed to get some beef for our evening meal. That’s going to be a change from chicken or just vegetables. Whether it will be tender or not, who cares, we’ve got teeth. Can somebody call the boys in for lunch please,” said Zelma.
Gabriel jumped up and went to the front door and called the boys. He had a commanding voice and they responded immediately. George and Patrick smiled recognising that Zelma was becoming rather bossy and Gabriel slightly dictatorial. They had a lot in common.
The boys came running in and Gabriel told them to wash their hands and sit quietly at the table and wait for their lunch. They always seemed to do as he told them.
With lunch over, the boys asked if they could go and play outside again and Gabriel told them that they could once they had cleared their dishes from the table and they didn’t argue. Zelma and Patrick looked at one another. Liza had command over the boys but often there was a moan from them before they did as they were told, but there was no moaning when Gabriel gave them instruction.
With the boys playing snowballs with their friends, Zelma clearing the dishes and planning their evening meal, the three men went back to their task of clearing the snow from wherever it was needed.
Liza woke and her stomach told her that she was hungry. She could smell something cooking downstairs which seemed remarkably like beef and they hadn’t had any red meat in many days. Zelma had saved some soup for her which kept her going until their evening meal.
The three men were working their way along the town with many others and there was a great friendly atmosphere. They could also hear men working their way towards the town from the fort and Patrick knew that he would be able to go to work the next day. Women were coming out with hot drinks for the men and Kathy and one or two others were busy baking giving a beautiful aroma hanging over the town.
Angela struggled through the snow and visited Liza and Zelma. At least the boys thought twice before they threw snowballs at their teacher.
“I was so worried about George,” she said. “I know he doesn’t look after himself as he should. I was so relieved when we saw the note that he was well and with you.”
“He tried to reach your place,” said Liza, “but the route up to your door was completely blocked but he managed to get a little further and to our sideway where the blizzard had mostly avoided, so he finally found his way to our back door, thank God.”
“He was really cold,” said Zelma. “He could have died if he had been outside any longer. He and Gabriel will be staying with us for another day or so. So that their homes can be warmed up before they go back.”
“I hope your family have fared well in this,” said Liza.
“They have good stocks of most things, and plenty of wood to keep warm with. They also have one another for comfort,” smiled Angela.
“I seem to remember that your house was quite warm when I was there,” said Liza and Zelma agreed with her having also experienced some time there.
“How are you Liza, you’re looking a little tired,” said Angela.
“I shouldn’t be, I’ve only just had a long sleep and I do very little around the house at the moment,” said Liza.
Angela was staying for the evening meal with them and neither she nor Zelma would allow Liza to lift a finger towards getting the meal ready, so she decided to tidy herself up and change for the evening. It was beginning to get dark and the boys came in and took their wet outdoor clothes off and warmed up in front of the fire.
Liza was in the bedroom, sitting in front of the fire deep in thought when Patrick came to find her.
“What are you thinking about, Liza? Do you know what happened to you this morning?” asked Patrick.
“Yes, I know what happened this morning. You shouted at me very unfairly and then I woke up back in the Indian camp and I was so scared because I was waiting to be hurt again. Then you turned up and got in the way and complicated everything. It was your fault,” said Liza quietly and casually. “If you had just left me alone none of it would have happened and nobody would have seen me descend into such a pitiful state.”
“I don’t know what to say to that,” said Patrick.
“Sorry would be nice,” said Liza.
“Do you really think I should say sorry for trying to look after you and keep you safe,” said Patrick quietly.
“I think you should say sorry for jumping on me, frightening me and treating me like an idiot. I don’t do anything that I would ever consider harmful to our child. I was not scraping heavy snow; I was just moving what had fallen on the path which had already made me slip and nearly fall. It was due to your bad workmanship that I had to do that,” said Liza.
“You may not do anything that you consider harmful to our child, but what about doing things that could be harmful to you. You have to admit that you are not in the best of health at the moment. I am sorry that I caused you to relive part of your past; yes I am sorry about that. Whenever your mind takes you back there, you try to save me so you must love me, mustn’t you? Even though I know that I annoy you. Zelma says that I would drive her to insanity,” said Patrick.
Liza smiled. “Did she say that? Yes, you probably would drive her insane; you’ve managed to do it to me.”
“Oh Liza, you know I haven’t, you normally take my concern for you in your stride. I don’t know what happened today, it probably was because I shouted at you and I think I turned to you too quickly and you thought I was going to hit you; or really you thought somebody was going to hit you, because you know that I never would. I also have to say that nobody thinks that you were pitiful; they know that you went through hell,” said Patrick.
“They don’t know what I went through, nobody does. Not even you,” said Liza.
“Gabriel was in court when you told them what had happened to you,” said Patrick.
“One day I may tell you, but I’m still not yet ready. Anyway, let’s talk about happier things and you’re lucky because I forgive you,” she said cheekily and then added, “I know why you get annoyed at me, but you must try to let me be normal because I need to relax and unfortunately, I’m beginning to be permanently on edge when you are around me.”
“All right, I will try not to worry but it won’t be easy, especially when I’m away from you,” said Patrick.
“Now you know why I didn’t tell you before you went on your mi
ssion. You would not have concentrated on what you had to do and that would have been very dangerous,” said Liza. “Let’s go down and let everyone see that we don’t have problems, especially the boys. Just in case you don’t know, Patrick Kelly, I do love you and I do appreciate your concerns for me and our baby.”
“I know you do, Liza, you have shown me that on so many occasions, and I hope that you know that I feel exactly the same way for you. Come on, let’s go and see if we can get our teeth through this lovely meal that Zelma has been concocting for us all. She really is a wonderful part of our family. Where would we be without her?”
“Hmmm, very true,” said Liza as they left the bedroom and went downstairs to join the others for their evening meal. It was obvious that George only had eyes for Angela, but much as she seemed to appreciate his attention and obviously was comfortable in his company, there was no longer a reciprocal spark, just what appeared to be a great friendship. That’s sad, thought Liza.
They were all very cosy and warm and Zelma’s beef cooking turned out rather well. They didn’t need very sharp teeth, it was a little chewy but certainly not too tough. She was complemented on the way she managed to make something very palatable from a normally tough cut of meat. A huge pot of rice had been cooked with milk and was served with honey for pudding. Everything was well received and Zelma had excelled herself with the only food that she had been able to find.
Angela announced that she would not be opening the school until after the weekend, which brought a great cheer from the boys, much to the displeasure of both Liza and Gabriel, but created a great deal of amusement from everyone else. The boys then asked if they could leave the table and go and play in their bedroom. Gabriel looked across at Liza to see if she would agree to their request and she nodded to him, and Gabriel gave his permission.
Against All Odds Page 42
