McNamara #10

Zeke followed the ragged man, who called himself Jeff, for two days. They camped where a creek with no name joined the White River the first night. Zeke, not trusting the man tied him to a tree. Judy Carol thought that was being "particully ornery" seein as how the fella was leading them to the General. Zeke wonder why she had decided to come along instead of waiting for her pa to get back and he asked her about it.
"Pa may take a notion to go to Fort Smith for all I know, he may not come back til fall and maybe not even then." was her response.
Jeff did not have much to say, especially after being tied to tree all night.
"You'd no call to tie me up Deputy, warn't me that took them shots at you, why I ain't had me a rifle gun since Shiloh and what lead and ball I got I made myself. Too dern hard to come by for wastin"
"Well I got me some sleep, you may have lost some. Besides you said we would meet up with this General today. You can go take a nap once we get there."
They had followed the river or at least kept it in sight, it was the only way Jeff said he could find his way. It was almost evening when Zeke smelled smoke and with in a few minutes they were overlooking a camp located where the Kings river joined the White. It was layed out like an army camp, with pickets standing guard at 25 foot intervals. Zeke could see what looked like rifles stacked near each cluster of tents. There were several small fires burning with men moving around preforming cook chores. In the center was a larger tent with a Confederate Battle Flag and another flag standing on either side of the open flaps.
Judy Caroll suddenly disappeared from Zekes side and Jeff rode down a game trail and entered the camp with Zeke behind him. They rode up to the flagged tent and Jeff dismounted.
"I'm back General, I brung hm like you said"
"Well done Jeff, your dismissed came a voice from inside the tent. Jeff lead his mount off turning and giving Zeke a dirty look as he left.
Zeke keep his eye on the tent. The rattling of a saber as it was belted on and the snap of a holster cover did not go unnoticed.
A rather tall man wearing the broad brimmed hat of a Confederate officer came into view, his face covered by the brim. His uniform carried the insigna of a General, however the tailoring was more or less added to a worn suit coat. His pants were gray, with a dirty yellow stripe down the sides. The saber was more like a sword with a thin blade sheathed in a round copper tube, His boots were black and polished to a high sheen. He exited the tent and raised his head, a full beard came into view along with a set of ice blue eyes. Zeke stood a few minutes staring into those eyes. Nothing was said until the General smiled and showed a set of almost perfect white teeth.
"get down Zeke, its been awhile"
"Virgil Taylor, you are dead." came Zekes reply.
"Naw, I ain't dead, why you should know that no Yankee Red Leg could kill me....they killed my horse though and that was a good horse."

July 13, 2011

On July 3rd, 2011 at about ten minutes to eleven in the morning, heaven opened its doors and my lovely daughter Trisha walked in. She had suffered for 19 months with cancer. We knew from the very beginning that her survival was a long shot. Our hope and prayers, our tears and strength were tested. Tricia stayed strong, determined and maintained her dignity through the whole process. If only we as a family could have been as strong as her. We miss her, we think of her every day and we find ourselves with tears at every picture or mention of something she loved to do. Tricia we miss you and please save us a seat.

Funerals are for the living. We use the time at a wake to gather, renew old contacts, talk of things we thought we had forgotten and get to see relatives we have not seen in years. Tricia planned hers well, it was short painless for the most part and beautiful. She decided that she would be cremated. Her ashes were present in a brass urn. Simple yet elegant. It was a time of healing and learning to cope with her passing. It helped me get through the worst event to date in my life.

Now, with all of the tears in my eyes making it hard for me to see the keyboard. Its time to tell it like it is. The last person in this world that would want anyone crying over her was Trisha. She was full of life and a little stubborn. She had a sense of humor that really touched us all. The morning of the wake and memorial service, the electricity went out just as most of the women were getting out the shower with wet heads. Every house were my daughters and grandaughters could have gone to dry their heads was without the magic of electricity. It was not off long, just annoying. Come to find out that the reason there were 53000 homes in the dark was a snake. The only animal that Brian would aggravate her with as they were raising their family. Brian once caught a copperhead, killed it and then coiled it into a strike poise and put it in the freezer. When Trish opened the freezer door...well let us say Brian never pulled that one again. After the service The urn was placed in a cabinet once owned by her Grandmother Mary. Her son was curious about it so he picked it up, This is really heavy" he announced. His sister said "how do we know mom is in there?" With that he gave it a little shake

Tara pumped her fist and said " Shes there" Brandon said that it really felt weird and he put it down. I sat and watched the incident and thought about how Trish was smiling and her children. I really hate cancer. I really love Patricia Lynn Evensen.

June 30 2011

Its a really funny year weather wise. We had lots of rain, filled Tablerock Lake to capacity and then some, now its dry. The lake is still full. Fishing has been poor to not good at all until recently. Judy and I went hunting gills a week or so ago and by chance pulled up to a tree that had just gotten clear of the water. Its a place where when the lake is at a more normal level we have caught some nice bluegill. After a few minutes we began catching fish. Now there is ten more feet of water around that tree than normal. I just did not think they would be there. Yet they were.

I took a good friend of mine, Bob, out with me this week. Bob grew up around the lake at his grandparents and fished with his grandpa. He moved away, grew up got married had kids and quit fishing. I'm getting him back into it. I created a little monster. Bob and I work together, so the next morning he comes to work and immediately starts in on me for not baiting his hook or taking the fish off the line. I started laughing and went right along saying he did not pay me for the guide service so he was on his own. We had a really great evening and caught a livewell full of fish. That next morning his concern was that I had not cleaned his fish, furthermore when was I going to have him and family over for supper so that he could eat his fish. I like Bob.

Judy and I are experiencing our daughters sickness. Each day is a new feeling and brings with it a whole new set of issues. What we are going through does not compare with what Trish is going through we know. It is just the pain and the feeling of helplessness that we cannot seem to get a grip on. I will say that at times like this it is family and the presence of good friends that help make the pain a little less. Each of us deal with the situation a little differently. We each have our moments. Together we seem to draw strength off each other. It is hard to hear folks ask about her and its really hard when you hear yourself saying that its not good, or its just a matter of time or anyone of a number of ways to say that which I can not yet write down. I really hate cancer.

So, to those of you that read this, thank you for support. Please understand when we answer you with tears and a smile. Its a hard thing to lose anyone, especially a child. Please don't stop your prayers and thoughts. We think it is what is getting us through.

I think we'll go fishing......

Thanks.

From the Journal of Deputy Zeke McNamara #9

Bacon was sizzling in the pan partially covering the splashing and hollering of the girl as she bathed in the cold river water. The James is mostly spring fed and the water seldom gets warm enough for bathing. Zeke smiled as he listen to her fussing over being told to bathe. Once the bacon was done using the grease Zeke sliced the last of the tators that he had brought along. He seasoned them with some wild onions and mixed up a batch of pan bread. he was finishing just as she walked up to the cave entrance.

"This here soap got a mite of a bite to it, how come?" she complained.

"Got a little sand mixed in with it to help get down to the pink in the skin. Scrubs real good, I use it on everything I want clean."

"Well it shore got me raw in a few places."

"Good for ya"" How long your Pa been gone?"

"He been gone now close to eight maybe nine days. He said I was to wait for him at the cave and he would come along by and by."

"Your Pa leave you alone like that often?"

"Just for going after his coffee and other things. He's fond of his salt and sugar."

"You stay around here then?"

"We do most of the summer, Pa,he's sure he knows about where them diamonds are He talked to a breed before the war who told him that old Man Yokum had him a bag of diamonds he got from the injuns. he says that breed knew cause his grandpa was one of the injuns what traded them."

"Whats kept him from just getting them and heading out to California?"

"Pa says landmarks changes, trees grow up or die, storms and floods take em out. He says as soon as he finds the mark he'll know where to look." Ma got tired of it and we settled down on a rock down towards Berryville, it were there that the moccison got her whilst she was washing in the crick. That there is one of the reasons I ain't to pleased to get me a crick bath."

"Cleaness is close to godlyness so said my ma, especially on Saturday night" answered Zeke. "You seen a bunch of Johnny Reb's camped near here?"

"They was, left mostly a week ago, day or two after Pa went to fetch supplies." The went up the White river towards Shell Knob. They made a mess around here for a spell, digging and a tearing things up looking for gold or maybe for them diamonds. Pa tried to be neighborly, exceptin them Reb's was right standoffish." They run Pa off that first day we run into them, Pa he said they was runaway solgers and that we should stay good and clear of what they was doing. He said that they was a looking in the wrong spot anyways."

Zeke finished the last of the food then picked up the plates and fry pan. He walked toward the river. The girl Judy Carol had confirmed what he knew to be correct. If there was a band of soldiers in the area they were moving west. He would have to ride up the river to follow them. Riding up that way would leave him exposed to the bushwhacker that had tried twice to shoot him. He squatted down and was swirling the plates in the river when Judy Carol spoke from the cover of the willows.

"There be a fella up on the lip of the cave, he been watching you, he ain't got no rifle gun he's just keeping you in sight." When you turn around look there at the base of that lightning struck pine to the left. He watching you from there. Look for a patch of blue like a gobblers neck,he's wearing a blue scarf around his neck."

Zeke stood up and as he turned he spotted the blue. He stretched a little and walked back to the cave. When he was out of sight of the man above he ran to the side and followed a path worn slow by rain water till he was on top the cave. He moved so fast as no to give the man watching time to react. Zeke grabbed him anf hit him with a back hand blow that rocked the man back on his heels. Before he could recover Zeke slammed him again and then placed his cocked revolver into the mans nose.

"Who are you? What you want and why you sneaking around here?"

Zeke shook the man till his teeth rattled and his eyes glazed over. Zeke drug him off the hill and across the gravel bar to the river. He took the man by the collar and stuck his face into the ice cold water.

"Talk varmint or I'll drown for the stinking back shooter you are!"

"Urrugh" the man coughed up a pint of river water and as his eyes focused he was able to say

"The General wants to talk to you....says I'm to make sure you come see him..."

Friday June 24, 2011

Well here I am again trying to fine the time to make entries. I've lost so many of my readers that it may take a while to get things rolling again. Recently I've come to the conclusion that no matter how hard you try life gets in the way and fate can throw you curves you best hit hard and pop them up to a higher authority. In February Judy and I learned via the US mail that our land lord on Bayfront had quit paying the mortgage and that we had less than 30 days to vacate. Landlord said he was going to call and fill us in he just never got around to it. We also got the word that our daughter's cancer had returned. The treatments were intense and they made her sick, Judy had to spend a lot of time in St. Louis helping. So finding a new place was left up to me......a challenge I jumped at....yeah right. I found a place, close to the one we had and with a great view of the lake. It had been vacant for several months and needed a good cleaning. Judy was out of town so I took my trusty shop vac and headed to the new digs. The first place I started was the gas fireplace. It was a mess to say the least, full of trash, soot and and just about everything else one could imagine. With the confidence of a Supreme Court judge I attacked the task. Let me stop here for a minute, shop vacs are really great tools, however, and we all know there are however's involved, the lid has to be very secure or all the dirt, dust, and in this case soot enters the atmosphere and an alarming rate. Yep....I could have set the place on fire and had less damage. I had to mop the floors.....over and again....soot does not like water so it turns to some chemical combination that has the adhesion of super glue and will not be allowed to be mopped up. One can get on their hands and knees, use paper towels, towels, microfiber, steel wool, and every other thing known to modern man with little or no results. I'm still wiping up black. Then there was the walls.....yes soot sticks to walls as well and if you use water on it it turns from a fine dust to a smeary black goo. Same thing applies... you can wipe to the drywall and it still stays put. Judy came back from a trip, said a few things that were not suitable for my ego and self esteem, told me to deal with it and then laughed till tears fell. I was proud that I could give her a little relief. We moved on time in spite of the largest snowfall in recent memory in southwest Missouri. I would have never made it for not the willingness of my son Brad, and the assistance of my friends, Doug-Wayne, Jim and Bob. Judy did not have much to move. I'm proud to report that we didn't break anything, just lost a few things. Like Judy's Paula Dean toaster and egg cooker.....never used that egg cooker. Any way, we thought I lost some of her necklases to include her pearl one. Found those last week in a drawer in a dresser we seldom get into...now I wonder who put them there....

Like I said that fate thing rose again couple of weeks ago, We learned that our landlady, Renee, was just informed that she had a large tumor in her pancreas and liver, she was told it was cancer, it was bad, and there was not much that could be done. I really hate cancer.......

My daughter is home, hospice is making her comfortable as possible and between Judy and my other daughter along with an aunt they are helping and being there when hospice is not. I ask for your prayers for Trish's comfort and strength for those that are there.

I will try to be a little more dedicated to this blog, I refuse to join facebook I don't know how to twitter and talking on the phone is so yesterday. If I want to discuss something with the grandkids I have to text, autocorrect is not my friend. So until next time thanks for reading.

Mike

Sunday February 6

Just below this entry is the # 8 installment of Deputy Zeke McNamara. I hope you enjoy.

Things have been hopping here on Schooner Creek. The lake level is at 905 + a little. The USACE continues to drop the lake an average of about .15 of a foot every day. There is no ice on the lake where I am however I' told there is at Cape Fair and down to almost Point 10. (Aunce Creek)
Getting onto my dock at this point requires a repelling harness. I have no fishing reports to pass on. We suffered through a major ice/snow event last week and it seems that the "experts" are predicting another 10-14 inches of the white S%&...snow for Tuesday and Wednesday.

Judy and I are going to have to move, it seems that the current landlord and his mortgage company have not been getting together once a month for the payment. So the mortgage company has sent notice that the landlord is being foreclosed on. Imagine that.....
We are relocating to a nice house about 3 miles for our current one, with a nice view of the lake. I will post some pictures. Moving day is the last Saturday of the month if your interested..........You say you have an appointment to watch paint dry on that day....oh well I understand I'd come help you except Judy would not be happy with me and we all know that when the wife is unhappy no one is happy.

until next time......

McNamara #8

The thunder rolled as lightning continued to flash across the sky. The rain seemed to be letting up. Zeke watched the cave entrance fully expecting the girl to return. Finally he rolled into his blankets and let the sound of the rain put him to sleep.

There was a faint light in the eastern sky when Zeke rolled out of his blanket. The sun was coming up in a clear sky, the storm long gone. The morning air was fresh. Zeke walked down to the river which had come up during the night and was dirty brown. One look made him think twice about using it for his coffee. He dipped some and then sat it aside to settle. He washed his face then using his fingers he combed is hair. he turned to walk back the the cave and reached down to pick up the pot. The buzz of the bullet came just before the crack of the gun. Had he not reached down to pick up the pot he would have been shot. Zeke dived for cover and saw movement towards the cliff top above the cave. He crawled to the base of the cliff where he was out of sight from above and worked his way back the cave. He took his rifle then began a slow flanking motion by duck walking along the base of the cliff until he reached a game trail that would take him to the top. Twenty minutes later found him standing were the dry gulcher had taken his shot. There was little there except the scuff marks on the rock. That was the second time he had been shot at and it was beginning to make him mad. Somebody did not what him nosing around.
"It wore a man wearing Yankee blue pants and a butternut coat with one of them little brimmed caps the solgers wear" said the girl Jude from a blackberry patch. " He didn't wait around to see ifn he hit you, he took his shot and skedaddled down the trail. He had him a horse tied down yonder a ways."
"You were here?" questioned Zeke
"I have me a place under a log to keep dry, I was a fixin to get up when I heard him a coming, I just laid here and watched. Didn't realize it was you he was sightin in, could have been a deer or somethin."
"Yeah, or somethin"
Zeke turned and began walking down the trail. He found where a horse has stood. By the looks of the bark he had been there long enough to get bored. He found fresh droppings. He checked the tracks. the left hind shoe had a cross bar in it. It left a defined track, the horse hair was sorrel in color with some white. The horse had scratched himself leaving hairs in the bark. He walked back to the top where Jude was sitting, as he walked past he said "come on, I got a bar of soap and then we can eat."