"Name?" the clerk asked me.
"Jack Baxter," I responded.
Jon and Sara sat quietly and behaved themselves as I went through the motions. Much better behaved than kids of my own time. I was to be executor for the children's money.
We were at a lawyer's office making sure the kids were getting their fathers farm and everything coming to them. Things were definitely simpler in 1880. The farm had been bought outright, so that was no problem. The taxes were up to date, and while their father had not had a lot of money left, at least they would realize whatever we could get for the sale of the farm and whatever equipment we put up for auction.
We were going to keep a few things though. The wagon, horse, plow, all the feed for the animal and hay and straw. Other items the kids wanted, but they didn't want the farm itself. To many painful memories, with it representing their parents deaths.
So I was setting up a trust fund for them, and making sure the majority of the money of the sale of the farm and equipment went into an account for the two kids. It was peculiar as in this time and place, everyone thought it strange I was doing this for the children. I was going to keep out some to defray costs for the immediate future, but it was looking good so far.
After getting the paperwork done, we went to the general store, and bought a few items for the kids, and some food stuffs to replace the little we had eaten. One of the things I did was buy the children new shoes and coats to replace the worn ones they currently had. I also wanted to find out where and how to send them to school.
They told me that their mother and father had taught them reading, writing, history, arithmetic, and a few other things at home. They had basically been home schooled. They lived so far from the closest school that it was almost impossible to get them there on time, unless they boarded close to the school itself.
So I offered them an option. I would pay room and board here in town for them so they could attend a public school, or I could try to teach them, and we would see how well I was doing with that after a while. I explained that if I was not good at it, then I would probably have to find them a place to board in town during the week and they could come out during weekends and holidays. They elected to stay with me and try my style of home schooling first.
Winter was over and spring had arrived. I had done a fairly good job with the children's home schooling. The kids fell in love with the computer set up in the library and they also loved the DVD and video movies I had. They were in awe of so much of the technology I had always taken for granted.
The order for the lumber I had placed was ready for delivery, and I went into town with the kids and made arrangements for delivery. We really needed a barn for the horse, and I wanted to also build a chicken coop, and also get a milk cow. I had run out of eggs and milk long ago, and wanted to have my own supply handy. While I had a neighbor close enough I could buy these items from, it was very inconvenient.
While I was careful with supplies of meat, my freezer was over half empty of these items now. I had a couple gallons of ice cream left, and used it as treats for the kids. They loved ice cream. I had several gallon containers partially empty already from before the trip back in time and since.
The lumber was delivered on a Tuesday morning and consisted of several wagons to haul it all out to my place. I pointed out where I wanted the lumber dropped off, and it was unloaded quickly.
I also had straw delivered. Bales and bales of it. One thing I remembered and had seen were straw bales which were used as building materials. I would use the straw bales as walls for the barn, and possibly for the chicken coop too. They would provide insulation against the elements such as heat or cold nicely.
Jonathan and I had already dug out an outhouse and limed it already, and I had built the outhouse to go over it, so when the workers arrived, they would have toilette facilities. No one was going to get into my home, for any reason. I had already cautioned the children against speaking to outsiders about the wonders of our home. I think they understood.
Two days later several wagons full of men and woman arrived. The woman had already made food for the crew, and the men arrived with tools, extra nails, and a willingness to work. The barn should be up by the early evening or earlier. I had paid for more than enough men to show, thats for sure. The woman were from a church club, and I had donated to it, plus paid for the food, so thats why the woman were there, to feed everyone. I had finished my outhouse in time apparently.
All in all it went well. I moved my 55 gallon drum half BBQ down for the ladies use, and fired it up with charcoal. They were impressed. By the end of the day the barn was up, the people fed, and we had new friends and contacts. We also had a chicken coop built, and fenced in.
Old Blue seemed most impressed and relieved to get back into a barn proper and to stop sharing the garage with my Jeep. These barn raising's were a good way to socialize with your neighbors and to get to know everyone. The kids loved it. I enjoyed myself too.
Now, all that was needed was a milk cow, and chickens. Then fresh eggs, butter, and milk. Everything a growing family needed to survive the rural life. I had ordered lots of feed already, and all that had to happen was it had to be delivered and stored in the new storage area built in the barn.
We would need another horse at least, so i went into town with the kids, and bought one. A gelding that was about three years old for 28 dollars. For an additional 16 dollars I also bought riding tack for it. Them just as we were about to leave, I noticed a small cart for sale. I considered the situation, and bought it too, for 12 dollars. This gave the kids something to drive around in other than the wagon. It was also good got hauling things around the farm, or my land.
One of the jobs I gave the kids was to gather wood with their cart. They would hitch up old Blue, and drive off to the woods to gather as much fallen wood as possible. I took to riding around land and was amazed at some of the differences from my time to this one.
For one thing, the dried creek was no longer dry. It was actually running deep and fairly fast most of the year. In my time, there had been no water in this creek bed for some years. Almost forty years by the time I had bought the land, yet now, it was running freely and deep. It was clear too.
The kids also had the job of feeding the animals. They released the three animals every morning, fed them, the chickens, then bedded all the animals down at night. As time went on, I became more familiar with farming life and it became easier. Everyone looked for eggs and gathered them when found.
I learned to milk a cow and churn butter. This was before the days of mandatory pasteurizing, and so we had all the milk we wanted. We planted a garden and took care of it. At the end of the year we harvested and canned lots of veggies for the winter ahead.
We grew feed corn and when it was in harvested and canned corn, and stored the husks for future use. We canned tomatoes. We stored potato's in bushel baskets in the basement. We had onions, carrots, peas, cabbage, green beans. All in all, it was a good garden harvest.
I finally broke down and hired a housekeeper. I know, what was I thinking? I was thinking I needed someone from this era to keep an eye on me and the kids and make sure we didn't go off half cocked.
Mrs. Daniels was a widow, and tight lipped. While religious to some extent, she was not a nut about it. She was not concerned with my science and the abilities of my home. She did like the comfort they offered, but was not worried about it.
I paid her twenty dollars a month plus room and board. She did the canning, taught us a lot she did, too. She also took over the kids education from time to time. I went into town and bought a rifle and ammunition. I left the side arms alone as I had no visions of being a fast draw. I saw no need for a handgun at all. I know, at this time it was a necessity, but I didn't like hand guns.
It was definitely getting colder, all the crops were in and sold or canned. I was about two miles from home when I heard a shout behind me. I looked and strained my eyes. It was Tom Elders, the local vet. Now, what on earth did he want?
I reined up and waited for him to catch up to me.
"Jack, glad I caught you," he told me.
"What can I do for you?" I asked curiously.
"I need to check your animals, and spend the night somewhere. Was wondering if you could put me up?" he asked me.
I considered his words. Damn, another person would see my home, and I had been careful to restrict that sort of thing. I had no real reason to deny him, particularly as he was ordered to check out all animals in the county.
Another person I was expecting sometime soon was the county sheriff. He was the local tax collector, and I had not been assessed or taxed yet. I knew that was in the works soon. We should be safe till April, but for some reason, the new sheriff was getting a jump on everything.
I stepped down from my horse, tied it behind his buggy, and rode the rest of the way with him. We talked about god and science.
"I am a man of science first and foremost," Elders stated.
"Me too. You might call me something of an inventor," I responded.
"Really? I always wanted to create things. Science is my way of life, so I choose being a veterinary. Didn't like working on humans, so choose animals instead," he grinned at me.
While we drove, the temperature kept falling. It went from fifty to about 30 degrees in just two miles and it was cold!
I shivered and the vet responded, "It's that north Canada air flow. Once in a while we have an early winter because of it. Looks like we might be due again."
We got to the house, and the kids came running out. They slid to a halt when they saw I had company with me. Their eyes got big and I could see they were worried.
"Kids, get the chickens, and drive them into the barn for tonight. We want all the animals together for as much warmth as possible. Besides, the barn is insulated, the chicken coup is not," I instructed them.
"I want to check the cow and horses first though. Hold off on the chickens for a short time, will you?"
"You heard the doc kids. Wait till he gives you the go ahead, then run em in here," I told them, and went to my house.
"Set another plate. We have a guest for this evening. Tom Elders, the veterinary is here," I said.
We were having ham and beans that night, and it smelled heavenly. Corn bread topped it off, and water or soda was served at the meal, as well as coffee. The place smelled wonderful.
Tom walked in and stopped, stunned. He looked around wide eyed at the set up and I could tell he was surprised. The lights startled him, the table, the stove, the refrigerator, everything was in place to cause him concern.
We all set down and ate, and Tom's eyes kept wondering around the kitchen, taking it all in. Finally the meal was over with. I took a cup of coffee to my study asking Tom if he wanted to join me. He did.
"Ok, who are you people?" was the first thing out of his mouth.