The Hard Land-Part 24
A story of love and survival
That winter was hard on Frank. Furious snowstorms swept across the mountains and buried the farm in a six-foot blanket of snow. An east wind wrapped the snow around the barn and house in great drifts, making it hard to see beyond a few feet. Getting from the house to the barn was a battle of endurance. Frank’s breath fogged in the air as he shoveled his way through the snow pile that towered over him like a wall. When the wind shifted, more drifting snow filtered into the tunnel. He did not know how far the ground was below the compacted snow beneath his feet.
Twelve of the thirteen calves born that winter survived for which he was grateful, but he still felt sad at the passing of the precious animal. It was born on the night of another major snowstorm and Frank was unable to shovel his way to the barn fast enough to save the calf. With heroic effort, he was able to save the cow.
Frank no longer took Henry to the barn since the weather was very cold and snowy and not fit for a six-year-old boy. He hurried through the chores to get back to the house where he fed wood into the stove. The coal ran out a month ago and wood was difficult to find in the deep snow. He ventured out from time to time and gathered in what he could. He was glad he had thought ahead enough to make a large wood pile next to the house. However, it would not last forever, and the deep snow obscured part of the wood. He wished he had more coal or wood to keep the house cozy for his family.
About the middle of February, the wind changed, blowing from the south. Temperatures rose forty degrees overnight bringing the feel of spring. The snow melted rapidly and the corrals around the barn turned into manure marshes. The cattle and horses, mired in mud, struggled to reach their food and water. As the warm weather continued into the fourth day, melting snow threatened to flood the barn and granary. Frank dropped a couple of the boards left over from the barn repair across the pond forming at the entrance allowing access to the barn.
As suddenly as the thaw began, the temperature plummeted, and the flood waters turned into a block of solid ice, blocking the granary door. The creek where the animals watered froze over. With an axe, he chopped a hole in the ice so the animals could drink and broke the ice away from the granary door. Every day for six days, he repeated the process of opening the creek so the animals could drink. He was exhausted by the constant cycle of chopping and breaking the ice. He wondered if winter would ever end. It was a relief when the weather finally thawed enough that daily chopping of the watering hole was not necessary, but the snow returned about the end of February. He longed for spring to come.
Supplies were getting low, and Frank decided that he needed to go to Franklin to replenish them. He hitched the horses to the sleigh and with some effort got them onto the road. Several other teams and sleighs had traveled the road and he fell into the tracks. It took longer than usual to get to Franklin, but he had started early so it was not yet noon when he arrived.
The bell above the door clanged as Frank stepped into Swallow’s Dry Goods. Henry Swallow greeted him. “Morning, Frank. How have you been?”
Frank, not one to burden others with his problems on the farm, said, “Fine.”
Henry sensed the tension in Frank’s voice. It was one that he was used to hearing with the harsh winter. “What can I help you with?” he asked in a soft voice.
Frank shook the snow from his shoulders and pulled his list from his coat. He handed it to Henry. “Don’t suppose you have any coal?”.
Mr. Sparrow shook his head. “I haven’t had coal since the end of January.”
“I figured as much. I guess I’ll have to chop some wood when I get home,” Frank said. The two men conversed while Henry gathered Frank’s order. Once all the items were ready, Frank took out his pocketbook and paid Henry. He used the remaining penny to purchase two candies for the children. He then put the empty wallet back into his pants pocket. He didn’t plan to return to Sparrow’s store anytime soon, as he did not wish to start an account with the store.
Just then, another customer came into the store and Henry went to wait on him. Frank loaded the sleigh and then stepped back into the store to say goodbye to Henry and to dry his gloves by the stove.
“Glad you came back,” Henry said. “I have a letter for you.” Henry pulled the letter from the top of the counter that served as the city post office. “Here you go.”
Frank tore open the envelope and read the letter from Earl. He glanced at the calendar. Earl and Elizabeth were coming home on March 1. Tomorrow.
Frank was ecstatic that Earl was coming home. He needed the help. However, his elation was cut short when he remembered the condition of the cabin and the depth of the snow. He frowned as he slipped the letter back into the envelope.
“Is everything okay?” Henry asked.
“Yes. It’s just that Earl and Elizabeth are heading home. They will be here tomorrow or the next day. They are traveling with Harry Nash, so I’m not worried about their trip, but I’ve got a few things to do to get the cabin ready. I was hoping they wouldn’t come until at least the middle of March.” Frank pulled open the door and the bell rang as he left.
“Good luck,” Henry Sparrow called after him.
When Frank arrived home, he unloaded the supplies and went to inspect the cabin. The shingles on the roof had not been replaced, even though he had bought two bundles from Harry Nash last fall. However, there was still too much snow on the roof to repair the roof any better than the temporary fix he had done last fall. He felt a pang of worry.
He returned to the house and explained the situation to Anna. “What do you think of letting Earl and Elizabeth and the baby stay here in the house with us until we can get the roof repaired?” he asked her.
Anna nodded and smiled. “I think that is the only thing we can do. We can move Hank out into the kitchen for a few weeks. I am pretty sure he won’t mind sleeping by the stove,” she said, glancing at their son playing with his toy horse.
“What will Elizabeth think? They spent the whole winter in her parents’ mansion. Coming home to this will surely be a letdown for her,” he said, remembering the Walkers’ mansion.
Anna shrugged. “It will not be the mansion she is used to for sure, but it will be better than living under a leaky roof,” she said, trying to sound optimistic.
Frank nodded.
“I need to cut some wood,” he said, changing the subject. “Sparrow didn’t have any coal.” He took the ax that he kept by the back door and waded through the snow up the hill behind the cabin. The snow was cold and wet under his feet, and he had to push his way through the drifts. He reached a couple of trees that looked dry and sturdy, and he swung his axe at them. The wood cracked and splintered, and he felt the sweat on his forehead.
He chopped an armful of wood and carried it back down to the house. He set it next to the stove and smelled the fresh and earthy scent of the wood. It was not dry, but if he burned it with some of the dry wood from the woodpile, he was sure it would burn. He hoped it would be enough to keep them warm.
