Separated by the War: Steamboats

By Richard D. Arnold

In my first book, Separated by the War: The Cave, ten-year-old brothers are separated during a battle between Yankee and Rebel forces on their isolated farm. The boys are then raised in distant homes. They are reunited during a conflict with the Flower Society ten years later. Unknown to them, one of their sisters survived.

Separated by the War: Steamboats tells the story of the survivor of that tragic battle on their farm. Believing that she is the sole survivor, she enlists the aid of a tribe of Comanche Indian traders to help her on the farm and to escape the renegades that raided the war-torn land during the war as she tries to find her fathers oldest brother in the Big Bend of Texas.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jul 28, 2016
• ISBN: 9781524613204

Richard D. Arnold

Richard D. Arnold had a forty year career in the healthcare field, ten years as a microbiologist and thirty years as hospital administrator in small hospitals in rural Texas communities. He received his B.A. degree from the University of Texas and M.A. from Texas Christian University and is a retired Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives. He has traveled extensively in Texas, Arizona, and Tennessee, hiking through the deserts of Texas and Arizona and the hills and creeks of Tennessee. Many of the landmarks, firearms, and adventures were from his personal observations and tales from family members, associates/friends, and creations of his mind. He is currently retired and lives with his wife, Janice, of fifty years plus in a small rural community southwest of San Antonio, Texas. She is a retired elementary school teacher.

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2016 Richard Arnold. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse  06/09/2016

ISBN: 978-1-5246-1321-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5246-1322-8 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5246-1320-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016909392

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER 1 SPRINGTIME ON THE FARM

CHAPTER 2 HARVEST TIME ON THE FARM

CHAPTER 3 THE RETURN OF THE FAMILIES

CHAPTER 4 THE WAR IS OVER

CHAPTER 5 TRAVELING WEST

CHAPTER 6 THE FLOWER SOCIETY

CHAPTER 7 MUTANY ON THE RIVER

CHAPTER 8 UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT

CHAPTER 9 GOING HOME

CHAPTER 10 THE FLOWER SOCIETY FIGHTS BACK

CHAPTER 11 ESCAPE THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER

CHAPTER 12 JACK’S SONS

CHAPTER 13 JUNE THE BLACKSMITH

CHAPTER 14 ON TO TEXAS

CHAPTER 15 TERLINGUA COUNTRY

CHAPTER 16 THE RILEY FAMILY ARRIVES

CHAPTER 17 NAVIGATING THE RIO GRANDE

CHAPTER 18 RETURN TO THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS

CHAPTER 19 WINTER IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS

CHAPTER 20 GOING HOME

I dedicate this work of

Historical Fiction

To the memory

Of my friend and Brother in Christ

Winston Kirkland

Linden, Texas

CHAPTER 1

SPRINGTIME ON THE FARM

S undays were days of rest, singing, Bible reading and doing fun things with the family. Everyone was up at the usual time, just before dawn and busy with their daily chores. While the men took care of the milking, feeding, and care of the livestock, including gathering the eggs and feeding the chickens, turkeys, geese, guineas, and ducks the women prepared the breakfast. The milk was strained and put up to separate, the eggs were washed and put in baskets as soon as they were brought in by the men. The eggs and milk were placed in the cooling stream of spring water in the cooling house.

Breakfast usually consisted of sausage, bacon or ham, eggs, and sour dough biscuits and gravy. However, sometimes on special occasions there were pancakes. There was always butter, honey, fruit preserves and hot cereal. Often there was bread baked in loaves. This Sunday was special with stacks of pancakes, fresh butter and honey and fruit preserves.

When breakfast was over and the dishes washed, dried and put away the family gathered around the bank of windows that allowed the morning sunshine to light the room. Josey placed a ham in a deep pan and placed it in the over, she moved the pot of beans that had been soaking overnight onto one of the heating ports, adjusted the air intakes in the front of the stove and the damper on the back of the stove. She opened the window over the oven that let the heat escape to the outside. Pa’s baritone voice and Ma’s sweet soprano blended together as they started singing. They all joined in and sang together. Most of the songs were in praise to God but occasionally they were humorous ditties that everyone enjoyed, usually ending with laughing and giggling.

After singing several songs Pa took down the Bible and read from it. Pa loved to read stories from the Bible and everyone loved to listen. He encouraged each to read a part of the story being told or to read favorite stories or verses. There was always the continuation of last week’s reading so that the family usually read through the Bible at least one time in a year. That was followed with the sharing of the communion: partaking in a piece of unleavened bread and a cup of grape juice in remembrance of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

Pa led a prayer and each was encouraged to say a prayer with the family listening in. Pa would usually spend a few minutes talking about things that they all needed to know. Sometimes the topic was based on the Bible; sometimes it was based on everyday events in their lives. At the conclusion of this Sunday’s activities Pa became serious as he closed the Bible and placed it on the shelf above the fireplace.

We need to go over some important things, Pa began. As each of you knows, there is a war going on. We have been fortunate that it has not affected us because we are so far from towns and neighbors. But we need to be prepared at all times if the war does come our way.

Are the Yankees coming? Josh asked, jumping up and running to peer out the window.

No, I bet it’s the Rebels, Jim added, joining his twin at the window.

No, you two settle down, Pa chided, Jack and I heard what sounded like cannon fire off in the distance for the last couple of days. It may not mean anything but we should all be prepared. What are you to do if there is any kind of disaster, natural or otherwise?

Run to the Cave, the twins answered in unison.

That’s right. Drop whatever you are doing and run to the cave. We will all do the same thing and when we are together in the cave we will be safe. Go to the room where the old furniture is stored. Do not light a candle until we are all there, Pa admonished.

Do you all understand what you are to do? Pa asked.

Yes, Pa, they all answered.

But Pa, what are we to do sitting in the dark? June asked. I don’t like the dark. Can’t we light one little candle?

If you are alone and nobody shows up after a while and the danger seems to have passed, then light a candle. Then check outside and find out what has happened. Stay in the cave and don’t go very far from the path until you are sure that it is safe to do so. You have plenty of food, water and fire wood to weather any storm or other disaster. Your Ma and I will be there as soon as we can, Pa assured them.

Everyone went outside to enjoy the remainder of the morning. Ma and Josey, the oldest returned to the kitchen to check on the ham in the oven and big pot of beans boiling on the top of the stove. They washed and put eight sweet potatoes in a flat pan in the oven next to the pan containing the ham. Fresh bread, ham, sweet potatoes, and beans were scheduled for the noon meal. Fresh vegetables from the garden made into a salad were added. The family enjoyed the shade of the great oak trees around their log cabin while the food was being prepared. Babe and her pups ran playfully around the yard. After a while, with the sun high overhead they moved back into the house to enjoy Sunday Dinner together.

Babe was a large dog, part wolf that had been left by one of the Indian families that traveled through the area and stopped to trade with Jonah. She was one of the dogs that they used to pull a travois loaded with items the Indians needed. She had been injured in a fight with another dog and could no longer carry the heavy load required by the Indians so they gave her to Jonah. She soon recovered from her injuries and was as healthy as before the fight. It turned out that she was also pregnant and delivered three pups. The pups were about three months old and learning to hunt.

The Riley farm consisted of about 200 acres surrounded for miles by thick forests of pines and hardwoods. There were no other farms for thirty or more miles in every direction. About 40 acres had been cleared and planted in corn. About ten acres was devoted to winter wheat for livestock grazing and flour. Three acres were set aside for a garden that produced vegetables in their season year round. About that many acres had been planted in fruit trees including a small grape arbor. The garden and orchard were located between the cabin and a strip of woods that ran along the creek.

The log cabin was located in a grove of Oak and Pecan trees on a hill near the clear water creek that ran along the west side of the farm. The cabin consisted of a large family room with fireplace at one end of the room. The kitchen was a corner of the large room away from the fireplace. Two other rooms opened into the family room. There were spacious bedrooms for the master suite and a room for the girls. The loft above the great room was finished giving space for storage of supplies and bedroom for the boys.

A wide porch covered by the roof ran along one side of the house with a door in the middle and windows on each side of the door. A door and smaller porch was located on the wall opposite the front door, with kitchen and dining room table on each side of the back door. A narrow hand washing table was attached to the outside wall near the back door. Buckets of water and wash basins sat on the table with pieces of soap and towels kept on the narrow table so that everyone could wash up before entering the house. A third door was located near the fireplace. A similar small porch surrounded the side door. This door was located conveniently near the wash pot and rinsing tubs. The house was sturdy and dry with wooden shingles that overlapped from ridge line to overhangs. The logs were flatted on top and bottom and fitted snuggly onto its neighbor.

Near the back door was a spring fed cooling house. Water from the spring filled a wide, shallow trough that circulated around the wall of the cooling house. Items were placed in containers that sat in the cool water or on shelves above the water. Milk, eggs, cheese, and butter were placed in bowls that sat in the shallow stream or on the shelf above the cool water. After circulating around the room the water from the cooling house flowed through a hole in the back wall into a deep trough where buckets were used to dip up the water to be carried to the wash table, laundry tubs, or into the kitchen. The overflow ran downhill to a much larger trough inside the pole corral attached to the barn. Overflow from the animal watering trough flowed into a rock lined stream bed that flowed through the pasture to the creek.

A chicken/poultry nesting house with enclosed runaround, feed storage cribs, smoke house, tack room, barn, outhouse, and hay shed were located downhill from the cabin. A root cellar was located on the back side of the garden.

Pole and split rail fences kept livestock separated as needed around the barn and milking shed. A twenty acre pasture ran from the barn to the creek and along the creek for several hundred yards, all the way to the woods along the wagon trace. The pasture was bordered by thick forest. A split rail fence separated the meadow from the woods and from the creek. Cattle, horses, and mules grazed contentedly in the lust grass near the creek. The pasture usually yielded three or more cutting of grass hay each year so that the hay barn was full by the time winter began.

A canebrake covered creek bottom yielded a good crop of wild pigs each year. Young ones were usually trapped and fed out in a pen at the end of the barn. At least one sow with a litter of pigs was kept in the pen behind the barn. Two milk cows furnished the milk, butter, and cheese needed by the growing family. A young heifer calf and a couple of steers were kept with the milk cows to provide beef and replacement milk cows. A yearling steer was being topped out to provide beef for the family. The first freeze of the year resulted in a lot of work slaughtering at least one calf and three or four pigs to provide meat for the winter. The smoke house was a busy place all autumn long. During the winter months the meat was supplemented by wild game and fowl: turkeys, geese, and duck as they migrated south as well as by deer, squirrel, and rabbit. There was fish from the creek year round. Additional pigs were slaughter during the winter as the need arose. Poultry were available as needed.

A traveling band of Cherokee usually passed through each fall on their way home after a season of trading. They helped in rounding up a number of young pigs, boars, and sows that had escaped capture and lived in the cane brakes. With the onset of cold weather they helped in the processing of the pigs that were being fed behind the barn and those that were rounded up from the cane brake. When the processing was done the smoke house was full of pork and beef. Hams, bacon, and sausage were preserved with smoke and salt to last throughout the winter months and until the next fall. The Cherokee families provided special spices for the sausage and ground beef. Pa traded a portion of the preserved meats for the Cherokees’ labor and trade goods. When they left several travois were loaded with the processed meats.

In early winter Pa loaded up the wagon and made the week long trip to the nearest town, Hope over fifty miles away, to trade for powder, shot, primer caps, sugar, salt, coffee, tea and other items that were not readily available on the farm. He took several bags of wheat and corn to be ground into flour and meal in addition to a portion of the pork that had been put up by the Cherokee. He usually traded corn, smoked meats, hides, and sometimes a calf, colt, or pig for the goods that they needed. Often Indian or French trappers or traders came by the farm on their way west. They would stay a few days under the trees across the creek and traded their goods. In that way Pa kept good livestock to pull the plows and wagons. He would also acquire animal hides that he used in trade in his yearly trip to town. Some of the hides he and Ma used in making moccasins, leather clothing, boots and regattas.

Pa had a small black smith shop behind the barn where he made or repaired plows, blades, and saws. Axes, horse shoes as well as nails, hinges, metal strips, and shot for his guns were made and stored in the shop. He had found an outcropping of coal up in the mountains and made a trip every year with pack animals to provide fuel to keep the forge hot when needed. He stored his shot, powder, and kegs of kerosene in a special room behind the blacksmith shop.

After Sunday dinner was finished and the dishes were put away, everyone settled down for a nap. Everyone except the twins and June enjoyed the nap. They fidgeted and fussed the whole time they were required to lie down. As soon as they were allowed up they began pestering Ma to let them go swimming in the creek. She relented and the three youngsters changed into their swimming clothes and were down the trail and into the creek before anyone could stop them. Quiet returned to the cabin as the sun began to lower into the west. Some time later Pa and Ma sat under one of the great oaks as the kids returned from the creek.

We saw the Jenny and her colt and the heifer and her calf, the twins reported. They are in the canebrake below the pasture. We didn’t try to get close, didn’t want to spook them and run them further down the creek.

That’s good boys. We’ll give them a few days and then we will go get them and bring them to the barn, Pa said. I think there are several sows with pigs in that canebrake. They could get after the colt and calf. We need to get them all back in the pasture before those sows get after them or they get too wild to catch.

They finished their evening chores and then went inside for supper and to bed. Morning began with the usual early rise and morning chores. As they sat down for breakfast, Pa said, Boys, put the black pot on the stone blocks, fill it with water, and get a fire started so that the girls can get the laundry done. Set up the rinsing tubs, clothes lines, and haul the water that will be needed. When you are done, your Ma would like some nice, juicy blackberries for a cobbler and to put up in preserves.

There are plenty down by the old bee tree, Josh said.

There were a lot of vines in bloom the last time I was down by the path to the cave, Jack observed. You should be able to find plenty.

Would you like me to go and help? The boys will eat as much as they pick. They will just goof off and swim instead of picking berries, June said.

You need to stay here with Josey and me, Ma said. We will be able to get a lot more done with the boys off picking berries than if they are here underfoot.

The boys righted the big black pot and placed the leveling rocks under each leg, put the firewood in place, and started the wood to burning. They filled the pot and rinse tubs with water and stretched and tied the clothes lines in place. In short order they took their baskets and took off toward the creek to fill the baskets with blackberries.

The girls gathered the clothing, linens, and other items needing washing and were soon soaping, scrubbing, rinsing and hanging to dry, all the laundry from the cabin.

In mid morning a loud boom from the far side of the barn and out buildings got their attention. More explosions sounded moving steadily toward the cabin. A few minutes later men wearing gray uniforms came riding on horseback from behind the barn. Without stopping they charged past the barn and cabin clearing and on into the corn field.

On the far side of the field, mounted men in grey uniforms came from the woods. They were running across the corn field toward the small White Mountain that rose up on the far side of the place. They were being chased by men in blue on horseback. They wheeled their mounts around and using rifles and pistols began firing at the opposing army. The armies came together in the middle of the field in hand to hand combat, pistols firing, swords flashing, bayonets bared. Jonah and Jack came running across the field where they had been pulling stumps. Their large draft horses were left behind attached to one of the stumps they were trying to pull.

Ma was in the cabin putting the noon meal together. The laundry waved in the morning breeze drying in the sunshine. Josey and June ran through the door followed by Babe and her pups.

Girls, drop everything and run to the Cave. Do not stop until you get to the cave. Go, Now! Ma said as she turned from the kitchen window and started for the door near the chimney.

Pa was hollering for them to get out of the cabin. A cannon behind the barn boomed and the chimney exploded into dust and rock. Ma, Josey, and June did not exit the cabin. The fireplace was shattered by the cannon ball. Pa and Jack stared in horror as they turned and started running across the corn field toward the cave.

Soldiers carrying rifles with bayonets fixed came charging through the trees and behind the barn and started firing on those in the corn field. Pa and Jack ran across the field toward the White Mountain on the other side of the cornfield; they were running toward the cave. Soldiers ran past the cabin and into the corn field, the cannons blasted again this time toward the men in the fields. Clouds of smoke and dust surrounded the running men.

June lay on the floor of the cabin; her Ma was lying on top of her. Her head hurt and her ears were ringing and blood ran into her eyes. A wet tongue on her cheeks roused her more fully as Babe and her three pups licked her face and scampered about barking and whining. As she sat up she rolled her Ma from on top of her.

Her Ma was gasping for breath as June sat up and tried to clear the debris from on top of them. Babe and her pups had been behind them as they ran through the doorway. Then the chimney had exploded.

Run for the cave, June. Take Josey and run for the cave, Ma whispered as she breathed her last. June searched for a pulse on her Ma’s throat and finding none, June closed her Ma’s open eyes. She searched the debris through her tears until she finally found Josie. Babe had found her first and was trying to get through the chimney fragments that were on top of Josie. She had been hit by several large chimney stones.

Josie had died instantly when she was hit by the debris and her Ma only a few moments later. Her Ma lying on top of her had saved June from being killed at the same time.

June rolled over and over until she was free from the debris. She lay beside the doorway as more soldiers ran past with muskets and bayonets held high. She crawled out the door to the edge of the yard and lay flat again as more soldiers were charging from the woods and across the corn field. She lost consciousness and awoke with a blinding headache. She started running down one of the rows of corn, staying as low to the ground as she could.

Babe and her pups caught up with her and raced along beside her whining. Since the corn was only waist tall to her she was unable to remain unseen. She began to cut across the rows of corn running toward the Cave when she stumbled and fell face first on the ground as an explosion behind her knocked her down. She lay there for a few minutes trying to catch her breath.

June raised her head above the corn and saw men fighting nearby. Some were horseback, others were standing. They were swinging swords, jabbing with bayonets, shooting their rifles, and pistols at point blank range. Many fell wounded, blood running down their bodies. The cannon behind the barn roared again and again raising clouds of dust, knocking men and horses to the ground in screams of pain. Babe and her pups had run ahead and were out of sight.

June started running across the rows of corn. She could see the White Mountain getting closer. She tripped again but caught herself before she hit the ground. She had tripped over a man lying on the ground. She turned to the man and discovered it was Pa. He was covered with blood. There were several gashes across his forehead, above his eyes. Blood ran from his hair, and forehead, into his eyes running down his face. His shirt was torn, and bloody. She returned to him and dropped to her knees and tried to wipe the blood from his face.

Pa, Pa, wake up Pa, we’ve got to go to the cave, she cried. She untied the large bandana from around his neck and bound it around his head in an attempt to stop the bleeding.

The cannon boomed again and an incoming cannonball whistled as it fell through the sky and exploded when it hit the ground near her. The concussion knocked her to the ground. She regained consciousness a while later. Pa had not moved. She cried as she started running across the corn field again. She almost fell over another body but caught her balance and kept on running. She saw that it was Jack. He had several large holes in his back and was obviously dead.

June ran as fast as she could toward the White Mountain and the safety of the cave. She was almost there. She saw a soldier in blue lying facedown in the row in front of her. She stepped into the next row without slowing down. A large hand caught her foot and she fell on the ground knocking the breath from her body.

Not so fast, little lady. I saw you on the ground when I ran past the cabin. I thought you were dead but here you are. You look a little young but I like ’em young, grunted the large soldier in a soiled blue uniform. He had grabbed her foot as she tried to run past him. He tried to hold her down and crawl on top of her. She twisted, rolled, and kicked trying to get up as he tried to pin her to the ground.

No mister, don’t, she pleaded. The soldier crawled onto his hands and knees. He dived on top of her as she rolled onto her back and drove the flat of her open hand with all her might into his nose. Blood gushed forth as the bones in his nose fractured. With a scream of pain he fell backward and started backing away from her, holding his bleeding nose in both hands.

She jumped to her feet as Babe ran past her and hit the soldier in the chest knocking him over onto his back. Babe hit the ground and turned and continued to attack the soldier. She would have ripped his throat out if he had not gotten a forearm up. She bit down on his arm instead of ripping his throat out, snapping both bones in his arm. Screaming he rolled over and took off running away from the furious dog and frightened little girl. Babe’s three pups gave chase nipping at his heels.

The soldier tripped over his trousers as they fell to his knees. Babe sank her teeth in his backside as he rolled and came up running across the field, holding his pants up with one hand and slapping at Babe with the other. June whistled to recall Babe. She got up and continued to run toward the White Mountain. Babe and the pups ran beside her.

She was about a hundred feet from the White Mountain when she saw two boys emerge from the brush running across the clearing that led to the cave. Josh and Jim were running to the cave. Several explosions erupted in front of her as the boys raced across the clearing. They were engulfed in dust and debris. She was knocked backward by the explosion. As her vision cleared she was up and running again. As she got nearer to the cloud of dust the boys were no longer there. Babe and her pups ran behind her from the corn field as she raced across the clearing onto the ledge. She followed it around the face of the cliff to the entrance into the cave, the dogs close behind her.

She ran into the large cavern and crossed the big room toward the room that was the living quarters in the cave. She had grown up playing in these caves and knew her way across the large room to the family room where furniture was stored in the darkness.

Along with the darkness there was the silence, as the thick walls of the White Mountain blocked out the sounds of war. She touched the wall of the cave and followed it to the row of bunk beds against one of the inside walls. She quickly climbed into the lower bunk and lay still in the silent darkness. Babe and her pups jumped up on the lower bunk beside her. June hugged the animals as they whined and cried together.

Hours later June woke in the silent darkness. She made her way across the room to the entrance where there was a jar of candles and matches. She lit several candles and placed them around the room. Taking one candle she made her way through the tunnels to the deep pool below. Laying her clothing on the bank, she dived into the pool and let the cold water wash the blood from her scalp wound and to cleanse her body. The cold water helped to remove some of the pain.

Taking a deep breath she dived deep and swam along the channel until it came up in the middle of the creek. As she surfaced she saw that it was early morning of a clear, sunny spring day. She had slept for the rest of the day and all through the night. Blackberry bushes lined the banks. She crawled out of the water and went to the bushes and ate large handfuls of blackberries. There was also some plum thickets loaded with deep red, ripe plums. She ate plums as well. She was very hungry. When full of plums and berries she returned to the water and after taking several deep breathes she dived deeply and swam back through the channel to the spring room under the White Mountain.

Taking one of the wooden buckets stored near the water’s edge she took a bucket of water to the family room on the higher level. She started a fire in the fireplace and put on some water to heat. When the water was hot she washed herself and her dress. She hung the dress to dry. She began to put the living quarters in order. When the dress was dry she put her dress back on. Led by Babe and her pups she left the Cave and walked into the corn field.

Everything was peaceful. There were blast scars on the ground and side of White Mountain where cannon rounds had landed. She looked around the field and could find no sign of the twins. She started across the field looking at the signs of the battle that had taken place the day before. She was unable to find where Pa or Jack had been. There were a lot of horse tracks. At the cabin site Babe and her pups ran around the cabin, whining and yelping. Three graves had been hastily dug and stones from the fireplace marked them. There was no inscription on the stones.

June walked through the debris of the fireplace and chimney, entered the bedrooms. All of the family furnishing, clothing and personal items were still in place. Scavengers among the soldiers had taken nothing. Everything was still there. Her clothes as well as books, shoes, ribbons, and other usable items were still there.

She went to the chicken pen. Their collection of poultry was gone or scattered in the woods. Eggs, butter, cream, and cheese were gone from the spring house as well as salted and smoked beef and pork from the smokehouse. There had been dozens of chickens, ducks, geese, and guineas. There were now plenty of feathers but the poultry was gone. Horses, mules, cows, pigs, as well as most of the feed were gone. The root cellar on the far side of the garden had not been disturbed.

Pots, pans, utensils and other kitchen utensils were still there. The laundry pots were still in place filled with wash water. Most of the linens, towels and clothing were still on the line or lying on the ground. The small blacksmith shop behind the barn was as Pa had left it. Tools, anvil, billows, even the supply of coal was as he had left it. Going to the hidden door behind the blacksmith June opened it and found that the powder, shot, and several kegs of kerosene were still there. Several pistols and a squirrel gun were included in the hidden room. She closed and sealed the hidden door and returned to the cabin.

She entered the bedroom she shared with Josie and saw that all their clothes were there. She changed into her leather pants and moccasin with matching pull over shirt. She thought of the hard work that lay ahead of her.

In her parent’s room she located the pistol and holster that her Pa kept in the night stand by the bed. He wore the pistol on a belt when he went to town for supplies. His squirrel rifle and big game hunting rifle were on pegs over the door. There were other rifles and pistols located throughout the cabin. A pouch of shot, powder, caps, and belt knife hung on a peg next to the door. She strapped the belt and pistol around her waist, adjusting it so that it rested comfortable on her right hip. She checked the loads and slipped a cap over the firing nipples and dropped the leather bag around her neck on her right shoulder so that it was comfortable above her left hip.

She retrieved the pieces of laundry that had been blown across the yard. It did not take long to get the water hot and to finish washing the clothes and linens. When they were dried she folded each piece and returned them to their place in the cabin.

After standing for long moments by the graves, she returned to the Cave. Babe and her pups followed her across the corn field and into the Cave. She filled one of the lanterns with kerosene; she lit it and put the other items in order around the living room. She knew that firewood was stored in one of the rooms. Corn and wheat were stored in special bins along with winter squash, potatoes, melons, and dried vegetables. Canned fruit and vegetables were stored in another room. Several hams, sides of bacon, and salted beef were stored in one of the coldest rooms. There were a number of empty rooms besides those that held stored items.

After a brief meal she whistled for Babe and started back toward the cabin. She carried Pa’s ammo bag and pistol belt. Wearing the loose leather clothing including moccasins she returned to the cabin. The pistol was ever at the ready in case soldiers suddenly appeared again.

Several of the chickens had escaped the Yankees and were lost in the thick woods beyond the barn. They were cackling and trying to fly down from trees in which they had roosted. She caught them and returned them to the chicken house. Two geese and six guineas and three ducks soon joined the chickens to be returned to the nesting house. The last to return was an old rooster. He was missing most of his tail feathers and it took several days before he started crowing again. She closed and locked the gate to the chicken house. She filled their feed trough from the barrel in the chicken house and left for the pasture below the barn.

At the bottom of the hill, one section of the split rail fence was down and the tracks of the cattle and calves plus the horses and mules went through the gap into the woods surrounding the pasture. With the livestock that had been in the corral adjacent to the barn and the team that they had been using to pull stumps, over a dozen animals had been taken by the union troops.

June repaired the fence, lifting the split rails back into place. She followed the tracks of the stolen livestock and saw where they merged with the tracks of the Union soldiers. They had been driven off by the invading army on horseback.

She walked the fence line to see if there was any other damage. She repaired several places where the rails had been knocked down. As she made her way along the side next to the creek she found several places where pigs had crossed. She followed one of the trails and found several sows with pigs wallowing in the mud next to the creek.

She also found the jenny. The jenny had kicked the fence down, jumped the gap, and given birth of a mule colt in the thick cane brake. The colt was several days old and was in good condition. June led the jenny back through the gap into the pasture. The mule colt followed. They followed her back to the barn where she gave the jenny some grain from the chicken feed barrel. Returning to the cane brake she left a trail of grain for the pigs to follow back to the barn. She filled their feed trough and went in search of the heifer and her calf. The heifer had moved further upstream away from the pigs and seemed happy to be found. June led her back into the pasture by coaxing her and her calf through the downed gap. She repaired the gap by replacing the rail that had been knocked down. She put a rope around the calf’s neck and the heifer followed them to the barn and returned to her stall. Some sweet feed and dry hay and she was glad to be home. The calf was in excellent shape.

June completed her tour of the place. Other than the livestock and stored food, everything was left alone: harness, tack, plows, tools, etc. The garden was beginning to produce vegetables that were ready to eat and the tools were still there for taking care of the garden and field of corn.

There was a small wagon in the barn. Over the next weeks June hitched the jenny to the small wagon. She packed all of her Pa’s and Ma’s personal items in chests and moved them to the cave. She stored all such items that she would not need in one of the deeper caves. She left most of the other items in the cabin but moved those items that she would not be using into storage. Some items that she would use from day to day were moved to the living room of the cave or into her room in the cabin. She moved several bags of corn from the cave to the barn.

June had been born in the cave while the cabin was being built. The barn and outbuildings had been built, the pasture fenced off and most of the main field had been cleared while she was growing up. As a child she and the rest of her brothers and sisters, all of whom were born in the cave, explored all areas of the cave. Some of the rooms were used to store different things and all had been well explored.

All of the children were included in all of the activities of the small farm from planting to harvesting and the processing and storage of whatever was being harvested. As each became strong enough, each learned to use each utensil, tool or piece of equipment so that by the time of the attack, June was experienced in handling the livestock; maintenance, care and use of farm equipment; household utensils and procedures for processing fruit, vegetables and meat. Prior to the attack the family worked together on each project so that nobody had to do the job by themselves. After the attack June was required to do everything by herself.

The jenny took to the plow. She had been trained to pull the plow, wagon, or other implements. They were able to plow the corn as needed as well as carry items around the place in the small wagon. They ran out the middles taking out weeds and wrapping the base of each stalk with loose soil. The damage from the battle in the corn field was soon repaired and hardly noticeable.

June’s Pa had acquired the best and latest pieces of equipment as they became available and he could afford them. Some required the operator to walk behind them and guild the implement where it needed to go. Others required the operator to sit on the seat and adjust the depth of the plow as well as guide it where it needed to go. Everything was well maintained, lubricated as needed, sharpened as required and functioned as designed. June knew how to use and care for each piece of equipment on the farm.

June was able to milk the heifer and leave plenty of milk for her calf. Within a few weeks several of the hens stayed on the nest. June added eggs so that each hen had a dozen or so eggs under her. It wasn’t long before there were a number of baby chicks following the hens around. A few weeks later two of the guineas were sitting on nests needing more eggs. More guineas joined the flock. Milk, butter, and eggs were soon once again in the cooling house.

The wheat was beginning to ripen. June was spending more time at the cabin at night than at the cave. She extinguished all the candles and lanterns and returned everything to storage. The cabin was strong and soon repaired so she continued to live in the cabin as she worked all areas of the farm. She repaired the hole in the chimney using mud and rocks so that it was water tight and did not leak water or smoke. Although a temporary repair it held up well for a long time.

She retrieved Pa’s long bladed sickle from the tool shed. She kept it sharp with his whet stone. Starting on one side of the wheat patch she swung the sickle cutting the stems near the ground. She bundled the stems in sheaves and stacked them to dry. When they were dry she loaded the sheaves into the wagon and took them to the barn. At the barn she thrashed them to free the grains of wheat onto a large tarp. The expended sheaves were stacked in the barn to be used for fodder and bedding and the grain was sacked and stored in a cool room in the cave.

At the end of each day, she unloaded the wagon at the barn, unhitched the wagon, fed the jenny some corn, and brushed her coat until it shone. She returned her to the pasture so that she could graze on the summer grass. When her chores were done she and the pups ran to the creek. She jumped out of her clothes and shook the dust from them.

Babe and the pups jumped in and swam all over her swimming hole. They chased some of the smaller critters away from the creek bank and swam with her when she dived into the cool, clear water.

She rinsed her clothes in the creek to remove the remainder of the dust. They quickly dried hanging on a bush as June dived into the creek and removed the dust from her body. She freed her hair and dived, swimming underwater as she ran her fingers through her hair freeing and cleansing each golden strand. When satisfied that she was dust free she returned to the grass bank and lay in the sun as it lowered toward the horizon. When her cloths were dry she put them back on, checked the loads in her pistol and returned to the cabin to fix and eat supper. Her lean body was tanned to a golden color, much different from the little girl who dressed in girl clothes and was confined to girl jobs in the cabin.

She continued the family practice and rested on Sundays with singing, Bible reading, a good meal, and restful afternoon with either swimming in the creek or by catching a catfish or bass for supper. Her tan deepened over the summer.

She had plenty to eat with the garden producing lots of vegetables. Milk, butter, eggs and cheese from the livestock and wheat for bread, corn for meal and a side of bacon and ham from the cave and she ate well. The work was hard but she was able to do it all and she had the company of Babe and her pups as well as the farm animals. The vegetables from the garden and fruit from the orchard were bountiful so that all the canning jars that had been emptied over the winter were soon full and stored in the supply room and in the cave. Potatoes, sweet potatoes, beets, carrots, turnips, and other items were dug and stored in the root cellar. Watermelons, cantaloupes, squash, and other vegetables were harvested and stored as they became ripe.

She had tried to wear the adult dresses that her Ma had insisted she wear but as the spring went on and summer approached she preferred to wear her older brother’s overall and trousers with homespun work shirts or her leather skin clothes. We wrapped her shoes to preserve them for colder weather and preferred to go barefoot or wear moccasins. She put on the belt and holster each morning and hung it from a peg near at hand each night. As the summer went on she took an old pair of her brother’s trousers and cut the legs out of them and one of his pull over shirts and cut the sleeves and midsection out so that whatever breeze there was could cool her body as she worked in the bright sun.

Rain was plentiful so that the corn grew tall with lots of ears being developed. She harvested the hay in the pasture and stored it in the loft of the barn for winter livestock feed. The young calf and mule grew rapidly. She was able to capture four small pigs and transferred them to the pig pen attached to the barn. They settle down to captivity and were also growing rapidly. She kept the poultry locked in the chicken run and nesting house to discourage varmints.

When field work was completed she repaired the shattered chimney as the rain began to melt the mud based repair she had done earlier. By the end of the summer the cave was being used for storage and she spent all of her time in the field and in the cabin. Babe and her half grown pups went with her everywhere she went. They had begun to hunt and seldom wanted to be fed by June. They responded to her commands as though she was the queen of the pack. They seem to understand what she wanted them to do whether from verbal commands or silent hand signals.

The contents of the cabin were greatly changed after June packed all of her parents’ personal items in chests and transferred them to the storage room of the cave. Items that she could use that belonged to her sisters and brothers she stored in the room that she had shared with her sister or in a chest that she stored in the attic. Other items were placed in chests and transferred to the storage room in the cave. Items of furniture that she seldom used were stored in the cave.

She converted her parents’ room into a library with shelves for books and work tables for projects. She stored her Pa firearms and ammunition in a special locked cabinet in the library except for those items that she kept close at hand or in special hiding places around the cabin or in the barn. Some items she moved to the finished attic where the boys’ beds were kept. She built special beds for Babe and her pups and added an opening in one corner of her room for them to enter and leave the cabin whenever they wanted to. She had named the pups: Josie, June, and Jack.

June went into the field with corn stalks two feet taller than her head. She picked several ears of the sweet corn to be roasted for supper. The corn was maturing nicely and would be a bountiful harvest when fully mature. She had cut a large piece from a ham in the smoke house and left it on the worktable in the kitchen. She planned to cut slices to cook for the next three days. One of the slices was in a pan in the oven baking. A big pot of peas simmered on the stove. Several fruit pies and loaves of bread were stored in the pie safe next to the oven. A pan of cornbread was cooling on the side of the stove along with some sweet potatoes. A bowl of fruit sat on the dining table along with a bowl of raw vegetable including tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, onions, and beets.

Three ragged men came from the road behind the barn and walked towards the cabin. June dropped the corn, drew her pistol, and made sure each chamber was charged and primed. She dropped to the ground and peered through the corn at the ragged soldiers. Babe and her pups spread out around her in the tall corn but obeyed her when she gave the hand signal for them to lie down and be quiet.

I tole you that there was a farm out here, one of the men said. We had a big battle here in the spring. Look at that corn and that vegetable garden. Someone has been takin’ care of the place. I tole ya someone is livin’ here.

You said that everyone was killed in that fight, one of the men said.

I remember one little girl was still alive. She sicced her big wolf-dog on me but I figgered she was killed before the fighting was over. We did not find her after the clean up was done. Didn’t find her body neither. She might have got away in the woods, the first soldier said.

There’s a jenny and mule colt in the pasture along with a milk cow and calf. What we needs is horses. We need to get far away from here as fast we can before that patrol can track us here, the third soldier stated.

We can set up an ambush for them right here. We got plenty of food in that garden and it’s a safe place to hide. Why don’t we just wait here? We can ambush the patrol and take their horses. Then they won’t be on our trail and we can take our time and head west out of here, the first soldier stated.

Let’s check out the cabin, one of the suggested.

They drew their pistols and approached the cabin. They entered the cabin through the nearest door, beside the repaired chimney. In a few minutes they came out the door onto the large covered front porch.

I tole you that someone is living here. That ham and peas and sweet potatoes look good. There’s fresh fruit on the table and something baking in the oven. It sure smells good, the first soldier stated. I betcha it’s that little girl. She was as strong as an ox and lightening fast. She busted my nose when I tried to hold her down. And that big wolf-dog broke my arm. It still hurts at times.

We better find her and get rid of her before we can set up an ambush for that patrol, one of the others suggested.

Let’s spread out and look around. Be ready to shoot because if she has that big dog with her she can be on you in a flash, the first responded.

With their pistols drawn they went in different directions around the cabin and outbuildings. June and the dogs lay quietly in the corn and watched.

The three men walked around the house with their pistols drawn. One entered the barn, another circled around behind the cabin, and the chickens raised a ruckus as he entered the chicken pen. The third went to the end of the cabin and then started toward the corn field. He must have seen something since he was walking straight toward June. She cocked her pistol, sighted along the barrel and waited.

I thought I saw something, the soldier said as he entered the corn field. June rose up from the ground and stepped forward, pointing her pistol at his nose.

En guard, Jose whispered. Drop your pistol, Mister. Or they will tear you apart. Four wolf-colored, large dogs surrounded the soldier, each growling, baring fangs and ready to pounce. "Remember what one did to you last spring? What do you think four will do?’

Why, you’re the little girl from the farm. You survived, he said, I’m glad that you made it. Call them off. I won’t hurt you.

Drop that pistol or they will hurt you, June growled as Babe lunged at him grabbing his arm where she had broken it in the spring.

He dropped his pistol and yelped falling backward. Babe immediately clamped her jaws around the soldier’s throat.

Down, Babe, June ordered. Babe backed away but continued to bare her giant teeth. Blood trickled from her mouth. The man grabbed his throat.

She was going to kill me, he sobbed.

I told you to drop your pistol. You did not do what I told you to do. What did you expect? Now get up, drop your gun belt and ammo bag, and back up, she said.

He stood up and dropped his ammo bag. He pulled a large bandana from a pocket and wrapped it around his throat to stop the bleeding.

Now take off your boots and step out of your trousers, she instructed.

Wha… he started to protest.

Babe growled and he immediately dropped to the ground and pulled his boots off and then stood up and dropped his trousers.

Now your shirt and any weapons that you may have in your underclothes, she said.

Okay, okay, he said, stripping off his shirt and a dagger in a sheath behind his neck. That’s all my weapons.

It better be, she said. Watch him Babe. If he tries anything, kill.

Babe growled loudly, in agreement.

Step back and drop to you knees and lock your fingers on top of your head. If you unlock them Babe will kill you instantly. Do you understand? she growled.

Yeah, I understand. Call her off, he pleaded.

June gathered up all his stuff and stepped further back into the corn field and dropped everything on the ground.

Now call your buddies. Tell them to come here. Do it right or Babe will take over, she said.

Aw right, aw right, he said. Fellas, come here. I’ll found something. Come here quick!

What is it? one of the men said as he stepped out of the barn.

What did you find? I found a chicken house full of hens and lots of egg, the other said stepping around the cabin, cracking and sucking the contents of an egg into his mouth.

You two come here on the double, the soldier ordered.

Aw right, were coming, the two soldiers came running toward the corn field.

As they entered the corn field, June stepped to the side and ran to meet them. The three pups ran in front of her. Stop where you are and drop your weapons, she said. The pups surrounded the two men, teeth bared and growling, Babe growled as the first man started to move, he stopped and remained still.

Do as she says. These wolf dogs are mean and they do what she tells them, he said.

The two stopped a few steps into the corn field and stood still. They had holstered their pistols; one dropped the eggs that he had been eating.

They will take your throat out if you do not immediately drop your weapons, she said and the pups stepped toward them eager to comply with her orders.

Both men undid the buckle of their gun belts and let them fall in the dirt.

Now drop you ammo bags. Take off your boots, drop your trousers, and take off you shirts. Drop any other hideaway weapons. Do it now, she said.

They complied and were soon standing before her in their dirty underwear.

Now all three of you march in single file back toward the cabin, she growled.

They fell in line with the dogs on each side and walked back to the cabin. Go around to the back side. There is water and soap. Wash as much of the filth as you can off your bodies, she said, keeping the pistol trained on them. They did as she said and were soon standing before her a little cleaner than before.

What are you going to do with us? We don’t intend to do you any harm. That she-wolf almost broke my arm and put a big gash in my throat. We are just trying to find something to eat, the first soldier whined.

Yeah, like you want to set up an ambush for the patrol that is after you, so you can take their horses. I heard you when you came up. I plan to feed you then tie you up and we will wait for the patrol. If you give me any trouble I will tie you up and leave you hungry. Any questions or objections? Babe you and the pups keep your eyes on them, if they move, kill them, June said.

Babe and her pups yelped in agreement.

June holstered her pistol and entered the cabin from the back door. She gathered up three plates, utensils, and cups. She filled the coffee pot and put it on to boil. She stepped through the front door and went around to the back of the building. The men stood as they were eyeing the dogs without moving.

Bring them around to the front. Have a seat on the edge of the porch, She instructed. They marched in single file around the cabin and sat on the edge of the porch. She handed each a plate and utensils and returned to the kitchen returning with the pot of peas and pan of cornbread. She spooned generous helping of peas and cornbread on each plate. She sat the containers on the porch and said, Eat up, gentlemen. Watch’em pups.

She returned with her own plate containing a piece of ham and sweet potato. She helped herself to peas and cornbread and sat in a chair on the porch and enjoyed the fare. Does any one want more? she asked. She served each another helping of peas and cornbread and returned to the kitchen. She put coffee into the boiling water and set it aside to steep. Taking one of the fruit pies from the safe she divided it into fourth and returned to the porch with the pie, coffee, and cups. The hungry soldiers were finishing their second plateful of peas and cornbread and were surprised with the pie and coffee.

Thank you for the food. We didn’t think that anyone would feed us. Peach pie and coffee…we haven’t seen peach pie in over a year, one of the men said.

"Your war killed my family, but my Ma and Pa always said that it was best to feed your enemy if you can. Maybe it won’t be necessary to kill them if you do. I have fed you, now