Chapters 28-42

Chapter 28 More Land Trouble











Chapter 29 The House Dance

An Irish band plays as Matt Molloy's Pub in Westport, Ireland. Just like Louisianaians, Irish folk love good music and fellowship.

"Craic" (pronounced "crack") is the Irish word denoting music, fun, and fellowship. In the Ten Mile house dance featured in Chapter 29, Joe attends and "officially" meets Eliza for the first time. He is an outsider but quickly makes himself at home with the music of the pioneers.

"Mose" was an actual 19th century fiddler in western Louisiana. I first read about him in the historical account of the later Westport Fight.

Chapter 30 Burnout and a horse

An Irish horse in Doolin, Ireland. click on the picture to see that road signs are in both English and Gaelic.

Chapter 31 The First Kiss







Chapter 32 Peat and Pine knots



A peat pile in County Mayo, Ireland. The Irish use a type of shovel to cut the "bricks" out of the turf. They pile it and dry it for months, before moving it to their homes.

Burning peat gives off a blue smoke and has a sweet smell.

A peat brick. Curt brought back two bricks in his luggage and has enjoyed showing them to groups.

Peat is a partially-decomposed fossil fuel. The wet peat bogs of western Ireland are spongy when you walk on them.

I loved the idea of Joe explaining to Louisiana pioneers what peat was.

Chapter 33 Next Visit







Chapter 34 Dogwoods







Chapter 35 Snakebite!

Canebrake Rattlesnake rattles held by Curt.


This large rattler once was common in all parts of Louisiana, but now is found in SW La. primarily only along the Calcasieu River and Sabine River areas.















Chapter 36 Occupy Church

Church sign at Occupy #1

Hwy 113 between Pitkin and Union Hill, LA

Does anyone know what year Occupy Church split into Occupy 1 and Occupy 2?

Legend has it that they split over trouble, but the historical record shows that because flooding of Ten Mile Creek separated the members, and caused the ones west of Ten Mile to start Occupy 2.

The grave of Rev. Joseph Willis at Occupy 1 Cemetery

Chapter 37 Leave!











Chapter 38 The Fight at Davis Crossing


Davis Crossing at the Calcasieu River La. Hwy 113





Chapter 39 Davis Crossing



Davis Crossing Baptist Church near the Calcasieu River.

Chapter 40 Trouble at the Creek

Chapter 41 Uncle Arch and the Wood Duck Slough

This is my favorite chapter of the book. It is predicated on two real life stories. One similar story was told by my uncle, Lawrence Edwards of Larto, LA.

The second story concerns the death of one of my heroes and friends, Mr. Jay Miller. Mr. Jay was the last of the eight Miller Brothers of Dry Creek. In 2000 on a cold November morning he took his daughter and preacher to their deer stands at daylight. As he walked down a firelane in Miller Pasture to his own stand, he fell dead.

Men in our community said, "If I could pick how to go, I'd go like Mr. Jay did."

Wood Duck mount. The male drake is the prettiest bird God created.

Chapter 42 The Burn Out

Epilogue