“That man is a true piece of work,” interjected Sarah.
“That reminds me, Bill, that we need to speak with Chef Rico today,” said John casually.
Mac cringed, hoping he hadn’t let something out of the bag in front of Samuel about his friend Rico that would get him in trouble.
Sarah squeezed his hand tightly.
“Is everything all right?” asked Mac. “I mean with Rico?”
“Oh, sure,” John responded. “We just need some clarification on a few things is all.”
“We would be happy to go pick him up in my father’s truck,” offered Sarah, now appearing nervous to Mac.
“Thank you, Dr., but if you don’t mind, just send him down here on your way back. That would be great.”
“With all due respect, John, this is about him and Patty, am I right?” asked Sarah.
“Patty, the lady with the son down the road?” asked Bill.
“Yes, that’s the one,” replied Sarah, now unable to keep quiet.
“I’m guessing my father told you about it, and I just want you to know it was my doing that brought them together. They have a lot in common, and both needed somebody to talk to after that animal of a former husband left our valley, never to return except for once…no, twice. Let’s just call the MacDonald sighting a trifecta.”
Mac was now the one appearing nervous, wondering how far she might take this.
“They are both assets to our communities and this valley as a whole,” she continued.
John listened intently and did not speak until she was finished.
“Dr. Melton.”
“Sarah, please,” she interjected. “You are such a good friend of my father.”
“As you wish, Sarah. Please be assured that I have respect for both Rico and Patty and greatly value their contributions to both of our groups. Rico is the only person I know that can keep the other training chefs in line and all moving in the same direction.
“Patty made your father and me the most incredible omelet I have ever tasted in all my years on this earth. You can rest easy in knowing I am not interested in firing or banishing either of them, but only need to be assured that their budding relationship will complement both groups, as yours and Mac’s has. Does that make sense, Sarah?”
“Yes, sir, it absolutely does,” she said, relieved.
“Excuse me,” she said, covering her mouth and running for the door.
“The only thing that’s constant now is change,” said John with a smile, pointing towards the door. “You should check on her, Mac.”
“Yes, I’ll talk with you two later,” he said, hurrying out the front door.
Mac got Sarah back into the truck carefully.
“I’m sorry about that,” she said. “I just felt sick.”
Mac smiled. “Ate some bad sushi, did you?”
“You did this to me, mister. I hope you’re happy!” she quipped.
“Like you can’t even imagine,” he replied, kissing her on the forehead.
They made a brief stop at the Ranch, with Mac relaying the message to Cory to come on back with the MacDonalds in tow.
They spoke briefly with Rico and asked him to speak with John and Bill as soon as he could.
“We can give you a ride,” Sarah offered.
“Thank you both, but I must decline. It’s only a quarter of a mile walk and a beautiful day at that. Plus, lightning never strikes the same path twice!”
Sarah, feeling better, checked in on her pregnant patient sitting with Sharon and Karl and talking about the new world her babies would grow up in.
All three agreed it could be more challenging in some ways but, on the other hand, families would be closer without the 8- to 10-hour work days miles from home.
The twin girls kicked visibly from the outside, like two leads on a soccer team. A quick check of the heartbeats reported nothing out of the ordinary. She gave the hopeful mother the “all’s good for now, but let me know right away if anything changes” speech.
Sarah dropped Mac at home and returned the truck to Samuel.
* * * *
Sharon realized it had been a few days since she and Karl had checked in on Mabel.
“I knew you two would be back sooner or later,” said Mabel. “I guess it’s later…and not even a Starbucks mint tea?”
“I’m so sorry, Mabel…” Sharon started to say, getting a laugh out of the old lady.
“I’m just razzin’ you, Honey. I don’t need much here, and unless it’s a handsome cowboy knockin’ at my door—sorry, Karl, you’re too young—then I’m staying put right here on the porch. The least you could have done was brought Sam Elliott or that Clint Eastwood fella by for some conversation, and whatever happens after that!” she said, coughing and laughing at her own joke.
Mabel sat on her porch with nearly 40 hand-rolled cigarettes lying on the table in front of her.
“You’re not out of tobacco yet?” asked Sharon.
“Nope, not by a long shot. Bought me darn near seventy pounds right off a plantation in North Carolina that my nephew works at. Did you know that the state grew over 300 million pounds of tobacco just last year? I made them 70 pounds light and paid pennies on the dollar.”
“How do you store all that?” asked Karl. “And how do you keep it from going bad?”
“It ain’t rocket science, my boy. Just old-fashioned Mason jars will do the trick. They tried to sell me some fancy humidor. It costs more than the tobacco! Seventy Mason jars from Kmart for under $100, and I’m good.”
“How many cigarettes do you smoke a day, if you don’t mind me asking?” inquired Sharon.
“What time is it?” Mabel asked.
“About 5 p.m., I guess,” Sharon replied.
“Then that would be…” Mabel paused, doing the math in her head… “Probably 23 for the day.”
“That sounds like a lot!” said Sharon. “You might live a few extra years if you cut back just a bit.”
Mabel laughed deeply, coughing only a little this time.
“Do you remember that movie with that Tom Hanks fella, where he ran everywhere all crazy like and had those shrimping boats?”
“Yes, I think you mean Forest Gump,” Karl said.
“Yes, maybe that’s it, or something like that anyway. Do you remember the fella with no legs?” Mabel continued.
“You mean Lieutenant Dan?” asked Karl?
“Sure, probably that’s it. Well, there’s a scene where he gets on the mast of the sailboat and screams to God to challenge him and sink the boat. Before the movie is over, he’s a multimillionaire. I’m kind of like that guy. Me and God, we have an understanding. I’m ready to go whenever He’s ready, and until He calls me I’m going to smoke my fags and have a nip or two of brandy throughout the day. I sleep well at night, and I’m not afraid to die.”
“You’re about as far off of politically correct as anybody I know,” laughed Sharon, “and I love that about you.”
“It’s pretty simple really,” Mabel continued. “Back in my day, if it’s a nail, it’s a nail, and there’s no disrespect to the screw or bolt. It’s gotten so bad that regular folks can’t say nothin’ for fear of offending someone.
“How does anyone know what’s going to set off someone else, anyway? I’m offended if someone doesn’t like me smoking, but it doesn’t give me the right to be up in arms about it. But what do I know? I’m just an old lady, set in her ways is all. I love everyone just the same. ‘Live and let smoke’ is what I say.”
“You are one of a kind, Mabel…one of a kind,” replied Sharon, giving Mabel a hug.
* * * * * * *
Chapter Eighteen
Saddle Ranch
Loveland, Colorado
Cory once worried about how he would get everyone safely back without being seen but was calmed by the heavy drumming of the song “We Will Rock You,” by the ’70s band called Queen.
“I can still hear the music over the generator,” said Cory to an agitated
Mr. MacDonald.
“That’s my generator, but it damn sure ain’t my music they got playin’ so loud. Now they’re just using up all my gas to listen to that crap. Could have at least put on some Waylon or Cash out of respect.”
Drake didn’t mind; he was a closet Freddy Mercury fan and knew every Queen song by heart, although he would never tell his father or brother. Only his mother really knew him, and she was gone now. “I miss you, Mama,” he said silently.
Drake gave up his four-wheeler just for today, so the MacDonalds could ride back down the mountain together. He preferred walking most places anyway.
Mac was waiting for Cory and the rest of the group, eager to hear more details of what they observed. He also wanted to speak with Mr. and Mrs. MacDonald about what they knew firsthand.
* * * *
Rico headed down to John’s house on foot and was passed by Samuel’s truck, although he couldn’t make out the passengers.
He arrived to find John, Bill and Samuel sitting with a nervous Patty, still wearing her Chef’s apron.
“Good afternoon, Rico,” said John. “How are things up in the kitchen?”
“Going good, sir. My crew is doing a great job with their training. I will need to get back soon to prepare for tonight’s dinner.”
“Sure,” replied John. “This shouldn’t take long. As I’m sure you already know, Rico, we have spoken briefly with Mac and Dr. Melton.
As you both are most likely aware, those two are in a crossover relationship as it pertains to our two communities. Samuel and I had known each other for a long time, even before I came to lead this Ranch. In all of our years, neither of us have seen a crossover.
Of course, we realize that things are different, and the old normal doesn’t always apply now. With that being said, we have had quite a time dealing with your husband, Patty.”
“Ex-husband,” she stated firmly.
“Yes, I suppose so. Ralph has repeatedly accused Mac of having some sort of relationship with you that we all know is false. Nevertheless, he has proven a challenge for Mac, even insisting on an old-fashioned duel that you have probably heard about. We have reason to believe he is staying somewhere close to here, with the exact location to be kept secret for now. I have concerns, Rico, of him finding out about you, too, and causing more trouble. We would rather have our head of security, Mac, dealing with a man like that than our head Chef. I’m not sure what Ralph was like before all of this.”
“I do,” interjected Samuel. “I saw the bruises on both her and her son Joshua, as did Bill. I would venture to say he’s been like this for quite some time.”
“So, are you asking me not to see Patty?” asked the Chef.
“No, Rico. I’m not saying that exactly. I just want to be assured of two things,” continued John. “First, you both hold prominent positions in our communities, not unlike Dr. Melton and Mac, so I would like to know if you plan on seeing where this thing goes. Secondly, I would ask that if you are planning to move forward, you do it discreetly, so as not to draw attention from Ralph or his followers.”
“Followers? What followers?” asked Patty, surprised.
“We have reason to believe he has survived his encounter with our southern perimeter guards the other day and is being cared for by about 50 people who look to him as their leader,” said John. “They are residing within walking distance of this valley, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him again, asking to get you back. Lastly, we would ask that you keep this information in confidence, so as not to incite concern for our other residents.”
“Can we agree on those points?” asked Samuel.
“That sounds fair to me,” replied Rico.
“Yes, me as well,” chimed in Patty.
“If you two wouldn’t mind excusing us for a moment?” asked Samuel.
“Sure, we’ll be right outside,” announced a relived Rico, happy with the outcome.
“You know, if this keeps up,” Samuel told John and Bill, “we’re going to have to join our communities.”
“It’s not far off, old friend,” replied John. “We have already claimed the valley.”
John poured three glasses of whiskey.
“Ghost Owl!” declared Samuel after a sip.
“How did you guess that?” asked Bill.
“It’s Pacific Northwest Whiskey from Sumner, Washington, not far from where we both come from.”
“Would you like me to lead both groups?” asked John jokingly.
“That’s a great idea,” replied Samuel, “as soon as I take my last breath!”
“Here’s to many more years of separate groups and crossovers,” said John, smiling and raising his glass.
Samuel gave each of the Chefs a ride back to their kitchens for the dinner shifts.
Rico whispered to Patty that he would be in contact soon.
* * * *
Mac learned all he could from Mr. and Mrs. MacDonald.
It started a couple of days ago when they opened their front door to find a woman and her little girl begging for help.
As the MacDonalds took them inside, several men hiding around the side of the house rushed the door. They were forcefully tied up, and the house was ransacked for food, alcohol, and anything else of value.
Soon the dwelling was full of men, women and children, all talking about the man leading them “home.” The promised one was sent straight down from the heavens soon after the lights went out. His earthly name is Ralph, and he was shot by nonbelievers, they said.
“That was him.” said Cory. “They carried him all the way up the mountain.”
How much in the way of food, water, and anything else did you have up there?”
“Not much in the house—only a month or two of supplies. But if they find the cellar, they could stay up there for months, or longer, and they will be armed to the teeth,” replied Mr. MacDonald.
“Where’s the cellar?” asked Mac.
“Off of the property a ways. The exact location is one I’m not exactly comfortable sharing, if you get my drift.”
“I do,” replied Mac. “How many people are up there?” he asked and was quickly answered by Cory and Drake.
“About fifty, we believe.”
“So, you’ve got 50 people who take over a house up in the mountains with only enough supplies to get through a few days for that many people. How long do you think it’s going to take them to find your hidden stash?”
“I’m guessing sometime in the next three days.”
“We are not going to take anything from you; you’ve got my word on that,” said Mac. “But we also won’t stand idly by and watch them find weapons they will likely use against us. It’s just like how we, as a country, would treat hostile countries like Iran and North Korea. We did everything we could to keep them from getting nuclear weapons. It almost worked.
“Now we have to stop these people, or at least keep them moving down the road, so we’re not looking over our shoulders every minute. Draw me a map, Mr. MacDonald,” handing him a pen and paper.
The map was drawn to scale of the entire 10-acre property, leaving nothing to the imagination.
“Ma’am,” said Cory. “We will need to borrow your husband for the next few days, until we can get this sorted out.”
* * * * * * *
Chapter Nineteen
Saddle Ranch
Loveland, Colorado
Samuel returned with Patty to a bustling community. Sarah came running up to meet their truck.
“Father!” she said out of breath. “I tried you on the radio but couldn’t reach you.”
“What is it, Sarah? What’s gone wrong?”
She paused for just a moment, looking at Patty. “Some men have taken Joshua.”
“No, no, no!” screamed Patty. “No, it’s not true! He’s been home all day, and I’ve checked on him.”
“I radioed Mac just now,” Sarah continued, as Samuel looked down to find his radio turned off.
“Tell me every
thing you know,” he commanded.
She relayed the story as she had heard it from one of his friends. Four of them had been riding bikes in the forbidden perimeter of the property when they were stopped by three men with rifles.
Families First: A Post Apocalyptic Next-World Series Volume 4 Hard Roads Page 11
