Chapter 8: Settling In

I woke up with what seemed like every muscle in my body aching. Some time in the night, I had worked my way out of bed with the three girls and relocated to the couch in the great room. It had become very uncomfortable with all of us trying to sleep in a bed made for two people.

“Damn,” I said to myself, “I have to get a larger bed if we are all going to sleep together. That couch is just not going to make it.”

I shook the sleepiness off and headed out to the outhouse to take care of my morning business.

I could see today would be another glorious day. The sun was rising in the east, creating a beautiful red mosaic shining through the clouds.

After my visit to the facilities, I headed over to the barn where the forge and tools were temporarily stored. I was still puzzled about making a decent stove for cooking. During the night’s restless sleep, I had kept coming back to the steps necessary to build the damn thing. The more I thought about it, the more I was convinced that I was making it way too hard.

“OK,” I said to myself, “you need to think about what is really needed.”

I sat down on the anvil we had carted up from the farm and then focused on the problem.

As I sat there and thought, different ideas began to raise themselves.

“What if I built the base and walls from stone? This way, I would only need to have the top made of iron. That would sure make it a lot easier, and in the winter, the stones would hold the heat as well.”

I continued to mull over the problem in my head.

“Humm ... how to build an iron top?”

Then it hit me. I could forge narrow strips and weld them by heating two strips and hammering them together, then just repeat the process until the top was the size I needed. This would make the construction pretty simple. The chimney could also be made out of stone with an iron damper made like the top and could be fitted inside the flue. I could also make dampers for the firebox to regulate air going into the stove.

The more I continued in this vein of thought, the more I realized there were several different ways and methods to construct the stove. I would just have to think a bit more about the final design.

Happy with my conclusion, I headed off to the house in a much better frame of mind.

When I reached the house, Celle and Kata were busy making breakfast.

“Good morning!” I said, walking through the door.

Celle came over and gave me a hug and kiss on my cheek.

“Good morning, Donta,” she said.

I had no sooner released Celle than Kata took her place.

“Good morning,” Kata said with a hug that molded her small body to mine.

I tilted her head up and gave her a gentle kiss, then said, “You look chipper this morning, Kata.”

Kata pulled my head down for another kiss, and then with a giggle, released me to rejoin Celle preparing breakfast.

“I’m going to check on Rocha.” I said to the girls as I headed for the bedroom.

I found Rocha sitting on the side of the bed, trying to put on her shirt.

“Rocha, how are you feeling this morning?”

“I’m pretty good, Donta.” She responded.

“Let me help you, besides I want to take a look at your wound.”

I helped her remove her shirt and then examined the wound. It appeared to be healing nicely, but there would be a nasty scar when healed. I debated if stitching the wound would make the scar less noticeable but decided not to pursue it. The wound was healing nicely, and I didn’t want to risk an infection or the pain she would have to undergo.

“Rocha, you are going to have a nasty scar then when this heals. You also need to start using your left arm more. If you don’t start moving the arm, the scar tissue will set, and you will not be able to move it very well. I know it will hurt, but please try.”

“I will try, Donta,” she said.

I helped Rocha with putting on her shirt, then headed for the kitchen but then paused.

Remembering that I had promised to talk to each of them about our new family, I turned and said to Rocha, “Rocha, I want to talk to you after breakfast. Do you feel like a walk after we eat?”