Chapter 58
Martha assured Sissy and Billy, that they were safe and that they would always have a home as she put them in bed. Marty echoed Martha's talk with an assurance that while there would be plenty of chores to do, they would always have a home there. Later, downstairs, Martha asked Marty, “Do you think they will sink or swim.”
“I'm not sure,” said Marty, They need to get on board and start being more involved with their own survival, or the consequences could be rather dire, I want you to start carrying your pistol everywhere you go. Never be without it.”
“Surely you don;t think they would harm us, do you Marty?”
“Martha, what if you were hungry, or worse, what if you had hungry children and someone had food, but wouldn't give you any, what would you do to feed your children?” “These people around us, by and large, are good people, but hungry people don't use the same logic as people that are well fed. I don't think Rodney or Janet are a threat to us, but there are others out there. We are not the only survivors, for that reason, please humor me and keep your pistol with you at all time. Now, let's get some sleep. I think tomorrow will be an interesting day.”
The couple were just getting up from the breakfast table when the expected knock on the door came. It was Rodney, Janet and both of their kids. “We're here to learn how to be farmers, Rodney said. I hope you will be patient with us.”
“First thing about farming,” said Marty, “is having a strong cup of coffee first thing in the morning, you kids had breakfast?”
“Yes sir, Mr. Marty,” said Billy and Sophie, almost at the same time. Mama made us eat early this morning.”
“Well you kids go with Martha and she will show you how to tend the chickens, Janet, you n=might want to tag along and learn about milking a cow,” suggested Marty.
“Mr. Marty, I was raised on a farm and I can handle milking, I would like to get a cow for us, if you know of any available,” said Janet.
“I forgot to tell you thank you for helping my brother,” said Marty, “I am sure glad you were here. Ron, might not have made it, if you hadn't been with us.”
“Don't think twice about it,” said Janet, “None of us would have be here if it hadn't been for you and Ron.”
Martha led a string of kids out to the chicken pen and after telling them to not startle the chickens, they went into the coop and began to gather eggs. They knew the eggs were fragile and they handled them as if they were fine china. Soon the basket was full and little Sophie said, “tis chicken has a lot of eggs.”
“We are letting her set those eggs,” said Martha, “soon they will hatch and be baby chicks, and then you can have some chickens at your house.”
You could tell Sophie was amazed at the prospect of chicks coming out of the eggs, the look on her face was priceless.
Marty and Rodney were warming up the tractor in the machine shed in preparation for starting a Fall garden at Rodney's house. Marty warned him not to expect too much at first, as the land hadn't been worked in quite a while. “We will make a small fall garden and then we will disc up a place for a Spring garden. We can clean out the stalls and disc in the manure and let it overwinter and then come Spring, we should be ready to plant a Spring garden,” explained Marty.
Al and Barbara showed up about the same time as Marty and Rodney were leaving to go over to Rodney's to get started. “The ladies are in the barn milking and gathering eggs,” said Marty, “We are going over to Rodney's to get started on the garden.”
“ I was going to borrow the Unimog and start on our garden,” Al shouted over the tractor, “If thats OK with everybody.”
“Fine business,” said Marty using a HAM expression, “If you need any help, we will will be back in a few hours.”
Janet introduced herself to Martha's cow and gently talking to her, she washed the udder and gently began milking. The kids were fascinated as she slowly filled the bucket with the sweet Jersey milk. Soon the ladies and kids were finished in the barn and Janet and Martha took the milk and eggs into the kitchen and strained the milk and cleaned the eggs that had anything on them. They showed the kids what needed to be done and explained to them that the farm animals never took a day off, so they had to milk the cows and feed the horses and mules and gather the eggs everyday.
“Wow,” said Bobby, “everyday.”
“Yes sir,” said Martha, “everyday, and thats only the beginning, after that, we weed the garden and check for pests, make sure the fences are all good, in addition to that, I start getting things together for lunch and if there is any laundry, that has to be done, along with several other chores that have to be done.”
“Farming is hard work, isn't it,” asked Billy?
“It is, Billy,” agreed Martha, “but it is a wonderful life. I hope you and Sissy find living here as rewarding as Marty and I have.”