TREASURE TRAILS RETREAT -- CHAPTER 13
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Rick and I took a walk around to check several of the different attractions being constructed within the area. Jordyn and Uncle Tom had a crew installing the lighting features to highlight the falls and the scenery around it. They figured it would be ready for this winter and would look great for the people skiing at the retreat.
We left them and went to check out the Indian Village. We had left this area completely up to the Indians and this was the first time we'd seen what they had created. We were both amazed they had built not one village, but three small units combined into one large area. They explained as we were shown around, that different tribes of Indians had different styles of living depending on the area in which they were living. Some built permanent villages while others lived on the plains and moved often with the animals they hunted for food; still others moved with the seasons of the year to several semi-permanent spots they had used for years. Each group built different kinds of lodges or teepees. They had different styles of cooking and various kinds of foods, had different types of clothing and even many different tongues were spoken.
What we are trying to show on this property is that we are many different people massed together and how, even with all the differences we are all one. The older men showed us several lodges, some made of young trees they'd cut with the larger end buried in the ground and twenty feet away a second one buried. The two were then bent to form an arch and tied together with rawhide. This was done several times and formed a row of arches to act as support for tree branches woven between them forming a hut 20 feet wide and sometimes as long as 40 or more feet. The branch work was covered with grasses that made it just like thatch.
Others made teepees and we have examples of three different types of teepees. All of the different lodges are furnished just as people had lived in them long ago. All will have fires burning and pots of something cooking. We will also have many people working on making clothing from hides. Others will be doing beadwork and working with feathers and even small bones. We plan on being able to show all types of Indian crafts and have several available for purchase or to be ordered to size. We are also going to have classes for the younger Indian children to be able to learn many of the old ways. We will be paying them to help us and to learn their heritage at the same time. We have also found that the older generation again feel needed and are happy to be showing the young ones the Indian ways. This small village has brought us all together much closer and has made us a more tightly-grouped band than before. We ate lunch at Indian Village, having a vegetable soup and corn bread with a glass of ice cold spring water flavored with cherry juice it was all delicious.
We left the village and went on to the ski lodge. This was also being built by the Indians. As we left the wooded area and entered the meadow, on the far side was a beautiful wooden ski lodge built into the hillside. We could see the fresh line of dirt where the trenches had been dug for the necessary pipes and conduits to be laid in place and the trenches refilled. The lodge was a long expanse of wood and glass partly buried into the hill side. The area had been landscaped with many different types of shrubs and small bushes hiding the chimneys and exhaust pipes as well as the various operations within the lodge. The kitchen, restrooms, fireplaces etc all had to be vented and these were well hidden by nature's own now. As we arrived to the west end of the lodge we noticed the tunnel for the mono-rail that went around the back of the lodge and into the hill. The entrance was inside the hill with the entrances into the lodge controlled by forced warm air to keep Mother Nature at bay. The inside was very well lighted with all the tops of the log beams strung with tube lighting which reflected off the highly polished wooden ceiling.
They explained how they used six different types of wood and they all had different shades, so they had been able to blend them together, thus being able to make it almost look like paint using just the wood. The final shades had been affected by using different layers of sealers and varnishes. The back wall of the entire lodge was like a painting of a woodland scene. By cutting and carving the different types of wood and bark then applying stains and varnishes, and cutting thousands of small pieces of the wood it looked like a beautiful drawing. The entire wall was flooded with what looked like natural light and it was the highlight of the entire lodge.
Without counting I would say there were 20 smaller groups of seating, each with a small gas powered fire pit. Four large stone fire places had been built to use both natural gas and log fires. All the seats were covered with colorful but tasteful upholstery. The lodge featured a large open-style kitchen on the outer section which could serve both those inside and those outside on the terrace. Off to the left of the lodge was a shop for rental of skis, etc. and a large well appointed ladies restroom. And to complete the area on the right a repair shop and offices of the Ski-patrol and men's restrooms also well appointed. To the backs of the two wings were the repair and storage shops for the snowmobiles. The other end held the housing for the ski patrol and the first aid clinics. Looking into the office we saw both summer and winter drawings of the ski-lodge.
The lodge itself was heated and air-conditioned. The tables outside had sun-shade umbrellas for the summer time. Picnic baskets with foods of all kinds were being planned for the summer time groups. They were also planning on outdoor concerts in the summer season. We also noticed that the towers for the ski lifts were installed as were the tow ropes, all in all this area looked ready to go.
We were heading back to the ranch house and stopped at the stables to see what Aaron had been able to get done. He had moved almost a mile of fencing and made the pasture grazing area for the riding horses roughly one mile square. The number of horses had been increased to 175. Aaron had also created a petting zoo of sorts at the stable area. Many small farm animals were wandering around loose. I noticed we also had several peacocks as well as a number of ducks and geese. It was really turning into a farm like zoo. As we walked up to Aaron and Russ they each got a hug and kiss on the cheek and a `well done guys everything looks great'. We asked if they had any problems with the new barns and out buildings. They told us they were having a couple of large culverts installed on two areas of the stream in the pasture area. These will be covered with dirt and grass so that they will be natural walking bridges for the horses to be able to get to different areas of the grazing easier.
We took our time slowly driving the ATV thru the valley that had been picked to extend the grazing for the small herd of horses we now had. Aaron and Russ had picked this site because it was visible from the monorail running alone the side of it and also because of the 3 streams running thru this area. We stopped and were slowly walking towards one of the large culverts waiting to be installed when we heard a noise.
It sounded like a small boy saying "Quiet Tyler, they will find us." I motioned for Rick to go to one end and I went to the other. As we entered we found two young boys huddled together, the older boy holding the smaller one who was trying not to cry. Both were very dirty and their clothes were almost rags. We knelt down and asked if we could help and if they could tell us their names. The older of the two said, "We're fine, please just leave us alone." The little one said, "Please Tommy I hurt bad," we looked closer and he appeared to have a broken arm. I asked Tommy, Is this your brother and did he fall and break his arm?" Tommy also started to cry and said, "Please just leave us; Timmy didn't fall, our step father pushed him down and did it. After he drank himself to sleep we ran away. Later we saw him searching for us and ran into the woods, and then we found this tube to hide in last night. We've been hiding all day and Timmy's arm is starting to swell and I'm getting real scared."
I called Russ and Aaron and told them to get the Doctor and Thomas over here pronto and we would also need some way to move a small boy with a broken arm to the ranch house. While I was doing this Rick called the local police to report finding the two boys. Tommy heard this and tried to get Tim to his feet to run away from us. He was yelling, "You said you were going to help. We don't want to go with that man that calls himself our step-father; he's been beating us ever since Mom died." I promised Tommy that would not happen. He collapsed in my arms as Rick held Timmy.
Doc and Thomas got Timmy's arm secured to be able to move him and gave him something for the pain. It was not far but because of the terrain Steve and Matt brought a chopper out to transport the kids to the ranch house. The eyes of both boys got huge then they saw the chopper land. We could hardly hold them still as we took off. We took them right to the ranch house and put them in a room next to the twins. The triplets thought they were there to play until they saw Timmy's arm all wrapped up. The little guys went up and kissed both of the boys and said, "You will be OK here.
We quickly got them washed and in some clothing (long tee shirts for now) and got them some food. Just about the time we had them settled down, the police showed up. It appeared that their father had filed a missing persons report on them.
We explained what the boys had told us and the Doctor explained that both boys had many bruises, some old and more new ones. He continued reporting that both boys had told him the father had broken Timmy's arm on purpose. I asked if the boys could be placed in our custody until this all got straightened out. All the officer did was smile and said, "I was hoping you would ask that. I will contact Child Welfare first thing tomorrow. It appears it's going to be a busy night and I will not have time `til tomorrow morning to get all the paper work done. I know they will be in safe hands here and well fed; and by the way thanks again for all the coffee and food and offering to feed us when we are way out here and on patrol, and the entire force thanks you for the very generous donation that you made to the police fund. If there is nothing else I will get on my way and the Chief will more than likely call you in the morning. Tell the boys not to worry we are all looking out for them.
Doc and Tom left and said they would come over in the morning and get Timmy to have an x-ray and make sure the arm was set right to heal properly. Every one else left and it was just Rick and I. The triplets had fallen asleep on the floor next to the new brothers. It was almost as if they were guarding them. Rick and I cuddled in a bed next to the five kids. Rick looked at me, kissed me and said, "Yes it's OK, we can." I asked, "What is OK?" He smiled and kissed me again and said, "To adopt them...you know you want to already." I just kissed him back and we went to sleep.
We woke up with ten little eyes staring at us. When they saw we were awake they all started asking. "What's for breakfast, we're hungry." Timmy with his arm in a sling looked right at me and said, "If you are going to be my new Dad can you get me something easy to eat this morning?" and he hugged me. Rick smiled and said, "Done deal right partner?"
More to come as the other areas of Treasure Trails Retreat are developed and the boys grow and of course find things to get into and do.
Thanks again to Bill for all his help in editing and suggestions