Back To Our Beginning (26 page)

It had taken all of them to drag it outside. Once outside, they tied a rope to the bear’s back legs and threw the other end over a large tree branch. With combined effort they were able to pull the bear off the ground until it hung upside down. Aidan slit its throat to bleed it and he and Clint went to work butchering the bear. It was the most vulnerable, being left outside; already they heard the unmistakable sound of wolf calls in the distance, their slinking forms silhouettes moving from tree to tree.

They worked hard, making cuts in pieces that would be easier to work with, returning them to the safety of the mine to store, keeping a watchful eye and ear for predators. After Aidan had hung the elk and slit its throat, with a pan beneath to collect its blood, he and Clint had gone back to the bear to skin it and remove the insides. They took the ribs to be roasted over the fire and helped Tansy set them up over a trench fire she had made with Aidan’s instructions.

Shanie and Emmy had helped her dig the trench by loosening the dirt and stone with sticks then used a pan to scrape out its contents, they lined it with rocks and started a roaring fire on top, after it died down they placed the stove racks on top of the trench from an old stove Tansy and Ethan had found in the cabin. They used six larger stones under the racks to support them over the burning embers that sizzled as grease dripped down, the aroma of the meat enticing.

It was well past dark when the men finally sat around the fire drinking a shared bottle of fireball with the women. Ricky and Michaela were sound asleep with full bellies, having gorged on the meat, she clutching her prized doll, he with his treasured toy cars. The day had been long and tiring but prosperous. They acquired enough food to keep them busy for a while. The next few days would have them drying meat, some for storing, some would be made into pemmican. The promise elicited from Aidan had Tansy dreaming of some kind of stove, although the trench fire had worked very well and the ribs had been tasty and welcome.

Tansy noticed Clint seemed a bit melancholy. Tansy wondered if he was missing Cord and Randy after watching Aidan and Ethan’s rapport. She reached out to touch his shoulder and give him a squeeze to offer comfort.

“You’re not alone, Clint.”

He offered a sad smile and placed his hand over hers. “I miss ’em you know. I’ve known ’em my whole life and now they’s jist gone. In fact everythin’ is jist gone. My wife, my baby, my friends. Sometimes I think there ain’t no point livin’ like this, all alone.”

“I miss my wife,” Ethan told him.

“But you still got your boy,” Clint said with meaning.

“You’re not all alone. You have all of us. Mike loves you so much, Shanie and Emmy respect and admire you a great deal, I care for you. Clint, you make us all feel safe. I don’t know what we would’ve done without your help, or what we’d do without you now.”

“Yeah?” he asked.

“Yeah,” she answered. “You were right when you said we needed you, your protection, your presence, we did then and we still do. I’m grateful you’re here.”

“Besides, you’re one damned fine hunter,” Aidan commented, reaching over to slap him on the back.

“And your help has been greatly appreciated, especially today. We did a great deal of work and you really put your best foot forward,” Ethan confirmed.

“Well hell, puttin’ it forward surely beats havin’ it in my mouth,” Clint exclaimed loudly and everyone laughed.

“Well, I for one am tired and unless you want me to take first watch, I’m going to bed,” Tansy said yawning and stretching.

“No, I’ll take it. Get some rest and keep the covers warm,” Clint told her.

Tansy was soon snuggled under blankets and she let the exhaustion of the day overtake her.

* * * *

Morning brought a bustle of activity. They ate leftover ribs for breakfast then began certain tasks that would require selective thought. On mutual agreement they began drying meat after they’d constructed racks. The racks were placed in a small alcove, one of many in the mine. The alcove went back about eleven feet and was about seven feet in height; it was approximately nine feet wide, giving them ample space to work with. They were able to set up five of the racks inside the hole. They built a smoky fire inside and covered the entrance with a heavy blanket to keep the smoke from escaping.

Some of the meat was placed into one of the small tunnels away from the top of the mine and their fires, acting as a refrigerator until they could work with it. They then divided into groups. Tansy and Emmy rendered fat to mix with the meat that would dry for pemmican. Ethan and Clint made doors for the mine’s cave-like entrances that would help keep out other meandering animals intent on a free meal, as well as smaller coverings to place over the smaller tunnels inside the mine to help contain the heat inside. Shanie kept a strict eye on Ricky and Michaela, who helped bring in their never ending need for wood, wet or dry.

The wood could be dried over the trench fire to keep it from smoking when burned then used or stored in the longer tunnel of the mine. Aidan found a lockbox that had stored someone’s valuables in it. It was empty now, they burned a will, money and bonds that were useless except for fuel. The lockbox was a foot long and a foot deep. Aidan piled stones on the ground then set the box up sideways so the lid would rest on a stick when lowered. A fire could then be lit under the metal box and the opening to the fire covered with more rocks for even cooking.

The ‘stove’ could hold small animals or fowl and other edible items that could taste better baked. Aidan had made his convenient new stove near the back of the cave-like mine to offer another source of warmth, and to keep it out of the way in case little fingers became curious.

It was approaching dinner before their various projects were completed or set aside, yet there was still so much to accomplish. They used their trench fire grill to cook eight steaks. Tansy had applied liberal amounts of salt and pepper to them that Aidan had found in one of the old cottage’s cupboards still standing. Aidan had been excited at the discovery and other useful herbs. Marjoram would be a wonderful seasoning along with the onion salt and garlic salt. They wouldn’t last long but hopefully the spring and summer would bring about other plants and herbs they could dry and make use of. Tansy’s book on plants and roots could prove to be very useful, if not life-saving.

They needed to start on more beds and coverings. Few tables, chairs, mattresses and small useful pieces of furniture were salvaged as quickly as possible from the surrounding cottages. Dragging larger items through the dense woods and snow was tedious with only two men, as one now always remained at the mine to guard their most vulnerable survivors. They were careful during any outing to mark small caves, cellars or other possible shelters they might need to seek refuge in if a storm came upon them. These were stacked with wood, tinder and kindling for an easy fire.

Michaela came running in from outside, followed closely by Ricky, her cheeks were rosy and she smelled fresh from a slight breeze that had blown through her clothes.

“Here, Mommy.” Michaela proudly shoved a purple flower into Tansy’s hand. She was surprised to see it was a crocus.

“It’s spring,” Tansy said, hard-pressed not to cry grateful tears. She had wondered for months if she would ever be warm again. She held up the tiny wilting flower in triumph and hugged her daughter. Nature found its way home.

* * * *

The steaks were medium rare, a bit sweet and gamey, but juicy and the seasoning added a wonderful taste and aroma. The meat would be a welcome relief. But they wished for more, craved more, needed more. Thankfully with spring on the way it would mean vegetables, the healthy sustaining greens of summer. They needed the bounty of vitamins and minerals to survive and keep disease away. Scurvy was a threat, as was cholera or dysentery. Any one of these could kill them.

Ricky and Michaela looked thin, pale and tired. Perhaps not always being on the move and more settled would help all of them put some weight back on. It was a combination of a miracle, fortitude and perseverance that they had survived this long. With spring approaching, they had new hope. They could plan for their future. If winter found them here again, they would be ready. They could make it work because they had to and had hope.

Even if spring was here, they could see a storm blowing up outside between the small cracks on the wooden frames they built to cover the entrances. The frames had been dug down into the ground. These were solid logs laid upright inches or less apart, painstakingly gathered from the forest floor near the mine, and wedged tightly under the top opening of the mouth of the mine, pushed against a slight overhang. Tree branches of spruce and pine had been woven tightly between the logs and lashed to them securely with ripped pieces of women’s nylons, extension cords and the wiring from Christmas lights they found in and around the home Tansy and Ethan had ransacked.

Smaller logs were fashioned into a door set above the ground for an easier entry. Their ‘door’ could also be secured when all were within by leaning a few thicker sturdy logs against them and wedging them into the ground. Aidan suggested if they could dig clay from the bottom of the mine they could use it and rocks to make a more invincible barrier, as they’d need to remove the pine branches eventually. As well, the group had decided to return to one of the homes to secure the wood stove and piping. It would be a heavy and tedious venture on foot but worth the effort for the warmth it would provide. They wanted to build the frames around the piping to let the smoke out, but would need to be certain the frames were secure and wouldn’t catch fire. They would need more protection.

Not wanting to frighten the others, Aidan had noticed that the elk was thin, which was not too unusual this time of year. But the bear had been huge and well fed; he could only offer a gruesome thought as to why. Though grizzlies have been known to attack man, this grizzly had come seeking its favored and lately most helpless victims. Aidan could only surmise how many people had fallen victim to this bear and how many other animals were benefitting from the death and remains of humans. With the world so unsettled it seemed to have pulled hibernating animals from their slumber and introduced a few to a grisly feeding frenzy.

“No bed,” Michaela’s shrill howl penetrated Aidan’s thoughts.

“Yes bed,” Tansy informed her firmly.

“If you go to bed, I’ll tell you a story,” Clint promised.

“’Bout what?” Michaela said with a pout. Clint’s charming smile had her relenting quickly enough, as she cuddled into his lap.

“Tigers,” he said and growled low in his throat causing the child’s eyes to widen on a hesitant smile. At Tansy’s stern look, Clint shrugged his little boy shrug and tried again. “‘Dancin’ tigers?” he offered instead and cocked a brow at Tansy mischievously.

“Do they wear leotards and tutus?” Michaela asked.

“You betcha they do, bright glowin’ red ones.”

Michaela giggled then settled back while Clint spun a tale of dancing tigers that donned their leotards after dark because the elephants laughed at their tutus.

Soon Michaela was sound asleep along with Ricky who had laughed at the singing monkeys. It seemed if the tigers could dance, the monkeys could sing and instead of laughing at the tigers, the elephants were encouraged to provide the music. They all had to live in harmony after that. If they didn’t and ended up eating or hurting each other there would be no more music. That would indeed be sad. After Clint’s story, Shanie mentioned she sure did miss her cell phone and her iPod. Then they all settled for the night.

* * * *

“Aidan, can I ask you something?” Emmy said to the big man; he stood well over a foot taller than her. She looked up into his rugged handsome face. Although having overcome her fear of him and Ethan, she was still quite shy.

Aidan smiled at the young pretty woman. He marveled again for the hundredth time that this tiny slip of a girl killed a grizzly, albeit there was a lot of luck involved.

“Sure Emmy, what is it?”

Aidan was heavily involved in making a frame to cure the fur of the bear. Because it had been Emmy’s kill, luck or not, Aidan had offered her and Shanie a trade. Aidan had asked if he worked the bearskin for them, in turn the girls would trade the mink fur coat to him for his bed. They had readily agreed, the bear being much thicker and warmer.

“I was wondering,” Emmy began hesitantly. The look of embarrassment on Emmy’s face made Aidan pause in his work and he offered her his absolute attention. “How did you shave your face?”

“Shave?” Aidan asked, taken somewhat by surprise. At Emmy’s slight nod he scratched his head curiously. “Why?”

“Because the hair on her legs look like a pelt and she’s afraid you might skin her if you see them,” Shanie voiced loudly from close by. Mortified, Emmy squealed in outrage.

“Well, we could make coiled and pleated ropes out of your underarm hair.”

“Ladies, please,” Aidan said, throwing his arms out to separate them.

“Someone find me a spear.” Emmy growled advancing.

“Oh, save me. The big bad bear killer is gonna get me,” Shanie shrieked melodramatically and danced backwards as Emmy lunged for her.

With an arm around Emmy’s waist, Aidan picked her up off the ground. With Clint’s aid, who snatched up Shanie and headed with her in the opposite direction, they effectively stopped a physical confrontation, but tempers were flaring. Michaela began to cry as her sisters yelled heatedly at each other. Ricky joined in her howls; he didn’t like to see his friend so distressed. Soon the whole mine seemed in an uproar.

“Enough,” Ethan bellowed, shocking everyone into surprised silence. They all stopped and looked at him openmouthed, as he was the most even tempered of all and not prone to outbursts. “You know what we need?” he asked the group in general, assessing everyone.

“Boxing gloves?” Tansy asked mischievously.

“No,” he admonished. “We need to have a little fun.” He clapped his hands together. “I have had an epiphany.”

“Don’t say it,” Tansy warned Clint, she glanced at his confused look and saw the rusty mind was at it again.