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plenty,” Thad offered.
    Jamie laughed. “Yeah, Ian. Get out there and root around. Want me to help rub you face in the dirt?”
    Ian snorted, “You wish.”
    Jamie smiled, “You have no idea how much.”
    Now I had to laugh. “Why don’t you two just go ahead and bump uglies and get it over with.”
    Jamie looked as though she’d just seen a unicorn. Ian, however, broke out in a raucous laugh, bending over and holding his stomach. Jamie’s face narrowed and she glared at me but didn’t say anything. It made me laugh. Shrugging, I said, “Just sayin’.”
    Thad started to laugh as well, until Jamie cut her eyes to him. The smile on his face faded as he started collecting tools and headed for the barn. Danny was smiling and shaking his head as we followed Thad’s lead. We left Ian and Jamie to stew. Well, Jamie was certainly stewing.
    “I’m going to the house and get cleaned up before dinner,” Danny said.
    “Sounds good to me,” I replied.
    We met Thad at the barn where he was putting tools away as the pigs complained. He turned as we walked up. “What are you two going to do now?”
    “Go take a shower before dinner,” Danny replied.
    Thad smiled. “Me too. That water tower is the best thing since sliced bread.”
    I snorted. “You got sliced bread you’re holding out?”
    Thad laughed. “I wish. I guess the water tower is better than sliced bread since we ain’t got any.”
    “How’s the water temp?” Danny asked.
    “It’s perfect. It’s warm, but not too hot. Perfect.”
    “Bet it gets a little colder in the winter,” I said.
    “I been thinking about that. I’m going to look around for all the black spray paint I can find and paint the tank. During the winter it’ll help keep it warm,” Thad said.
    “Better than nothing,” Danny added.
    With a nod I said, “Alright, lads. I’m off. See you at dinner.”

    Thad went in the house and grabbed a change of clothes and a towel before heading down the hall to the bathroom. He could hear the water running when he got to the door and knocked.
    “I’ll be done in a minute,” Jess’s voice called back.
    Thad smiled and went back out to the living room and sat down on the couch. Since the water tower was installed, the girls were showering every day. Thad kept an eye on the tank; and just as he’d suspected, the level dropped dramatically the first couple of days before seeming to slow some. He was going to have to fill it soon, like tomorrow probably. But there was still sufficient pressure for a shower and to fill the toilets.
    He sat on the couch for what seemed like an eternity. Getting a little annoyed, he got up and started down the hall. Just then, the bathroom door opened and Jess stepped out wrapped in a towel with another one wrapped around her head.
    She smiled sheepishly. “Sorry, it just feels so good!”
    Thad smiled. It was his natural response. “I know it does, but you know I have to fill that thing.”
    Bobbing her head, she replied, “I know, I know. It just feels so good. The water is warmer than at Danny’s, and I can take one every day.”
    His smile broadening a little as he replied, “And you can help fill that tank tomorrow too.”
    Jess stepped over and, standing on her tip toes, she wrapped her arms around his neck. “I love you too, Thad.” Then she kissed him on the cheek before quickly heading to her room.
    Blushing, Thad replied, “I love you too.”
    “I know you do!” She shouted back as she shut the door.
    Smiling and shaking his head, Thad went into the bathroom. He’d take a little longer with his shower too. After all, it was really warm water.

    We stopped by the bunker as we passed. The girls were gone and Mike and Ted were there with Dalton now.
    “You guys on for a while?” I asked.
    Ted nodded. “Yeah, me and Tweedle Dumb here.”
    “Guess that makes you Tweedle Dee then,” Mike shot back.
    Looking over his shoulder, Ted said, “Yeah. I got the D and the umb.”
    Mike shrugged,