by Tom Larcombe
It was more than an hour later when he heard Jeff calling.
“Michael? You around?”
A moment later Jeff came around the corner of the house followed by a girl that looked several years younger than him. Jeff waved when he saw Michael and came around the garden to where he was working.
“Wait, don't walk where I was just digging. Don't want to compact the soil,” Michael said.
He laid his shovel down and walked around his current efforts to where Jeff and his sister stood.
“You adding even more garden space in?” Jeff asked.
“Well, Joshua's gone and I need something to keep me occupied. I thought that more garden would be a good thing since food is so pricey now. Even if I can keep getting it, I'd rather eat what I grow myself.”
“Makes sense,” Jeff said. “Michael, this is my sister Elizabeth; Liz for short.”
“Hello Liz, nice to meet you,” Michael said.
Liz was looking around.
“Wow, this is a big garden. Do you grow lots of food?”
“Not as much as I'd like, that's why I'm working on making it bigger.”
“Why'd you give Jeff part then if you're making yours bigger, couldn't you have used that?” Liz asked.
“Well, Jeff is setting up his own section. I just put in the fence, he's doing the rest of the work himself. I just volunteered him some space.”
“That's no fun then if he has to work for it,” Liz said.
She lifted her chin and sniffed.
“I'm going to have a garden someday, but mine will be flowers, not vegetables.”
“Well, there's a whole hillside of wildflowers right over there,” Michael said.
He pointed over to the lower slope, below the cliff, where the stream ran down towards the lake.
“You can go over there if you like, but be careful. There's some prickers out there as well.”
Liz looked over where he was pointing and was off like a shot.
“Are you sure she'll be okay over there?” Jeff asked.
“Yeah, the slope isn't steep and it's mostly soil, not rock. She should be fine.”
Jeff looked doubtful. He also looked eager to get to work.
“Let me know when you're done with the shovel and I'll start in on my section then,” he said.
“There's a shovel over there for you.”
“Oh, you have two?”
“No, I've got more than that. I ran into a saying on the internet that I took to heart. It goes, one is none and two is one. It means that if you only have one of something then if there's a problem with it you have none. I've had a shovel break on me while I was in the middle of things before and it was a pain to have to go get another one before I could finish. So now I keep multiples of everything important around. If something breaks, I take a breather, get a new one from the shed, then just keep going.”
“That makes sense. I don't know if I'd ever have thought of something like that on my own,” Jeff said.
“Me either. Like I said, it's someone else's saying, I just adopted it.”
The two of them set to work, preparing garden areas. Every now and then Michael would pause to check on Liz. Each time he did she was wandering the slope, gathering wildflowers.
* * *
An hour later Michael stopped to take a break. He sat on the back porch sipping a glass of water. Jeff sat beside him, doing the same.
“Where's Calvin today? I didn't make him angry did I?” Jeff asked.
“No, you didn't. He's up there,” Michael said, pointing.
Jeff peered at the cliff face for a moment before spotting him.
“What's he looking at?”
Michael laughed.
“That's the other reason I wasn't worried about Liz. He's watching her. He'll let me know if there's a problem.”
They sat for a few more minutes before returning to work. Before Michael knew it, lunchtime had arrived.
“Did you two bring something for lunch?” he asked.
Jeff nodded.
“Not much, we've got peanut butter sandwiches. If we could have some water, we'll be fine.”
“Is that what you want to have for lunch?”
“It's what we've got.”
“I'll take care of it. Go get your sister. You can eat your sandwiches if you like. I think we can do better though.”
Jeff went out to get Liz while Michael went into the kitchen.
Let's see, lunch for a couple of kids. Something they won't complain about but that's a least a little bit good for them.
Michael grabbed a basket and headed out back. He passed the two children on their way in.
“Go get washed up, I'm going to grab something for us to eat.”
He went out to the strawberry patch he kept near the mine buildings. He'd put it in next to the stream, stretching out along its length, so it would need less tending. He still needed to weed it and pull out the older plants that didn't yield very much, but that was all the work he did on it. He hadn't picked strawberries in a week or so and quickly filled the basket he'd brought.
The kids were just sitting down at the table when he came back in. Liz saw the basket of strawberries and licked her lips.
“You two like strawberries?”
They both nodded.
“Good, then how about we perk up your peanut butter a little. We'll slice these down and put them in your sandwiches. Not quite jelly, but I bet you like it.”
He put plates out on the table for the three of them. Jeff put the sandwiches on the kids' plates and started peeling them apart. Michael grabbed a knife and started slicing berries. After he'd added some to the sandwiches, he went for some cheese and crackers to add to his own and make a meal. The pet door banged to let him know Calvin was coming in for lunch also.
“Hang on Calvin, I'll get you some in a minute,” he said.
“You've got a bird in your kitchen,” Liz announced.
“That's Calvin, he's a friend of mine. He probably saw me picking strawberries and wanted some.”
“But, he's in your kitchen.”
Michael set his food down on the table and quartered a pair of strawberries. He put them in Calvin's dish and sat back down.
“Yes, he is. I told you he's a friend of mine. He can come in the house whenever he wants since he's house-trained.”
Calvin hopped up onto the table at the one empty seat of the four around it. He looked at his food dish then looked at Michael.
“Caw!” Calvin said.
“Oh sure, now you want to eat at the table?” Michael asked.
He got up and moved the strawberries from the food dish into a bowl that he set on the table in front of Calvin. The crow delicately dipped his beak into the bowl and tore off a chunk.
Liz was entranced. She stared at Calvin as though she'd never seen a crow before. Calvin paused from eating and began to preen, picking at his feathers and carefully arranging them to the best effect.
“Liz, eat your lunch,” Michael said. “Yes, Calvin's a beautiful bird, but you're just going to make him even more conceited if you stare at him.”
She dragged her eyes back to her sandwich and started to eat. Calvin glared at Michael.
“Would you two like milk or water with those?” Michael asked.
“Milk please,” Jeff answered.
Liz nodded in agreement.
Michael poured three glasses of milk and set them down on the table. When Jeff took his first drink he stopped for a moment and stared at the glass.
“Not store bought?” he asked.
“That's right. Mr. McCallister sells raw milk. That means it hasn't been treated the way store bought milk is. Tastes a lot better, just like the eggs and vegetables. It's safe as long as the cows are kept clean and I check it myself each time to be sure it's okay. Speaking of eggs, Miriam told me she'd be glad to have you do some chores tomorrow in exchange for some. Do you know where her place is?”
“No, but I know the general are
a. If you give me her address I can get there,” Jeff replied.
“Remind me and I'll do that before you leave.”
They ate their lunch, although Michael caught Liz sneaking frequent sidelong looks at Calvin when she thought Michael wasn't watching. When they were done they went back outside. Calvin followed along and hopped onto the porch rail again.
When Michael stepped forward and began to stroke Calvin's back he heard a strangled gasp behind him.
“He lets you pet him?” a wide-eyed Liz asked.
“Yes, he does. Would you like to try?”
She nodded eagerly.
“Calvin, can Liz pet you?” Michael asked.
“Caw! Caw!” Calvin said and preened again, thrusting out his chest.
“I think that's a yes. I think he wants you to rub his chest,” Michael said.
Liz cautiously stepped forward, hand outstretched. Calvin leaned into her fingers until they touched his skin. He rubbed his chest back and forth a bit as though showing her how he wanted to be petted. When she caught on and started moving her fingers to the same effect, Calvin stilled and preened under her attention.
“Mr. Michael, what were those men doing earlier?” Liz asked.
“What men?”
“The ones down near that trailer on the flat part after the bottom of the hill.”
“I didn't see them, what did it look like?”
“I think they locked themselves out. They broke a window and one of them climbed through it, then came out the door. They weren't there long. They went back in and came out with some bags that they put in their truck before they drove away.”
Michael's suspicions grew. The only trailer he knew of at the base of the hill didn't have anyone in it right now. The owners were away on vacation.
“The white trailer with blue trim?” he asked.
“Yes, that one,” Liz answered.
“I think those men were looting it, they didn't see you, did they?”
“I don't think they did. What's looting?”
“Stealing. I think they were stealing things from inside of it. Let me check something real quick.”
Michael went back inside and grabbed a pair of binoculars. He went over to the wildflower slope and trained the binoculars on the trailer. Sure enough, a window was broken and the door was hanging open. His hand slid to his mother's ring as he grew nervous.
I never even knew they were there. What if they had come up here instead?
He went back to the house and picked up the phone. He dialed 911 and waited a moment. When a voice came on the line he started to speak.
“Please wait a moment sir. I need to put you on hold,” the operator said.
Since when does a 911 call get put on hold?
“Please state the nature of your emergency.”
“The place next to mine just had someone break into it.”
“Are they still there?”
“No, they're gone.”
“Please call your local sheriff then and make a report. We're very busy with emergency calls, please reserve this number for emergencies only.”
The operator hung up on him. Michael dialed the local sheriff.
“Bent County Sheriff's office, Crystal Beach branch.”
“Hi, I was told to call here to report a break-in next door.”
“Are the perpetrators still there?”
“No ma'am, they left earlier as best as I can tell.”
“Please give us your address, we'll get someone out there as soon as we can. I can tell you it won't be soon though. We're stretched. Half our deputies called in and those who are here have a lot of emergencies to respond to.”
Michael gave them the address. From the sound of things, he didn't expect a response any time soon, if at all.
I think it's time to try out those Garands and see if they work, he thought. As soon as Jeff and Liz go home. In the meanwhile I think my Mini-14 should probably take up residence down here near the back door.
Michael went and retrieved his rifle from the gun safe in his bedroom. His hardwood stock Mini-14 Ranch Rifle was the version that accepted twenty round magazines. He'd paid the extra for that model so he wouldn't have to reload as often. He also had a couple of spare magazines for it which he pulled out.
He checked the rifle and made sure there was nothing in the chamber. Then he checked his magazines. They would each hold twenty rounds, but were only loaded with eighteen. He didn't leave them fully loaded for fear of the springs inside them setting and causing the ammunition to not feed properly.
There was a holder over the back door that he'd made for the rifle when he'd had problems with varmints in his garden before he met Calvin. He placed the rifle on the holder and slipped the three magazines into the pockets of his cargo pants.
When he went out back Jeff was digging again already. He couldn't see Liz, but Calvin was up in the sky, circling.
“Calvin,” he called, hoping that if the crow came back this way, Liz would also.
Calvin came circling down and landed on the garden fence.
“Calvin, I need to keep Liz closer than she was this morning. I'm worried about what she saw.”
Calvin cocked his head to one side and stayed on the fence. A minute later Liz came back.
“Calvin, where'd you go?” she called.
“Caw,” the crow called.
“Liz, I'd like you to stay a little closer to the house this afternoon, okay?”
“Is it because of those men?”
“Yes, it is. Tell you what, I didn't pick all the strawberries that were ripe earlier. Would you like me to show you where they are and how to pick them so it doesn't hurt the plant?”
“Yes, please,” she said.
Michael led her up to the strawberry patch. He spotted a ripe berry and explained how to pick them.
“See, if you grab and twist the stem just above the strawberry and pull gently, it will pop right off and not tear off part of the plant. Then the plant can grow more berries.”
“Can I have as many as I find?”
“Yes, don't eat too many right now, I don't want you to get a bellyache. You can take some home with you if you want though. I'll come back to check on you in a little while and bring something to carry them home in.”
Michael tried to go back to work on the garden, but he was too nervous to focus well. He kept feeling as though someone were watching him and he'd have to stop and look around before he could focus on digging again. He gave up after a half hour and went to get Liz a basket.
He found Calvin perched on one of the mine buildings, watching Liz. He mentally thanked Calvin as he gave the basket to Liz. She had a pile of berries on the ground beside the stream and her mouth was stained red with berry juice.
They filled the basket and headed back for the house. Jeff had just about finished the section he was working on so they all went up onto the porch. Calvin joined them, landing on the garden fence and watching the area.
* * *
Michael kept the children close to the house by telling stories and chatting with them. They needed to leave for home about an hour after Jeff had finished working on his garden plot and Michael managed to keep them occupied for the whole time.
When it was time for the kids to leave Michael was trapped in a quandary.
I really ought to walk them home. I don't like the feel of things any more, not with people openly looting in broad daylight. But do I want to leave my place untended? I doubt the police are going to show up today, so at least that isn't an issue.
In the end, he worried more about the children than about the house and his stuff. He did return his rifle to the gun safe before leaving and he locked the house up tight.
“Hey Calvin, I'm going to walk the kids home. Keep an eye on things, will you?” Michael said.
Calvin stared at him and dipped his head.
Michael pushed his new bike along, thinking that he could test it out on the way back. He also took a few twenties fro
m his savings and his backpack.
I'll stop in the grocery store on the way home and pick up a few more things. No more than I can carry in my backpack though.
He was ashamed to admit it, but he hoped that they still had treats for Calvin and was planning on stocking up on them. If people thought things were bad enough that they were breaking into homes in broad daylight then he was willing to entertain the idea that there might be more of a problem than he'd been willing to admit to himself.
They headed down the hill. The walk would normally take about twenty minutes. With Liz along it stretched out to over half an hour.
Anne was home when Michael walked Jeff and Liz up to the door. Michael could see that Jeff had locked his bike up before leaving. He had his own lock with him since he didn't want to leave the bike unsecured while he was in the store.
“Michael, nice to see you,” Anne said. “Won't you come in?”
“I wouldn't want to be any trouble.”
“Please, I insist. I didn't expect you to walk the children home.”
“I didn't intend to, but...”
“Yes?” Anne said.
“I'll come in for a little bit. We should talk.”
Jeff and Liz were already inside the house. Michael went in and sat down at the table.
“Anne, Liz saw someone breaking into a trailer near the mine today. They did it in broad daylight. I think... I don't know, I think things are going bad. They're doing it quickly too.”
“I know, I spotted at least ten shoplifters today. And the security guards had to stop several people from just walking out with their full carts without paying. It's kind of spooky. Who would've thought people would behave like that? Even if things are kind of rocky right now, it should get back to normal in a week or so, shouldn't it?”
“That's what I thought at first. The break-in today got me to thinking though. If anything, we have less of that kind of crime around here than most other places. So if that's happening here, what's happening elsewhere? What about the big cities where there are gangs? What's going to be left in a week if people are breaking into places already? That's why I walked the kids home. People aren't acting the way I expect them to, the way they normally do, so I don't know what to expect. That makes me nervous.”