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Post by bretf on Sept 27, 2021 12:36:22 GMT
Chapter 29
Kevin parked the truck under the carport, he and the dogs getting out. Despite his thoughts during the services, he looked at the neighbors’ place. All was still. While Cindy didn’t check any of the boxes, he couldn’t help but look for her. She was hard not to look at. Especially after last night. Again, he saw the image of her nude body. He shook his head at his foolishness.
While the dogs ran off to snuffle, he headed for the door. A piece of paper was stuck in the screen.
“Hey, Kev. I came out before work but you were obviously busy elsewhere. If you’re not too busy later, maybe you can come to The Watering Hole for supper. T”
He looked back at the dogs, glad he hadn’t left them home. There was no telling what would’ve happened if Tammy had found them alone. He went inside, looking around to see if everything was how he’d left it. His forgotten phone lay on the counter. Picking it up, he saw Tammy had texted several times. After reading the messages, he typed a short return. “Sorry, I left the phone home and missed your texts. I won’t be able to make it for supper. Have a lot of work to do today.”
The message was replied to almost instantly with a frowning emoji.
He smiled, then went to his bedroom and changed into chore clothes.
With the irrigation water flowing, he focused on the plants. The pole beans had climbed the stock panel arch and covered the top. He saw a few errant vines and carefully threaded them into the mesh. He smiled, seeing numerous blossoms and several beans growing. He’d be able to do the first picking in a few days.
In the tomato row, he added extra supports as needed for the vines, redirecting any that needed it. Again, he was pleased to see the vines loaded with tomatoes, several beginning to turn red.
Although they didn’t need attention, he went to the carrot row. Bending, he pulled two, wiped the dirt off and snapped the tap roots off. He took a bite, relishing the crunchy sweetness. Carrots didn’t get any better.
The cucumbers were next. With baling twine, he tied vines loosely to the stock panel, training them to climb upwards. He spotted several cucumbers. It wouldn’t be long until he could pick some. Soon, he’d be able to harvest most of his meals in the garden.
He picked a zucchini and pulled an onion. They’d be part of supper.
After a check of the water, he went to the row of beets. They were the perfect size for eating and canning. Unlike the peas, there were more than enough for a full canner load. Several canner loads, in fact. He’d pickle some and do others, plain. The first canner load would be pickled.
He went to the house and opened his canning book to a page he’d bookmarked earlier in the week. Consulting the page, he found he needed seven pounds of beets for eight pints. All the ingredients he needed for pickling were on the counter where he’d left them after a stop at the grocery store.
Not wanting the prolonged heat of processing the canners inside the house, he took the camp stove outside and set it up in the shade. He moved the sawhorses near and put a sheet of plywood on them for a quick table. Next was a tub that he filled with water from the hose. Yes, safety warnings said not to drink from a hose but he’d done it all his life and was still kicking. He got his canner, a large pot, and his supplies. Then with a bucket, he went back to the garden to pull beets.
As the canner was coming to heat, he heard noises for the first time all day at the neighbors’ place. Charley walked to the SUV moving much steadier than he had during the night. Kevin glanced at his watch. Three o’clock, and they’re finally moving. This won’t be good if it’s how they live. He continued to watch while also keeping an eye on the canner, disappointed when Cindy didn’t make an appearance.
When Kevin stopped for the evening, he smiled at the day’s bounty. Sixteen full, processed jars were arranged in the storage – bedroom and a partial carton of eggs was in the refrigerator. And he should be able to add to it daily at minimal cost.
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Post by ceresone on Sept 27, 2021 20:12:50 GMT
Doggone, he's right down my alley!too bad I m 84. To explain, I just came in from training my late cucumbers and beans to the cattle panel!! Awaiting for more.
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Post by bretf on Sept 29, 2021 20:53:49 GMT
Chapter 30
Kevin placed his coffee cup on his desk and opened the folder Walt had given him to look through. Bile rose as he read the documents and looked at the photos. The boy had been severely abused by his stepfather. It was compounded when the boy’s mother stepped in to stop it. She was beaten as well. It was bad, bringing Jack Randall and Nancy Weibe to mind. How can people be so evil? I hope they throw the key away after they lock his sorry butt up.
Janice tapped on his door frame and stepped into his office. “Kevin, there’re a couple of police officers here to talk to you about an investigation.”
Kevin grimaced at the folder in his hands, then looked at Janice. “Send them in.”
#
As the week progressed, Kevin continued harvesting and processing his beets. Each evening after work he was able to process another canner load. He hoped to have the canning completed by the end of the week. The row would be severely thinned, but he wouldn’t take them all. He’d eat fresh beets until he could eat the more desirable vegetables. At that point, any remaining would be left for seed.
It was quiet at the neighbors’ house while he was in the garden and canning. Charley and Cindy’s cars were gone each day when he returned from work. But he was woken in the wee hours each night as they returned. He didn’t want to watch their place when she got home but he did want to watch. Disappointed, he didn’t see a repeat of the hot tub incident.
On Tuesday, orange road work signs greeted Kevin as he headed for home. Including a “ROAD CLOSED DETOUR” sign. He grumbled and looked over at Jack and Jill. “This better not take us too far out of our way. We need to get another batch of beets done today.”
The road he traveled was familiar. He’d driven it a few times but not often since it was off his normal path. A sign at the side of the road caused him to slow and rubber-neck. “MILK GOATS FOR SALE.”
Slowing, he thought about the sign. A milk goat would be great for self-sufficiency or if supply lines were shut down. He’d already witnessed milk shortages due to the Covid pandemic. And not just milk. He clearly remembered the empty shelves and cases. It would only get worse if the power grid was shut down. Or if a second, more virulent strain of Covid swept the land. The beets he hoped to process were momentarily forgotten. He pulled into a driveway, turned around, and went back to the farmstead with the sign.
A border collie ran out barking as he approached the house. Jack and Jill made to protect their truck from the strange dog, growling and barking. Kevin was glad the window was only open a couple of inches.
A middle-aged woman wearing an apron came out of the house. She called the dog and it ran to her. Kevin was impressed with how well it behaved. She clipped a chain to its collar keeping it at the porch, and approached the truck. “What can I do for you?” she asked when she was beside it.
“I saw your sign and was curious about the goats.”
“Well, get out and I’ll show them to you. But please leave your dogs.”
“Of course.” He got out. Jack and Jill showed disappointment they weren’t accompanying him.
The woman led the way to a pasture with several goats grazing. “There they are. As you can see, I have a variety. What exactly are you looking for?”
Kevin studied the goats and said, “I don’t know. I wasn’t actually looking, or even thinking about getting one. It was like your sign planted a seed for me.”
“So you aren’t set up for them?”
“No. What will I need to do before I get one?”
The woman laughed. “First, I’d recommend two, not one. Goats are social. But before that, you need fencing. Good fencing. One of those scoundrels is named Houdini. She earned the title. I’ve had them jump over four-foot-high fences like nothing. If there’s a crack a cat can get through, figure a goat can too. And notice the gates have snaps. They can open simple latches faster than I can.”
“Wow. Then I’m definitely not ready for one. Or two. It looks like they do fine in your pasture. Do they need other things? Like a supply of tin cans?”
“Ha. Those old stories are ridiculous. They only eat the labels, not the cans. But on the subject of good fences, they’ll do fine with pasture, but they prefer other things. Especially flowers and vegetable plants if you’re into gardening. And they’ll chew the bark off any young trees or shrubs they can get to.”
“Hum. I see there’s more to this than I thought,” Kevin said.
“Yes, it’s a commitment to have goats. But well worth it once you have the right set up.”
They talked longer, the woman explaining about shelter, the best feed, the various breeds.
At the end, Kevin said, “Well, you’ve given me a lot to think about. I think I’d like one or two eventually, but for now, two problems are stopping me.”
“Oh, what problems?”
Kevin smiled. “Time and money. All I need is more time and more money.”
The woman laughed and said, “Now that’s the story of my life.”
#
On Wednesday, he did his laundry as usual. He grinned when Tammy showed up with no laundry of her own but had takeout bags from The Watering Hole. “Yep, it fits.”
“Hey, Kev, nice to see you. Too bad we couldn’t hook up over the weekend, though.”
“Yeah, I was pretty busy.”
“I hope you aren’t seeing another woman.”
Images flashed through his mind. Cindy in all her nude glory, followed by Janice singing hymns. He shook his head. “Nope. Little chance of that. Besides, I don’t need to add trouble to my life.”
“Are you saying I’m trouble?”
“No, not at all. But you know what my dogs think of women getting too close to me.”
He interpreted the look that crossed her face as severe dislike or even hatred. Yep, better not leave them alone.
“I hope you’re hungry,” she said and turned her back to him, fishing into the takeout bags.
Over the rustling, he thought he heard, “Damn dogs.”
As they ate finger steaks and garlic fries, Tammy said, “So, any chance we can do something together Friday evening. I can get off work and spend the entire evening with you.”
Kevin chewed slowly, buying time to come up with a good response. He remembered all too well how she’d drawn him back to town the night the thugs had shown up with the moving van. Was something up? If he told her he was busy but just went home, would she know? Unable to come up with anything good, he gave a non-committal answer. “I’m not sure. My supervisor was dropping hints I might need to go to Placerville Friday. If I do go, I’m not sure when I’ll be back.” Actually, if he went, he should be back shortly after noon.
“Oh.”
She sounded far from happy but he didn’t think it was sad disappointment. It was something else.
“Then maybe I could go with you. That’d give us a lot of time together. Maybe we could stay over.”
“That sounds nice, but our policies forbid it. Besides,” he grinned at her, “you might distract me from doing what I was sent over there to do.”
“I’d do my best,” she said and flicked her tongue out, slowly licking her lips.
He had to stop himself from rolling his eyes.
When he didn’t respond, she said, “Maybe I’ll just work Friday night. You could come in once you make it back.”
Were his suspicions justified? It seemed like she didn’t want him at home. Not responding to the invite, he said, “It might be best if you work. And you can come out Saturday. I’ll be working at home all day.”
“We’ll see,” she said. “But I better get going.” She moved close and kissed him. Stepping back, she said, “We need more practice with that.”
She left the laundromat and Kevin moved to the windows where he could watch her. Her phone was in one hand pressed to the side of her head. She wildly gesticulated with her other hand. When she was out of sight, Kevin made his own call.
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Post by cccindy on Sept 30, 2021 4:38:45 GMT
Thank you, bretf!
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Post by woolybear on Sept 30, 2021 12:33:53 GMT
Thanks bretf, I won't be able to read anything else for the next week, I'm going on vacation. As soon as I get back I'll get caught up on Kevin. This has been a very enjoyable read. Keep up the good work
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Post by bretf on Oct 1, 2021 12:58:50 GMT
Chapter 31
As Kevin filled his coffee cup, Walt approached to do the same. Kevin said, “Do you have a few minutes, Walt?”
“Sure. What’s up?”
“Let’s go into your office.”
With full mugs and the door closed for privacy, Kevin told Walt about his neighbors, Tammy, and his suspicions.
Walt asked the occasional question, Kevin providing the appropriate information. When Kevin was finished, Walt said, “Yep, something fishy is going on there. You’re carrying, aren’t you?”
Kevin grimaced and in a resigned tone, said, “Yes. But I don’t like it.”
“Good. So, what do you need from me?”
#
As Kevin had predicted, he made it back from Placerville shortly after noon. But he didn’t go back to the office. Still in the company Prius, he went to the library. He settled in front of a computer, inserted his flash drive and accessed the internet. Pulling up sites he’d previously visited, he copied and pasted items into documents. The internet contained worlds of information that’d all be useless in a grid-down situation. He didn’t own a laptop that he might be able to store information on so he’d go old-school. The documents containing the information he considered the most important went into the printer queue.
The library charged fifteen cents per double-sided copy. He felt it’d be money well spent to have physical copies of the information. Leaving the computer, he went to the desk, paid, and went to the printer as it churned out his documents. With all his papers, he returned to the computer desk. A shopping bag was where he’d laid it beside the keyboard. In Placerville, he’d purchased a hole punch, dividers, and a three-ring binder. He spent several minutes punching the papers and putting them in sections in the binder. Like all his preps, he planned to add more information and binders as he was able.
But nothing was stopping him from creating more documents, they just wouldn’t be printed. Not yet.
Patrons came and went as Kevin researched and created documents. Time flew by and at times, it felt like his head would burst from all the information he found. Many of the sites he went to gave him the opinion a substantial bank account would burst if anyone accumulated everything they recommended.
His final search was for a way to store his excess eggs. He had no idea if it was feasible, but he planned to find out. There were several results to his query. As he read, he eliminated any method requiring electricity for long-term storage. It appeared the most reliable method was to immerse them in something called water glass. Reading further, he learned it was a compound containing sodium oxide and silica. He searched for local sources of the product, figuring to give it a try.
Another method he wanted to try was dehydration. After whisking the eggs up, they were dried, either raw or cooked. Then run through a food processor and put into storage containers. They were best used in recipes, whereas the eggs in water glass could be used in any way he liked. He planned to test both methods.
Kevin glanced at his watch, shocked. Time had flown as he was immersed in his project. He grinned. Enough time, he thought. He ought to get to the office two hours after he normally got off. And what would happen then?
He logged out of the computer and put everything in his shopping bag.
Back at the office, he locked up the Prius and got in the truck. Looking across the seat, it felt strange not to have Jack and Jill with him. Pulling out his phone, he sent a text, and then called Janice. “Hey Janice, I’m at the office. I’ll be over in a few minutes to get the dogs.”
They talked for a bit longer, Janice asking about his day and imploring him to be careful.
He typed in another text message, this one to Tammy. “Hey T. Just got back. I’m bushed and would be poor company this evening. Think I’ll head home. Maybe tomorrow?”
He watched the door to The Watering Hole. What’ll she do?
A minute passed before she responded with a text. “Sure I can’t change your mind? I might be just what you need after a stressful day.”
“It sounds good but I’m just not up to it. See ya when you can make it out.”
Her reply was frowning emojis.
Kevin started the engine and slowly pulled out of the lot. He watched The Watering Hole as much as he could while keeping an eye out for traffic. Pursing his lips, he nodded his head. Tammy had stepped out of the door. She had her phone pressed to her head and he could make out her lips moving. He looked away quickly.
When he reached Janice’s apartment building, she was outside with the dogs. “Hey Janice, I need a minute.” He held up his phone.
When he was finished, he slipped his phone in his shirt pocket and got out of the truck. The dogs nearly mugged him. “Hey guys, I missed you, too,” he said laughing.
When the dogs had calmed, Janice raised her eyebrows and asked, “So?”
“Well, I don’t know what I’ll find but I have the distinct impression they’re trying to keep me away from home. Tammy tried hard. Now I wonder if they’ll have something else planned.”
Janice’s face was filled with concern. “Are you sure you should go home? There’s no telling what’ll happen.”
“Well, I can’t know what they’ve got planned but I’m as prepared as I can be.”
“Be careful,” she said and hugged him.
“You got it. Come on guys, let’s go home.”
Despite his assurances to Janice, Kevin was nervous as he drove down the lane. The driver’s side window was open and the truck was moving at an idle as he looked all around. He didn’t note anything out of the norm. The house next door was quiet, although both cars and a third were parked in front of the garage.
Kevin parked and got out, Jack and Jill bounding off the seat. They trotted around snuffling, peeing, and doing their regular get-home routine. They didn’t show any alarm. He caught movement from the corner of his eye at the neighbors’ house. Turning, he didn’t see anything. Maybe I’m just jumpy and imagining it. Getting his lunch bag and shopping bag from the truck, he took them to the house.
With his egg bucket in hand, he headed for the chicken pen. As he neared it he froze, wrinkling his nose. An odor not unlike cat urine hung in the air. Ammonia. And it’s not from the chickens. They haven’t had enough time for it to be coming from their poop. It’s too bad phones can’t record smells as well as images. He continued on.
Inside the henhouse, he rechecked his pistols. Bile rose in his throat. He didn’t want to need them and was half-temped to leave them there. Sighing, he kept them where he carried them. He did leave the egg bucket. As silly as he considered the notion, if something was to happen, he didn’t want to chance the eggs being broken.
He left the coop and then the pen. The dogs growled and he followed their gaze. “Oh my God. Now that’s one heck of a distraction!”
Cindy was on the deck, stretching her arms out. As nude as the last time he’d seen her, with two major differences: though quickly fading, it was still light out and he was much closer. She looked his way, and as if just noticing him, waved. Then she stepped off the deck, headed straight for him.
Despite himself and the situation, Kevin couldn’t take his eyes off her. On auto-pilot, he moved towards the fence, drawn like a bee to nectar. Or a fly to a pile of excrement. Repeating himself, he said, “One heck of a distraction.”
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Post by ceresone on Oct 1, 2021 23:16:54 GMT
You know when to stop, and keep us waiting, don't you? 🙃
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Post by tabitha on Oct 2, 2021 1:56:07 GMT
he canned 16 quarts? what kind of canner does he have? Every canner I know holds seven quarts. 14 quarts sounds reasonable.
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Post by bretf on Oct 2, 2021 2:46:41 GMT
he canned 16 quarts? what kind of canner does he have? Every canner I know holds seven quarts. 14 quarts sounds reasonable. Pints. I never do beets in quarts. But I do have a water bath canner that holds 10 quarts. And one of my pressure canners is tall enough I can stack pints.
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Post by meandtk on Oct 4, 2021 2:08:46 GMT
he canned 16 quarts? what kind of canner does he have? Every canner I know holds seven quarts. 14 quarts sounds reasonable. My AA941 holds 18qts.
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Post by Ozarks Tom on Oct 4, 2021 11:51:55 GMT
he canned 16 quarts? what kind of canner does he have? Every canner I know holds seven quarts. 14 quarts sounds reasonable. My AA941 holds 18qts.
I hope your health insurance covers hernias. Our AA931 is heavy enough.
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Post by tabitha on Oct 4, 2021 14:07:54 GMT
I think I am going to invest in an Amish water bath canner. Holds 36 quarts...multi function... heats with wood.
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Post by bretf on Oct 7, 2021 12:56:23 GMT
Chapter 32
“Hi neighbor,” Cindy purred with a broad smile. “It’s good to see you.”
Inwardly, he decided it was good to see her as well, very good, despite the circumstances. But he didn’t voice the thought. “Uh, hi,” he said, trying unsuccessfully to keep his eyes on her face. Very good to see her, indeed.
She giggled.
How to play it? The stuttering imbecile under her spell, or indifferent. Acting under her spell might be safer. Maybe not as entertaining, though. “Uh, well, I, uhn …” Kevin stammered. In truth, he did like them. He was a warm-blooded man after all.
“I’m sorry, but does my appearance bother you? I guess I’m just used to going nude.”
She read the puzzled look on his face. “Dancing. I dance evenings in a club.”
He had to admit, she was an impressive distraction, rather pair of distractions. Now, how far would she push? He was almost afraid to find out. Tammy had certainly been obvious, but not to this extent. Cindy was, wow! The distraction was close to working, the ammonia smell nearly forgotten. He reminded himself to keep his head. But dang, what a distraction.
The dogs pressed against him from each side. He took comfort from their presence. If ever he needed them, this might be the time. He had to stay grounded.
He asked, “You’re a stripper?”
“I prefer the term exotic dancer.
“I was going to get in the hot tub. Join me. It’s a perfect night and always nicer to be in with a strong, handsome man. I can fix us a drink, get a little smoke, and —”
They both jumped as the phone in Kevin’s pocket rang.
With shaking hands, Kevin fished it out, looked at the screen and answered. “Hey, Janice, what’s up?” He listened for a bit and said, “Hang on a moment.”
To Cindy, he said, “As tempting as it sounds, I’m going to have to pass. The office manager from work needs to discuss a case I was on today. Not only that, I’m exhausted.” Holding the phone up, he said, “I’m going to bed when I finish this.”
“Yeah, you probably should go to bed. You look flushed,” Cindy said with a smirk.
Kevin couldn’t help but feel disappointed she didn’t try more to draw him to the hot tub. A small voice at the back of his mind said it was a good thing. If he did get in that hot tub, he’d never get out again. Another part of his brain retorted it’d be one heck of a way to go.
“Nice seeing you,” Kevin said, turned, and walked to the house. Wow, it was nice seeing you!
Once inside, he leaned against the door, breathing as if he’d sprinted from the fence. When his breathing was under control he raised the phone. “Okay, I can talk. But are you sure cell phones are safe?”
“That’s covered. But, you called me Janice?”
“Yeah. It seemed feasible.”
“Ahh. Well, that was quite a performance. You and her both. I wasn’t sure which way you were leaning. It appeared you needed a rescue.”
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Post by ceresone on Oct 7, 2021 21:20:41 GMT
Drone? Pocket camera? Come on..how did she know?? Aha, when he held the phone up?? On record??
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Post by Ozarks Tom on Oct 7, 2021 21:47:33 GMT
I'm guessing we were left out of the conversation he had with the female deputy at the gun range, where he showed her the pictures he'd taken at the bar and his house. They probably have surveillance on the neighbor's place.
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