Posted October 18, 2021
I pull my brow together as I listen to Weedy explain about his ma and how Addy had been there for him through everything. She would have to give me more details. While Weedy seemed open to talkin' he wasn't going into much detail either. Before I really got to say anything about it we were arriving at the house.
The ride was much shorter than I had anticipated. If I didn't ride a horse again for another year I wouldn't complain! I was so ready to get off of her for a while! I slide off after Weedy and then help Josh who stays right beside me. I tether the horses and to Weedy's offer for water and bread both our eyes light up. We hadn't had something so nice as bread in a long time. I chuckle when he talks about her cooking and Josh and I make our way into the house. "We'll take you up on both offers, Weedy. I'm glad to hear we won't be poisoned." I step inside the house and glance around. I'd been looking forward to seeing my sister for quite some time and now that we were here and waiting on her an idea popped into my head. Josh walked in and sat down in the floor kicking off his shoes. "Hey, Weedy." I follow behind him. "What do ya say that we surprise Addy?" I raise my brows. "She has no idea I'm comin'." I motion towards the horses. "Maybe we could hide those girls somewhere and you could hide me n Josh." I tilt my head a bit. "Or do you reckin' she'd have our hides if we scared the bejesus out of her?" I ask with a light laugh.
Oh, the cleverness of me!
Posted October 19, 2021 / Weedy
"Oh, Miz Addy doesn't scare easy," Weedy pointed out, "she even killed a bear that killed one of her horses!" He was real proud of her for that, even though she didn't make much of it. "Gave the carcass to the Piutes, but she kept a couple of the claws."
He led the way into the kitchen, where there was a table that (barely) seated four, although there were only three chairs, a small stove, pantry and a sink complete with indoor pump. "Here's some water." Carefully, Weedy used the pump to fill a tin mug that he handed to Isiah.
"We can put the horses behind the house, and you can just stay in here when she gets home." He looked up at the man with a grin. "Are you the brother who pushed her in the lake or left her in the tree to find her own way down?"
Posted October 20, 2021
Well from the sound of it my sister was doing just fine for herself. Not that I doubted she was. Being raised by all us brothers she would surely be able to fend for herself. I smile in satisfaction as he tells me the story and laugh a bit. "Well I ain't havin' nothing to do with that there Weedy. I'd hate to know what she'd do to me if I did successfully scare her!" I chuckle as I go to the table and I take a seat, taking the water from him. "Thanks." I mutter and take a sip as Josh jumps up into a seat and takes a water for himself as well.
Then Weedy goes on and he brings up some mighty fun memories from when none of us had any worries in the world. I sigh as I think back, remembering both instances clear as day. I really liked this kid, he knew how to make a grieving man smile, how to take my mind off it all. "I was the one to push her in that lake. But!" I hold up a finger as I lean in towards him and I narrow my eyes. "Did she tell you why I pushed her in said lake?" I question as I tilt my head to the side a small smirk playing at my lips.
Oh, the cleverness of me!
Posted October 20, 2021 / Weedy
Weedy's eyes widened as he shook his head vigorously, suddenly realizing what a good resource one of Miss Addy's brothers could be! He could get all kinds of stories! "She just said you 'waz onery'er 'a a possum what tangled with a prickly pork-y-pine that got woked up early on Sunday mornin'!'"
The lad adored Addy's way of speaking, but knew it wasn't 'proper', and wasn't allowed to do that, except when he was quoting her, so he found chances he could do just that!
"Tell me all you can!" he encouraged as he clamored onto a stool to get into the cabinet for the bread, and finding a stash of cookies he hadn't known about! "Here! I knew she had them somewhere!" Hopping down, he put the cookies on a plate on the table.
Posted October 29, 2021
And when the boy started speaking like my sister I couldn't help but chuckle and I swear my heart warmed up. I had surely missed her! I already knew that Weedy and I were going to get along just fine.
"She just said you 'waz onery'er 'a a possum what tangled with a prickly pork-y-pine that got woked up early on Sunday mornin'!'"
"Oh is that right?" I ask with a smirk on my lips as I watch him bring over the cookies. They barely hit the table when Josh is reaching in and grabbing one, stuffing it in his mouth. I was hungry too! I reach and grab a cookie taking a bite. Pushing it to the side of my mouth I chew and start talking.
"Well don't you think that's reason enough for me to have thrown her in there?" I raise my brows as I laugh at our simpler days. "I had good reason to be dragging my feet getting back home that day. Addy herself had caused me to get my nice clothes, that I'd worn to church that day, dirty on our way home." Clothes that weren't all that nice but as nice as we had. "We'd stopped by the creek and were having a good ole' time when she came over an' tried to scare me. Caused me to step right in the mud by the creek!" I shake my head as I leaned forward. "I was only being slow to leave because Pa was sure to whip me good for getting my clothes dirty. Because Addy never did any wrong in his eyes." I sit back in my seat laughing some. "I'm pretty sure I got it even worse that day after I threw her in that lake." I chuckle at him and reach for another cookie.
"Bet she didn't tell you that part of the story did she?" I raise my brows, lips pressed together, shaking my head some.
Oh, the cleverness of me!
Posted October 29, 2021 / Adelaide Chappel
If she had, Weedy couldn't recall, and he didn't much forget her tales, as they were usually more interesting than any classic ones he'd heard. And he knew from experience that Miz Addy had a way of exaggerating and bending the truth to make things more exciting, not that he minded one bit! He loved her stories, they were what had caught his attention when he first started loitering around the barn, and now he had a new source for stories.
"No, she didn't say that part, just that she was an angel when she was a little girl!" The boy grinned, eager for more. "What else?"
What he didn't notice was the back door opening...
+++++++++
The day had been far longer and more complicated than Addy had wanted so that by the time she'd put her wagon up and tended the horses, all she wanted to do was go home, wash up and drop into bed. She'd send Weedy over to the Lickskillet to get them something for supper, and, of course, pie.
Then she spotted the horses tied in front of the house and frowned. Had they come for Weedy?
She couldn't take that chance, and slipped quietly around to the back door, drawing her pistol as she slipped into the kitchen. The man's back was to her, and she could see that he was talking to Weedy. She wasn't sure where the second man was, but that didn't matter, she needed to keep Weedy safe, and, well, keep Weedy.
"Hold it right there, mister, or I'll blast a hole in ya so big ya can drive a mule team through it," she snarled. "An' ya leave that boy alone."
Posted November 3, 2021
Weedy continued to prove what fun he was and he showed me in just this short conversation that my sister hadn't changed at all! A perfect angel?! This made me laugh out loud, throwing my head back as I did. I parted my lips ready to tell him more just at his request, but as soon as I started I heard the sound of a familiar voice, but it won't quite what I was hopin' for!
I had no idea why anyone would be here wanting to take the boy away from my sister, but I knew that she was a protective Mama Bear to him. She had always been protective over her family, even if she was the youngest. I also knew that she was a good shot with any gun because our brothers had taught both of us at the same time and there had been a many a time she'd been more on target that I could have wished for!
Immediately I threw my hands up in the air, keeping my back to her not making any sudden movements. I'd come all this way to see her not get shot in the back. While I had hoped I'd be running up to her, swallowing her up in a hug when she arrived, things had proved different and I had to take measured movements.
"It's me! It's me!" I let her know quickly not making another move; holding my hands frozen in the air. "Isiah....Addy ... it's me 'n Josh...right there!" I say as I motion towards my son who sat there wide eyed and frozen as well seein' that gun pointed at me.
Oh, the cleverness of me!
Posted November 3, 2021 / Adelaide Chappel
As soon as he spoke, Addy recognized the voice, and the gun was quickly back in its holster as she rushed forward and jumped into her brother's arms.
"Isiah, ya ol' badger, whacha doin' here?" Stepping back, she glanced at the boy, keeping her distance so as not to frighten him. "Is this Josh? He's th' spittin' image a' his pa, ain't he?"
It had been so long since she'd seen any family, and she'd never met any of her nieces nor nephews, so this was a great treat.
"So, how long ya here fer? Where's Daisy?" She'd known the young woman when they were younger, and approved of her marrying her brother, but hadn't seen her for nearly ten years. What a great reunion, though!
Posted May 2, 2022
As soon as he heard her pocket the gun and heard her feet rushing towards him he was up and out of his chair, arms open, he wrapped his arms around her and twirled her around before putting her back down on her feet. He already felt right at home.
She spoke quicker than he could answer and he smiled as he looked down at Josh, but then the moment she mentioned Daisy the smile faltered and the sadness flashed through his eyes. If this wasn't a moment where he felt torn with emotion....so happy to see his sister but so sad to tell him why he was here. He'd of course had much rather been bringing Daisy here to meet his little sister properly.
"Addy....she uh..." he reached up and slid the cowboy hat atop his head down and rested it on the center of his chest, his other hand resting lightly on Addy's upper arm. He stared down at the ground before he looked back up and found his sister's eyes. He couldn't bring himself to say she'd died. So he said enough and he knew she'd figure it out...he reckoned she would. "Cholera."
Oh, the cleverness of me!
Posted May 2, 2022 / Adelaide Chappel
The tone of the reunion changed quickly, and the single word, 'cholera', told all he needed to say.
"Oh, Isiah..." Sick to her stomach, she managed to smile at Weedy. "Weedy, why doncha take Josh here an' show him yer room? Th' two'a you'll be sharin'."
Once the boys had run off, Addy took her brother's hand and squeezed it tightly. "Oh, Isiah, I'm so sorry." She hugged him, on the verge of tears. "I'm glad ya come here, an' you can stay as long a ya need."
Daisy had been such a sweet girl, from what she had heard, perfect for her bestest brother, and they had been happy. It just wasn't fair...