Posted July 9, 2020
"Oh yeah, she was real friendly, couldn't understand a thing she said but she sure tried to get it across to me," Wyatt grinned.
"Some horses are like that, then some not. Take our plowhorse, never much of anything outta him. He is a calm old citizen but he can pull that plow, it's a sight to see," added Aurelian.
While the menfolk (OK, generous if you include her brother) conversed, Clara went about her work. She was a good cook and she was conscientious about it. Maybe that was why it tasted so good. At first after her mother died, she depended on the classic cook book her mother had been gifted upon her marriage but now Clara seldom needed to consult it. As it neared time to eat, she asked Wyatt to put out the plates and silverware. None of it was fancy but it served the purpose.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Finally the meal was served, Clara going round and dishing it out onto the plates. It was some sort of hash with a mix of venison sausage pieces, chopped up potatoes, sweet potatoes, beets, onions and beans. These were cooked soft in a cast iron frying pan, flavored with a good dose of salt and pepper, then at the very end, Clara cracked four good size eggs on top of the mixture. It was both hearty and filling. She followed that up a plateful of sour dough biscuits, these had already been baked in the morning so they were not hot. Finally she poured coffee into tin cups for Aurelian, Mr. Ryker, and herself. Wyatt got milk.
"Trust me, Mr. Ryker, this stuff is good. My wife first made this when we lived back in Pennsylvania only she used pork rather than venison. Clara's take on this recipe is just as good," Aurelian assured the man as Clara then took her seat.
"Wyatt would you care to lead us in prayer, son?" Aurelian requested softly.
The boy nodded and gave a sincere if rather hasty and basic thank you to the Lord above but he was really hungry. Aurelian and Clara answered simply, "Amen!"
Retired Characters and NPC Writer.
Posted July 9, 2020
Patiently he waited for the girl to serve the dish that her father was praising her for. Obviously her mother hadn't been around for a while. It wasn't his place to ask why though.
Jays mouth was watering but he waited for Wyatt to say the prayer and lowered his gaze but it made him feel unworthy of their company and the meal.
When it was time to eat he didn't hesitate to dig in. The potatoes and sweet potatoes tasted hearty in combination with the gravy that melted in his mouth and gave him an all around good feeling. Jay took a moment to savor the taste in his mouth, then looked at the other man in awe.
Finally he adressed the teenager, who obviously knew how to cook a good meal.
"That's the best dish I've had in days. Very well done. You're a great cook."
He then busied himself to finish the food like a hungry lion.
Finally he had some bread, which tasted different to the one he was used to.
"What's in this?"
Posted July 10, 2020
Clara was just waiting for their house guest to find something wrong with the meal, she knew he didn't like her much. And to be honest, she didn't much care for him. He was far too nosey and asked too many questions though her father gladly supplied answers, polite host that he was. She however suspected the man was just here for a free meal and might well not deliver on his end of the bargain.
"That's the best dish I've had in days. Very well done. You're a great cook."
Clara glanced at him then and the first sign of a smile showed itself, well, who didn't like a compliment. Hmm ...... just maybe he wasn't so bad.
"Thank you, Mr. Ryker. Glad you like it. Please, if you still feel hungry, help yourself to seconds. I made plenty," she responded.
When he tasted a biscuit he seemed surprised? Then asked what was in it?
"Nothing special. They are sour dough biscuits. My mother taught me how to make them," she answered.
"Ma said that her special ingredient was love," grinned Wyatt, between bites.
"She was just saying that, there is no such ingredient," Clara declared, ever the practical one.
Retired Characters and NPC Writer.
Posted July 11, 2020
And suddenly the atmosphere changed when he made Clara a compliment on her cooking skills and she offered seconds and talked about her mother.
That the ingredient would be love made him smile. "Sounds lovely. That ingredient." He wish sometimes that there was anyone in his life who would say such things, who would love him. Jay was lonely, even though he wasn't fully aware of it because he met girls on the run every now and then, who didn't mind sharing their beds for a night or two. That wasn't love though.
"And your mother." He added but didn't ask any questions.
The meal tasted great and was eaten with care and respect for the folks, who provided it. Jay was still a little hungry after his first plate full but he assumed that whatever wasn't eaten would serve as a meal the next day, so he only took more bread to wipe his plate clean and then leaned back.
"Lovely."
He waited for the others to finish, then he asked. "So I'd better hold up my end of the bargain and see to your horses before it gets too dark.
"Is there a stove out there? I need some hot coal, to get the horse shoes right. But I'd also like to advise you that it's too early to put them on. You horse will slide around on the frozen ground. I'd wait a little longer till the sun softens the ground. What I could offer you, though, is to fit them properly to your horses hoofs and take care of the hoof for now, then come back in a month or so and put them on."
Posted July 13, 2020
The man sided with Wyatt about the ingredient, Clara had already voiced her own more common sense opinion on the matter and remained silent. The man also added a few words, "And your mother."
But offered no further details. Again Clara let it go. It was plain he enjoyed the meal though, he ate heartily then when finished closed with a simple, "Lovely."
"Glad you enjoyed it, Mr. Ryker," Clara nodded.
Soon everyone was done so Clara began to clear the table of the dishes and cups, their guest now talked about doing his part in this bargain. Aurelian listened.
"No stove, for the animals being indoors in the barn suffices for warmth enough. We burn firewood and occasionally buffalo chips for fuel here. Sorry no coal either," Aurelian had to deliver him the disappointing news.
"But I'd also like to advise you that it's too early to put them on. You horse will slide around on the frozen ground. I'd wait a little longer till the sun softens the ground. What I could offer you, though, is to fit them properly to your horses hoofs and take care of the hoof for now, then come back in a month or so and put them on."
Aurelian nodded, "You know that does make sense I reckon. So I guess do what you can now, leastwise look over the animal and the shoes I bought."
Clara's suspicions had circled around and were right back, "So how do we know you'll even be still around Kalispell a month from now?"
Retired Characters and NPC Writer.
Posted July 13, 2020
Wow, this girl was feisty. Jay pursed his lips and started to give her a bit of attitude as well. "You don't!"
Truth be told, he didn't know where he'd be in a month. In Kalispell, a hundred miles south or even in prison. Jay had to live life day to day.
Then he addressed her father again. "But you don't want your horse to break his leg either."
He thought about the lack of coal and how he could do his work.
"From what I saw the horse shoes are too long and a little too wide but I'll check that again. Do you have a fire pit outside that I can use to make a fire and heat up the horse shoes? I need a file, too."
Everyone had to have a wood file around, right? A saw, hammer, nails.
He offered a smile, then said to the girl and the boy. "Excuse me. I have to do the work I owe your father." He made sure to let her know that he owned her nothing and had never made an agreement with Clara.
Posted July 13, 2020
The man sided with Wyatt about the ingredient, Clara had already voiced her own more common sense opinion on the matter and remained silent. The man also added a few words, "And your mother."
But offered no further details. Again Clara let it go. It was plain he enjoyed the meal though, he ate heartily then when finished closed with a simple, "Lovely."
"Glad you enjoyed it, Mr. Ryker," Clara nodded.
Soon everyone was done so Clara began to clear the table of the dishes and cups, their guest now talked about doing his part in this bargain. Aurelian listened.
"No stove, for the animals being indoors in the barn suffices for warmth enough. We burn firewood and occasionally buffalo chips for fuel here. Sorry no coal either," Aurelian had to deliver him the disappointing news.
"But I'd also like to advise you that it's too early to put them on. You horse will slide around on the frozen ground. I'd wait a little longer till the sun softens the ground. What I could offer you, though, is to fit them properly to your horses hoofs and take care of the hoof for now, then come back in a month or so and put them on."
Aurelian nodded, "You know that does make sense I reckon. So I guess do what you can now, leastwise look over the animal and the shoes I bought."
Clara's suspicions had circled around and were right back, "So how do we know you'll even be still around Kalispell a month from now?"
Retired Characters and NPC Writer.
Posted July 13, 2020
Wow, this girl was feisty. Jay pursed his lips and started to give her a bit of attitude as well. "You don't!"
Truth be told, he didn't know where he'd be in a month. In Kalispell, a hundred miles south or even in prison. Jay had to live life day to day.
Then he addressed her father again. "But you don't want your horse to break his leg either."
He thought about the lack of coal and how he could do his work.
"From what I saw the horse shoes are too long and a little too wide but I'll check that again. Do you have a fire pit outside that I can use to make a fire and heat up the horse shoes? I need a file, too."
Everyone had to have a wood file around, right? A saw, hammer, nails.
He offered a smile, then said to the girl and the boy. "Excuse me. I have to do the work I owe your father." He made sure to let her know that he owned her nothing and had never made an agreement with Clara.
Posted July 14, 2020
Jay pursed his lips and started to give her a bit of attitude as well. "You don't!"
"My point exactly," Clara narrowed her eyes at him.
Aurelian quickly interrupted, "Take it easy, Clara. The man went thru a hard time and he's homeless now. We can hardly expect him to have his future all planned out."
Ryker pointed out to him that no one would want the horse to end up breaking a leg, always fatal to the creatures. Aurelian nodded, "Of course."
"Yes, there's a fire pit. Covered with the latest snowfall but I can clear that out for you. We get a fire going then. And a file....sure I do. "
Ryker offered a smile, then said to the girl and the boy. "Excuse me. I have to do the work I owe your father."
"Do not let me stop you," Clara smiled right back, not the most sincere of smiles though.
Aurelian sighed then went for his coat to throw that on so the two men could head outside. Wyatt saw his chance and stood up, "Pa, can I come out and watch?"
"No, son, sorry but you help Clara with the dishes," Aurelian shoved his hat onto his head.
"Awww..." Wyatt knew better than to argue with his father though.
Retired Characters and NPC Writer.
Posted July 14, 2020
Jay was happy to grab his thick woolen jacket and wrap his scarf around his neck to get out of the house rather quickly because he had enough of Claras antics. Heading out was better than trying to discipline a child, that wasn't his.
Outside he spotted the barn with the horses and the snow covered fire pit.
"Your daughter has the attitude of a grown woman." He remarked. "I'm pretty sure she doesn't like me."
For a moment he chuckled to himself. "Wouldn't be the first one!"
It took a moment to clear it off and get some dry wood from the shack. In the meantime Jay went to get the horse and take a good look at the hoofs. Thanks to the soft ground they were in good condition and only needed a little work. He went to the front leg and with a slight touch of his hand had the horse lift his foot, so he could squeeze it between his knees and use his hands to work the rasp across the hoof with enough pressure.