Forgotten Forbidden America: Rise of Tyranny (26 page)

“We can get one board, like a two-by-four, to brace from the ground to the center of each panel,” Nelson said. “It won’t be nailed, and if someone steps on the covering, they will still fall through, but we have to give it more support before we put some dirt on the covering.”

Gerald agreed with a nod. “Yeah, but now we need to get those trees cut down a lot sooner.”

The four continued until noon, when Nellie called over the radio that lunch was ready. Nelson and Gerald climbed out of the moat to find Matt and Bernard waiting in the UTV. They climbed in the small bed on the back as Matt drove around to the front of the house since the driveway was now the only way in.

Nelson turned and saw another UTV coming down the road with Zeus and Hera running beside it. “I think your dogs could pull that UTV,” Gerald said beside him. “I’m going to let Duke out of the cabin and wander around the yard.”

“They pulled the kids around the yard in a wagon,” Nelson said, laughing.

Matt pulled around the back, and everyone got out, grabbing rifles as Michelle pulled up beside them. Gavin jumped out the back, carrying his shotgun. “You need to get that boy a rifle,” Gerald said as he watched the others get out carrying ARs.

“I have one AR with a ten-and-a-half-inch barrel I’ll get for him,” Nelson said, walking over to a smiling Gavin.

“I really want everyone here to have a suppressed weapon,” Gerald announced. The group stopped and looked at him. “Think about it; if we’re all suppressed and we hear a gunshot, we know its bad guys.”

“We can do that tonight after supper,” Nelson said, liking that train of thought.

“I have a few extra,” Gerald said as the girls ran out the back door.

Nelson shook his head. “I have more than enough,” he said, wrapping his arm around Gavin.

Michelle walked over and stopped in front of Nelson. “I want that titanium suppressor,” she told him. “This damn thing already weighs a ton with all the extras on it,” she said, pointing at the AR across her chest.

“Take some off,” Nelson offered.

“Ah no,” Michelle said. “I like the extras, but I want to cut down on the weight if I can. That way, I don’t have to cut down on ammo.”

Letting his rifle hang down beside him, Nelson reached over, pulling Michelle into a hug. “Then I’ll put it on, hot stuff.”

“Matt and I only have one suppresser,” Ashley said, walking over to Matt.

“Baby, I got another one from that stuff I took from those agents,” Matt reminded her.

“Is it lighter?” Ashley asked, hopeful.

“Ashley,” Nelson said, turning toward her. “I have several titanium suppressors. I’ll put one on your rifle.” Ashley smiled as they went in to eat.

“How many cameras did you get up?” Nelson asked as everyone put rifles up.

“Six,” Michelle answered. “But we still need to run the cable out to them.”

Nelson walked over to the table and looked at Nancy, “I thought we were only putting six cameras inside the berm looking out. We change our mind?” he asked, not liking the change of plans.

“No, they will still go in,” Nancy said, sitting down. “We will have twelve outside covering areas Gerald said were avenues of advance and one watching the dam we are putting in.”

After the prayer, they started passing around food. “All the cameras outside are hardwired?” Nelson asked.

Nancy nodded. “Yeah, it’s too easy to jam wireless cameras,” she replied, filling her plate.

“We have enough cable to do that, not to mention cameras?” Nelson asked.

Gerald gave a snort. “More than enough, and before you ask, Nancy has the equipment to monitor all of them.”

As Michelle spoon-fed Devin, she turned to the table. “I’ve been thinking; are we still going to use the downstairs office to set up the monitoring and command area?” she asked, and Gerald nodded. “We really need it down in the basement,” she announced.

“Why?” Ashley asked.

“These walls don’t stop bullets,” Michelle said, turning back to Devin. “I know the berm is there, but we need to protect the area that calls out where the attackers are.”

“Good idea,” Nancy agreed. “I’m also going to put thumb scanners on the doors to keep the house locked down.”

Putting down his fork, Matt looked around. “Don’t you think we’re getting a little overboard?” he asked.

“No,” Nelson said, shaking his head. “I was just thinking of keeping them locked, but with kids, that doesn’t really work because they can’t keep up with a key.”

“I really don’t want to dig for a key if someone is shooting at me,” Gerald said.

“Me either,” Bernard agreed, shoving food in his mouth.

“We are in the country,” Matt pointed out. “With cameras up, how could someone sneak in?”

“Not easily, but they could do it, and if the doors are locked, they have to make noise getting in,” Gerald answered. “Matt, it’s just another layer of protection.”

“Man, we are going to be setting this up for a year,” he grumbled, picking up his fork.

“Bernard, we need to start cutting down some trees and get more lumber before we start on the dam,” Gerald said.

Thinking about it, Bernard nodded. “We can start tomorrow,” he answered.

Eating quickly, the group soon left, heading out to continue their work. It was late afternoon when Nancy and her group returned and helped put the panel coverings over the moat. Gerald and Nelson just moved the boards back to four feet apart to get as much covering up as they could.

When they ran out of lumber for the supports, Nellie called over the radio, announcing supper was almost ready. Tired, dirty, and covered with sweat, the group climbed out of the moat. As the others went inside the house, Nelson went to his basement and dug through the piles until he found the suppressors. Grabbing his short AR, Nelson headed inside the house.

Seeing the men and Gavin in the living room already washed off, Nelson gave them the suppressors. “I’m going to wash up,” he said, looking at them. “Go ahead and start putting them on.”

He stepped over to Gavin. “Here, son,” he said, handing Gavin the short AR. “Same rules apply; treat it with respect.”

Gavin took the rifle, grinning. “I will, Dad. Thank you.”

After supper, what rifles they hadn’t finished they continued to work on. It wasn’t long until Nelson found himself carrying Olivia home in his arms, sound asleep. “If I would’ve fallen asleep, would you have carried me home?” he asked, looking over at Michelle, who was carrying a sleeping Devin.

“No, I would’ve tied the dogs to you and let them drag you home,” she told him, smiling. “Gavin, watch where you’re going,” she said over her shoulder.

Nelson turned to see Gavin almost walk into the side of a UTV. His eyes were glazed over, and he was struggling to put one foot in front of the other. “We’re almost home, son. Then, you can sleep,” Nelson said, and Gavin just lifted his chin to acknowledge that he heard.

“We’re all taking baths before bed,” Michelle announced. “I have dirt in the crack of my butt, and I’m not in the mood to do laundry on muddy sheets.” Gavin let out a small groan behind them.

Nelson opened the door of the cabin, letting the others in with the dogs coming in last. He carried Olivia to her room, and when he walked out, he heard Gavin already in the shower. Nelson fed and watered the dogs in the kitchen, and he found Gavin’s rifle on top of the fridge. Nelson almost put his there but carried it the bedroom and set it on top of the dresser in case he needed it fast.

Still hearing the shower, Nelson stripped down to his underwear but stopped before going in the bathroom. Spinning around, Nelson walked back down the hall. He walked into the kid’s bathroom and pulled the shower curtain back to see Gavin asleep, standing up under the shower.

With a smile, Nelson grabbed the rag and washed Gavin down. Picking him up, Nelson dried him off and carried Gavin to his bed. When he walked in the bedroom, Michelle was already in the bed and snoring lightly. It didn’t take him long to shower, and Nelson was soon beside her, sound asleep.

The next morning, Nelson had some trouble waking Michelle for their workout. After she got up, he headed into Devin’s room to see Devin standing up in his crib, holding onto the side. A smile covered his face, and Devin let out a small, joyful yell upon seeing Nelson.

“Why haven’t you gotten ready, soccer ball head?” Nelson asked, walking over. Devin slapped the side of his crib, laughing. Picking Devin up, Nelson laid him on the changing table and put on a new diaper and onesie. Picking Devin up and tucking him under his arm like a football, Nelson carried him to the kitchen to see Michelle fixing a bottle.

Walking over to Michelle, Nelson kissed her. “Woman, we have a king-sized bed. Why do you find it necessary to burrow under me?” he asked.

“Got cold,” she said, shaking the bottle as Nelson smelled coffee and pulled out two mugs.

With a large spoon, Nelson put in the creamer and sugar. “Well, if you wouldn’t kick all the covers off, you wouldn’t,” he pointed out.

“Like you really care,” she snorted, taking Devin.

Nelson turned around. “You took off your nightgown, babe,” he snapped. “My motor started running at three a.m., and you just pushed me back. How am I supposed to react when my hot, naked wife curls up beside me?”

“Take a cold shower,” Michelle offered, giggling. Knowing the next words out of his mouth would get him in trouble, Nelson turned around and poured the coffee. They grabbed their cups and a bouncing chair for Devin then headed to the gym.

Walking outside, they found Matt and Ashley carrying Mike walking past. The group now had to walk around the house to the driveway then follow the moat around the east side to get to the gym. “I can jog this and cut out my cardio,” Matt said when they reached the gym.

They found Nancy inside, already on a treadmill. After the babies were taken care of, the group worked out. Slowly, the sore muscles were worked out from yesterday’s activities, and they worked out hard. After a sit in the sauna and Jacuzzi, they left.

The group split up, heading to their own cabins. Before going inside, Nelson walked to the back containers and stopped, looking at the earthen ramp just outside the fence. “Feel like I’m living in an old fort,” he said, walking down the steps to the containers.

Grabbing his chainsaw and gear, Nelson headed back to the house. He found Michelle and the kids dressed in the kitchen. Seeing Nelson carrying the chainsaw and woodcutting gear, she let out a sigh. “You will wear your chaps and hard hat, understood?” she commanded.

“Don’t worry; I really like my appendages,” he replied, setting the stuff on the floor.

“Hurry up and change,” she told him. Giving her a nod, Nelson headed to the bedroom and dug out his Carhart lumberjack pants and boots. Putting them on, Nelson glanced at the mirror as he pulled on a flannel shirt.

“I’m a lumberjack,” he said with a smile. Since he and Michelle had started coming out to the farm, they had learned so much from Bernard and Nellie. Knowing he would need a trade if things went bad, Nelson took online courses to become a gunsmith. It had taken him a year to get a diploma, then he took online metalworking courses. They had an end mill, lathe, welders, and cutting equipment out in the corner of the barn. Whenever Nelson got a chance, he would go out and build something.

Finished dressing, Nelson walked back to the living room. “Lookin’ good, babe,” Michelle called out, picking Devin up.

“Thank you, hot stuff,” he said, walking over and grabbing his chainsaw.

They left the cabin, and the sun was just peeking over the horizon. Nelson put his saw and gear in a UTV and followed everyone inside. “It’s Paul Bunyan,” Matt called out, looking at Nelson.

Ignoring Matt, Nelson took off his vest and rifle. “What’s the groups today?” he asked, walking over to the table.

With a smile, Bernard watched Nelson sit down. “Well, you’ll be cutting down trees,” Bernard declared.

“Yeah, but what about everyone else?” Nelson chuckled.

Gerald leaned over the table. “Ashley, I’m going to need you with me on the sawmill. You’ll run it, and I’ll pull the lumber off and stack it. Paul Bunion and Matt will take the trees down, and Bernard will bring them over using the tractor,” Gerald said, looking around the table.

“Nancy and Gavin will be in the UTV, laying out cable as Michelle drives the tractor, using the spike to dig the trench to each of the cameras,” Gerald finished.

“Hold on there, Obi-Wan Kenobi,” Michelle said. “I’ve driven that tractor a total of six times, and you want me to plow?”

“It’s not really plowing,” Bernard told her.

“Easy for you to say,” Michelle mumbled, feeling nervous.

Nellie set her fork down. “How about you watch the kids this morning and I drive the tractor?” she offered.

Before anyone could complain, Michelle quickly said, “That sounds better.”

“Later this week, us girls will go out, and I’ll teach you three how to drive them,” Nellie said, looking around and waiting for complaints from any of the men. Not seeing or hearing any, Nellie went back to eating. “That won’t take long, and I’ll come back here, and you can go help,” she said. The thought of arguing with Nellie never crossed any of the men’s minds.