Granny B heard a door open. “That’s Jackie and Rick. I heard them stirring an hour ago, which reminds me that I need more insulation between my wall and theirs. My God, that girl can be loud.”
Granny B and Kate giggled while Tom stayed quiet, looking down at the floor. Jackie and Rick brought their coffee and dragged two chairs over to the window to admire the scenery with their relatives. Granny B excused herself and went to make more coffee.
Jackie hugged Kate. “Hello, sister-in-law. Good to see you again.”
Kate said, “So much for small talk. Tom mentioned a discussion you had with him about humping and moaning.”
“Do what? Why would Tom tell you that story about him?”
Kate snickered. “Apparently, his sister has the same problem.”
Jackie looked clueless. Kate said, “Granny B just asked Tom to install more soundproofing between your rooms because it sounded like someone was killing somebody next door.”
Rick was speechless, and Jackie laughed so hard she choked. “Rick told me I was a bit loud. It would be hilarious if it wasn’t Granny B in the next room. Hey, we did think to place a pillow between the headboard and wall.”
The next morning, Tom and Kate joined the team for breakfast before dispersing to do their chores. Kate brought a cup of coffee and a glass of milk to Tom. “I’m not a fan of Granny B’s powdered milk.”
Kate said, “Give it a try, please.”
Tom took a small sip, and a smile came over his face. “This is good.” He took a big gulp of the liquid. “It’s richer and creamier than I remember milk to be.”
Greta said, “That’s because it’s goat’s milk. June taught us how to milk the does. It ain’t easy.”
Tom laughed. “Thanks for the milk, and you’ve been hanging out with Granny B too long. Saying ain’t isn’t proper English.”
Tom looked around the room while he figured out what to say. “Well, the honeymoon is over for us newly-married people. I have a mission to complete and will be gone a couple of days. Rick will be in charge in my absence. I also am ordering everyone to stay close to the bunker until I get back. That means the bunker, barn, and corral are okay. Everywhere else is off limits until I get back.”
Kate looked up in surprise. She’d known Jackie and Rick had been in Tom’s original plan. Tom nodded when she stared at him. Jackie and Rick looked surprised, but didn’t make a fuss.
Bill asked, “Where are you going? I’d like to tag along.”
Tom had thought he’d be questioned more than usual by a couple of people. “Sorry, but you’ll go on the next trip. I’ll fill you in later.”
Lucy asked, “If you’re going into Ashland, I need some more chicken wire to make larger pens for the rabbits and goats.”
Tom only replied, “Not this trip. I can’t go into detail, but this trip is critical to our success. I’ll fill you in on it later when the time is right. After this trip is made, we’ll try to allow all of the adults to go on scavenging trips.”
Lucy huffed, “It’s an apocalypse. In the old west, I’d already be considered a woman.”
Granny B quickly replied. “Nope. Maybe in a couple of years, but not at thirteen.”
Granny B took a second look at Lucy and thought the girl’s figure looked more like twenty-years-old.
Tom gathered his wife and close friends. “Sorry, I called an audible that should keep us all safe. Your mission is to watch everyone and see who tries to escape to make outside contact. I think we’ll catch them without exposing anyone.”
Kate was worried about her husband’s safety. “Where will you go so we can spring the trap?”
“I plan to hide up at the old cabin. James and Alice haven’t moved yet, so it will be empty. Our camera system should make it easy to find our spy. Man it around the clock for the next two days.”
Granny B nodded. “I like this plan better. If it doesn’t work, we can always set up the original plan. Good job, son.”
Tom said, “Now the hard part. I have to allow our two suspects to overhear where I plan to go. Then you catch the traitor. Oh, make sure you have enough help to catch the spy without getting hurt. Use the walkie-talkies on an obscure channel, so no one here could possibly intercept your communication.”
They broke up, and Tom walked with Kate up to the barn, hoping Lucy would be tending to the rabbits. Tom walked into the barn and started talking after he saw Lucy duck down behind a stall. “This trip down to Ashland to meet the opposition leader is crucial to defeating Carlos and his gang. I’ll meet him about midnight tomorrow night at the Ashland Airport terminal.”
Kate played her role. “Please be safe. Rick and I could go and help give you some protection.”
“No, dear. I want to go alone so I can sneak in without being seen and have the meeting. I’ll be okay and back in your arms the next day. I won’t travel during daylight hours.”
They left the barn, and Tom whispered. “Now to let our secret slip to Bill.”
Later that day, Granny B saw Bill go outside to the barn. Lucy and Greta were in the kitchen, so only Bill was in the barn. Granny B called for Tom and told him Bill was alone in the barn. Tom found Rick, and they sped up the steps to the barn. Tom had an earpiece
