Odd Billy Todd (64 page)

*****

Terry Blaine resisted the urge to scream curses at the sky. It wouldn’t help, and might attract attention.

Not that we need any help attracting attention, he sighed. We’re making enough noise to raise the dead.

“I think we’ve about got it,” Jon announced.

“This time?” Terry asked.

“Hey, none of us have ever done this,” Jon shot back. “And I ain’t seen you helpin’ any. You ain’t got nothin’ constructive to add, then I’d just as soon you stayed quiet.” Terry bristled at that, but then cooled. Jon was right.

“Sorry,” he murmured. “I’d just like something to go right.”

“You and me both,” Jon agreed, mollified. “And it may have. I think we’ve got the fifth wheels fixed. We’re gonna try to pull one, and see what happens. If it holds, then we can rig the others the same way. And then get the hell outta here.”

“Suits me,” Terry nodded. Jon turned and gave the wind up signal to March, who was already in his truck, engine idling. He waved back, and eased the truck into motion. There was a lot of creaking and groaning, but the truck gradually eased the trailer out of the lot, and started down the drive. After one hundred yards, he pulled to a stop.

“Well, I think that’s got it,” Jon sighed gratefully. “Now we can get the other two hooked up.” With that, he went back to work.

*****

“I don’t think this will hold all three, Billy,” Toby shook his head.

“Probably not,” Billy agreed. “But I’ve got it runnin’, and it’ll hold at least two. And that’s all we need, for now. Let’s head back. We still got to get loaded.”

Toby trailed Billy back to the site, and they set to work. Sooner than Toby would have imagined possible, Billy had two of the large septic tanks loaded. It took far longer to properly strap the tanks down than it had to load them. By the time they had finished, an hour had passed, and both were wringing wet with sweat.

*****

“I can’t believe we finally got everything loaded,” Amy was almost breathless as she spoke. She took a long drink of water. “And the trailer’s only maybe two thirds full!”

“Proper packing,” Rhonda said, drinking from her own water bottle. “Now, as soon as the boys get back, maybe we can go find some canning lids and rings.”

“There’s a possibility that Mister Hanson’s store has some. He always kept those things on the shelf, year round,” Ruth Townsend added. “It’s only a few blocks that way,” she pointed east.

“We could walk over,” Amy suggested.

“No way,” Shelly and Rhonda spoke at the same time. “We have to stay together,” Rhonda went on. “And where we’re supposed to be. That’s the most important thing when we’re out like this. No one goes off on a tangent. We stick to the plan, period.”

“Okay,” Amy raised her hands. “Just an idea.”

“And normally a good one,” Rhonda nodded. “But this ain’t normal times. So we sit tight.”

*****

Since Billy didn’t know where the women were, he drove to the mobile home place. He was pleasantly surprised to see all three trucks ready to go, two pulling the sides of a double wide trailer, another pulling a small two bedroom single wide.

“I see you found some septic tanks,” Terry grinned.

“Yeah, several of’em. Can’t find a bigger trailer though, so this’ll have to do, today,” he nodded at the small flatbed.

“We’ll take it,” Terry nodded. “Nothin’ has gone right for us, much either. Jon did make it work, though.”

“We ready to roll?” Billy asked.

“Soon as the others get here.”

“Do we know where they are?” Toby asked. He was driving Billy’s truck.

“Nope,” Terry shook his head. “And I don’t like that, either.”

Well,” Billy looked skyward, “they still got about a hour and a half ‘fore they’re s’posed to meet us here. We’ll wait for’em. After that, we’ll have to go lookin’.” Terry looked at his watch.

“Don’t bother,” Toby told him. “He’s within fifteen minutes, or the next one’s free,” he snorted. Sure enough, the others still had just over ninety minutes.

“How the hell do you do that?” Terry asked, not for the first time.

“I don’t know, I just do,” Billy shrugged. He had grown passed being irritated when someone demanded how he could always tell what time it was. And he didn’t know.

“Well, I guess we’ll wait, then,” Jon sat back against one of the trailer wheels. “So, what all trouble did you two have?”

*****

“Okay, that’s it,” Pete said. “This truck is over full. Time to get back to the women folk.”

“Okay by me,” Howie nodded. “I think I got more’n enough to get started on, anyway.” The two men hopped in the Ford, and ten minutes later were back to the fabric store.

“One more stop to make,” Rhonda said as Pete hooked up the trailer.

“Where?” he asked.

“There’s a small store a few blocks that way that Ruth thinks might have some canning rings, and lids. If they do, we need’em.”

“Do we need them, need them, or just want them need them?” Pete asked.

“You wanna eat this winter?” Shelly demanded.

“Of course I do!” he replied.

“Then we need’em, need’em,” she teased. “Got it?”

“I got it,” Pete sighed. “Well, get in. We ain’t got all day!”

It was indeed only a few blocks to the store. It was a small operation, and according to the sign it had been in continuous family owned operation ‘since 1952'.

“I guess it’s out of operation now,” Pete said softly. “Wait here,” he ordered, and went inside to check the place out. He was gone less than five minutes.

“Looks okay. Rhonda, you’re on guard inside. I’ll watch here. Howie, you help them, will ya? Let’s try and get done soon as we can. We’re runnin’ out of time,” he added, looking at his watch.

The others trooped inside, and were some exiting with boxes. Shelly took a long look at the trailer.

“What is it?” Pete asked.

“We found a lot o' jars, too,” she told him. “We’re gonna try to get all of’em. Just lookin’ at what room is available.” The work went fairly quickly, considering how tired everyone was starting to get. The jars took the longest, since they had be secured against breaking on the trip back. Shelly and Amy re-worked the load twice, but finally gave up. There was simply no way to get them all in the trailer.

“We’re going to have to leave some of them,” Shelly told Rhonda. “I just can’t see a way to get them all in the trailer.”

“No problem,” Rhonda nodded. “We’ll put them in the truck. We can ride on the sideboards, or on top of that crap those two brought back. We ain’t goin’ far till we meet up with the others. We can split up, ride in the trucks. Fill the back seat to the top.” Shelly nodded, and went to tell the others.

Finally, fifteen minutes after they should have been back, they were loaded.

Pete rolled the windows down, and everyone who had sat in the back stepped onto the sideboards. Finally, he and Shelly were in the front seat.

“Take it slow, cowboy,” Rhonda teased. “Don’t buck us off.”

“Well, I’ll try not,” he grinned back. He eased the big truck around and started for the meet up.

*****

“Okay, they’re officially a half hour late,” Terry complained. “We’re gonna have to go and look for’em, or risk calling on the radio.”

“Wait,” Billy shook his head.

“Billy, we’re on a tight schedule here, and. . . .”

“Hush, and listen,” Billy held up a hand. The others fell quiet, and Billy moved away from the now idling rigs. Suddenly, he smiled.

“I hear the Ford,” he told them.

“How can you be sure it’s not someone else?” Terry demanded, hefting his rifle.

“I know the sound of ever car and truck I’ve ever worked on,” Billy told him. “That’s our Ford.” Terry was about to argue the point when the slow moving Ford pulled into view, three women and one man hanging on the side.

“I’ll be damned,” Terry muttered.

“Nah, you’re a pretty good guy,” Toby slapped him on the back. “Just learn to trust the Boss. He won’t say nothin’, less he knows he’s right.” Terry shot the boy a stern look, but his eyes betrayed him. Toby snickered and went to meet the truck.

“We found a bunch of cannin’ stuff,” Rhonda announced. “Had to get as much as we could. Sorry we’re late.”

“No problem,” Terry lied. “I guess some of you will be riding back in the rigs?”

“Looks like,” she grinned.

“Works for me,” he shrugged, then turned to Toby. “Looks like you and me on point, kid.”

“Cool,” Toby nodded, and went to Billy’s truck.

“Everybody find a ride, and let’s get going!” Terry ordered.

“Give you a lift, lady?” Billy asked Rhonda, grinning.

“If you want to eat tonight, you’d better,” she shot back, smiling.

“Sounds like a good trade.”

Everyone found a ride, and five minutes later, they were on their way home.

“You know, even though things haven’t gone that well, it’s still been a good trip, overall,” Billy mused.

“Don’t jinx it,” Rhonda said sternly. “We ain’t home yet.”

CHAPTER SIXTY-FIVE

Things hadn’t been idle on the Farms while the others were in Columbia. There was always work to be done, and with so many away, there was plenty to do.

Regina had decided to take the day away from Clifton House and help with the new arrivals gardening. She couldn’t have done it with Ruth away, but the Beal girls were very capable. Leaving the house was a luxury she was rarely afforded, but she needed a break. No one could stand the strain of so many children day in and day out, around the clock, forever. She had allowed everyone else a day off here and there, but never herself. Today she decided she would get away for a while.

So she, Emma Silvers, with George and Debbie Purdy, went to the Williams house first, where Bethany March was already helping her friend get ready to plant. George had a tiller, and unloaded it while the women got acquainted, and decided what to plant first.

Elizabeth Kelvey, ( she and Howie still weren’t married in the eyes of man, but they were in God’s eyes, she figured, and had adopted his name ) manned the security station alone, which wasn’t a problem. By now she knew everything as well as Howie did. She kept a close watch on everything.

Jerry, meanwhile, had taken a four wheeler and some lunch, and his water jug, and was out surveying the fields. He would be gone a large part of the day, but had taken his rifle and pistol, and had a radio in case Elizabeth needed him for anything.

Ben Kelvey was staking out the sight of a new hay barn behind his place. They had decided after the rough winter they would need to bale and store much more hay. This layout was for the first of three new barns they hoped to get put up before winter. The only problem they could see would be finding sufficient tin for the roofs. That was one of the trades they hoped to make with the people in and around Franklin for beef on the hoof. They had plenty of housing in the area, and shouldn’t need the tin, or many of the building supplies that might still be in Franklin. The Farms did.

Work was steady for everyone through the day. Once Jerry finished checking the fields, he rode over to see if he could help Ben. The gardening party finished at the Williams home, and made its way to the March place to start over. With so many working, it didn’t take long to get both new places a good garden growing. Both women were assured that there would be plenty of food to keep them going until their garden began producing.

As they chatted, the women in particular worked out plans for future projects, one of which would be the grinding of the wheat crop that had been planted. Without the wheat, there wouldn’t be much bread, so it was important. There was also one small corn field who’s production was set aside for cornmeal. It wasn’t large, just about ten acres, but it should provide enough ground corn for sufficient meal to get through the winter.

Beef, beans, and cornbread might well be a staple for some time to come, supplemented with corn and other veggies grown in their gardens. Anything that added variety to their winter fare would be welcome.

Ben and Jerry managed to stake out a second hay barn sight before calling it quits. They decided against worrying with another one as yet, since they still needed to build the first two. As always, you did what you could, while you could, and then came back later to do more.

All in all, it was very good day, and a great deal had been accomplished, with more plans made, when the convoy from Columbia pulled into the community, with perhaps an hour to go before dark.

Willing hands helped guide the trucks into a spot at the Clifton House near the barn, while the trailer was taken to Billy’s for the time being. The women agreed to come and sift through its content the next day, to divi up the spoils.

It was tired but pleased group of people who bedded down that night.

*****

It took most of the next day to site the small trailer for the new security building. Elizabeth liked it, announcing that she and Howie could make do nicely with the small house. Putting down the septic tank would take a little longer, but by the end of the week, the two had all but moved into the small trailer, using one bedroom for the monitors, the other for themselves.

Howie decided to use the old ‘shack’ as his new shop, and was soon working on his projects. Billy often helped him, over the next two weeks, and the two made a good team. Soon, they were ready to start testing the water bugs, and Howie had sketched out a full-fledged wind mill, with Billy’s help.

Meanwhile, the double wide was stripped down, and turned into a community wide service center. One room was fixed as a laundry room, with three washing machines, and three dryers, although the dryers were only to be used in bad weather. A large, beefy clothes line was put up behind the place, for drying clothes in better weather. The kitchen was re-worked, three ranges, along with several sturdy home-made tables, for canning and preserving work. Billy’s propane generator, the one he’d taken from in town, was hooked to the house. It would only be run when necessary. If more PV panels and equipment could be found or traded for, then they would be added to the center as well.

The trailer had been parked across the road from Billy and Rhonda’s house, in an area carved out of some woods. A fire trail led to the open area, and grass was planted around the center, with the playground equipment left at Billy’s moved there as well. All in all, after nearly a full week’s work, if wasn’t half bad, everyone agreed.

Soon it became a social spot, as the women began to make preparations for canning. The time was really flying, it seemed, with June in swing, and July on its way.

That was when the men decided it was time to travel to Franklin.

*****

“I just don’t know,” Jerry shook his head. “We haven’t been in contact with anyone over there. We don’t even know what shape the roads are in. For all we know, there’s roadblocks all the way there and back.”

“I’m afraid that’s true,” Ralph nodded. “But the only way to know is to go see.”

“Why are we so hot to set up trade anyway, right now?” George asked. “We’ve been able to get a good bit of the stuff we want and need from Columbia, and from Cedar Bend itself. Why take the risk of heading over that way? Things were bad when we left. How much worse could they have gotten by now?”

“Again, that’s all true,” Ben nodded. “And we can’t know until we go see.”

“My point is, why go see at all?” Jerry asked. “There’s too little gain, and far too much to lose, if things are rough.”

“Gotta agree with that,” Terry nodded. “I’d like to know what’s happening, just so we’d know. But I don’t want to know so bad that we risk losing someone, whether it’s on the way, or there in town.”

“So we just sit here, and not try to open trade at all?” Howie asked. He had been working on things to make and trade with others. Things that others might need, and be willing to trade stuff he wanted. Ralph was the same way.

“Well, I don’t want to isolate ourselves like that,” Jerry sighed. “Sooner or later, we’ll have to come out of hidin’. Or someone will bring us out, either way. But I do question whether this is the time, that’s all. We’re doing good, right now. Is it worth the risk? I think that’s the bottom line, right there. Is the reward worth the risk?”

The others mulled that over in silence. Jerry had a point. They had to weigh the risk against anything else. It was Billy that spoke up first.

“We need a recon,” he said simply. Everyone in the room looked at him.

“We do,” he shrugged. “Instead o’ worryin’ about headin’ over there with a trailer load o’ cattle, or anything else, we need to just do a look see, and find out what the situation is. Maybe they need food, and maybe they don’t. Them that’s survived the winter is likely one of two things. Plantin’ their asses off, or been livin’ on others.”

“We know that several small places has been either took over or maybe wiped out. We been willin’ to blame the train for that, but fact is, we don’t know. For all we know, Franklin is the home of whoever is doin’ all that. See what I mean? We need to go and see under the hood, ‘fore we go decidin’ whether we even want to trade with’em.”

“I think Billy’s right,” Terry sighed. He seemed to be saying that a lot these days. “We need to just go and have a look. That’ll end all the speculation. We see what we can see, and then make our decision based on that.”

“Who goes, and how do they get there?” George asked. “I’d say drivin’ into town is out. That’s gonna attract a lot of attention. By now, their fuel is probably low, or gone completely.”

“We can take the Hummer you brought back,” Terry shrugged. “It’s armored. Even got a gun tub. We take three, maybe four at most. Hide the truck nearby, and recon on foot. Take three days or so, look the place over, maybe even go into town. Then we head back. The others can hear what’s been found, and then we can make an informed decision. We can take a camera, even a video camera, just in case.”

“I take it you’re going?” George asked. Blaine nodded.

“I am. I want to see.”

“Who would go with you?” Jerry asked.

“Anyone who wants to,” George shrugged. “Pete, you wanna go?” he asked. Pete grinned.

“Sure, Kemosabe,” he joked. “I ride with you to white-eye town.” Everyone chuckled at that.

“Anyone else?” Terry asked. Billy looked at him, but stayed silent.

“I’ll go,” Toby raised his hand. “I mean, if you’ll have me,” he added.

“Toby,” Jerry started, then stopped. His son was a grown man. He had to start letting him make his own choices. Even choices he didn’t like.

“You do what I say, when I say, and no questions?” Terry asked.

“Yes sir,” Toby nodded, solemn. He was scared, but not allowing that to make him stupid. Terry liked that. A man that wasn’t scared doing something like this was a liability.

“Well, I guess that’s that, then,” Terry decided. “Let’s go take a look at that Hummer. Maybe break out a fifty to go on it. George I know you found a few.”

“I did,” his friend nodded, grinning. “C’mon, and let’s get you fixed up.” Pete looked at Billy.

“You wanna come, Billy?” he asked. Billy slowly shook his head.

“I don’t think so,” he replied. “I. . .I been goin’ too much, here lately,” he added. “Time I stayed home a while, and took care o’ my farm.” And my family, he didn’t add. But he didn’t have to.

“Appreciate it, you help George look after my Misses and the young ones while we’re gone,” Terry said quietly. Billy nodded.

“You can count on it, Terry.”

*****

Two days later, the three men piled into the Hummer, ready to make their reconnaissance. Pete took the back seat, where he could man the heavy machine gun if necessary. Toby pulled shotgun, with Terry driving. They had food and water for a week, and plenty of ammunition.

“I figure we’ll take a day getting there, moving slow, and finding a place to hide the truck,” Terry said. “Then, we’ll spend three, maybe four days looking things over. After that, we’ll head home by a different route, just in case.”

“We’ll use the radio sparingly, but we’ll call once we’re set up. You’ll hear us say “Eyes to Base” and then we’ll give you a report. No names, and no locations. Good enough?”

“Sounds like a plan,” George nodded. Jerry looked at his son.

“Toby, you be careful, and do what Terry says, son.”

“You know it, Pa,” Toby smiled.

Pete and George took a few minutes to say good bye in private, and then the three of them were off. Jerry, George and Billy stood watching them out of sight, while Rhonda stood with a teary eyed Shelly, and a very stoic Maria.

“They’ll be back,” Billy broke the silence, his voice confident.

“Sure,” George agreed.

No one argued. No one wanted to.

*****

Despite their worry, there was work to be done. Everyone drifted back home to get to it. Maria would be alone, but she’d been there before. And George and Billy would be looking in on her regularly.

The March’s and Williams’ had been informed of the trip as well, and they would be on the other side of Maria. Thinking about that, Billy had decided that it was time to take the new folks out to the range. Rather than use horses, he decided to just drive the Ford, Rhonda came with him. Before going, the two had ventured into the barn, and selected a few choices for the new folks.

Since all of them were either middle aged, or approaching it, Rhonda made sure to lay in a few revolvers, as well as two twenty gauge shotguns for the women. Ruth Townsend carried one, and wouldn’t have traded it for the finest rifle in the world.

The foursome readily agreed to the training day, and Billy stopped to drop the March kids off at home, admonishing Mary an Danny to keep an eye on the two boys.

The women were a bit squeamish at first, so Rhonda took them to the side to work with them. Billy took the two AR’s the two men had taken from their dead ‘friends’ and looked at them.

“These things are about done in,” he announced. “And they ain’t user friendly, neither. Man usin’ one o’ these has got to know how to take care of it, and make sure the ammo is right, and so forth. I take it neither one o’ you has ever used one?” Both men shook their heads.