Free Kiamichi Refuge by C. A. Henry Page B

led them through the house, then introduced the rest of the family to Erin. “This is my husband, Talako, and our daughter Rose with her husband, Will, and their children, Gina and Isabelle, who are five, and Wyatt, who is almost two. And over here are Dana and John. Their boys are Zeke, who is ten, and Tucker, who is nine. They’re around here somewhere, probably getting into mischief.”
    The evening proved to be enjoyable. The men argued and joked over who deserved to have the title “King of the Grill” and which baseball teams had the best chance of making it to the World Series, while the women set out potato salad, baked beans, deviled eggs, and several kinds of desserts, and got acquainted with Erin. The children were a bit shy at first, but soon, Erin was holding Wyatt and answering a hundred questions from the twins.
    The adults ate steaks and the children had hamburgers. Tanner’s sisters were both older by a few years, and both of them were beautiful. Dana’s sons were typical boys, active and ready for fun. Her husband, John, was a history professor at Eastern Oklahoma State College in Wilburton. He reached a whole new level of “tall, dark, and handsome” in spite of the scholarly glasses perched in his nose.
    Rose’s twins were identical, but wore different colors, so Erin was able to tell them apart. Except for looks, they were as different as they could be. Gina was a bit of a tomboy, wanting to follow her older cousins and join in their tree-climbing and rowdy games, while Isabelle was very feminine and enjoyed reading and coloring. Wyatt was a sweetie, and liked anyone who would hold him on a lap or read him a story. Will owned a tractor dealership. His rugged good looks were a fine contrast to Rose’s petite femininity.
    For the first time in her life, Erin could see the joy and love that a large family could share, and she felt a longing to be a part of it. With no siblings and no cousins, her life had been devoid of that type of companionship.
    When the children began to wind down, Rose started a Disney video for them in the house, and the adult conversation on the patio turned to the recent events in Afghanistan.
    “Why hasn’t OPEC announced a decision yet? The oil ministers are still in Riyadh, and we know that they have met several times, yet we’ve heard nothing. What are they waiting for?” Tanner’s grandfather demanded.
    “They must be considering serious options if they’ve deliberated this long without reaching an agreement,” John added. “The longer it takes, the more drastic the sanctions will be, is my guess.”
    “When the announcement is made, if the sanctions are severe, the effects will be immediate. Panic, maybe even rioting and looting, are possibilities. If they cut back on oil sales to us, the price will go up and that will trigger general inflation. Or they might keep selling the same amount, but raise the price,” Tanner mused. “Either way, we are going to be paying more for gas.”
    ***
     
    It was late when Tanner and Erin got back to the lodge. The night was lit by a full moon. Tanner held Erin’s hand as they sat in his truck to talk and gaze at the twinkling stars. Finally, Erin was no longer able to stifle her yawns.
    “It’s been a long day. I need to let Blitz out, then I think it’s bedtime for me. Thank you for this evening. Your family is wonderful.”
    Tanner pulled her into his arms and kissed her, softly and deeply. “I’m glad you enjoyed it. I’ll walk you to the door, and wait until Blitz is ready to go back in.”

Chapter 12
    Last Week of May
     
    After church on Sunday, the congregation had a potluck luncheon in the fellowship hall, located in the old building’s roomy basement. Erin sat with an older couple she had met, but did not know well. Lee and Naomi Gibbs were in their seventies. Lee was tall, but slightly stooped, and had only a fringe of white hair. Naomi was plump, with short, curly hair and deep blue eyes filled with