EMP Lodge Series Box Set | Books 1-6

by Hamilton, Grace

  Megan smiled. She appreciated Rosie's confidence in her ability to save the lodge from certain ruin.

  “I can't wait,” she said with a hint of sarcasm.

  “This stuff is far better for you than gnawing on that jerky. It’s a bit more balanced and will give you more energy. Jerky is not a meal,” Rosie lectured.

  “I know and I appreciate it. Thank you, Rosie,” Megan said with sincerity.

  Megan started walking to the door, she wanted to look at the garden and get an idea of how much work needed to be done. If they were going to stay here, the garden soil had to be turned. They were going to have to divide their time between building the dike and taking care of the other important, necessary chores around the lodge.

  There would be no stopping at dark.

  Megan sighed heavily hoping everyone was up to the task. It would be rough. The kids were going to have to help as well. She hoped she could present her plan in a way that would convince every member of the group to stay and pitch in.

  Even one person leaving would make it that much harder on those who chose to stay behind. She would do her best to take on as much of the extra work as possible, but she could only do so much.

  Her fate and the fate of the lodge would be decided in a few short hours. She had to keep busy or she would go out of her mind worrying about how the group would vote.

  She ventured outside to find Wyatt. Pounding some nails would keep her busy and allow her to release some of the tension coiled up inside her.

  “Hey,” she said when she found him.

  Wyatt had made good progress on the smoke house.

  “Wow, you moved fast on this,” she told him as he stacked another log on the side wall.

  “It's easy. I just need to complete this side wall and put on the roof.”

  “Can I help?”

  “Sure, hand me one of those pieces of wood and I will nail it up to finish this side,” he directed.

  Megan picked up the old and abused two-by-four that had seen better days. They had been collecting scrap wood, but were about out. Lumber was hard to come by and this summer, they planned on scavenging as much as they could.

  They worked together to finish the third side of the wooden structure.

  “We'll use some of those short branches for the roof,” he explained. “If we can find any scrap pieces of metal siding, we will put that on, but we won’t need much to keep everything dry inside.”

  “What about the door?” she asked.

  He pointed to a small, thin piece of old USB board.

  “It'll work, for now. The wood isn't treated, so it won't hold up through winter, but I am confident we’ll find something better.”

  Wyatt grabbed his pocketknife and cut two chunks of rubber from one of the old tires they had found. The rubber made excellent door hinges and they’d used it on the cabin built for the guys. It had been one of Jack's ideas.

  “Does it need a floor?” Megan asked, not sure what Wyatt's plan was.

  He had created a square foundation with some of the cinder blocks that were used as a makeshift workbench in the small tool shed.

  “No. We'll build the fire in this bottom area here,” he said, pointing to the square opening below the wooden structure. “The smoke will rise and fill this area,” he pointed to the building he had finished.

  “How are you going to add the wood? If you open the door, all the smoke is going to escape.”

  “I’m using this brick as a door to the wood burning box.”

  She watched as he slid the extra brick into place making the wood structure look like a tiny house sitting on a foundation.

  “Doesn't it need a vent or something? The smokers I’ve seen always have a chimney.”

  “This isn't exactly airtight,” he chuckled, “but I already cut a small hole in that piece of wood.” He pointed to a hole on the side of the structure about halfway up. “I put it on the side because a chimney at the top would allow all the smoke to escape right out. This way, the smoke rises with only a small amount escaping out the side.”

  “This is great, Wyatt. I can't believe how fast you put it up. I was thinking it would be an all-day project.”

  Wyatt stepped back and looked at his handiwork. “The smokehouse Jack wanted to build was about three times this big. He had planned to make one out of logs, like a mini log cabin and would have been big enough for a person to walk in. We don't have that kind of time. If everything works out, we can plan to build a bigger one in fall. Then we can smoke several large chunks of meat at the same time.”

  Megan nodded in agreement. This could all be for naught. She hated to think he had put in all this effort only to have it washed away.

  “Well, is it ready to use?” she asked, excited to get the deer meat going.

  He shrugged. “I think so. I'll go chop up that wood if you want to cut the meat up. I need to make some brackets to slide those shelves on. I’ll grab the shelves from the refrigerator in the kitchen. It isn't like they’ll be missed. They should fit in here perfectly.”

  “Great idea. I'll get started on the meat.”

  Megan worked fast, slicing thin strips as well as some larger cuts of meat. This would be their trial run. There would be a learning curve as they figured out how long each cut of meat needed to be smoked to be safe to store and eat later. She hoped there would be some telltale sign to let them know the meat was bad. She couldn't imagine trying to deal with E. coli or some other nasty bacteria caused by eating rotten or poorly stored meat.

  As she worked, she thought about the many possibilities. They could smoke fish, which would allow them to do a big catch one day and have food to eat for weeks after. They could harvest numerous turkeys and grouse and smoke the meat. Without refrigeration, it was tough to make anything last. They were constantly hunting or relegated to dried meats.

  The smoked meats would help change up their diet, even if the meat were still dry. The flavor would be different at least. She sighed; it was the way life was.

  She cut another slice and wondered if they would ever live in a world where things like refrigeration and power were readily available. When the EMP first happened, she kept waiting for the lights to come back on. Everyone assumed it was a temporary problem that some guy, somewhere was working to fix.

  The days stretched into weeks and here it was a full year later and it didn't look like anything was ever going to change. There was a niggle of hope life would go back to the way it was, but with each passing day that hope faded.

  One day, there would be power, but she had no idea if it would happen within the foreseeable future. While the engineers and scientists all knew how to get the electricity going, they needed equipment. To make the various transformers, they needed to manufacture the parts. The manufacturing companies needed power to operate.

  “What are you shaking your head at?” Bryan asked, walking towards her.

  She sighed. “I was thinking about the future. I kind of got myself into a chicken and egg conundrum.”

  “What?” he asked, totally confused.

  “We have people on this earth that know how to generate electricity and get it sent out to the power lines and so on, but can they figure out how to fix what's broken without using electricity to make new parts?”

  He shrugged. “I'm sure somewhere; there is a room full of bigwigs trying to do just that. It will probably take years, but eventually someone is going to figure it out. I would guess electricity will be the norm again in a few years.”

  “You think so?” she asked, fighting back the excitement.

  “Oh yeah. The infrastructure is there. It needs repair, but it’ll happen. We need to hang tight until it does. I'm sure countries around the world that weren't impacted by the EMP will have what we need to get up and running.”

  “Will they be willing to help us?” she asked.

  He laughed. “That's a good question. Considering we still don't have lights yet, I am guessing there are some issues.”
/>   “Hm, I guess we'll see.”

  “Okay, I'm going to relieve Albert,” Bryan said walking away.

  Megan stopped what she was doing and thought about what an electrified world would mean. Would she still be with Wyatt? Would she move back into her old house? Since she hadn't paid the mortgage in a year, was it even her house still? A million thoughts raced through her mind. She had a feeling not all those people who called themselves preppers thought about the recovery and rebuilding aspect of things. All those people who had survived and made up new homesteads, would they be allowed to keep the property?

  It all made her head hurt. She would worry about all that if the time came. Right now, she needed to focus on getting through tomorrow and the next tragedy.

  9

  Everyone gathered around the kitchen table. They had known this meeting was coming and now it was time to decide their fate.

  “Is it unanimous?” Wyatt asked.

  There was a pregnant pause in the room while everyone looked at each other.

  “I guess it is,” Evan said.

  He didn't sound all that excited about the decision, but he had voted yes after Megan managed to change his mind.

  Yes, they were all going to stay at the lodge and build a dike with the hope of diverting floodwaters. This was their home and after everything they’d been through, they were not prepared to abandon it if it could be saved.

  Megan looked around the dining room. Each member of the lodge group stared back at her. They didn't have to say the words. She knew what each of them was thinking. Don't screw this up.

  “We can do this guys, but understand that we will be working harder than ever and that means not only continuing the regular household chores and other work around here but also backbreaking work on the dike. Under no circumstances can anyone shirk on their duties,” Megan said, not wanting to say any names. The people who were prone to avoiding their chores knew who she was speaking to.

  “We still need to have at least one person on guard at all times. That is non-negotiable,” Chase said.

  They had all learned that lesson the hard way. Even though things had been quiet and there had been no other bad guys trying to kill them since the McDaniels' gang had been vanquished, they weren't taking any chances. They could not relax their security.

  Wyatt agreed with him.

  “How are you planning to build this dike?” Evan asked.

  Megan explained the idea of using clay mixed with grass and water to form cob bricks. Most of them looked unconvinced.

  “Clay, mud and grass are the only readily available building materials we have.” Looking around at the group’s perplexed faces. “People lived in cob houses for centuries and many still exist dating back to the fifteenth century in England,” Megan explained. “So long as we waterproof them as best we can, we’ll be able to use the bricks to divert the water when the dam breaks. This is our only option,” Megan said a little more vehemently than she had meant.

  The reactions of some of the group members frustrated her. She was trying to come up with an idea, while some were ready to turn tail and run again.

  “Megan's right,” Albert said. “Cob was the building standard and still is in many parts of the world. Heck, I remember reading an article years ago about skyscrapers in Yemen that are five hundred years old. We don’t need it to be that good.”

  Megan was a little surprised he had come to her rescue. He was one that wanted to leave the lodge when they first found out about the dam.

  “I think we’ve all agreed to try, so unless someone has a better idea, cob bricks it is,” Chase said. His firm tone sent a clear message and no one else said a word about the plan.

  “The most time-consuming job will be making the cob bricks,” Megan said. “That is going to be a job that will require the most hands. I’ll work with the designated group to get them started. It’s important the cob be mixed right. Of course, there’s going to be a little bit of a learning curve, but I think we’ll have it figured out after the first few bricks are made.”

  “Let's get the job assignments figured out now so we can hit the ground running tomorrow morning,” Wyatt said.

  “Okay, well we are going to need that tall meadow grass and clay to get started. Until we have that, there is little anyone can do,” Megan said.

  “Garrett, Evan and Tara can head to the meadow. Garrett's been there enough he knows the quickest route,” Wyatt said.

  “Brenda,” Megan started, “How about you take Chase and Bryan to find those bricks. We have the one sled, but I think we can throw something together so each of you can drag some bricks back,” Megan stated.

  “I'll keep watch. I can take the whole day,” Albert volunteered. “I can’t do much of the physical labor with my knee but I can definitely pull sentry.”

  “Rosie, can you work with the kids to collect the mud around the stream area? It’s rich in clay and will be needed for the bricks.” Megan asked.

  “Sure, I think Willow can help as well. Between the two of us and the four kids, we can get clay and still manage to get the cooking done,” Rosie replied.

  “Thanks, mom. Megan, that means you and I can walk up to the dam and map out where the dike will need to be built,” Wyatt said.

  “Any questions?” Megan asked.

  “When are you going to start building the dike?” Willow asked. “Isn't it a bit of an emergency?”

  “Well, yes and no,” Wyatt answered. “Tomorrow, we’ll check things out up there and the following day, we’ll get started making those cob bricks.”

  Willow didn't seem to be appeased.

  “It is going to be several weeks before we are finished,” Megan said gently. “I trust Wyatt when he says we have the time. We are doing everything in our power and I hope it will be enough.”

  “Fine. I know you all are. I’m so anxious to get started!” Willow said, raising her voice as her anxiety grew.

  “I am too. Let's all get to bed early and be ready for a full day tomorrow,” Chase said, standing from the table. He reached out a hand and helped Willow stand. Chase was always making sure she was taken care of.

  Megan smiled at the gesture. He was going to make someone a good husband one day. He was attentive, generous and very easy to get along with. She wondered if they would ever find someone for Chase or Bryan. It wasn't like they could go to the local bar and mingle. She looked at Wyatt and smiled.

  He looked confused, but smiled back at her. She had gotten very lucky to find him. She hoped they could stay here and continue to build a life together. For a brief moment, she let her mind wander as she envisioned their future together. They would have their own little cabin. Maybe, if Willow's labor and delivery went well, they could even have a baby of their own.

  Wyatt had a strange look on his face. Megan started to feel a little uneasy under his scrutiny, as he seemed to size her up. His gaze traveled down her body, coming to rest on her legs. She looked at him, trying to get him to make eye contact, but he was so intent at what he was looking at he didn't notice.

  She lifted her hand from her thigh where it had been resting and waved.

  When he finally looked up, she mouthed, “Good?”

  He smiled. It was that big, toothy smile that always made her a little anxious. He was up to something.

  When she returned her attention to everyone at the table, she heard the “good nights” being said. She rose from her stool at the counter and followed suit. Wyatt stopped her before she went into the room, “I'll be in soon, I need to talk to Garrett.”

  “Okay,” she said, not bothering to ask him what was so important.

  He walked out the door behind the rest of the men. Whatever it was, it was a secret or something he didn't want the rest of the group to hear.

  She didn't give it another thought and headed for bed. Tomorrow, she would get to see what she was up against. She hadn't seen the dam yet. Wyatt had warned her it was intimidating, but he was confident her plan would work.


  Megan closed her eyes and hoped he was right. Her mind automatically thought of the Hoover Dam or the John Day dam. There was no way her dike would ever have a chance. He had assured her the dam that threatened the lodge was not even close to the same size. It was a manageable situation, if they acted fast.

  It better be. If not, goodbye lodge.

  10

  Megan could hear the rushing water long before she saw it. Now she understood why Wyatt had looked so concerned that day he came back. She hadn't even seen the dam yet, but her mind was conjuring up a terrifying image.

  “Are we close?” she shouted over the noise while trying to keep her feet under her. Wyatt had warned her it was slick but she hadn’t anticipated feeling as though she was trying to walk on ice. The downed trees had been stripped of bark making them impossible to use as handholds as she diligently made her way.

  “Almost there,” he called out over his shoulder. “It’s worse than it was two days ago and last night’s rain certainly didn’t help.”

  They crested a hill and Megan saw the clearing and the dam beyond. Her eyes widened.

  “Oh, Wyatt!” she cried.

  The dam was much bigger than she had thought. There were three sluices across the dam. Each of them appeared to be all the way open. With no one to control the flow of water, they would remain open forever.

  She followed behind him as he climbed the slippery slope until he was level with the dam. This view allowed her to see the lake behind the dam and the churning water below. Neither sight gave her any comfort.

  “This way,” he yelled, the rushing water was even louder this close.

  She took short, sideways steps down the muddy hill terrified she would slip and fall to her death. Megan stopped, slightly behind him, not wanting to get any closer to the fast-moving water below.

  Wyatt pointed to the cement edge of the dam, not more than ten feet away from the far right sluice, almost directly in front of them.