by Brian Quest
“They still are sleeping, so they don’t know. Can you come up and get coffee on and start breakfast? I will tell them over breakfast.”
“Sure, Dad.” Debbie looked at Connie and said, “Come on, we’ll make grits. Keith loves grits.”
“Yeah, and maybe I’ll make some French toast. That’s Stewart’s favorite,” Debbie added.
Andrew loved how much his girls cared about the people who lived on the ranch. It made him swell with pride, and he knew the guys would be thankful for the effort to make them feel better. He went into the living room and sat back down in the chair. His gaze went between the crackling fire and the couch, where Keith and Stewart still slept. He closed his eyes and prayed, hoping he would find the right words to gently break the news to the guys that he was dreading to speak.
The moment the coffee began filling the house with the smell so familiar to all of the ranch occupants, Stewart, Keith and Thomas stirred. Andrew wished them good morning and began telling them what he had found.
“Beth lost three trees and there is a lot of cleanup out there. It’s going to be a busy day today.”
“That’s too bad. Hey, at least the house is still standing, and in one piece!” Stewart said, smiling.
Andrew’s heart sank. He couldn’t make them wait until they were sitting down to breakfast to tell them about their cabin. So he took a breath and said, “Keith, Stewart, you will have to stay here at the house for a while.” Andrew could tell by the look on their faces that they knew what he meant by that and neither said a word; they just stared at him. “The big tree on the other side of James’ old cabin fell. There isn’t much left of either cabin. I’m so sorry.”
“Thank God we weren’t in there! You made us stay here last night. You saved our lives.” Keith spoke with such passion and sincerity, and Andrew didn’t know what to feel.
Just when nobody really knew what to say, Debbie stuck her head around the corner and said, “Breakfast is ready. I’m gonna go down and get the girls.” She could tell by looking around the room that her dad had told the guys what had happened. Before going down to wake up Amy and Beth, she went over to Keith and Stewart and gave them both big hugs, “I’m sorry.”
The only person to see the destruction before breakfast was Andrew. They decided it was best to eat first and then get to the daunting task of trying to save what they could and begin cleaning up what couldn’t be saved. As they ate, very little was said. Andrew could tell the guys were trying to stay light-hearted, and that showed their character.
After breakfast, everyone helped clean up the kitchen. Usually the girls were responsible for that, but it seemed nobody wanted to rush out to see the fallen tree. Before they went outside, Andrew pulled Beth aside and said, “I just want you to know that three of your little trees fell.” He could see the tears well up in her eyes and quickly said, “We will try to save them, but we might not be able to.”
“It’s okay, Dad. I lost three little trees, but the guys lost way more. I’ll be fine.” Once again, Andrew was amazed by how well the girls were able to take things in stride.
Even though there was a lot of work ahead, and some of their family lost a lot, the girls were happy to be outside. The ground was saturated with water, so they had to be careful not to get bogged down in the mud, but that didn’t really slow them down. Debbie went with Keith and Stewart to see how bad the damage was, and to lend a bit of emotional support. Thomas went right to the barn to open it up and let some air move through the place. He was pleased to find the horses all were fine and anxious to have the windows open; the horses loved sticking their heads out of the windows of their stalls to get sunshine and a fresh breeze blowing across their faces.
The rest of the girls went with Andrew over to the small stand of tiny trees to see if they would be able to save the ones that had been blown over. It was disheartening to Andrew to see they actually had snapped at the base and would not be able to be saved. He decided to give his daughter a little bit of hope and said, “You know, I think there is just enough wood here that I probably could make something really neat for you. Would that be okay?”
Beth knew her father was awesome when it came to woodworking, so she excitedly said, “Yes! What will you make for me?”
Laughing, Andrew replied, “I’m not too sure just yet. Let’s get the mess from the storm cleaned up and then I will come up with something special.”
“Okay!” Before Andrew could say another word, Beth began dragging one of the little trees off to the porch of the house. She set it down gently next to the steps and then went back for another. When she came back for the third one, Andrew hugged her and thanked her for working so hard. She smiled and carried on with helping to clear the debris.
On his way back from the barn, Thomas stopped to see the damage the large tree had caused. “You guys need to stand back in case the cabin caves more.”
“I know, we’re just trying to figure out how to get this thing off of here,” Stewart said.
“I think we are going to have to climb up there and cut small pieces off, one at a time, to get them off the rooftops. Then we can deal with the large portion afterward.” Thomas had to think with safety in mind.
The plan sounded great. So while the girls went around picking up the snapped branches that littered the ground around the house, shed and barn, all four men began the daunting task of removing the very large, very old tree.
“At least we will have fire wood for a long time!” Keith exclaimed.
“You have a point there!” Stewart chimed in.
While Andrew, Stewart and Keith cut the fallen tree into pieces, Thomas took each piece they threw down and moved them into a pile where they would sit until they could be chopped for firewood. It took way less time than Andrew had thought it would, and soon they were standing on the ground looking at what was left of the two bunkhouses.
“Wow,” Thomas said. It was all he could think to say when he saw the destruction.
Wanting to stay positive, Stewart spoke next, “At least the tree hit the other building first. I think we should be able to save some of our stuff.”
“Well, let’s get to it, then,” Andrew started. “We need to get in and out fast in case the thing wants to fall. We will pull out everything and then you can decide what to save and what is gone.”
Because they had minimal belongings, it didn’t take long to empty out the bunkhouse. They pulled out the mattresses, which were actually the only dry things in the house, and pulled them on the sled to the house where they set them against a wall just inside the kitchen. Once everything was out, Andrew and Thomas left the two guys alone to go through their things, knowing it would be hard for them to do. While Keith and Stewart went to work going through their things, Thomas and Andrew went to check on the girls.
Piles of tree branches were scattered around. One was next to the shed at the back of the house, one was next to the barn, one was in front of the house, and there was one near Thomas’s bunkhouse. Andrew was shocked to see how much the girls had done; they had worked very hard.
“Hey, girls, great job! You must be starving, we worked right through lunch time! Why don’t you go inside and get yourselves something to eat while we finish up out here?”
“Okay, Dad!” Beth ran to the house first, followed by her three sisters. They didn’t like eating without the others. So they decided to make a tray of sandwiches and within twenty minutes, they brought them out to the porch.
“Come and get it!” Debbie yelled.
“What is this?” Andrew asked.
“We made some peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for you guys. It’s not fancy, I know, but it’s something to hold you over ‘til dinner is ready.”
“Thank you, ladies, that was very thoughtful of you,” Keith said.
“You’re welcome.”
“Did you know that peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are my absolute favorite?” Thomas asked.
Amy giggled and said, “No they’
re not!”
Everyone laughed and ate the sandwiches, feeling great that they had accomplished so much. Keith and Stewart were able to salvage most of their stuff and didn’t seem to mind the fact that they would have to live in the main house for a while. In fact, Andrew realized they actually appeared happy at the prospect.
Chapter Five
After placing all of the debris into one large pile and throwing a tarp over it to keep it from blowing around again, the guys decided to do a security check. They split off, having just enough daylight left to take care of things and get back to the house for dinner. Thomas navigated the muddy ground on the way to the front gate. Because of the storm’s severity the night before, he naturally assumed the rocks still would be lined up neatly where they belonged instead of being moved. He was surprised to find that was not the case.
Thomas turned and looked around, hoping to notice something…anything…that would lead him to whomever was messing around with the rocks. He saw no trace of anyone who could have been responsible. There were no discernible footprints, and that was frustrating. He checked the lock on the gate and then looked back at the rocks. They were in the shape of an “E” this time, and he wondered if the person playing with them was going to spell out “HELP.” That thought didn’t make much sense considering that if they needed help, why not just ask for it instead of beating around the bush? When he was finished checking the area, he moved back toward the house to check on the girls.
Keith had moved to the back of the property to check the cattle that had been fenced in toward the stream. He opened the large gate and let the cows roam freely throughout the slightly mushy pasture. While he loved being with his brother and the others on the ranch, he also loved having a little time to himself. So he leaned against a large boulder next to the stream and breathed in the cool fall air. The rain brought out the earthy smell of the woods on the other side of the stream, and the smell of wet earth was comforting.
He sat there for a few minutes, eyes closed and face turned up to feel the sun, and then knew he had to start making his way back to the house. As he walked, he quickly stopped and placed his hand on the revolver in his hip holster. He saw a figure in the distance that seemed to be walking toward him. Concerned for his safety, he pulled the gun from the holster and held it at his side. He continued walking toward the figure, and within a minute or two, he realized he was not in any danger at all. Relieved to see Emma, he let out a heavy sigh, placed the revolver back on his hip, and then walked over to meet her.
Emma was quite a woman. She lived in a cabin at the base of the mountains, and at the age of 73, did quite well living alone. For the most part, she kept to herself, but made her presence known every now and then. She was a nurse for the majority of her working years. When someone was injured on the ranch and didn’t require going all the way into town to the hospital, Emma was their go-to-girl. She never really was afraid of anything, and didn’t shy away from standing up for herself. Emma was tiny, barely five feet tall, and couldn’t weigh more than 100 pounds, but she still had the strength of a full-sized man, even at her advanced age.
“Emma! You scared the heck out of me! How are you? Did you do okay last night?”
“That is why I came looking for one of you guys. My cabin is fine, but I’m a bit under the weather and need help clearing some debris from around my place. Do you think you could help out?”
Keith could tell by looking at her that she wasn’t feeling well. Her voice was scratchy and she was pale. “Of course we can help. Let me go back and get the guys and we’ll come back to help you out.”
“It doesn’t look like you’ll have to go anywhere,” she said and pointed behind him. Thomas and Andrew were walking toward them.
Andrew said, “I thought you were talking to someone. Emma, how are you?” He hugged her tightly and could feel she was a bit warm. “You are hot, Emma. Are you sick?”
“Yes, I got wet in the rain and now I have a cold.”
“You should get inside then. What are you doing out in the damp, cold air?”
“I was just telling Keith that I need a little help clearing some debris.”
Smiling warmly at the woman, Andrew turned and said, “Keith, why don’t you head back to the house and get settled with Stewart? Thomas and I will help Emma and be back in time for dinner.”
“Sounds good, Boss.”
Then Andrew turned to Emma and said, “I really wish you would consider moving into our house, Emma. You know we have the room and the girls would love having you.”
“Stop it! You know how I am. I need my space, and I don’t want to be a bother.”
“It would be no bother!”
“Nope. I am fine right where I am. But, thank you so much for the offer. I really do appreciate it.”
Emma was a stubborn woman, and Andrew knew it was best not to push the issue. He and Thomas walked her back to her cabin and got to work clearing the debris that fell around her place. It didn’t take too long to clean up the mess the storm had made. Before they went back to the house, they checked to make sure she had taken some medicine and was taking care of herself. Comfortable that Emma was settled in and happy to see her eating soup and sipping tea, they headed back to the main house.
As they walked, Thomas let Andrew know what he had found at the gate, “So, the rocks were moved again.”
Andrew didn’t know whether to be worried, frustrated or slightly amused. “Are you serious?”
“Very serious. This time they looked like they were in the shape of the letter ‘E’.”
“That’s odd. H-E…I wonder where they were going with that.”
“I don’t know, but you are right, it is odd.” Thomas coughed and Andrew took notice.
“Come on, let’s get you inside.”
“I’m fine, really.”
“And you’ll be even better if you are inside where it’s warm.”
Thomas and Andrew went back to the house and when they got inside they were greeted by coffee and a warm, blazing fire. The smell of dinner cooking gave them both a feeling of home and they silently reflected on Emma and that she was sitting in her tiny cabin, all alone. Andrew felt like he wanted to do more for her, but he also knew how stubborn she was. That frustrated him sometimes, but her determination to be self-sufficient also encouraged her to keep going when things got tough. Keith went out to join his brother and help him get the safety check done before dinner was ready.
While their father and Thomas sat in the warmth, Keith went back out to secure the barn and feed the horses. He also went to look for Stewart so they could get a few more of their things to put inside the house. He was thankful Andrew and his girls were so inviting and helpful, allowing them to stay in the main house until they could rebuild a bunkhouse to move back into.
While the soup was simmering, Debbie and Connie helped Amy move into Beth’s room, leaving Amy’s room open for Stewart and Keith. It wasn’t the biggest bedroom in the house, but it also wasn’t the smallest. It had just enough room for the two men to sleep comfortably, and was near the stairs. So not only would they not wake the girls when they came in late after doing their safety checks, but they also would be the first line of defense if an intruder came up to the second floor.
Wanting to help the guys feel welcome, Andrew and Thomas slid the mattresses up the stairs and placed them in the bedroom. Debbie stood in the doorway and directed them where to put the beds, taking time to think about comfort. She had them put one bed under each of the two big windows, leaving room for a couple of tall dressers.
“You know, Dad, in the barn there are those two dressers that are just sitting empty. We could bring them in and put them against this wall. It would be nice, I think,” Debbie said.
The dressers once had been home to Sandra’s clothes. When she passed away, Andrew moved them out of his bedroom closet to make room and to rid himself of the daily reminder that she was gone. At first his daughter’s suggestion felt like a stab to the he
art, but then as he digested the thought, he realized that making Stewart and Keith comfortable was something Sandra would have wanted. So he smiled and said, “We’ll put them in tomorrow. You really are your mother’s daughter, Deb. I love you.” He hugged her, and just watching the interaction gave Thomas a feeling that he was right where he wanted to be.
The three of them went back downstairs and gathered the other three girls. As a group, they moved upstairs all of the stuff that Keith and Stewart had brought into the house to that point. They knew there was a little bit more, but to have most of it in the room gave them a feeling of accomplishment. They hoped it would make the guys feel welcome. They hurried back downstairs and the girls finished up dinner while Thomas sat in the recliner and Andrew went out onto the porch.
From the porch, Andrew could see Keith and Stewart coming toward the house, and hoped they would be happy with their new bedroom. He knew they had lived on their own for a long time and that it would be an adjustment, but since the EMP, adjustments were a daily part of life. He threw up a hand, waving the guys in and they waved back.
Andrew went inside and let the girls know that Stewart and Keith were coming and they were excited to show the two their new room. When they came in, they took off their coats and boots and quickly were bombarded by the girls.
“Come on Stewart! Come on Keith!” Amy said excitedly, grabbing their hands and dragging them toward the stairs.
“What’s up? Where are you taking us?” Stewart laughed.
“The girls have a surprise for you,” Andrew said, and then whispered to Stewart, “Just go with it. She’s excited.”
The whole group went up the stairs and stood outside the doorway to Keith and Stewart’s new room. Debbie stepped up and said, “We all wanted you to know that you are always welcome here with us. We are so happy to have you living in our home and are thankful for all you do for us. We hope you like it.” She opened the door and the guys stepped in.
“But this is Amy’s room,” Keith said, obviously touched and slightly emotional.