Prairie Fire
Background for story: In Texas, we suffered from wildfire brought on by drought. Recently, wildfires in Texas have burned more than a million acres since Dec. 1, 2005, including about 40,000 acres in the Panhandle. About 431 homes have been lost in fires since Dec. 27.
Several weeks ago, I watch on TV as a volunteer fire department took a brave stand between a huge wildfire and a farm house. A news crew was there to capture this and I was taken at the bravery of these people. The person named Sam Hampton in this story was taken from an actual occurrence as was the cattle in this story. Around me, most of the small towns only have volunteer fire departments (some of my friends are on them) and I know that is what Wilson would have had in the 40's. If this had happened in Wilson in the 40's, Ray and Hank would have been there. This is a tribute to those brave people I saw as well as an opportunity to do something I had wanted to do for a while.
We TMoOD's have discussed relationships in this film. I wanted to explore more closely the relationship between Martha and Livy and, in turn, Ray and Hank. I think this will be in three parts. I'd love to hear your thoughts on their relationships as I try to write parts two and three. I also borrowed from some of the relationships already written about.
By the way, in summer of 1946, there was drought and wildfire in Idaho and several other surrounding states. That is why I chose this time period.
Setting: September 1946. Colorado, as well as other western states have experienced a very dry summer and now high winds and lightening are setting fires.
Part One
Livy tried to appear calm like all the other farm wives. She had lived in Wilson long enough to now know these women all shared her anxiety for the safety of their men- you just never show it. Martha was probably the best example of this quiet strength that she knew. She looked over at Martha, who was organizing the new food brought in from the church’s kitchen. Martha felt Livy’s eyes on her and she looked up and gave Livy a reassuring, “don’t worry, they’re fine” look that Livy realizes she’s come to count on.
Livy tried to appear calm like all the other farm wives. She had lived in Wilson long enough to now know these women all shared her anxiety for the safety of their men- you just never show it. Martha was probably the best example of this quiet strength that she knew. She looked over at Martha, who was organizing the new food brought in from the church’s kitchen. Martha felt Livy’s eyes on her and she looked up and gave Livy a reassuring, “don’t worry, they’re fine” look that Livy realizes she’s come to count on.
She and Martha had become close over the last two years. Martha meant it when she said that she always wanted a sister and she took Livy under her wing in that quiet, unobtrusive way of hers. Livy tried to smile back her own version of “I’m not worried”. For a moment their eyes told each what both was thinking. This exchange was more real than their words and both women gained strength from knowing they were not alone.
At that moment, a group of tired men came in for food. Livy and Martha search their faces for Ray and Hank, but their husbands weren’t among them. They both looked back at each other as if to say, “don’t worry, they’ll be in the next group” but behind it was the fear both let go unnamed, but not unprayed, “Dear God, please let them come back safely.”
The crew chief called for a rest period and Ray and Hank sat down for the first time in almost six hours. They were fighting a grass fire that started in a large space of prairie that backed up to the Hampton farm. They had managed to bring this fire under containment but not before the fire took the northern portion of the Hampton place where Sam Hampton grazed his cattle this time of year. The smell of their flesh was thick in the air. There was occasional gun fire as animals still found alive were put out of their misery.
Ray was exhausted, but he was worried about Hank. Hank labored breath reminded Ray that Hank wasn't as young as he used to be. Ray pulled out a sandwich that Livy had insisted he take with him from the inside pocket of this overshirt. He opened the paper it was wrapped in and offered half of it Hank.
At that moment, a group of tired men came in for food. Livy and Martha search their faces for Ray and Hank, but their husbands weren’t among them. They both looked back at each other as if to say, “don’t worry, they’ll be in the next group” but behind it was the fear both let go unnamed, but not unprayed, “Dear God, please let them come back safely.”
The crew chief called for a rest period and Ray and Hank sat down for the first time in almost six hours. They were fighting a grass fire that started in a large space of prairie that backed up to the Hampton farm. They had managed to bring this fire under containment but not before the fire took the northern portion of the Hampton place where Sam Hampton grazed his cattle this time of year. The smell of their flesh was thick in the air. There was occasional gun fire as animals still found alive were put out of their misery.
Ray was exhausted, but he was worried about Hank. Hank labored breath reminded Ray that Hank wasn't as young as he used to be. Ray pulled out a sandwich that Livy had insisted he take with him from the inside pocket of this overshirt. He opened the paper it was wrapped in and offered half of it Hank.
“Hank, how bout a bite. Livy made this.” Hank grinned. Ray smiled back. When Livy first came to Wilson she couldn’t cook. In fact, her shortcomings in this area had become legendary and although she was now a decent cook, it would probably be a joked that followed Livy’s culinary work forever. Livy didn’t mind. It had become a quiet family joke. The kind that people who love you use. For Livy, it was a history, her history with this family that she had come to love so much. She knew the kidding was from love so she played along, but Ray often felt the need to defend her.
“It’s a roast beef sandwich Hank, nobody could mess that up. Besides, she’s a good cook now.”
“It’s a roast beef sandwich Hank, nobody could mess that up. Besides, she’s a good cook now.”
Hank looked at Ray with a twinkle in his eye and said, “You, bet.” Ray shot him a look, but couldn’t sustain the seriousness and both laughed. They ate in silence for a moment as both were reminded of the grimness of the situation.
Hank looked down at the field that lay before them.“Sam’s lost his entire heard, I imagine.”
Both looked at each other then away. Sam had died yesterday trying to till up a dirt fire stop between the range grass and the field where he grazed his cattle. His body was discovered next to his fire gutted tractor. Sometimes, it's hard to estimate the actual speed of the fire. Both Ray and Hank knew Sam was a practical man. He wouldn't have attempted this unless he thought he had the time. It made them both feel their mortality as men who made their living from the land.
Sam had always been happy to “borrow” part of this prairie area to graze this cattle and that’s why he and his cattle were so far out. Both Hank and Ray knew this as the price you paid to live this life. Nature could give you a bountiful harvest or could set your world on fire.
The Stewarts and the Singletons had been on this land for a long time. They had seen good years, even great years, and they had seen heartbreak. Sometimes, it was more than a family could fight back from and they would leave. Both wondered about Sam’s wife and children. Both thought about their own families. Everyone in Wilson would do what they could to help, but everyone had their own farms to run.
For a fleeting moment, Ray wondered what Livy would do without him. Would she stay and try to run the farm or would she take Danny back to Denver? That thought hurt him. He imagined Livy trying to raise Danny in that environment. Her family, although somewhat soften since the time he and Livy married, still treated her as the family shame.
The Stewarts and the Singletons had been on this land for a long time. They had seen good years, even great years, and they had seen heartbreak. Sometimes, it was more than a family could fight back from and they would leave. Both wondered about Sam’s wife and children. Both thought about their own families. Everyone in Wilson would do what they could to help, but everyone had their own farms to run.
For a fleeting moment, Ray wondered what Livy would do without him. Would she stay and try to run the farm or would she take Danny back to Denver? That thought hurt him. He imagined Livy trying to raise Danny in that environment. Her family, although somewhat soften since the time he and Livy married, still treated her as the family shame.
And what would that do to Danny? At over a year and a half old now, he had become quite the handful. Ray smiled as he thought of how smart and fast Danny was. And stubborn, just like his mother. How would Livy’s father treat Danny? Ray doubted that Livy’s father would nurture Danny’s sense of himself. Instead, he would more likely try to instill that shame that the Reverend Dunne seemed so intent that Livy should wear. That thought made Ray shiver even in the heat of this September afternoon.
Ray smiled at the thought about how Livy often remarked on Danny’s stubbornness as she tired to disciple him. Ray knew that Danny's "willfullness" came directly from Livy so he loved it in Danny. He was always amused that Livy didn’t seem to see this same trait in herself.
Ray would gently wonder aloud, “Where could Danny have gotten that?” Livy would blush and playfully nudge him and say something like, “Don’t blame this on me, you spoil him.” But then she’d look at Ray with so much love, it hurt.
Ray smiled at the thought about how Livy often remarked on Danny’s stubbornness as she tired to disciple him. Ray knew that Danny's "willfullness" came directly from Livy so he loved it in Danny. He was always amused that Livy didn’t seem to see this same trait in herself.
Ray would gently wonder aloud, “Where could Danny have gotten that?” Livy would blush and playfully nudge him and say something like, “Don’t blame this on me, you spoil him.” But then she’d look at Ray with so much love, it hurt.
No doubt, Danny was head strong, but that just meant he had a good sense of himself. Ray had a way of handling that; he could steer Danny into minding without having to discipline him too much. He had learned how to manage a head strong child early on when he was left to raise his own brother Danny. In fact, Ray had often thought, how much his son Danny was like his brother.
Ray felt panic at the thought of Livy and Danny alone. He prayed to himself, “Please God, don’t take me away from them. They need me.” Then a calmness settled on Ray. They wouldn’t be alone. There was Hank and Martha and the kids. And there was Livy herself. That stubbornness was really her inner strength. Livy would survive and she would make sure Danny’s life was good, too. She wouldn’t let anyone take away Danny’s self confidence. He could count on that.
Still, he thought, I should prepare so that she has options. He realized he didn’t even have a life insurance policy or a will. He’d never needed one. Until now, the land-long paid for-would have gone to Martha and Hank and they knew where Ray wanted to be buried—next to his brother Danny and their parents. He realized at that moment, he had so much more he needed to take care of.
Ray looked up from his thoughts and realized that Hank was studying his face. “She and Danny would always have a place with us just as I know you’d take care of Martha and the kids.”
Ray nodded to the man who had taught him so much and had become his best friend. “I know, I know that Hank and you know I would be there for Martha and the kids, no question.” Hank winked because neither wanted to maintain the seriousness. Hank sniffed the smoke filled air, “Well now, that almost smells like dinner at your house.”
Ray felt panic at the thought of Livy and Danny alone. He prayed to himself, “Please God, don’t take me away from them. They need me.” Then a calmness settled on Ray. They wouldn’t be alone. There was Hank and Martha and the kids. And there was Livy herself. That stubbornness was really her inner strength. Livy would survive and she would make sure Danny’s life was good, too. She wouldn’t let anyone take away Danny’s self confidence. He could count on that.
Still, he thought, I should prepare so that she has options. He realized he didn’t even have a life insurance policy or a will. He’d never needed one. Until now, the land-long paid for-would have gone to Martha and Hank and they knew where Ray wanted to be buried—next to his brother Danny and their parents. He realized at that moment, he had so much more he needed to take care of.
Ray looked up from his thoughts and realized that Hank was studying his face. “She and Danny would always have a place with us just as I know you’d take care of Martha and the kids.”
Ray nodded to the man who had taught him so much and had become his best friend. “I know, I know that Hank and you know I would be there for Martha and the kids, no question.” Hank winked because neither wanted to maintain the seriousness. Hank sniffed the smoke filled air, “Well now, that almost smells like dinner at your house.”
