Date: Tue, 20 Apr 2010 06:53:43 -0700 (PDT)
From: B. Joseph Nugent <joenugent@att.net>
Subject: Treasure Trails Retreat  Chapter #13   Beginnings

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