by N. C. Reed
“Ready to go,” Howie smiled. The two piled into the Ford, and took off, searching for the parts and pieces he needed to build his projects.
Shelly watched Pete drive off, and sighed.
“Pretty serious, huh?” Rhonda asked softly.
“Yeah,” Shelly admitted. “It just. . .sometimes I wonder if there’s a point.”
“What d’you mean?” Rhonda asked, packing a plastic tub with thread.
“Well, he’s always goin’ off on one of these ‘trips’ for one thing,” Shelly noted. There was no complaint in her voice, just worry. “I. . .I try not to worry, but it’s hard, y’know?”
“Sister do I,” Rhonda chuckled, though without much humor. “Billy’s always got somewhere he ‘needs’ to go, or something he ‘needs’ to get. I’d like to say it gets easier to watch him drive or ride off, but honey that’d be a lie.”
“Pretty much what I figured,” Shelly nodded. “We both want a family you know, but. . .I swear, Rhonda, with the world like it is, how responsible is it to bring a child into the world?”
“Good point,” Rhonda conceded.
“What about you and Billy?” Shelly asked. “You two ever talk about havin’ kids?”
“Not so far,” Rhonda shook her head. “Really ain’t been a time for it. And we’ve got Danny and Mary to look after.”
“Hey, built in baby sitters,” Ruth mentioned from across the room.
“Don’t knock that, either,” Amy chimed in. “It’s nice to have someone who can watch after a little one for you.”
“Well, I don’t think they’d appreciate that too much,” Rhonda laughed. “But it’s something to keep in mind. I wouldn’t mind a baby or two, in all honesty. But we’re both young. And there’s either gonna be time, or there ain’t. Can’t see any need to rush things. Once things are more settled, we’ll see, I guess.”
“Yeah,” Shelly nodded. “I think if we could establish a more stable way of life, once we do, I mean, having kids might be more comforting than worrisome. Have to see what happens I guess.” She was looking out the window, taking her turn at guard duty.
“I think if Billy get’s his community service center going, and it works out, then we can see about building a real community center,” Rhonda noted. “Somewhere we can all gather to eat, play, and what have you. I’m gonna press him for something like that, anyway. We all need a place other than someone’s home. A place where there’s more room, and it’s neutral ground, you know?”
“I’d like that,” Amy nodded. “We’d love to have a place to throw a dinner, or a party. We just don’t have the room!”
“Not many do,” Shelly agreed. “Having a good sized place to gather would help us all.”
“I can get behind that,” Ruth spoke up. “With so many kids around, it’s not possible, really, to have any kind of grown up fun. Maybe have a night off, play cards, something like that.” The other women looked at her, then, and she grew a little uneasy.
“What?” she asked.
“I hadn’t thought about you guys up there with the kids all the time in that way,” Shelly answered for the rest. “I mean, no matter what the weather is, or anything else, you’ve got a whole house full of kids to see after. And that’s a job that never goes away, and can’t be put off.”
“Tell me about it,” Ruth laughed.
“No, I don’t think that’s what she’s getting at,” Amy was catching on. “It’s not right for you guys not to get a day off, now and again. We need to do something about that.”
“Like what?” Ruth raised her hands. “Like she said, it’s got to be done.”
“But not by the same people, day in and day out,” Amy shook her head. “All of us manage a day here and there. I mean, sure, there’s always housework and cooking and cleaning, no matter what. But we’d have to do that anyway, even if the world wasn’t upside down.”
“Yeah,” Rhonda nodded. “Maybe we can form a posse of sorts,” she smiled. “Two of us come up there once a week, and let two of you have a day off. Wouldn’t do to take all of you away from the kids every day, but we could spare two of you for a day, and let the others show us what to do.”
“Exactly,” Amy nodded firmly. “Those with kids can bring’em along! Heck, Amanda stays up there about half the time anyway.”
“Well, yeah,” Ruth nodded. “And she’s a big help, too, by the way.”
“I’m glad,” Amy smiled. “Anyway, when we get back, we need to sit down and make up a schedule. We can work this out.”
Heads nodded all over, as they got back to work.
*****
“Well, this is a great start,” Howie nodded. “But we’re almost out of room.”
“We can pile it a little higher,” Pete shrugged. “Just have to be careful.”
“We can make another trip, too,” Howie suggested. “There’s a lot of good stuff still laying around. Things I can use to make other things we need. Heck, we can build a windmill, even!”
“We’ll have to see about that,” Pete cautioned. “We can’t just up and come up here anytime. And we can’t come up here alone, either. Too much can happen.”
“Yeah, I know. But another good trip and we can collect enough stuff to really make a difference. Heck, we can make stuff to trade and sell, too!” Howie’s enthusiasm was growing.
“Like I said, we’ll have to talk it over as a group,” Pete replied. “But I think it’s a good idea. Still, for today, let’s just concentrate on what we need to get by.”
“Okay,” Howie agreed. “We still need to check the chemical place,” he said, looking at his list. “We need some ingredients for the bio diesel set-up.”
“Well, let’s get on that.”
*****
Terry Blaine resisted the urge to scream curses at the sky. It wouldn’t help, and might attract attention.
Not that we need any help attracting attention, he sighed. We’re making enough noise to raise the dead.
“I think we’ve about got it,” Jon announced.
“This time?” Terry asked.
“Hey, none of us have ever done this,” Jon shot back. “And I ain’t seen you helpin’ any. You ain’t got nothin’ constructive to add, then I’d just as soon you stayed quiet.” Terry bristled at that, but then cooled. Jon was right.
“Sorry,” he murmured. “I’d just like something to go right.”
“You and me both,” Jon agreed, mollified. “And it may have. I think we’ve got the fifth wheels fixed. We’re gonna try to pull one, and see what happens. If it holds, then we can rig the others the same way. And then get the hell outta here.”
“Suits me,” Terry nodded. Jon turned and gave the wind up signal to March, who was already in his truck, engine idling. He waved back, and eased the truck into motion. There was a lot of creaking and groaning, but the truck gradually eased the trailer out of the lot, and started down the drive. After one hundred yards, he pulled to a stop.
“Well, I think that’s got it,” Jon sighed gratefully. “Now we can get the other two hooked up.” With that, he went back to work.
*****
“I don’t think this will hold all three, Billy,” Toby shook his head.
“Probably not,” Billy agreed. “But I’ve got it runnin’, and it’ll hold at least two. And that’s all we need, for now. Let’s head back. We still got to get loaded.”
Toby trailed Billy back to the site, and they set to work. Sooner than Toby would have imagined possible, Billy had two of the large septic tanks loaded. It took far longer to properly strap the tanks down than it had to load them. By the time they had finished, an hour had passed, and both were wringing wet with sweat.
*****
“I can’t believe we finally got everything loaded,” Amy was almost breathless as she spoke. She took a long drink of water. “And the trailer’s only maybe two thirds full!”
“Proper packing,” Rhonda said, drinking from her own water bottle. “Now, as soon as the boys get back, m
aybe we can go find some canning lids and rings.”
“There’s a possibility that Mister Hanson’s store has some. He always kept those things on the shelf, year round,” Ruth Townsend added. “It’s only a few blocks that way,” she pointed east.
“We could walk over,” Amy suggested.
“No way,” Shelly and Rhonda spoke at the same time. “We have to stay together,” Rhonda went on. “And where we’re supposed to be. That’s the most important thing when we’re out like this. No one goes off on a tangent. We stick to the plan, period.”
“Okay,” Amy raised her hands. “Just an idea.”
“And normally a good one,” Rhonda nodded. “But this ain’t normal times. So we sit tight.”
*****
Since Billy didn’t know where the women were, he drove to the mobile home place. He was pleasantly surprised to see all three trucks ready to go, two pulling the sides of a double wide trailer, another pulling a small two bedroom single wide.
“I see you found some septic tanks,” Terry grinned.
“Yeah, several of’em. Can’t find a bigger trailer though, so this’ll have to do, today,” he nodded at the small flatbed.
“We’ll take it,” Terry nodded. “Nothin’ has gone right for us, much either. Jon did make it work, though.”
“We ready to roll?” Billy asked.
“Soon as the others get here.”
“Do we know where they are?” Toby asked. He was driving Billy’s truck.
“Nope,” Terry shook his head. “And I don’t like that, either.”
Well,” Billy looked skyward, “they still got about a hour and a half ‘fore they’re s’posed to meet us here. We’ll wait for’em. After that, we’ll have to go lookin’.” Terry looked at his watch.
“Don’t bother,” Toby told him. “He’s within fifteen minutes, or the next one’s free,” he snorted. Sure enough, the others still had just over ninety minutes.
“How the hell do you do that?” Terry asked, not for the first time.
“I don’t know, I just do,” Billy shrugged. He had grown passed being irritated when someone demanded how he could always tell what time it was. And he didn’t know.
“Well, I guess we’ll wait, then,” Jon sat back against one of the trailer wheels. “So, what all trouble did you two have?”
*****
“Okay, that’s it,” Pete said. “This truck is over full. Time to get back to the women folk.”
“Okay by me,” Howie nodded. “I think I got more’n enough to get started on, anyway.” The two men hopped in the Ford, and ten minutes later were back to the fabric store.
“One more stop to make,” Rhonda said as Pete hooked up the trailer.
“Where?” he asked.
“There’s a small store a few blocks that way that Ruth thinks might have some canning rings, and lids. If they do, we need’em.”
“Do we need them, need them, or just want them need them?” Pete asked.
“You wanna eat this winter?” Shelly demanded.
“Of course I do!” he replied.
“Then we need’em, need’em,” she teased. “Got it?”
“I got it,” Pete sighed. “Well, get in. We ain’t got all day!”
It was indeed only a few blocks to the store. It was a small operation, and according to the sign it had been in continuous family owned operation ‘since 1952'.
“I guess it’s out of operation now,” Pete said softly. “Wait here,” he ordered, and went inside to check the place out. He was gone less than five minutes.
“Looks okay. Rhonda, you’re on guard inside. I’ll watch here. Howie, you help them, will ya? Let’s try and get done soon as we can. We’re runnin’ out of time,” he added, looking at his watch.
The others trooped inside, and were some exiting with boxes. Shelly took a long look at the trailer.
“What is it?” Pete asked.
“We found a lot o' jars, too,” she told him. “We’re gonna try to get all of’em. Just lookin’ at what room is available.” The work went fairly quickly, considering how tired everyone was starting to get. The jars took the longest, since they had be secured against breaking on the trip back. Shelly and Amy re-worked the load twice, but finally gave up. There was simply no way to get them all in the trailer.
“We’re going to have to leave some of them,” Shelly told Rhonda. “I just can’t see a way to get them all in the trailer.”
“No problem,” Rhonda nodded. “We’ll put them in the truck. We can ride on the sideboards, or on top of that crap those two brought back. We ain’t goin’ far till we meet up with the others. We can split up, ride in the trucks. Fill the back seat to the top.” Shelly nodded, and went to tell the others.
Finally, fifteen minutes after they should have been back, they were loaded.
Pete rolled the windows down, and everyone who had sat in the back stepped onto the sideboards. Finally, he and Shelly were in the front seat.
“Take it slow, cowboy,” Rhonda teased. “Don’t buck us off.”
“Well, I’ll try not,” he grinned back. He eased the big truck around and started for the meet up.
*****
“Okay, they’re officially a half hour late,” Terry complained. “We’re gonna have to go and look for’em, or risk calling on the radio.”
“Wait,” Billy shook his head.
“Billy, we’re on a tight schedule here, and. . . .”
“Hush, and listen,” Billy held up a hand. The others fell quiet, and Billy moved away from the now idling rigs. Suddenly, he smiled.
“I hear the Ford,” he told them.
“How can you be sure it’s not someone else?” Terry demanded, hefting his rifle.
“I know the sound of ever car and truck I’ve ever worked on,” Billy told him. “That’s our Ford.” Terry was about to argue the point when the slow moving Ford pulled into view, three women and one man hanging on the side.
“I’ll be damned,” Terry muttered.
“Nah, you’re a pretty good guy,” Toby slapped him on the back. “Just learn to trust the Boss. He won’t say nothin’, less he knows he’s right.” Terry shot the boy a stern look, but his eyes betrayed him. Toby snickered and went to meet the truck.
“We found a bunch of cannin’ stuff,” Rhonda announced. “Had to get as much as we could. Sorry we’re late.”
“No problem,” Terry lied. “I guess some of you will be riding back in the rigs?”
“Looks like,” she grinned.
“Works for me,” he shrugged, then turned to Toby. “Looks like you and me on point, kid.”
“Cool,” Toby nodded, and went to Billy’s truck.
“Everybody find a ride, and let’s get going!” Terry ordered.
“Give you a lift, lady?” Billy asked Rhonda, grinning.
“If you want to eat tonight, you’d better,” she shot back, smiling.
“Sounds like a good trade.”
Everyone found a ride, and five minutes later, they were on their way home.
“You know, even though things haven’t gone that well, it’s still been a good trip, overall,” Billy mused.
“Don’t jinx it,” Rhonda said sternly. “We ain’t home yet.”
CHAPTER SIXTY-FIVE
Things hadn’t been idle on the Farms while the others were in Columbia. There was always work to be done, and with so many away, there was plenty to do.
Regina had decided to take the day away from Clifton House and help with the new arrivals gardening. She couldn’t have done it with Ruth away, but the Beal girls were very capable. Leaving the house was a luxury she was rarely afforded, but she needed a break. No one could stand the strain of so many children day in and day out, around the clock, forever. She had allowed everyone else a day off here and there, but never herself. Today she decided she would get away for a while.
So she, Emma Silvers, with George and Debbie Purdy, went to the Williams house first, where Bethany March was already he
lping her friend get ready to plant. George had a tiller, and unloaded it while the women got acquainted, and decided what to plant first.
Elizabeth Kelvey, ( she and Howie still weren’t married in the eyes of man, but they were in God’s eyes, she figured, and had adopted his name ) manned the security station alone, which wasn’t a problem. By now she knew everything as well as Howie did. She kept a close watch on everything.
Jerry, meanwhile, had taken a four wheeler and some lunch, and his water jug, and was out surveying the fields. He would be gone a large part of the day, but had taken his rifle and pistol, and had a radio in case Elizabeth needed him for anything.
Ben Kelvey was staking out the sight of a new hay barn behind his place. They had decided after the rough winter they would need to bale and store much more hay. This layout was for the first of three new barns they hoped to get put up before winter. The only problem they could see would be finding sufficient tin for the roofs. That was one of the trades they hoped to make with the people in and around Franklin for beef on the hoof. They had plenty of housing in the area, and shouldn’t need the tin, or many of the building supplies that might still be in Franklin. The Farms did.
Work was steady for everyone through the day. Once Jerry finished checking the fields, he rode over to see if he could help Ben. The gardening party finished at the Williams home, and made its way to the March place to start over. With so many working, it didn’t take long to get both new places a good garden growing. Both women were assured that there would be plenty of food to keep them going until their garden began producing.
As they chatted, the women in particular worked out plans for future projects, one of which would be the grinding of the wheat crop that had been planted. Without the wheat, there wouldn’t be much bread, so it was important. There was also one small corn field who’s production was set aside for cornmeal. It wasn’t large, just about ten acres, but it should provide enough ground corn for sufficient meal to get through the winter.