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

Just used those and some of the flour. We had other stuff, like vanilla,” she replied.

“Good job on it.” Everyone agreed with me, thanking her for the effort. Because it was a real treat.

“Thanks.” She nodded at Thad, “Thad helped with it.”

He smiled, “I didn’t do nothing, Miss Bobbie.”

“You made the crust! That’s the hard part. All I did was open cans and pour them in.”

Wallner held up an empty bowl, “Another reason we don’t want to go back to the armory. We don’t get to eat like this.”

“Neither do we,” Thad replied. “Usually.”

Another of the Guardsmen snorted, “Everything we’ve had here was better than anything we’ve ever had at the armory. I mean, this is fantastic.”

“It’s been good having you fellas here,” Thad said. “We appreciate your help the last few days.”

“It was our pleasure, really,” Wallner replied.

“Do you guys do patrols out of the armory?” Sarge asked.

“It comes and goes. They’ll get full of piss and vinegar and we’ll patrol for several days. Then the fun wears off and it fades away.”

Sarge listened and nodded. “Well. There’s some changes coming.”

I looked at him, curious as to what he meant. “Such as?”

“You’ll find out tomorrow.” His reply didn’t help my concern any. “We got a big day tomorrow. Everyone should get some sleep.”

I looked at Thad and asked, “You want to take a shift at the bunker with me?”

He nodded, “Sure.”

Wallner stood up, “No, no. We’ve got this. Our way of saying thank-you for all the hospitality. You folks have been real good to us.”

“I figured we’d give you the night off before heading back tomorrow.”

Wallner shook his head. “No, that’s alright. We’ll take it.”

“If you’re sure,” I replied.

“We are. You guys get some rest.”

Mel and I collected the girls to head home. We said good night to everyone and left. Little Bit was pretty wound up from her sugar high. It was an interesting thing to see how the sugar affected her. We no longer consumed it in the quantities we used to, let alone the kids. So, getting something like a cobbler, dense with refined sugar, really spun her up.

But fortunately for Mel and me, sugar highs crashed as fast as they came on. So, I smiled watching her run around in front of us chasing a solitary lightning bug. I held Mel’s hand as we walked. Lee Ann and Taylor flanked us on each side.

“Can we go to town tomorrow to help hand out the food?” Taylor asked.

I nodded. “Sure. We’ll need the help.” Both girls lit up, excited at the thought of getting out of the neighborhood for a while. “I doubt it will take long. I’m sure we’ll be cleaned out quickly.”

“All those bags?” Lee Ann asked, “You think it won’t take long to hand them out?”

“I’ll bet it takes less than two hours.”

Mel looked at me sideways, “What?”

“People are hungry. We’re giving them things they haven’t seen in a long time. They’re going to want it. I just hope they don’t get out of hand.”

“You’re taking that tank too, aren’t you?” Lee Ann asked.

“Yeah. But it won’t be a lot of good. More of a visual deterrent.”

“I wouldn’t mess with that thing,” Taylor said. “It’s kind of scary looking.”

“Oh, I’m sure it’s nothing to be messed with,” I replied, “But hopefully we don’t have to see it in action.”

The dogs were not on the porch when we got to the house. Little Bit paused and looked back, “Where are the dogs?” She asked.

“They’re out on their nightly patrol. They run off every night,” I replied.

“Will they come back?”

I smiled and patted her head, “Of course they will. They do every day. Come on, let’s go inside and get ready for bed.”

As she pushed the door open, she replied, “But I’m not tired.”

I laughed, “Oh, you will be. You will be.”

Chapter 7

Everyone was up early getting ready for the day’s task of handing out the food and other supplies. While they were getting prepared, I went out to the shed to look for a pair of boots. After the raid on the Elk’s Camp, we’d taken the boots from all the dead and I had stored some of them in my shed. I’d lain in bed last night thinking about Alex’s shoes. Sure, we could give him a pair of the cheap shoes, but I thought a pair of boots would better serve him.

Don’t know why I was so concerned for him. I didn’t know Alex and would probably never see him again after today. Maybe it was getting close. It’s one thing to see someone from a distance that is suffering. But to get face to face with them gives one an entirely different perspective. Maybe that’s why I was looking for a decent pair of boots for him.

Finding a pair in his 9 ½ size, I carried them out to the porch and set them down. Going inside, I grabbed my kit and started putting it on. The girls were having breakfast, fresh biscuits and honey. Mel had the little camp oven on the Butterfly stove with a plate of biscuits sitting beside it. I love biscuits. So, I paused for a moment and cut one in half and put a dollop of honey on it and put it back together.

The sweet golden honey soaked into the fluffy biscuit, making for a delicious breakfast. I finished my biscuit as I put my gear on. The girls sat at the table, chattering away. There was an air of excitement ahead of the day’s activities. Everyone was dressed and ready to go by the time I was geared up. For this project, I actually wore long pants, just in case things got sporty.

“Alright, guys, let’s go over to Danny’s,” I announced.

“We get to give people food today!” Little Bit shouted.

“Are you going to help?” Mel asked her.

Her head eagerly bobbed up and down, “Yep!”

“Should we bring our guns?” Taylor asked.

“You’re leaving the house, aren’t you? What do you