Free The Journal: Crimson Skies: (The Journal Book 3) by Deborah D. Moore

it look later than it was. That
night, Jason told me about their excursion to Lamb Z Divy’s.
    “The straw was twenty dollars and hay was
thirty dollars a bale and they look like short bales. We got
as many of hay as we could, which Joshua says should last six
months for Bossy and Matilda, if not longer. I got only twenty of
the straw, since that’s only bedding. I thought about extra straw,
but the trailer wouldn’t hold any more and the hay was more
important. Anyway, we bought ten bags each of the chicken feed and
corn, plus the dog and cat food. It all came to over four thousand
dollars, Mom,” Jason apologized.
    “It’s worth it, Jason. The animals are now
fed until spring,” I reassured him. “Besides, next week all of that
might cost twice as much, if it’s even available.”
     
    August 14
    Ken and Karen drove over at ten o’clock. We
had already discussed they should take the Moose Creek Law
Enforcement car. It might give them an edge in a tight spot.
    With Eric and Emilee in our car we all
stopped at the gate for passes. I was surprised to find Col.
Andrews waiting for us.
    “I should have called before you came all the
way in. My apologies,” he said. “I’m afraid I must ask you to not
shop today. You created quite a stir yesterday and the news spread
like wildfire about all the money you spent. I can’t guarantee your
safety. The rumor is you’re going to buy up what little food is
available.”
    I was stunned.
    “Doesn’t us spending money help the economy
of the people still here?” I asked. “What if we don’t buy any food?
Only clothes and other stuff?”
    Andrews hesitated.
    “Are there any garage sales or resale shops?
Spending at those would help those people directly. Please,
Colonel, just a few hours. The two children are growing so
fast.”
    “Colonel Andrews?” Emilee piped up from the
back seat. “Can I get an ice cream cone before we have to go back
home?”
    “Only if you let me buy it for you,” he
relented, smiling at her.
     
    ~~~
     
    At home, we sorted through the bags of
clothes we bought at a couple of yard sales. One place in
particular had a table full of girl’s clothes that fit Emi. The
woman told me her daughter had died in the last bout of flu. She
seemed drained of emotions, yet so sad. I made a deal with her and
I thought she was going to cry when I bought all the clothes for
three hundred dollars. Another stop had some jeans that would fit
Emi next year. Another deal, another happy person. Though that was
it for shopping.
     
    JOURNAL ENTRY: August 19
     
    The power has been back on for one week, so I took
the chance and filled and started up the hot tub. Eric carefully
sliced the plastic sheeting in two places, folding the covering on
top and out of the way. It could be repaired later, but for now I
wanted to gaze out over my woods like everything was normal.
     
    *
     
    I tipped the lid over, removed my robe, and
slid into the hot, steaming water. I know I sighed out loud. I sat
with my eyes closed for several minutes, relishing the heat and the
pulsing liquid surrounding me. The sun was beginning to set, though
still above the horizon. I looked out over the creek valley and a
movement caught my attention. Bright hunter orange flickered in the
light breeze; a marker Eric had left for a hunting blind two years
ago, now tattered by time.
    I watched the slight movement of the plastic
tape wrapped around a mid-sized tree, and my vision also caught a
movement to my left, then another to my right: a slow, creeping,
stealthy movement, like leaves and twigs shifting in the wind. The
longer I concentrated, the more I could make out the expertly
camouflaged shapes of humans when they moved.
    I stood, letting the water slide off my naked
body. I moved deliberately, stepping out of the tub and picking up
a towel I had laid across a chair. There was no further movement,
not until I reached for my robe and I caught the slight
advance.
    I opened the door and stepped