Return to the barn

I walk thinking about Cindy and Roger hoping the best for them as I walk into the barn. Everyone is sitting around chatting, getting to know one another better and they all stop talking when I shut the door behind me.

"They are on their way" I tell everyone as I too take a seat next to the twins. "We will all have plenty of time to get to know one another" I say, "for now though we have to start thinking ahead and stay ahead of this Army that seems to be in charge."

Kim asks, "What is it about the Army that you do not like?"

"Anyone with too much power does things the way they like because they know no one can fight back against them. Already we have seen them making required check in and reporting. They are taking people away separating what families are lucky enough to stay together and I can bet, when they find out about us and other factions out there. They will not be nice to us or them."

"I see" she said.

"Now to business" I started. "We will start digging us a shelter away from here so that we can be safe if it looks like we might be raided. Each of you will take a turn at guard duty and I am pretty sure that we can be safe enough by watching the road for now from the loft. Darla here is an engineering expert so she can help us with what we need to do so that we can dig our shelter without it falling in on us."

Darla smiled and looked down shyly.

"We will need to make a shopping raid on the town as well to see what we can get that will help us so we should plan on that right away. I would feel better if we all went together for numbers sake and so we should do that tonight. Margo, think about what medical supplies we should be alert for at the hospital and clinic. Kim, you will be very valuable in getting us past the guard stations and details they have sat up. Yasmine, I am sure there are still some things we could get from stores and other places to help you too. Tim, tell me what you did for a living?"

Tim cleared his throat still looking uncomfortable and then he started talking. "I am an IT guy with a little communications background with radio and such, though they are not my strengths more of a hobby."

I watched Kim and Tim hold hands and squeeze together and smiled at them.

Alright then, we know what we are going to do, lets ransack this place, the house and grounds to find what we will need to get things started.

For the next three hours we got shovels, food, clothing and material together along with a sundry amount of typical stuff that we might need.

Darla spent time drawing up a quick sketch and had a list of lumber and other items we would need to get forms up for our new shelter.

"I will stay awake and keep a look out" I told them as they started drifting away to get some sleep.