“Mom, I saved your life twice. Don’t you think that I can handle it?” Bobby tried to reason out.
“Bobby, it’s not enough reason,” Maxine replied in disgust.
“Bobby, enough,” Joseph answered. Bobby looked at him in the eye and ran outside the house. Maxine tried to stop him, but Joseph followed his son instead. He ran outside and looked for Bobby, and saw him near the farm animals.
“Bob!” Joseph shouted from afar. Bobby looked at him but said nothing.
“Stop behaving like that.” Joseph scolded Bobby.
“Look. I know your intentions, but…”
“I don’t want it to happen again. Mom with those intruders who almost killed her. It hurts whenever it plays on my head.” Bobby replied in a bleak tone.
“Fine. But remember, those guns are for defensive purposes only. Never use it anything beyond that. Tell me you understand.” Joseph warned his son.
“Yes, dad. What about mom?” Bobby smiled and asked.
“I’ll talk to her. God, must be one of those long arguments.” Joseph sighed, and Bobby laughed.
Maxine was furious at Joseph for allowing Bobby to join the training because it would risk Bobby’s life. However, Joseph explained that he needs to be sure that Maxine, Denise, and their youngest son are safe if the Government ordered him back to service. Maxine got angrier because Joseph thinks that she can’t defend her family. Joseph tried to calm her and said that she might need help. They dropped off the conversation when Denise knocked the door and called them for dinner. Maxine didn’t want Denise to hear them fighting, so she just surrendered to Joseph and Bobby’s idea.
The farm is large enough for Joseph’s family and the other survivors. One hectare is for farm plants. Half of a hectare is for Farm animals while the rest of the space is for the farmhouse and open space. There’s a three-story farmhouse with seven bedrooms and an attic. There’s also a barn ten-feet away from the house. The Army has also decided to take shifts in guarding the house to make sure that the Marauders don’t have room to attack. The rest of the household was resting, so Joseph and Maxine decided to do the same. They finally agreed to Bobby’s idea of joining the training and Joseph mentioned that Captain Ellis knew about their real jobs.
“What would happen to us now?” Maxine asked.
“He promised not to grumble us,” Joseph replied with uncertainty.
“Do you trust him?” Maxine asked again us she recognized doubts on Joseph.
“I don’t know who to trust anymore after what happened at Southcrest. Let’s be ready for anything.” Joseph answered and put his arms around Maxine.
“Don’t worry. Everything should be alright.” Maxine assured him.
They opened their room and saw their two boys hugging Denise while asleep.
“I guess we’ll have to sleep on the floor?” Joseph and Maxine looked at each other and smiled.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Tony and Joseph joined Grandpa Carmichael to go to the Town the next day to grab more supplies for them and their visitors. Joseph asked Walter to stay in case unfavorable things happen. Grandpa Carmichael didn’t expect that there would be more of them on the farm in just one night. Captain Ellis promised to secure the farm and take care of their people while they are away. Joseph was still hesitant, but he had to help Grandpa Carmichael.
“Joseph, do you think it’s a good idea to allow that many people live on the farm?” Tony asked while inside the car.
“What do you mean?” Joseph answered plainly.
“Look, believe it or not, I’m also now into helping other people. But it also means that we also have to feed them, and there’s less for our family.” Tony replied, and Joseph thought about it.
“What’s your stand on this, Dad?” Joseph questioned Grandpa Carmichael.
“I’m sorry, but I’ll go with Tony on this. I know they helped in saving our lives, but we also have a family to protect. What if we start to have a shortage, would they fight against us? Even the most abiding citizen can kill someone for survival.” Grandpa Carmichael answered while his eyes were on the road, driving.
“We are not against your ideas, Joseph. But how much do you trust those people?” Tony inquired Joseph, but he didn’t respond in seconds because both Tony and Grandpa Carmichael have a reasonable point.
“To be honest, I am also not sure. I’m living by faith that those people that we help will one day return our good deeds. I just started believing that more people with the same agendas living under one roof, would help us protect our land if evil circumstances reach our place. There are billions of Islamic supporters out there, and they’ll outnumber us if they attack the farm.” Joseph stated.
Before Grandpa Carmichael and Tony respond to Joseph, they see more dead bodies on the road. There was also a farmhouse near the town that got burned. Grandpa Carmichael recalled what happened to them, and realized that if Joseph and his group didn’t come, they would have the same fate. Nobody spoke as they parked and hurriedly filled their bags with supplies. At the marketplace, more store owners were worried about thieves. Sometimes they’ll attack in groups especially at night, and the keeper has no choice, but to give what they wanted. Some stores would prefer to close early in the afternoon to avoid those shady people.
They went back to the car as soon as they finished shopping for supplies. Grandpa Carmichael started the engine, but two men were battling over a piece of meat, it was the only part left. They punched and kicked one another, and no one dared to stop them. People were cheering until the other man pulled a knife, but the other pulled the gun. Luckily, Sheriff and his group went to the scene and recovered their weapons. Tony and Grandpa Carmichael looked at one another.
“I guess we can’t just push those people out of our farm,” Grandpa Carmichael said after he saw the terrifying scenes and smiled at Joseph.
“Yea, we would be all damn dead,” Tony continued, and they all laughed.
“Let’s be cautious about our family’s safety and look at one another.” Grandpa Carmichael reminded Tony and Joseph as the head of their families.
“I’d do everything for our safety,” Joseph vowed.
On the same day, before lunch, Grandpa Carmichael decided to hold a meeting for every household members. Everyone gathered in the living area. Grandpa Carmichael was sitting on the couch, while the rest were standing on the side, sitting on the chairs, and staircase.
“Thank you all for granting my request to have this talk. For a night, our household doubled or tripled in numbers. I can’t take you enough for helping us kill those Marauders. If you didn’t come, I have no idea where we’ll be right now. I know of all of you are aware of what’s happening in our country. Martial law in the cities, shortage of supplies, and riots everywhere. In regards to that, our supplies won’t last long if we won’t help one another in producing more of it. I understand that most of us might not have any money to spare, but we have a farm. You can grow crops or help in feeding more animals.” Grandpa Carmichael announced to the whole household.
“To be honest, we were in doubt to let you all in. It would mean more work for us to feed everyone. However, with the recent killings on the town and the attack yesterday, we knew that we need good and honest citizens who want to regain peace and order. Those people who are willing to defend this home.” Tony appended to Grandpa’s speech.
“Grandpa Carmichael. I have a militia force that could help us protect the farm.” Walter recommended.
“Do you have access to them?” Grandpa Carmichael asked.
“Yes, I’ll call them, and I’ll ask them to bring more supplies,” Walter replied as Grandpa nodded.