Friends of the Family (The Colter Saga Book 1)

by Joel Baker

  Lily paid close attention to everything Hattie said. She learned to identify over sixty plants in Haven alone. All could be used for different ailments. Hattie would test her by pretending to be ill.

  “Oh, Lily, I got a terrible case of the trots. Go find me something to ease my suffering,” Hattie would say, rolling her eyes back in her head.

  Lily would tear out of the house and up into the woods. She would head for a particular place where she could find an abundance of Slippery Elm. She’d find some dry bark, race back to the house, and make up a strong cup of tea from the bark. Very carefully she would carry the cup of tea and some of the bark to Hattie, who would be waiting on the porch.

  “Let’s see what you got here,” Hattie said.

  She would examine everything and if it appeared right, she’d drink the tea and give Lily a big smile. Neighbors would stop by with various ailments, and Hattie would take the neighbor aside so they could talk in private.

  “Just a second,” Hattie would say. “I have to get my assistant to help me.”

  Lily would come over and listen to what was said. Hattie would confer with Lily like a consulting physician.

  “What do you think Lily?” Hattie asked.

  “What about Shepherd’s Purse?” Lilly suggested.

  “Well, yes. It will help if she drinks it as a tea during delivery,” Hattie said. “Go get several pods for the neighbor.”

  Lily quickly became generally known as a healer. If Hattie were busy or gone, people would ask for Lily’s advice. It wasn’t long before Lily was in much demand.

  The pace of life slowed to match the rhythm of the seasons. At first the changes came in small steps. Sarah blossomed, as baby Jessica grew within her.

  ****

  The water wheel was located close to the limestone ledge, where the water gushed out of the ground. Jesse used the steel from old power line towers for the superstructure and the metal plates from the truck for paddles. They lifted the completed assembly into place using the last of the diesel fuel with the truck. At the source, the flow rate of the creek was steady and strong. They were able to not only drive the saw when needed, but a grinding stone for milling grain when the saw was idle.

  Cole spent weeks away from Haven, roaming the area around the isolated valley. He possessed a real talent for salvage and was able to create a mental inventory of where things could be found. Eventually, things just got too numerous to remember and Cole began writing down everything in logs. He then hid the books where no one but he could find them.

  The crown jewel of his searches was a vintage, coal-fired steam engine. He’d found it in a storage hut at the old TVA facility at Basking Ridge. It was buried under a pile of old iron rods and wooden crates. If it had not been marked Kramer Steam Engine on the side, Cole wouldn’t even have known what it was. It took a full week and all of Franklin’s skill with horses to transport the engine on a low slung wagon pulled by twelve plow horses borrowed from neighbors. They built a special shed to house it some distance from the cabins, using the stack of lumber that was growing in the curing barn.

  Mark took on the lumbering operation as it moved steadily away from the east and west ridges surrounding Haven. A mountain of logs began to grow close to the site of the water wheel as the truck fuel dwindled ever lower. The voracious appetite for wood consumed by the wood stoves, fireplaces, and cook stoves kept Mark busy as fall and winter approached.

  Franklin borrowed time from everyone to help with planting and weeding the gardens in the south end of the valley, and hay and grain ripening in the north end. Lily and Hattie made their trips into the woods to collect their medicines only after they finished the washing, cleaning, cooking, and tending the huge garden.

  It didn’t help that Sarah was having a difficult time with her pregnancy. Jessica was going to be a Christmas baby. When Sarah started to have pains in the middle of October, she took to her bed. Hattie handled the care and feeding of the tired crew when they dragged in for meals. They all fell into bed at night tired. Tempers flared on occasion, and everyone was approaching exhaustion. Finally, the harvest was done and the leaves, turning the yellow gold of autumn, fell from the trees.

  ****

  Jesse waited for Cole to return from one of his scouting trips and called a family meeting. It was a cold and gray morning in early November. Everyone gathered in the front room. Jesse stood in front of them.

  “We’ve been in Haven for seven months, and it feels like seven years to me,” Jesse started. “Sarah’s not feeling well, Hattie and Franklin look exhausted, and I can guarantee you, I am. Paul and Lily haven’t picked up a book since we got here. We have to butcher some of our pigs, and get ready for the horses to foal in the spring and then start all over. I’m open to suggestions, people. Anybody got something they want to say?”

  “I think we need to pick and choose better how we spend our time,” Franklin said. “The water wheel you and Paul came up with is a fine idea. The problem is we got other fish to fry first.”

  “Well Franklin,” Mark said. We got enough grain and hay to feed an army, and whose idea was it to plant tomatoes in half the garden? Dad, you promised us no more tomatoes after Ohio.”

  “Why don’t you give that axe a rest, Mark and stop chopping down every tree in the valley?” Hattie asked. “We don’t need more logs we can’t cut up. You might want to wait until we got something we can cut them with. Place is starting to look like a stump farm anyway.”

  Sarah, sitting sprawled on the sofa looking uncomfortable and concerned, finally spoke.

  “Okay everybody,” Sarah said. “We got a few kinks to work out of Jesse’s otherwise perfect plan. But let’s not forget everybody’s doing the best they can. We’re all exhausted and need to back off a little. Everything we’re trying to accomplish is important to Haven in the long term, even Jesse’s windmill.”

  “Water wheel,” Jesse corrected.

  “Whatever!” Sarah said. “We need to get everything done and we’re only missing one thing. Hands.”

  “I have an idea,” Cole said. “I’ve met some people. I think they’re good people having a tough go of it. The main problem appears to be bad land and bad planning. I could talk to some of them and see if they would be interested in moving closer.”

  Everyone looked at Cole.

  “What people?” Sarah asked.

  “There’s the Scroggins family for one,” Cole said. “They live on a rock pile they call a farm about halfway to Basking Ridge. They’re really nice people. They have a boy about Paul’s age and a girl about Lily’s age. They just had twin babies too."

  “Anybody else you can think of?” Sarah asked.

  “…then there’s Karen,” Cole said. “Her mother died about three months ago and she’s been living alone ever since. Karen’s got a dog she’s fond of but I told her about our friends and how other dogs don’t do well around them. She’s about my age and…”

  “Well, well,” Hattie said with a smile. “That explains why Cole’s trips been taking longer and longer I do believe.”

  “Aw Hattie,” Cole said. “You always got to make a big deal out of everything.”

  “Please people, focus,” Sarah said. “Cole? Why don’t you talk to Karen and see if she would like to have a place to live. Franklin? Hattie? You have an extra bedroom. Would you be willing to let Karen stay there?”

  “If she can help out around here, she’s more than welcome,” Hattie said.

  “Good,’ Sarah said. “Cole, is this Scroggins fellow handy at all?”

  “He appears to be,” Cole said. He keeps his place real fixed up and sure knows his way around horses and livestock. They seem like decent folks and real hard working.”

  “That sounds good, Cole,” Sarah said. “Why don’t you invite them over for a visit? Jesse, you check with Bud or Jasper to see if they’ve heard of them. We’ll decide when they get here. As for the rest of us, let’s all try to remember where we were just a short time ago. Let’s t
ry to keep a little perspective. Jesse? Anything you want to add?”

  “Nope,” Jesse said. “I think you covered it just fine. But it’s a water wheel, not a windmill.”

  Everybody laughed at Jesse’s hurt look, until even he smiled.

  Chapter 26

  Cole left the next day, taking two extra horses with him. Three days later he and a pretty young woman came riding down East Ridge road. She had all her earthly possessions on the third horse. It wasn’t much. Everyone ran out onto the porch and watched them ride up. Karen was as tall as Sarah, and very thin. Her long dark brown hair was pulled back and tied with a yellow scarf.

  “She’s seems nice, Mom,” Lily said.

  “Hush, Lily” Sarah whispered. “Let’s wait until we get to know her,”

  The two climbed down off the horses and Cole introduced everybody. Sarah noticed that from the way Cole and Karen glanced at each other, chemistry was at work here. They moved Karen into the spare bedroom at Franklin and Hattie’s place and learned over the next few weeks that not only was she a good worker, but she had a sweet disposition as well.

  Hattie commented at dinner one night, that Cole’s trips didn’t seem to last quite as long as they used too. Both Karen and Cole blushed and smiled at each other. It was obvious to everyone at the table that Cole and Karen were growing more than fond of each other. Jesse made a mental note to check with Bud on the progress on the new church in Eagle Rock.

  The Scroggins were invited over for Thanksgiving. Sarah had been virtually bedridden for some time. Her condition was not getting better. For a week before the big day, Hattie and Karen cooked nonstop. A dusting of snow arrived the day before Thanksgiving and the guests were expected that afternoon. The smells coming from the kitchen were driving everyone crazy. Hattie and Karen took turns shooing everyone out of the kitchen. It was a full-time job defending the cakes, pies, and hams being slowly cooked in the wood stove. Hattie thought Karen was a little slow getting Cole out from under foot.

  “They’re here!” Paul yelled as he came tearing through the house.

  Dogs and people scurried to line up on the front porch to see the Scroggins arrive. It was spitting snow and the wind was whipping in gusts. Four horses with riders, and a black and white cow, walked down the road by the trees that marked the sharp rise of East Ridge. The last rider led the cow by a tether.

  The riders were bundled against the cold and it was hard to determine who was who. They stopped under the oak tree and the tallest figure carrying a baby bundled in blankets dismounted and stood by his horse.

  “My name’s Sam Scroggins. Would you be the Colters?” he asked.

  “Welcome,” Jesse said. “My name’s Jesse.”

  “Excuse me for asking,” Sam said, looking at the dogs on the porch. “But you got those wicked-looking dogs under control? Cole told us about a ‘no dog rule’ at your place.”

  “Well, that’s a good question,” Jesse said. “Control may be a bit too strong a word, but you and your family got nothing to worry about from our friends. It’s a long story, and I’ll explain later. Let’s get into where it’s warm.”

  Jesse introduced everybody once they were all inside. Sam introduced his family. There was his wife Mary, oldest son Eddie, their daughter Peg, and the twins Zack and Zeke. Sarah and Hattie made a rush for the babies the Scroggins carried in their arms.

  “Their full names are Zachary and Ezekiel,” Mary said proudly.

  The two baby boys were about four months old and very chubby, unlike the rest of the Scroggins, who were blade thin. When Mary smelled the aroma of the food cooking in the kitchen, Sarah thought she might faint.

  “Why don’t you and the kids come into the kitchen,” Sarah said. “The men will look after the horses and that cow.”

  Sarah held one of the babies tightly as they entered the kitchen.

  ****

  The men went outside and led the horses and cow to the barn. They brushed the horses down and made sure they had plenty of feed. They filled the feeder racks with hay for them.

  “That’s a fine looking milk cow,” Franklin said. “Seems a might skinny though.”

  “That’s why I brought her,” Sam said. “Cole said you had plenty of hay and grain. To put it bluntly, we don’t have enough for the horses, let alone a cow. I would appreciate it if you would take her as a gift.”

  “I can’t do that, Sam,” Jesse said. “But I will take care of the cow for you until you get up on your feet. With one condition though.”

  “What’s that?” Sam asked.

  “Cole and I will bring a load of grain and hay over to you next week,” Jesse said. “We’ll see you through this winter. We got a deal?”

  Sam hung his head for a few moments.

  “That would be a God send, Jesse,” Sam said. “Maybe I can do something for you.”

  “Let me think on it,” Jesse said.

  “Let’s go get warm,” Franklin said.

  As they walked up from the barn to the house, Paul and Eddie came tearing out of the house and towards the creek. Lily and Peg were sitting by the fireplace in the front room, playing with Lily’s dolls that Hattie made for her.

  When the men walked into the kitchen, Sarah sat at the huge kitchen table holding one of the babies, as Mary held the other at her breast. They saw Karen setting the table and Hattie was taking some biscuits out of the stove's oven. A pot of white pork gravy was bubbling on the stove.

  “Thought you men might like a little biscuits and gravy,” Hattie said.

  Cole, Mark and the three men sat down and began devouring the food. It felt to Jesse like they’d all been friends for a long time. Holding the baby seemed to do wonders for Sarah. They visited for a while. When Hattie served up one of her pumpkin pies she’d been guarding with her life, Jesse knew things were going well.

  “I couldn’t help noticing those dogs were all sitting in a perfect row when we rode in here,” Sam said. “They’re huge and mean looking, but appear to be real well mannered. Did you train them?”

  “I’m not sure you’ll believe me,” Jesse said. “But they train themselves. See they kind of adopted us. You do not want to get them riled up. It’s a fearsome sight to see,” Jesse said.

  “Amen,” Franklin said.

  “I noticed you and the big dog carry some of the same scars,” Sam said, pointing at Boss.

  “We dealt a few issues when we first got here,” Jesse said. “The dog you’re pointing at is Boss. He owns this place and lets us live here. He and the other friends patrol this whole part of the country and generally look out for us. They were bred for that purpose and they’re real good at it. That’s why we call them friends of the family.”

  “I just hope they know we were invited here,” Sam said. ”By the way, what did you and Sarah do before the Go-Back?”

  “I ran a construction company,” Jesse said. “Sarah kept the books and looked after all of us. How about you and Mary?”

  “I was a policeman over in a small community about forty miles west of Basking Ridge,” Sam said. “Mary was a school teacher.”

  “Mary, you were a school teacher?” Sarah said.

  “I taught seventh grade,” Mary said. “At least until the checks stopped coming. Sam and I tried to tough it out for a while. When we saw it wasn’t going to get better anytime soon, we decided we needed to go back to basics. When we were surprised by the twins, things got a little complicated.”

  “Surprised?” Hattie asked. “You was surprised? We better talk later, we know what causes that now.”

  Everyone laughed, but Sarah. Sarah didn’t think anything about that subject was funny just now.

  Chapter 27

  When Jesse got up the next day it was snowing hard.

  There’s something magical about the valley when it’s draped in a white coat. A beautiful sight, our snowy valley, Jesse thought.

  He could hear voices coming from the kitchen. Hattie and Karen had been up since the crack of dawn and placed s
everal fryers in the oven to slowly bake. The sage dressing added to the mix of smells that made sure no one wandered too far from the kitchen. It was early afternoon when the dinner was finally served. The table groaned under the weight of the food. When the last piece of pie was gone, the men staggered in to sit in front of the fireplace and were fast asleep within minutes.

  Sarah said she felt poorly and decided to go lie down for a while. Hattie and Karen were cleaning up the remnants of the meal while Cole tried to distract Karen. Mary helped when she could in between feedings. Eddie took Paul out to the barn to teach him how to milk a cow. Paul wasn’t looking forward to it, but knew someone needed to learn this, and since no one else volunteered, it was on him to learn.

  ****

  Lily walked quietly past the sleeping forms of Franklin and Sam Scroggins, and tugged on Jesse’s sleeve. He opened his eyes and focused on Lily.

  “What is it honey?” Jesse asked.

  “I’m not sure, Daddy,” Lily said. “But I think something’s wrong with Mommy.”

  Jesse sprang from the chair and headed for the bedroom.

  “Get Hattie,” Jesse said.

  Jesse hurried into the bedroom and Sarah was on her side with her legs drawn up.

  “What’s wrong, sweetheart?” Jesse asked softly.

  “It’s the baby, Jesse,” Sarah said. “It’s early.”

  Hattie, followed closely by Mary and Lily, sailed into the room.

  “Jesse, you clear out of here,” Hattie said. “You want to help, go boil a big pot of water.”

  Jesse fled to the kitchen and put the largest pot of water he could find on the hot stove. Unlike some men, having babies scared the heck out of Jesse. When Mark was born he’d felt the obligation to suggest he be in the delivery room. Sarah knew him well enough to nip that idea in the bud. Jesse had retreated to the outer room.