by A J Newman
“Damn, I had hoped that we could get back together for Callie’s sake. You know you want me. It’s not like we haven’t done it a thousand times. I still love you.”
“It’s those times that you did it with Todd that sticks in my craw. You left me for that whiny assed bastard. That’s hard to forget.”
“Zack, I made a mistake.”
Yes, you did,” I replied and stormed off.
The problem was that I still find Joan attractive and hadn’t been with a woman for months. I had to keep my mind on my farm and surviving. The new Zack was trying hard.
***
“What do you mean, I’m not needed for this meeting? I have a lot to offer and should be included in any planning for our community,” said Grant as he glared at me.
“Grant, first this is not a community. It is my farm and I say what goes around here. I will be glad to take advice from those that I trust, but this is not a democracy. Besides you were supposed to head home to Bucksville over a month ago. I will talk with you later. Now please let us continue our meeting.”
“That’s not fair, I’m a part of this community.”
“Leave now before I lose my temper. Look, this is a meeting with my closest friends to catch me up on anything I missed. Now leave us alone.”
He turned and left the room in a huff.
I got up closed the door looked at my friends and said, “I guess I pissed in his Wheaties. What gives with him?”
Mike spoke up, “That was one of the issues I told you we need to discuss. Grant has been lobbying for us to begin running the farm as a community with everyone having a say in all decisions. He has a couple of weak minded people that are swaying to his side.”
“This topic and a few more are why I asked for this meeting. We will meet on the attack on the gang over in Ohio County tomorrow. The reason I invited ya’ll to this meeting is that I trust you. I haven’t known Lyn and Roger long, but Mike and I have learned to trust and respect you. Now I want to make a few things clear. One, this is my farm and only Mike and Callie have a right to be here. Two, I make all final decisions. This is not a democracy. Three, I will take advice, but I still make the final decisions. Four, we must limit who moves to the farm. Outsiders could try to take over if they disagree with the direction I am taking this group. Five, if you don’t like the rules, you are free to leave. There will be more rules, but those are the important ones for now.”
Joan hit me on the arm and replied, “So I don’t belong here?”
“Yes, but I don’t want you to get too cocky. I will eventually find a girlfriend and perhaps marry and I don’t want you to harass my new woman.”
“I plan to be that woman.”
“Sorry, but I don’t see that happening. Anyone else?”
Aaron replied, “I think you said it well. You have to take charge and do the best you can, but you can’t help everyone and give them a place to live. Most people need a helping hand, but you can’t support them all.”
Roger added, “I am honored that you included me in your circle of trust. I agree with Aaron; we need strong decisive leadership. I think that you will listen and make the best decisions for your family and the rest of us, however we can’t water down our resources to feed and shelter everyone.”
Everyone agreed and asked me to continue.
“I never liked or felt that I could trust Grant. I don’t know Sam and his group very well, but I trust Mike’s judgement. Is there anyone else that we need to watch?”
Joan spoke up, “Caries mom, Debby, has been close to Grant lately and is asking why the group doesn’t have more say in how the farm is managed.”
“I think you should ask them to leave. There are plenty of vacant houses around, or they could go on to Grant’s home in Buckville. I’m heading out to Alabama in a couple of weeks so I don’t have a say in the matter, but that’s what I’d do.”
I asked about any more malcontents or trouble makers and no one brought up any others.
I asked, “What about Frank Carpenter and Chuck Taylor? Mike and Joan, you know them better than I do.”
Mike answered first, “I like both and trusted them before TSHTF. They are open with me about not liking the direction that the new mayor is taking Owensville. They may try to join us.”
“I agree with brother Mike. I trust both and have talked quite a bit with Chuck. He would be a good fit for our group.”
“The fact that he has been sniffing around you ever since you arrived has nothing to do with his fit does it?”
“Mike get your mind out of the gutter.”
Lyn spoke up, “Damn, he’s been flirting with me a lot also. Not in a bad way. Just a he wants to get laid way.”
I broke out laughing and said, “Joan, you need to start flirting back at him. Now seriously, what are you hearing from Owensville; this new mayor’s direction is worrying me.”
“She is a great person; however, she is a liberal democrat who thinks that the government is the solution to every problem. She doesn’t like guns, conservatives and the police. She is causing big troubles for the police and sheriff. She even proposed that everyone should turn their guns in to the police so they can get crime under control. About half of the city supports her, but the police and sheriff have rejected this dangerous idea.”
I replied, “That would make them an easy target for a gang or want to be dictator to move in and take over. How did she get to be mayor? What happened to Griggs?”
“Heart attack. She was next in line and will be in charge until an election in November next year.”
“Joan, please use your feminine charms to get Chuck and Frank out here for a BBQ this weekend. Tell them to bring their girlfriends and kids. I want to see where their heads are at on this new mayor and feel them out on joining us.”
✪✪✪
Also from A J Newman
Murder Mystery Thrillers
A teenage girl, her dog and foster Dad solve a series of kidnappings and murders of young girls. The teen girl is stalked by her mom’s boyfriend and almost killed by a high-ranking political figure. How are the two crimes linked? This unlikely trio solves the puzzle of “Where the Girls are Buried.”
In the next novel in the series, they solve “Who killed the Girls?” Was it the high ranking politician or was it his son? Who is behind the attacks on their families? Why don’t they want these crimes solved?
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00HT84V6U
Also from A. J Newman
The Adventures of John Harris:
This series of Post-Apocalyptic novels tells how John Harris leads a group of survivors through the chaos of a country that has fallen apart. Rogue US Government officials and a coalition of Third World Leaders have launched a major nuclear and EMP attack on all of the major powers and killed over 100 million Americans. The grid is down and water and food are scarce. The USA is in chaos with criminals and thugs attacking innocent citizens while the DHS is placing millions in relocation camps. John and his team fight back!
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00HT84V6U
To contact the Author please leave comments @:
Anthony J Newman Face Book page.
To view other books by A J Newman go to Amazon at my Author’s page:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00HT84V6U
About the Author
A. J. Newman was born and raised in a small town in the western part of Kentucky. His Dad taught him how to handle guns very early in life and he and his best friend Mike spent summers shooting .22 rifles and fishing. He read every book he could get his hands on and fell in love with science fiction. He graduated from USI with a degree in Chemistry and made a career working in manufacturing and logistics, but always fancied himself as an author. He currently resides in Kentucky with his wife Patsy and their three tiny mop dogs, Sammy Cotton and Callie.
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