Commandadmin at 21:59, 27 February 2025

2025-02-27T21:59:04Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:59, 27 February 2025
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	The Ties that Bind		{{TplBeneathRedTailWingsStory\|title=The Ties That Bind\|Author=Patricia I. Williams\|chapter text=<font size=7>'''The Ties that Bind'''</font size>

	Frances Ann Bethancourt paced the length of the porch shading her eyes from the noonday sun. Her daughter and the hands had gone looking for William nearly two weeks ago. First she worried, then she was terrified. For the past two days she had not slept or eaten. This morning she put on her dark gray Sunday dress and coiled her graying auburn hair tightly at the nap of her neck. The nights were very cold, the more so since William was not there to hold her. He was hurt on the trail or worse robbed of the money he carried, otherwise everyone would be back. She would rather be fussing over her stubborn man by now.		Frances Ann Bethancourt paced the length of the porch shading her eyes from the noonday sun. Her daughter and the hands had gone looking for William nearly two weeks ago. First she worried, then she was terrified. For the past two days she had not slept or eaten. This morning she put on her dark gray Sunday dress and coiled her graying auburn hair tightly at the nap of her neck. The nights were very cold, the more so since William was not there to hold her. He was hurt on the trail or worse robbed of the money he carried, otherwise everyone would be back. She would rather be fussing over her stubborn man by now.
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	One of the hands was riding to see if the doctor was still at Wimbly’s. Soon everything would be set right.		One of the hands was riding to see if the doctor was still at Wimbly’s. Soon everything would be set right.

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Commandadmin: Created page with "The Ties that Bind Frances Ann Bethancourt paced the length of the porch shading her eyes from the noonday sun. Her daughter and the hands had gone looking for William nearly two weeks ago. First she worried, then she was terrified. For the past two days she had not slept or eaten. This morning she put on her dark gray Sunday dress and coiled her graying auburn hair tightly at the nap of her neck. The nights were very cold, the more so since William was not there to hol..."

2025-02-27T21:26:25Z

Created page with "The Ties that Bind Frances Ann Bethancourt paced the length of the porch shading her eyes from the noonday sun. Her daughter and the hands had gone looking for William nearly two weeks ago. First she worried, then she was terrified. For the past two days she had not slept or eaten. This morning she put on her dark gray Sunday dress and coiled her graying auburn hair tightly at the nap of her neck. The nights were very cold, the more so since William was not there to hol..."

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The Ties that Bind

Frances Ann Bethancourt paced the length of the porch shading her eyes from the noonday sun. Her daughter and the hands had gone looking for William nearly two weeks ago. First she worried, then she was terrified. For the past two days she had not slept or eaten. This morning she put on her dark gray Sunday dress and coiled her graying auburn hair tightly at the nap of her neck. The nights were very cold, the more so since William was not there to hold her. He was hurt on the trail or worse robbed of the money he carried, otherwise everyone would be back. She would rather be fussing over her stubborn man by now.

The door opened behind her and Frieda stepped out. The cook watched Frances pace before shaking her head in frustration. She sat down in one of the rocking chairs. Everyday Frances had put on her prettiest dresses. This was a bad sign, this drab church going dress. Frieda sipped her coffee in silence. Frances’ thin form moved back and forth, the numerous petticoats sweeping the porch. Her hands were twisting and knotting her handkerchief.

Both women lept to their feet when one of the stable hands came running from the barn.

“Their back, the boys are back. I could see Miss Sarah’s sombrero from the loft.”

He was pointing in the barn’s direction which blocked the women’s view of the distant mountains and narrow tree shrouded trails.

“Ya can’t see ‘em now Freddy. Almost to the house though.”

The man ran back to the barn to make ready for the influx of exhausted horses. Men began to rush back and forth. Frieda put her arm around the frail bodied woman and held on.

“Oh Freddie what if...”

“None of that nonsense, you hear me. William is one strong mule headed man. He probably fell on his head and they had to tie him to the saddle!”

Frances laughed but it turned into a sob and she wept onto Frieda’s shoulder. It was past time for the tears to fall. Now what ever had to be done, no matter how bad it was Frances would present a strong face by the time the party arrived. It was the longest two hours of their lives. Both considered the worst as the solemn group arrived.

Frances almost fainted when she realized William was mounted, but looking as if he wished he was not. Sarah smiled when she saw her mother and Frieda rush down the steps.

It was the cook who noticed the man strapped to a travois. Frieda had the men bring him into the quest room they kept aside for anyone seriously ill. She wondered where Gil was and that lazy easterner who had come to visit. Maybe the foreman had finally taken him to task. But that would be explained later, this young man needed tending bad and she sat to clean his wound and give him a thorough scrubbing.

When Sarah came in to help, Frieda took one look at her pinched wan face and chased her off to bed. For once William argued not at all to a hot bath and a long sleep beside his exhausted wife.

One of the hands was riding to see if the doctor was still at Wimbly’s. Soon everything would be set right.

Beneath Red Tail Wings The Ties that Bind - Revision history

Commandadmin at 21:59, 27 February 2025