By the time Joe pulled his mules to the door to unload his wagon, it was sleeting. His life had never looked more hopeless as he brushed the icy hay from the tattered quilt covering the children’s burning faces. Though it was unchristian, he’d half-hoped to find them already dead from the fever, solving the problem of their care.
He struggled to get them into the cold cabin where he heard the scurrying of a rat. “Damn it all. I got to bring the barn cat in.”
Laying them gently on his bed and covering them, he was able to rouse each enough to get a bit of water down. Setting the cup to the side, he moved on to the fireplace to uncover the banked ashes, put a stick or two next to the backlog, rekindling the fire. At least they wouldn’t die of thirst of cold. It angered him to feel pity for them. That’s all he could do for them for the moment.
He hurried in with the provisions, the pathetic mercy the town had shown, leaving to get his horses tended, milk the cow and tend the stock. Finishing his tasks, he miserably returned to the burden of the sick children fate had forced upon him. Upon entering the cabin, the sight meeting his eyes nearly undid him. A filthy, battered woman dressed in rags studied the little girl. God in Heaven! Would this nightmare never end? Had he buried the woman alive and now she’d scratched out of her grave?
Mutely, the woman clutched the child to her bosom protectively as though she thought he might put the two of them back in the grave.
“Oh my God. I thought you were dead!” This did nothing to set her at her ease. Shamed, he turned his back mumbling. “Poor wretch. What she must be thinking?” Shame at having buried her, then trying to get rid of her sick children shamed him, bringing him lower than he’d ever been before. I don’t know why I didn’t leave it alone when it was good enough. He fled from the cabin and made his way to the barn, tossed some hay on a saddle blanket settled in to try to get some sleep. Jack, his dog, and the barn cats settled in next to him, glad of the unexpected company. He lay awake a long time, thinking of the girl who’d made him want a wife in the first place.
That woulda been a shocker. Poor man! Poor everyone.
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This story has really drawn me in. —- Suzanne
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I appreciate knowing that. I’ll bet that’s how the soaps got started.
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I read many of the novels around the late part of the 19th Century and early part of the 20th Century were first printed this way, such as Dickens’ novels and Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories. I see this becoming a big thing again. People don’t have time to sit and read long novels all at once. Some magazines are already buying good stories and are willing to print them in serial form. Authors can now send them in by computer. 🙂 — Suzanne
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I need to try that.
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A good source to find markets if Ralan’s Webstravaganza. It’s free. http://www.ralan.com Another source is http://writingcareer.com
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Hey, thank. I will give it a try.
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If the web address isn’t working for some reason, just type Ralan’s Webstravaganza in and use Google search.
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Thanks. I found it.
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Wow
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I’m hanging on tight after this cliff hanger. Can you believe my nails have stretched? Don’t know if I’ll last till next time. 😀 😛
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All righty, then. Writing it right now.
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I can’t wait for more!
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Writing it right now.
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I’m on the edge of my seat. 🙂
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Hope I don’t disappoint. Don’t know where this is going.
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Looking forward to the next post! With your creativity and way with words, I know it will be wonderful! 🙂
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About to start it. It has preyed on me all day. Don’t know what they are going to do to me tonight.
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Best wishes! 🙂
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Some hussy will probably get to him first!
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Oh, what a turn up for the books! 🙂
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Where to next? I hope this doesn’t get away from me.
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I am sure you will take us on an interesting journey Linda! 🙂
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I happened to use the very same image as a header for my blog as well. Anyway, great post!
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Then I will feel right at home!
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Yes. Exactly!
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🙂
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Whoa
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This just keeps getting better.
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Thanks. It keeps me thinking. I don’t want to run it off the rails.
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Now I have no idea where this is going. Beyond intriguing!
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This one is working me hard.
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Oh, it gets better! Buried alive ?!
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GOSH!!!
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