Conflicted Home (The Survivalist Book 9) by A American (learn to read books TXT) 📕

I’m not leaving my family to go on some wild-ass goose chase across Florida.”

“It’s not a goose chase.” Sarge said. “This is a very clearly defined mission.”

I folded my arms over my chest and asked, “And just what is this mission?”

Sarge gestured with a hand, “I already told you what we’re doing.”

“Going to get a bunch of ammo? Rockets and shit?” I pointed at him and said, “I think you’re just pissed at Sheffield and this is your way of rubbing his nose in it. You giving any of the crap we bring back to him?”

“Hell no!” Sarge shouted. “I’ve got my orders and this material is going to be used to fulfill that mission.”

I nodded. “Yeah. Just pissing off Sheffield. That’s what I thought.”

“Sounds like he’s onto you, boss,” Mike said.

“Shut up, Mikey,” Sarge barked.

“Look, Morgan. It’s on the up and up,” Ted said.

I looked at him and he nodded. “Under one condition.”

“You name it,” Sarge replied.

“I want to get some stuff while we’re there. I want some things we don’t have now. Things to make everyone’s life around here better.”

“Done.”

“You don’t even know what I want!”

Sarge held his hands up. “Maybe not. But knowing you, you’re not going to be asking for anything crazy, and I’m sure Fawcett will do it for you.”

“He damn sure better,” I replied. “Oh, and there’s one more thing.”

“What?”

Jabbing my finger into his chest with every word, I said, “And-you-tell-Mel.” I looked up onto the porch and saw her sitting with Mary and Bobbie. She was going to be pissed.

The old man saw me and looked back over his shoulder. The look on his face was priceless. “That’s just not fair.” He said, “She’s going to hate me.”

“She’s going to hate both of us, so you won’t be alone.”

“She can’t be first, but she can be next,” Sarge replied with a sigh. “Come on, supper’s ready.”

Mike leaned in close as he walked past me. “It’s a long-ass list. Like, taping the pages of a phonebook end to end. Like a Manhattan phonebook.”

I laughed and slapped him on the back as we walked towards the house. “Maybe. But now he’s going to be on Mel’s bad side.”

“Don’t sweat it, Morg. This’ll be a milk run,” Ted said.

“Your optimism is refreshing, if misplaced,” I replied. Ted laughed and shook his head.

The porch was now crowded. Everyone was there and in good spirits. We’d taken to running a large fan during meals. It helped to make it bearable between the airflow and the natural cooling the onset of evening brought. The fan was loud, but it couldn’t be heard over this crowd. The kids all sat together at one table, laughing as they ate.

Miss Kay was at the head of the picnic table, ladling stew into bowls and handing them out. Mike took his bowl and went to the kids’ table and sat with them, eliciting loud giggles when he took his seat. Sarge looked at him as he waited for a bowl and said, “That’s where he belongs.”

Miss Kay looked at him, shaking her head, saying, “Oh, be nice, Linus.”

As he reached for his bowl, he added, “I’ll nice him to death.”

Kay pulled the bowl away, saying, “Keep talking like that and you’ll go hungry.”

He smiled at her and replied, “Yes ma’am.”

She handed him his bowl, saying, “That’s better.”

I saw Fred, Jess and Aric all sitting together at one table. I stepped up to Kay and she handed me a bowl. Holding it up, I took a long sniff. “This sure smells good, Miss Kay. What is it?”

“Just a little stew. Thad fixed up a selection from the garden and I browned some beef. It’s quite good.”

“It always is. You ladies never cease to impress.”

She gave me a swat and gushed, “Oh, Morgan, go sit down!”

I walked by Aric and bumped into his elbow as he was taking a bite, spilling it onto his shirt. He looked up at me and I said, “Sorry. I thought you said something.” He looked around the room then back at me. “You do it, or I will.”

He looked at Fred, who had a look of excited anticipation on her face. Then looking back at me, he said, “Would you?

I leaned down and whispered in his ear. “If I do it, I’ll start off saying you were too chicken shit to say it yourself.”

“You wouldn’t!” Fred said.

I stood up and smiled. “You willing to bet?”

Fred slapped him on the arm. Her eyes narrowed, and through clenched teeth, she said, “You better not let him say that!”

It made me smile. I looked up and said, “Hey, everyone…” Aric was immediately on his feet, with Fred helping push him out of his seat.

But he didn’t hesitate. “I have something to say,” he said. Then he looked down at Fred, holding his hand out. She took it and stood up with him, blushing. “We have something to say.” He looked at her for a moment before continuing. “Fred is pregnant.”

All the ladies on the back porch began to pour out their excitement. They all came over to her and hugged her. It was exactly as I pictured it. Mel asked how far along she was and Fred said she wasn’t sure.

“I say six weeks,” Jess said.

Kay put her hand on Fred’s belly. “Oh, you sweet thing. A baby! This is amazing news!”

Even the guys hugged her. They shook Aric’s hand. It totally interrupted dinner, but in a good way. Bobbie was giving her a hug when she noticed the ring on her finger and asked, “What is this?”

Fred held her hand up so everyone could see the ring. Saying, “Aric and I are married.”

This seemed to cause a little confusion. “When did you get married? And how?” Mel asked.

Aric and Fred both looked at me. Aric asked, “You wanna take this one?”

All eyes were now on me, waiting for an explanation. I chuckled. “They’re married because they say they are. We don’t need a judge or someone to say so. They say