Chapter 28
After an exhausting but wonderful day, the twins were asleep before the sun went down that night.
Sarah was leaning against the door frame of the bunkhouse bedroom that had three sets of bunk beds in it.
It would be the twin’s room for as long as they wanted it.
Watching her mother tuck the blankets around them both, she couldn't help but feel her heart swell at the sight of the smile on Connie’s face.
She was truly a mother hen at heart. Sarah was positive she had made the right decision in bringing the twins with them.
For the rest of their lives, the pair would have a family that absolutely adored them.
Tomorrow they would get a taste of true life on the farm.
There was a lot of hard work to be done.
She stepped aside as her mother entered the main living area and softly closed the bedroom door behind her.
Connie was still smiling when she rolled her eyes at Sarah.
It was a look of love. Sarah knew Connie adored the twins, and they adored her as well.
Her mother linked her arm through Sarah’s as they walked to the sliding glass doors off the kitchen that led to the patio.
Outside, Adam and her father were sitting on the back patio, looking out over the property.
They each had a beer in their hand. Adam handed her a cold one.
It came as no surprise to her that the bottle was still icy.
The house was as old as the nation itself.
Its deep cellar went back to its original builders, the purpose with the loss of electricity.
Her mother had always kept a few bags of ice in the ancient icebox buried beneath the storage room.
Now, Sarah was sure it was being used as a freezer and cooler.
She plopped down next to Adam as her mother took a seat by Henry.
“What’s on your mind, kiddo?” Henry asked.
“I was thinking it might be a good idea to take a full inventory of the supplies we have. That way, we can get a better idea of what we have before the winter months hit.”
“I think that’s a great idea, but it’s something we should task the kids to do. There’s going to be a lot of math involved with that, and it would be a good lesson for them.”
Connie chuckled. “You’re always trying to get out of doing math, Henry. I’ll get started in the morning, and I’ll go through all the dry goods we have.”
“Not to be the one who brings up any of the awkward things during this time, but what have you been doing about going to the bathroom around here?” Adam asked. “I’m sure as nice as everything runs around here, the water isn’t one of them.”
Henry laughed. “It was one of the first things to go when the power shut down. No way for it to pump. We decided it would be best to dig a hole and put up a little outhouse down by the barn, but it won’t last long.”
“Well, if you’d like, I can build a bathhouse somewhere on the property,” Adam said. “I build one quite a few years back, but I remember how to do it.”
“Where’d you learn how to do that?” Sarah asked.
“My old man used to have a cabin off the grid. I spent a lot of time up there and built a bathhouse off the cabin.”
“Well, I think that would work perfectly, considering the situation we’re in now.”
“I agree with my daughter,” Henry said. “I think I know of the perfect spot for it, too.”
“Great. Just let me know where you want it to go, and I can get started on it in the morning.”
“We’ve still got a dollop of daylight left. Want to take a look now?” Henry asked.
Adam nodded as the pair rose. The mother and daughter watched them go.
Sarah felt a little better, knowing they would start making progress in the morning.
There were still a thousand more things for them to take care of, but at least she could check off one thing on the ever-growing list. She had no idea how they would do the harvest without the machinery.
They would need to start on the orchard long before they normally would if the plan was going to be to harvest by hand.
Thankfully, they had a few extra sets now.
“You know, your father and I have gotten spoiled with the furnace the last few winters. Don’t get me wrong, we still use both of the wood stoves, but on those cold days, we have to kick it on,” Connie said.
“Unfortunately, that's not going to be an option this winter, I don't think.”
“So, you really think this is going to last for months?” Connie asked.
All Sarah could do was nod as the conversation fell silent.
She didn't want to scare her mother, but she wouldn't lie to her, either.
They all had to be prepared for what was to come.
From what she had seen of the nation and what she had heard from others, they were going to be on their own for the next winter, at the very least. If power wasn't restored to the nation within a year, Sarah didn't know she would be shocked by that, either.
Still, they had the twins to think about.
Even if her mother could handle the reality of their situation, Sarah didn't want the twins to know about it just yet.
It would take some time for them to adjust to life on the homestead.
She wanted to take things one day at a time with them.
“I’d like to keep it from the twins, but I don’t think we’re going to have any help for a while,” Sarah said. “If this is nationwide, we’re going to be on our own for months, if not a few years.”
“That doesn’t surprise me much,” Connie said. “The government has never been very good at planning. Do you think we’re safe here?”
“I don’t know yet. There’s still a lot that needs to be done to be sure we are safe for the winter, but I also need to scope out the area and go to town.”
“What do you need from town?”
“Just to see what’s left there and look for supplies,” Sarah said. “I’ll look for anything we could use and bring it back. I just want to make sure the kids are safe, as well as you and Dad.”
“Well, what can we do to help make sure that happens?”
“Staying vigilant and watching everything we do will ensure our safety. We have to keep an eye on our surroundings at all times.”
Connie smiled. “I’m really glad you came home, Sarah. I’ve missed you.”
“I missed you guys, too. I’m just glad we made it and everyone is okay.”
“I wasn’t sure if you’d come. When I saw you with the others, I couldn’t have been more proud of you.”
“What do you mean?” Sarah asked.
“Well, you were able to find your way home, and along the way, you saved others. That’s all I could ever hope from my daughter.”
Sarah smiled. “I just did what I thought was right.”
As the pair listened to nature around them, Sarah heard the sound of the men approaching the back patio again.
Even as they entered, they were still engrossed in the conversation and what sounded like the blueprints for a really fantastic bathhouse.
Sarah was happy the two were getting along, but new tensions would rise as they worked through everything as a team.
Once again, her mind drifted to those they had left behind.
With each passing hour, her promise to Meredith and the girls weighed heavily on her heart.
She had vowed to come back through and check on them.
Meredith would surely need the help by the time she circled back.
If nothing else, she could give the woman a way out of the prison and back to the homestead.
The list of people who might need shelter continued to grow in her mind.
She couldn't help but look out over the land as the sun faded beyond the trees behind them.
There was room for another small house if they needed more room.
Plus, a few neighboring properties had RVs they could use as second shelters.
With the horses, they could get them there.
Sarah started making a mental checklist as her mother jogged to the grill and pulled off the boiling water she’d started for coffee. As soon as the smell wafted through the air, nostalgia struck Sarah. It was good to be home.