Journal Entry 15

I went on a mission to the plaza for supplies with Joshua, Matt and Hemy, just as we rounded the corner of the Comp USA building a spear…yes I said spear, flew past us above our heads. We walked right into a gang war. The four of us ducked behind a garbage dumpster. We kept trying to leave the area but every time one of us peaked out from behind the dumpster, something else would fly our way. For a few moments, I thought we were going to be stuck there permanently. Joshua got a little upset about being behind the dumpster so he shoots his gun off. People scattered. We left the way we came.

I don’t know what the feud was about but they were doing some serious fighting. People were running around like chickens with their heads cut off. It was crazy. The sad thing is, it was probably about something stupid. It’s always about something stupid. Unfortunately, these things always escalate into something tragic. The war won’t stop until people die. I wish people would just be civilized. Live and let live.

We had to take the long way around to the plaza.

The plaza was a quiet place. Unusually, quiet, probably because the grapevine was at work warning people to stay at home. We didn’t find everything we needed. This isn’t unusual but it is annoying.

Journal Entry 14

Joshua had everyone awake at first morning light. The man is a slave driver. He wants it done today, not tomorrow, not next week but today. Joshua had a list of things he wanted done around the Spurs Fort a mile long. No one was exempt, we all worked, every single one of us. You would think that I would get special treatment considering that I am Joshua’s girl. I could get out of doing to dirtiest of jobs. Think again. I think Joshua makes me work harder than he makes everyone else.

It was a wonderful end to an extremely busy day. The night sky was clear. The stars were bright and the weather was gorgeous. We built a campfire in the center of the courtyard of the Spurs Fort. We danced, we sang, we told stories and then we ate until we couldn’t eat any more. Joshua and I snuggled together practically the entire evening. It was so nice. I think he was trying to make up for making me work so hard during the day.

I love a good story. There was an assortment of tales told. Joshua told a story, Kate told a story, and then Matt and Hemy told a story together. The tales just kept flowing out of people’s mouths; it was a tremendous amount of fun. I think my favorite storyteller was Cage. He is so very good and entertaining. He has a way of telling tales that sucks you into the moment. You can’t help but listen. You can’t help but imagine what he is saying in your head. I wish I could tell a story like that.

Journal Entry 13

Tony stopped by to talk to Joshua again today. I wasn’t included in the conversation. I don’t understand it. Why does Tony not have a problem talking to Joshua but he won’t even look at me or give me a smile acknowledging my existence. Hemy thinks I should just corner Tony the next time he shows up and talk to him. I’m not certain cornering Tony is a good idea. I understand Tony’s anger towards me. I would be mad at me too but I want to be his friend. I miss him…a little.

I don’t know if I should be sad or happy. Pete has decided to leave the Spurs Fort and join Tony’s gang. It makes sense to me. Pete was the Sheriff of Bear Country. He was an excellent Sheriff too. Law enforcement is in his blood. I always felt safe when Pete and his deputies were around. Bear Country was one of the safest places to live. Although, I’m not sure, if what Tony is doing is law enforcement. I think it’s more like a form of vigilante street justice. I guess the life style here at the Spurs Fort isn’t really, what Pete needs to be happy. I wish him luck.

Journal Entry 12

Tony and his gang are absolutely everywhere. Me, Joshua, Pete, Matt, Hemy, JT, Evan, Cage, Marty, Cecelia and Jonas went to Hyatt’s arcade for a game of pool, darts and loud music. We arrived at Hyatt’s establishment just in time to see Tony and a couple of his gang members throw a couple of Hyena’s out into the street. Apparently, they were harassing some of the people inside and Hyatt couldn’t get them to leave. I have to admit Tony is very efficient. He is very good at throwing out the garbage.

Anyway, Hyatt’s was a lot of fun. We played, we danced, and we drank a little. Ok, some of us drank a little. Jonas and Cage were a little over the top. At least they weren’t belligerent like Kate has been this week. Jonas and Cage drank just enough to be humorous and make the rest of us laugh. Although, I’m thinking Cage is going to regret dancing on that table in nothing but his underwear. I have to admit it was a little warm inside Hyatt’s arcade. I was tempted to remove my clothes too!

Journal Entry 11

I went to the plaza this morning with Joshua. We went for a couple of reasons. One of the reasons was that I just needed to get away from the Spurs Fort for a while. I think Joshua needed a break from his chores too because he didn’t complain when I asked him to go. He usually gives me some excuse about having a ton of things to do and then gives me a list of other people to ask.

The second reason we went was for supplies. Luckily, Joshua knows exactly who to seek out when he is looking for something in particular. We don’t spend our time wondering aimlessly looking for a kiosk that might have what we need. The kiosk owner Joshua was looking for didn’t set up today. We asked around and no one had seen or heard from Rose in a couple of days.

On the way home, we ran into Tony and his gang. They had a Hyena pinned against a wall. The Hyena was a bloody mess. It must have been a challenge to catch this one because Tony and a couple of his people looked a bit tired and dirty. Things looked as if they were under control so we didn’t interrupt the process.

Journal Entry 10

Today has been a day full of chores and a day trying to keep Kate out of trouble. It all started at breakfast this morning. Hemy and I were making pancakes when Kate comes in, drunker than a skunk, and starts calling us names. Kate was stumbling all over the kitchen, knocking things off the table and counters. Who knows when or why she started drinking. I honestly don’t think she needs a reason to drink. I think she drinks out of habit. Hemy and I took Kate to her bed. She passed out the moment her head plopped on the pillow.

I was hoping Kate would sleep the day away. I would let Joshua take care of her the moment he returned from town. It didn’t happen. Kate was up again in two hours causing trouble again. Only this time she was harassing some of the people trying to put up walls on one of the new bunkhouses. She was stumbling around tossing things here and there being vulgar and rude. The people were doing their best to keep her from hurting herself or anyone else. I grabbed Kate’s bottle of Gin out of her hands and smashed it on the ground. I grabbed Kate’s arm and drug her back to her bed. I yelled at her to stay put. I threatened her with bodily harm if she came out again. I also said a few other things that I won’t repeat but the girl ticked me off. Kate crashed on her bed. I took the opportunity to look everywhere for a hidden stash of Gin. I didn’t find any. I was certain she didn’t have anymore.

I went back to my chores. I occasionally went to Kate’s room and listened at the door to make sure she was behaving. I never heard anything. I assumed she had been sleeping. I was wrong. Unexpectedly, Cecelia came running up to the house saying Kate was causing trouble. I don’t know when Kate got out of her room but she managed to make it all the way to the cattle.

Journal Entry 9

It has been days and days but finally the downpour of rain has stopped. The sun is out in full force today. Things are a bit waterlogged and extremely muddy. The mud is ankle deep in some places. I walk around barefoot most of the time. I need to keep my shoes wearable. They are raggedy but they are the only pair I have and they fit comfortably. I have had to walk around in shoes that don’t fit in the past and I don’t want to have to do it again.

I spent my morning listening to Daedalus on the radio. He is the only source of reliable news and information in existence.  You can’t always believe what is on the billboards. Daedalus has reporters embedded in nearly every sector around town.

Tony and his men-at-arms swordsmen stopped by to speak to Joshua. I guess Tony’s new role in life is to patrol around town and keep the bad gangs under control. He’s a modern day hero wearing a Karate Gi and sword. He must be doing OK because Daedalus occasionally mentions the men-at-arms on the radio. 

The reason for Tony’s visit was to let Joshua know that the Hyenas are hanging around our side of town and causing lots of trouble. This isn’t new news. We were already being cautious and traveling in groups. I can’t help but think Tony stopped by for other reasons. Probably to spy on me and see what I was up to. The Hyenas and their vicious ways were just an excuse.

Journal Entry 8

It has been raining for days. I’m sick of the constant downpour. The front of the main house is looking more like a lake than a front yard. A couple of the bunkhouses already have water up to their entryways. Most of the fort is a mud trap. Walking from building to building is a challenge. I need a pair of boots.

Amazingly, my list of chores is empty. I’m not sure how that happened. Joshua usually has a list of items he wants and needs accomplished. Cage is still banishing me from his work teams. I can only apologize so many times for the plank hitting him in the head. I fed the chicks and climbed inside their chicken coup to make sure all 24 are still pecking around. I have a fear of them drowning or being stuck in the mud.

There is nothing to do but sit around and twiddle my thumbs. I want to do something fun. I cleaned up the main house. I washed dishes and I dusted. I mopped. Although, mopping was really a waste of time because every time I thought I had the floor clean someone would walk thru the front doors with muddy shoes on. I let Joshua have it after mopping the same area about 5 times. I yelled at him to take his boots off on the porch. He just smiled at me, kissed me on the cheek and sad “No”.

Joshua and Marty are trying to fix one of the fences, or something. I tried to get Joshua to put off the fence repair until the rain stopped.  He said it was bad management to put chores on hold just because of the weather. Maybe, but if he ends up with pneumonia, I’m not catering to him.

Journal Entry 7

I spend a great deal of time daydreaming these days. When I daydream, I tune out everything that is happening around me, this is not a good thing. Accidents happen when I am not paying attention.

My dreams are of a romantic nature and very distracting.  I feel silly and overwhelmed. I am unable to focus on the simplest assigned tasks.  My mind easily wanders to romantic interludes with Joshua. This makes it nearly impossible to complete tasks safely or in a timely manner. I often drift off and forget what I am supposed to be doing. My daydreaming has recently caused numerous mishaps that have resulted in injury. Luckily, none of the injuries have been life threatening or serious. I have become the butt of jokes and shunned from an assortment of work assignments.

 In my defense, Joshua is very handsome even when he is angry. Everything he does is distracting. I think about the way Joshua tips his hat when he is being polite. The way he puts his boots on in the morning, the way he buckles his belt when he is putting on his guns, the way he gives orders to the others and the way he grabs me to kiss me when he is having a good day.

Joshua has received numerous complaints from the others. Cage is Joshua’s best friend and confidant. The two are like brothers. Cage has banned me from all of his work teams. This has caused angry discourse between Joshua and Cage. They have been avoiding each other all day. Joshua admonished my lack of focus. I have attempted to apologize to Cage.  He is holding a grudge.

Journal Entry 6

The rain continues. I am feeling waterlogged. My hands and feet are wrinkled prunes.  I’m hoping that we receive a reprieve from the dampness today. We could use a day of sunshine. I could use a day of sunshine. I hate performing chores in the rain. The constant dampness makes me feel uncomfortable and cranky.  I want to lie down, sleep, and ignore the world until the rain passes.

I want to ignore my chores but I don’t want to disappoint Joshua, he has been working so incredibly hard to build the Spurs Fort into an acceptable place to live, work and play. Several local gangs have noticed the new construction. Even in the rain, we have several onlookers that drop by to see our progress. As I step back and look I am amazed at what we have created and proud of our efforts. Without Joshua’s leadership, I don’t think any of this would have occurred. He has a drive that is rare and mature beyond his years. I think he is a fluke of nature. Without men like Joshua, our world will never be able to rebuild. I was a leader once but I gladly step back and play follower.

I am going on an errand later today with Kate to retrieve a batch baby of chicks from one of the local farmers. The new chicken coup is built and ready for occupants. I spent most of yesterday standing in the rain preparing the space. The chicks had better appreciate the efforts I put into customizing this space. I expect plenty of eggs in the future. Those that don’t produce are going to end up on my dinner plate.