Fred's Ozark Legacy

By Rosa Largent

Little Freddie was born out of wedlock to his teenage mother, Jenny Rakes, and his proud father, Jonathan Baker, who lived on the Ozark farm next to the Rakes. The desertion of his teen mother prior to his first birthday gave Freddie a family of only his maternal grandmother and his proud dad, Jonathan. At the death of his loving Grandmother Rakes, all that was left the preteen could call a "loving family" was his dad, Johnathan Baker. So as you can imagine his dad's shock when son, Fred, refused any schooling past the eighth grade, adding "ignorance" to the "out of wedlock" description of his son, Fred. His mother and her husband arrived prior to the end of Fred's teen years to visit with him and inform him he had three half brothers and a half sister since they had married. His refusal to say more than hello and not even see the "family" set the tone to his mother's life as it related to Fred. Before Fred finished his teen years, the family of his brother and sister, escorted by their half-sister, Penny, arrived unannounced and uninvited on his doorstep. His shock included his first question, to himself, What can I do for them? Of course, he had sympathy for them when he learned of the accidental death of their mother and father. His remaining teen years made it necessary for him to find a better paying job in the Ozarks and caused his life to be everything from horrible to misery. The way this transforms the children's relationship with Fred Baker and Penny Halloran, their half-sister, is an exciting and educational exhibit of the flying teen years. The arrival of the finishing touches to the family includes "fake" parents, nieces, nephews, grandparents, and all of 'em, as one says in the Ozarks. The close chase by a panther after their little sister, Sue Ann, reminds one just how dangerous even a ten year old can be. The teen boys needed little help going from the problem of working students to a wonderful loving Christian family.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Covenant Books, Inc.
• Release date: Oct 9, 2019
• ISBN: 9781645594710

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I want to thank the many people who were so helpful to me in the writing of this book. They are far too numerous to acknowledge here with the exception of Cathy Weiser. Who worked tirelessly as a technical assistant all through the, editing and publishing of the manuscript. I could not have done it without any them.

Chapter One

Rex had always loved living in Southwest Missouri with his family. There was Mom, Dad, and his sister, Jenny, who was four years younger than he was. They were as poor as the perversely church house mouse. Somehow that never seemed to bother Rex. The beautiful four seasons of each year were so wonderful that Rex could never remember seeing a better place in his short life.

The summers seemed humid to people from the west, but since Rex had never known anything different, it was his favorite time of the year. Of course, as soon as the summer was over, the family was enjoying the beautiful trees and color the countryside had to show off. She really flaunted her colors every fall.

The winters were not too cold in the Ozarks, but cold enough to require a lot of heavy clothes as one went about the farm chores. It was also the time you reaped the bountiful benefits of all the summer harvest of vegetables, jellies, and anything else his mom had preserved, canned, or dried. Wintertime took so many more calories to slosh around the barnyard to milk and hay the cattle.

When the first green sprigs of the pasture poked their head through the dark brown ugly look of winter, it was worthy of a joyful cheer from the whole family. The first cutting of alfalfa hay was usually by the end of May.

*****

World War II had ended not too long ago, and there was still a contingency force to help the people build back all that had been torn down during that terrible war. It didn’t seem to concern Rex much, but he did have to register for the draft as soon as he was eighteen and out of high school. Obviously there was some kind of momentum gaining there, but Rex and his family lived on a farm and did not take a paper. They had no TV. It was a rare thing in Southwest Missouri. They mostly just kept up with the weather and local news. At noontime each day, the must on the radio was C. C. Wilford as he gave the local weather. Everyone was required to be quiet and listen, but Rex had never known why. Sometimes they gave bits and snippets about the conflict that was happening overseas and had taken some county boys, but not often.

Rex’s greatest concern was how to help his folks financially. Jenny was so young. She still had junior high and high school ahead of her. Already, as a freshman, she was a confirmed flirt.

Rex could see that his dad would never live to see her raised. He was worse every day, and his little wine for the stomach’s sake had become a fifth for the mind’s sake.

*****

He was doing a poor job of facing death, and since Rex had never done that, he knew he should not be judging him, but he could see they would be in such a terrible financial state when his father died.

The doctor had told Rex’s dad to get his affairs in order because he could not live much longer with this cancer. It seemed the doctors hardly knew how to diagnose cancer, much less how to treat it and keep a patient comfortable.

The family had laying hens and milked ten cows night and morning. If you think that didn’t cramp Jenny’s fingers, just ask her. Rex was such a good brother. He did most of the hard labor so others didn’t have it to do.

He worked just like the rest of the county boys did—they all worked in the poultry industry. That sounded better than to say they caught chickens to be loaded on trucks and hauled to the processing plant, Sunday night through Thursday night. They didn’t haul any chickens unless the processing plant would be running the next day.

Rex’s mom raised a big garden and canned all the vegetables she could get her hands on all summer long. She never shirked anything she should do and was trying to teach Jenny to be a good housekeeper and cook.

*****

Jenny just wasn’t too interested unless the neighbor boy was around mowing or shooting baskets while Rex was trying to teach him some of the finer points of basketball. Then Jenny liked to show off and let everyone see how smart and industrious she was. She really had become a pretty good cook, and the whole family was happy because it took some of the pressure off her mom.

Rex had to find a time to approach his mom for a deep discussion. His time came when Jenny was picking green beans the next day.

Mom, I might be mistaken, but I do believe I have a little flirt for a sister. She is just too crazy about boys, and she is headed for trouble. Dad is no help with his poor health, so what can I do to help you?

Rex, I’m just going to do the best I can. I have so much on my mind lately. Your dad can’t possibly live much longer, and we will be in a financial mess! I’ve found out that he has sunk us in debt at every corner. God only gives me one day at a time, and I’m glad because believe me, that’s all I can handle at once. I will speak very sternly to Jenny about this. I appreciate you caring enough to mention it to me.

*****

Two weeks later, Rex found himself in possession of a letter beginning, Greetings, Rex Albert Rakes, Jr. He was headed to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, for basic training. Well, at least, he could send his mom some money. He had almost no time until he was in. He made out an allotment to her and since his dad was so ill, the army gave him no trouble about it. That would help some monthly. He also made out his insurance to her. It was pretty common knowledge of most sons doing that, so he didn’t mention that to her because he didn’t want her to think about the possibility of him not coming back.

He knew that two years ago, his mom had taken out a burial policy on his dad so maybe she could get him buried without a mortgage on the farm. God knew that old house needed so much work done on it to make it more livable for her and Jenny.

Uncle Austin, who lived on the next eighty acres above them, was too old to be of much help—but he was good moral support. Everybody in the country called him Uncle Austin, even if he wasn’t related to them. He kept everybody in the county supplied with venison and fish. Since he was a confirmed bachelor, he was able to pretty much do as he pleased.

*****

He pleased to fish, hunt squirrels, or anything else that would put him in the woods walking. He loved to walk in the woods. He’d kind of lost his huntin’ and fishin’ buddy when Rex Sr. became so ill. He was just in too much pain to even leave the house anymore, and Uncle Austin missed him.

Rex had been in basic training, and it was still summer by the time he received a Red Cross notification of his dad’s death. He caught the bus home and attended his dad’s funeral. It was a great comfort to his mom and Jenny that he could be there.

Rex had three days so he, his mom, and sister had quite the talks and planned how some things could be done. He still didn’t have the nerve to mention the government death benefit made out to his mom. She felt bad enough without thinking on that. No matter what happened, Rex knew he would be somewhere overseas before you could say boo. He said, Mom, I’ll send all the money home that I possibly can.

Nadine Rakes faced life as so many widows before her had—as bravely and honestly as she knew how.

It seemed as if everyone who Mr. Rakes owed money to was willing to let her make payments on the balance.

*****

She was shocked to learn how much he had borrowed. Somehow he had used her name to borrow some of it. However, he had kept the farm clear, and nobody filed on her so she lived as economically as she knew how. Between Nadine’s social security, the social security on Jenny, and what Rex sent home, they were able to live in a fair amount of comfort.

She had just begun to breathe comfortably, when the very worst happened. She received a missing in action telegram. That was followed by two army officials coming in person and informing her Rex Allen Rakes Jr. had been killed.

If the heart could break, Nadine was sure hers was going to. There was a man from the Church who was helpful and enough food arrived at the front door to feed half of the army that was overseas, she was sure.

After services for Rex, Jenny managed to get back in school, and Nadine took over some of her milking chores because she had so much more schoolwork in the ninth grade. Nadine sold three of her milk cows. She even had plans for that amount of money.

*****

She called a plumber. Never again would they have to go outside for one last trip to the privy each night! She was going to have a bathroom put in. That called for a ditch digger to come out and dig the septic tank. She did not have washer water run into it—just the bathroom waste and the shower water. She had to have a hot water heater put in also. Oh, what beauty! Just to stand and admire that little room. It surprised Jenny somewhat. It called for the back porch to be enclosed as well, so it was quite the project for two women and just what help they could afford.

Jenny said, Mom, I didn’t even know you minded doing that. We had always lived that way, and I just took it for granted that it would always be necessary.

"Jenny, I never was one to complain much, but that really bothered me. I just made sure God didn’t hear me gripe! I was thankful for what we did have. We never had to go hungry as some people. Taking a shower every night is also a wonderful amenity. I really enjoy having a kitchen sink and hot water to use all the time."

*****

She and Jenny heated with wood, just like most of the neighbors. It sure saved a lot of money they didn’t have. But since there was no man of the house to keep the wood supplied and stacked, they had to do that too. Every so often, her rich neighbor brought her a load of wood just out of the goodness of his heart. The winter dragged on.

Jenny had a boyfriend that she sat beside on the school bus. Nothing serious, and Nadine knew the bus driver. (She had gone to school with him years ago.) She was kept posted and the boy/girlfriend episode seemed harmless. By the time Jenny finished the ninth grade, all seemed to have cooled, and Jenny really tried to help her mother.

There was the usual round of hay hands going from field to field with the harvest crew. Jenny got some good jobs that summer after her freshman year of school. She had mastered cooking and was really good at it. It made her a good amount of money to buy school clothes for next year. The trouble was, she felt sick every morning and started vomiting up her breakfast. It didn’t take very long for her mother to figure out what was wrong with her.

*****

She was pregnant! She had been a bit too close to one of the hay hands, a neighbor boy, who was trying to make his school clothes money too. His name was Jonathan Baker.

She didn’t get to go to her sophomore year of school. The winter work was especially hard. Jenny did all she possibly could, and her mom simply had to do the rest. Of course, the seven cows were easier to milk than it was when they had ten. If that old milk check didn’t come in so handy, Nadine would have sold them too.

Nadine didn’t see that getting on an anger spree with Jenny would do much good. She took her to the doctor often and tried to see that she and the baby were both healthy. Jenny wasn’t too interested in being seen around town much, so she mostly stayed home. Nadine was glad because she would have forbidden her to go.

Jon felt as guilty as Jenny so he started coming and helping with the chores. That was the least he could do. He just caught the school bus at Rakes’ stop every morning and got off there every night. It was a big help to Nadine. She could see that Jenny blamed Jon and thought very little of him.

*****

Nadine reminded her that it took two people to perform that act and to stop treating him like he had the plague. She really needed and appreciated the help.

The rest of the children who rode the school bus with Jonathan did not miss the fact that he got on and off at the Rakes’ stop. They knew where Jonathan Baker lived, and it wasn’t at the stop where Jenny had gotten on so many years. Teenagers are smart, and it didn’t take them long to think up some embarrassing names for Jonathan. He never denied parenting Jenny’s baby. But it was sure embarrassing to him as long as he was in high school.

The baby was born March 30, 1950. His father’s name was put on his birth certificate, at Jon’s insistence. He was named Frederick Leland Baker.

Jenny took complete care of little Freddie. He was a very sweet baby and easy to care for. But by the time Freddie was a year old, Jenny simply got dressed up one day when her mother was gone and left them—mom, farm, baby, and all. She just disappeared.

She did write a letter to Uncle Austin to see how the baby was doing and told him she worked and lived in Springfield, Missouri.

*****

She was dating a man from Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. It wasn’t long before Uncle Austin heard she was married to Cpl. Lee Halooran. Lee told Jenny he had to pay support on a baby girl. He had received divorce papers the day she was born.

Chapter Two

The years rolled by with the same living arrangements at the Rakes farm that had begun before Jenny left. Little Freddie wanted to do everything his dad would permit. He always called his dad Jon. Jon didn’t care so long as he was called. He loved Little Freddie so much there was nothing he wouldn’t do for him unless his grandmother, Nadine, said it was a no-no because it would spoil him.

Jon persuaded Nadine to let him do more of the work every week. He was doing at least 75 percent of the farm work at the Rakes’ right along. It seemed to Jonathan that Nadine was about worked out. She had carried the big load of that farm for some time now. It was just too much for her. Before they knew what was going on, she seemed to have developed some sort of a heart murmur. She had learned to work more slowly and did just fine, with no more work than she had to do. Since she spent so much time sitting down, she developed the habit of tutoring Freddie—teaching him his colors and to print his name. He had a little bit of trouble understanding why Nadine’s last name was not the same as Jon’s. Rakes and Baker were so different, even Little Freddie could see that, but he didn’t exactly understand it. The kids at school had mothers and fathers with the same last name.

*****

Freddie was a very bright student. He had so much help at home before he even started school. Time passed so fast, and Freddie was in the fourth grade. He made good and did his grandma proud. Like most grandmothers, she spoiled him some, cooking special things she knew he liked. In her mind, he deserved special treatment. He had seemingly accepted his life just as it was. He loved the farm and looked forward to helping Jonathan each evening with farm chores. They purchased a calf for him, so he had something special to care for on his own.

Although he never asked any more about it, Freddie wondered why he had a grandmother and a dad when most other kids had a mother and a dad. No mother had ever been mentioned to him, but next year in the sex education class, it was a question that was bound to come up. The big boys told him about mothers and fathers.

Jon, his dad, was an only child, so he had a lot of responsibility at his parents’ farm as well as helping Freddie and his grandma Nadine. The Grandparents’ Baker had a lot of chickens. Freddie liked to go over and look at them.

Freddie was somewhat concerned about his grandma Nadine. She just looked kind of white in the face and did not go outside very much any more. While Freddie was in school, she did the care of her chickens and brought in the eggs. Summer would be here soon, and Freddie knew he could help her more.

Jonathan had insisted that there be a phone installed in Freddie’s home. He also bought them a deep freeze. They traded two cows and four calves for it. They would have more calves coming on soon, and it seemed like a good idea to Jonathan and Freddie. Grandma Nadine just seemed agreeable about most things.

One night after Freddie had gone to bed, Nadine called Jon to see if he could come over. It being so late already, why don’t you just spend the night with us? We have some legal things to talk about and get done.

Jon, I do feel worse all the time. I have this little heart murmur, so they call it. I really have to work more slowly and less all the time. You have taken on most of the outside work, simply because I cannot work long enough or hard enough to accomplish much. What in the world would I do without you?

Nadine, you know that I love Freddie and would do anything I could to help. My parents are both still in relatively good health, so they can get along without me for various periods of time. What is it that I can do for you now?

"Jon, I don’t think I am going to live to see Freddie through the eighth grade, much less high school. I have had the attorney draw up some papers with you as Freddie’s father, which we already have proof of, and as guardian over this place. He will inherit this farm at age eighteen. You oversee most things now, so I don’t see how this will make things different, only legal. I am a bit concerned over Jenny. She writes to Uncle Austin once in a while, so he tells me some. She was so unhappy with us, she not only changed her last name, but her first name legally to Margaret! She is now Margaret Halooran. There is a provision in this document for her to inherit one hundred dollars at my death. I want no legal arguments from her over this. You have had to deal with her enough in this life. I want to make sure you don’t have to endure her any more. She was never mistreated here, and she should have shouldered as much responsibility for Freddie as you have. Maybe she just knew she wouldn’t be a good mother. I don’t know, and I quit trying to figure it out long ago. I was so afraid she would run you off that first year when she was so rude to you. Thank God, you have more sense than she had."

Nadine, Austin told me she has more children by this Lee Halooran that she married. I hope she is happy, but since my name is on Freddie’s birth certificate and she hasn’t lifted a hand to help with him, I don’t see how I could have any trouble from her. She would only be interested in his inheritance anyway. And she would get that only over my dead body! Quit worrying about that, I will protect my son. Just tell me when we should go and sign these papers.

Jon, let’s go while Freddie is in school tomorrow, so it is done and can be filed with the court.

That sounds great to me, Nadine. I don’t know how all this was figured out by you, but so long as we go to an attorney, and it’s all legal, I’m for it. Let’s go to bed tonight, and you can stop worrying this all over in your mind. I wonder how long since you have had a restful night’s sleep. See you in the morning. I’ll just grab the couch here.

No Jon, the roll-away is made down in the kitchen—of all places. That is much more comfortable than this old couch.

As Jon spent the night, he could see several things that would make their lives better. A propane cook stove that didn’t put out enough fumes to smell all night would be a good place to start. She was so smart to install the bathroom. All he had done to make their life better was to insist that a phone be put in for their safety’s sake.

The next day, they went to the attorney’s office and signed the documents he had prepared at Nadine’s instructions. She felt such a relief. She supposed Jon was right. She had agonized over the situation. There were two witnesses in the attorney’s office. All was signed, sealed, and delivered to the court the next day.

It was decided by mutual agreement not to inform Freddie until summer when he would be out of school and maybe he could have more time to think about and understand Jenny’s (Margaret’s) betrayal of him. How could they ever make him understand things that his own grandmother and dad couldn’t understand?

Freddie was really glad to see summer arrive. He was sure proud of his calf, and he could spend more time with him. He had grown so big, and Freddie loved to brush him in places he couldn’t get to. He never had caused Freddie to be afraid of him, but his dad had shown him what to do and not to do. He was so glad his dad was on the farm every day. Sometimes he took him over to his Grandpa and Grandma Bakers when Jon had work to do there that he just had to get done that day.

His dad and grandma sat him down one day because they told him they needed to explain something to him. They wanted to talk with him about his mother, who was surely a bit of a mystery to him. His reaction was loud and immediate!

Hot ziggity! I just knew I had a mother somewhere, somehow! Freddie yelled. That about scared Jon and Nadine out of their Missouri skins!

Oh, so he had been wondering about his mother. That was the first thought that came into Nadine and Jon’s head. Wonder how many nights he had lain awake, wondering about the whole situation. He knew his life was different than the rest of the kids at school.

"No, Freddie, listen carefully. Your mother and I were never married.

We were too young to be married, and she acted so angry with me over your birth. I didn’t know why—I was so proud of you. So long as she took care of you when you were so little, about the first year of your life, she took good care of you and loved you. She rocked you just like any mother would. Suddenly one day, she was just gone—She walked away with only the clothes on her back. She must have had some money hid back. She never contacted your grandma Nadine or me at all. She did write to Uncle Austin. She knew he would tell us how she was and would write and let her know if you were growing well and getting as fat as a little butter ball like most babies your age. You were well cared for. I came over before and after school to help your grandma do the chores. I did this until I graduated from high school. In the summer I did whatever your grandmother needed to be done and helped my parents on their farm too. This is a long story, but we want you to think on it for quite a while before you think too badly about your mother. After you have thought about things for a while, ask us any questions you want, and we will try to answer them for you.

It was several days before Freddie had much to say about anybody or anything—his mom or anything else. Then his only comment was, I don’t see why she disliked me so. I never did anything to her. I’m glad God gave me you and Grandma Nadine, Jon. I also love my Baker grandparents. Maybe they will get to love me too. I like to go to their house because I love to see all those thousands of chickens!

The rest of what he thought or wondered about was kept to himself. He just went to school every day until he got out of the eighth grade. Then he hit them with a bomb. He refused to go to high school.

Grandma Nadine was feeble and poorly, as she put it. She tried really hard to talk to him but to no avail. His mind was made up. His dad tried to tell him about the only job he could get was a chicken-catching job. He sure got plenty of those.

After Grandma Nadine passed away and was buried next to her son, Rex, Freddie was on his own quite a lot, what with Jonathan working his parents’ farm and trying to help with Rakes’ farm too. The broiler houses up on the Baker farm took quite a lot of time, and Freddie did quite well with things on his farm. He missed fishing with Uncle Austin. Just as sure as he and Uncle Austin were together, he got another sermon about finishing high school, so he just didn’t go around him much. Grandma Nadine used to say Uncle Austin was a busybody, and Freddie was beginning to believe it.

His dad had purchased them a new cook stove, which was considerably safer. (Actually it was a lot safer.) He also purchased a new bedroom set, which was really comfortable. Freddie slept there unless his dad spent the night with him and that was less often. The Bakers had built several new chicken houses on their farm, so it was quite the job since the Grandparents’ Baker were beginning to show their age also. They needed more help from Jonathan now.

Freddie learned that his Grandpa (Rex Rakes Sr.) had accumulated more debt than anybody told Grandma Nadine about. Creditors came around and told Freddie, so he had more of Grandpa’s bills to pay off. Sure didn’t help his credit one bit. He was very unhappy about it because he had been trying to save up for a new car. He really would never have that much money saved for years, anyway. He kept this from his dad, but Uncle Austin helped him by going around to each one he owed and explaining the situation so he could have more time to pay.

Freddie not only caught chickens, but he cleaned chicken houses after the sale of a houseful of birds and got things clean and ready for the next batch of chickens. Until he was old enough to get a driver’s license, his dad helped him some by giving him rides to his chicken-catching job each evening, if he even needed a ride, or to a job cleaning a chicken house.

He was such a hard worker. The driver who hauled chickens to the processing plant put him on full time—Sunday night through Thursday night. He was only gone through the evening from about four until ten-thirty or so. He also taught him to drive better and let him drive on the country dirt roads. Between cleaning houses and catching chickens, he could pay his electricity, food bill, and save a little bit every week.

He got out Grandpa’s old pickup and started working on it in his spare time. By the time he was eighteen years old, and had inherited the farm, he sold all the cows and chickens. He just did the weekend mowing on the place. If any of his friends were up for fishing, canoeing, swimming, or anything else, he was always willing and able. He just went on to work from wherever he wound up about four in the afternoon on Sundays.

He managed to get the old pickup painted and got new tires on it. He was right uptown. His dad was proud of him.

Sometimes, if he was in need of a good meal, he went over to Grandpa Bakers and helped them with the chores and chickens. Then he ate a good meal before he went to work.

Chapter Three

Since Fred was now eighteen years old, his dad informed him that Nadine’s will was in effect, and he had inherited the farm where he had always lived. He went with his dad to the lawyer’s office and signed some papers. Then he had to appear before the Judge, and he explained it all to Fred.

There were no heirs except a daughter of Nadine Rakes, Margaret Halooran, who was your mother and would have inherited one hundred dollars if she could have been found. The entire farm now belongs to you. As they say Fred, ‘lock stock and barrel.’

Well, this gave Fred a bit more pride in it, when it was all mowed and neat appearing. If the screen door was hanging half off or several other things he knew needed repairs, it just didn’t look like his grandma Nadine would have expected him to keep it. So he got busy and did some badly needed repairs. It gave him less time for fishing, but what the heck! He needed to get things shaped up a bit.

One day, Uncle Austin asked him to come up—there was somebody who wanted to meet him. So he just grabbed some clean jeans, slicked back his hair, and trotted up to Uncle Austin’s to see who the company was.

Uncle Austin said, Fred, this is Margaret and Lee Halooran. Margaret is your mother.

Fred came very close to forgetting what manners his grandma had taught him and his dad insisted he use. Why would you come to see me now, Mrs. Halooran? I am a grown man and able to care for and make a living myself. We have nothing in common. My dad and Grandma Nadine gave me all the love and care any child could need or want. You have wasted your trip.

Well, we just wanted to meet you and tell you that you have three half-brothers and a half-sister. We thought some day you might like to meet them. They are at Lee’s mother’s house now, Margaret explained.

You are just too late. This farm is now mine, and I’m sure the only reason you came was to see if you could get in on the division of the farm. It won’t happen. There is one hundred dollars at the attorney’s office for you. We didn’t know where you were when the will was probated. You did not answer any of the newspaper’s advertising for you then. Have a safe trip home. Fred just turned around and went back to his house.

Margaret had a crying fit, but Lee only seemed interested in getting her out of there. She knew now what she had lost, and she sure had no need to see Freddie’s dad. There just wasn’t much for her to do but go home and weep. Freddie seemed so bitter. She was sure if he could only meet his brothers and sister, he would feel differently.

They took their leave of Uncle Austin after he explained Fred’s bitterness. He had a lot of bad debts of his grandpa’s to pay off, and it has really made him a bitter young man. He always did what was right. He