“I guess you are right, it just seems not long, but my body is drained. I do remember falling asleep once and waking up as the sun was going down, a few times that happened.” Nate replied. They both walked into the house. It was simple but cozy inside. The smell of a wood burning fireplace was the first thing to hit Nate’s senses, followed by the smell of something else, cooking meat, but Italian smelling.
Nate saw Ben sitting on the sofa with Samson curled up around his feet. He was munching on something but couldn’t tell what. Samson jumped up and came straight for Nate. Nate reached down and petted him.
“Grandma is making spaghetti, I love spaghetti,” Ben said as he crunched away on what now appeared to be potato chips.
“I had some unopened chips from the last time your father and I went to that sub shop in town. Those things are still good to believe it or not.” Betty said, stirring away on her sauce. Nate walked over to her and put his injured arm around her.
“Be careful Nate; don’t want you to hurt that arm. Tell me how did that happen?”
“That’s a long story, let’s talk about that later.” he replied kissing her on the top of her head.
“Besides that, I’m starving,” Nate added.
“Well, I have dehydrated Italian meatballs just for you. Happy birthday, son,” Betty replied with a hug and kiss of her own.
Nate made his way to the sofa and sat next to Ben and reached in his bowl to snag a chip. Ben held it up for him to get some.
“Thank you, Ben,” Nate said.
“Thank you, I mean for bringing me with you all the way here,” Ben said looking down in his bowl to the nearly gone chips.
“You are welcome, but why do you look so sad Ben?” Nate asked. He hadn’t seen Ben like this before. Not since his grandmother passed away.
“Just thinking about my grandma, she would like it here. I miss her; I hope she is with grandpa and watching over us. When I think of that it makes me feel better” Ben replied. Nate became choked up but remained calm. He couldn’t imagine what Ben had gone through being alone with her for so long, watching the only person left in his life just slowly die. He had to be the strength now for Ben that he’s never known.
“Ben, I believe they are with you like you said. I also know you have me, and your new grandparents. After dinner, we will head up to our house.” Nate said. Ben looked up and leaned into Nate’s shoulder, smiling.
Nate looked up to see both his parents looking at them on the sofa. Betty was slightly crying, and Harry held her close.
For the next few hours dinner came and went. Betty even managed a fresh birthday cake made over a long pan in the fireplace.
“I can’t tell you how good it feels to be home; I already feel so much better. Dinner and that cake were so good. We have been eating camp foods for so long” Nate said. Ben was still eating up the last bit of spaghetti.
“Ben when you are done we can head up to my place,” Nate said. Ben looked up and nodded as a swirl of sauce slapped his cheek.
“Nate, you both are welcome to sleep here of course, but we understand you might desire your bed tonight,” Betty said.
“More than you know, Mom,” Nate started stretching up his arms and standing to take his plate to the kitchen.
“Nate, we have been keeping an eye on your place. Just yesterday I went down and checked out your solar equipment it’s all doing fine, even your windmill. Everything seemed good to go. You being off the grid already has been a good thing, I’m just glad you convinced us to do the same a few years ago.” Harry said.
“I am too Dad. Say, how much gasoline do you have on hand? I have about two five gallon fuel cans in my truck. The truck is half full itself. That thing gets great gas per mile.”Nate asked.
“Right after you left, we had a shipment of gas fill us up. So it’s still full, 250 gallons. The diesel is also full.” Nate forgot he had a diesel truck a new one as a matter of fact. It was the new Chevy Colorado.
“I guess you two haven’t ventured out much?” Nate asked.
“Not since about two days after the markets collapsed. We went into Fritch for some basics like
Flour, dehydrated milk, and we got three 50 pound bags of beans and rice.” Harry said.
“Nate, you know what was funny, it was busy but not like you would think. We figured everyone just thought, oh well this will be okay in a few days. They bought cokes, chips, and frozen dinners. We looked in their carts. We only saw a few who had real foods, non-perishables, canned foods, toilet paper. I bet they all wished they got what we loaded. The prices were not yet affected we heard that came after day 5 when the banks all closed.” Harry concluded.
“I guess all the banks had to close because they ran out of physical cash. I have always heard that any bank will only have about 10% of its actual holdings on any given day. The rest is just electronic numbers.” Nate said, gathering up his belongings. Harry walked over and looked at Nate’s bag.
“That thing looks like it’s been through some tough, rough times son.” “It has, Dad. We both have. But I’m glad I had it with me.” Nate already had sat both his parents down before dinner and told them what happened from the time he left till arriving home. Harry and Betty knew how lucky Nate was to have made it back in one piece. They also knew that they owed some very special people in other places a lot of gratitude. Nate didn’t hide anything from them, he told them of what all he had done and they understood and prayed for the souls of those he had to take.
“Ok Ben, let’s go see your new home,” Nate said. Ben hugged both his new grandparents and grabbed up his bag. Samson soon followed and out to the truck they went.
“Dad, we will be up in the morning sometimes if that’s ok?” Nate asked.
“That’s fine son, just sleep in as long as you need. If you can’t make it for breakfast, lunch is good too. We will be here.” Harry said.
“Nate, just relax and wash that wound up,” Betty said. She gave him a kiss on his cheek then one for Ben.
Nate, Ben, and Samson got in the Tundra and headed back up past his dad's property to his place only a mile away.
Chapter 21
Trails End
Nate drove up the road and turned the corner to see his solar security lights were working just as they did when he left. It was a beautiful sight. He had forgotten just how much he loved this place. It was mostly a log cabin with a loft and two other bedrooms. It was sizeable with an open floor plan. Nate’s bedroom was in the loft, and he already planned on one downstairs room for Ben. He parked and sat there for a moment.
“Ben, I wasn’t sure for awhile if we would ever make it back. I was starting to lose faith. Now we are here. I’m glad you are with me. I won’t lie to you; life like we knew it has changed. It may return to what it was, but that might take time and maybe years, but I will take care of you, Son.” Nate said speaking "Son" slowly. It was the first time he called Ben Son to his face. Nate had referred to Ben as his Son to others, but not to Ben.
Ben’s reaction was slow at first, bringing a sheepish grin. Then looking up he said
“I know, Dad. I know.”
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