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Post by ncsfsgm on Jan 9, 2022 16:03:05 GMT -6
Chapter 178
By 0900, all the males had gathered at the equipment barn to attach snow blades to the Gators and tractors. They left out in their usual formation and quickly had the driveway cleared. When they got to the pasture, they spread out and made one big swath and entered the pasture and cleared that. When they reached the main road, no traffic had travel on it nor no snow plows or trucks so they cleared all the way across the highway so when they did plow it, snow wouldn't be thrown back into the driveway.
On the way back they cleared Trace's drive and down to Colt's house and from around the greenhouse area. They quit and cleaned up the equipment before lunch.
The partially melting snow quickly froze at night forming ice on the melt runoffs. For the next week the conditions remained the same, melting during the day and freezing at night. Some of the shaded areas on the highways never melted during that week and caused numerous wrecks until the highway department put down enough salt and sand. The people at Bluff View stayed at home and did small chores to keep busy.
Since the highways were clear, Gil decided to do a run into Knoxville, with Brad riding with him, to pick up steel blanks and stock up on welding supplies. There was a couple of icy patches near Bull Gap but the roads were pretty good.
"We need to schedule another day of weapons familiarization before Spring plowing." Gil said.
"I'll check everything out. Just give me a time." Brad replied.
"What do you think about including Tate?"
"Sure, he's got a good head."
I thinks there's more to him than meets the eye."
They got the steel Gil wanted and went by Holston Gas and picked up nozzles, gasses, wire and rods and were home and unloaded by lunch.
When he walked in the house, Debra Gibbons was sitting with the twins while they ate their lunch.
"Ms. Gibbons, what a pleasant surprise. Writing any new stories?"
"I'd like to write an article but I'm afraid your answers would be too ambiguous for me to have a presentable piece."
"Come now, I am an open book."
"Yes, but many of the words in that book have been redacted."
Gil picked up a sandwich off of his plate and walked up to his office.
"Debra, don't mind him. He'll come around. When he first met you he generalized you as just another of the media pukes that were more concerned at a Pulitzer than informing their readers of the truth.
The subconscious mind is the store house of everything that has ever happened in a person's life. It is the history book. It records information, details and makes associations so the conscious mind can access these at a later time. The subconscious also stores your perceptions, beliefs, patterns, habits, and emotions. It took me a while to figure it out but Gil has been through a lot of things in his life, more than anyone in his age should have, I'd guess. At first, I thought he could read minds, but soon I realized that all his actions and thoughts were governed by his instincts fed by his subconscious. He's seen the way reporters have been both while he was in the military and in civilian life. His aversion to you was pre-programmed. Once he gets to know you and see the real you, all his assumptions will melt away."
"I hope so. I would like to know you both as friends and not as an adversary."
"Well, you're half way there. I consider you a friend. So, how did the others out in the reader world like your article?"
"Oh the Star editor loved it, and wants more. I have a couple of ideas that include Bluff View but I don't know how Gil would take it."
"How would I take what?" Gil said, walking in in his moccasins.
Debra jumped, a look of panic in her eyes."
Grace laid a hand on Debra's arm.
"She's got a couple of story ideas and I'm thinking we would be a part of that story." Grace said.
Gil got his water bottle out of the fridge and sat down at the table. Taking a drink of water, he looked at Debra.
"Well? What's your story line?"
Debra fidgeted with the teaspoon next to her cup. Well, I was thinking of writing about the day to day activities of a sustenance life. You grow most of your own food, you live a quiet life, and you do things together. The things you don't see in nuclear families today."
"Well, I probably wouldn't buy the book. Sounds kind of boring, but give it a shot. You really turned a sow's ear into a silk purse on the last story."
"Gil! That was a beautiful endeavor and she wrote a beautiful story!" Grace said.
"Well, you two work out how you'd do this. Same rules though. We get to review it before you release it."
"Debra nodded. "Agreed."
Gil nodded, got up, and went into the Great Room while Grace and Debra conspired in the kitchen.
Gil greased the grease points on the bottom plows and the disc harrow as Colt and Brad changed the engine oil and filters in the tractors. "What do you want to do with the oil Gil?"
"Pour it in that drum over there. When it's full I'll take it to the recycle center."
It was one of those "nasty" days. Misty, so misty it was almost like a drizzle, with the temperature around 45 degrees. They had a portable propane forced air heater but the building was so big it was only good for warming their hands occasionally. They had finished and turned the heater off, Gil walked over to the Aging Cellar and opened the door and turned on the lights. Earlier in the winter he had glued two inch foam insulation sheets to the door to see if it would help regulate the temperature. Checking the thermometer, he was pleased the temperature was remaining a constant 59 degrees. Using a flashlight, he inspected each keg and paid particular attention to one keg he had marked previously. Getting the siphon and a shot cup, he sampled the keg. It could be left for another week and checked it again. He dropped a few more charred spirals into the keg before replacing the bung. It was almost ready. Locking the doors back up, Gil went over to the outdoor furnace, cleaned out the ash box and added more wood. As he continued his rounds to the greenhouse, Debra went by in her Jeep, headed toward the house. He checked the temperature in the greenhouse and it was fine. As a matter of fact, he took his time walking around and just looking to take the chill out of his bones. He finally left and went back to the house. Gil took off his coat and hung up his hat when he entered the house, then headed for the kitchen, picked up the carafe, and gave it a slight shake.
"I just made fresh pot." Grace called from the Great Room.
Gil poured a mug and joined Grace.
"Deb is in the guest cabin getting her things arranged." Grace said.
"Arranged for what?"
"She's going to be staying there while she writes her article."
"Humph!"
"Now don't be that way. She'll get a better perspective. Anyway, you told us to work out how we would do this."
Me and my big mouth! Gil thought.
Grace walked over and hugged him. Be nice. She's going to do it up right.
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Post by ncsfsgm on Jan 9, 2022 16:04:33 GMT -6
Chapter 179
As in nature, stupid things either die, or they don't last very long and kind of fade from existence. In this case the stupid things were three thugs who thought knocking over a local hick town bank would be easy.
Throughout its history, the city planners of Rogersville weren't planning very well when it came to streets. Some of them were laid out haphazardly. Occasionally, a politician, as a political favor, would get an "street" paved and if you weren't a local resident, you didn't know where in the devil it went to. With no rhyme or reason, some of the streets made parts of the town like a corn maze. This, in itself, helped the Rogersville police officer quickly catch up with the three would be bad men as they were looking for a way out to Highway 11 in their attempt to get away. Also, the not-so-savvy bad men didn't take into account other hazards of a small town, like Gil Conner and Brad Palmer on their way home from Tractor Supply.
Gil and Brad first heard the siren then glimpsed the flashing blue lights of the police car right on the bumper of a car racing through the intersection just ahead of Gil without stopping and attempting to turn left toward Mooresburg. In milliseconds, Gil saw what was happening, down-shifted and stomped the accelerator, catching the fishtailing car with his big push bumper, the type you normally see on wreckers. Heavy steel collided with cheap Detroit fiberglass and the car was propelled down the road, spinning like a pencil twirled on a tabletop until it caught the soft dirt at the edge of the pavement, flipping the car several times; pieces and parts flying and what looked like paper money fluttering to the ground. One of the occupants was ejected like a walnut fired from a slingshot, landing a few dozen feet from where the car finally came to a rest.
Gil slammed on the brakes, both he and Brad jumping out of the truck, guns drawn. Brad ran over to a pistol laying in the road and stood over it, while maintaining a watch on the smoking car. Gil went directly to the car and checked the two unconscious people inside and stood by, keeping an eye on the car and the still body in the underbrush. Glen Wells came running up to Gil as Gil kept watch on the scene.
"Ambulance on the way." Glen said, breathing heavily.
They could hear the sirens approaching from both the town side of the highway and from down highway 11W. A quick glance revealed it was the Highway Patrol.
Gil walked over to the occupant that was ejected from the car and immediately saw he was no threat. During his sudden trip through the air, his impact with a two inch sapling snapped his neck.
EMTs were quickly surrounding the body, then seeing the man was dead, went to assist with the car's occupants.
"Damn! That happened quick!" Glen said, walking up to Gil.
"Yeah, what the heck was this all about?"
"These three robbed the New Horizon Bank." Glen answered.
"Crap! I'm going to have to write a report!" Gil muttered.
Gil called Grace and told her what happened and that they would be delayed for a couple of hours. There were reports to be filed.
Three hours later, Gil and Brad pulled up to the equipment barn at Bluff View and unloaded their purchases. Brad headed to his house and Gil drove on up to his.
"So, tell me what happened." Grace said.
"Nothing much. Brad and I had left Tractor Supply and took Shalmar Street to catch 11W instead of coming through the center of town. I notice a city police officer chasing a car that pulled out in front of me at a high rate of speed. While he was fishtailing, I tapped him in a PIT maneuver and he spun around a few times and flipped. One guy was killed and two were injured. The had held up the New Horizon Bank."
"They from this area?"
"I'm not sure but the car had Pennsylvania plates."
"Are you okay?"
"Me? Sure. Three less low-life punks off the street."
"Take a break for the rest of the afternoon." Grace said.
When she next checked on him he was sitting in his lounger reading "The Little Engine That Could" to the twins.
"Hello?"
"Gil, this is Ray Dalton. I'm calling to thank you for helping out today."
"I got lucky," Gil said, rolling his eyes.
"That seems to be your MO," Ray chuckled. "I'll write you and Brad a Letter of Commendation for your files here. If you want a framed copy, let me know."
"No thanks. How are the other two?"
"They'll live. Get this, all three are wanted for murder in Pittsburgh. We're working on extradition for them back to PA. I'd rather them spend their money than ours. The bank got its money back, or will."
"I hear you."
"Anyway, good job. You did exactly what Will and I wanted from you guys."
"Thanks for calling Ray."
Gil watched as Brad and Colt turned the cover crop under with the bottom plows. They had already plowed the southern fields and would finish these fields up tomorrow. They would be planting only corn in the northern fields this year. All the oats would be planted on the other side of the ridge in the southern fields. He cranked the Gator and went around and filled the wildlife feeders and the feeder for the guineas and to look over the food plots. Those would be planted in another week. While he was out, he rode up to the deer spring to add a couple of mineral blocks and raked leaves out of the spring. Finishing that little project, he went down to the shop to put together the drying screens for the grain smoker. Gil was going to experiment with making a batch of River Bank with a slight hickory smoke flavor. He'd cold smoke the grains, crush them and ferment the mash. If he could taste the smoke flavor when it was distilled, he might be on to something. He was even making hickory infusion spirals for the experiment, It might be a bust but he wanted to try.
When he had finished stapling the screen wire to the racks, he slid the racks into the grain smoker and shut the door. I should work well. He just needed to set up a firebox and test everything to make sure the grain wasn't heated too much. Calling it quits for now, Gil went to the house.
Grace was reading something at the dinette table when Gil walked in.
"Whatcha got?"
"Just looking over the list Allie gave me of things we need to order." Grace said, handing him the list.
Gil looked it over.
Six cases White Rice Eight cases Quick Oats Six cases Macaroni Ten cases of Nonfat Dry Milk Three cases Powdered Butter Four cases Freeze Dried Cheddar Cheese Six cases Freeze Dried Mozzarella Cheese Two cases Chocolate Milk
"We can get most of this at the LDS Home Storage Center in Knoxville. Why don't we check there first before we order anything. It's cheaper." Gil commented.
"Well, can we make our resupply trek a little earlier then. I've got another list of personnel hygiene items we need to get, and if they have them, a case of chickens at Sam's. We're going to freeze dry them."
"Okay. What about Thursday? We're finishing with the plowing tomorrow."
"Good. I'll tell Allie."
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Post by ncsfsgm on Jan 9, 2022 16:06:43 GMT -6
Chapter 180
When they returned from Knoxville, everyone pitched in to help unload the trailer. Gil took the two cases of chickens down to the canning house and put them in the refrigerator to finish thawing while everyone continued unloading. Most of the things were transferred to Gators and the trailers they were pulling to transfer up to the Chamber. Grace pulled Gil to the side when he came back.
"Gil, can we show Deb the Chamber?"
Frowning, Gil stared at Grace. "That seems a little dangerous to me."
"I don't think so, but if she writes about it, it will give us a chance to see how she how addresses it."
Gil sighed. "Okay. We'll see."
Debra had been sitting on the cabin porch, watching the activity until Grace waved to her and motioned for her to come down. The Gators convoyed up to the shelf and Gil opened the doors. Billy retrieved the forklift, slid a pallet on the forks and took it out to the tunnel opening where the items were stacked and wrapped on the pallet. When the last pallet Billy moved it inside, Grace took an awed Deb in. This wasn't anything like she had ever seen before. Brad, Colt, Billy, Gil and Allie inventoried and stacked the items on the shelf while Grace gave Deb a tour. When everything was put away, everyone went back to their homes except for Gil, Grace, Billy and Deb. Billy stored the forklift and took a Gator to feed the livestock. Grace and Deb sat down by the fire pit.
"I can't believe this! Deb said. It's like another world. So, you are really survivalist?"
Gil sat down on a bench. "People, especially left wing A-holes have given those who prepare for calamities a bad name. Their misrepresentations have been told and retold so many times that a lot of folks don't know what is right and what isn't. So that honest, honorable people begin to believe the lie. We prefer not to call ourselves anything. We're just a group of families and friends that have bonded together to try to live through an uncertain future." "I need to think about this. Would you mind if I sat down with you and asked some questions later on?"
"Sure. I have no problem with that." Gil said. "Grace, don't forget I'm picking up the meat tomorrow. You and the women need to produce a divvy plan."
"Okay."
"You two ready to go?"
"Yeah. I need to check the chili. Come one Deb, you can help stir while I watch." Grace grinned.
Gil and Billy stood on the ridgeline, looking northeast, looking at a group of rocks. The trees were just beginning their springtime greening, the steady breeze causing the branches to sway, occasionally disturbing the fallen leaves on the forest floor. They could feel the feel the difference in temperature from down lower.
"This is where I noticed the smoke, Dad."
"Well, that's one vent, but I know there are vents in the other chambers too. The best way to find them all is to turn on the filtration system, pop a different colored smoke grenade for each chamber and have someone up here watching. Right now, it's getting late. Let's get back to the gate."
They followed the faint game trail until it turned down the slope, then kept along the ridge another two hundred meters to where they had parked the Gator.
They pulled out their water bottles and took a long drink.
"Are you planting the food fields tomorrow?" Billy asked. "Can I help?"
Gil looked at him and smiled. "Sure. I'll wait until you finish your modules. I've already disced the fields so all you have to do is spread the seed and I'll pull a harrow over them."
Gil drove the Gator into its garage and got out, refilling the tank from a can of diesel. They walked back to the house together to get ready for range time after lunch.
"Billy has gotten really good." Brad commented."
"Yeah, well, fumbled a little on the mag change, but that could have been an aftermarket mag. When he gets through I'll check them." Gil replied.
When everyone had finished their familiarization, Brass and used targets were collected after all the bragging had stopped.
"Are we still planting corn tomorrow?" Colt asked.
"Yeah." Gil said. We'll do the corn this week and the oats next week. The drill is ready to go. We'll need someone to disk, someone to harrow, Then we'll take turns on the drill. Weather is supposed to be clear for the next week, knock on wood, and we can disk and harrow the oat field and just have the drilling to do."
Everyone nodded and went their ways. Gil went on to the house where Billy came out and set the buckets with the sorted brass in the basement to be tumbled and reloaded.
"Dad, I can start tumbling the brass in the morning after breakfast.' Billy said.
"Let's wait a couple of days. We'll be through planting corn by then. Some of the cases have been reloaded before and we need to inspect each one. We can clean the primer holes while we are at it."
"Okay Dad."
They went back upstairs and washed up.
Both Gil and Billy were looking at the last Salmon Patty left on the plate. They finally caught each other looking and Gil said, "I'll split it with you."
Billy grinned and cut the patty in half and took a half, Gil stabbing his half with his fork."
"Well, I guess I'll have to beef up that recipe!" Grace said."
"Mom, you could double the recipe. I like 'em cold as a late night snack."
"We'd better pick up another case of salmon next time we're at Sam's."
"I won't complain." Gil said, wiping his mouth.
Grace got up and brought dishes of Flan from the refrigerator.
"Mom, can we have soft tacos tomorrow night?" Billy asked.
"If you will help me make the shells." Grace replied.
"I will! I'll even get the lettuce, tomatoes and the green onions from the greenhouse."
"I'll get those. We're working there in the morning anyway. I should have time to make up a batch of pico de gallo."
Gil and Billy helped with the dishes then helped Grace round up the little hellions for their baths. Gil went up and read to them and luckily, they soon drifted off to sleep. He'd learned to read to them in a droning voice and they soon had heavy eyes.
"Make sure you take your water bottle with you tomorrow. It's supposed to get up in the low seventies."
"'ll fill it before I go to bed. What are you doing in the greenhouse tomorrow?"
"We need to thin the carrots and spring onions and pick strawberries. The girls want to turn this first picking of berries into preserves."
"I got an email about the soil test for the pecan trees. As soon as we finish planting the oats, I'll go in and have the fertilizer mixed. Those four, three year old saplings should have some nuts on them this fall."
"Good. I'd like to put enough in the freezer to make some pecan flour when I need it.."
"We'll see."
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Post by gipsy on Jan 9, 2022 17:03:57 GMT -6
A fine update. Do we have a partner for someone else here.
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Post by udwe on Jan 10, 2022 16:10:03 GMT -6
Love the update!
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Post by ydderf on Jan 10, 2022 18:56:13 GMT -6
Thanks for the update.
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Post by texican on Jan 11, 2022 0:21:36 GMT -6
A fine update. Do we have a partner for someone else here. Yep, Deb will find an available a guy, but which one? N? Texican....
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Post by biggkidd on Jan 11, 2022 7:13:01 GMT -6
Tate
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Post by iamnobody on Jan 11, 2022 8:03:57 GMT -6
I'm waiting to see who the 60 year old neighbor Glen will get paired up with. Or with him being 60 years old, is he past the point where he is too old to have physical with a woman on a regular basis and be mostly just talking with her?
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Post by texican on Jan 11, 2022 13:10:04 GMT -6
I'm waiting to see who the 60 year old neighbor Glen will get paired up with. Or with him being 60 years old, is he past the point where he is too old to have physical with a woman on a regular basis and be mostly just talking with her? At 60 and older, there is still fun to be had. Texican....
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Post by bluefox2 on Jan 11, 2022 13:26:02 GMT -6
I'm waiting to see who the 60 year old neighbor Glen will get paired up with. Or with him being 60 years old, is he past the point where he is too old to have physical with a woman on a regular basis and be mostly just talking with her? At 60 and older, there is still fun to be had. Texican.... There is even at 70 and over.
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Post by iamnobody on Jan 11, 2022 14:12:50 GMT -6
As a 60 year old, the last time I had contact with a woman was 6 years ago when my late wife was still alive. I've had plenty of offers during that time but they are either 20 year old looking for a good time - NO THANKS TO JUST A GOOD TIME.
Or they are married women offering. God says that is wrong, so no way am I touching a married woman. Plus my late wife was unfaithful, so I well know the pain of that.
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Post by ncsfsgm on Jan 11, 2022 21:23:06 GMT -6
Chapter 181
Brad was helping Gil get the mash squeezed out and strained. They turned the filtration system on that pushed the smell out of the Chamber, which was much better than the conditions Gil had worked in before. As each bucked of the mash was filled, Brad took them over and sat them near the door in the tunnel. The door was difficult to open when the positive pressure system was on.
"Is that it?" Brad asked?
"Yeah. I just need to pour this in the still and fire it up." Gil answered.
Brad helped Gil pour the "squeezings" into the still, put the head on and connected the condenser.
"Why don't you feed the heads to the pigs to.?" Brad asked.
"And have them drunker than skunks? No. I don't even know if it wouldn't poison them. No, I'll burn he heads and tails off. Go ahead and turn the filtration system off and let's get the buckets of mash into the Gator while the still is heating up."
They opened the blast and wooden doors and placed the buckets in the back of the Gator. Billy could feed it to the hogs this evening. They closed the doors and turned the filtration system back on and listened as the still heated up. Gil got a couple of flippies out of the fridge and they sipped mead while waiting.
"Did you notice the other day only the Highway Patrolman was wearing a vest?"
"It did cross my mind. I need to ask Ray if they have PPE for all the officers. A lot of belligerent a-holes are flowing through the area lately that want to wave guns around."
"It would be the neighborly thing to do." Brad grinned.
"They heard the noise in the still change so Brad put the ice in the condenser and Gil began catching the first of the heads. He carefully measured the drippings then switched to saving them into an 8-liter prepared keg.
"What do you want to do with the heads." Brad asked.
"Pour them in that old pot and place them in the firepit and start a fire. They'll soon catch fire and burn off." Gil answered.
Gil checked the proof and it was coming out right on 190 proof. Taking a small taste, yes, he could taste the hickory smoke taste. Before pounding in the bung, he inserted three of the hickory infusion spirals and inserted the bung and gave it a couple of hard taps with a hammer.
"Well, I'll check it in six weeks and see what we have."
"And if it is to your liking?" Brad asked.
"I'll run off twenty gallons instead of two." Gil grinned.
They emptied the still and burned the tailings off. After doing the cleaning up, they locked up and drove back down the ridge.
Gil waited as Colt ran the rest of the grain out of the drill, then drove the tractor over to where Gil was seated in the Gator."
"That's it Gil."
"Go ahead and take it back to the equipment barn. I've got the pressure washer ready."
Colt gave a loose salute and headed for the driveway. Gil sat and looked around. It was so peaceful. But his experience had shown him things could turn ugly in a heartbeat. Cranking the Gator, he headed down the drive to get ahead of Colt and open the gate for him.
Gil had called Ray and Will a couple of days before and set up an appointment to meet with him in Ray's office. This was where Gil headed to now.
"Ray, Will, thanks for meeting with me. I'll get to the subject quickly. The other day when we had the incident on Highway 11, Brad and I noticed that none of your people, with the exception of the Highway Patrol, were wearing protective vests. Is there a reason for that?" "Well Gil, uh…there hasn't been enough money in the town and county budgets for much." Ray said and Will nodded.
Gil pulled out a business card. "I want you to contact Able Gates at this number and apply for a grant to upgrade your departments' equipment, starting with protective vests. Make a list of essential equipment that the grant could cover. There is a better than even chance you'll get it."
"And you're sure this would go through?" Will asked.
"I'm a member of the Foundation Board." Gil grinned.
Ray looked at Will. "Okay, we'll give it a shot."
"Well, I need to get going. I've got to pick up fertilizer for my pecan trees."
"Okay Gil, thanks."
"Are you ready to check out the vents in the chambers? Gil asked.
Billy jumped up and shut his computer cover and grabbed his radio off the charger. They went out to the shop and Gil picked up the galvanized bucket with three smoke grenades and set them in the back of the Gator.
"I'm going to run you up to the gate and you walk up the ridgeline to where you spotted the smoke. I'm going to use a red grenade for the main chamber, a green for the storage chamber and purple for the dungeon. When you see the smoke, give me a call on the radio and take the spray paint and mark where the smoke is coming out. Give me a call when you're in position at the main chamber area."
"Okay Dad."
Gil dropped him off and went back to the chamber. Taking the smoke grenades out of the bucket, he turned the filtration system on and waited for Billy's call. When Billy called, Gil pulled the pin on the red smoke grenade and dropped it into the bucket. Less than ten minutes later, Billy called and said he had the vents marked. They did the same to the other chambers and got the vents marked. Gil threw the burned out grenades into the bucket, turned the filtration system off and locked up. After picking up Billy, they returned to the house for dinner.
"Why did you want to mark the vents, Dad?"
"I just like to know where things are. I'll take a look at the vents tomorrow and see if any ideas pop up. I may never need to use the information, but I'll have the information tucked away for future use.
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Post by ncsfsgm on Jan 11, 2022 21:24:24 GMT -6
Chapter 182
Gil stood upright, stretched, then leaned on the hoe. He looked at the hills of watermelons he’d just planted, then looked at the other people finishing planting the first week of the rows of vegetables. The rows were divided into four 60 foot sections, one section was planted each week to stagger the harvests.
"Are you ready to do the potatoes? Gil asked Grace.
"Yes, can you bring them over?"
"Sure," Gil said, leaning the hoe against the fence.
They finished the two long rows of potatoes, redskins and Russets and put their tools away. Gil walked over to Colt and asked him if he had anything planned after lunch.
"No, what's up?"
"I could use a little help picking up the shoats."
"Sure. Call me on the radio and I'll meet you at the equipment barn."
After lunch, Colt helped Gil hook up the livestock trailer and they left Bluff view. The farmer they were getting the pigs from was a ways out in the country in the southeastern part of the county. On the way back, Colt asked Gil to pull in at a country store and farm supply to get a pack of gum. Gil pulled in and they both got out. Walking up to the building, Gil saw something that didn’t look right and motioned for Colt to move right and take up a position. They could see the two men moving around in the convenience store, then they heard a shot. Colt slipped closer to the dumpster where he had more cover while Gil squatted next to a pallet of potting soil. The two men came running out and headed for their car as Gil drew his pistol and stood up in a crouch yelling for them to stop. The man trailing turned slightly and aimed his pistol at Gil who immediately planted two 147 grain Jacketed Hollow points through the idiot’s chest, dropping him. The guy Colt was covering aimed across the top of the car and fired two rounds at Gil, the bullets passed worryingly close to Gil’s head, the compression of the air as it passed his ear was definitely noticeable. Colt quickly fired, skipping his shot across the roof of the car, the bullet slamming the gunman in the temple. Colt ran forward and check his guy while Gil checked the guy he’d taken down. Colt nodded to Gil who turned and ran into the store to check the clerk out. Gil found the clerk with a wound to her shoulder and quickly searched around and finally snatched a package of Maxi Pads off the shelf and ripped it open, pressing a pad against the wound. He got her comfortable and called 911. They said they had already received a call and an ambulance and officers were on the way. The clerk was responsive so he got a bottle of water out the cooler and had her sipping it, talking to her. The wound was in the upper part of her shoulder and didn’t look like it had hit any bones bur he had her stay in place and made her as comfortable as possible. Fifteen minutes later, the Sheriff’s deputies and the ambulance showed up. Behind them by less than a minute was Sheriff Tatum. Gil walked outside as the EMTs were loading the woman onto a gurney and watched as the crime scene people started taping off the area.
"You know, sometimes I wonder if it would be better if you left one or two suspects alive." Sheriff Tatum said.
"I feared for my life and took immediate action." Gil said, glancing at Will.
"Good. It just makes less paperwork for me and more for you. What happened?"
"Colt wanted to stop and get a pack of gum. We saw strange activity through the windows and took cover. When they came out, I shouted at them to stop and that guy there turned and tried to shoot at me. I put paid to his bill before he could collect on mine. The other guy on the other side of the car tried to nail me and Colt took him out. That's about it."
Will nodded. The EMTs wheeled out the gurney with the store clerk and loaded it into the ambulance. A deputy walked over to the Sheriff.
"She'll be fine. The EMTs say she's stable and said she shouldn't have any problems except running the cash register with one arm for a while."
"Ben, give Gil and Colt a couple of blank reports to fill out. There's no reason they need to go all the way back into Rogersville to do the paperwork."
Gil felt relieved. The deputy gave them both clipboards and they sat on the pallet of potting soil to fill out the paperwork.
They finished and handed the clipboards back to the deputy then walked over to Sheriff Tatum.
"Will, you need us for anything else?"
"Nah, go ahead and go. If we need anything, we'll call you."
As they drove down the road, Colt commented, "Well, this turned out to be a weird day."
"Yeah, let's hope they are few and far between."
They unloaded the shoats and made sure there was feed and clean bedding for them.
"Let's go home. Maybe this will be better once we're home." Gil said.
When Gil walked into the house, Grace noticed the look on Gil's face.
"Problems?"
Gil got his water bottle out of the fridge and sat down at the dinette and proceeded to tell her what happened.
"Where are these people coming from!"
"Their license plates were from Kentucky, but the car could have been stolen. Probably, just a couple of ne'er-do-wells too lazy to work and too stupid not to come into Hawkins County. They won the Darwin Award."
Grace stood there and slowly shook her head. "Are you a magnet for bad guys?"
"It seems like that at times. What's for dinner?"
"Saucy meatloaf. Billy has a math question that was beyond me and the twins need someone to beat up on."
Gil chuckled. "Okay."
Gil got together with Brad, Trace and Colt the next morning to talk about what went down.
"We got lucky." Colt said.'
"Yeah, a situation like that can turn south in a heartbeat." Brad said.
"Brad, get with Allie to get sizes and order Level II-A vests for all the adults….include Billy in that. Go ahead and get tactical plate carriers and plates also. No use to wait. We've got ballistic helmets to go around and NVGs. We definitely need to stay with the two man rule and I want to make sure we have a shooter with anyone who leaves Bluff View. That covers all the way to Melinda Ferry Road."
The men then left to do springtime maintenance on the outdoor furnaces.
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Post by ncsfsgm on Jan 11, 2022 21:25:23 GMT -6
Chapter 183
Glen stopped by that afternoon on the way to town.
"What's up, Glen?" Gil asked.
"Oh, I had a hankering for a boiled dinner and was going in to Food City to pick stuff up. Other than that, I was just antsy to get out and about. I hadn't heard any equipment running up from me and wondered what was going on."
"Oh, we shut down the clearing for a couple of months. I had too many logs piled up and the weather was iffy anyway. The Haigers were happy to shut down for a while. They were in good shape financially, with the work I've been giving them so they were happy to get a break to hunt and such."
Gil relayed to Glen what had happened the day before as Glen grunted in surprise.
"Man, this place is gettin' to be like the Wild West!"
"Yeah, keep your eyes and ears open. We've got all kinds of crud passing through here."
"I'll stop and get some more ammo on the way home. It's been a while since I shot my pistol."
"Don't buy ammo. We've got more ball ammo than you could ever shoot and I've got several thousand 9mm reloads with 147 grain jacketed hollow points." Gil said.
"Well I'll certainly take you up on that! I'll stop by on my way back."
"Good deal. Be safe."
Glen bought a four pound corned beef, a bottle of twenty-five beef bouillon cubes, potatoes, carrots and parsnips at Food City. He picked up a few more things then headed to Tractor Supply to get four gallons of wood preservative and some hooks and eye bolts. Next stop was the building supply place to pick up four bags of mortar mix. Loading everything into the truck he headed back to Bluff View.
He pulled up beside the hovercraft garage and drove his hovercraft out, loading his purchases in. Gil came over from the hangar and helped him.
"Doing a little building Glen?"
"Yeah. That mortar is for foundation pillars for a storage shed. I've already got the logs peeled and initially notched."
"How big is it going to be?"
"Just 8x10 inside dimensions. It won't take me but a few days to put 'er up."
"We're between plantings right now. Why don't the guys and I come over and give you a hand? We could have it up in a day or two."
"Well now, I'll not turn down any help. Give me a day to mortar up the pillars and I'll give you a shout."
"Billy is pretty good at mortaring up things. You want him to come over and help you get that done?"
"Sure, I'd enjoy having him over."
They finished loading everything and Gil watched him head across the river and out of sight. Gil finished up in the hangar and went back to the house. He was getting his water bottle out of the fridge when Billy came down the stairs to pour himself a glass of orange drink.
"How are your studies going?" Gil asked.
"I'm three days ahead. The trigonometry is getting easier since you show me that stuff the other night."
"Glen could use a little help mortaring some support pillars. You want to help?"
"Sure! Can I take the hovercraft over?"
"Yes, but no wings." Gil grinned.
"A-w-w-w-w. Okay. What is he building?"
"A storage building."
"Okay, I'll leave early in the morning."
"Wait. I said you could take the hovercraft over, but I'm riding with you because I need to bring it back."
"I could bring you back over."
"We'll see. I want to see what Glen is doing."
The next morning around 0800, Gil watched as Billy prepared the hovercraft. Billy drove it out of the hangar and waited until Gil got in. They headed down the slight slope and entered the river, Billy increasing power and soon had traveled the 4500 foot route to Glen's landing site. When they shut down the engines, Gil heard a hoot, which Billy returned. They traveled up the path to Glen's cabin to see Glen with his mortar pan and trowels next to a cleared area marked with stakes and strings.
"Morning Glen."
"Morning Gil, Billy. You ready to work some Billy?"
"Yes sir. What do you want to do?"
Glen walked them around and explained what he was going to do."
"Glen, I noticed you're using poplar logs. I've got a bunch of 8x8 squared oak beams over at the sawmill you are welcomed to, to make sills. It would be better to have oak for that than popular. I don't know what you were going to do about floorboards, but I've got stacks of those and lumber for ledgers also."
"Well, yeah, that would make it better."
"Get Billy started and you and I will go over and pick out the lumber. The guys and I can start transporting the lumber over here."
Glen got Billy mortaring the first pillar and Gil and Glen drove his hovercraft directly to the sawmill. They picked out the lumber they needed and set it aside in a stack.
"How are we gong to get all this over there?" Glen asked.
Gil grinned. "I've got that extra-wide Jon boat leaning up on the other wall of the boat garage. My hovercraft can easily pull it. We can be hauling the wood over while you and Billy finish the pillars."
"Sounds good. Let's get back."
True to his word, Gil dropped Glen off the headed back to the sawmill. Once he had the hovercraft parked, he called the rest of the guys and had them meet him at the sawmill. Walking to the equipment barn, he hooked up the big dump trailer to the tractor and drove it down to the sawmill, parking it next to the lumber he and Glen had stacked.
"Guys, Glen needs some help building a storage shed. I want to move this lumber across the river and help him knock it out."
They quickly loaded the lumber and drove it down to the boat garage, loading the big Jon boat on top of the load. Gil drove the hovercraft down into the water and beached it, then helped put the boat into the water. After attaching tow lines they pulled the Jon boat close to the water's edge and loaded the lumber.
"Let's get this across and transported up to the building site. The support pillars will have to set three or four days. We'll bring back our battery powered tools to get this thing done."
Gil called Glen on the radio and had him come down and pickup the other guys while he started towing the boat to Glen's landing.
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Post by gipsy on Jan 11, 2022 22:11:54 GMT -6
Thanks for the update.
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Post by cavsgt on Jan 11, 2022 22:37:03 GMT -6
Once again Thank You!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Post by ydderf on Jan 12, 2022 17:16:58 GMT -6
Thank you
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Post by texican on Jan 12, 2022 19:27:58 GMT -6
N,
Nice chapters.
Texican....
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Post by solo on Jan 14, 2022 8:21:00 GMT -6
'As in nature, stupid things either die, or they don't last very long and kind of fade from existence. In this case the stupid things were three thugs who thought knocking over a local hick town bank would be easy.'
This can't be true.... North West Florida is still here....
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Post by ncsfsgm on Jan 15, 2022 15:13:41 GMT -6
Chapter 184
Gil and Glen drove in the last screws on the ridge cap and grinned at each other.
"Well, that's a lot better than spending a week putting this thing up by myself!" Glen said. "Thanks for the roofing materials and the linoleum."
"We keep a little extra around for small projects. Come over tomorrow and we can mill a couple of pine logs for you to make shelves. Guys, let's get our stuff up in the Jon boat and head home."
"Well guys, I sure do appreciate your help." Glen said.
"That's what neighbors are for Glen." Trace replied.
"Glen, someone must of thought this was a box of nails and put it in the Jon boat." Gil said, handing him a boxed bottle of River Bank. Glen grinned. "Well, I can always use it over here."
They all loaded into the boat and hovercraft and returned to Bluff View.
The next day, Trace and Sarah came out of Mountain Star, to Trace's relief, after following Sarah around in the store looking at antiques and items Trace had no interest in whatsoever. They walked around the block to the parking lot and were almost to the truck when Trace saw and heard a commotion a couple of rows toward the back of the lot. A woman in a car was screaming at a man with dreadlocks who was grasping her arm. Trace yelled and ran at the man pulling the woman out of the car. The man released the woman's arm, drew a pistol out of the front of his pants, and turned toward Trace. His pistol already out and his left hand cradling the grip under his primary hand, Trace fired two quick rounds. The man never even had the chance to pull the trigger before the two rounds slammed into his chest, only having the opportunity to look shocked before he dropped, sliding down the side of the car, leaving a visible red streak on the white paint. Trace holstered his pistol and checked the man for a pulse while Sarah led the lady over to their truck and sat her in the passenger seat, giving her a bottle of spring water, then called 911. In less than five minutes police cars came screaming into the parking lot. Trace saw Glen Wells and waved him over, noticing Glen was wearing a vest.
"What happened Trace?"
Trace told him what he'd observed and his actions. The woman then told Glen what had happened when she was getting into her car.
"Damn! Now it's car-jacking. Okay, let me get your statements. Ma'am, is there someone we can call? Your car will be here for a while until they can get the crime scene processed."
"My husband is a truck driver and on a haul to Nashville."
"Glen, Sarah and I can take her wherever she needs to go." Trace offered.
"Okay, let me get the forms and a couple of clipboards."
Trace and Sarah picked up Carrie and went over to Gil's when they returned to Bluff View. After hearing their story, Gil slowly shook his head.
"This is getting out of hand, but there is little we can do but stay vigilant."
"We should put up billboards or something telling criminals committing crimes here will get them a one-way ticket to the morgue." Grace said.
"Then we'd have every do-gooder and Democrat down on this town for its 'lawlessness.' It's best if the word is spread among the criminals that this town is a one way street." Gil replied.
Trace, Sarah and Carrie stayed for a dinner of porkchops, fresh mustard greens and pan-fried potatoes, followed later with strawberry wine and mead.
"This mess is coming slowly, but surely to us." Trace said.
"Well, we've shown them the deterrent, now it is up to them to either keep coming like lemmings or bypass us."
Excerpt from Greg Richards, WTNZ, Fox 43
"Want to know the safest place in America to live? Well, this small town in east Tennessee just may be the number one spot. Talking with the police chief of Rogersville, Tennessee, they rarely see any crime from the residents, but people from outside their county bring crime to their quiet small town. In the last year, there has been a purse snatching, a bank robbery and an attempted car-jacking. In all cases the suspects drew weapons and three of the suspects won a trip to the morgue. The people of east Tennessee believe in the Second Amendment. These people believe in protecting the lives and property of their families and neighbors."
"Gil, I just got a call from Chief Dalton. There's a news crew in town that wants to interview me." Trace said.
"Well, go on in a give them one. Just be careful what you say. They can twist your words around and make you the bad guy."
"Gil, I don't want Sarah to have to deal with this, can you come in with me."
"Sure, when is this?"
"Tomorrow morning at 1000."
"Okay, I'll pick you up."
The next morning they arrived to find the briefing room in the Police Station filled with reporters and cameras. Gil walked over and talked to Ray.
"I thought this was just an interview."
"Sorry Gil. It kind of escalated. Is Trace ready?"
"Yeah, but don't be surprised what comes out of his mouth."
"Well, I guess I need to get this circus on the road." Ray said, walking up to the podium.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, or whatever. Last week, we had an attempted carjacking in one of our town's parking lots. A lady was accosted by a Da'wan Jévon Chalmers, age 26, of Cleveland, Ohio who was physically attempting to remove the 58 year old woman from her car. Upon entering the parking lot with his wife, a local citizen of the county, Trace J. Carter, intervened and stopped the assault. Mr. Carter will now answer your questions.
Trace walked up to the podium and the shouting began. Trace stood there and listened to the shouting and finally raised his hands until the voices settled down.
"Now I know you all have questions, but you won't get any statements from me if I have to deal with this pandemonium. Now, If you will raise you hands and ask your question, when I acknowledge you, you will get your questions answered. Otherwise, I swear I will walk out of here and you will have nothing."
Hands shot up and Trace selected a reporter.
"Mr. Carter, Diane Wadsworth, WATE-TV. What brought you to the point of becoming a vigilante, preying on people of color visiting Rogersville?"
"First, Ms. Wadsworth, I believe the definition of a vigilante is someone who is a self-appointed doer of justice. I'm an appointed and sworn Reserve Police officer for the town of Rogersville. Second, it would be a stretch to say I was 'preying' on someone who is physically assaulting a 58 year old woman. Color isn't even a factor. If I had seen you doing the same thing, the consequences would have been the same. Next question."
"Mr. Carter, Jim Collins, WCYB. How did it feel to take a young man's life while he was in his prime?"
"It is a burden on the soul to take another human being's life. However, when they point a weapon at me with the intention of doing bodily harm, in my mind, they have ceased to be a human being and have just become a target. What did I feel? A little recoil, but I controlled it enough to get another round off. Next question."
"Mr Carter, Lannie Sharp, WRCB. There have been several crime bills, both state and national, that would help in the reduction of crime, but have been blocked by right-wing politicians. What are your feelings on this?"
“Well, I’ve found most politicians to be one-dimensional and worthless. Their modus operandi is maintaining power and conducting political machinations. If they were to attempt to do their jobs, they should first address the crimes committed within the Capitol Building. Yes, the government is supposed to protect the citizens of the United States and except times of war, they do a pretty lousy job of it. When it comes to deterring crime within the borders of the 50 states, they are not very successful. The Justice Department and the Judicial system are filled with corruption and you people are the water carriers for them. The politicians offer up all kinds of crime fighting programs, programs paid with the money they slip out of your pockets every payday. The problem is , you don’t ever get back as much as you put into the pot. It’s better if we got a rebate and fight our own problems without the so-called ‘help’ from the federal government. Our local lines of defense are the Hawkins County Sheriff’s Department and the Rogersville Police Department. The citizens are the last line of defense with their Second Amendment rights. Too many people want to take away the right of the people to defend themselves which only exacerbates the crime problem. If someone is stupid enough to come into our county to commit a violent crime, we can surely educate them.”
"Thank you for your time."
Trace walked away from the podium and through a side door, to the annoyance of the reporters. Gil went through the same door as the reporters began leaving through another door. He found Trace in Ray's office.
"Good job. I like the political jab."
"Trace grinned. "Well, they are part of the problem."
"Well, let's go. I need to take the long way home in case one of these reporters wants to tail us."
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Post by ncsfsgm on Jan 15, 2022 15:17:25 GMT -6
Chapter 185
Gil drank the rest of the coffee in his cup.
"Billy and I are going flying this morning."
Billy looked up from his breakfast. "ALL RIGHT!"
"You brush your teeth before you go." Grace said. "Where are you flying to?"
"I think we'll fly down to Asheville, have lunch, and fly back."
Billy cleaned his plate, rinsed it in the sink and ran upstairs.
"What brought this up?" Grace asked.
"I think it's time to teach him to fly. I can't do that officially, but I'll see how he manages the STOL and if he's interested, he can practice with me and when he's of age, in another year, get him a student license and he can attend training down at Knoxville Flight Training Academy."
"Well, be careful."
"I'll call you when we get to Asheville and when we leave from there."
Gil and Billy pulled the plane out on the apron and Gil did the walk-around inspection, explaining to Billy everything he did and explained why he was doing it. When they got in, he explained the instruments and what they should read in normal operations. Then Gil cranked the engine and taxied to the turnaround at the southern end of the runway and checked the instruments. Everything was in the green so he locked the brakes and brought up the power. When the tail lifted he released the brakes, quickly moving down the runway and leaping into the air. Gil banked over the ridge and climbed to 2000 feet and called Knoxville Center.
"Tango Yankee Sierra this is November Niner Zero Seven Alpha Tango in route VFR to Alpha Victor Lima."
"Roger Zero Seven Alpha Tango. Switch to 155.1875 and contact Alpha Victor Lima. Have a good flight."
"Roger, 155.1875."
Gil kept the speed to 120 knots and let Billy get a feel of the pedals and the stick as Gil kept the plane on course. It wasn't that long of a flight, just a little over sixty nautical miles so Gil called to get clearance for local VFR diversions and flew through the valleys on the way. Gil finally brought the plane back up to 2000 AGL and requested landing clearance in Asheville. Once on the ground at the General Aviation section, Gil had the plane refueled, only to show Billy what entailed getting refueled at a Flight Service Center. They had barely used any fuel and could have easily returned home without refueling. Getting a taxi, they went to the Brasilia Churrasco Steakhouse where they pigged out on the all-you-can-eat 'Churrascaria.' After that, They went to the Mast Store to walk their meal off and for Billy to buy some gifts. He picked up a Lodge Cabin Combo Cooker for Glen, a Montana Fedora hat for his Mom and a couple of plush toys for the twins. They went back to the airport and again, Billy followed Gil around on his walk-around. After they had cleared the airspace around Asheville, Gil let Billy take the stick and let him fly until they were about twenty miles from Bluff View and Gil showed Billy a normal approach into the landing strip. When they shut down, Billy's eyes were bright with excitement. They put the plane back in the hangar and loaded Billy's presents in the Gator and headed for the house, but saw activity in the greenhouse and stopped there first.. They found Grace, Allie and Shannon picking strawberries.
"Grace grinned when she saw her two men. "How was your flight Billy?"
"It was great Momma! Dad even let me fly a little."
Grace gave Gil a jaundiced eye but Gil pretended not to notice her.
"You canning these?" Gil asked.
"We're going to freeze these. Mollie has the twins over in the canning house preparing things for us. I'll save some out to make a Strawberry Cake for Sunday."
"Need any help?"
"No, we've got this."
Gil and Billy left and went over to the canning house where Billy gave Alana and Alan their toys.
"Dad, can I go give Glen his cooker?"
"Sure. Give me the bag with the hat and I'll take one of the E-Gators to the house. Oh, and no wings."
"Yes Sir."
Gil smiled as he watched Billy head for the boat garage."
Glen, sitting on his porch, heard the hovercraft as it came across the river and parked next to his hovercraft shelter. In a few minutes, Bill came up the path carrying a box.
"Hey Glen!"
"Hey Billy. Whatcha got there?"
"Dad and I flew down to Asheville today. I saw this in the Mast Store and thought you could use it."
Billy handed the box to Glen, who immediately opened it.
"Cast Iron Cabin Combo Cooker." Glen read on the box. "Yep. This will definitely come in handy. I'll fire up the oven and season it tonight."
"It comes seasoned already." Billy said.
"Yeah, it says that, but I've got my own way to season the cast iron. Brings out the flavors more in the food. How was your flight?"
"It was great! Dad even let me fly for a while on the way back. He's going to practice with me and when I'm old enough, let me take pilot training."
"Well that's great! When can you start taking the training?"
"Next summer, when I turn sixteen."
"Well, when you get qualified, I expect you to take me up."
"I sure will."
That evening Gil was reading account statements, shaking his head.
"Keeping money in the bank isn't worth it. I need to spend it as it comes in."
"Well, go out and buy me a Mercedes!" Grace said. "Just kidding! I love my Jeep."
"Grace. I think I'll let Billy have my plane when he reaches seventeen. The Trust will own it but, for all intents and purposes, it will be his. I think I'll buy another plane."
"The same kind?"
"Kinda, sorta. It will be a STOL, but I think I'll look at the new Maule aircraft. They have four and five seater versions. The whole family could fly together. Maybe Brad and I will fly down to Moultrie, Georgia next week and talk to the folks there."
Gil and Brad flew down to Moultrie on Wednesday, with an appointment to speak with a sales rep at 1300. Gil had done his homework and had written down exactly what he wanted. With negotiations quickly concluded, Gil left Spence Field a few dollars poorer, but with a smile on his face. The plane would be completed in four weeks
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Post by ncsfsgm on Jan 15, 2022 15:21:16 GMT -6
Chapter 186
"Hello, the house!"
Gil stepped out on the deck and saw it was Glen.
"Come on in Glen. Want some iced tea?"
"Yeah, that would be nice."
"What brings you around?"
"I was wondering when you all were going on one of your resupply runs. Now that I've got a secure place to put them, I want to keep a little more in stock."
"I think Grace wanted to go Friday. GRACE!"
"You don't have to shout. Grace said, coming through the basement door.
'Glen wants to go with us when me make our Sam's and COSTCO run.
"Sure! That's no problem. We'd love to have you along. But I have an idea. Why don't you select items out of our storage to fill, or partially fill out what you need, and still come with us. That might leave you less to carry over on run day. You might see something when you go with us you might want. It would fit in with our rotation plan and we'll replace what you take. As far as cost, the price we paid for an item is right there on the inventory."
"Sounds like a plan." Gil said.
"Sounds good to me." Replied Glen.
Grace brought her laptop to the dinette table and Glen sat down and made a list of the things he wanted.
Gil poured coffee for the two as they worked on Glen's list. Finally, Glen leaned back in his chair.
"That should do it." Glen said.
"Glen some of these things need a cool, dry place to keep for any length of time. Is the storage building going to be enough?"
"Oh no. I've got a cool storage area accessible through a trap door in the kitchen."
Gil looked down at the list, then went and got a Gator and trailer to haul everything in.
Gil, Glen, Allie and Grace all went up to the chambers and filled out Glen's list.
Glen looked at the stack of goods in the trailer.
"You know, I never used to use paper towels, and did without because of how hard it was to get them to the cabin. Now, it's nice to have them around."
"Do you have everything?" Gil asked.
"Most everything. I figured up for six months' worth of supplies." On the way back, would it be putting you out too much to stop by the Bass Pro Shop? I want to get some more outdoor clothing."
"Not at all. Let's get this stuff hauled over to your place."
On the way down to Glen's hovercraft, Gil stopped by the equipment barn and put a deer cart, straps, and a small cargo net on top of the load. They got the load strapped down on the hovercraft and quickly traveled to the other side of the river and began unloading the supplies onto the deer cart.
"They sell these carts at Bass Pro?" Glen asked.
"Sure do." "Well, one of these is going on my list. Sure beats a wheelbarrow for hauling supplies up to the cabin."
They got everything put away then Glen ran Gil back across the river.
""We'll leave at 0800 Friday and have breakfast at Yoder's on the way. If you think of anywhere else you'd like to go besides BPS, let me know."
"Will do, Gil, and thanks."
Glen found a few more "comfort" things at Sam's and COSTCO but he replaced a lot of his clothing at Bass Pro. Gil also led him to a place where he could pick up four clean 55 gallon plastic drums with ring-lock lids to store things in the storage shed that would protect the contents from bugs and varmints. Glen was feeling better and better about his little piece of the world.
Tate loaded the groceries in his truck and drove from Food City over to their GAS N' Go to fill his tank. A woman was trying to jack a car up there in the parking lot so he pulled into a parking space to see if he could offer a hand.
"Need some help?" Tate asked.
Debra looked up and brushed the hair out from her eyes.
"You're….Tate, right?"
"Yes Ma'am. Here let me have that. I'll have this changed for you in a minute."
Tate got the car jacked up and the flat tire replaced.
"You need to get that flat fixed as soon as you can. You don't want to be depending on those skinny flats."
"I will. I'll stop by the tire shop on the way back out to Bluff View."
"Yes Ma'am."
Tate put the tire changing tools back into their places and shut the rear hatch, said good-bye, then drove his truck over to the diesel pump.
Gil got the call that his plane was ready, so he and Brad took off the next morning for Moultrie.
The Maule MX-7 was beautiful! The white registration number, N7714B, stood out in contrast to the midnight blue body. Gil had the custom instrument package installed, a 235 HP carbureted engine, leather interior and the Backcountry Gear Set. He took a couple of hours with a Maule instructor pilot to do touch and go landings and finally, he and Brad took off, Brad leading, and flew back to Tennessee. As far as landing back at Bluff View, his approach was no different than when landing with the SuperSTOL. They folded the wings up on the other two STOLs so all three planes would fit into the hanger.
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Post by danielsga01 on Jan 15, 2022 16:44:03 GMT -6
Oh well, I was going to say when you went to pick up the new plane, make the short jump to Lake Park and let's have lunch at the Farm House.
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Post by papaof2 on Jan 15, 2022 17:14:03 GMT -6
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