Home Sweet Home: Arrving

Posted on Thu Sep 12th, 2024 @ 9:16pm by Hale Stratton & René Rouen & Calista Sutton & Killian Sutton & Vienna Quinn & Reuben Baptiste & Timothy Reynolds & Ragnar Jørgensen & Timothy Cotton & Serena Reynolds M.D. & Catalina   Baptiste

1,727 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: The Road Ahead
Location: Stratton Homestead, 5 Miles Outside Stevens Point, WI
Timeline: September 15, 2010 - 6:00 p.m.

Five days to travel the remaining 200 or so miles. Five days of scouting out alternative routes, teaching the scouts what to look for on those routes, and backtracking when they came upon herds of not-dead-enough-by-half or worse, armed humans who would be just as happy to take what little they had than find it for themselves. Finally, when it seemed as though everyone was holding onto their temper with their fingernails, the caravan reach its destination.

He directed them to park within the shelter of the treeline, to prevent the vehicles being seen, and more than a half mile from the nearest road. The broad meadow where his house stood was still a bit farther but not accessible by vehicle. As the group exited and stretched, Hale gestured to get their attention.

"Welcome to my home. One hundred and twenty acres," Hale said, as the group drew near. "It's backed onto the Jordan County Park and no hunting is permitted there, so you'll see a lot of some massive whitetails. No modern conveniences but there is a creek and, of course, I dug a well the first year. Trees are a mix of oak, pine, and maple but we can haul them in from the state park to keep our area looking less lived in. There's my cabin, a bath house with a sauna, an outhouse, a greenhouse, and a small barn that I've been using for tools and wood storage up till now." He ran a hand through his shaggy hair and thought that was probably the most he'd said in days. "Any questions?"

Reuben looked about, "Nope, sounds like a nice place to winter. You wouldn't happen to have access to a HAM radio would you?"

As Hale gave his rundown speech, Catalina finished securing her gear and camouflaged her Spyder. She then tucked the key into a pocket. "What about any other homesteads, any with livestock?"

As Timothy pulled PJ out of the Blazer, he heard Catalina's question. He spoke up, "Yeah, which way to the cabin owned by that old couple that you're friends with?"

"First, no HAM radio. Sorry. Second, my neighbors are Noah and Molly Blaine. Good people. They keep chickens mostly and I think a cow or two but that's about all. There are other spreads but they're not close by. I chose this place for its isolation. Tim, maybe you and I can take a walk over a bit later, check on them. Make sure things are alright."

Timothy nodded, noticing that Hale hadn't pointed out the direction of the Blaine home.

TJ stood with Kelly, his arm around her waist. He squeezed it softly and gave her an encouraging smile. He listened silently as Catalina and then Timothy asked Hale questions about the land they were on.

Thea stood looking around the area. “This is a lovely home, thank you for bringing us here. Where would you like all of us to stay?”

"We'll head into town and get tents for everyone and cots. Serena, if you'll tally up how many we'll need. Alonzo and Ethan will stay with me in my cabin. And then tomorrow, we'll start building the cabins."

Serena nodded. "Might I also suggest a fence?"

Catalina nodded when she heard Hale's response. When she heard Serena state something about a fence she spoke up. "What a wonderful idea, I would recommend a barbed wire fence. They are quick and efficient than most other fences to put up. If the local town has hog fencing we can use it also. I'll go into town with those going. I know exactly what to look for."

Serena looked at Hale then at Catalina, "That will be up to Hale" she said.

TJ glanced over at Kelly, "Well Kelly, this home for us, at least for the immediate future, you okay being here in the land of cheese?" He joked with her.

“My home is wherever you are TJ, and I like it here” Kelly smiled as she looked around them.

René stepped out of the vehicle and looked about the property. He walked slowly over to Vienna and offered a nod and smile. He was glad the trip was finally over and even more glad that his wounded leg was healed enough to put weight on it. He knew it would still be some time before he was fully capable. "What do you think?"

“I think it’s perfect!” Vienna was bubbling with enthusiasm. “It’ll be a place to call home, hopefully it’ll stay as safe as it is now.”

TJ waited for hale to answer the questions that were tossed at him. When he had, TJ asked his question. "Anything Kelly and I can do to help sir?"

Reuben shook his head, CeeCee, his sister was doing exactly what she did with the ranch hands back home. He sighed inwardly and decided to let her find her pace within the group. Instead he turned his attention to Thea. "How you doing? I plan to go into town with the others, I recommend you stay here. I am going to see if I can find a canvas tent. I believe you will find it more comfortable than a standard four season tent. Plus I would feel better with you staying here."

Thea nodded as she looked towards Reuben. “I’ve no problem with that, I can make myself useful here.” She smiled warmly at the fact that he cared for her wellbeing.

Hale waited for a pause and then said to T.J. and to the group at large. "T.J., if you and Kelly wouldn't mind, do a quick perimeter sweep. We're uphill from Steven's Point and this is a very remote area so its not likely there will be trouble with the not-dead-enough but still, it's best to check."

TJ Nodded, "Yes sir, we'll get started right now. "Come on Kelly. Grab your gun so we can get started checking the perimeter and report back on anything we find. Which I'm hoping will be nothing more than some deer roaming about." TJ finished with a smile.

Kelly nodded and headed to grab her gun. “Always better to be safe than sorry.”

"Ethan," Hale continued, "Rene, Henri, Vienna, if you could start gathering dead and down from the woods. Bulk up our woodpile. Make sure all the water jugs are filled? Henri, I can trust you to watch over them?"

Vienna nodded she was ready to have fun in the woods after all the stress of travelling. “I could do with a nice walk in the woods after all that travelling.” She smiled at René.

Henri gave Hale a single nod. "Of course Monsieur Stratton." He turned to the teenagers. "Come along. We shall gather firewood." He glanced at Chloé. "Toi aussi ma petit (You too little one)."

René leaned close to Vienna and whispered. "We can go for a walk alone in a bit if you like."

Vienna smiled and nodded, they’d had very little time alone since joining the rest of the survivors.

Chloé glanced at her grandfather. "I could help Kimberly and Serena. " she suggested.

Henri nodded to his granddaughter. "Of course."

"Ragnar, Alonzo and Killian," Hale said, "see if you can find some dead trees that are still standing and cut those down? Haul the wood back? Wait until T.J. and Kelly finish the perimeter sweep and then Kelly, you can go with them as guard."

Killian nodded to the request and took the hatchet from his wife that she was holding and then walked back to the group. "Ready," he commented.

Ragnar nodded to Killian and then looked to Reuben briefly. "See if you can't track me down some large canvas tarps when you head into town?? About three oughta do the trick so I can set up a proper forge." With that he turned to Killian and nodded to indicate that he was ready to head out.

"You heard the man CeeCee, he wants some large canvas tarps. So get some for him, otherwise I believe he may decide to use yon sword on you." stated Reuben teasingly. CeeCee just rolled her eyes at her brother.

"Tim, me, T.J. Keola and Reuben's sister will head into town. Get a look at the situation and bring back everything we can."

Serena looked around murmured under her breath before heading back into the back of the Ranger. She pulled out a clipboard which had a list of people. Running a hand through her hair she began to count. "Enough Tents for 20 people. 2 to 4 man tents. Kimberly, Joshua and Lydia have a place to sleep, Lydia her van, Kimberly her SUV and Josh his teardrop. 14 sleeping bags would be enough, as most do not have sleeping bags." she spoke as she wrote things down on a piece of paper.

She tore off the paper and handed it to Hale. "Is there a fire pit area? Or can we use the cabin's kitchen?"

"Thanks. Serena," Hale said. "If you, Lydia, Thea, Kimberley, and Calista, could get us organized with regard to food? Reuben, if you wouldn't mind providing security for them? There's an outdoor fire pit near the cabin - plenty big enough. Oh and check the loft in the barn. If memory serves, there are some extra things up there. Maybe an old tent. Not sure about that. Anyway, we need to hurry everyone." Hale turned his attention to Reuben's sister and added, "barbed wire will have to wait. It's getting late and we need to get the tents set up."

Thea nodded as Hale said her name. “Food I can do, we’ll make sure everyone gets a good meal.”

Killian had come over to her and whispered sweet, reassuring things in her ear when he took her hatchet from her so that he could go off and get them wood for the night and their immediate future. It was soothing to her as she was seemingly trying to force herself to not withdraw from the new community that they have come in to.

"Yeah I can take a look at what you have going in the Greenhouse," Calista replied. "The nice thing is we can grow something throughout the winter with that. It'll definitely be nice for the winter to keep warm as well."

 

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