sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Thank you from me to, yeah dh was just saying Sat. there is so much work to do here yet before winter hits.
Mountaineer Sunset - Fiction
- Thread starter wvstuck
- Start date
wvstuck
Only worry about what you can control!
Chapter 5
...to repeat.. today Russia announced that they were not going to stand idly by while the United States once again pushes their military might against the rest of the world...
In other news right here in the U.S., There are reports coming in from all around the country of power outages, problems with banking and ATM transactions, telephone dropped calls and Internet black outs. The official word from government is that the problems are being created by solar winds and should resolve themselves in a few days.
Unconfirmed sources within the government however are saying that there are massive cyber attacks occurring on all fronts, although the source of the attacks are not currently known....
Stand By while we try to link a live report from one our our reporters in the field....
Tom are you with us.... Yes, I'm here... I'm standing here in Washington D.C. Watching as so many other people standing around me are, in amazement as Senate and House members are being rushed out of seemingly every door of the Capitol building.
Reports are coming in that the White House is now in lock down and that Air Force One is being readied on the tarmac as we speak. OH MY!!! There was just an amazi....... (static)
Abe jumped up and tried to adjust the radio dial on the kitchen counter to fine tune the station, then finally a familiar local newscaster's voice broke through the static.
… It appears that we have lost our national satellite feeds due to equipment malfunction of some kind, we are attempting to reconnect the feeds as soon as possible, in the mean time we will return to our regularly scheduled sports cast (click)
With that said Abe turned the radio off and slowly turned to face the family “What do you think that's all about”? He said.
“It just kinda goes right along with what Allen was saying earlier on the porch, don't ya think”? Said Sam.
At that point everyone just sat around silently for a few minutes looking at each other, waiting for someone to speak.
Allen finally broke the silence and calmly instructed everyone in the room to get their preps in final order, he said that it looked like “go time” had arrived.
Sam and Allen headed back to their house to put away the supplies Sam and the girls had brought back from Ripley.
Abe and Olivia stayed at their house to spend the evening getting their vehicles unpacked and their things put away in the right spots.
When Allen walked into the basement he was stunned to silence at all of the supplies Sam had managed to get this morning. “Dang”! Allen said, “How are we ever gonna get this put away and organized”? Sam just gave a loving smile to him and started sorting stuff into organized piles.
While Sam got started with the piles Allen went over to the big oak bookcases on the living room wall, reached carefully into the middle shelf and pulled the well hidden latch, with one hard tug he pulled the latch and swung the bookcase open on its concealed hinges.
Staring him in the face was the massive vault door which normally stayed hidden out of sight behind the bookcases.
Turning the combination tumbler back and forth, Allen entered the 5 digit code required to open the shelter.
Walking into the main shelter Allen felt along the wall until his fingers contacted the light switch, which he immediately flipped up. The lights flickered for a second then quickly came on providing illumination to the underground living quarters Sam and himself had invested so many hours and dollars into.
Walking across the main living area of the shelter, Allen headed to the left corner and opened a door. Glancing in he saw a good majority of the supplies the Reeds had managed to tuck away over the years. Canned foods, medical supplies, lots of toilet paper, female necessities as well as many other various items stuffed neatly onto the tall shelves silently gazing back at him. Once he had the shelter opened up, he headed back out to the main house to give Sam a hand.
Sam was quickly making short work of the massive pile in the living room, food items were going in one pile, paper products in another, reloading supplies in yet another and so on and so on. Without speaking a word Allen grabbed a handful of supplies and headed toward the storage room to put them where they belonged.
Once he got the first armload stored away, he grabbed one of the shopping carts stored along the wall to make his trips more efficient. Nearly two hours had passed and the pile was finally down to a couple small miscellaneous items. Sam helped Allen store the final supplies, then they turned off the lights, locked the vault door and pushed the bookcase back into place.
The shelter which was built into the deep clay behind the Reeds basement was one of the best kept secrets on the ridge, not even Sam's parents knew of its existence. Sam had always been afraid if she let the secret out, even amongst her own family, they would not prepare for themselves and would begin to think that Sam and Allen would do it all for them.
Allen of course agreed to this line of thinking and the girls were sworn to secrecy as well.
The shelter wasn't massive, but had been designed to sleep 20 comfortably with maybe a few more stuffed in if needed.
It had a main living area with couches and comfortable chairs for people to sit around and chat, read a book or just relax, in the same open space was a small well equipped kitchen with propane refrigeration, a 6 burner propane cook stove and a small on demand water heater. Cabinets lined the walls filled with items such as dishes, cooking utensils, glasses, mugs, food and other kitchen items.
On the right side there were three bunk rooms with 6 Army style bunk beds in two of them and 4 bunks in the other one. Along the back wall was the storage room along with Sam and Allen's private bedroom which included a private bathroom and sitting area.
On the other wall was a entertainment room with a TV, Video Games, Library, MP3 players, Computers and other entertainment components. The final room was a large bathroom with 3 shower stalls, two toilet stalls, a double sink, and a washer and dryer.
The shelter would be full with 20 or more people, but in the event of a major attack or disaster, the occupants would be safe from harm. The fresh air was filtered and there were battery banks in a small room hidden off the main storage room. In this same room were two small diesel generators built in as backups to the solar panels. The air in the battery room also came from it's own filtered source separate from the main shelter.
As they were headed upstairs to put something together for dinner, Abe and Olivia came busting in the upstairs front door.
Abe was out of breath from running, and muttered something about the President leaving Washington and headed for a secure location, he gushed on about how Congress had been spread out to various secure Government shelters around the U.S. As well, all because of some threat made by an international player or some other major country.
Abe said he wasn't sure what was going on though because the radio had cut out once again while the talking heads were still discussing the situation.
Sam invited her parents to stay for dinner, and calmed them down by telling them everything would be fine for now, even if something big did happen, they were located far enough away from the cities to have time to prepare.
Olivia was keeping herself busy trying to make contact with her other children on her cell phone, but either got a message saying the circuits were overloaded, or instead received just a plain fast busy signal.
Little did any of them know how fast the evil in the world was beginning to accelerate...
The sun was dipping sharply in the evening sky, and now... Sunset was upon them!
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Thank you, another cliff for us lol.
Anxiously waiting for more...
wvstuck
Only worry about what you can control!
Sorry about the delays... I have been busy trying to get my website back together after a crash and get the Prep Tracking Software I wrote back online for free download... At least it's back online now and I'll be able find some time to get other projects put to rest. I'll get a full chapter up this week-end, Probably sometime Sunday.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Good news all around 
good luck.
good luck.
Siskiyoumom
Veteran Member
Looking for more!!!!!
Hope all is well with you and yours.
Sis
Hope all is well with you and yours.
Sis
Vulture45-70
Veteran Member
Christmas Time take a break. Seems like this story is being repeated day after day in my mind, knowing exactly where this is leading. Guess tomorrow I will start prepping again now that the new year is upon us. Sure wish FL had a higher elevation. A good underground shelter would be in order, but probably too late.
stjwelding
Veteran Member
wvstuck Thanks for your time and sharing this fantastic story. I don't know how I missed it when you started it but am glad that I found it now. I hope to see more of it soon, thanks again.
Wayne
Wayne
Dang, I was sure that there would be a new chapter by now. Waaaaaa
wvstuck
Only worry about what you can control!
Chapter 6
The silence was deafening, but the darkness surrounding Allen was even worse, it was almost suffocating as it continuously closed in around him. It was so quiet that he could hear his own heart beating in his chest and there was a steady, constant ringing in his ears.
The pain in his forehead only hurt worse the more he tried to think. How did everything end up changing so quickly. Thoughts raced back and forth through his mind, changing from one subject to the next before any solutions could be found.
Slowly rolling over onto his right side he could now hear Sam breathing gently into her pillow, sleeping soundly as He lay awake trying to analyze all of the events from today and the weeks behind them.
The news only seemed to get worse as each hour ticked by. “What was the end game?” He asked himself again for the hundredth time. “Better get up and swallow an aspirin or two for this headache”, He thought to himself as he slowly got up and slipped quietly into the bathroom. Swallowing the two white pills with a glass of water he turned off the small flashlight and headed back into the darkness and the comfort of his warm bed.
With the thoughts in his head a jumbled mess, Allen slowly gave in and faded ever closer to the realm of forgiving sleep. As his senses faded from reality to deep sleep he felt a wave of contentment and peace come over him. Finally much needed rest had come to him and his breathing began to slowly fall into a perfect rhythm.
The sudden bright flash of light, added with a loud chaotic whirring sound which was quickly taking over the room, startled Allen from his recently acquired deep sleep. On his right side he could hear Sam moving quickly while he was rolling out of the left side of the bed, grabbing his 1911 - .45acp off the night stand as he came to his feet.
Blinking the sleep out of his eyes he looked over and found Sam standing on the opposite side of their bed with her pistol tightly gripped in both hands, A smile came over both their faces as they each realized at nearly the same second that the power had come back on. The overhead light had obviously never been switched off and the large fan that Sam loved at night, was now once again blowing at high speeds.
Putting their handguns back on the nightstands they chuckled as they moved through the house turning off lights and unneeded appliances, Sam noticed that music was once again playing on the radio when Allen flicked the switch to the off position. Climbing Back in bed Sam and Allen spooned and held each other tight, telling each other they were loved, falling back asleep didn't take either person very long.
As they slept peacefully, major changes were still coming toward them like a run away train. The darkness was coming and swallowing everything in it's path.
The silence was deafening, but the darkness surrounding Allen was even worse, it was almost suffocating as it continuously closed in around him. It was so quiet that he could hear his own heart beating in his chest and there was a steady, constant ringing in his ears.
The pain in his forehead only hurt worse the more he tried to think. How did everything end up changing so quickly. Thoughts raced back and forth through his mind, changing from one subject to the next before any solutions could be found.
Slowly rolling over onto his right side he could now hear Sam breathing gently into her pillow, sleeping soundly as He lay awake trying to analyze all of the events from today and the weeks behind them.
The news only seemed to get worse as each hour ticked by. “What was the end game?” He asked himself again for the hundredth time. “Better get up and swallow an aspirin or two for this headache”, He thought to himself as he slowly got up and slipped quietly into the bathroom. Swallowing the two white pills with a glass of water he turned off the small flashlight and headed back into the darkness and the comfort of his warm bed.
With the thoughts in his head a jumbled mess, Allen slowly gave in and faded ever closer to the realm of forgiving sleep. As his senses faded from reality to deep sleep he felt a wave of contentment and peace come over him. Finally much needed rest had come to him and his breathing began to slowly fall into a perfect rhythm.
The sudden bright flash of light, added with a loud chaotic whirring sound which was quickly taking over the room, startled Allen from his recently acquired deep sleep. On his right side he could hear Sam moving quickly while he was rolling out of the left side of the bed, grabbing his 1911 - .45acp off the night stand as he came to his feet.
Blinking the sleep out of his eyes he looked over and found Sam standing on the opposite side of their bed with her pistol tightly gripped in both hands, A smile came over both their faces as they each realized at nearly the same second that the power had come back on. The overhead light had obviously never been switched off and the large fan that Sam loved at night, was now once again blowing at high speeds.
Putting their handguns back on the nightstands they chuckled as they moved through the house turning off lights and unneeded appliances, Sam noticed that music was once again playing on the radio when Allen flicked the switch to the off position. Climbing Back in bed Sam and Allen spooned and held each other tight, telling each other they were loved, falling back asleep didn't take either person very long.
As they slept peacefully, major changes were still coming toward them like a run away train. The darkness was coming and swallowing everything in it's path.
wvstuck
Only worry about what you can control!
It has been a long time, the story never died in my mind.... Many things have gone on that were hard to get through and left me without much time for this story. I will get more and more of it finished now that God has taken care of the problems we've been though as a family. Sorry to keep everyone waiting. I hope there are still readers that enjoy a good story. As always, constructive criticism is always welcome.
wvstuck
Only worry about what you can control!
Chapter 7
It was now 4:30 in the morning, nearly three hours had passed since the incident with the lights coming on so suddenly and Sam was awake and tired of staring at the ceiling. She slowly slipped out of bed and grabbed some clothes for the day while heading into the bathroom to change.
Standing in the kitchen dressed in blue jeans, a flannel shirt and some warm, colorful wool socks, Sam waited patiently for the tea kettle to finish boiling water so she could make her favorite morning beverage. A large mug with half a single serve package of instant coffee and a whole package of hot cocoa with the mini marshmallows.
With her morning concoction in hand Sam headed out to sit on the back porch swing where she could say her morning prayers and watch the farm slowly come back to life. Looking out from her ridge top perch she could see only the outlines of the surrounding mountains silhouetted against the night sky.
Worry lines covered her face in the dim light, she had so many thoughts to ponder on. Her adult children were out there taking care of their own lives, her brother and sisters were spread all around the Tri-State area raising children and working their careers. Most of them didn't believe in a preparedness lifestyle and that worried Sam considerably even when things were right in the world.
With the events of the past few days still fresh in her mind, she wondered how everyone would make out. Would they come to the farm, or would they wait until things got worse, creating a situation that might not allow them to make that decision? Sam was a strong woman, but these feelings had her a bit rattled this morning.
She started her prayer with a great big thank you to God! She was very thankful that God had blessed her and Allen with a nearly hidden farm, great children, a wonderful marriage and the surplus supplies they had on hand in case things got really bad. She asked God to keep an eye on her family members and friends, especially the ones not at the farm. Saying Amen she got up from her knees to face the coming day.
Rumbling out of the dark, like a speeding bullet her second best friend in the world appeared out of no where. Frank loved Sam more than anyone else on earth and spent every minute of his day keeping his protective eye on her and her children. At over 100 pounds with a head seemingly to big for his body, Frank was a splendid specimen Black Lab.
Five years old and full of life Frank was the dog everyone wished they had. He would watch over the family, the chickens and other livestock and never dared to attack or eat anything that belonged on the farm. Strangers on the other hand, always needed to use caution, any aggressive move and Frank was sure to let them know he was finished with the cute puppy routine.
Sam always felt at ease when Frank was around, any sound out of the normal and Frank was alert. So when Frank was relaxed, Sam was too. This morning he was acting loving and playful beyond his normal silly self and tried to become a large, hundred pound, lap dog. licking Sam's face before she could react. He was not used to having Mommy time this early and he was determined to enjoy every second of it.
Frank had calmed down once Sam started gently scratching the top of his head and around his ears with her fingernails, sitting at her feet with his big head laying on her lap he was satisfied. Sam continued to rub Frank's head while her eyes scanned the farm looking for familiar signs as the morning started working it's way in.
Hearing the squeak of the old wooden screen door, Sam knew she was no longer alone, looking up expecting to see Allen she was instead surprised to see their youngest daughter working her way out the door and on to the porch. Janie was all farm girl and even at five in the morning she looked refreshed and ready to go, wearing a t-shirt with a light sweat jacket over it, blue jeans and a pair of rugged, nearly worn out ropers she was no doubt ready to do something.
Sitting on the swing with her mother, pulling her legs up beside her and nuzzling into her mother's shoulder she asked “Why are you up so early Mom”? In a hoarse sleepy voice. “I should ask you the same” said Sam.
“I'm worried mom”, came the reply and then silence. Sam pondered on the words for a moment and asked in a kind, gentle tone that only a mother can muster “What's on your mind kiddo”? Janie spoke up and said “Well... Dad had us run and get all that stuff yesterday, you took a lot of money from the bank and Grams and PaPaw moved up here in a hurry” wrapping her arm around her mother and squeezing just a little tighter, she wondered aloud “Is everything alright, will we be OK if it's not”?
Sam assured her youngest that things would be OK, explaining that everyone was just taking some extra precautions because things looked a little off kilter. Sam smiled at her beautiful daughter and gently brushed the stray hair from her face and patted her shoulder, “everything will be fine Janie, we have God to thank for that!”
Frank pulled his head quickly from Sam's lap and turned around sharply, ears perked, slowly raising his fur and he walked toward the edge of the steps, eyes scanning the horizon. The sound of gravel crunching under the weight of an unseen object moving toward them in the distance was now making it's way to Janie's and Sam's ears. The watchful eyes of Frank never leaving the general direction of this unwelcome sound.
As Sam moved Janie toward the door she was once again unnerved, strange for this time of the morning she thought to herself, closing the door just as the first loud, deep bark escaped from Frank's throat.
Sam hated to wake Allen, but she needed him to know something wasn't right this morning!
It was now 4:30 in the morning, nearly three hours had passed since the incident with the lights coming on so suddenly and Sam was awake and tired of staring at the ceiling. She slowly slipped out of bed and grabbed some clothes for the day while heading into the bathroom to change.
Standing in the kitchen dressed in blue jeans, a flannel shirt and some warm, colorful wool socks, Sam waited patiently for the tea kettle to finish boiling water so she could make her favorite morning beverage. A large mug with half a single serve package of instant coffee and a whole package of hot cocoa with the mini marshmallows.
With her morning concoction in hand Sam headed out to sit on the back porch swing where she could say her morning prayers and watch the farm slowly come back to life. Looking out from her ridge top perch she could see only the outlines of the surrounding mountains silhouetted against the night sky.
Worry lines covered her face in the dim light, she had so many thoughts to ponder on. Her adult children were out there taking care of their own lives, her brother and sisters were spread all around the Tri-State area raising children and working their careers. Most of them didn't believe in a preparedness lifestyle and that worried Sam considerably even when things were right in the world.
With the events of the past few days still fresh in her mind, she wondered how everyone would make out. Would they come to the farm, or would they wait until things got worse, creating a situation that might not allow them to make that decision? Sam was a strong woman, but these feelings had her a bit rattled this morning.
She started her prayer with a great big thank you to God! She was very thankful that God had blessed her and Allen with a nearly hidden farm, great children, a wonderful marriage and the surplus supplies they had on hand in case things got really bad. She asked God to keep an eye on her family members and friends, especially the ones not at the farm. Saying Amen she got up from her knees to face the coming day.
Rumbling out of the dark, like a speeding bullet her second best friend in the world appeared out of no where. Frank loved Sam more than anyone else on earth and spent every minute of his day keeping his protective eye on her and her children. At over 100 pounds with a head seemingly to big for his body, Frank was a splendid specimen Black Lab.
Five years old and full of life Frank was the dog everyone wished they had. He would watch over the family, the chickens and other livestock and never dared to attack or eat anything that belonged on the farm. Strangers on the other hand, always needed to use caution, any aggressive move and Frank was sure to let them know he was finished with the cute puppy routine.
Sam always felt at ease when Frank was around, any sound out of the normal and Frank was alert. So when Frank was relaxed, Sam was too. This morning he was acting loving and playful beyond his normal silly self and tried to become a large, hundred pound, lap dog. licking Sam's face before she could react. He was not used to having Mommy time this early and he was determined to enjoy every second of it.
Frank had calmed down once Sam started gently scratching the top of his head and around his ears with her fingernails, sitting at her feet with his big head laying on her lap he was satisfied. Sam continued to rub Frank's head while her eyes scanned the farm looking for familiar signs as the morning started working it's way in.
Hearing the squeak of the old wooden screen door, Sam knew she was no longer alone, looking up expecting to see Allen she was instead surprised to see their youngest daughter working her way out the door and on to the porch. Janie was all farm girl and even at five in the morning she looked refreshed and ready to go, wearing a t-shirt with a light sweat jacket over it, blue jeans and a pair of rugged, nearly worn out ropers she was no doubt ready to do something.
Sitting on the swing with her mother, pulling her legs up beside her and nuzzling into her mother's shoulder she asked “Why are you up so early Mom”? In a hoarse sleepy voice. “I should ask you the same” said Sam.
“I'm worried mom”, came the reply and then silence. Sam pondered on the words for a moment and asked in a kind, gentle tone that only a mother can muster “What's on your mind kiddo”? Janie spoke up and said “Well... Dad had us run and get all that stuff yesterday, you took a lot of money from the bank and Grams and PaPaw moved up here in a hurry” wrapping her arm around her mother and squeezing just a little tighter, she wondered aloud “Is everything alright, will we be OK if it's not”?
Sam assured her youngest that things would be OK, explaining that everyone was just taking some extra precautions because things looked a little off kilter. Sam smiled at her beautiful daughter and gently brushed the stray hair from her face and patted her shoulder, “everything will be fine Janie, we have God to thank for that!”
Frank pulled his head quickly from Sam's lap and turned around sharply, ears perked, slowly raising his fur and he walked toward the edge of the steps, eyes scanning the horizon. The sound of gravel crunching under the weight of an unseen object moving toward them in the distance was now making it's way to Janie's and Sam's ears. The watchful eyes of Frank never leaving the general direction of this unwelcome sound.
As Sam moved Janie toward the door she was once again unnerved, strange for this time of the morning she thought to herself, closing the door just as the first loud, deep bark escaped from Frank's throat.
Sam hated to wake Allen, but she needed him to know something wasn't right this morning!
blackguard
Veteran Member
very good story, definitely enjoying it and looking forward to more.
RememberGoliad
Veteran Member
I'm probably the only one, but I'm kinda glad the story took a 2-year break. You bumped it back to the top with your update a few days ago or I'd have never noticed it, as you started the story during a time when I didn't even have time to wipe my ....um, nose... 
Enjoying it very much, thank you for first starting it, then coming back and continuing. Good writing that flows easily, and ya just can't beat a good dog who's central to the story!
Enjoying it very much, thank you for first starting it, then coming back and continuing. Good writing that flows easily, and ya just can't beat a good dog who's central to the story!
223shootersc
Veteran Member
Glad you came back, great new chapter, can't wait for MOAR. Thanks!!
stjwelding
Veteran Member
wvstuck, What a great day I just found the new chapters you have added to this fantastic story. I am looking for more of it as soon as you can. Thanks for your time and for sharing with us!!!!!
Wayne
Wayne
