“You Irish and your potatoes, honestly Sullivan, do you think of anything else?” BJ laughed and was rewarded with another punch to the arm. He sniggered at her and got another punch.
“We’ll put two large chest freezers and heavy plastic and large black plastic bags on our list. I’m wanting to go hunting soon. I’d like to get a boar. I’ve seen tracks and spoor, about three miles south of here. I want to try the smoker out with the hickory wood. Maybe get some nice hickory bacon going.”
“Oh, if we could have that, I’d be your very best friend.” BJ laughed wiping at his mouth.
“Oh, heck yeah. Bacon and eggs, I’ve not had bacon in months.” Emma said dreamily.
“I thought all that would give you a heart attack, you’re supposed to be a nurse.” Paadi said, shaking her head.
“It’s be worth the risk, for BACON!” Emma crowed, causing the group to laugh. Dillan laughed hard as well, though he had no clue as to what he was laughing at. This caused them all to laugh harder. BJ swung the child down.
“Here, take these movies to the RV, I got you a few ABC videos, champ.” BJ handed Dillan a bag of educational videos for toddlers.
“Thank you, daddy.” Dillan squealed, clutching the bag to his chest, his large dark blue eyes sparkling. He turned and ran to the RV. Amanda helped him open the door and they disappeared inside.
“When do you want to go hunt that pig?” Paadi asked.
“I’m thinking after we get the root cellars put in. I’d feel better about it after smoking the meat. I’m sure it would do fine in the canning shed, at least for the short term.” Brian said.
“I want to come with you. I think you’re going to need help bringing that pig back.” BJ said.
“I hate to leave you gals here without one of us.” Brian said, his hands on his hips and a worried look on his face.
“Paadi is the best shot here. I don’t think we have to worry.” BJ laughed, seeing the storm brewing behind Paadi’s glasses.
“That’s true. Sorry Paadi and you Emma, I didn’t mean it to sound like because your women you couldn’t handle things. I know you can. It’s just that if those assholes see two women alone, I’d be afraid they’d be more likely to strike.” Brian shrugged.
“Those bastards show up; I’ve got a bullet or two to cure their ills.” Paadi snorted and patted her Sig Sauer at her hip.
“I’ve also gotten pretty darn good as well. Don’t worry, I’ll shoot first, ask questions later.” Emma assured the men.
Ӝ
Brian paused in his digging, long enough to drink down cold water. It was hot as hell and the sun was blazing down. They were nearly finished with the two holes. He and BJ had gotten two fifteen cubic foot freezers for the meat and vegetables and fruits. He and BJ had started digging two days ago, against the north side of the building. They’d manhandled the freezers, with the help of the kids and women. The children had wanted to help dig, but Brian had put the kibosh on that.
He could hear their squeals and splashes in the lake and it was an inviting sound. He and BJ had also gotten more bags of gravel and pea gravel. They would line the bottom of the holes for good drainage. Both had agreed to leave a four-inch lip above the hole for the freezers. No need in having dirt and water go into the chests.
“I think my pit is about ready for the gravel.” BJ said, looking down at the tape measure.
“How in the hell did you get your hole dug so quick? I’ve got about another hour’s worth of digging.” Brian asked, wiping the sweat from his face with a bright blue bandana.
“Less rocks on my side. You look like you could build a chimney with all your rocks.” BJ laughed.
“No kidding, hell, just about every time I shoveled, I hit a rock. Digging it out is no fun in this confined space. Let me help you put the gravel in and we can get the freezer into the hole and get it filled in.” Brian suggested. They’d already put the venting piping on the sides of the chest freezers. The pipes went up three feet, to ensure that even with deep snow, the vents would be clear.
“Sounds good. When we go to put it down, let’s have the women help. I figure if we can use the straps to lower it down, there shouldn’t be too much trouble.” BJ said, crawling out of the hole. The bags of gravel and pea gravel were stacked neatly beside the building. Brian had never worked so hard as he had living here. Everything, every change, every modification took time and brute force. He’d lost weight, but had gained more muscle. He also noticed that BJ was the same.
When he’d first met BJ, the man seemed almost puny, though he was tall. Now, BJ was more robust and broader through the back and chest. Brian had noticed that his own shirts had become tighter across the shoulders and back. He’d had to pick up new shirts on one of the outings, though his pants were loose around the waist. He’d been on his way to a paunch before. It had bothered him, but he’d put it down to aging. He’d considered himself fairly fit for a firefighter. Now, he was a lean, mean, building machine.
Both men filled the bottom of the hole with a layer of gravel. Then they poured in the pea gravel. Brian walked around the building looking for the women. Emma was at the cooking table; she had the sun oven out and was cooking a stew. She’d dug up potatoes earlier
