Life in Dowde County was always simple. Wash, knit, eat, sleep, repeat. I never had to deal with financial issues. My husband, Samuel Combes, owned a large plot of land as well as a bank, and my parents had been wealthy themselves. I never knew what poverty was like, or how it affected one's life. It wasn't until March of 1861 that things changed. My good friend Anna Strong and I spent everyday together, even if you'd think we wouldn't get along. I was stubborn and hot-headed, while she was bossy, wanting to be in command. We spent enough time together to be thought of as sisters, yet looked nothing alike. I had light blonde hair, whereas she had brown hair and green eyes. I preferred wearing frilly bright colours, and she soft pastel colours. Nonetheless, we got along well. Anna's husband, Gabriel, owned a mill in the town, as well as a plot of land, so Anna and I were both well off. We spent our days gossiping, giggling, and doing all things stereotypical of us women.
I lived on a farm with a nice large yellow house, made of siding, with shutters on the windows and a garden I enjoyed caring for. With me being 17 and Mark 20, I already had a 1 year old daughter named Nora, whom I adored. I always brought her out in the garden with me to play with our dog, a border collie, named Billie. As well, I was well into expecting my second child, so Mark allowed me to relax, giving me plenty of time to gossip with Anna. Anna and I had been friends since our school years, both being 17. Anna had a son, George, who was 2, and a daughter, Charlotte, who was 1. We adored our children to the ends of the earth, always bringing them to play together in our gardens.
Our days were often spent like this, in the sunshine, laughing with our children. It didn't change until one day, when a new family moved in down the lane. They were different. A 62 year old man named Tyler Cole, an odd name, as well as his 28 year old wife, Hannah, their two daughters, older son and their younger son, a 5 year old boy John, who went by Lil Johnny. Once they appeared, things started getting strange.
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Pioneer Life
Historical FictionA story following the lives of villagers in the 1800s in Upper Canada. Two well-to-do farm wives, Sadie Stone and Anna Strong deal with their neighbor's financial struggles, as well as struggles of their own. From the point of view of both ladies, f...
