Countdown to Armageddon (13 page)

     “Oh, really? And what did you tell him?”

     “I told him I’d bring in an extra building. It’ll be about the size of a two car garage. Just the right size for a bachelor pad. And I told him I’d buy all the building materials we’d need to run power and plumbing to it and to fix it up real nice. And that after the power went out and we all came to live up here, that it would be our little project. Mine and his. And that we would work together to make him a nice apartment to live in.”

     “And what did he say?”

     “He thought it was a great idea.”

     “Well, so do I. It’ll give the two of you a chance to bond.”

     “Yep. And after the blackout happens, I suspect one of the things that will drive us most crazy is boredom. I mean, we won’t be able to just jump in a car and go places anymore. No movies, no restaurants, no bowling alleys or nightclubs. We’re all going to be looking for things to occupy our spare time. And that project will keep Jordan and I busy for several months.

     “I’m actually kinda looking forward to it.”

-21-

     It was a miserable and chilly day when Scott pulled into the yard and started offloading the panels of two very large wire cages.

     Linda and Joyce were already standing outside, looking up at the sky.

     “Hey, you two. What’s up?”

     “Oh, not much. We were trying to decide whether to go ahead with our plans to plant our garden today. What do you think?”

     Scott looked up at the dark clouds swirling slowly overhead.

     “I don’t know. The weather forecast didn’t say anything about a storm coming in. But it sure looks to me like one’s on the way.”

     “Yeah. That’s what we thought. If course, if we got the seeds in the ground before the storm hit, the rain could water them for us.”

     “Yeah, or if it was too heavy, it could wash all your seeds away, and then you’d have to start all over again.”

     Joyce looked at Linda and asked, “What do you think?”

     “I think we shouldn’t risk it. There are plenty of other chores we can do inside today. Let’s save the planting for tomorrow and finish up the canning instead.”

     Scott looked at Linda and said, “Hey, it just occurred to me, since when are you off on Mondays?”

     “Since I took a week’s vacation to get the garden planted.”

     “Well, that didn’t work out too well for you, now did it?”

     “Hey, what’s with the big cage? Is that a ‘time-out’ jail for the boys?”

     “Nope. These are rabbit cages. Two of them. They’re going out there under the shed I built next to the chicken coup.”

     “I was wondering what you were going to put under there.”

     “Well now you know. Y’all wanna help?”

      “Sure. Why not? But why two cages? And why rabbits? I thought you told the boys we weren’t bringing any pets into the compound.”

     “One cage is for three boy rabbits. The other cage is for three girl rabbits.”

     “Oh, now that’s just cruel, Scott. So they can look at each other but can’t have any romance?”

     “Oh, once the blackout happens, they’ll get plenty of romance. That’s when we let them out into the yard and they can do what rabbits do best. And they’re not pets, by the way. They’re going to be a big part of our diet”

     “We’re going to eat the cute little bunnies?”

     “Yep. We’ll keep them separated until we need them to multiply. Then once they start mingling, these six can produce two to three hundred offspring a year. They’ll be about the size of a chicken, just as easy to prepare, and will have even more protein.”

     “Just as long as you kill them and skin them, Scott. I don’t think I could bring myself to do it.”

     “Wow, so we’ll have rabbits, pigs, chickens and cows. We need to put a sign out front that says ‘Scott’s Zoo.’ Maybe we can charge admission.”

     “Don’t forget the horses.”

     Joyce looked at Linda.

     “Speaking of horses… Linda, you mentioned that you never learned to ride. Is that something you want to learn today? We can start your first lesson this morning since we can’t plant the garden.”

     “No, thank you. I’ve lived this long without knowing how to ride a smelly old horse. No sense learning how now.”

     Scott said, “Speaking of horses, Joyce, I noticed yesterday that Trigger’s still got two flakes of hay in his stall. Any idea why he’s not eating?”

     “No, I don’t have a clue. I noticed the same thing. I know if he doesn’t eat, it’ll only take a couple of days for him to start getting weak. Should we get the vet out here to take a look at him?”

     “Not yet. I’ve got a friend I made at the feed store awhile back who lives right up the road. I’ll give him a call and see if he can drop by after he gets off work. He seems to know a lot about livestock and I want the two of you to meet him anyway.”

     They had just finished assembling the rabbit cages beneath the shed when the clouds opened up and it started raining. The three ran for cover in the house.

     “Looks like you made a good call on not planting today.”

     “Of course. We’re women, Good calls are the only ones we make. So we’ll be canning today. Would you like to help?”

     “No, thanks, I’ll pass. As soon as the rain stops I’m going to start bringing in plywood to reinforce the outer walls. I’ve got my own mission to accomplish.”

-22-

      A little after five p.m., Tom Haskins pulled into the yard in an old red Ram pickup.

     “Well, howdy there, neighbor. How y’all doing?”

     “Doing very well, Tom. I appreciate you stopping by. Want to come inside for some iced tea, and to meet everybody else?”

     “Sure thing. Iced tea sounds real good.”

     Scott and Tom walked into the kitchen where the girls were canning peaches. They had a peach cobbler baking in the oven, and its sweet aroma wafted throughout the house.

     “Sure smells sweeter than my place, I’ll tell you what.”

     “Tom, this is my girlfriend Joyce, and my ex wife and one of my oldest friends Linda.”

     “Hey, watch the way you say ‘oldest.’”

     Both women shook Tom’s outstretched hand. Linda held onto it just a tad bit longer than was necessary. It didn’t escape the notice of Tom, or of Joyce, who raised an eyebrow and smiled.

     “Tom, do you like your tea sweet or unsweet?”

     “Sweet, please. Texas style.”

     Linda dropped two teaspoons of sugar into his glass and stirred it.

     Tom looked at Scott and said, “So, tell me about your pony that’s ailin’.”

     “His name’s Trigger. Usually eats like a horse, if you’ll pardon the bad pun. The last two or three days, though, he’s just been picking at his feed. And not eating much of his hay at all.”

     “Is he drinking plenty of water, and is his belly extended?”

     “I hadn’t noticed either. Is that important?”

     “Yep. Those are the first two things to watch for when a pony stops eating. He’s probably just stove up is all. It happens sometimes, and we can fix it if that’s all it is. Is he the one you’re using to teach your boys to ride?”

     “No, the boys are learning on Sally. She’s a bit more gentle.”

     “And how are they coming?”

     “So far, real well.”

     Linda spoke up.

     “Someday I hope to learn to ride too. I’ve always wanted to learn, but nobody’s ever really offered to teach me.”

     Joyce almost choked on her iced tea, but didn’t say anything. Instead she stole a glance at Scott, who winked at her.

     Tom, who was as much a
Texas gentleman as he was a friendly neighbor, looked at Linda and said, “Well shoot, lovely lady. I’ll teach you how to ride myself if you want to come by and visit this weekend. I live at the end of the road. Scott knows where it is. I’ve got an old mare named Goldilocks who’s just as gentle as they come. She’ll take you on a slow gallop so smooth you can take your iced tea along and won’t spill a drop.”

     “Well, thank you, Tom. That sounds like fun. Are you sure you won’t mind?”

     “No, not at all. As long as you don’t mind my place too much. It’s just me and my dog Red now, and it’s… well, it’s a might dusty and disorganized. Hasn’t had a woman’s touch in awhile, you see.”

     “Oh, that won’t bother me a bit. I’ll make plans to come and see you on Saturday, then. And you be sure and come back in here after you look at that old horse so I can serve you up some peach cobbler.”

     The men finished their iced tea and headed out to the stable to look at Trigger. As soon as they stepped out the door, Joyce looked at Linda with her mouth wide open.

     Linda said, “What? You’ve got a man of your own. Maybe I want one too. And did you see the size of his hands?”

     They both burst out laughing.

     “Oh, trust me, girlfriend. I noticed. He’s got big feet too, if that counts for anything.”

     “Well, I’ll let you know after the weekend is up.”

     “You’re a shameful hussy, you know that?”

     “Yep. I know. You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

     An hour later the men walked back into the house and washed up in the back lavatory. Trigger’s innards had been flushed out with a water hose, and while they were at it the pair took a look at all the other livestock. Everything looked healthy, and Tom commented that Scott got a great deal on his cattle.

     “Prime beef. Them cattle will make some good eatin’ when you’re ready for ‘em. Have you done any butchering before?”

     “No, sir. Never have, and it’s not something I’m looking forward to.”

     “Hell, it’s a piece of cake. Whenever you’ve got one that’s ready to butcher, just let me know. I’ll show you how to kill it without spoiling the meat. Then I’ll show you how to butcher it. Once you do it once or twice, you’ll be surprised how easy it is. Same for the pigs.”

     Scott noticed Linda staring at Tom’s hands as he spoke. Joyce, in turn, was staring intently at Linda and giggling.

     “What’s so funny?” he asked, as Linda and Joyce both burst out laughing.

     “Oh, nothing. Just an inside joke. Nothing to concern yourself about. Are you boys ready for some cobbler?”

     “Don’t mind if I do.”

     “Sure, why not?”

     Tom cranked up his truck half an hour later and pulled out of the drive. The rest of the group walked him out into the yard, and the girls waved goodbye to him.

     Scott said, “Well, I guess I’d better get to the house myself and pick up the boys. Have y’all got plans for supper, or do you want to go out?”

     Joyce and Linda looked at each other. They had been so sidetracked with the canning and with the size of Tom’s hands that neither of them had even thought about starting dinner.

     Joyce said, “Hold on. Let me make sure everything’s turned off and get our bags.”

     They crawled into Scott’s truck and picked up the boys from the house. Then they went to Mamacita’s Restaurant on I-10 in San Antonio and feasted on some magnificent Mexican food.

     Over dinner, Scott casually asked the girls what they thought of their new neighbor.

     Joyce said, “Ask Linda. I think she’s smitten with him.”

     Linda didn’t deny the charge.

     “I like him. I like him a lot.”