Chapter 1: Here for the Long Haul
Chapter 1: Here for the Long Haul
"Liam, please...we've been surveying the coast for weeks now, living in ramshackle lean-to's each night, paddling all day...and if I have to eat one more stale biscuit...well, I don't know what I'll do!" Susan deflated in the boat. It had been weeks. "That's what I get," she thought to herself, "for marrying Liam Fisher."
"Hmm? What's that dear?" Liam finally replied. He had been so busy hawking the coast he hadn't been paying attention to her this entire time. "Yes, whatever you want..."
"Liam, you're not even listening." Susan hissed.
"We don't paddle...you paddle a canoe; we're not in a canoe. See? I listen," Liam smirked. "THERE! THERE IT IS!" he exclaimed as he motioned towards the other boats.
5 other boats made their way close to their leader. They'd heard this before.
"Are you sure this time, Liam?" A man in his later years asked with a raised brow.
"Yes, Eugene. This is it. This is where we shall settle."
And so with that, 6 little boats carrying 18 people, a dog, tools, supplies, and whatever else the party needed made for shore. The small stretch of beach opened wide into a grassy knoll before being swallowed once again by the forest that seemed damn near impenetrable. In the center was an outcropping of rocks, similar to those that flanked each side of the beach. The group stepped on solid ground for (hopefully) the final time for a while. Brutus, the Douglass' family dog made off like a shot and dashed across the beach, across the stones, and promptly rolled in the grass. His sentiments were felt equally among the rest of the party.
"Finally! Let's get a fire going," exclaimed Robert Douglass, eldest son of Benjamin and Liza. "My socks and shoes are absolutely saturated."
"If you want a fire, you best get some kindling, son." Benjamin said. "And take your siblings with you."
Robert sulked, but seeing as his feet were getting no warmer, he along with his sister Maryann and brother Frank ventured into the woods.
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As the days turned to weeks, it was clear there was much to do. A proper dock was built so that one could get in and out of the water without necessarily getting wet. This new nation needed to start somewhere; dry pant cuffs seems like a good place as any to begin! The group cleaned up the beach and used much of the driftwood around the settlement. A small road was formed to get to the dock and lead into the meadow.
"Of course, we'll need a church." Father Marshall said. He was in his early 50's and had been a man of the cloth for almost 30 years now. He was a devout, albeit short, man who had one goal: make sure the Good News was brought to this new land.
"Yes, yes...a church. How about we focus on some homes, first, Father?" Liam Fisher asked.
He was right; while they had settled on the point where the river enters the bay, they had been busy doing other things (surviving mainly) and the time had come to build a proper shelter. Everyone was tired of living like animals in their tents. Camping is fun, but not when there isn't a home to return to.
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"All I need is four walls and a roof, my good sir." Eugene Johnson said. And lucky for him, that's about all he had. "As a man of the cloth, shouldn't this suffice, Father?" Eugene had demanded that his home be small and simple for two very good reasons: One, he was too old to build it on his own and needed quite the bit of assistance from the rest of the group; and two, he was too old and knew he didn't have much time left. He was on, what he assumed to be, his last great adventure in life.
"Yes, yes, of course, Mr. Johnson." Father Marshall replied.
"And look. They were even kind enough to extend the road to our little homes. Isn't that sweet?" Eugene cackled. "Eli, how do you like your new accommodations? Surely they beat sleeping on the ground!"
"Yes, sir. Although, if I'm to be honest, this is a far cry from my home back...well...back West. I'm just glad my wife and son can get off of the cold, wet ground." Eli White lived around the corner from Eugene and Father Marshall. He had a beautiful wife, Ruth, whom had given birth to their first child, Thomas a year before they set off on their adventure.
"Why on earth did you come along with such a small child, my boy?" Eugene inquired. Certainly Eli had more brains than THAT!
"There was nothing for us back there." Ruth quickly snapped. "Nothing."
"Sorry to offend, ma'am." Eugene tipped his hat.
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The Fishers, Susan and Liam, built their home close to the second pier. Liam can often be seen out front chopping wood. Down the way, the Douglass family lives in a quaint home. Benjamin and Liza are in their mid 40's. They came to strike it rich. Call it crazy, call it a midlife crisis, but they're here now.
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"Ah, the church." Father Marshall smiled. "It is indeed a lovely sight."
"Yes, and we are so grateful that it was built right across from our home!" Sarah Potter exclaimed. She had convinced her husband, Edgar, to follow Fr. Marshall to the new nation. The Potters live in the biggest home in the settlement. Edgar and Sarah have four children: Sarah, Jenny, Gretchen, & Fannie. All four girls are in their teens.
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"Well, my dear. We've made it!"
"I don't think we've been here long enough to say we've made it just yet, Liam, dear."
"Oh, Susan. We made it. Look at it. It's beautiful."
"Dear, just remember. We're here for the long haul."
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