In Dark Times: Book 2 Dark Trilogy

Chapter 13 Shadowed In Dark Times

Chapter 13 Shadowed In Dark Times

Bradley and the three older couples made the rounds to all the houses collecting everyone in the mess hall.  Bradley informed us that all of the women were free to go but that Ms. Nancy, Ms. Cheri and Ms. Carolyn had specific assignments for us to help with.  It was approaching lunchtime and no one had done anything this morning.

I got up to go with the Wade sisters, feeling comfortable enough with them.  Echo put her arm around me and turning to my guys she assured, "we won't leave her alone.  We already made the decision in our family that no one is to be alone.  And now, Sang is extended family to us."

"One of us will be with you shortly, Miss Sorenson.  You have my word."  All of the guys had a hurt or pained look on their faces as I left the mess hall with the rest of the females in camp to go attend to the necessary tasks to keep the camp running.

Ms. Cheri announced, "the animals are of a priority, the gardening is necessary if we plan on having food in the future, and we cannot go much longer without security at our perimeter."

"Don't forget, the whole camp still needs to eat."  Ms. Nancy interjected and we all stared at her.  Who can think of eating at a time like this?  She snorted, "what?  Have you ever seen how nuts men get when they are hungry?  It is not a pretty sight."

We split up into four groups.  Ms. Cheri, Rayne, Vivian and Makayla went to our perimeter for security detail until they are relieved by the men as they get cleared.  Ms. Nancy took Star and Willow to the kitchen to begin cooking the meals.  She wanted the pregnant women to be inside.  And Ms. Carolyn took the rest of us to do the gardening and tending to the animals.  That left Tenley with Paxton in tow, Breezy, Echo, myself and Mindy.  Since there are six of us, Ms. Carolyn split us up into two groups of three.  "Tenley, Breezy and Echo, you three will do the gardening, while Sang, Mindy and yours truly will take care of the animals."

"Ms. Carolyn, I promised the Blackbourne team we would not leave Sang alone.  Can I please switch with you or Mindy?"  Echo questioned with a 'no room for saying no to my question' command in her tone.

"Fine!  I'll switch with you.  Milk and feed the cows, feed the chickens and pigs, collect the eggs and take them to Nancy, and make sure the sheep are accounted for and brought in from pasture."  Ms. Carolyn instructed, then left with Tenley and Breezy.

"How about we do one task at a time as a group?"  I asked.  Mindy nodded her head, agreeing.  She seemed a bit rattled by the atmosphere here at camp right now.

"Cows, then chickens, then pigs, then sheep.  Sound good to you two?"  Echo was taking charge and I was freely allowing her to do so.  We each grabbed a bucket and stool and began milking the cows.  This work is hard but satisfying.  You immediately see the fruits of your labor.  My pail was almost full when I heard someone calling out.

"Shhh!  Did you hear that?"  I asked the other girls.

All three of us were standing, armed with shovels and pitch forks.  "Min, where are you?"  We heard in the distance.

It was definitely someone male voiced.  "Min!  Answer me!"  The voice was closer.

Mindy's face brightened as she hurried out of the barn, "Kev?  Is that you?" We followed right behind her, just in case.  Mindy went right into Kevin's arms and hugged and kissed him all over his face like he was made of chocolate or something.  What I wouldn't give for some chocolate right now!

"I got to leave early on.  They are taking each guy into a room one by one and we had to say some weird sentence.  Then I was dismissed to go help with chores."  He was explaining to all of us, but only had eyes for Mindy.