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Tate listened and Aidyn’s thoughts wandered to Elena. Shots went off last night and he sure hoped she wasn’t involved in any bullshit up there. He planned on dropping off a basket tonight as soon as it got dark. He worked the night shift for the next three nights. It would be tricky if something had gone on up there. He wondered if there were supplies she needed. He could certainly leave little things in the basket for her.
His eyes landed on the cookies Lara was decorating. He’d leave her a couple of cookies. She probably didn’t have the opportunity to eat cookies very often.
Tate ended his call. “Nothing happened last night, but they did hear the shots. They were on the ready, but nothing happened after so they thought the BRR was either trying to coax them away from their post or blowing off steam.”
“Either is plausible.” He sipped at his coffee.
“What are you doing today?”
“I’m helping Mom and Dad in the shooting range today. We have a few more mats to hang and the bolsters to set up. Then I’ll take a nap and get ready for work. What about you?”
“Lara found someone interested in cooking for us. So I’m interviewing her later this morning.”
“Sounds fun.”
Tate scoffed.
His mom and dad entered the kitchen. “Morning,” Bridget said.
“Morning. Did you two sleep good last night?”
His mom kissed his cheek, his dad nudged him as he walked past toward the coffeepot. Bridget sat next to him and sighed. “This kitchen turned out so well.”
Lara nodded. “It sure did. I just love it.”
“Do you bake these kids fresh cookies every day?”
Lara laughed. “Most days, not all.”
Axel set a cup of coffee in front of his wife then leaned against the counter and drank his own.
Soon enough Sophie and Gaige joined them, and the women started making breakfast. He pulled plates from the cupboards and set the table, then took a walk outside to look around the grounds. From their location here, he could see the mountain Elena lived on. He sat on the picnic table they had outside, his butt on the table, his feet on the seat and stared at the mountain as he waited for his coffee to kick in.
“What’s going through your mind?”
He turned at the sound of Spencer’s voice. “Nothing. Everything, I guess. I’d like to be a fly in the trees up there to know what Craig Howard is planning. Kent still scares me. His computer skills and world knowledge...and we don't know what supplies or tech they have up there. We know Keaton had a way to call Everett. It's possible Kent had a smartphone for a number of years, and Keaton probably made sure he had the computer gear we found in the shed last year. What we don't know for sure is who else has that same know-how."
Spencer sat beside him on the table and sighed. “I’ve been thinking that too. They wear rudimentary clothing for the most part. Things that can be made from hides and such, but I’ve noticed some of them have newer shoes. The last time we were up there, some of the men were wearing modern shirts. Who’s supplying them with clothing?”
“Some of it’s stolen.”
“Some.”
His thoughts wandered again as he continued to stare at the mountain. It wasn’t unusual for modern ways to seep into other cultures. The BRR could see the townspeople anytime they wanted. What they were wearing and the things they used. If they saw things they liked, they would find a way to obtain or mimic that. He’d like to get a closer look at their everyday life.
ChapterEight
Elena finished washing up the dishes from the leftover soup they’d eaten this morning. Her washbowl sat on the little counter near the window, which had been a table back in the day. Her father cut it in two down the middle and attached both cut sides to the walls of their cabin to give them counter space. He was so proud of how that worked out. The wood was aged now, but she loved how it looked, because her dad was so proud of his work. He’d crafted a shelf underneath for storage.
She turned and wiped the little wooden table in the middle of the room, which served as their dinner table, and she pushed the chairs neatly under. She had to go down to the stream today to bring more water up. It was a trek she made three times a week. Her mom dressed at the back of the cabin near their beds. After, she’d sit in front of the fire for a while working on some sewing or other needlework. She’d taken to helping out some of the others with mending to trade for food or other supplies after Elena took over the brewing. Some of the families shared their meat with them, which they were both grateful for.
Elena knew how to seed potatoes and carrots and she grew rosehips, chamomile, and lemon balm which were used in teas and other cooking. She shared those with the others happily. It wasn’t a perfect system, but it worked as well as they needed it to.
Someone knocked on their door and she froze. Her heart raced and dread crawled up her spine. Slowly turning to make sure her mom was dressed, she took a deep breath and padded to the door.
“Yes?”
“It’s Craig.”
