Starting Over

Time

As time progressed we all contributed to the community. We were getting weekly reports on where battles were happening and which neighbors headed off to the frontlines. Some of the men and women that came with Frank decided that they could contribute to the cause they believed in. You had 2 key players in the US the Federals who believed that the system which was created and formed over 200 years was in the right even though it was full of corruption. The other side was the nationalists they belive in the original constitution and Bill of rights excluding all laws that were biased and racist. Basically giving all humans the freedom to live and prosper in a national mixing pot.

With a war rampant throughout the world it was hard to keep boarders or protect against invaders. Especially in a country that was a multi national mixing pot. Determining an enemy was impossible. We kept watch around the clock and trained constantly.

Many women were left at home to raise the kids and keep the homes and farms going. But for many it was a loosing battle. On few occasions a neighbors wife would show up at the farm and ask for assistance. But with a barter system in place they had to come with something that was needed or would be needed. A sad situation but honest, if you give a days supply of rations away might mean someone else goes hungry. So mom started allowing me to go help these ladies learn certain skills.

Remember we live in rural country the nearest store was over 30 mins by car. I was gardening and butchering since I was around 10. Most of the women had the land and cattle to keep them going they just didn't have the skills. We sent word to all the ladies that were left in the area that there would be classes given once a week at a neighboring farm. She had just learned her husband had been killed in the war and left her with 4 kids. She was a city girl who had no knowledge of doing any of the chores needed on the farm.

The farm was dilapidated and falling to pieces around her and she had no clue how to fix it. That's where I came in. After looking around I found many useful and needed supplies to start a new homestead like ours. She didn't have containers or trailers but lots of building materials. Her husband was a contractor and all the left over materials he stored in barns on their land.

Dad was an engineer and had lots of knowledge I would ask him when I got home.

"Carol, are you sure your good?" I ask

"No, Jaq I'm not. I moved out here with Henry when we married. We were so much in love. I begged him not to go. I couldn't make it without him and now I am reduced to begging to feed my children. What do I do? What can I do? The kids don't understand. We haven't had electricity in 2 weeks because I have no money left. I can barely cook on a fire. I basically have 250 acres that I have no clue on how to manage. the cattle are scattered in the pasture and I'm afraid that they will be stolen. I sleep with one eye open because anyone can break in." She just stopped and started to cry.

"look here, you have many things that can be used for fortification. We just need to know how to put it together. let's take an inventory of all the supplies you have and maybe some of the other ladies will put their hats in the pot also. I'm sure they all feel the same way." I said to her as I gave her a reasuring hug.

"I fully understand that nothing is for free, I just don't understand why you are willing to help me? We are strangers and I am literally putting you in danger by you being here." She said with a sad smile. "I feel so useless sometimes. But I can give you something for all this trouble. I will give you half of my land, which is 125 acres free and clear as p*****t for all your services."

"Carol, when you and the ladies become self sufficient. you all can start a homestead or start bartering items for yourselves. This isn't necessary." I was patting her back as she struggled to gain her composure

"I absolutely insist." She said with a determined gleam in her eyes. "I will survive this and my children will thrive when this is over."

"Alright we can discuss this later let's get the steer over here and ready for when the ladies arrive. Then we can start an inventory."

I had ridden daisy my mare over and had just roped a fairly large steer, he didn't even try to fight the rope just followed along behind me. I penned him in the corral with some hay. Then started the inventory with Carol.

......

Today's lesson was on butchering a steer. Many of the neighboring women showed up because they had gone months without fresh meat, and they had the resource but not the knowledge. At the end of the lesson, all the ladies cooked a meal and sat laughing and crying together. That's when I brought up building a homestead here at Carol's place or one of the other ladies homes.

"I understand thar many of you are uncomfortable with the war going on. You feel unsafe and I also know you resent my family's Homestead or community." I had started

"Of course we resent it, your community could have been helping all of us all along. But no you turn us away. Why we are your neighbors." Mary who came from a prominent family retorted

"We have been left with no possible way to care for ourselves and your family is all comfortable behind your walls." Stephanie started

"Wait a damn minute! All of you laughed and joked about my family while mom and dad built that to protect us. You called my dad a f*****g lunatic and said he was wasting money on a unlikely possibility. You have the gall to judge and criticize. You laughed at my mother for being on the internet teaching useless things and now. Now you want and need that knowledge and that wall but you are unwilling to do a damn thing for yourselves. All you want is for it to be given to you like you deserve it. Well let me tell you what you deserve..." Carol stopped me at that point

"Wait let's stop before it gets any worse. Thus isn't getting us anywhere." Carol paused for a second to stare down at the women "We are all in need. We all know that we don't have a clue on how to manage these farms or how to get what we need out of them."

All the ladies started nodding. "That is exactly why Jaq has graciously agreed to come and give us lessons. I'm not to thrilled with the fact that I helped butcher an animal today but I am grateful for my children and my full bellies today." Mary and Stephanie were red faced with embarrassment "The bottom line is I cannot continue doing this alone" tears were running down her face "I have agreed to give my land to Jaq if she will help me to fortify my property or one of your properties so that we can sleep at night.