#313
Between Mark, Toby, Dory, and Tess; there was a clan member on guard duty all night long. Toby was just finishing up his three to dawn shift, walking quietly home; when he heard the hogs.
Back in the forest where they had dumped the putrid bodies under the tree, two immense sows were rooting along with a dozen or so piglets for each mama.
Moving slowly so as to not scare them off, Toby checked his loaded cartage and suppressor. Two quick shots downed the sows, and he got another three shots at the scattering wieners, putting one down.
After the shots, the stillness was overpowering. Nothing moved or sang the early morning in, but the clan was alert with weapons at the ready.
Toby whistled the 'all clear;' and Mark appeared around the side of Toby's house with Clora at his back. Milo was standing in his doorway, in his off white long johns and bandaged shoulder, holding a pistol awkwardly in his right hand.
Clora spoke low to Mark, and then went back to the barn apartment to start oatmeal for breakfast. The triplets were setting the table and Dory already had the water heating. Tess was asleep and Rennie and Honey were taking care of their own homes.
"Go ahead and start the oatmeal," she told Dory, "I'm going to do guard duty and Robbie can help me."
Clora went hustling across the compound to knock on Milo's door and request that Robbie come help her. Robbie was thrilled with the grownup 'job,' Milo looked proud and Honey looked doubtful. Jumping in his clothes, the youngster was ready in a flash.
Clora showed him how to exit the door and then vanish into the brush at the back of the house. Robbie had his 22, and listened intently as Clora whispered her instructions. They ghosted around to the back of the barn, and used the small man door to enter the cool darkness.
"You've fed the animals before?" Clora questioned and got an affirmative nod. "Ok, you do the chores, milk the one cow and then come upstairs to the lookout. Be as quite as you can be, we need to keep watchers guessing as to how many of us are on guard duty."
"Yes Grandma, I'll do my best," Robbie crossed his heart with his fingers and was rewarded by Clora's pat on his shoulder.
With her bad feet, it took Clora a long, arduous climb to get to the watch tower, and she most gratefully sat on the provided stool to rest. Unshouldering her rifle, she sat still and quiet, her eyes constantly roving over the compound and area outside the fence.
Bruce worked the night shift at the Conestoga 'clinic', for once enjoying the small stream of people with complaints. His good mood was fueled by the excellent rabbit stew made by Tilly.
Big had gone hunting, and had success with three good sized, plump bunnies. Bruce had eaten two large bowlfuls and felt stronger than ever. He was almost humming between patients, amazing Pricilla and Tilly with his cheerful exuberance.
"I'm not sure I know that guy," Tilly commented, "I wasn't aware he knew anything pleasant. He's done so much griping and complaining; I just figured that's the way he was."
"It's a mystery to me," Pricilla had to walk the long way around the cooking fire because Mr. Spook seemed to be permanently planted in front of her wagon.
Big was helping Tilly wash the dishes, casually staying close for protection for the meek and delicately helpless Cilla and Tilly. He wasn't real happy to find out that Bruce slept inside the wagon with the women. it almost offended his king sized sense of proprietary, but he well understood Tilly's warning glance.
Bruce finished his last patient, wiped his brow and went to the wagon to retire for the night. Any work exhausted him; he had almost slid to far down to recover.
Big sent the good doctor a dark glance, and was reprimanded by Tilly's tap on his hand. Tilly shook her head no, and then smiled at Big, and he instantly forgave her, Bruce, the weather, the harsh travel and any other incidentals that might or might not have happened during the day.
Big was smitten; if sweet Tilly would favor him with another smile, he would sleep well tonight and dream. He hadn't told tilly That he was going to sleep under her wagon, and it caused her to arch her eyebrow at him, but she said nothing when he threw his bedroll under the wagon. She favored him with a smile.
Not to be outdone, Spook harrumphed a couple of times and went to his saddle for his bedroll.
Later that night, as they spread out their bedrolls, Tilly whispered to Pricilla, "It's a nice feeling to be protected."