Chapter 19

I was glad that we suffered no losses. We returned to our homes. After everyone had left us, Alice asked, “What settled your mind to shoot them?”

“One was leering at you. I realized that shooting them was the only way to be sure they wouldn’t be repeat offenders.”

Alice gave me a long, slow, “Oh.”

I grinned, “Yes. My niece is becoming a hot looking woman. She needs to be aware of that.”

We stabled our horses and left the barn for the house. We all had a late, quiet dinner.

Sarah was getting around still but moving was an effort. She and I were expecting our baby to arrive very soon. We didn’t know sex because the fancy machines weren’t available. It was relaxing and made the birth of our child more exciting.

It’s been a few years more. The trie-o no longer operates though we have had no inroads in over three years. Hank, Junior, is coming upon his fourth birthday and Sarah is is pregnant again.

Alice met Richard Wells, call me “Rich.” His parents were the last new family arrivals who came to our area after the last shootout. They had herd of us through the ham radio and traveled from northern Mississippi to join us. He met Alice and wasted no time in romancing her. They’ve been married for just over three years now and are trying to get her pregnant.

We are more comfortable in our roles as farmers and herders.

Ed is still our radio guy. He reports that stations in Europe are gradually going away with the power in their areas. He told me that there are a few stations going strong in the continental part of the old US and of Canada. He maintains regular contact with about fifteen others irregularly spaced out around the continent.