Lauren and the girls got into the wagon with Janice and Chance. James pulled out of town about 3:30 p.m. and headed home. “Be home in about 40 minutes or so,” he told Jason on the radio. The ride home was uneventful and that was just fine with James.
They were home in less than an hour and pulled in well before dark. Chance took to Jason right away, giving James an extra layer of confidence that Jason would be a solid addition to the now-growing family.
James, with Jason riding along, got to the evening chores and they were done in time for dinner.
The ladies had a special treat from today’s market for the men. “Don’t be mad,” pleaded Janice to James, “but we made a trade for some frozen shrimp and scallops. I know they are your favorites and I’m not sure when we will see them again.”
“You have got to be joking!” replied James with a huge smile. “You’re sure they are good and frozen?”
“Like an ice block, and they smell good too,” said Janice.
“You girls like shrimp and scallops?” he asked.
“We like shrimp,” replied Carla, “but I’m not sure about the other things.”
“Today is a good day for a celebration,” echoed Janice. “We made good trades at the market and we have a meal before us fit for a king. We also have a new family member in Chance, and I think he will fit right in.” Chance gave a bark and sat, waiting for praise.
Dinner was shrimp, scallops and corn on the cob, with pantyhose sprouts James learned how to make from Lance.
* * * * * * *
Chapter Twenty-six ~ Loveland, Colorado
Janie was transferred by the West’s ambulance, as a formality only, to the hospital. She made a point to say hello to John and extend her wishes for a speedy recovery.
“Just because you’re due soon doesn’t automatically mean you will give birth in the next day or two. We will just have to wait and see,” said Dr. Melton.
Bill was trying to finalize what happened to John with Mac and his guys. The walkie-talkie he had set up with Samuel the other day chirped.
“Bill, we have an issue on the north end of the Valley, at the barricade.”
“What’s the problem?” asked Bill.
“There are some people…well, about 50 I️ hear, that are asking to come on to our property. Apparently most of them have been here before.”
“Are they violent in any way?” asked Bill.
“Well, not yet,” replied Samuel. “But I️ think they are expecting a free pass, so who knows?”
“I’ll be down in just a few,” replied Bill.
Bill gathered Mac and a few of the other men, telling them of the situation.
“We’ll be armed,” declared Mac. “Understand, all of you,” cautioned Bill. “Most of these people will likely be families, just like ours. There may be a few we can add to the group with proper interviews, but most will need to move on. Do not…I️ repeat…do not engage unless it’s absolutely necessary. Everyone understand?”
“Yes sir, Bill!” they all shouted, like a military platoon.
Bill and his group headed down to the barricade on four-wheelers and were surprised to see at least 100 people milling around. It looked to Bill like the line at Disneyland 30 minutes before the park opened on a Saturday morning.
“We will need to address the crowd,” Bill told Samuel. “It may not go well, but we can’t take everyone in.”
“Agreed,” said Samuel, and he went to talk with his men.
“Please, everyone quiet down,” said Bill in a loud but not yelling voice. “We understand that you are all looking for somewhere to go and we can only accept a few families interested in our community.
“We are looking for hardworking men and women, with or without children, who can add a special skill to our group. Please line up over here,” he added, pointing to a spot on the road toward the left side, “if you would like to be interviewed.”
To both Bill and Samuel’s surprise, less than one-third of the crowd lined up for interviews. The interview process took nearly three hours, with Bill adding a few families to the Ranch, including carpenters, ranch hands, and an accountant who could be good with inventory.
Samuel added two doctors, several mechanics, and several security men, with their families in tow. The rest were told to kindly be on their way. Most just started walking. But a few were getting worked up and demanded to know why they weren’t chosen, even though they were not interviewed.
“We have a right,” argued what appeared to be a leader of the group, “to go wherever we want now.”
“I️ understand your concerns,” sympathized Samuel, “but we must ask you to keep moving.”
Mac and his guys were intentionally visible, with their rifles pointed in the air. “As the good preacher announced,” added Mac, “it’s best that you all were moving on now.”
Most started walking down the road, but a few were yelling and appeared agitated.
“Keep a close eye out,” called Mac to his guys. “Let’s just get these men to move on down the road peacefully.”
“Crack!” came the sound from about 50 yards out, with the bullet impact echoing off the cliff just above. The second shot hit with a thud, as Mac looked down to see blood pouring from his left forearm.
“Be careful, men,” he shouted. “There are women and children out there.”
Mac’s men singled out the shooter and dropped him quickly, with no other casualties. All was quiet for what seemed like an eternity before the crowd began slowly walking down the road.
“Let’s get you looked at,” offered Samuel to Mac. “I’ll take you to our hospital to get fixed up.”
A few minutes later, Samuel and Bill walked into the hospital with Mac. Dr. Melton met them in the lobby. “I figured you might find your way back here,” she hinted to Mac, “but I wasn’t expecting this.”
“Whatever it takes, Doctor,” replied Mac with a painful grin.
After Dr. Melton’s evaluation it was clear Mac had a fractured ulna bone in his forearm from the bullet’s impact. “It could have been a lot worse,” finished Dr. Melton.
“I’m not complaining,” replied Mac.
An hour later Mac was dressed and fit with a soft cast so the wound could be addressed in the next few days. “You’re going to need a permanent cast for the break,” declared Dr. Melton, “but only after the wound has healed to my satisfaction.”
“Yes ma’am…I mean Doctor,” said Mac. “Am I getting admitted?”
“I think you’re good to go,” interjected Bill. “Is that right, Dr. Melton?” he asked.
“That’s right,” she said. “But you will need to follow up daily until I release you from care.”
“I can do that,” agreed Mac. “How can I thank you?” Mac asked Dr. Melton.
“You could take a look at our generators,” insisted Samuel. “They are working overtime and I’m not sure they are going to survive.”
“Sure, sir. I can do that,” said Mac, grinning. “It’s kind of my thing.”
The general feeling of the Ranch group was mixed. Some being thankful that they were in a safe place and being fed, and others who thought things might be better on the other side. A few families were stirring up the others. They were talking about going up to Estes Park, about 35 miles away.
Most of the Ranch members were happy where they were and didn’t want to leave. Bill addressed the families in question. “I have spent more time painting and photographing Estes Park than all of you combined, I am sure.
“Is there game up there? Yes, of course, but you’re not the only ones to recognize that. All those who have passed our Valley recently are headed there for the same reason. You will need to make a choice, just as the one our leader, John, issued only days ago.
“You may go in peace, not to return, or you may stay and fully embrace our community and its members. I will expect your answers first thing in the morning.”
Bill walked home with a smile, knowing full well most, if
not all, of the families would choose to stay. He knew it was their only chance at survival and he had prayed for clarity before his speech. He filled Sharon in on the day’s events when he returned home.
“I’m just going to catch the Broncos game. I think they are playing my home team, the New England Patriots,” he remarked, with a smile.
“So a nap, I’m guessing?” asked Sharon. “We’ll see,” replied Bill. “We’ll see.”
Bill awakened to a knock at the door. It was one of Mac’s guys and he was talking fast.
“Our scouts on Green Ridge have spotted some men on the mountain with rifles. It appears they are hunting for food.”
“Are they on our property?” asked Bill.
“Well, no,” replied the man, “but they are just beyond our line.”
“Keep an eye on them and let them know where our property lines run. Also make sure any shooting they do is away from our Ranch,” added Bill.
“Yes, sir,” he returned, and ran off toward the mountain.
It was getting late in the afternoon and Bill decided to take dinner at home tonight. He made a trip up the walking path to the Pavilion to check on things and be seen. It was leftover night, according to the sign at the start of the buffet line. “All the good food from the last week,” it read.
Bill made the rounds and talked with a few people before heading back home. Rico, the head Chef, insisted he take home three steaks. Bill refused, stating it would not be fair to the group, and settled on three hamburgers from the planned dinner. He, Sharon and Karl cooked the burgers and a side of spinach on the grill and ate outside on the patio.
“It’s just so quiet,” voiced Sharon. “I know,” replied Bill. “I just hope it stays that way.”
“I’m just happy we still have hamburgers,” noted Karl. “I’m sure not everyone out there is so lucky.”
The next morning Mac headed down to the hospital to get a check-up. Dr. Melton dressed the wound and asked Mac how he was feeling.
“I’m better when you’re taking care of me,” he flirted. “If it takes getting shot to spend more time with you, then so be it.”
“You could have just asked me out,” asserted Sarah, with a smile.
“Yeah, I thought about that, but there’s nowhere to go now. No restaurants, movies, or even bowling,” Mac replied.
“Not even a walk around the property?” she asked.
“Yes, ma’am. Of course I would be honored to walk with you.”
“Right after you look at the generators!” she quipped.
“All in a day’s work, my dear,” he said, wondering if he had pressed his boundaries.
Mac worked on the two hospital generators and got them tuned up. “Should be good for a while, as long as the gas can fuel them,” he told Samuel.
“We’re OK on that,” Samuel replied. “We have always been prepared for something like this. Plus we added a couple more mechanics to our group.”
Mac checked on John and saw him talking quietly with Bill. “Hope I’m not interrupting,” whispered Mac.
“No, not at all,” stated Bill. “We were just discussing John’s recovery and when he would be back leading our group.”
“I think I can speak for our members when I say we look forward to your healthy return as our leader,” reported Mac. “Bill has done an outstanding job in your absence, but it’s just not the same without you.”
“Agreed,” said Bill. “Dr. Melton says you can go home in a week or two, and it’s up to you when you take over the Ranch again. I will do whatever it takes until you are ready.”
“Whether it’s a few days or a few weeks, I think I’ll ease back into it over the next few weeks, if that’s OK with you,” asked John.
“Sure thing, my friend,” replied Bill. “I’m here for you.”
“Me too,” insisted Mac.
“Sorry to interrupt,” called Dr. Melton, “but Janie’s water just broke. It looks like we are going to be delivering our first baby of the new world. She never found out what the sex was, so we should know soon enough.”
“Great news,” replied John. “The baby’s father moved out of state a few months back, so the community will have to pitch in and help her.”
“We will make that happen,” replied Bill.
“Mac,” called Dr. Melton. “Let me do one final check on your arm before you leave.”
When they were out of John’s room, Sarah said, “OK, Mac. You fixed my generators, so why don’t you stop by later tomorrow afternoon and take me for a walk?”
“Absolutely!” replied Mac.
“You still need to come by tomorrow morning so I can look at your arm, but I want to keep anything else quiet for now. Agreed?”
“Yes, ma’am. Sounds good to me.”
“I have a baby to deliver,” she said, as she walked out of the room.
Mac was feeling like a young man on his ride back up to the Ranch. He was smiling and actually a bit nervous about his big date. It had been a while since he had been on one. He wasn’t sure where this was going, if anywhere, but he planned to talk to Bill about it after tomorrow if it went well.
Later that afternoon came word to Bill that a baby girl had been born. Emma was her name. She weighed 6 lbs, 3 oz. and both she and Janie were doing well.
Mac had been out most of the day with his men, scouting the entire property. With nearly 350 acres belonging to the Ranch, and another 200 acres of the West’s property, it took a while, even on the four-wheelers.
Mac had an idea for his date with Sarah. He was hoping to take her to his favorite place on the mountain for a picnic, but wanted to make sure it was safe for her. The campground on Green Ridge, at the western edge of Saddle Ranch’s property, was Mac’s favorite place in the world. It had a lean-to, a fire pit, tall pine trees, and was surrounded by huge boulders. Mac had spent many hours up there, camping with other friends from the Ranch or just daydreaming on a quiet afternoon, listening to the wind in the trees and an occasional squirrel conversation.
He would check around the old teepee rings, left probably 200 years ago and still imprinted into the earth, for arrow heads and pieces of flint uncovered by the elements. He usually always found something interesting. He had heard that Bill’s son Lance once found a grinding stone completely intact, just sticking out of the ground one day in this same area, although he had never seen it.
He would plan a picnic for Sarah tomorrow and they could ride up on his four-wheeler if she was agreeable. She had said she wanted to walk, but it was a couple miles up to the camp from the hospital. He wanted the four-wheeler close, just in case…
He got an all clear from his guys on all perimeters. Nothing out of the ordinary, they reported.
The next morning he arrived at the hospital early, around 7 a.m. “Are you always here?” he asked Dr. Melton.
“It seems like it right now. I’m training the two new doctors Samuel added to the group the other day, so I may get a few days off before too long.” She took a quick look at his arm and saw it was healing well.
“Well, I have something planned for lunch,” said Mac, “if you can get away for a couple hours around noon.”
“What did you have in mind?” she asked.
“That will be a surprise, but one I think you will like,” teased Mac.
“OK, sure. I’m game. Pick me up at noon. Now get out of here and let me get some work done,” she quipped with a smile and a wink.
“Yes, ma’am. I’m leaving as fast as I can.”
Mac raided the kitchen with the head chef’s blessing. Rico was always a bit of a romantic and was honored to be asked by Mac for help with his date. “Please keep this between us?” asked Mac.
“Of course,” replied Rico. “I once had a great love when I was just a young chef, training in Tuscany. She was from Rome and was up for the summer, working in her grandparents’ restaurant. After three of the greatest months of my life, she moved back home and I back to the States. We lost touch soon after, but I
will never forget my sweet Maria.”
“That sounds nice,” said Mac, “but I’m just trying to have a picnic. I’m not sure where this is going.”
“Yes, yes,” replied Rico. “I’m just reminiscing a bit… Don’t mind me… Let’s get you a picnic fit for a beautiful doctor,” he added.
Bill spent the morning with the managers of both the farm and garden. They walked him through the animal area and showed him the seeds that were sown in the garden.
“As I’m sure you know,” Bill spoke to all present, “these two parts of our community are vital to our survival, second only to security and water.”
Next World Series (Vol. 1): Families First Page 25