Conflicted Home (The Survivalist Book 9)

up and about.”
I patted his leg and replied, “Thanks, buddy. Good to be back. We were just discussing what needed to be done.”
“The garden is coming along good. We’re going to be able to start picking soon.”
Kay was sitting beside Sarge. She piped up, “We need more vinegar. I don’t have enough.”
I nodded. “Mel told me. I’ll get to work on making some soon.”
“Making some?” Kay asked.
I nodded. “Yeah. You can make it. I just need some fruit of some kind. It’s pretty much like making wine, you just let it go longer. I want to make a still so we can distill it and get pure vinegar.”
Kay clapped her hands in front of her face. “Morgan, if you could make vinegar, that would be amazing.”
“I’m going to go see Gena and see what she has in the way of fruit.” I looked at Thad and asked, “How’s the farm coming?”
He sighed, “It’s been a hell of a battle. Horn worms got into the tomatoes and the only thing we could do was pick them off one at a time. They did some damage but not that bad. The squash had to be checked every day and the flowers pinched off or they would rot. But it’s coming along.”
“Have we had anymore run-ins with armor?” I asked Ted.
He shook his head. “Not yet.”
“We’ve set some pickets up on 441. Just observation posts. I figure if they come this way, they’ll come through there.” Sarge said, “We’re using Sheffield’s people for it.”
I nodded. “We should probably put another one up on 44. That’s the other route into this area. They could bypass 441 and get right into downtown Eustis.”
The old man nodded. “Already done.” He laughed at me and said, “Leave the military stuff to us. You handle the law and order business.”
“Guess I should go into town,” I said.
“That would be a good idea. Let folks know their Sheriff is still around.”
I rose to my feet. “I’ll get my stuff.”
“I want to go with you,” Jess said.
I shrugged. “Fine by me.”
I walked back over to the house to collect my gear. I again asked Mel for the vest. She finally brought it out. The side did indeed have a large stain. But it wasn’t nearly as bad as she made it sound. I took some time getting my equipment put back into the various pockets as the girls sat chattering away at the table. They were having their breakfast.
Mel came into the bedroom and leaned against the door. She watched for a few minutes before asking, “Where you going?”
I was slipping magazines into their pockets when I replied, “Just to town. I’m also going to stop by Gena’s and see if she has any kind of fruit so I can start making the vinegar.”
“I know I can’t stop you. Just promise to be careful.”
I finished stowing the gear and slipped the rig over my head as I walked towards the door where I paused and kissed her. “I will, babe. I promise. What are you going to do today?”
“Bobbie said the kids’ clothes are getting small. We’re going to go through the houses and see if we can find anything for them.”
“I say, take any clothes you find. Little Bit will need new stuff soon too, probably.”
“I’ve got her covered for a while. You know we bought a lot for her and put it away.”
“Good,” I replied. “I’ll be back later. I won’t be long.”
She kissed me and I headed out the door. The dogs were gone now. Probably off hunting or something, I imagined. Walking back over to Danny’s house, I saw Jess, Aric and Fred waiting beside the smaller of the two buggies. “All of you going?” I asked.
Fred nodded. “Yep.”
“Good,” I replied. “You can drive, Aric.”
He hopped into the driver’s seat and the girls climbed into the back. As he pulled out, I told him I wanted to go to Gena’s place before going to town.”
“Roger that, boss.”
At the bunker, we stopped when Dalton and Danny walked out into the road. Dalton looked me up and down and said, “You look alright to me. I don’t see what all the fuss was about.”
I patted my side. “Pretty much. That little .32 stung though.”
“Hmmm. I bet. Better to just shoot ‘em next time. Don’t let ‘em get so close.”
“You guys going to town?” Danny asked.
I nodded. “Yeah. Just to fly the flag you know.” Then I asked, “You don’t know where there’s a big crock do you?”
Dalton pointed at me and replied, “Yeah. It’s sitting right in front of me.”
I gave him the finger. “Thanks. But I need something to make vinegar in.”
“I’ve got one in the shed,” Danny replied. “It’s nearly five gallons.”
“Perfect. Can you dig it out later?”
“You’re going to make vinegar?” Dalton asked. I nodded and he added, “Why would you want to ruin wine like that? If you have the stuff to make vinegar, you have the stuff to make wine. Let’s make wine.”
“You can’t pickle with wine,” I replied.
“Like hell!” Dalton shouted. “Give me five gallons of wine and I’ll get thoroughly pickled!” Getting Fred and Jess to laughing.
“Me too,” Aric said, holding up a hand.
I pointed at Dalton and said, “No,” then at Aric as well, “and no. I need to find some copper to make a still out of so we can get pure vinegar.”
“Just take it from that church they were building on nineteen,” Danny said. He was referring to a large church that was under construction before things went south. It was one of those perpetual construction projects that was being built as the money was raised. A large stack of copper roofing was sitting on the site, the last delivery before things changed.
“That’s a hell of an idea!” I replied.
“Yes, it is!” Dalton shouted. “We need a still!”
I laughed and shook my head. “For what? You can’t make anything in it. We don’t have grain or sugar.”
“Oh, where there’s a will, there’s a way,” he replied. I shook