An exciting new Papa-Pepper family project!

What you are about to read is the first part of a project that our family has begun. The goal is not only to write a tale, but to write a series of tales with a purpose; character development for the readers. Besides simply writing the story, we are also endeavoring to craft our own visuals to accompany the tale. Have a look, have a read, and see what you think.

CAROLINA COWRIDER - Part 1

There she rides again, majestically galloping through the vale..

“Oh, what a feeling that must be,” Carolina thinks, “To be so swift and free.” The high grasses bow and part as the horse and rider plow through the meadow. Priscilla looks as radiant as ever, a wide smile lighting her face. Carolina watches from the distance, envious of the young maiden’s mare. Hoping to get a closer look at the magnificent creature, she calls out to her friend.

Priscilla’s family is not as frugal or financially creative as Carolina’s. Her father owns a shop that supplies many useful goods to the neighboring community. It could best be described as a type of hybrid store, like the result of a hardware store and a grocery store falling in love and getting married, and then having a child that was a healthy blend of both. The general stores of yesteryear functioned in a similar manner. Such is Boone’s Market, a most useful outlet to have nearby for the country folks who inhabit these rolling hills. Without other options within a reasonable distance, it has done remarkably well for the proprietor and his family.

Priscilla will even deliver smaller items or special orders directly to local patrons for an additional fee, and thus her horse is industrious and not simply a pet for pleasure. No, this horse is neither a lawn ornament nor a hay-burner; it actually earns its keep. She looked so elegant galloping sprinting across the valley. Oh how Carolina wishes that Molly was her horse instead. Of course Priscilla loves and cares for four-legged friend, but Carolina thinks that she would enjoy her even more.

“Carolina! How are you this day?” Priscilla asks, greeting the young lady.

“Oh, I was just out for a stroll before I have to do my chores.” Although she kept her true intentions hidden attributing their meeting to happenchance, the whole purpose of her walk this morning was to try to catch a glimpse of Molly. She knows that on days like this Priscilla would often ride from her home over the next hill to her father’s market. She also knew that if she snuck away early enough after breakfast she wouldn’t miss the horse passing through while we was milking.

Unaware of how much Carolina secretly covets her mare and knowing only of her fondness for the animal, Priscilla shows favor to her younger friend and asks her kindly, “Would you like to help my brush Molly quick?”

Elated, Carolina promptly responds with a positive reply and reaches up to grab hold of the reigns. She steadies Molly while Priscilla dismounts and removes the saddle and blanket. Staring deep into Molly’s eyes, Carolina is overrun with fascination and jubilation. They’ve gone through this number before, so a spare brush is often kept in the saddlebag, in case Priscilla and Molly encounter her on their travels. Although not necessary, Molly is never one to shy aware from a good ol’ brush down and Priscilla is fully aware of how much it delights Carolina to be able to touch and pet Molly for a moment.

While fully unintentional and completely unbeknownst to Priscilla, her unadulterated goodwill toward her younger friend is actually helping to fuel a fire of covetousness within her. Though Carolina would never wish ill will on her companion, her desire for horse of her own is becoming harmful. Even this morning she was once again fled her responsibilities at home to seek what she finds most pleasurable, without her mother’s permission or knowledge.

“After I check in to see if there are any errands my father wants me to run, I have to pick up some fabric from Mrs. Rapier for my mother,” Priscilla shares as the girls converse.

“I wouldn’t want to go to her house,” Carolina replies. “Her sons are terrible!”

“Carolina! They may be unkind, but they are young boys who have a lot of growing to do. Plus, they don’t have many friends, and struggle at appropriately interacting with others.”

“Struggle? They don’t struggle. They just pick on everyone and be as mean as possible. They shouldn’t have any friends behaving like that.”

“Well even when others are unkind, we do not have to repay evil with evil. We can show them a better way to behave. Plus, their mother and the fabric have nothing to do with them. Mrs. Rapier just had extra left over after sewing her curtains and my mother was keen to request the remaining portion to craft into a shawl when she heard that Mrs. Rapier had no use for it.”

Wanting to give Carolina just a few more moments with the horse, Priscilla continues, “Is your father still away?”

“Yeah,” she answers, “Pa is still in Dirksville. He’s helping a man there finish fencing in a property, and then he has a remodel to work on.”

While living ‘in the middle of nowhere’ has its benefits if one desires a quiet, peaceful life at a slower pace, gainful employment is simply not as readily available in extremely rural communities as it is in the city. Though Carolina’s father Ed is a skilled and capable man, he’s been struggling to provide for his family by staying local, and has opted to leave weekly to make the four hour trip to Dirksville for work. By staying gone for four or five days consecutive days at a stretch, he not only saves on gasoline and wear and tear on the truck, but he also avoids the dent that an eight hour daily round trip commute would put into either his sleep cycle or work day. For the moment, he’s opted to be well-rested and work long, hard days while he’s gone, and then try to make the most of his time home when he finally returns.

“He should be back by Thursday this week, though, so we’ll have Friday to take care of things around the homestead together before the Sabbath.”

Priscilla has not had to experience a daily absence a parent. Her father’s local provision for the family allows them to interact as a whole family on a daily basis, and even eat almost every breakfast and supper together. She can only imagine what it’s like for young Carolina, and some of her fondness and compassion for her is undoubtedly encouraged by this fact.

Not wanting to make her own father wait on her any longer, Priscilla wraps up this nonessential brushing session and fastens her saddle back on Molly. Though their parting words are cheerful, Carolina has a gloomy look of sorrow as she watches the pair gallop away. While Priscilla rides so quickly and effortlessly, she now has to run home to try to make up for lost time. Surely her mother will be searching for her and expecting her to get the milking done soon.

“If I had a horse, none of this legwork would be necessary,” Carolina huffs between her short breaths as she races up the long hill back towards home.

Until next time…

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