Anthony Newman - American Survivor

Cloe finished cooking the stew while Joe brought wood into the kitchen and another load for the fireplace. Since it was still dark outside, he threw an armload on the fire and heated the now cold cabin to nice toasty warmth.

“My mom says not to have a fire in the daytime because someone might see the smoke,” Cloe informed Joe, and then added, “it’s also a waste of wood, and we don’t have a lot of wood.”

“Your mom is right about the smoke, but you got up super early, and we still have about two hours before daylight, and with these tall trees around the cabin, no one could see the smoke anyway. I’ll go get some wood after we eat and build up a good supply before I leave you two charming ladies to yourselves,” Joe replied.

Cloe tried to think of a smart assed reply but was genuinely grateful for the help with the wood and the medicine for her mom. Cloe told Joe to be seated and served him a generous portion of the stew.

“Cloe, do you ever miss breakfast cereal or Pop Tarts? Boy, I sure do. I’m a bachelor and grabbed food on the run before TSHTF.”

Cloe said, “I miss pancakes the most and then ice cream. We always had bacon, eggs, orange juice, and pancakes for breakfast on Sundays before going to church. I miss church too.”

Joe thought back to the days when his mom woke him up early on Sunday mornings and told him to get his butt in gear for Sunday school. She always prepared ham and eggs, toast with blackberry jam, and orange juice every Sunday morning. He and his dad were always moving slowly, but his mom still got them to church on time. Now he felt guilty about not going to church with her as often as he should have, and now he didn’t know if his mom and dad were even still alive. Tears came to his eyes, and he quickly wiped them away while Cloe looked the other way to reach the pepper.

Joe finished a mouthful of the rabbit stew and said, “My, your mom was right this is great stew. How did you learn to cook like this?”

Cloe smiled back at Joe and replied, “My mom taught me how to cook, and she is a better cook than me.”

Joe looked back to the bedroom and said, “Go check on your mom and see if the fever has gone down. Give her two more of the antibiotic pills.”

“Please,” Cloe said.

“Please, what?” Joe answered.

“Asshole, I’m not your daughter or your slave so say please, and we will get along much better,” said Cloe.

“You are a feisty young lady. Please go help your mom.”

“That’s better. We will continue to work on your manners and perhaps I won’t have to call you an asshole so much.

A voice rang out from the back of the cabin, “Cloe Marie, watch your mouth and don’t call Mr. Harp names. At least try to act like an adult. He is here helping us.”

Joe laughed and stuck his tongue out at the girl who promptly gave him a middle finger as she left the room. Joe broke out laughing and slapped his hand on the table.

Cobie, I’m going outside to fetch some firewood. I’ll also run your rabbit traps while I’m out,” said Joe.

Cobie replied, “Please let Cloe go with you when you run the traps. We need to learn how to improve our traps. There are thousands of rabbits out there, and we aren’t catching that many.”

“I’d love to take her with me and teach her what I know after I get the wood cut and stacked,” Joe responded and went outside into the cold, early spring air.

“Mom, I don’t like that man, and I’ll bet he abuses young girls like me.”

“Cloe, I think he is a good man and wouldn’t hurt anyone who doesn’t hurt him first. I like that you are protective of me, but I’m a grown woman and have had more experience around men. This one is a good one, and I don’t want you to run him off.”

Cloe thought for a minute and said, “You don’t like him, do you? He’s fat and ugly and not too bright.”

“I think he is very handsome and intelligent for a man. You know none of them are too bright, but we have to put up with them,” her mom joked.

Cloe didn’t like her mom’s answer, “Do you want him to move in with us and be your boyfriend?

“No, it’s too early for that kind of thinking, but I would like to get to know him better before I have thoughts like that. I do know that having him around will help us find more food and make us safer. Don’t antagonize him,” Cloe’s mom warned.

Cloe wouldn’t let it die and said, “So are you going to go skinny dipping with him in the pool just to keep him around?”

“Cloe that was a terrible thing to say about me. I’m not going to lead him on just to keep him around. I’m very disappointed in you for your behavior. Treat Joe nicely as long as he treats us nicely. Stop causing trouble when there is none to be found. Now go outside and help Joe stack the firewood. Let me know before you two go running the traps,” her mom ordered.

Joe had gathered large limbs from the forest floor and used a handsaw to cut them to a useable length. He had cut several arms full of wood and Cloe helped him bring the wood into the cabin.

Cobie felt a bit stronger and moved to the couch after she dressed. Her shoulder hurt like hell and was still in a sling. She greeted them as they brought the first armful into the cabin. Cloe went back for another load when Cobie grabbed Joe’s hand, “My you two make a great team and haven’t killed each other yet this morning.”

“Yeah, well, the day ain’t over yet, but yes, you have a great young woman there.”

“Joe, I haven’t dated in years, so Cloe is very protective of me and hasn’t been around men very much. We spend most of our time together when I’m not working or going to school, so she is jealous of my time. Please bear with her and things will get better,” Cobie said.

Joe replied, “Cloe is great and not a problem for me. Actually, I like her because she is so feisty and protective of you. I don’t need to remind you that women will have it much tougher than men in this new screwed up world and will have to be tougher than in the past.”

“Joe, I agree with what you said, but I think you are a good man and she needs to cut you some slack. I’d be lying if I said I don’t want you to stay because that’s not true. You can help hunt food and help keep us safe, but I won’t lead you on and flirt with you to keep you around,” Cobie said as her face turned red.

Joe smiled and said, “Thanks for being honest. That blonde Cloe saw was just the opposite. She threw herself at me so I would take care of her. She started working hard to help, but I could see she was just trying to fool me until she had her hooks into me. I wanted her to go away, but not be kidnapped. I think those men have her and I plan to kill them when I get a chance. I hate to say it, but I think it’s too late for Madison.”

“Did she?’ Cobie asked.

“Excuse me. Did Madison what?”

Cobie frowned and asked, “Did she get her hooks into you?”

“She tried,” was all he said.

The answer didn’t help, and Cobie wanted to know more about this young man. She found herself very jealous of Madison and mad at Joe for being with the woman. She suddenly remembered the men talking on the walkie-talkies the other day and said, “Joe, do you drive a Bronco?”

“Yes, why do you ask?”

“The other day we were listening to our walkie-talkies and heard two men talking about hurting a man driving a Bronco up Indian Head road. They didn’t say why.”

“That has to be me. I guess they just want my Bronco.”

She reached for Joe’s hand and said, “Please be careful.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll be safe. Cloe and I are going to head out to run the traps this morning, and I’ll work on building up the meat supply. I’ll need to hunt for deer before that venison that I brought over, runs out, and as much as I hate it, I’ll have to make a scavenging run back into town to try to find some vegetables. Cloe needs the vitamins and stuff you get from eating veggies. I’ll also look for vitamin supplements to help us until I can grow a garden. If you help tend the garden I’ll share the bounty,” Joe said.