by C. A. Henry
I have not had the opportunity to meet all of the neighbors, but I do know the McCoy family and the Fosters. The McCoys live in a little house about ¾ of a mile northwest of the lodge. Mac is a trucker, and looks like a Hell’s Angel, but he’s a good man. His wife is Claire, and she is really sweet. They have a little red-haired girl, Kyra, who is the cutest kid around. Get to know them. They have skills that could be very useful. Help them if things get rough. They’ve been good to me since I got sick.
The Fosters are a family I know from church, solid people who will probably contact you soon, if they haven’t already. The McNeils are old friends of mine, and they live close to the north end of the property. There is no one I trust more.
You can also rely on Kenneth Abbott, the preacher in town. He and his wife, Terri, can be depended on if you need advice or help.
Be careful who you talk to beyond those I mentioned. There are some fine people in town, and some really shady characters. I think that Richie Baxter, the pharmacist, and Shane Ramsey, who teaches martial arts, are okay, as is Lydia Clark, but I don’t know them as well, so exercise caution. There is something about Deputy Kline that strikes me as being off. He’s an arrogant jerk, and sneaky, if you ask me, but he’s the law in this section of the county.
There are also some parolees around town. They’re bad dudes, for the most part. Stay as far away from them as possible. I guess you know that a lot of marijuana is being grown in these woods. Don’t go wondering around in the forest by yourself.
The supplies in this cavern were prepared specifically for you. There are tubs of clothing, and sturdy boots and shoes, and plenty of food to last for quite a while, plus guns and ammo, first aid supplies, and things like soap and shampoo. There may be others who come here for safety, so I got a several tubs full of fabric, and some patterns for simple clothing in various sizes. I hope someone knows how to sew on a treadle machine.
I hired an out-of-state crew to enlarge the tunnels and put in supports so they won’t cave in. There is only one person locally who knows about the pantry entrance, and he will reveal himself when he decides the time is right.
A few more things you need to know: the windows in the lodge are polycarbonate, and will withstand small arms fire. The doors have a solid steel core overlaid with wood veneer, and the door-frames are also steel. If someone shoots a rocket at the lodge, you’re in trouble, but anything less, and you should be okay. The back of the shelf that serves as the door to the caves is thick, high-carbon steel.
There are dozens of big flowerpots and several bags of potting soil on the deck. There are seed packets in one of the big tubs, for every type of veggie imaginable, and also some seeds for fruit trees. You’ve always had a green thumb, so use it. You will have to grow your plants on the deck, because even if the ground was not so rocky, a garden in the yard would just feed the wildlife. Up on the deck, the deer, rabbits, and other critters won’t be able to get to your plants, and they will also get more sun up there.
Keep the papers in this packet secure and hidden. Your safety depends on it. Learn as much as you can, and use your head. There are books that you can refer to for most things that you may need to know how to do. They are in one of the tubs. Don’t wait until you need to know something. Start learning now.
There will be some money coming in from my books. I strongly advise you to use that money to buy gold and silver. When things go down, paper money will be worthless.
You have good instincts, so don’t second-guess yourself. I have faith in you and in the Lord, Who will watch over you always.
Keep an eye and an ear on the news, and pay attention to what is going on. You are smart enough to know when to batten down the hatches. May God keep you, Erin.
All my love,
Uncle Ernie
Erin glanced at the other papers in the packet, noting an inventory list, a list of where guns were stashed in the lodge, and the map. The cave evidently continued toward the east on the far side of the cavern, and the map indicated a smaller cavern further in. It also showed another cave that branched off from the northwest corner of the big cavern, going west for a short distance and ending with a question mark.
Interesting, Erin mused. I really don’t want to investigate this by myself. What if I get hurt or lost, and nobody can find me? But Uncle Ernie always said not to tell people about prepping secrets. No one can go with me to see the caves without going through the cavern and seeing all the supplies. I guess I may have to go it alone, but I don’t like the idea at all.
Chapter 3
Late April
Lydia Clark unlocked the door of her shop and turned on the neon “Open” sign, then pushed back a strand of dark brown hair that had come loose from her ponytail. Straightening some bottles of shampoo on an end cap, she glanced around the modest store with a sigh of satisfaction. This was what she had always dreamed of doing. The town had needed a new business, and she needed to stay busy. The retail trade was in her DNA, with both parents employed as grocery store managers in Paris, Texas.
After going through a nasty divorce, Lydia needed to get away from her ex-husband and his pregnant girlfriend, who was less than half his age. In her early forties, Lydia set out for the first time in her life to be truly independent. The divorce settlement gave her the cash to start over, and when she passed through the quaint town of Kanichi Springs, she knew she had found a home. She saw the “For Sale” sign in the window of the vacant building and after an inspector assured her that the place was old, but sound, she bought it. She also bought a charming little house just a few blocks away.
Filling her diffuser with distilled water, Lydia added a few drops of Peace and Calming essential oil blend. Along with a complete line of quality oils, the shop carried diffusers, high-end toiletries, and unique gift items, many of them created by artisans in the area. For being in such a small town, the shop was doing well, with a few people coming from McAlester and even Fort Smith to shop for unusual gifts. During the fall tourist season, when people came through town on the way to the famous Talimena Drive, the shop got really busy. Lydia was considering hiring someone, perhaps a high school girl, to help out part time so she could have some time off.
The little bell over the door jingled merrily as the day’s first customer strolled in, scanning the displays. Lydia looked up to see a young, pretty stranger in jeans, with a coral camp shirt over a white tank top. She had a beautiful complexion and big brown eyes. Lydia smiled and started toward the front of the store.
“May I help you find something?”
“Yes, several things, in fact.” Erin grinned and offered her hand. “Hi. I’m Erin Miller. I just moved here from Tulsa. Your shop is lovely.”
“Thanks. I’m Lydia Clark. I’ve only been here for a couple of years, myself, but I love it. If you’re anything like me, you will never want to move back to the city.”
The two women chatted as Lydia helped Erin find almost everything on her list. There were only three things that she needed that Lydia did not keep in stock.
“I can order those items for you, if you’d like. They’ll be here in a few days and I’ll call you when they come in.”
“That would be great. I could order them online, but I doubt that the FedEx guy could find my place. It’s pretty secluded,” Erin laughed.
“Wait. You said your name is Miller, and you live outside town. You’re Ernie’s niece, aren’t you?”
“Guilty. Uncle Ernie left me the lodge when he passed. I’m loving it out there, so peaceful and relaxing,” Erin replied.
“I knew him. Not well, but I liked him a lot. I’m sorry for your loss, for the town’s loss. We all miss his kindness and dry sense of humor. He talked about you all the time.”
“So I’ve been told. He was my only relative, and it’s good to know that others thought well of him. He was my hero in every way.” Erin blinked back tears, and tried to smile. “I’d like to have you go ahead and order those items, and now that what I need has
been taken care of, it’s time to shop for what I want.”
Erin left the store with two bags of sundries, a diffuser and some oils, a painting of the Kiamichi River by a local artist, and a ceramic tray shaped like a large elm leaf. She also bought a pair of rustic candleholders. Lydia helped her carry her purchases to the Expedition, and as she watched Erin drive away, felt that she had just made a new friend.
Erin drove slowly down the street, taking the time to notice each building as she passed. Several had boarded-up windows, but most of the businesses were open. The town appeared to be doing okay, if not truly well. Erin knew that some of the coal mines in the region had shut down, mostly due to government regulations.
Parking in front of the courthouse, Erin removed her Glock from its holster and put it under the bags that held her purchases from Lydia’s. As she hurried up the sidewalk toward the door, she passed a small cluster of rough-looking men who were just standing around smoking. The election board office and the tax office were both on the second floor, so after she took care of the property taxes, she stopped in to register to vote.
On her way back out, one of the men she had seen earlier suddenly stepped in front of her, and with a smirk and a glance at his companions to make sure they were watching, touched her arm and said, “Hey, sugar. What’s your hurry?”
Only mildly alarmed, Erin stepped back a bit. “I’m always in a hurry. I’m very busy.”
The skinny fellow grinned, revealing that his few remaining teeth were yellowed and crooked. “Now, that’s not very friendly at all. How about we go somewhere and get to know each other?”
“I don’t think so. Excuse me,” Erin said coldly, as she tried to step around the man.
He grabbed her arm. Cold chills crept through Erin’s body as she tried to jerk free, which only made the man’s companions laugh. The stench of his body odor mixed with stale cigarette smoke almost made her gag. She was about to panic, when a deep voice interrupted.
“There you are, honey. I’m sorry to be late. Are you ready to go?”
Erin turned, looking over her shoulder. That voice belongs to a giant, she thought, as she noted that the man must be at least 6’7”, with a pair of very broad shoulders. Muscles rippled under a blue tee shirt. His black hair needed a trim, and his eyes were the color of dark chocolate, glittering dangerously with suppressed violence. The high cheekbones and sharp angles of his bronzed face could have been chiseled from stone. And he’s a fine looking giant, at that.
“Uh, yes. Yes, I’m ready. Let’s go.”
The giant stared pointedly at the hand that still grasped Erin’s arm. Erin’s assailant released her and stumbled back, intimidated by the size of her rescuer. He looked viciously angry at being embarrassed in front of his buddies.
“If we hurry, we can beat the rush,” the big man urged.
He and Erin moved past the group, and when they were well beyond them, the giant whispered, “Just keep going. We’ll enter the café on the corner and they’ll think we had a lunch date.”
Holding the café’s door open, the big man followed her inside, where Erin breathed a huge sigh of relief. “Thank you so much for helping me. I usually travel armed, but since I couldn’t take my gun inside the courthouse, this was one of the few times I didn’t have it with me. That jerk just refused to take no for an answer.”
“He’s a convicted sex offender. Been a problem around here for years, with a seven-year gap while he was in the state prison for rape. He and his pals like to hang out near the courthouse, I guess to thumb their noses at the justice system. Every one of those guys has done time.”
Erin swallowed hard. “Oh. My uncle mentioned that there were some unsavory characters in town. I guess that was them.”
“He was smart to warn you.”
A perky young waitress approached. “Would you prefer a table or a booth?”
“Booth,” the man answered.
Erin glanced up at him with a question in her eyes. He shrugged, then grinned. “To be convincing, we need to stay in here for a while. We might as well eat. Come on, I’ll buy your lunch.”
Once they were seated and their drink orders had been taken. Erin extended her hand. “Hi. I’m Erin,” she smiled.
“Tanner. I’m glad to finally meet you. I heard about you for years from Ernie. When I saw you leaving the courthouse, I recognized you immediately. Ernie always had a picture of you on his desk. I’m sorry that I missed the service. I was out of state on business. Everyone who knew Ernie will miss him.”
“Did everyone in town know my uncle? They must have, since all I have to do is say my name and people know who I am. It’s kinda nice, I think.”
“Ernie was well liked and deeply respected by the townspeople. He got along with just about everyone, except the scumbags like you just met. Are you living in his house? Are you planning on staying in Kanichi Springs?”
“No, I’m living out at the lodge, and yes, I’m staying. I like the town and the peacefulness of the woods. Have you lived here long?”
“All my life, except for when I left for college. I went to OU, but I always knew I would come back here.”
The two chatted through lunch, then Tanner walked her back to her SUV, subtly glancing around in search of the thugs. She used the button on her key to unlock the door, and Tanner opened it for her, leaning down to whisper, “I guess they crawled back under their rock. You need to stay aware of your surroundings, Erin. Be safe. I hope to see you again soon.”
Erin nodded, thanked him again, and drove away.
Chapter 4
Early May
Over the next few weeks, Erin made a conscious effort to pay attention to the news on TV and the Internet. She began to understand that there was much more going on than she had previously realized, and that most newscasts were not telling the whole story.
Tensions were high in several regions of the world and small acts of terrorism occurred so often that they had become commonplace. Scandals abounded in political circles and corruption had become routine at all levels of government.
On the economic front, the news was disturbing. There were food riots in parts of Europe and unemployment rates were high in most of the world. A few large banks failed in Europe, and one failed in the US. Congress seemed paralyzed, doing little to solve the problems of rising debt and declining revenue
Erin selected a few of the books from one of the tubs in the cave, and started to educate herself on survival in a changing world. One of the first books she read was about situational awareness and how to defend herself. She knew that she needed to take some classes on that to really learn it, and made a mental note to check into what was available.
She ordered a plunger-like device for washing clothes, then went to McAlester and purchased several long garden hoses and three galvanized tubs that would work for baths, plus four smaller round tubs. The idea she had was to lay the hoses out in the sun and let the water in them get hot, then use that water to bathe or wash clothes or dishes. The idea should work for most of the year. She was new to prepping, except for what she had read and, and she wanted to use Uncle Ernie’s money for something that he believed in. He seemed to have thought of everything that would keep her alive, but she wanted to thrive, whatever happened.
As soon as the weather warmed up sufficiently, Erin filled most of the pots on the deck with potting soil, then planted onions, carrots, tomatoes, cabbage, green beans, peas, zucchini, and yellow squash. She only planted one pot of each of the last two, because she had read that summer squash doesn’t preserve well.
A sense of satisfaction made her smile when the first tiny seedlings appeared. I need to find someone who raises rabbits and see if I can get some bunny poop for fertilizer, and before these are ready to harvest, I need to get acquainted with that canner.
She purchased a large quantity of stout fencing sufficient to enclose the yard and build a pen for a few goats, with barbed wire on the top, which would hopefully keep bears out. Uncle
Ernie had included two Henry milkers in the stash, and Erin was eager to try them out.
She had lunch a couple of times with Lydia Clark, and despite the difference in their ages, the two were quickly becoming good friends. On her trips to town, Erin was careful to watch for the troublemakers, but she saw no sign of them. She didn’t run into Tanner, either, which disappointed her.
***
In early May, Jen invited Erin to come to Tulsa for a few days for a visit. The four friends met for dinner at a little Italian restaurant, and Erin was surprised to see that Valerie had lost weight and gotten her blonde hair cropped really short.
“Val, you look great. Is there a man behind this transformation?” Erin teased.
Valerie’s face burned hot pink. “As a matter of fact, yes. We’ve been out a few times, and well, I’m definitely interested.”
“That pixie cut makes your eyes look huge. It’s a cute style for you,” Sarah commented.
Enjoying the company and the meal, the friends caught up on each other’s news and joked about Erin becoming a country hick. “I like it,” she admitted. “The solitude, the quiet sounds of nature, the fresh air. When I need human contact, I go to town or visit the neighbors. I go to church and have gotten to know several people there. I have plenty to do, with my container garden and learning about the region. It’s a good fit for me. Now, when are you coming down for a dip in that spring-fed pool?”
***
Jen was off work the next day, so she and Erin spent the morning shopping. For lunch, they got sandwiches and pastries from a shop near Utica Square, then drove to Woodward Park for an impromptu picnic.