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

I’ve participated in relief efforts before, and things can go sideways quickly. We’re going in heavily armed so no one even thinks about acting up.”

“So, you’re going back to town tomorrow?” Wallner interrupted.

I looked over and nodded at him. “Yeah, why?”

He looked at the two other Guardsmen he was sitting with, then down at the plate on the table in front of him. “That means we have to go back to the armory.” He looked up and added, “We don’t want to go back to the armory.” The way he said it made me laugh.

“No, we don’t want to go back. It’s better out here,” another of the Guardsmen added.

“Why not?” Sarge asked.

“Because barracks duty sucks!” Mike shouted.

“Michael!” Kay admonished him, “watch your language!”

He whimpered, “I didn’t say anything bad.” Kay glared at him and he sank back even further into his chair.

“What’s wrong at the armory?” Sarge asked.

Wallner shrugged. “Look, the Captain is a good guy, but he’s in the reserves for a reason. He’s not active duty, never has been. Never wanted to be.”

“He’s a military hobbyist,” Sarge replied, getting a snicker out of the Guardsmen.

“He means well,” Wallner said, “But he just does not have the leadership skills to inspire the men. Morale at the armory is really low. Livingston tries…”

He was cut off by another of the Guardsmen, “In all the wrong ways.”

Wallner nodded, “Yeah. He tries to be all spit and polish military. But it just doesn’t come off right with him. I like Livingston, he’s a cool guy to talk shit with. But when he puts on his LT hat, you just can’t take him seriously.”

“He’s a dick,” the other Guardsmen added.

“Language!” Kay shouted. She stood up and shook her finger at the uniformed men, “You will watch your language! There are children here! Not to mention, I don’t want to hear it!”

In unison, they all nodded,” Yes ma’am.” Kay then looked at Mike, who looked away as he chewed on his fingernail.

I chuckled and looked at Sarge, “And she’s with you?”

“I have manners,” he replied. Then he looked to make sure Kay wasn’t looking at him and added, “dipshit.” I laughed out loud and Kay looked back at me. I smiled and winked at her. She looked at the old man, then back at me. She knew something was up, but didn’t say anything and sat back down.

Bobbie got up and started collecting the dishes. Mike was quickly on his feet to help her. As he was picking up bowls and plates, Bobbie looked at him and said, “Looks like you may get dessert after all.”

“Dessert?” Was echoed across the porch. Most loudly by the kids.

Little Bit stood up on the bench of the picnic table and asked, “What’s for dessert?”

Bobbie raised her eyebrows at her and said, “If you want to find out, you better sit down!” Little Bit quickly took her seat and giggled with Edie and Jace as they discussed the possibilities. They rubbed their hands in excited anticipation.

Once the dishes were cleared, Mike returned from the kitchen carrying a large pan. He smiled from ear to ear as he held it up to his face, eyes closed, inhaling deeply the aroma wafting from it. “Oh, my Lord, this is heavenly,” he said.

“Well, what is it?” Sarge asked.

Mike deposited the pan on the picnic table as Bobbie announced, “It’s peach cobbler.”

Sarge jumped to his feet, catching his pants and buttoning them up. “You don’t say?”

He stepped over to the pan where Bobbie was just digging a large spoon into it. He stretched out a finger, as if he were going to sample it. But Bobbie slapped his hand, “You will not!” She shouted.

His hand recoiled and he looked at her with a look of pain and longing. She nodded at his chair, “You just have a seat and I’ll bring you some. The old man looked down at the pan, then back at Bobbie. “Go on, sit” she said.

Mike laughed as Sarge retreated to his chair. He handed Bobbie a bowl, in which she placed a scoop. Mike was giggling and rubbing his hands together as she did so, then held his hands out in anticipation. But the bowl passed right over them and his smile vanished. Bobbie handed the bowl to Kay, who then handed it to Sarge.

Slack-jawed, Mike muttered, “Whaaaat?”

Sarge snorted at him and held his bowl up as he scooped a bite into his mouth, “You’re missing out, Mikey. This is really good, Bobbie.” Mike glared at him as he watched bowls bypassing him.

Bobbie then made several more bowls, serving the very excited kids. Once they had theirs, she then handed one to Mike. Relief washed over him and he smiled once again, quickly taking a seat. I was in no hurry and waited as everyone was served. Mel helped pass them out and eventually brought me a serving. And it was indeed good. Really good. It was such an intense sweetness, it hurt my teeth initially. But I savored every bite. It had been so long since we’d had something this sweet.

As I chewed a bite, I pointed at the kids, who were already practically vibrating in their seats, “It’s going to be fun trying to get that bunch to sleep tonight.”

Danny looked over at the kids and asked, “Hey, you guys want to sleep over at Ashley’s house tonight?”

There was an immediate, Yes, shouted back at him from all three of them. Mel was quick to reply, “Pffft, I don’t think so, Danny.”

“Awe, come on mom!” Little Bit implored.

Mel dropped her spoon into an empty bowl and replied, “Not tonight. Another time.”

“Come on, mom, we’ll be good!”

“I said no,” she replied in that mother’s voice that tells every kid the conversation is over. And it was. Little Bit returned her attention to her dessert.

I laughed, “Nice try, Danny.”

He was grinning as he chewed, “It was worth a shot.”

“Bobbie, how did you come up with this?” I asked.

“There were cans of peaches in all that stuff.