Life Sentence

Life Sentence

Fred slung another horse shoe into the bin and straightened to work the kinks out of his back. He wasn't yet eighteen years old and felt like an old man. The grueling labor at the forge had molded his naturally athletic body into herculean shape but it was taking it's toll on his joints and his psyche. How many horse shoes were needed in this 1917 modern age of horseless carriages? Sure, he fashioned many types of farming implements at his anvil but he felt like he was wasting his mental acuity and his heritage at a task any muscle bound fool could perform. He desired so much more out of his life. He deserved so much more out of his life. This constant manual labor was fine for the likes of his step-father, Patrick O'Reilly, and his multiple red-headed younger half-brothers but he had royal blood cursing through his veins and it was high time he made better use of it.

After his persistent urging two years prior, his poor beleaguered overworked mother had finally confessed to him her royal heritage and the status of his true father. The mysterious rogue was a dark, handsome Greek of prominent stature who had fallen in love with a blonde beauty of royal heritage from Slavic decent. Neither family approved of the union so they were forced apart. Damage had already been done and Leona was disowned by her family when it was discovered she was with child. She was supporting herself and infant, Frederick, when Patrick O'Reilly met her in the pub she worked and took pity on her even though he was only a poorly paid seaman himself. Because he was so well liked by all who knew him he was able to pull enough strings to get them across the ocean for a new start in life. After working in industrial manufacturing in New England he was able to save enough to move west looking for land. He ended up having to settle as a sharecropper on a huge South Dakota ranch when more babies started arriving regularly. His dreams were as expansive as the land yet even as hard-working as Patrick and his pack of sons were little progress had thus far been made. Dark-haired Frederick was stuck working in the ranch forge for the rich property owner as his own dreams of a better life burned fiercely in his gut.

The enterprising young man had promised himself and told his mother by the time he reached eighteen he would strike out on his own even though he despised leaving his mother in her desperate domestic situation. Her beauty as was her spirit were being zapped by demands of motherhood to seven children with one barely out of the womb. Trouble was Fred worked so hard he never had time to fully explore what direction he should take to make his escape. Besides all her other household duties his mother took on homeschooling her brood. Although his mind was sharp he could go no further than the eighth grade education she had provided. As the oldest boy he was needed to bring in extra income into the ever growing household. They couldn't afford the luxury of higher education.

As the sun turned the western sky a blaze of kaleidoscopic splendor Fred banked the fire in the forge, neatly hung his tools, pulled the heavy apron over his head and stepped out just as a sporty car roared into the gravely dry drive.

“Need a ride, Handsome?” pert and pretty Adeline McCormick called from the driver's seat.

“Nah, I'm too sweaty and smelly. I'll spoil your upholstery. But thanks.”

“You can't avoid me forever, you know. I live right up the hill. We've known each other for years. We used to play together. Remember?” Adeline pouted.

“Well, that's when you were scrawny and ugly and not a threat to me. You are way too pretty now. I might get my heart broken.”

“You look strong enough to handle anything. Even little ol' me. What are you afraid of?”

“Mostly your father. My employer. He wouldn't take kindly to me ravishing his prize possession.”

“Oo. Promise? That sounds like fun. We have so few things in this God-forsaken land for entertainment.”

“How can you say God-forsaken? Just look at His handiwork there in that western sky!”

“Yeah, yeah. Seen one seen them all. Now if you want to get in and we could drive over that hill to get a wider view... Maybe we could get a few sparks going.”

“Sorry, Ma needs me at the house. See ya around.” Fred turned to head toward the ram-shack home he lived in but steeled a look back as the raven haired beauty shot past him up the hill to the mansion she shared with her father. Darn. She gets prettier by the hour. That's exactly the kind of babe I deserve but I wouldn't dare cross her dad. No time for such nonsense anyway. I need to make my fortune first.

The family were already gathered around the dining table in the kitchen. He pecked his mother on her cheek as she floated on her track between stove work table and dining table. “You're late, Freddy.” She admonished.

“Adeline delayed me.”

“Don't get no silly notions about that siren, Young Man. She's way out of your station.” Patrick rankled Fred's nerves.

“Wasn't me seeking her out. Can't be rude to the boss's daughter. Could lose me my benefits.” Fred tussled the red heads of each of his four sibling brothers as he walked past. When he got to six-year-old Maggie, the only girl, he kissed her on the top of her red-gold curls as she rocked the latest addition, three-month old, Harold. “How's little Harry, Goldilocks?”

“Not too good, Freddy. He can't stop coughing.” the little mother worried.

“Let me wash up a bit then I can take him while you eat.”

Fred hurried to the room he shared with thirteen-year-old, Danny, and slipped out of his sweaty clothes into his spare set. He readjusted his sock. It was clear Maggie had taken over some of the darning responsibilities and sure enough a rough spot had rubbed a blister on his heel. Bless her heart for trying to relieve some of their mother's burdens but now they all had to suffer a little.

Wish stubborn Patrick would give in a little and let the boys do some of the household chores. Especially now there was another baby. There was only so much one woman could handle. She wasn't strong yet from the delivery. His quick temper flared again thinking about that old Irishman who claimed to love her but couldn't see he was killing her with baby after baby, expecting her to single handedly run this hovel of a household. How selfish! Once he made his fortune he would be sure to hire help for his sacrificial mother.

When he returned to the kitchen he scooped up Harry from Maggie and balanced him on his shoulder as he ate. The infant felt hot to his touch but he wasn't coughing.

“That's not your responsibility.” Patrick was quick to remind him.

“He's my little brother. As Father you could take him so the women could eat.”

“Don't push my buttons, Son.”

Leona shot tired looks at both of them and they let it drop before it escalated. She served after dinner tea to all then sat for the first time since her hurried lunch time.

As their custom Patrick had each youngster read some Bible verses contributing his effort toward their education. The boys suffered through it. Maggie cherished it.

She also cherished the chance to hold little Harry so took him back from Freddy as Patrick answered their ring on the party line telephone. Ranch owner, Raymond McCormick, announced to anyone who picked up that the US Congress had declared war on aggressive Germany. The family stared at each other in disbelief. They were all so busy simply surviving they had paid little attention to world events and the boiling trouble Germany had been creating world wide. Their President Wilson had recently been elected promising to stay out of that useless European war. Now everyone was supposed to embrace it and they're asking for volunteers to join the American army! Finally, Frederick could see a way out of his life sentence!