by Sally Six
The twins, Tyler and William, seemed to be taking to the gun practice with a vengeance. They loved it. Old Juan had brought his bow out to have the boys give that a try. He really seemed to take a shine to the boys. Juan said they reminded him of his boys when they were alive. David hadn’t known that old Juan had even been married. Let alone had a family and lost them to a car accident back in 1970. He explained that he had just stayed a bachelor after that. He never could find another good woman that could stand him.
Gramps thought it wouldn’t take too much longer for them to start seeing a few drags of society coming their way. Sooner or later they always showed up he said, even way out here.
The ranch hands, Duke and Red, were showing him just what to do and how to handle the horses, how to repair the straps, rigging, saddles and so on. Then in the spring he would have to learn how to handle them for plowing. Today as every other day, he did target practice. He got three shots with the pistol and then the 30.06. They didn’t want to waste too much ammunition. He was getting much better and could almost hit the bull’s eye now. They also had him easing into working with the cattle.
Tyler and William had gone out into the hills with Gramps this morning to learn stealth in hunting and how to track game. It would also work for the two legged kind too if it came down to it. David was coming back from the shooting range that they had set up not far from the ranch when he saw his wife out back of the house hanging a basket of clothes. Talk about a different way of life from one week to the next. Who would have even imagined it? He just stood there for a while watching her. He enjoyed seeing her move.
She looked around a shirt that she was hanging and saw him standing off to the left of the house.
“I see that smile on your face David. What are you thinking?”
His smile got even deeper. “I was watching my beautiful wife hang clothes.”
He walked over to her and gave her a big hug and just held her.
At that time, Olive’s sister, Kate, walked out of the back door with another basket of clothes. “All right you two. Get a room for that kind of stuff.”
David and Olive broke apart laughing and Olive went back to hanging clothes. David went inside to clean the rifle. These days everyone wore a pistol when they were awake. At night it stayed beside their beds. No one was exempt from this. Gramps insisted on this fact.
David went on to his next chore which was muck out duty down at the stable. This was not what he had envisioned for himself for the future. Their one hope though was that the fallout had missed them. This was a very big worry of Olive’s because of their boys. Everyone seems to be fine. None of the animals were sick or showed any signs of illness of any kind. The winds had been blowing northeast since the bombs went off. They were behind a mountain that split the winds so Gramps thought they were most likely okay. If they were, David thought that it was shear dumb luck. He noticed Gramps had more stuff around in the basement and the sheds than one family and a few ranch hands could use in several years. He hadn’t asked yet what that was all about. All he wanted to do is get through each day right now. By the end of the day he just fell into bed dead tired.
He didn’t have to ask Gramps the whys for all the different supplies after all. At dinner gramps laid out just why he had the things that he did on the ranch besides what he had told them the first night.
After Gramps said the dinner prayer and prayed for the family and those that still were in harm’s way, he started to explain.
“Like I told you the other night. I have been planning for quite some time on having you here with me if possible when this finally came down. A blind man could have seen the writing on the wall. Sorry no condemnations on you son, but you were worse than that. At least you remembered where to come when the going got tough. I have also planned for gardens and crops that we need to plant to get through a few years or maybe indefinitely if we have too.”
That brought a shocked look to the family. They had hoped after a few months things would get back to normal. They could go home and go back to their life and told Gramps so. David, Olive and Kate were all trying to talk at once. Juan, Duke and Red already knew all of this and so they just waited for Gramps to go on.
“I hear you, but I don’t think it’s going to go back to normal, not for a long time if it ever does. So you can stop thinking it will right here and now. Now where was I. Oh yeah, we will be planting a large garden and wheat this spring, but I got off my train of thought. The extra things are also for others that may join us and I hope more do. There is no way if we were hit even by 20 men that we could defend ourselves for a great length of time if they were well armed. I do have more guns and ammunition, but we can shoot only so many at a time. We have to have more people. What I’m going to do is have two of you go out and in a ten mile or so radius to see if any other ranch or other people would like to move here and join up with us. I know there are some cabins higher in the mountains that people live in and commuted to the city. That’s where I think I will send you first, starting tomorrow. David and Duke will be the first to go out. You will each take a rifle besides the pistols you already wear and food for three days just in case you can’t get back right away for some reason.”
Olive had stopped eating. She had pretty much lost her appetite with the thought of David going out into an unsafe world.
David noticed. “Look honey, I have to take my turn too. If I am one of the first, so be it. I need to hold up my end and learn to do what needs to be done. That’s just the way it has to be.”
“I know David, but I didn’t think it would start this soon. I thought we would just hold out here and wait for things to get better and it’s very disappointing.”
They finished the meal. Olive and Kate did the dishes both in somber moods. Then Kate went out to the cool room in the ground that Gramps and his men had dug some time ago. She got the eggs out for breakfast in the morning. The cool room was like other people’s root cellars as far as Kate was concerned. Looks like Gramps always did things in a big way. She also helped with the chickens. “De Ja Vue,” she thought. She had done this most of her life back home in Washington. She was somber because one of her thoughts was that there was going to be someone for her. She didn’t want to end up an old maid out here in the sticks. So she sure hoped that some of the other families that joined them had young men.
The boys, Tyler and William, went out and helped bed the horses down for the night and do a walk around the buildings to make sure all was ok for the night. While Juan and Red got ready for guard duty, they would do from 7:00 to 11:00 PM. Gramps and Olive would do a four hour shift from 11:00 PM to 3:00 AM. Then Kate and Duke would do three to daylight. When everyone was up, they would head to bed again for a bit more sleep. This was a revolving duty, but tonight was different because of the two going out at daybreak looking for others to join them and see what was up around them.
David shivered in the cool dawn air as they rode. Winter was in the air and he knew it would be cooler the higher they climbed into the mountains. He could see snow at the tops of the mountains and that made him colder just looking at it. It was now two hours after dawn. They should be coming upon the first cabin that Gramps talked about soon. Duke was in the lead. They had both looked at the map Gramps had marked the cabins, homesteads and ranches on. Duke had just put it back in his saddlebag.
Duke said. “It should be around this next bend David.”
He was right. As they rounded the bend, they could see smoke from the chimney coming through the trees in the distance. The cabin was back up off the road in the trees. The two of them rode their horses up the driveway. Duke didn’t know how smart that really was. He would rather have scouted the place out first to make sure everything was in order here than just ride up in full sight. He would let David have his way this time, but that was it. Safety first from now on as this gave him the willies.
A shot went over both their heads, but Duke didn’t know by how much.
“Sto
p right where you are.” A man’s voice came from behind a tree off on the right of the cabin.
“Not another step if you both want to keep your heads. Don’t make a move for your guns either.”
A man with a couple of week’s old growth of salt and pepper beard stepped out from around the tree. He was dressed in a thick flannel red and black checked shirt, jeans, boots and a Seahawks cap. David estimated him to be about 55 years old. He was holding a wicked looking 12 gauge shotgun on them. No wonder the boom had been so loud.
“Toby, Ruth get out here,” he bellowed.
A middle-aged women and a young man both armed with rifles came out onto the porch of the cabin.
He said to them. “Keep your guns on them, both of you.”
The man looked at David and Duke and said. “Now what are you two doing here and what do you want?”
David cleared his throat.
“Ah sir, well I’m David O’Dell and this is Duke Ledbetter. We’re from the Double O Ranch down the mountain. My grandfather, Theodore O’Dell, sent us up here to contact folks to see if they would like to join us at the ranch to live for the time being and help each other. At least have a place to go if things get bad or you see yourself about to get over run. That’s if you can get to us in a time that is.”
The man lowered the barrel of his rifle halfway and just stood there for a few moments thinking.
“O’Dell you say. I have met your grandfather a time or two. Seemed a decent sort, friendly. By the way, I’m Greg North. This is my wife, Ruth, and son, Toby.”
Then everyone’s attention was drawn to Ruth standing on the porch.
“Well why don’t you all come in for something hot to drink? You men would stand here talking all day. As for me, I am getting out of the cold.” With that Ruth turned and went into the cabin.
“Might as well come ahead and come in.” Greg said. “The missus is right.”
Dave and Duke got down from their horses and led them to the right side of the cabin and tied them to a pine tree. There was some grass for the horses to nibble on so they should be happy for now. Greg stood on the porch and went into the cabin behind them. He stopped by Toby who stood inside beside the door.
“Toby I’m putting you on Guard duty while we talk. Go on get dressed and go on out.”
Toby didn’t look any too happy with having to go out and not be in on what the two men from down below had to say. The family had been up here for an extended weekend when things went to pot. He hadn’t seen another soul but his parents and that was a real bummer. He slipped on his warm coat, hat and gloves and slipped out the door. He knew better than to sass his dad and make a fuss about being inside. He also knew things weren’t the same now. He was considered one of the protectors of the family. That did make him feel better about having to be outside with company in the cabin. He puffed his chest put a little for now he was one of the men of the family.
Ruth got them all a cup of tea. They were out of coffee and had been for two days now.
Greg sat down opposite Dave and Duke. “Ok gentlemen now what’s this all about? This invitation to come down to a ranch?”
David looked up and into the Greg’s eyes.
“Like I said Mr. North. My grandfather wanted to invite good folk down to the Double O Ranch to live, work and generally help each other out. No other strings attached. Just a mutual help each other out verbal contract. You are to bring whatever you can get to the ranch so you can help take care of yourselves. To join in with the work and chores along with the planting and animals or whatever there is to do. That’s right from my grandfather. Now I know your family needs to talk and think about this so we’re willing to go do a little bit of guard duty for you while your family talks this over. Or we can just be on our way and you can still think about it and come down when and if you want.”
Greg looked over at his wife. They had been talking about this very thing only this morning. They were both worried about how much longer they were going to be able to hold out up here. They had always meant to bring more supplies up here, but somehow never got that done. It was always we would do it next time. The next time came and they were too tired to bring more but the normal supplies. Now they found themselves in a real pickle and thought they would have to go down to a town in another week. He had used the cabin for hunting so they had more than most people had on hand. It just wasn’t going to be enough to get by for the winter even with hunting.
Ruth nodded her head at him with the go ahead.
“Well gentlemen, believe it or not we already talked about this not but a couple hours ago. We had already come to the conclusion we wouldn’t be able to stay here much longer. We don’t have to think about it. We will take you up on it. Our only problem is getting our things down to the ranch. We don’t have any horses so I don’t know what we’re going to do.”
David sat there and thought for a moment.
“All I can think of is that you all start packing. We will go ahead with our rounds and see if there is anyone else that would like to join us. When we get back to the ranch, we will come back up with help and a wagon and get you and your things. How’s that? Oh before I forget. I will draw a map of where the ranch is just in case you need it if you don’t remember.”
Both Greg and Ruth smiled broadly. Greg shook both David’s and Duke’s hands.
“You have a deal. My family will be ready when you get back.”
Greg felt a weight lift off his chest. He had been so worried about what they were going to do. He couldn’t believe things had turned out like this. It was just amazing.
Nobody brought up the idea that this could be a trap of some kind and that Greg and his family had just been suckered. You have to think that kind of thing could happen. It would be one way for the scum to get what others had. Greg was going on what he felt. These men seemed like good men. There weren’t any shady looks to them or sidelong glances at each other. They seemed very sincere with what they had told him and Ruth. He was betting his families’ lives on it.
Duke and Dave got up from the table. Duke hadn’t really said much up to this point and he wanted to now.
“Before we leave, I wanted to make sure while your family is packing that you still keep watch. I don’t know anything about any of your neighbors, but I think some may be getting desperate about now. That’s not a good thing. Some of them may shoot first instead of just asking for a hand out. That will be too late for you folks then.”
“Well thank you Duke. I wouldn’t have let our guard down but thank you anyway. Yes it’s easy to get lax about this sort of thing when you’re not used to it and need a different frame of mind.”
Greg then walked over and opened the door for them. He led them out and over to where the horses were tied.
“You men be careful now. We want you to be coming back. If you don’t make it back here in three to five days, we will walk down to the ranch and tell them you were by and to send out a rescue party. How’s that?”
Duke looked at Greg. “I sure hope that won’t be necessary Mr. North but thank you. We’ll see you soon.”
“You two call me Greg. All that formal stuff is for the birds when you’re gonna be living with someone. Isn’t it?”
Both Dave and Duke nodded and grinned. They said goodbye and headed off for the next place. From what Gramps had drawn on their map it was about one mile further north. How in the world Gramps knew these places were up here David couldn’t figure out. Gramps was one smart cookie which is the opposite of what he thought as a teenager. “Boy was I stupid, or rather naïve.” He mumbled to himself.
Duke turned in his saddle. “What was that David? I didn’t hear what you said.”
“Oh nothing Duke. Just grousing at myself.”
“I do that all the time these days myself. Don’t worry about it.”
In about 15 minutes, they were nearing the next place. All was quiet. This time they did it Duke’s way. They got down from their horses and took different pat
hs to the house. Duke had David go to the left and go behind the place. Duke was going to go straight and come into the side. David was trying to be as quiet as he could. It seemed like almost every time he stepped, he crunched. He wondered how loud his walking really was. It sure seemed loud to him. It took him around eight minutes to go around and head into the back of the house. He still felt like he was telegraphing every move that he made and someone had to know that he was coming.
Soon he spied the back of the small home. It was a one story wood frame house, painted white. He looked off to the right to see if he could see Duke anywhere and await some kind of signal to go closer to the house. Finally he saw Duke peek out from behind a tree and look his way. Then Duke waved his hand forward and David began to make his way closer to the house. By the time he got to the back of the house, Duke was already there and looking through a side window. David looked into one of the back windows which was a bedroom. No one was inside that he could see. Duke was walking around the house towards him.
“Nobody home that I can see. How about you?”
“I haven’t seen a soul Duke. Looks like no one was home when things went to heck and gone and this was just a weekend retreat and they didn’t have time to get here.”
They went back to their horses and decided to eat something. Then got back up on the horses again and went on their way to the next place. This one was closer just a half mile from this one. You had to swing around to the left and it was on the other side of the mountain. They had only gone a few yards when they heard the dull sound of gunfire. Duke and David exchanged looks at each other. They spurred their horses faster. They had to see what was going on and if they could be of any help. The horses weren’t even breathing hard by the time they got close enough to get off their horses and make their way closer to the gunfire. They both slid their rifles out of their scabbards on the saddles and dismounted.