Renewal 6 - Cold Read Free

for quite some time. Eventually the tractor headed away from the barn, and Dad came back inside.
    He quickly related the story. “Remember how George told us his family has worked this farm for generations? Well, that’s the old homestead down the hill. The place is practically falling down, but the original wood stoves were still sitting there, probably for more than fifty years.” He was smiling like the Dad we knew. “We’ve got heat.”
    At the word heat, Juannie stuck her head out of the tent, decided it was still freezing in the barn, and disappeared again. With the look my mom sent in her direction, I was amazed that the tent didn’t have two holes burned through. Jimmy, as if making up for his mother, celebrated with a joyful dance and a bouncy song that didn’t have any actual lyrics. As usual, he left us smiling.
    “Ok. George is out gathering round bales, and Arturo and I are going out to look for supplies. You up for it, Art?”
    “Sure thing, David, as long as there’s no running involved.”
    “You can drive. George gave me a list of places to look. Kirk, grab a rifle. You’re coming too.”
    Mom was startled by that information and began to protest.
    Dad stopped her with, “Listen, Beth. It had to happen sooner or later. Right now, we are facing our first unavoidable danger since the crap hit the fan. People are going to get very desperate with the cold. If we don’t grab everything we can get to survive the winter, someone else will. Assuming there’s anything left to grab when we get there... We have to go now, and we need Kirk to help.”
    Mom didn’t say anything. She just turned her head to the side and nodded.
    Kirk wasn’t fooling around. He came back with his ever-present handgun, his personalized cane knife, an assault rifle, and a backpack full of ammo. Dad looked as if he had something to say, but waved Kirk into the back seat instead.
    I closed the barn doors as the Carter family station wagon drove off into the blowing dust. Arturo was gone less than fifteen seconds when Mom stalked over to the tent to have a chat with Juannie. Of course, we heard the whole thing.
     
    Chapter 6 – 3
    Bill stopped speaking when a door slammed downstairs. He said, “I know that slam. I think you’re up, Slugger.”
    Terry looked almost disappointed, but then he understood who was downstairs, and practically leapt out of the chair. He didn’t want to look too eager. He checked his motion and walked down the steps with a measured pace. He followed the sounds from the kitchen and strode through the door to find Sally’s upper half buried in the fridge. He was content to watch her jeans-clad lower half while she rustled around, looking for something quick to eat. With a final rattle of a glass on glass, she pulled her choice out of the fridge, and turned away without ever noticing he was there. She filled her water glass at the sink. When she turned around, Sally almost jumped in surprise at finding him there. Her eyes opened a touch wider, and she recovered instantly. Terry would have never seen the reaction if he weren’t watching so closely.
    “Well, if it isn’t the legendary Terry Shelton, back from the wars in parts unknown,” she said with her typical swagger.
    “And if it isn’t the infamous Sally B. Carter, scaring babies and taking names,” Terry responded with his best manly-man voice.
    “I would have expected to encounter the hero before this very minute,” Sally said, trying the pouting with hands on hips method for effect.
    “I’ve been standing here watching you grub for food for at least five minutes.” He looked pointedly downward at those same hips.
    “A girl’s gotta eat.” She pulled her shoulders back with a false indignant expression.
    “A legend needs his beauty sleep.” Terry breathed on his fingers with a huff and rubbed his nails on his shirt in comic exaggeration.
    “Oh, puh-lease!” Sally cried, trying her best not to laugh, and failing.
    Terry broke