Free A Long Lonely Road by TJ Reeder

do.
     
    Now these ain’t the rich types you read about in most shtf stories. You know, the type who has a few million bucks and one day decided to build a fort. Nope these were working folks who all got the same bug bite at the same time and who come with a family /clan type mind set. Nope these ol boys did it the old fashion way, They Worked for it!!!
     
    After the lunch I was offered a bed for the time I was staying which was not going to be very long. Harv and his brother asked what supplies I could use and flat refused to let me pay with the silver of which they seemed to have plenty.
     
    Being hardheaded I asked how they were set for ammo and received a smile so that was out. It looked like I was just going to have to accept their generosity or hurt their feelings.
     
    I explained I had been using my can goods since it was what I had plus cans didn’t break. Harv took me into the mine tunnel which was flat out awesome! They had not only braced the thing six ways from Sunday they had turned the side areas into more dorm rooms and recreation areas.
     
    Best of all was the “cold” room which was sealed off from the main shaft by what looked like a reefer door, inside looked like a warehouse for a grocery chain.
    Walter, Harvs brother said they had spent the past few years building this room and filling it. And I believed it. There was enough food in there to feed 5 times their numbers for a long time.
     
    Harv grabbed a flat bed cart and took a case of Denny Moore stew off a stack and placed it on the flat bed, next was a case of canned butter, canned bacon  powdered eggs and milk.
     
    I had to remind him my mules had to pack all this but he said not to worry that we would take some of everything and the rest would be added to the store room in the dinning hall.
     
    After he had loaded all he could pile on the cart we pushed it thru another door into a room carved out of the rock and thru another door into the store room of the kitchen. I was just blown away… again.
     
    We set out to figure where to pack it so I started unpacking when I noticed Walters eyes open wide.
     
    He was looking at the 45 ammo. I asked if he was short and Harv said that was an understatement as they had placed a order but it never made it. So now I was off the hook for their kindness.
     
    I had way more then I needed simply because if I went thru the rifle and shotgun ammo a 45 wasn’t gonna save me, so I took out 200 rounds and gave them the rest which made them both smile big.
     
    I also had a lot of 7.62x39 but they had bought all Ar’s in 223 and were heavy in that. I did offer and they accepted some 12 gage buck. All in all it was a wonderful surprise to meet such people such as these.
     
    I knew out there in the cities it was 100 percent different and I once again thanked the Big Boss for the chance to see home again.
     
    I told them that I would stay the night but at first light I had to roll out and keep going. How easy it would have been to stay here or back at the ranch but I just couldn’t.
     
    After a wonderful dinner and a drink or two I headed for the bed and slept the night away, Molly seemed to be happy with the place too.
     
    Morning came and I was up and dressed and heading out to get the mules packed. Their loads were heavier but we were steadily moving down to lower elevations and I’d be lightening the load daily.
     
    Once again I was saying good by to good people, the kind that would be needed to rebuild a nation from the ashes of stupidity.
     
    With hand shakes from the brothers I mounted Buck and headed out of the compound and back onto the road. I had told them of my promise to return after things settled out and I’d stop and see how they had faired .
     
    With a final wave and good-bye we rode away into the new day. Molly in the lead, the red mules following on their own and Buck stepping out like he had someplace to be.
     
    We were heading for a trail Harv had showed me on his map which now