Conflicted Home (The Survivalist Book 9) A American (fun to read .TXT) 📖

to hack it from the wilderness, but a damn close second. The truck was heavy and slow; it would be hard to react to anything in this barge. But having thousands of gallons of diesel would be incredible, so I sucked it up. At the warehouse, the truck was sitting beside the Stryker with the trailer now reconnected. The rain had abated a bit, and everyone was standing around. I parked the truck and got out.

Sarge walked up and looked at his watch. “It’s nearly 2:30. Everyone find someplace to grab a couple hours of sleep. We’re going to leave at six. Jamie, you and Ian will be in the five-ton.” He then looked at Ted, “You take those two misfits in the Stryker. Dalton, you’re with me in the Hummer.”

Dalton nodded. “I can drive.”

“Only thing you’re driving is that Browning up there. I’m driving. And Morgan will be in the fuel truck. I’ll be at the head of the column and Ted, you’re at the rear. Any questions?” There were none, and we all broke up to find someplace for a quick nap. I went to the truck. It wasn’t particularly comfortable. But it was dry as the rain picked back up.

I lay in the truck listening to the pattering of rain. It was funny that this thing smelled like every other military rig I’d ever been in. They seemed to be issued with a particular odor. Not necessarily offensive, or pleasant. Just present in intense form. Eventually, I drifted off to sleep.

Chapter 5

Thad came into the kitchen with a laundry basket full of tomatoes and set it on the counter, announcing, “Here’s another basket.”

“We’ll get them washed. Thank you, Thad,” Kay replied.

He went out the back door onto the porch. Mel, Bobbie, Jess and Mary were there tending two kettles sitting on a large two-burner propane camp stove. The top of the picnic table was covered in steaming jars. Thad paused and listened as some of the cooling jars made the telltale tick as the lids sealed. He smiled, “That sure does look good.”

Mel lifted a large strainer from one of the rolling pots, holding it to allow water to drain. “It’s hard work. But it’ll be worth it,” she replied as she carried the scalded tomatoes over to another table where Mary sat working a manual food processor to separate skin and seed. Thad stepped over to her and wrapped his arms around her from behind. She smiled and looked up at him.

“You got a pile of seeds there. We’ll have plenty of tomatoes next year,” he said.

“We have a lot this year,” she replied as she dropped more fruit into the hopper.

“Remember, you have to let those seeds ferment. Squeeze a couple of tomatoes into the bowl. They need the fruit to mature.”

“Mary stopped turning the handle and spun around to face Thad. She stepped on her toes and kissed him on the cheek. “I know.” Then she turned him towards the door and said, “Now get. We’ve got work to do and so do you. Danny is out there waiting on you.” She pointed to the garden where Danny was busy picking.

He and Thad had put up a large canopy, one of the types you see at the beach that deploys quickly. It allowed them to work in the rain without getting soaked. It was time to harvest the garden and they weren’t about to lose anything if they could prevent it.

Thad smiled and replied, “Yes ma’am,” and headed for the door with an empty basket.

“We’re going to be eating squash ‘till we’re sick of seeing them,” Danny said.

Thad went to the next row of tomato plants and started picking. “That’s a good problem to have. Too much to eat.”

“I wonder if Morgan will get anything from his list,” Danny said as he piled more squash into a milk crate.

“He had a heck of a list,” Thad replied.

“I bet they don’t give us anything.”

“Why would you say that? They’ve helped us before.”

“I guess you’re right. I’m just setting myself up for disappointment. That way, when he comes back with some supplies, I’ll be really happy.” Danny paused and looked over at the pond where the kids were fishing. Miss Kay told them if they caught any fish she would cook them for their lunch. So, they were giving it their best. “I’m just worried about the kids.”

Thad straightened himself and looked towards the pond. “We’re doing alright, Danny. I think we’re actually doing pretty good. Compared to most folks, we’re living in the lap of luxury.”

As Thad spoke, Lee Ann walked up. She waited for him to finish and asked, “Is there anything ready to go up to the house?”

Danny slid the now-full milk crate out to her. “Here; you can take this.”

She picked it up and said, “Kay says not to pick anymore today. She said we have all we can do today and it’s better to leave it on the plants than to pick it.”

“She’s right. We’ll get back to it when they get caught up,” Thad said as he picked up the laundry basket. Carrying it under one arm, he put his other arm around the girl. “How you doing?”

“I’m good,” she replied as they walked. She looked up into the dreary sky. “It’s just kind of depressing out.”

Thad pulled her in closer. “It’s just rain, and we need it. It’s a good thing. At least it ain’t hot!” He laughed.

Lee Ann smiled, “I guess that’s true. It is kind of nice out when you think about it like that.”

They went up onto the porch and deposited their loads on the table. Danny went out to the pond and called the kids to the house. They came running back, looking comical in their makeshift rain ponchos of cut plastic sheeting. They laughed and jostled one another as they ran. When they came up onto the porch, stomping, laughing and making a ruckus, Bobbie told them to