Determined and with Courage

Marlin L. Patterson

Description

Following the death of his mother, Jed heads west in search of his missing father and finds new friends and unexpected purpose in the difficult pioneering years of the 1800s.

It’s 1864 in central Illinois, and seventeen-year-old Jed is determined to go west to find his father, who left three years earlier in search of gold. Not knowing exactly where he is located, Jed feels his father should know of the passing of his wife, Jed’s mother. Having one clue in his hand—a letter from his father—he has an idea of where to start: Arizona.

As he travels westward, Jed finds additional clues of where his father might be from the people he meets along the way. Alone, he faces the early responsibilities of youth, the adventures of the outdoors, and building everything by hand. Having served a three-year apprenticeship as a carpenter and woodworker, Jed knows the work that is involved with building starting from scratch.

On his journey, Jed experiences the trials and adventures of pioneering in the mid-1800s, making new friends along the way. Travel with Jed as he rides, joins wagon trains, and serves those in need. As Jed faces challenges, he uses his determination and courage to overcome obstacles, all while hoping to find the father he lost and bring his family back together.

Sujets

• Religious
• Determinacy
• Living Conditions
• Courage
• Love
• Service
• Fiction
• Nature

Informations

• Publié par: WestBow Press
• Date de parution: 11 octobre 2022
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781664272057
• Langue: English

Extrait

DETERMINED and with COURAGE
 
HEADING WEST
 
Volu me 1
 
 
 
 
Marlin L. Patterson
 
 
 
 

 
 
Copyright © 2022 Marlin L. Patterson.
 
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
 
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
 
 
 
WestBow Press
A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan
1663 Liberty Drive
Bloomington, IN 47403
www.westbowpress.com
844-714-3454
 
Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.
 
Front cover photo
By Granddaughter and her husband, Samantha and Lance Goodwin also granddaughter Kristy Woolford, With Loryann Balls at the camera.
 
Contact with the author:
[e-mail]
 
ISBN: 978-1-6642-7206-4 (sc)
ISBN: 978-1-6642-7207-1 (hc)
ISBN: 978-1-6642-7205-7 (e)
 
Library of Congress Control Number: 2022912776
 
 
 
WestBow Press rev. date: 10/10/2022
CONTENTS
Author’s Note
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
AUTHOR’S NOTE
T his story has a little different format as it gives the reader a feeling and understanding of the daily routine of early pioneer life. It allows the reader to live the life of those the story is about. The story also will give the reader good feelings of giving, sharing, working and loving your neighbor and others and the things around you.
The stories of people working with animals in this book are not fiction, they are true experiences of the author, members of his family and close friends. These stories have been incorporated in this book to help the reader realize the intelligence of birds and animals. One needs to recognize the ability of other creatures as they can learn our language and can think on their own, remember past experiences, and what to do to help us in many ways. They can tease and play games with us, but can we learn their language?
Up until the late 1930’s to early 1940’s Horses were still used in farming. Families were using horse and buggy as the means of transportation. So there was a close working relationship with man and horse as well as with other animals. Many families, if they had place to keep them, had a cow or two to supply the needs of their families. This was the case with our family during the II World War. We got along real well as a family and had plenty to eat. Naturally we had a love for our animals and when we had to sell or part with one, there were often tears in our eyes of having to part with them.
Marlin L. Patterson

1
J ed jerked and sat up in bed, awakened by the rooster crowing out in the chicken coop. He had overslept the time he had planned to be up and moving. Today was a very special day in his life. Today, he was headed west to find his father. His father had left home three years previous, leaving his wife and two children to fend for themselves while he went west to seek a fortune in gold and a new place for his family to come and join him.
Jed jumped out of bed, quickly dressed, and put on his boots. He stepped out into main room of the house, which was the home of his sister, her husband, and soon a precious new baby. He had been living with them for the past month since finishing his apprenticeship with the neighbor down the road. He had taken on this apprenticeship to learn a trade that held a soft spot in his heart. It was in carpentry, woodwork, and wood carving. He loved this work and had spent many hours, evenings, and stormy days sitting by the fireplace and carving. Sometimes it was an animal, a bird, or a flower. He loved to see what he could create and how real he could make each look. But, for now, his love for woodwork would be on hold; he needed to find his father.
Jed moved about the room and gathered the last of his things to put into his packs to be placed on his packhorse. He tried to be really quiet as he moved about, but he was not quiet enough.
His sister, Elizabeth, had heard him and came out to help him and get him some breakfast.
“Oh, Jed, I wish you wouldn’t go! I am really going to miss you. With Mama gone and Father being gone so long, you’re the only family I have left. Are you sure you won’t change your mind?”
Jed stepped over to her, placed his hands on her shoulders, and looked into her eyes. He said, “Elizabeth, you know I must go and try to find our father. He doesn’t know about Mother’s passing. He needs to know, but remember, Sis, that I love you and that you and Jonathon and your new baby will constantly be on my mind.
“I have to find him. That last letter we got from him told us he had struck gold somewhere in Arizona and that he would be in touch with us to let us know where. We know he is thinking of us since he sent some money, and we should hear from him again when he gets some land and builds a home for us. I would love to be there to help him build that home. He doesn’t know about Mama, your marriage, or the fact that he’s going to be a grandpa. It will certainly break his heart when he learns about Mama, but he will be happy to know about your baby. I’m determined to go find him and be of help to him.”
Elizabeth said, “I know you are determined to go. You’re just as determined as Papa was when he left to go find that gold. I’ll hurry and fix your breakfast while you finish your packing.”
Jed finished collecting his things and placed them by the front door and started for the barn to saddle his horse, Blaze, and get the packsaddle on his second horse, Chip.
Jonathon was up and offered to help. As they readied the horses, he said, “Jed, I realize you’re only seventeen, and you have a good head on your shoulders and should do well in whatever you choose to do. Think well in all the decisions you need to make, but don’t forget that you don’t have to make them all on your own. There is a God in heaven who is always ready to help you. All you have to do is call on Him, and answers will come that will help you.”
They led the horses to the house and tied them to the small hitching rail near the front door.
As they entered the house, Elizabeth said, “That didn’t take long. Wash up and come sit at the table; your breakfast is ready.”
Jonathon offered a prayer for the food and made an additional request to God to protect Jed in his travels. As they ate, they reminisced about the good times. They talked about all the things that Jed would see and do while traveling.
Jed said he would be in touch with them when he found their father.
Jonathon mentioned his interest in owning a good farm and having cattle.
Jed assured them that he would be on the lookout for such a place to make them happy. When he finished eating, Jed stood up and announced that there were roads to be traveled that day. He had best be on his way.
All his things had been piled by the door: his cooking pot, frying pan, utensils, food, bacon, beans, rice, lard, flour, salt, pepper, extra clothing, bedroll, rain slicker, canvas to cover his pack, heavy coat, gloves, rifle, pistol, extra shells and of course a number of tools to do woodwork.
Elizabeth looked at Jed and asked, “How about matches and an emergency fire starter?”
Jed looked at her and gave her a loving wink. “Yes, my dear.” He had put a lot of thought into what he needed to take. He’d made a long list and had checked the items off as he’d put them in the pile by the door, including the tools. He had canvas pack bags for each side of the packsaddle, and he was careful to load them evenly for weight and proper balance for traveling. The things he would need most often were placed on the top and were easy to get to. He also filled two canteens of fresh water. He would carry one on his riding horse, and he hung the other one over the packsaddle.
Elizabeth remembered something she wanted Jed to take with him. It was the small family Bible his mother had kept at her bedside. She hurried to get it. When she got back, she handed him the Bible, and with tears in her eyes, she explained the great value it had been to their mother. She told him she hoped it would mean as much to him. She told him to read it daily and said she knew it would be a blessing to him.
He said, “You should keep it for yourself, my dear, because it was our mother’s.”
Elizabeth told him that she had her own personal Bible and that it would mean a lot to her to have him carrying their mother’s Bible with him. She knew it would be a great help to him to have it.
He thanked her very kindly and gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek. He shook hands with Jonathon and then rechecked his saddle and packsaddle to make sure all was secure. He realized tears were welling up in his eyes. He gave Elizabeth a final hug and a kiss on the cheek, mounted Blaze, and headed down the lane. He turned and gave a final wave before he went out of sight.
Lots of thoughts went through his mind. Am I doing it right? Is this too big a challenge? Will I be all right? Will I be safe? Wi