They drove off without even asking for their weapons back.
~~~
“Anna, Carolyn, do you really want to go to Marquette?” I asked, shocked.
“Of course not,” Anna said. “However, if he thinks some of us do want to be relocated, he might give us that full week before coming back.”
“Mom,” Jason spoke up, “do you believe him? That they will let the rest of us be?”
“No I don’t,” I said, taking a deep breath. “We may have bought a few days, however, we need to get out of here before he comes back with enough troops to take us.”
“Where will we go?” Amanda asked with a frown.
“I don’t know.”
~~~
The festive mood of the afternoon wedding was completely doused by Army Captain James Andrews’ visit.
“Mom,” Eric limped forward, “are we really leaving here?”
“I don’t know what we should do,” I said. I looked at my guests, my friends, my family. Were they still looking to me to answer their questions, give them guidance? This time I really felt I was out of my realm.
“I’ve never known you to run from anything before,” Jason said, sitting down across from me. “Why do you think we should leave?”
“That’s a good question, son. I don’t want to leave. I’m happy here.” I smiled at my husband of an hour. “However, I fear for what— or who— may come after us. While Captain Andrews seems sincere, I don’t know if we can or should trust him. Eric, you spent a few days with him, what are your thoughts?”
“I take him for an honest man. I think he will do his best to keep his word, and if the situation changes, I believe he will inform us first. I can’t say exactly why I feel that, but I do,” Eric answered. He lowered himself into a seat next to Emilee and picked up the captain’s gun, ejecting the magazine. “Nice gun. Beretta M9, 92A1, fifteen plus one rounds, double-stacked magazine. Would you mind if I kept this, Mom? That revolver is only a five shot. This one makes me feel right at home.” He grinned when I nodded.
“Tell you what. Let’s not make any decisions tonight,” I said. “We can regroup in the morning and discuss this over breakfast,” at which point Mark gave a quiet cough. “Make that lunch, around noon.” Everyone laughed and I blushed.
CHAPTER 5
August 3
I felt the warm presence at my back, curling around me, nuzzling my neck. I turned into the embrace.
“Good morning, wife,” Mark said with a sleepy smile, placing a gentle kiss on my mouth.
“Good morning, husband,” I replied with a heartfelt grin. A twelve-hour honeymoon wasn’t much, however, I was optimistic that we had many years ahead of us to make up for it.
An hour later I slipped out of bed and started a pot of coffee, noticing how late in the morning it was. While the coffee brewed, I started the generator to take a shower.
“If that shower stall were bigger, I’d join you,” Mark said seductively from the other side of the glassed in enclosure, startling me.
“You’re insatiable,” I teased, turning the water off. He handed me a towel when I emerged, then stepped into the stall himself and turned the water back on.
There was now just an hour before everyone would return for this conference on what to do. Last night before everyone left, we forgot to discuss who would bring what if anything, but sandwiches were always good to have. I opened two jars of the recently canned fish to make a tuna-like sandwich spread. I mashed the processed fish, adding some chopped onion, homemade mayo, and a few dashes of Worcestershire sauce. Once more it struck me that this might be the last of that pungent sauce and I better go easy on it. I covered the bowl and set it in the refrigerator, which had begun cooling when the gennie was started. Mark’s pharmaceuticals and narcotics needed the cooling too, though the air temperature was decidedly lower than normal, and soon keeping things chilled wouldn’t be an issue.
Since the air was chilly for early August, having dropped from yesterday’s balmy temperature, we all sat or stood around in the house at the kitchen table instead of the picnic table outside.
“Has anyone come up with any ideas?” I asked bluntly.
“George and I have decided that we really are going to Marquette,” Anna announced.
“Why, Anna?” We’d become close over the past year and it pained me to hear her decision.
“As much as we love this town, Allexa, we can’t stay without food and supplies, and we’re almost out. The garden we started was completely destroyed by the ash, and the hunting, well, the animals are all dead,” Anna lamented. “I’ll leave you in charge, if it will make any difference, but there’s really no one left that we know of that will acknowledge any form of Moose Creek government.”
“When are you leaving?” I asked quietly.
“We figure we’ll stretch it out a few days,” she chuckled. “When we do leave, George wants to leave his rifle and shotgun here with you. I do believe you were right before, when you said all weapons would be confiscated once we arrived in town. Why give them any more? Besides, we might want them back some day.” Anna smiled wistfully.
“I’m going too,” Pastor Carolyn announced. “I have no congregation any longer, so no reason to stay here. Besides, I’m getting too old to stay by myself. Maybe I can do some good in town in the few years I have left. Allexa,” her voice quivered, “you’ve been an inspiration to the town. I wish more had listened to you. I will miss you.”
A lump formed in my throat.
“Well, you aren’t getting rid of us so easily,” Bob said, breaking an awkward moment. “Kath and I are with you, whatever you decide to do.”
“Which brings up, Mom, what are you going to do?” Jason asked. “Because you know we’re with you a hundred percent, no matter what.”
I looked at all these faces, my family and my friends, as they looked at me, waiting. What was I going to say? Mark and I hadn’t discussed this last night and I couldn’t very well make a decision without his input. We were now one.
“Mark, what do you want to do?” I asked, turning to him as he sat beside me. “There are few patients for you to attend to. Do you think you might get bored?”
“Actually Allex, I was thinking if I could get some books on animal physiology I could be a part-time veterinarian,” he responded. “And I could teach the kids biology and anatomy.”
“You’ve obviously been giving this more thought than I have,” I confessed. “I want to stay. This is our home and I don’t like the thought of being run off my land.” I turned to my two sons and their families. “If that’s okay with you.”
They nudged one another and grinned.
“We were betting you would say that! Yes, Mom, it’s okay with us,” Jason said.
I looked around the room. Joshua was hanging around the back, near the door. Ken stood behind his wife, Karen, who was sipping her fresh coffee and eating a quarter of a sandwich.
“Joshua, are you leaving or staying?” I asked, though I was fairly sure of his decision. Even at the young age of twenty, Joshua was very mature and dedicated.
“Well, Miss Allexa, I have given it some thought, and it didn’t take much to realize that if I left, Bossy and Matilda would miss me. If I took them too, they would likely get butchered for food,” he stumbled on those words. “So I’m staying, though I would like to move.”
“Move where, Joshua?” I asked. I didn’t like the idea of him moving further away, even to protect his animals.
“Actually, I was thinking about one of these vacant houses on this road,” he replied, shyly, looking down at his feet. “I’ve only got five acres where I am, and I know I could claim more. The truth is, I don’t like being so alone. I miss Martha.”
“I think it’s a good idea for you to move here, Joshua! I’d rather you were closer to us anyway,” I answered. He looked pleased at this. “There are two places, one on either side of here that might work fine for you. I’m sure that between all of us, we could get you
moved quickly.”
I hadn’t heard from David and Jill to my south for several months. That property had a lot of cleared area that might be suitable for grazing, plus a creek and an apple orchard in need of care. I decided to ask the boys check it over.
This was turning out better than I expected, though there was still a matter of our law enforcement couple. I didn’t have to wait long.
“I think this might solve a dilemma for us too, Allexa,” Ken said.
“Yeah,” Karen interrupted her husband. “As much as we like our house, we don’t like being so isolated from everyone, not now. Quite frankly, Allexa, over the last six months or so, we have come to feel like part of this family. So is there one of the empty houses we can occupy?”
This confession stunned me. I’d always liked these two, and I know that the hard times we’d shared tend to bond people, but I didn’t know they felt this way.
“I know the perfect place.” I smiled, thinking of the fairly new house on the other side of where I’d like to put Joshua, past the curve. It was also the first house at that end of the short road and would be the first line of defense.
This line of thought brought to mind a book by my friend Jim Cobb. In his Prepper’s Long-Term Survival Guide, in the chapter on community survival he talks about this very thing. I’d have to pull that out later and reread it - maybe it would give me some hints on what more we could do to protect ourselves.
“I’m really sad that you’ve decided to leave, though I understand,” I said, looking at Anna, George, and Carolyn. “Our lives aren’t going to be easy. Anna, if it’s alright with you, I’d like to go with you to the township office to call Captain Andrews. It might help me take the pulse of the city as to our situation, and the reliability of the captain’s word.”
~~~
It was later in the afternoon, after everyone else had left, that Eric, Jason, Joshua, Mark and I, walked down to the house where David and Jill had lived. They had been silent all winter until the situation with the Wheelers had come up, and then they disappeared from our lives. I called out to them as we approached the small house. No one answered and there was no sign of their many dogs either. Eric took the front door, while Jason took the back. Neither door was locked, and the place was indeed vacant.
While those two checked for any signs of leakage from the pipes, Joshua roamed from room to room, I checked closets, and Mark walked around outside. After fifteen minutes, we all met back in the front room, now much cleaner than the last time I saw it and eerily quiet.
“No sign of any water leaks, Mom. In fact, David had pulled all the breakers in the power box. He must have drained the pipes too: there isn’t any water in any of the traps or toilet, not even in the water heater,” Eric announced.
“The closets are empty of clothes, and so are the cupboards. I noticed too that all the Ham radio equipment is still here. Maybe we can figure out how to work it. It’s my opinion they moved out and don’t plan on coming back.” I turned to Joshua, “What do you think of the place?”
“I think it’s right cozy, Miss Allexa. I like it. I’d like to look at those two outbuildings to see if they might be suitable for Bossy and Matilda.”
“Mark, did you see anything interesting?” I asked once the three young men had left to inspect the barns.
“It’s a nice place, Allex. There are fruit trees out there that could use some care if they’ve lived through the ash,” Mark replied. “Let’s take another look.”
~~~
There was a clearing in what should be full sun that looked like it had been a vegetable garden at some point in the past. It was close to the creek that the properties shared; that could be used for supplemental watering. This was a well thought out location, and it wouldn’t take much to get it functional again, if we were we to have enough sun to start growing things again.
“These are apple trees, Mark, and it looks like a few cherries too,” I commented as we walked among the now mostly leafless dwarf trees. “Eric took Master Gardening in Florida and I took it too when I lived in Brighton. I still have my books, so I think we should be able to help this orchard come back to a productive life with some much needed pruning!”
Thoughts of apple pies, and cider and vinegar were racing through my head!
“You lived downstate?” Mark said, eyeing me. “I didn’t know that.”
“There are lots of things you don’t know about me, dear. I’m not hiding anything though.”
We had come back around to the front of the house where the other three were waiting for us.
“What do you think, Joshua? Think Bossy and Matilda could live here?” I asked.
“Oh, yes, Miss Allexa! That barn is much like what they have now and it even has a section that would be good for the chickens. I think that other building could be fixed up to be my own little dairy!” It was obvious that Joshua was excited with the prospect of the move.
On the short walk back home, we discussed getting Amanda over to give it a good cleaning and an airing out. Jason would work on the generator, fixing it if need be, while Eric and Joshua started moving any remaining hay and feed for the animals before moving the animals themselves.
“With all of us involved, how long do you think this should take?” I asked to no one in particular.
“Two, maybe three days,” Eric said, still leaning heavily on his crutches.
“I really don’t have much to move,” Joshua admitted shyly.
“I can help you pack up the dishes and kitchen stuff you’ll need,” I offered. “What’s the matter, Joshua?” I asked when I saw him wipe his eyes.
He swallowed hard. “I’m… I’m just not use to everyone being so kind to me.”
“Do you remember what Karen said, about being family? Well, I think you have been welcomed into being part of this family, Joshua,” Mark stated. “I understand being overwhelmed with it. I’m feeling the same way.”
August 4
I met Anna at the township office around noon to make the call to Captain Andrews.
“Anna, I want you to know how much your friendship has meant to me these past months,” I said to her before we made the call.
“The feeling is mutual. I know we haven’t always seen eye to eye, though I do respect your views and opinions,” she replied. “You have to admit that I was right about one thing though…”
“What was that?”
“You and the doctor.”
“Yes, you were definitely right about us.” I chuckled. “Now, let’s get this over with.”
I dialed 911 and told the dispatcher that Captain Andrews was expecting my call. He hesitated oddly, before responding with a sharp, “Yes, ma’am.”
The captain came on the line rather quickly. “Andrews.”
“Captain, this is Allexa Smeth in Moose Creek,” I said, turning on the speaker so Anna could hear the exchange.
“I was doubtful that I would hear from you, Ms. Smeth, and I’m delighted you’ve changed your mind.” His voice sounded too cheery to me.
“Oh, I haven’t changed my mind, sir, but I want to make arrangements for several others. The township supervisor and her husband wish to come to Marquette, along with our pastor. The pastor will need someplace to stay, and Anna and George have family they can go to.”
“I see. It’s always helpful to us when we don’t have to do a placement. When would you like me to send someone for them?” He sounded disappointed.
“No need to send anyone, Captain, they will drive themselves in on Monday,” I ventured, looking over at Anna who nodded her head at me.
There was a pause on his end. “There is a checkpoint on the edge of town. I will notify them of the arrival. Please understand there will be some necessary processing before they are allowed to move into any housing,” he said. “It should only take a few hours. And would you get word to her that she should bring whatever food she has as a gift of sorts for her family? It will help out until the rations can be adjusted.”
“I have a question or two for you, captain,” I pressed.
“Yes, Ms. Smeth?”
“First, are we allowed into town to shop? And next, I would like your word again that we will be left alone out here.” I reminded him of what he promised.
“Yes, Ma’am, you have my word that you will be left alone. As for shopping, I will have to get back to you on that. What few shipments we have gotten in are needed for those under our care,” he replied. At least he didn’t say no.
I hung up the phone.
“I hope he’s a man of his word, Allexa,” Anna said. “We will stop by on our way in to say goodbye.”
CHAPTER 6
JOURNAL ENTRY: August 5
It was a busy day! All of us pitched in to get Joshua and the animals moved into their new home. Amanda had already done the cleaning, and said it was easy and it looked as if Jill had cleaned before leaving.
*
“It really was just a wipe down to get rid of the dust, then mopping and vacuuming,” Amanda said. “Jason had the generator going to test it out, so I washed all the curtains and hung them back up on the windows to dry. The place is ready.” She smiled in satisfaction. “I’m glad there was something I could do to help. Some days I feel so useless.”
Our biggest challenge was getting old Bossy onto a trailer for the move. She did not want to get in there. With Joshua on one side and Matilda on the other, Bossy eventually relented and made the trip to her new home. She immediately took to grazing under the apple trees, as did Matilda.
The Journal: Crimson Skies: (The Journal Book 3) Page 3