“I’ll do what I can.”
“Thank you, Lieutenant. If supplies are short, don’t worry, we can get by.”
In the morning the family said goodbye to Cameron and Gibbs.
“We’ll look forward to seeing you again,” Catherine said to Cameron with a smile.
Jason thanked them again and Sarah waved to everyone in the Humvees. Her eye caught sight of Tommy Wilkes who blew her a kiss and was rewarded with a bright smile.
“That was quite an experience,” Gibbs remarked as the patrol later headed back to Hillsboro. “Way out here in the country we find a family of fighters: a pregnant mother, a dad and two teenage daughters. I never saw anything like that before in my life.”
“They’re quite a family,” Cameron replied with a smile. “I hope we can sell this to Roper.”
“We can. I’ll help you.” Looking at Cameron, he continued, “You’re smiling. Thinking about that girl? I noticed you couldn’t take your eyes off her.”
“She is something, don’t you think?”
“If you mean she’s young and good looking, yes.”
“I think she’s more than just that. She’s got a head on her shoulders.”
“Lieutenant, with all due respect, I don’t think you were attracted to her brain. Aren’t you a bit too old for her?”
“She seemed pretty mature to me. She was mature enough to tell me directly she was ready to shoot me.”
“Not sure I’d want to pursue a female that would be willing to shoot me. It sounds dangerous. I didn’t know you liked dangerous women.”
Cameron smiled and shook his head and changed the subject. “So the rest of the valley seems happy to stay. They actually like Jason’s idea.”
Gibbs’ face grew serious, “Jason and his wife made a good point about food. If we relocate them, this valley goes from being a possible source of food to a food drain. The more I think about this relocation plan, the less I like it. Certainly in the short term it just increases Hillsboro’s problems.”
“Yeah, I agree. I can understand inventorying, but not relocating. I don’t know why Roper wants to pursue this.”
“He’s got pressure from the Colonel.”
“Yeah, we’ve seen some dumb things proposed since the EMP attack.”
“Now Lieutenant, don’t go criticizing the brass, you’re going to be one someday.”
“I didn’t know you were such a diplomat.”
“I’m not, but you are and you should remember that. You the diplomat, me the hard ass.”
“Quite a team,” said Cameron with a smile.
Chapter 13
Back in Hillsboro, Lieutenant Cameron gave his report to Captain Roper. He made sure to not dwell on the battles and weapons that valley had amassed. After some time, he was able to convince Roper that working with the valley could be a good way to increase the food supply. Roper actually seemed enthused with Cameron’s idea and suggested he spend his time developing it. He encouraged Cameron to visit the valley as often as necessary and gave him full responsibility to work on the project.
After informing Gibbs their plan was approved, he went to the hospital and collected what supplies he could. Three weeks later, Cameron was back on his way to see Jason.
His machine gunner from the previous trip, Tommy Wilkes, had secured his place and convinced Cameron that he didn’t need to take anyone else. He didn’t want any competition. He was determined to get back to the girl that smiled at him. He didn’t even know her name, but vowed to correct that situation. Cameron grabbed Gibbs and the three of them set out early one morning.
When they arrived they found Anne quite close to giving birth. Lieutenant Cameron presented her with the supplies he received from the hospital.
“Thank you very much Lieutenant,” Anne said, “These will be a great help. This baby is going to be coming very soon.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to come back to Hillsboro with us to have the baby in the hospital?” Cameron asked.
“Yes, I’m sure,” Anne replied calmly. “I have my daughters and my husband and I do have some experience in these matters.”
“I can arrange to come back after the birth and maybe bring a doctor or nurse to check up on you…if that would be all right?”
“Yes, that would be fine. I would appreciate that. But can you get away so often?” she asked.
“I’ll find a way,” he said.
Sarah spoke up, “Will you be able to bring everyone along with you, when you return? I mean, it would not be wise to travel alone and Sergeant Gibbs and Tommy know about us, so you wouldn’t want to bring new people along, would you?” She smiled at Tommy after speaking.
“No, you’re right, of course. I guess we will be the travel group between here and Hillsboro. In any case, my Captain likes sending me out on various patrol missions. Many seem pointless, but that’s the way it is in the military sometimes.”
“I hope you don’t think your mission to our farm was pointless. Catherine and I think your visit was quite enlightening,” Sarah replied with a smile.
“You could say it opened up our horizons,” Catherine chimed in. “We are just simple country girls, so your visits are very helpful to enlarge our understanding of the outside world,” she smiled at Cameron.
While the bantering was going on, Jason, Cameron and Gibbs went outside.
“Lieutenant, what did your Captain say about my proposal?” Jason asked.
“Please call me Kevin. I think we’re on a first name basis now. He gave me the green light, so we can go ahead. You can let the rest of the valley know. He actually sounded enthused about the project. He wants me to try to expand it. That’s where I’ll need your help.”
“I’ll let everyone know. That’s great news.” Jason paused, then added, “It won’t be anything fancy, but the town can start to get local produce from the surrounding farms.”
“I can imagine a farmer’s markets coming to town,” Rodney said.
“Yeah, something like that, just like the old days. But people will have to relearn how to preserve food so they can eat in the winter when the farms can’t produce.”
“I guess we’re going back to the nineteenth century,” Kevin said.
“Better than the twelfth century, which is what it was like fighting the gangs…a twelfth century fight for your life with modern weapons,” Jason said, reflecting on the ferocity of his battles. “I can help make this one valley start producing more than subsistence levels of crops. Even if I didn’t grow up on a farm, I have Anne to help…and the others in the valley. There’s a wealth of knowledge here and I can put it in action.”
Jason continued, “Are things really getting any better in Hillsboro? With this farming plan we’ll be doing business with them in the near future. I need to know how things are there.”
The officers were silent for a moment. Then Rodney said, “I don’t know. We come in to a community, we set up our marshal law and everything is supposed to get better. Only it really doesn’t. We don’t have any new resources to solve the town’s problems—food, fuel, medicine. Hunger is still a big issue. It drives how the city functions. Everyone’s getting fed but everyone feels some level of hunger. The local authorities have things tied up pretty tight…did so even before we got there.”
“I left because of the corruption I saw starting to take place,” Jason said.
“It didn’t go away, I won’t kid you,” Rodney replied.
“Yeah; and there’s still a criminal element in the town. They’ve got some resources and are using them to control the locals,” Kevin said.
“I figured some of the police and town leaders might start their own power play with the scarce resources.”
“It’s happened,” Gibbs responded.
“Who’s involved?” Jason asked.
“The town’s mayor and now chairman of the Safety Committee, the Chief of Police.”
“And probably some local gangsters,” Gibbs interrupted.
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p; “Yeah, some of them as well.”
“That could affect us,” Jason said. “I’m not sure I would want to trust them.”
“You don’t,” Rodney said.
“Don’t be too cynical, Rodney. You don’t want to paint too bad a picture,” Kevin said.
“Maybe more the realist than cynic.” Rodney went on to describe how other towns had been raided and some transports of supplies had been hijacked. “It takes some inside information, information the Safety Committee has, to pull off those raids. Yet no one seems to be able to find out who the culprits are.”
“Something’s up, I don’t deny it,” Kevin agreed. “But at least the town is peaceful…no riots or anarchy.”
“But at what price?” Jason asked. “From what I’m hearing, I’m glad I left. I don’t think I’d like to return anytime soon. What’s your command structure?”
“Our colonel’s gone, Kevin replied. “He took the main body and continued his loop through the countryside. We have a Captain Roper in charge.”
“Well I hope he’s clean. If he’s compromised, you could be in for real trouble,” Jason declared.
Kevin looked down at the ground as if he didn’t want to go to where the conversation had just turned.
“I’m guessing you have some doubts about Captain Roper?” Jason asked.
Kevin remained quiet. Rodney finally spoke. “He seems to be willfully blind to what’s going on. I’m not sure how to read that.”
“Well, I’m worried about how we do business with them. And with just a small squad left, you really don’t have much power to counter the militia, do you?” Jason continued.
Kevin looked around, as if hunting for an answer.
“The short answer is no,” said Rodney.
“So what’s to keep them from coming into the valley and just stealing our crops? You’ve just told me they’ve raided other towns.” Jason said.
“We don’t know who raided those towns, we just have our suspicions. And I want you to know that you are my project and I will defend this valley. I expect Captain Roper will as well. Yeah, we don’t have full control over everything going on in the town, but no one has tried to hijack or attack any of our work directly. As of now, you come under that umbrella.” Cameron said.
“I appreciate that statement of support, but I’ll keep a wary eye out anyway. It’s how we’ve survived so far. I hope you will as well.” Jason responded.
Anne and the girls came out on the porch with Tommy close behind. “I’m going to go lie down now,” Anne said. “The baby is tiring me out. We’ve reached that point where it will be more comfortable for both of us with the baby outside of me rather than inside of me.” She smiled at the men and went back inside.
“We better get going,” Rodney said. “We don’t want to be on the road too late at night.”
“You will return soon?” Catherine asked Kevin.
“How soon do you think I should?” Kevin replied.
“Mom said she thought the baby would come within a week, so any time after that should be good.”
“I’ll try to make that happen.”
“We’ll eagerly await your return, Lieutenant,” Catherine said with a smile.
“Be sure to bring Tommy along to help drive,” Sarah added.
Chapter 14
A week later Anne began experiencing contractions which went on for two days. Starting with one every two to three hours, they progressed to every hour. She tried to keep mobile, walking around the house in order to help the birth. This became more difficult as the contractions came more frequently. One bright spring morning around ten, Anne’s water broke. She cried out and everyone rushed into the kitchen to see the fluid all over the floor.
“My water has broken,” she declared.
The girls looked stunned, as did Jason. “Remember the steps I outlined for you, this is natural and it means the baby will be coming soon,” Anne said.
“Do you have to go to bed now?” Sarah asked.
Anne smiled, “Maybe, but not before I change my clothes.”
“Of course,” she responded. The two girls helped their mom up to the bedroom.
Anne changed into a nightgown. She lay down in the bed and asked Catherine to start timing the contractions so they could keep track of her progress. She had Jason rub her lower back.
Thankfully, Anne had strong, wide hips. Her two girls had been born with reasonably short periods of labor. This baby, she hoped, would be the same.
Jason arranged strips from a sheet, carefully cut for cleaning Anne and the baby after the birth.
“Babies are moist,” Anne said.
“I hope it’s not too yucky,” Sarah declared.
“Be brave,” Catherine admonished in a joking manner. “Remember, you’re the princess warrior.”
“No, the mid-wife,” Sarah retorted. “And I’m too young for either title.”
“You’ll do fine. I’m going to do all the work, you just have to help,” Anne said.
The girls washed their mother with the soap brought from the hospital. Everyone focused on the final steps for the birth. They kept track of Anne’s dilation through the frequency and intensity of her contractions. They were stunned at the effort, but did not shirk from helping her in whatever way they could: counting, cheerleading, pressing hard on her back and reminding her when to breathe and when to push. After six hours of increasingly intense effort, Jason cradled a baby boy who came squeezing out from Anne into the world. Catherine tied off the cord and, at Anne’s prodding, Jason cut it.
The girls wiped off the new baby. He started to breathe and began to cry as the air hit his lungs. They laid him on Anne so she and the new baby could get acquainted with each other and the baby could begin to nurse. Everyone felt exhausted even though Anne did all the work. They watched the new baby start to nurse from the sidelines until Anne suggested they set about cleaning things up and changing the bedding so she could lie in a dry bed. Jason could see the girls were awed by what their mother had done. Participating in the birth seemed to give them a new insight into what being a woman was all about. Jason also found the moment inspirational, seeing his wife absorbing so much in order to bring new life into the world.
No wonder we never stop honoring our mothers.
Two days later, Kevin, Rodney and Tommy returned as promised, bringing a nurse from the hospital. After examining both the baby and Anne she declared them fine and fit. Everyone was elated at the successful birth.
Jason, the girls and Anne beamed. The others all expressed their admiration for the baby.
Kevin indicated he wanted to talk with Jason alone, so they went outside. “With authorization to help you restart farming in the valley, we’ll be working more closely with each other.”
“I know. I’m looking forward to it.”
“There’s another reason I’m excited about this project,” Kevin continued.
“And what is that?”
“First, I need to ask something personal of you. It may sound a bit old fashioned, but these are different times, and maybe they call for an old fashioned approach.”
“What are you driving at?” Jason inquired.
“I would like permission to visit you in the future.”
“We’re going to be working together. I assumed you would be visiting as part of that effort,” Jason responded.
“Yes, we’ll be working together, but this is different. I would like permission to court Catherine.” It sounded odd for Kevin to say, odd for Jason to hear, but somehow appropriate.
“Ah,” Jason said with a sigh, “an ulterior motive.”
He had suspected this might be coming. He was not unaware of the glances between Kevin and Catherine. Little did Kevin know how opportune his arrival this spring had been, filling an emotional hole in Catherine when Jason rejected her plea last fall. But Kevin was unaware of how volatile Catherine’s emotions might be as a romantic relationship developed. Jason’s protective instincts kicked in.
“Yes, even though I don’t know exactly how old Catherine is. However, she’s obviously very mature.”
“With all the trials we’ve been through since last year and earlier, she is more vulnerable than she might seem. I don’t want her hurt. Remember, Catherine has lost her biological father, accepted a new step father, learned to be a warrior and killed—up close and ugly. That is a lot to absorb for a teenager. This family has felt the trauma of violence and its terrible aftermath—the bodies dead and dying, stripping them of valuables, getting rid of them, the smell—she’s experienced it all, more than you.”
“I understand what you’re saying which is why I wanted to talk to you in this manner. My feelings are strong for your daughter. She’s all I’ve thought about since we returned to Hillsboro. I couldn’t wait to get back here to see her. Maybe we’re all too emotionally vulnerable in these times, but I can think of no one other than her to be with in this new world.
“You see,” Kevin continued, “like you, I’m not sure, in spite of what the official word is from my command structure, that our society has not fundamentally changed, and that we will have to make our way in this new reality using different methods. Success may be measured far differently going forward than it has been in the past. I’m ready to embrace the future, but I realize I want to embrace it with Catherine. Whether or not she will want the same, I don’t know. But I’m ready to try to win her heart and ready to accept my failure if I can’t.”
“That’s a nice speech,” Jason responded. “You’ve come a long way from the officer who sat in my yard a month ago.”
“Yes. It’s ironic that the young woman who was ready to shoot me is the one whose heart I want to win.”
“If you break her heart, I’ll do what she didn’t.” Jason paused, “I guess that is another way of saying you have my blessing, but don’t misuse it.”
After the Fall: Jason's Tale Page 27