W. is for The Mountain girl (Chapt. 7)

The Mountain Girl
Chapter ( 7 )
The Journey

Jay came into the kitchen, and set down at the table. He said, "Angel
lets take the children, and go see the old trapper." He does a lot of
leather making, and I could sure use some new led lines, and harness
for the horses. What do you think honey?

Angel replied, "Sure Jay!" I don't see why not, we have our work
caught up. I think the kids would enjoy meeting the old fellow. The
trip it's self maybe a little hard on them. But I think they, would
enjoy it.

Jay said, settled we, will leave by daybreak." Jess, and I, will get
the tarp on the wagon today. You, and Beth, can start packing what we
may need.

Angel asked him, "how long do you think it, will take us to get there?"
Jay thought for a second, "I'd say no breakdowns about a week." We got
good weather so we, don't have to worry about that.

He reached over, and got Angel by the hand let's go tell the
kids.
They were in the yard-playing hide, and go seek. Beth was whining she,
stated telling them, "she couldn't hide because, Stinky kept running up
to her."

Jess was teasing her "you're, the one who brought him home with you!"
Angel informed her that Jess, "was only teasing her." Because, he
thought, Stinky was the greatest! Beth said, "he" doesn't act like
it!

"We have something we, want to tell you," Jay muttered. They both
asked, "What is it papa?" You two remember the old trapper we, keep
talking about? "Yes" they replied. "Well" how would you guys like to go
meet him?

Jess, and Beth asked, "Oh, could we, papa?"

Jay said, "It would be a hard trip". I don't want to hear any whining,
looking at "Beth" or teasing glancing back at "Jess." Jess told him,
"We will behave pa, won't we, Beth? She nodded, "yes!"

Jay yelled, "Ok" let's go get things ready for our journey!

"Papa" Jess asked, "Where does the trapper live?" Jay replied, "in the
mountains west of here." He named it himself, The Pilot Rock!

He always said, "he could never keep a shovel, or a hoe sharpened."
Because every time he started to dig, he'd end up dulling his tools on
sharp rocks.

Beth muttered, "mama" does he, have any kids? Angel stated, "not that
I'm aware of!" Beth said, "Well" I was hoping he, would have one I,
could play with."

Angel laughed, and looked at Jay.

Jay said, "Beth", I don't think he ever got married. Besides if he did
he, wouldn't have one your age!

Angel packed linens, pots, tin plates that use to belong to her
parents, silverware, and personal accessories that they, may
need.

Beth was packing jars of fruit, vegetables, and vegetable soups her,
mama had canned last year. Beth said, "mama" here's an old coffee pot.
Do you want me to pack it?

Angel muttered, hand it to me, I'll pack it with the other cookware."
It used to be your pa's.

Beth asked, "you mean before he met you mama?" "Mama", tell me again
how you met papa? Angel replied, "not today sweetie we, got to much to
do. Besides, you have heard that story a dozen of times. I know mama,
"but I, like hearing it" Beth, mumbled. Angel told her, another time
perhaps." Let's go pack our clothes!

Jess said, "Papa" the led lines, doesn't look good, they're starting to
fray. Jay told him, "I know son I'm, hoping they will last by the time
we, get there." That's one of the reasons we're making this trip.

Jay asked, "you" got your side of the tarp tied? Jess called out, "No,
a piece of rope is missing," Jay, replied.

Jay went into the shed, and retrieved a piece of leather, from a
canteen strap. He handed it to Jess this should hold it, as they, tied
it down to the wagon.

Angel came out the door carrying wooden crates, and handed them to Jay.
He placed them underneath the seat. He, and Jess, neatly packed the
back of the wagon.
Angel told them, "supper" was almost ready.

There were a lot of chattering going on about the trip everyone, was so
excited.

"When we, reach Lilly Pad Valley we, will stop, and gig some frogs,"
Jay, said. We'll have us, a humdinger of a supper!

Beth licked her lips, and rubbed her tummy, "frog legs yummy"! Everyone
bust out laughing.

Angel reminded them they, would have to be careful, and watch for
snakes. Jess said, "we" will mama, looking down at his hand.

Angel reached over, and rubbed his, head it will get better one of
these days son. But, she had her doubts, it had been over two months,
and he, still couldn't use it like he, used to.

Jay broke the silence I, think we, should all get to bed early. We got
a long day ahead of us, tomorrow. Beth chummed in, "I'm going to bed
now!" Angel told her, not until you, had a bath young lady!"

Angel woke with the smell of coffee brewing. She rolled out of bed, and
strode into the kitchen.
Jay had breakfast fixed, and the children, were dressed doing their
morning chores.

Jay said, "good morning honey." Did you sleep well? Angel took a deep
breath, and slowly let it out. "I feel great", she mumbled.
Jay gave her a peck on the cheek, and handed her, a cup of
coffee.

He called out to Jess, and Beth, "breakfast is ready! They all set
down, ate breakfast, and chatted about their trip.

Angel quickly washed the dishes. She bent down, and picked up her
satchel, and walked out the door.

Jay looked back at the kids, and told them, Lily Pad Valley was just
ahead. Jess, and Beth, climbed up on their knees, and peered through
the canvas door just as they, topped the hill.

They could see a lake that stretched for miles. "It was one more
beautiful site," thought, Jess. The lily pads were everywhere, and they
were in full bloom.

Jay stopped the wagon, in a clearing beyond the lake. We, will camp
here for the night, Jay, informed them.

Angel said, "Beth, and I, will get everything set up for dinner, you,
and Jess, catch us some frogs!" Jess muttered, "pa" I, don't want to go
let Beth, I'll help mama, tonight! Beth asked, "can I, papa?" He
replied, on one condition Beth, "you are not to pick up any snakes!"
The lake is full of them, and most of them are poisonous. I promise
you, "pa" I, will not pick up any snakes Beth, stated. Jay rubbed her
head, and told her, Let's go gig some frogs."

A chill ran down Jess's back! Angel noticed the look on Jess's face.
She knew that was why he, didn't want to help Jay, he was afraid.

Angel asked, "Jess are you alright?" He replied, "sure mama!" Jess
thought, no way I'm, going there with all those snake! "Jess" I, think
its time your pa, teaches you, how to shoot," Angel, responded.

Jess asked, "mama" you think he would? "If he, doesn't I will" Angel,
replied. A boy your age should know how to shoot. Besides, you never
know when it maybe helpful to one of us.

Beth came strolling past the wagon yelling, "mama look!" She had a
whole sack full of frog legs.

Papa said to tell, "you" he, was bringing the firewood! Angel heard
Jess, ask Beth, "if they, seen any snakes?" Her reply was, "nope" and
she, crawled in the back of the wagon.

Jess looked over at the lake. He thought, "I always wanted to try my
hand at gigging. But he, pushed it aside, and looked down at his, bent
fingers.

"Son, would you, please go fetch some more firewood," Jay, asked? If
you go over by the lake, there you will find plenty of it.

Jess dragged his feet as he, walked toward the lake. His eyes were
darting everywhere he, was shaking. He picked up wood here, and there.
He almost jumped out of his, wits when a frog leaped across the
grass.

Jess got what he, thought was enough, and walked back to the
campsite.

Jay yelled, "Jess" I, told you, to get firewood not kindling, that want
burn very long! "If you want something done right, do it yourself", Jay
said, angrily.

Angel grabbed her gun, and yelled, "Jess come with me, I will show you,
where the bigger stuff is!" She glanced over her shoulder, and said,
"Jay, watch my, bread don't let it burn!"

"Well, I guess you, asked for that big mouth," he, said to
himself.

Jays mind drifted back to one evening, when Angel had to run outside,
and get the clothes off the line it, was starting to rain. She had
asked him if, "he "would keep an eye on her, steaks she was frying?" He
told her, "sure no problem!" But he forgot about them, and fell asleep.
They ended up eating cornbread, and cooked potatoes.

Beth interrupted his, thoughts, "Papa" is it done yet I'm, hungry? Jay
said, "not yet, and he, turned the bread over."

Angel showed Jess, how to hold the pistol, and after several shots, he
could almost out shoot her.

Angel told him, "let's get back to the campsite, and eat son". Jess
muttered, "mama, I'm putrefied of snakes now!" "I know son, you have
all the right reasons to be," she, stated.

Jess carrying one of these, will help you she, patted the pistol on
her hip. If you only use it, to protect yourself or to hunt with, just
remember that son.

It is not a toy, and you never take it out of your holster for any
other purposes, a lot of innocence people have been killed with guns.
Angel said, "Do you understand what I'm saying son?" Jess replied,
"Yes, mama!"

They walked back to the campsite with their arms loaded with logs.
Angel yelled you reckon, "these, will burn awhile?"

Jay looked sheepish! He said, "Son, I'm sorry for yelling at you!"
Besides, we can use the small logs in morning to get the fire started.
Jess mumbled, "no, problem pa!" Jay handed them each a plate of frog
legs, beans, and bread.

Angel told Jay, about "Jess, shooting the pistol." Jay asked when we
get through eating, "you want to practice some more Jess?"

Jess nodded his head, "yes. He couldn't speak he had a mouth full of
food."

Jay asked has, "anyone seen Stinky today?" Everyone pointed under the
wagon he too was having frogs, for supper.

Angel, and Beth cleaned up the campsite while Jay, and Jess, took care
of the horses for the night. Jay crawled in the wagon, and brought out
his extra shotgun.

He looked over at Jess, and said, "let's see what you can do with
this!" Jess shot a few times, and muttered, "it's got a kick to it,
doesn't it pa?" "Son, you'll get use to it," Jay, stated.

Jess handed it back to Jay. Jay threw his hands up, and told him, keep
it! Besides, I was going to give it to you, for your birthday.

Jess said, "Oh, Pa, thank- you!"

Jay strolled over to the campsite, and set down next to Angel. He
mumbled our, "little boy is becoming a man!" Angel patted him on the
arm, and said, "yes" he, is! It seems unreal, that he will be 13 years
old, next month.
(To be continued)

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