Pulse Read online

  “Ya’ll want some of these biscuits and gravy for breakfast?” Roxie asked as Harold walked up to the Grub Hut. “Ya better grab some before the mornin’ rush gets here.”

  “They smell great,” Harold said as he poured himself a cup of steaming coffee. “You keep cookin’ like this and everyone is goin’ to get all fat and sassy. Nobody’s gonna’ be able to get any work done.”

  “The day they stop workin’ is the day I stop cookin’,” Roxie replied. “Ain’t no food here for lazy folk.”

  “So, I’ve gotta’ go hungry today?” Harold said with a look of shock on his face.

  “I reckon you can have a bite of biscuit and a sop of gravy,” Roxie said as she peered over her glasses. “Jes’ try an get somethin’ done today, will ya? I’m getin’ a crik in my back from carryin’ yer weight around all the time.”

  Harold smiled as he took a sip of the black nectar in his cup.

  “Sounds like Pam is bringin’ a pretty good load of tradin’ material with her,” Roxie said as she turned her attention back to her pan of gravy. “Guess Kay’s gonna’ have to open her store a little early today.”

  “I guess so,” Harold answered. “I’ll go and get her up and let her know that Pam’s here. She’ll be happy to be able to talk to her and find out what’s goin’ on in Kountze.”

  Harold grabbed his and Kay’s plates and broke open two steaming biscuits for each plate, covering them with sausage gravy. He then filled Kay’s cup with coffee and offered Roxie a warm smile before turning and heading toward the tater shed.

  “I’ll tell Pam to come grab some coffee,” he said. “Sounds like she’s almost here.”

  As he turned and walked away, Harold could hear Roxie ringing her bell. The sound had become a familiar announcement that hot food was ready and was usually followed by a stampede of hungry men, women and children. Just the smell of her cooking was enough to make everyone’s stomach growl, but they had all learned better than to rush the cook or to try and “get a taste” before she was ready to serve.

  Roxie was a great cook, but she wielded a mean wooden spoon.

  As Harold reached the tater shed, Pam appeared from the woods that separated the Landing from the pipeline. Her 4-wheeler was loaded down with a variety of items and she pulled a small trailer behind her that was also overflowing. He was surprised to see that she wasn’t wearing her usual smile. Pam killed the noisy motor as she pulled up near the man standing before her.

  “Hey lady,” Harold said, placing the plates and coffee cups on a shelf. “everything alright?”

  “I won’t complain,” Pam replied. “I’m blessed to be alive and still have my transportation. What more can a woman ask for these days?”

  “Maybe a fresh cup of coffee and a hot breakfast?” Harold smiled. “There’s plenty if you’d like some.”

  “Coffee sounds divine,” she said. “How are things here at the Landing?”

  Harold sensed that something was out-of-the-ordinary. “We’re all good,” he said. “Actually, we’re blessed beyond belief. What’s going on, Pam?”

  “There’s been a lot of mischief goin’ on lately,” Pam answered with a serious tone. “Ever since they opened that FDC at the courthouse people have been showin’ up from everywhere. Back behind the police station has turned into a mess. Whole families are campin’ out waitin’ for a handout. Tempers are flarin’ and people are downright mean.

  “The Kirby-Hill House was burned down a couple of days ago. There were people stayin’ in there. There were at least a dozen people who died in the fire. It’s become common to hear about someone bein’ shot or stabbed or beat up and robbed. I heard on the way here that a group of hooligans attacked Indian Hills yesterday and wiped out that entire community.”

  Pam’s eyes glazed over as she stared into nothingness. “How can people be so evil?”

  Harold didn’t really know how to respond. “These are trying times, Pam,” he said. “Everyone’s lookin’ out for themselves and tryin’ to provide for their own families.”

  “That doesn’t give ‘em the right to kill babies,” Pam almost shouted as she turned her stare toward Harold.

  “I totally agree,” Harold said softly. “It’s our duty to help others, not take from ‘em. We have to work together if we’re going to live through this. Taking another person’s life should be a last resort of self-defense, not a way to get what we want from someone we don’t even know.”

  Pam’s face softened. “I’m sorry,” she said as she bowed her head. “I didn’t mean to snap at you. I know that you guys are doing everything you can to help as many people out as you can. Ya’ll don’t know how much I appreciate you. How much a lot of people count on you.”

  “We’re just doing what we believe God wants us to do,” Harold said. “We want to make it through this life the best that we can, but it’s what comes after this life that we’re most concerned with.”

  “I just worry about ya’ll,” said Pam. “Too many people know that ya’ll have food, fresh water, coffee; everything a person could want. There are a lot of folks who are getting killed for much less.”

  “People also know that we have enough firepower here to take over a small country, too,” Harold said with a wink. “We would never go out of our way to hurt anyone; far from it. By the same respect, we won’t allow anyone to come here and take advantage of us, either. We’re capable, and ready, to take care of whatever comes at us.”

  “I hope so,” Pam said.

  There was silence for a long minute.

  “You ready for that cup of coffee?” Harold finally broke the silence. “You can even have a little sugar in it if you want.”

  Pam exhaled loudly as if to release the pent-up tension she had welled up inside her. “That sounds really good,” she said. “I’ve got some goodies I’d like to haggle over with your wife, too.”

  “She loves to haggle,” Harold said, “Give us a few. Go enjoy that coffee and some of these amazing biscuits. There aren’t any better on this side of Village Creek.”

  “I’ll tell Roxie you said that,” Pam smiled.

  “You better not,” Harold shot back. “Wouldn’t want her to stop tryin’ to outdo herself every morning.”

  Pam climbed off her ATV and gave Harold a hug.

  “Men,” she said as she shook her head. She then patted her friend on the back and walked toward the Grub Hut to get some of the coffee that she knew would hit the spot. She could see that a small crowd was already gathering around the fire pit.

  Harold grabbed up the plates and coffee and made his way to the hidden stairwell that led down to the bus, where his love waited patiently for him. He almost dropped the plates once, but gravity was denied as he recovered nicely and held onto the containers. He didn’t even spill one drop of coffee in the process.

  Kay was wide awake when Harold walked into their bedroom. Supermarket Flowers was playing on the mp3 player, appropriate for how the morning had started off.

  “Mornin’ Glory,” Harold greeted his wife as he laid her plate on the bed beside her. “Breakfast is served. This morning I made for you fresh biscuits, kneaded and baked with my own hands. They are topped with delicious cream gravy flavored with the sausage from a young pig that I raised, fed and the butchered myself just for your pleasure. I also have brought to you a steaming cup of coffee, made from the coffee beans raised in the dirt that I tilled and turned.”

  “Um-hm,” Kay replied sarcastically. “Smells like Roxie has been cooking all morning.” She cut and forked a bite and shoved it into her mouth, smiling broadly as she chewed.

  Harold just stared at her with his mouth wide open in disbelief.

  “I’ll never know how she gets her biscuits so flakey,” Kay said after swallowing her first bite. “I’ll have to let Roxie know that she done good, again.” Kay then filled her mouth with another bite. She winked at Harold.

  “I never…” Harold said with mock disgust.

  “And you never will,” Kay s
aid with a full mouth. “That’s why Roxie does the cooking. She’s so much better at it. Even your Mom said so.”

  “Women,” Harold said as he took his first bite of breakfast and let it melt in his mouth. They were right but there was no way he would ever admit it.

  The couple ate in silence, except for the sound of the forks hitting the plates and an occasional sigh of contentment every now and then.

  Once they finished their morning treat, Harold told Kay what he and Pam had talked about. She was saddened by the news, but it was common knowledge that society was turning against itself and that there were a lot of bad people out there. It was just a matter of time before refugees from the larger cities made their way to the rural areas in search of sustenance. Apparently, that time was upon them.

  “I’m worried about Pam, “Kay said. “I hate to think that she travels all the way from here to Kountze pretty regular. What if someone hears her four-wheeler coming and ambushes her?”

  “Maybe you should try to talk her into staying here,” Harold answered. “We’ve got plenty of room and she would definitely be an asset for the group.”

  “I’ll do that,” Kay said. She held her arms up toward her spouse. “Either kiss me and get me up where I can start my day as usual or kiss me and ravish me where I can start my day right.”

  She got that look in her eyes and tilted her head a little to the left as she smiled coyly.

  Harold leaned in and planted a kiss on those smiling lips. “You have people waiting, so I reckon I need to get you dressed now.”

  He reluctantly backed away and gathered clothing for his bride.

  Outside the Landing was a flurry of activity as everyone gathered near the Grub Hut for breakfast. The backyard had become the usual meeting place for the group since it was where most meals were served. In the evenings everyone would get together around the fire pit at sunset to talk about the days events and enjoy a relaxing cup of coffee or glass of iced tea.

  It was fortunate that there was an extra solar array and setup to connect the Main House with electricity. Kenneth had fabricated a water tank and pump system to tie into the Main House, too. It was the only place within miles that had electricity and running water. That meant there was ice for the tea and hot water for showers.

  Yay!

  Beetle and Squirrel were sitting on the porch swing (which was usually Roxie’s spot) talking to Arlene as they ate. They were looking through the Physician’s Desk Reference, studying the different drugs and what they were used for. She was looking for Lyrica to treat Loretta’s neuropathy since the prescription Alice left behind was being quickly depleted.

  Arlene believed the girl scouts should know as much as they could about as many drugs as possible. That way, when they were out and about and found drugs that someone had left behind, they would know what was worth taking and what wasn’t.

  Of course, she encouraged everyone to gather whatever drugs they could get their hands on and bring them back to the Landing. You never know what you may need.

  Jerry and Kenneth were sitting near the water well talking intently about the project they were working on today. Bobby was with them, but he didn’t join in the conversation much. His ribs were still a little tender and the nurse didn’t want him lifting more weight than a gallon of tea. Every time he tried to do anything, it seemed like, she would show up, point her finger at him and shake her head. Geez.

  How do women see and know everything?

  Ray Lynn, Bruce, Dewey and Melisa (a couple from across the highway that wandered in a couple of weeks ago) were huddled up near the tractor getting ready to pull the water wagons to town for the day. The Polk’s were a cute couple who had gotten married right before the pulse. The were a great addition to the Landing.

  So were the Caraway brothers. David and Wade were as different as night and day, but their bond was unbreakable. They were hard working men who weren’t afraid to get their hands dirty. And they were very resourceful. All someone had to do was explain an idea and the brothers would come up with the material to make the idea a reality. David, the smartest of the two, thought way outside the box and was usually able to come up with some creative solutions for common problems.

  Shiela Mae and Rickey, a couple that Harold had known for decades, had also found their way to the Landing. They showed up the same day the Goode family. Bea and Phil were a young couple who also had twins; boys. Their little family was sitting with Ashlyn, John and their girls. Bea was a teacher before the pulse, so helping Ashlyn was a natural fit for her. Shiela Mae had two green thumbs, which made her a welcome addition to the garden. She also helped Roxie out with the cooking each evening.

  Loretta had assumed the role of siting in front of the monitor watching the camera feeds. It was difficult for her to walk much, which was how Arlene figured out she suffered from neuropathy. Harold had protected eight cameras and the control panel, which was installed in the room he had used before as his mancave. Now it was the security center and living quarters for Loretta and Beetle (when she wasn’t hanging out in her tent).

  The mother and daughter had found a lot of time to talk during the past month and discovered that they not only loved each other as family, they also liked each other as humans. It was strange and wonderful for both to create such a strong bond with one another.

  Tommy and John had gone hunting earlier in the morning and still hadn’t returned. What the group didn’t know yet was that John had plugged a 10-pointer just as the sun began to rise and the father/son team were busy field-dressing the deer and getting it ready to be carried back to the Landing. It was a two-mile hike, so the hunters knew they were missing out on a great breakfast. They had fresh meat to put in the smokehouse, though.

  It was already starting out as a pretty good day.

  Ellen was milking Betsy, the old milk cow. She was thinking about whether she should butcher one of the calves or the old sow they had captured trying to get into the garden last week. If Tommy didn’t kill some game today, they were going to have to get a fresh supply of meat from somewhere.

  When Harold and Kay came up from the bus, they were met by Allie and Sierra. The two ladies were making their way toward the backyard to get breakfast. The previous night was the first one that Sierra and Abednego had spent in their new home; a conversion to the tater shed that turned it into a tiny home for the pregnant young couple. It was practical to make the adjustment since there was electricity in the living chamber beneath them. Winter was coming soon, and it would be easier to keep the little building warm for the baby once it arrived.

  Jake, Allie and their two kids still lived in the master bedroom of the Main House. There had been plans to move the kids into the front bedroom, but when the house was converted into a make-shift doctors office, Arlene and Squirrel moved into that room.

  Jake and Abe had started in the warehouse before sun-up getting a load of care packages together. Whisper, Will and River were helping them, since the warehouse had become their new home. The building, which was formerly an old storage building, was almost as big as the workshop at the neighbor’s place. There was a large room that served as the warehouse and two smaller rooms that were converted to cozy little bedrooms for the young couple and their former roommate.

  This was the day they were going to go out and make their weekly deliveries to the elderly and handicap folks in the area who had no other way to get supplies. Today they were also going to take some MRE’s to a couple of families they had heard about who were trying hard to make their own way.

  The two families didn’t want to sign up for the FEMA handouts and were raising gardens that weren’t quite producing yet. Food was lean, as everyone knew, but those families were good people who needed a hand up, not a handout.

  Harold and Kay followed the pregnant woman and the mother hen to the backyard.

  “I saw that you had some propane bottles in that trailer of yours,” Kay said to Pam as they approached her. “They full?”

 
; “They sure are,” Pam smiled as she sat her coffee cup down to hug her friend. “I might be willin’ to part with ‘em if you’re willin’ to part with a little coffee. If you’re able to let go of a jar of that Cantaberry jam I may even throw in a gallon bag of shelled pecans.”

  “Girl,” Kay replied, “We already have enough nuts around here. I guess pecans would make for some good pies, though. Let’s go see if I have an extra jar of Cantaberry.”

  Pam took over for Harold and pushed Kay’s wheelchair around the house and to the store next door. The ladies chatted away as they went out of sight. Everyone knew that some hard bartering was about to go down.

  Harold placed the dirty dishes Kay had been carrying into the wash tub and topped off his coffee cup. He walked over and leaned up against the wall of the Grub Hut, looking around at the activity around him. He was pleased that everyone was getting along and that everyone had found their own talents to share with the group.

  Soon enough, probably right after everyone got through eating, people would start dropping their kids off for schooling. The water wagons would leave for the day and the daily routines would begin in earnest. It was brief moments like these, when everyone was together and enjoying fellowship with each other, that made Harold proud. The world was falling apart around them, but they were coming together and lifting each other up.

  God truly does work in mysterious ways.

  Chapter 3

  The Lawmen cometh

  Jerry and Kenneth had finally agreed on the design for their newest creation; a bullet resistant coating for the old Good Times van they had traded for. Their goal was to make it safer without making it too heavy to be feasible. Instead of steel, they would use layered stainless-steel sheeting from the stockpile of supplies at Calvin’s place.

  While Kenneth had finished his breakfast and headed to the shop, Jerry sat quietly with his dad sipping a second cup of coffee. His gaze was continuously directed toward Arlene. It had been weeks since she had spoken more than two words to him and he had no idea why.