Mrs. Wesson - age unknown
Caleb - 17 years old
Nathanel (Nate) - 15 years old
Katie - 15 years old
Rebecca - 14 years old
Leanne - 12 years old
James - 10 years old
Benjamen (Ben) - 10 years old
Ella - 8 years old
Abigail (Abi) - 6 years old
Joshua (Josh) - 4 years old
Rosie the Yorkie.
Jack the Bernese Mountain Dog.
And the Golden Retriever that I have no idea what I should name it. If you have an idea for his name post it in the comments.
Here is the full Wesson family story...
Rebecca’s brown, wavy hair curled in the
rain. The light drizzle had begun in the
morning, but gradually became heavier throughout the afternoon. Thick, black clouds hid the normally azure
blue sky. As 14-year-old Rebecca ran for
the cow barn, the rain became even heavier.
Eventually she reached the newly painted, red barn; the water that fell
so heavily from the sky soaked through her violet jacket. Rain seeped through a crack in the pine
boards making the dirt floor a bit muddy.
Walking to the end of the barn Rebecca climbed to the top of the green,
paint chipped gate that led to the pasture and sat on the top of it. She gave two short and shrill whistles, soon
the herd of cows rushed to the gate where Rebecca stood. Then, Rebecca opened the gate, and let the
cows into the corral. At last, every cow
stood on the other side of the gate.
Split! Splot! Split! She heard the sound of rain pouring on the tin
roof. Her mud boots splashed in the
puddles as she ran back to the house, the sound of rain falling from the sky
drowned out every other noise. When
Rebecca stepped into the log house she headed straight for the fireplace, her
hair dripping water on the wooden floor as she walked. Jack, her big Burmese
Mountain dog, cuddled next to
Rebecca as she curled up next to the fire.
Nate, her 15-year-old brother, and her dad walked in through the back
door, as the warmth of the fire spread through her body, drying the wet clothes
she wore.
“I took care of the cows dad,” Rebecca told her dad through chattering
teeth.
“Good Rebecca. Well, there is officially a flood warning” announced her
dad turning to her mother in the kitchen, “We are safe here up on the mountain,
but the horses are still in the mountain pasture. Rebecca I need you to go get
them while Nate, Caleb, and I tie things down here with sandbags just incase. If a flood does hit it won’t hit until about 3:00 am tomorrow. So you’ll be safe.”
“OK,” Rebecca replied not too
enthusiastically. She was not exactly
thrilled at the thought of going back out into the cold rain.
“Thank you,” her dad gave her a warm
smile which made her feel better, “come on guys lets get going” he said,
motioning to Caleb and Nate.
Rebecca grabbed a flashlight, and a
dry jacket, and then she slipped on her muddy boots and stepped outside.
The torrential rain poured down relentlessly on Rebecca’s hooded figure
as she made her way up the mountain. The
strong wind blew raindrops in her face that stung her cheeks and nearly blinded
her green eyes. She arrived at the
bridge that stretched across a large creek.
Water swiftly flowed underneath the bridge. Rebecca stared at it wondering if it was
still safe to cross. The water was
rushing very fast, but it was still fairly low, so she deemed the bridge safe
and crossed to the other side. About ten minutes later she reached the valley
where the horses grazed. Even with her
flashlight she could barely make out the figure of the horses’ through the
sheets of rain. She whistled for Birdie,
the lead appaloosa mare. A few seconds past,
then through the gauntlet of thunder and lightning, Birdie’s spotted head
appeared. Rebecca quickly slipped the
faded green halter over the mare’s wet and muddy head. A sudden crack of light sent bright fingers
of lighting across the sky, illuminating the dark night.
Whoa, that struck close,
thought Rebecca, I need to hurry.
As she started to walk towards the ranch with birdie’s lead rope in her
hand the other horses in the herd followed their leader. They slowly walked
toward home, the path she took ran around the brim of a hill. Everything went fine until she got a little
to close to the edge of the hill. Then,
before she knew it, she had lost her footing and started sliding down the muddy
side of the hill. She released her grip
on Birdie’s lead, and continued to slide down. Finally, about halfway down she regained her
footing on a rock; she was covered in mud from her ride down the hill. At first she was afraid to move, scared that
the rock might come lose at any moment, but somehow she had to climb up the
hill again and get the horses back to safety. She started up the hill, took a
few steps, and then she started sliding again, and landed back where she had
started.
Mud covered, weary, and cold she stood up again, but before she took
another step she heard the faint sound of someone calling her “Rebecca. . . . .
.Rebecca,” the voice shouted.
Oh Great! She thought rolling her eyes; now I’m hearing voices, I’ve gone mad! This is how all horror stories start the
victim gets lost or hurt in the wilderness and hears dead relatives beckoning
to her. Oh man I shouldn’t have thought
about that, now I’m gonna freak myself out.
“Rebecca!” the voice shouted again “Rebecca!”
“Nate!” she exclaimed when she saw his
figure appear through the rain, “is that you?”
“Oh Rebecca, thank goodness I found you”
yelled Nate over the roaring sound of the rain, “We need to get out of here,
when I crossed over the ridge I saw that
the rain made the river swell and it took out the bridge!”
Rebecca became worried, “What!” she said trying not to freak out, “but
how are we gonna get the horses to the barn?
If we go all the way around to the ridge it’ll take forever. And besides
we have another problem…I..uh… I’m kind of stuck....” her voice faded away, she
was a little embarrassed that she had fallen.
Nate slowly climbed a little down the hill until he could reach her,
then he swung a strong arm out towards Rebecca and helped her climb back up the
hill. When they reached the top, Birdie was still where Rebecca had left her.
“I know it’ll take us a long time if we take the ridge path, but it is
the safest way” a very wet and muddy Nate replied, “besides, it really our only
option right now.” Nate grabbed Birdie’s
wet lead rope and Rebecca fell in step behind him, as they slowly made their
way down to the ridge.
“Hey Nate?” Rebecca asked, after they had been walking
for a while. Her eyelids where drooping
and she wondered if it was as late as it felt.
“Are you wearing your watch? What time is it?”
“Yeah, here hold the lead rope while I check,” Nate handed the lead rope
to Rebecca as he rolled up his wet sleeve to check his watch. He squinted in the dime light trying to see
the time. “It’s about 1:15” he replied after a slight pause.
“Oh man, no wonder I’m so tired,” she let a yawn escape her chattering
mouth, “how much longer do you think it’ll be before we reach the barn?”
“Probably another 30 minuets,” he answered as water droplets fell from his brown unruly hair. Rebecca sighed, she was thoroughly soaked now, and she could not wait to get back to the house.
“Probably another 30 minuets,” he answered as water droplets fell from his brown unruly hair. Rebecca sighed, she was thoroughly soaked now, and she could not wait to get back to the house.
She looked up at Nate “Thanks.” She whispered through the rain.
“What?” he implored with a confused tone
of voice.
“For helping me” Rebecca explained, “I’m glad you’re here. I’d probably still be stuck back at that rock
if you hadn’t come for me.”
Nate smiled “you did look pretty helpless standing there soaking wet on
that rock stranded in the middle of the mudslide.” The two continued to trudge
on in silence for awhile.
“Remember the time you painted your nails
pink? That was so funny!” She reminded him.
Nate exclaimed “Oh come on! I was only 6 years old! And…”
Rebecca cut him off “then mom
found you in the middle of your room with pink nail polish and then she
startled you when she came in, and you dumped the bottle over and spilled the
neon pink paint all over your rug!” she retorted. “And actually you were 7 years old, not 6,”
she replied in a matter-of -factly way
Nate rolled his eyes and smiled, “well if you think that’s funny what
about the time mom took off her wedding ring while she was washing the dishes,
and left it on the counter. Then when
she wasn’t looking, you took the ring and ran off. And then she found you outside doing your
little ‘princess walk’ wearing her wedding ring on your finger, and a tiara on
your head. And just as she caught you
wearing her ring, you bent over the pond and the ring fell off your little
finger into the muddy pond.”
“All I remember is mom being horrified.
And then you pulled your net out of the pond when you were trying to
catch frogs, and the ring had landed in your net.” Rebecca added grasping for breath, because it
is rather hard to breath when you are laughing a chattering you teeth at the
same time. The two were laughing so hard
by now that they almost forgot how
cold they were.
“Mom was so relived.” Nate commented as he smiled.
After walking on for a couple more
minuets in silence Rebecca shrieked “stop!”
“What?” Nate said surprised, “whoa, we
almost walked right into the fence. It’s raining so hard I didn’t even see
it. Come on! Let’s get the horses in the barn as fast as
we can, then get into the house.”
Rebecca didn’t reply, she clicked her tongue moving Birdie into a
trot. In no time they were at the barn,
and had all the horses in their separate stalls. Soaking wet and muddy, Nate and Rebecca made
a final dash for the house, arriving at their back porch panting. Once inside they both took their mud caked
boots off in the mud room and walked into the kitchen.
“Where have you been? What took
you so long? I was starting to get
worried.” Their mom asked in a concerned
tone
“We had to take the ridge route, the
water destroyed the bridge.” Nate answered, “But we got all the horses in the
barn, and no one is hurt.”
“Good, now go get changed into some dry
cloths you guys look absolutely freezing.”
Mom said, surveying her two muddy and wet children, “on second thought
stay there, I’ll go get you clean clothes, and you can take turns changing in
the bathroom down here. Don’t want you
getting mud all over my clean carpet and stairs….” her voice faded as she
walked up stairs to retrieve some dry clothes for the two soaking figures
standing by the door. Rebecca took off
her wet jacket and threw it in the laundry, and tried her best to squeeze all
the water out of her brown curly hair.
Nate took a towel from the cabinet in the laundry room, which was next
to the mud room, and started rubbing his head dry. In the kitchen, by the black marble top, sat
Katie, Nate’s twin, who was cuddling the Wesson’s yorkie and drinking hot
chocolate.
“You guys look……very wet.” Kate stated,
smiling at her dripping siblings who were shivering in the mud room.
“Well thank you Captain obvious,” replied Nate sarcastically with a grin
on his face. “Did you make sure the
chickens were locked up?”
“Yes, General sarcasm,” Kate retorted saluting to Nate. Nate responded by rolling eyes his at his
sarcastic twin. Although they teased
each other, both of the twins were very close to each other.
“OK,” mom announced walking down the stairs with a pile of clothes in
one hand, and an empty sippy cup in the other, “I have a fresh, clean pjs for
both of you.”
“Yay! I’m so COLD!!!!!,” Rebecca
exclaimed grabbing her Pajamas from mom, and running across the kitchen floor
into the bathroom.
“Hurry up.” Nate called from the opposite
side of the room. “I’m cold too!”
Mom continued, “Here you go”
Handing Nate his fresh change of clothes.
“Thanks.” Replied Nate, then he spotted a
small face peeking out from behind mom’s legs, “Mom, I think the natives have
gotten restless”
“What?” asked mom curiously.
“Look behind you.” He answered spotting two more pairs of eye staring
down from the stairs.
Mom turned around, “Oh goodness.
What are you guys doing out of bed?” She asked, putting her hands on her
hips staring at the three little faces behind her.
“I’m scared there’s gonna be a big flood and the house will go away and
so will my bed!” answered the worried voice of 6-year-old Abi.
“and..and the tunder maked a weally big sound and I got scareded” explained
another small voice that came from 4-year-old Josh.
“I’m not scared.” responded a third voice from the stair railing which
was Ella, “I’m 8-years-old and I’m not scared of thunder! I just want to see
what Josh and Abi were doing.”
“Oh I see,” nodded mom understandably
Emerging from the bathroom with fresh
clothes on Rebecca announced, “Hey, I’m done Nate, you can go change now.”
“Finally!” he exclaimed, walking to the
bathroom.
“Ok, you guys,” said mom turning to the
younger kids, who were now standing in the middle of the living room, “do you
want to sleep in the living room while the storm lasts?”
“Yeah!” all three answered in unison
“Ok then, go get your pillows” mom softly ordered the children as the three
kids ran up the stairs to obey. Rebecca
walked over to the couch and picked up the big, green, cozy blanket that was
draped over the top of the huge sofa.
She wrapped herself in the warmth of the soft cloth and sat down next to
Katie at the counter. Caleb appeared
with clean clothes on and plopped down on the large, gray cozy chair in the
living room. He clapped his hands and
called the Wesson’s big golden retriever to come sit in his lap. Josh, Abi, Ella came tromping down the
stairs, their pillows dragging behind them, and with tired, but content smiles
spread on their faces. They each laid
their pillows right in a row near the corner of the living room. Mom walked over to the linen closet and
grabbed a huge, puffy comforter that looked like a cloud, and spread the warm
blanket out over her three sleepy children.
She then walked into the kitchen and opened a cabinet which held cups
and mugs.
“Do you guys want some hot chocolate?” Mom asked Rebecca and Nate
The three children who were supposed to
be sleeping on the floor sat straight up
“Yes!!!
Yay!!! Hot chocolate!” the three sang out.
“Not you.” Mom replied “you are supposed to be asleep.” The three glum
figures lay back down, indignant that they were denied the special privilege of
hot chocolate. Mom looked back at Nate and Rebecca “do YOU two want some hot
chocolate.”
“Sure,” Nate responded drowsily from the cozy chair in the living room.
Rebecca smiled at her younger siblings “Yes please.” She answered. As mom was taking out two mugs from the
cabinet dad and Caleb, who was 17-years-old, walked in through the back door.
“Phew! It’s cold out there” dad announced taking his boots off, and
setting them on the rack.
“And wet, don’t forget the wet part” Caleb concluded as he shook his
head to try and dry his hair out a little.
“Want some hot chocolate?” Mom
asked them, “Did finish getting everything tied down? And Caleb please don’t
shake your hair out on the floor like a dog” she reprimanded him.
“No thanks,” dad answered, “and yes we did get everything secured,
though the highest the water will raise around here is probably about 1 inch,
and that won’t do much damage”
“I’ll take some please” replied Caleb.
Mom grabbed another mug from the cabinet, “Kate, go up stairs and get a
change of clothes for your dad”
“and me” added Caleb”
“And some for Caleb” requested mom.
Katie handed the yorkie to Rebecca and started for the stairs.
When she was in the middle of the living room about to walk up the
stairs when Caleb called back to her “Oh and make sure you get my blue pajamas,
not the green ones.” He continued “and
grab my long sleeve top not the short sleeve top.”
She rolled her eyes “YES! Your majesty” Katie replied sweeping a large
bow to his royal, highness Caleb, and then advanced up the stairs to retrieve
the clothes. After sometime Katie came down with the clothes, and three people
trailing behind her.
Mom raised one eyebrow “what are you doing up?” she asked them, as Katie
walked over and handed dad his clothes and he went to go change in the
bathroom.
Then she backed up, rolled Caleb’s pajamas into a ball, and tossed them
to him, “Catch you majesty.”
He laughed as he caught his flying pajamas, “Thank you servant, that
will be all for today. You are
dismissed.”
“I can’t sleep,” Leanne, who was 12-years-old, answered her mom, walking
over the big sofa and plopped herself down.
The ten-year-old twins, James, and Ben, replied “we couldn’t sleep
either, storm’s too loud.” Both of them
walked over to the cozy chair where Nate was relaxing and sat down on the
floor.
“Well, we might as well all sleep down here then.” Mom suggested since the entire family was
already downstairs. “Hot chocolate’s
ready.” She announced setting three hot mugs on the counter.
Dad came out of the bathroom with clean clothes on, “Your turn” he said
looking at Caleb, who hurried to change out of his muddy, wet clothes. Within a half hour everyone was settled in
the living room and mostly everyone was asleep, with lots of blankets and
pillows to keep them comfortable. Mom,
dad, Leanne, and Caleb occupied the couch.
The three youngest huddled together under the big comforter on the plush
off-white carpet, with the small teacup yorkie at their feet. James and Ben sat next to Nate on the ground,
stroking the golden retriever’s soft hair, and Nate reclined on the cozy
chair. Jack, the Burmese mountain dog,
cuddled with Rebecca and Katie who were snuggled up in the green blanket by the
side of the fire place. Loud and wild,
the rain continued outside, but inside the Wesson home everything was
peaceful. The only sound that could be
heard was the crackle of the fire, and the gentle, steady breathing of ten
sleeping children, and three dogs.
HOW MANY KIDS DO THEY HAVE?!
ReplyDeleteGreat story, Laura!!
ReplyDeleteThat is really good!!!!!!!!! Sounds kinda like our family:) By the way, have you seen the television show Merlin?
ReplyDeleteLayla.