George, Jimmy and Joey took to fighting over Pebbles again now that Beau was gone. Ma and Pa were having discussions about getting another dog when Ma suddenly became quite ill. All of a sudden the boys’ focus shifted to “what’s wrong with Ma?” Pa had no idea, but he knew whatever it was, they needed to get her to a clinic and find out what was wrong so it could be fixed. At least the boys stopped fighting about Pebbles; they were worried about Ma.
Pa had the neighbor come stay with the boys while he took Ma into the clinic in town. Pa was worried about her. She was in quite a bit of pain and moaned every time the pickup hit a bump as they were heading into town. He was glad when they arrived to the clinic and fortunately there was only one other patient in the waiting room. The nurse escorted them to one of the patient rooms and before too long the doctor was there. He examined her and asked her all kinds of questions. After questioning Ma the doctor determined that it was her gallbladder, and it needed to come out.
Because Ma was in so much pain the doctor said they had better do emergency surgery. Pa called the house and asked the neighbor if she could stay overnight. Ma would not be coming home until the next day. Pa was concerned about the boys and Pebbles. The neighbor assured him she would take care of the boys, the dog and the house, too. Friends like that do not grow on trees. Pa said a quick prayer of thanksgiving for the neighbor and a successful surgery for Ma.
It was Ma’s gallbladder just like the doctor had said. He told them once she healed from the surgery she would be like new. The neighbor explained it all to the boys after she got the phone call. When Ma and Pa got home, Pa would be tending to Ma’s needs. Their neighbors coordinated for both meals and farm chores. Ma could focus on healing and Pa could focus on taking care of Ma. She felt a little better each day and good enough to start managing her household again after one week. What a relief it was for everyone when Ma was doing better! Pa said another prayer of thanksgiving that Ma was such a tough lady and got better so quickly.
Chapter 8 – Catching Up
The whole family was glad when Ma was healed from her surgery. They could move back into their normal farm chore routine. That is, except for Pa. The neighbors had been so good about caring for the livestock in the middle of their own chores. But Pa had to play catch up on the fixing chores. He could not believe so many things could go in disrepair in one week. But he just chuckled; he had survived a couple of tornadoes and a few blizzards. He would survive this, too.
Ma felt the same way about the household chores. The neighbor lady was very gracious to take care of George, Jimmy, Joey and Pebbles plus all the meals. But she was a little lax on the housekeeping. Ma rolled up her sleeves and went to work. Her house was going to be sparkling clean again; she would see to that.
As things started to look and feel normal again on the farm, the boys started hankering for another dog. Ma and Pa resumed their discussions about what kind of dog to get. Pa really wanted to get another German shepherd. Ma and all three boys really wanted to get another Dachshund puppy. Pebbles had turned out to be an excellent farm dog. The other animals actually felt protected by her and not threatened in the least.
Pebbles had pretty much been Joey’s dog. She was his responsibility when Ma was canning. Then he had full responsibility for her when Ma had her surgery and recovery time. They decided to get two more Dachshunds – one for George and one for Jimmy. They applied for adoption online with the Dachshund Rescue Team. And they waited. Ma and Pa figured it would be a long wait since they wanted two.
It turned out to not be so long of a wait. The Dachshund Rescue Team called. They had a mama with a litter of pups. All of the pups except one had gone to forever homes. Now the mama and the lone pup – a male – were fully bonded and the team did not want to separate them.
Of course the family would take them. This was perfect. The dogs were in another area of the state and the mama had to heal from her spay surgery. The family had to also agree to neuter the male puppy when he was old enough. Transport arrangements would be made as soon as the mama had vet clearance. The boys were more excited than Ma and Pa had ever seen them. Ma and Pa smiled; this time the dogs were for the boys. Ma and Pa could not wait either. The boys were old enough now to take full responsibility. And their farm family was growing.
Chapter 9 – Three Peas in a Pod
The boys had been watching out the front window for the transport truck. They squealed when they spotted it and were out the front door before Ma could stop them. She was right behind them, though, as Pa was making his way up from the barn.
The mama was a little black and tan Dachshund named Sweet Pea. The male puppy was chocolate brown; his name was Cocoa. George claimed Sweet Pea. She went right to him and was licking his face. Jimmy claimed Cocoa. He wanted a puppy. Joey still had Pebbles, so he did not mind at all. They each had their own dog now.
Pebbles had been in the back pen, but Joey ran to get her. She took to the two new dogs like she had all the other farm animals. They were now on her turf to protect. All three of the dogs bonded well. Ma and Pa relaxed. Sweet Pea and Cocoa were family; they were forever home.
The boys were happy now that they each had their own dog. And Joey was even happier because he was not forced to share any more. The only problem they had now was with Jimmy. He had wanted a puppy. He had begged for a puppy. But Cocoa had to be kept in the kitchen and the back pen just like they had done with Pebbles. He was too little to be out on the farm at this time. Jimmy was mad; he did not understand.
Cocoa was missing his mama, so he cried and whined for her. George had to bring Sweet Pea into the kitchen every so often so the two of them could be together once in awhile. Sweet Pea was not a problem on the farm at all. She followed Pebbles around and followed her example. Ma could not get over the Dachshund ear-flapping. Pebbles would shake her head when she woke up, flapping those ears as fast as she could, making that unmistakable Dachshund ear-flapping sound. Now the three dogs did it together in unison.
Cocoa’s puppy stage did not last. He was growing like a weed. Ma and Pa let Jimmy carry him around to introduce him to the farm and the other animals. When Cocoa was able to have the run of the farm, the only problem he had was with the pigs. Cocoa got too close to some suckling piglets and mama pig came unglued. Cocoa quickly learned his lesson and he never went near the pigpen again.
Chapter 10 – Under the Rainbow
Now that Cocoa was able to be out and about on the farm, Sweet Pea and Cocoa were able to be together all the time again. They were sure happy about that. Ma and Pa chuckled as they watched the two of them adapt to the farm. Sweet Pea had watched the cats chase and catch mice; she decided to get in on the game. She was turning out to be quite the mouser. Cocoa had been watching the goats butt each other and decided to get in on that game, butting Sweet Pea, Pebbles and sometimes the boys. That was sure funny! Ma looked on her brood. She loved all of the farm animals, but the Dachshunds held a special place in her heart; they sure did tug at her dachsy-mama heart strings.
The life cycle continued on the farm with all of the animals. The boys grew up. One by one the boys left the farm to make their own way in the world with college, marrying and starting their own families. Each one of the boys took their puppy with them.
Pebbles, Sweet Pea and Cocoa lived the rest of their lives with their respective families, occasionally visiting the farm with them. Ma and Pa were feeling their years and had done some downsizing on the farm; with the boys and their pups gone, they did not need as many animals or as big of garden anyway. Besides, they did not want to spend all of their time working the farm. Now they could really enjoy their sons, their daughters-in-law, their precious grandchildren and the three dogs, too. Their hearts were overflowing with love and gratitude for all of the memories and the blessings of their farm life and their family.
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Other books by Stella Dillenbeck:
Uncle Trucky’s Sidekick, https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/512336
&nb
sp; Sir Walter Raleigh, https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/516656
Gold Rush, https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/521481
Finding Gold, https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/525024
Modoc Point Pups, https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/528948
A Salute to Sparky, https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/533307
Deserted in the Desert, https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/536725
Sherman, the German, https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/540406
From Tears to Triumph, https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/544477
The Dream Team, https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/548450
The Chuckwagon Gang, https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/552534
In the Eye of the Storm, https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/556846
Out of this World, https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/601482
Reaching the Last Frontier, https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/621408
Once Upon a Shining Star, https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/624177
The Tough Lumberjack Dog, https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/657572
From Splinters to Splendor, https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/662338
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