Tiberias, Tim and Tom were making good progress in felling logs in their designated area. Tim asked the sawmill clerk for another designated area as they would soon need to move to a new location. The clerk gladly gave him the map for the new parcel of land. Tim headed back to his dad and Tom with the emptied flatbed truck and map in hand. Tiberias smiled when he saw the map because it was in an area where there was older growth timber; there would be more of the bigger trees for them to fell.
When it was lunch time, Cadbury came to join the guys; he had a big rabbit in his mouth. Tiberias figured they would have a fight on their hands trying to pry the rabbit out of Cadbury's jaws, but he was wrong. Cadbury, in true predatory spirit, proudly dropped his prey at Tom's feet and gave him a look that seemed to say, "I've done my part now you cook it." Tom moved quickly and put the rabbit inside the crane to take to his mom. It sure would make a good rabbit stew. All three guys were grateful that Cadbury’s catch of the day was a rabbit and not a skunk.
After lunch Cadbury took off again on another romp in the woods, but he would still come back periodically to check on the guys. He made sure he kept his distance, though. He had seen those trees fall after the men yelled “timber!” There was no way he was going to be under one when it came down. Cadbury was a very good lumberjack dog; Tiberias was impressed that he was not at all a nuisance as he thought he would be.
When the guys got home, Lydia expressed her delight at having the men home and getting the rabbit. Every little bit helped right now for provisions for their table, especially when there was too much month left at the end of the money. The check they would be getting from the sawmill’s contract was coming soon. Relief was in sight.
Chapter 6 – Supplies
Finally the day came; the contract clerk stood behind the mill counter waving a check in her hands, gleefully proclaiming the funds had arrived. There was much rejoicing! Now Lydia could stock up on supplies and much-needed food items to refill her freezer and pantry. Tom stayed behind with his mother the next day so he could help with carrying some of the heavier items she purchased. He also helped his mom put them away when they got home. It was no longer “Old Mother Hubbard” as their cupboards were now full.
Tonight was going to be a taco feast. Tom helped his mom by chopping lettuce, tomatoes and onions and grating cheese; afterwards he went outside to whittle away at part of the wood pile. Later in the day Lydia cooked up the meat and refried beans, warmed up the flour tortillas and fried corn tortillas. She fixed quite a bit knowing Tiberias and Tim would be ravenous after another busy day in the woods.
Tacos! Tiberias and Tim were licking their chops as they walked in the door. As Lydia expected, her hungry men chowed down almost as fast as it hit their plates. One would think they had not eaten all week. This time there was a little bit left over; there was enough to give Cadbury a couple of nibbles and for Lydia’s lunch the next day.
After dinner Cadbury went down to the barn to see Caesar and Cicily. When the boys heard some funny noises coming from the barn they went down to check it out. What they saw had Tim running up to the house shouting, “Mom! Dad! Come quick! You need to see this…” When they got down to the barn, they immediately started laughing; the boys were laughing, too. Cadbury and the two goats were having a head-butting contest to see who could last the longest! That crazy little dog wasn't afraid of anything. He actually seemed to be enjoying himself even though he had to jump to get anywhere near the goat's heads. But jump he did and it was the funniest sight!
Lydia put on a pot of coffee after dinner. She even took the liberty of putting a little sugar and cream in her coffee; it sure did taste good. Tiberias teased his wife about it, but she took the teasing in stride. Tim and Tom gulped their coffee down quickly; they wanted to get out and do a couple of chores before the sun set. That gave Tiberias and Lydia precious time together to have “adult” chat without constant interruptions from the boys. It was a lovely evening and Lydia treasured it.
One of the things Tiberias discussed with Lydia was building a smokehouse; that way they could smoke their own sausage, bacon and ham. They could even smoke salmon and other meats, too. Lydia thought that would be a good idea. She suggested they could also make their own deer jerky when the guys got a deer or two in the fall, rather than paying to have it made. Tiberias said he would make arrangements with the sawmill to get enough lumber to build the smokehouse. Lydia did not know how the guys did it, but within a week they managed to get a cedar smokehouse built off the west end of the barn.
The summer was long and hot. Tiberias, Tim and Tom came home from the woods each day earlier than normal; though they were strong and healthy, the heat zapped their stamina. The family started having iced tea in the evenings to help cool off some. A couple of evenings each week they had Mom's special homemade ice cream, too. Of course they had to share with Cadbury. He sure did like that ice cream.
Chapter 7 – Bumper Crops
The hot summer weather brought the Gravenstein apples on sooner than usual. Lydia was able to purchase some from a neighbor and went to work on prepping and canning applesauce while her men were hard at work in the woods. Tonight they would be having a pork roast, mashed potatoes and fresh, homemade Gravenstein applesauce. Lydia’s mouth watered just thinking about it.
Fall was everybody’s favorite season. Tiberias and the boys would take two or three weekends to go deer hunting. This year all three of them got a buck, giving them a good supply of venison. They would also have their own freshly smoked venison jerky made in their new smokehouse. Lydia was thrilled, knowing it would be easier to keep her men full and happy through the winter.
The entire gorge area was hit with an unexpected Indian summer with cool, crisp mornings and warm, sunny days. The summer extended the guys’ tree-felling days; that more than made up for the previous long winter that stayed with them well into spring. The warmer weather also extended the harvest and Lydia was able to can much more than previous years. They were well-stocked now, more than making up for those lean months.
One might say that Tiberias, Tim and Tom had a “bumper crop”. Between having the old growth forest area for felling logs and the Indian summer increasing their “harvest” time, they were well above their quota. The sawmill was pleased as they were able to replenish their log stock, and have a surplus, too. Tiberias was able to set aside more than enough logs for their winter wood supply, as well as some for a special surprise project.
Tim expressed his concern to his mom about Cadbury sleeping in the barn with the goats during the winter months. Lydia did not think it would be an issue because Cadbury always buried himself in the hay near the goats, but she decided to make a bed on the floor by the fireplace, just in case. As it turned out, Cadbury ended up splitting his time between the barn and the house. He decided being in the house by the fireplace was a very good thing, especially when the nights were exceptionally cold.
At long last all of the leaves had fallen from the trees and the first snowfall of the season covered the Mosier area with a blanket of snow. Tiberias instructed Tim and Tom to park the crane and flatbed and put the saws away for the winter. This was their down time and they were going to make the best of it. Lydia sighed, for her home was not “her space” any more and both of the boys had grown the last year, so it was back to crowding and tripping. It was going to be another very long winter with her men underfoot.
Tiberias felt for Lydia, he really did. He had a plan all along, but had not been able to implement it due to finances. He had not told Lydia or the boys because it was to be their surprise for Christmas - there was enough money and logs to add an extension to the log cabin. He and his sons would add on a large bedroom for the boys to the east end of the cabin, giving all of them some much-needed space. Tiberias could not wait to tell them.
Chapter 8 – Christmas Surprise
When Cadbury heard a car drive up, he started barking from the barn; and then he came out to see who was treading on his turf. It wa
s Derby, the owner of the sawmill; they called him Derby because he wore Derby hats all the time. Cadbury checked him out, decided he was okay and went back to the barn to play with Caesar and Cicily.
Lydia rushed in the house to put on a pot of coffee for their unexpected guest; Derby’s visit was timely for she had just pulled freshly baked gingerbread men out of the oven. She never suspected the real reason for his visit; he was checking the length and diameter of the logs in their home so he could match them as closely as possible for their addition. The house extension was going to be a Christmas surprise, so Derby wisely did not say anything. Little did Tiberias know, but his boss had a surprise of his own under his belt. Tiberias duly paid Derby for the log order while they were outside, and also made arrangements to have the logs delivered Christmas Eve in the afternoon.
Four log trucks pulled up Christmas Eve as pre-arranged, except Tiberias had only ordered and paid for three loads. Derby looked at Tiberias sheepishly and said “Merry Christmas!” There were enough logs to build the boys a bedroom on the east end of the house and extend the living room on the west end. Lydia and the boys were truly surprised when Tiberias told them this was their Christmas present from the mill and that the logs were for extensions on the west and east ends of the log cabin. He also told them unless it rained or snowed, they could start construction the day after Christmas. For a lumberjack family in cramped quarters for so many years, it was the best gift they could possibly have.
Cadbury was curious about the pile of logs and made his way over to sniff them out. Perhaps there was a squirrel hidden in there somewhere. There was no squirrel, but he came to the conclusion they were horizontal trees and hiked up his leg to “christen” the log. Tim and Tom busted out laughing. Tiberias stood there and rolled his eyes.
True to his word, Tiberias got the boys up just before dawn. After a manly-size breakfast, they set to work on removing the logs on the west end of the house. They were doing the extension first, primarily to give Mom that much-needed extra living room space. Their neighbor, Harvey, came over to help them. With four big men setting the logs and Lydia doing the chinking to seal the logs, they got the west extension done in two days.
Lydia could not decide whether to put the large sofa or the dining table on the extended wall; she finally settled on putting the dining table there. It had been in the kitchen and in her way more often than not. The table was also where the men retreated when they were impatiently waiting for their meals. Confident she made the right decision, she asked Tiberias and the boys to move the table and chairs.
The east end extension took a week, even though the family had Harvey’s help. They used the remainder of the logs to make the boys’ bedroom as large as possible, and to build-in large bunk beds for them. Tim and Tom were Johnny-on-the-spot to help wherever they could. They were right anxious to get into their new room.
Chapter 9 – Winter Chores
The weather was holding out, so the guys were spending their time outdoors doing chores. The temperatures were consistently in the mid-20’s and the sun was shining. Tim and Tom helped their dad to get a sizable pile of wood stacked; it was more than enough to last the remainder of the winter. They also got some much-needed repairs done to the barn, garage and equipment. Dealing with below freezing temperatures often made the ground slippery and they had to be aware of where they were stepping. On this particular day, Tim slipped on a patch of black ice on their way back to the house. He fell flat on his back and smacked the back of his head on the frozen, unforgiving walkway.
Cadbury came to see what was going on when he heard the commotion. Tim was out like a light; Tom ran into the house to call an ambulance while Tiberias hovered over Tim, trying in vain to wake him. Cadbury licked Tim’s face, but that did not even help. Lydia came to her oldest son’s side to check on him. When she discovered he was still unconscious, she turned as white as a sheet. Tiberias was afraid she was going to faint, but thankfully she did not.
Tiberias, Lydia and Tom got in their car and followed the ambulance to the hospital 15 miles away. Tim was starting to stir when the ambulance crew lifted him onto the gurney. The emergency room doctor asked the family to please go to the waiting room because they needed to do a thorough exam and run tests. After Tim got back from getting a CT scan in radiology, he was fully alert and ready to see the family. The doctor came in as soon as he got the scan and radiologist’s report. It was a concussion and they were going to admit Tim and keep him overnight for observation. Lydia wanted to stay, but the doctor said it would be best if they all went home and got a good night’s sleep.
The family did go home, but a good night’s sleep was out of the question for Lydia. She alternately stewed and fretted and prayed through the night. Tiberias rose early the next morning to find his wife fast asleep in her easy chair – and Cadbury lying in her lap. That was a first; Cadbury had not been prone to get into anybody’s lap previously, not even Tom’s. Tiberias woke his wife up so they could get some breakfast and coffee before heading to the hospital. Cadbury went back to the barn, of course.
Tim’s head was a little sore, but he was doing much better in the morning. The doctor said he could be released, but it was absolutely necessary to keep him as still as possible for the next few days. The least of their worries was the chores, but Tom stepped up to the plate offering to do both his and Tim’s chores. He said he would gladly take care of them himself until his brother was better.
As Lydia expected, it was very difficult to keep Tim down, but “I am just fine” did not cut it with her. She told Tim if he did not stay in bed and keep quiet, she would come and sit on him. Tim knew his mom meant it; he also knew that meant she would not be in the kitchen cooking. He reluctantly stayed in bed as he had been told, with Cadbury lying next to him on the bed.
After Tim had been in bed for three days, Lydia gave him permission to sit in the living room since the bump and swelling on the back of his head were going down. Tiberias and Tim played checkers and sipped on coffee while Tom did chores and Mom cooked. Tiberias reminded Tim this would have been much worse if this had happened while they were working; Tim had to agree with him on that.
Chapter 10 – Cadbury’s Close Call
Tim’s concussion completely healed and he did not appear to have any lingering side effects, much to everybody’s relief. The snow was melting as the temperatures were rising. Tiberias, Tim and Tom were busy getting everything ready for working in the woods again. They could not wait to get back in the lumberjack business.
Lydia was not quite as anxious to have the men go out this time since they had the additional space and the men were not constantly underfoot. It meant long, lonely days for her unless Abigail came over for a visit. Oh sure, she could keep busy with cooking, laundry and her other chores, but it was not the same as chatting over coffee with Tiberias and the boys.
The second week they were out Tim came home alone in the middle of the day with an empty flatbed. Lydia was concerned as that had never happened before. It was Cadbury; he got into a hornet’s nest and got stung several times. He was still breathing, but his breathing was labored and he was not moving much; he was just lying there whining.
Lydia sent Tim back to the woods to join his father and brother, saying she would take care of Cadbury. She carefully wrapped the poor pup in a towel and lay him on the car seat next to her while she rushed him to the vet. Thankfully they did not have to wait too long before the vet tech came to get Cadbury.
While the vet was working on the pup, Lydia stayed in the waiting room. She did not want to be in the way; she also did not want to be there if Cadbury did not pull through. She quickly dismissed the thought, though, insisting to herself that he was going to be okay. Their vet was the best around and she knew Cadbury was in good hands with him.
The vet tech came to the waiting room a little over an hour later. He informed Lydia that Cadbury was stable; he was going to be fine. She could go back now to be with him if she liked. Lydia fol
lowed the tech back to the exam room. Cadbury was still lying motionless, but his breathing was not quite as labored and he was no longer whining. The vet told her that Cadbury was going to be like this for two or three days. Those hornet stings are nasty, but he expected Cadbury to pull through with no additional problems. He instructed her to give him half of a Benadryl every four hours as it would make him drowsy, help him rest and also help with reducing inflammation and pain.
Tiberias, Tim and Tom came home a little earlier than normal to check on Cadbury. They were all relieved to come home and see him sleeping by the fireplace. They were even more relieved to get the vet’s report. Cadbury was going to be okay! It was going to take more than a few hornet stings to take their tough lumberjack dog down. Tim joked they might have to change Cadbury’s name to Paul Bunyan. They all laughed and that sure felt good after the scare they had that day.
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Website Bibliography
www.google.com
www.hookandbullet.com
www.nps.gov
https://fishandgame.idaho.gov
Other books by Stella Dillenbeck:
The Dream Team, https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/548450
The Chuckwagon Gang, https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/552534