Read Online The Journal: Raging Tide: (The Journal Book 4) by Deborah D. Moore - Free Book Online Page B

of the dirt, didn’t
it?” Annie exclaimed.
    “Yes, so remember that. Depending on how
dirty the water is it might need to be pre-filtered. These ceramic
filters will filter that out, however it will clog them up
quicker and they’ll need cleaning more often. A little extra work
now will save you a lot of work later.” I turned to her and said,
“And Annie, remember too, that no matter how clean the water looks,
it must be run through this filter before drinking,
understand?”
    “Yes, we learned about microbes, germs and
such in school.”
    While Annie went down to the creek for two
more buckets of water, I wandered through the pantry and selected a
couple of appliances to show her their function. I also spotted a
shelf with various over the counter medications and thankfully
found some kaopectate which I gave to Glenn to help stop the
diarrhea.
    “I’ve been wondering what those are for,”
Annie said, setting the buckets of water on the floor.
    “This one is a grain grinder, this is a
pasta press, and this is a pasta drying rack,” I explained, setting
up a tinker-toy like device. “I know it’s only four o’clock,
however I think it’s time we start working on dinner.” I could hear
Jim outside with the chainsaw and knew he would be hungry soon.
Glenn would soon be ready too for some solid food.
    I showed her how to mix up fresh pasta, and
while it rested, we selected a couple of jars of home canned meat
and veggies. We then ran the pasta through the press, cutting it
into ribbons, which Annie carefully draped on the drying rack.
    “I wish I could make us some pizza,” she
lamented, putting the last of the pasta in place.
    “You need cheese for that,” I said.
    “There are more things down in the cold
cellar. You want to see? I’m sure there’s some cheese too. Can you
make us a pizza?” she asked in awe, sounding much younger than her
sixteen years.
    We took a battery lantern and descended the
wooded stairs into darkness. In a glass closet, obviously meant to
keep the humidity regulated, were a couple of wheels of cheese
coated in wax and several blocks of creamy white mozzarella still
in air-tight wrappers. I handed one of the blocks to Annie, and
then checked out the second glass cabinet to find ropes of smoked
meat.
    “I’m impressed, Annie! Where did your folks
get all of this?”
    “They made it. Dad did a lot of hunting last
fall. He and mom made lots of sausage and she canned a bunch of it
too,” she replied, pride lacing her words. I cut one of the
narrower links off and we went back upstairs.
    I decided the pasta dish could wait until
tomorrow. These children needed something to give them more
confidence in us.
     
    *
     
    “Can we come out now, Annie?” a little voice
called from behind a closed door sometime later.
    Annie walked over to the door and opened it.
“Yes, you can. We have company, so both of you behave!” she
instructed the two redheads peeking out. “Allexa, this is Jared and
Jodi, my brother and sister. They’re seven years old.”
    “Well, hello!” I said, smiling at the two
youngsters. Obviously not identical twins, they still looked a
great deal like each other.
    “It sure smells good in here!” Jim said as
he walked in. The two kids scampered behind Annie.
    “Allexa showed me how to make a pizza on the
woodstove!” Annie exclaimed, and the twins jumped up and down in
excitement, obviously forgetting their wariness of Jim. Jared was
the first to pause.
    “You two are soldiers!” he said in awe.
    “Yes we are,” Jim replied. “I’m Colonel
James Andrews, and this is Lieutenant Allexa Smeth.” He walked up
to the little boy and held out his hand. Jared tilted his head back
and stared. Jim’s six foot two frame towered over the little boy.
To his credit, Jared stuck his hand out too, which made Jim
smile.
    The military fatigues were so comfortable to
wear I had forgotten I was wearing them. No wonder Annie was a bit
submissive: we intimidated her.