Posted July 5, 2020
"Glad to make your acquaintance, Mr. Ryker," Aurelian smiled, "Yep, we can wait."
It didn't take long and the man was back ready to go. Aurelian mounted first then helped the boy clamber up with a one arm lift. It would be Wyatt's task to hold the reins on their plow horse, now temporary pack horse, following behind.
"Very well, I can guarantee you we won't be setting much of a pace what with the snow and ol' Jimmy here, the farm plowhorse," Aurelian declared and the trio of riders headed out of town.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~
They had ridden silently, Aurelian figuring conversation would be much easier once they were all inside the farmhouse. The party made good time really and soon enough they were in sight of the Redmond farm. It wasn't all that impressive to look at first glance but Aurelian was proud enough of it, it was his. He had had it a less than a year and while it still needed work, they had survived that first growing season and harvest, learned a lot about the local climate - what would work and what not so much. He was both confident and determined they'd do better this next growing season.
There was a farmhouse, a cabin really tall enough that it had an attic if not a full size second floor. There was a barn too and if Jay looked carefully he could probably tell part of the roof had collapsed. That would need fixing. There was a well not that far from the house, always a good thing. There was also a creek about a couple of hundred yards back which they passed, but it was frozen over. On one side of the farm there was a good start to a rail fence. Though covered up by snowfall, no doubt the farm had fields on all sides of it. Just off the barn was a small shed of some sort, it wasn't that old and lacked a first coat of paint even. On one side of the house there were two clothes lines leading to a pole stuck in the ground. Be it ever so humble, there was no place like home.
"Well, Mr. Ryker, here we are. If you want, I can have Wyatt take care of the horses, he's quite capable of it, and we can go inside, maybe have a cup of coffee to take the chill off," Aurelian offered.
Retired Characters and NPC Writer.
Posted July 5, 2020
Jay followed the man and his son on the horse quietly. As they rode out of town he noticed a few people turning their heads and acknowledged them with a quick nod.
He tried to memorize the way to the farm, especially when they turned off the main road and onto a smaller single track path in the snow.
In front of him lay a small house and barn much like the one he had inherited but the land seemed to be more furtile with enough trees and water around.
Once there he dismounted and handed the boy the reigns. He knew that a lot of boys that age were quite capable of taking care of the animals and also themselves.
Kicking off the snow outside and briefly brushing it off his shoulders he entered the small home. The fire in the fire place had died but he could tell it had been going by the gleaming charcoal in the bottom. There was still a comfortable warmth inside, so he took off his gloves, hat and jacket. His blonde hair and beard still hadn't been cut, which made him look quite untidy and wild.
Jay looked around and then placed his clothing on a small wooden bench near the door.
"Nice play, you have here, sir. Quaint and solid....that barn outside needs some fixing though. Heavy snowfall?"
Posted July 5, 2020
Clara was in her room, sewing... well patching up one of her brother's pants where there had a hole at the knee. Wyatt was so hard on clothing, a combination of his endless activity and annoying clumsiness. New trousers ,or any clothing for that matter, were an unwanted expense so it was up to her to extend the life of their wardrobe. She heard the front door open of course, her father and brother were expected home so that was her assumption.
"Nice place, you have here, sir. Quaint and solid....that barn outside needs some fixing though. Heavy snowfall?"
A man's voice and totally unfamiliar too? She stood up regretting instantly she had no firearm in the room. Then she heard her father's voice though and relaxed.
"We think so, but yes, the people who had this farm before us had done a poor job on the roof and we got that confirmed when part of it fell in from too much snow. At least the whole roof didn't crash in on top of our stock. Besides the two horses, we got us a milk cow in the barn," Aurelian explained.
Clara now emerged from her room to take a gander at this newcomer. No, she did not recognize the man at all. Not likely a local in her mind. And what was he here for?
"Father," she greeted them.
Aurelian grinned, "Daughter of mine."
He turned to Jay, "Mr. Ryker, this is my daughter, Clara. And Clara, this here is Mr. Jay Ryker."
"Good day, sir," Clara nodded without a hint of a smile but eyed him with a measure of suspicion.
Retired Characters and NPC Writer.
Posted July 5, 2020
The girl, who emerged from a the back of the home was probably no older than twelve years of age but her expression was that of the lady of the house. She wasn't you typical girl, Jay could tell right away. There was no shyness in her look nor was there any fear of this strangers. Jays first assumption was that their mother had long been missing and the girl had taken on that role.
"Good afternoon, Clara." Jay briefly said and then turned his attention back on her father. "I offered your father my help with the horseshoes."
"How long have you been living here?"
It sounded like it hadn't been very long and that they didn't really have a lot either. For some reason his criminal mind also calculated that stealing from them would not be worth the trouble. Jay quickly silenced that thought. It was a habit he had picked up over the past two years with the gang. Now he needed to think like a normal person again. It would be wrong to steal from such poor folks.
He looked at the chairs around the table. "May I sit?"
Posted July 6, 2020
"Hello, Mr. Ryker," Clara nodded, still studying him.
"I offered your father my help with the horseshoes."
"Oh, you did?" Clara glanced at her father hoping for some detail on that.
"I bought two horseshoes and Mr. Ryker is a blacksmith so he offered to shoe the horse, free of charge. A kindly offer," Aurelian smiled.
"Yes yes it is," Clara immediately was suspicious, she was not the most trusting soul.
And sure enough...
"So I made him a deal. He shoes the horse, we feed him a hot supper, only fair," Aurelian explained.
"If you say so, Father," Clara sighed, more work for her and more food out of their stock. But it was so like her father and she did not fault him for it.
"How long have you been living here?"
Clara so wanted to answer the man that it was none of his business but her father was too quick.
"Going on a year. We got a good deal on the place as the couple who had it before us had decided frontier life was not for them and were heading back East. They just wanted to get rid of it," Aurelian answered.
"I felt bad for 'em. They were overwhelmed with the task at hand," he added.
"I thought them lazy," Clara chimed in then moved past the man to begin working on tonight's meal with guest.
Their guest asked if he could sit and naturally Aurelian consented, "Of course. Relax, we can have a nice talk."
Aurelian pulled up another chair then and sat too.
Retired Characters and NPC Writer.
Posted July 6, 2020
"Thank you." Jay said before he sat down and let the information sink in. A small place like this with a piece of land would be his dream.
"I inherited a piece of land but it's not worth a dime. Too dry, no water supply, not chance of farming it. Why my great uncle bought it, I don't know. I guess he was fooled."
This story was actually the sad truth.
It had driven Jay to crime.
If he owned land, that could come to an end though.
"How much do you pay for a small farm around here?"
He gave the girl a quick look while she was working around the kitchen and wondered what had happened to their mother.
Then he looked out of the window where the snow was still blowing.
"Mind if I ask how you earn your dollars?"
Posted July 7, 2020
"I inherited a piece of land but it's not worth a dime. Too dry, no water supply, no chance of farming it. Why my great uncle bought it, I don't know. I guess he was fooled."
Aurelian frowned, "Oh that is bad luck. It happens though, I've heard of folks buying land sight unseen, never a smart thing to do. Least it didn't cost you anything. Also you might be able to dump it for dirt cheap and it's still a little profit."
Clara was listening even as she had begun the meal preparations and mumbled, "There is always one idiot who will buy it. Your uncle proved that."
Aurelian barely heard that but could only hope their guest hadn't caught it. His daughter did not varnish her opinions.
"How much do you pay for a small farm around here?"
Aurelian told the man what he paid for it then added, "But I have no idea what the going price for small farms is in general. Needless to say I stopped looking around after I bought this place."
"Mind if I ask how you earn your dollars?"
Again Clara muttered, "Sure asks a lot of questions."
"Well, we grew corn and a whole mix of garden stuff - tomatoes, beans, squash, turnips, carrots, potatoes," Aurelian explained, "We sell or trade 'em in town. Also we do canning. Keep some for long term, sell some of that too. We are always on the lookout for jars it seems." He smiled.
Retired Characters and NPC Writer.
Posted July 8, 2020
"There is always one idiot who will buy it. Your uncle proved that."
Jays eyes darted to the girl, who just called his uncle an idiot.
"Sharp tongue for such a young girl." He commented.
Kay listened to her fathers explanations about crops with interest when she made another comment.
It was obvious to him that she did not like him nor did she have good manors. Jay would have to be extra careful around her.
"Living on harvest alone must be tough."
He studied the cabin some more, then added. "After dinner I can get to work on your horses if you have one or two lamp in your barn. "
The sun was already very low and would disappeared behind the trees soon.
Posted July 8, 2020
"Sharp tongue for such a young girl."
Aurelian now realized she had voiced her view loud enough for him to catch it. He winced but let the conversation continue. Later he realized he would have to have yet another conversation with Clara about that habit of hers. Teenagers.
"Living on harvest alone must be tough."
"Well, we don't ... not completely. We trade for other things we need or want. On occasion we pay in cash though that is tight right now. Which is why I offered the meal for your much appreciated services," Aurelian pointed out.
He studied the cabin some more, then added. "After dinner I can get to work on your horses if you have one or two lamps in your barn. "
Clare huffed at that but held her tongue this time. Once he had stuffed himself what was to prevent the man from simply leaving without doing the work agreed upon? Her father was far too trusting.
"Yes of course, we have a couple lamps. I will help you too, just have to give me instructions as to what to do," Aurelian nodded.
Just then the front door opened and in came young Wyatt who flashed one of his genuine smiles at the group.
"Horses done, Pa. Mister. You got a nice one," he declared.
He moved past the menfolk to where Clara was busy, "We gonna have bacon tonight?"
"No, you had bacon this morning. Once is enough," Clara made that perfectly clear.
Retired Characters and NPC Writer.
Posted July 9, 2020
Jay would have loved a slice of bacon because meat had been a rare thing lately except for the dried one that Addy had offered him a few times. He greeted Wyatt with a nod and smiled. "Thanks, she's a good girl." Jay had only had the horse for about 6 months but she had become very close to his heart. Like a friend, almost. The horse was the only valuable thing he really owned.
"Did she talk to you?" He grinned a little because the paint had a habit of making approving noises when she was being fed or brushed.
"She neighs a lot."
Jay leaned back and watched the family interact for a little bit, secretly envying them. He had become very lonely and the gang was security but no family. He did not love or even appreciate a single one of the fellows. A friend or a love would be much appreciated. For now acquaintances would have to do, even if they came in the form of teenagers.