AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Pa had been into town twice to purchase hay, but they’d been out for over a week. Ewes needed a lot of food to keep their milk supply sufficient. Ma quickly returned and sighed with a brief smile. “Success.” She held up the bill of sale.
Alice glanced at the large bales. She’d never seen them like that before. “How are we going to load it? That must weigh hundreds of pounds.” Though she couldn’t guess.
“He said two men would be out shortly to help. They’ll use the hoist.” She pointed to the wheel with rope and a huge, sharp hook hanging from it just above the wagon. “He assured me it wouldn’t take long, but he’s also very busy in there.”
Ma’s brow puckered, and she frowned. “Our flock is large and we certainly need this just as much as anyone else, but the last one sold to the man right behind me. Three more men shook their heads and left as soon as he announced he was out of hay.”
A man strode up to them with long leather gloves up his arms. “Can I see your slip?”
She handed him the piece of paper and Alice kept quiet and rubbed the horse’s muzzle to keep them calm with all the other horses.
“These new bales are coming up from Kansas and even further south. They have new machines now that roll them. Makes them easier to ship them. We’re ordering as much as we can get now, but we’ve been warned, there won’t be enough come winter.”
“That’s months away. How can they know that? How can they be sure?” Ma’s mouth hung open.
“Fields take time to grow and men to harvest them. They are planting and harvesting as fast as they can, but they’re so depleted after five years.” He smiled. “We’ll not worry about that just now. I’ll have this loaded for you in a few minutes.”
Ma nodded and stepped aside, out of the way. Two horses were led forward by another man and attached to a rope connected to the metal hooks. He arranged the spiky hooks around one bale and, as the horses slowly pulled forward, it tightened over the bale, then lifted it. The man who’d spoken to them shifted it until the bale was over the wagon, then the man slowly backed the horses until the bale lowered into the bed of their wagon with a loudcreak.
He pulled the hooks from the bale and slowly pulled them back up to hang above the last bale.
“Thank you for your help.” Ma smiled and gave him a nod.
Alice climbed back onto the seat and settled in next to Ma. Though the trip felt successful, she couldn’t help but noticed the other men standing about, looking with covetous eyes at their wagon. They had families to think about too, and the hay would feed the livestock that kept them going.
“I wonder if there’s anything we can do. We need this now, but it’s planting season and like you said, it’s dry this year. What if we took some of that land that’s already cleared of grass and planted alfalfa?” The more she thought, the more the idea formed in her mind. “We could have Pa move the sheep around for now, leaving those pastures open that have the worst damage and we can make them useable again.”
Ma nodded, a frown creasing her face. “It will be a lot of work. Planting a garden is one thing, a field is another.”
“Let’s talk to Josie and Tamar when we get home. Maybe Hannah would come out to help up too. Many hands make light work.”
“In this case, it will be lighter work, but it will still be hard. I think you’re right, though. We owe it to our community to try. It will take sixty days to grow, and more time to cut.”
“We’ll keep what we need for the winter and offer the rest to people who need it. So many have helped throughout this ordeal. This could be our way of helping.”
“It’s a good idea.” Ma flicked the lines, and the horses strained slightly under the weight, then caught their stride as they headed back home.
Most farmers had planted already, but they would have to till and plant. Flat, untilled ground wouldn’t grow. Especially because the water that had been there had pressed the soil compact until it was as hard as stone. Tilling it for planting would be a struggle, but this was something she could do to help her family.
Kent could continue to look for the culprit, and she could help find a safe solution. Because there would certainly be no locoweed in the area where they would plant. When it grew, the alfalfa would be safe. All the animals could then get better.
If the animals could last another few months.
Ma pulled into the drive and let the horses slow as they neared the house, then stopped in front of the barn. Alice headed inside and found Josie sitting in the piano room with her children, reading a story. “Have you seen Tamar?” She wanted to get their opinions right away so they could talk to Pa about getting seed.
“She was in the kitchen helping Mrs. Eliza dye some wool.”
Alice rushed to the kitchen to find both Mrs. Eliza and Tamar in thick aprons and leather gloves that reached their elbows. They spun the wool into thread and they had it soaking in heated vats. Mrs. Eliza had a long wooden paddle to slowly stir the thread to make sure it didn’t tangle and ensure it was completely submerged.
“Alice, what are you in a dither about?” she fussed. “If you’re looking for something to do to keep you occupied, get that other apron and come help.”
“I can’t. I need Tamar for a few minutes if you can spare her. Ma and I had an idea.”
Mrs. Eliza raised a thick brow. “What are you going on about?”
“A farm. I want to plant alfalfa to help the sheep.”
“What’s wrong with buying feed? Your pa never wanted to be a farmer. He thinks there’s enough work with the sheep.” She lifted the strand and leaned over to stare at it for a moment.
